On ether side of the walkway that Saki and I would walk, groups of ponies of all shapes and sizes, many old, some young, turned to watch us. Have you ever been in a room, where just moments ago, ponies were speaking, whispering in a way; and the moment you walk in, they stop? Well…today, that happened to both me and Saki. She moved closer to me, as I looked down at her, wrapping my right arm over her back, as we were led by the guards slowly toward the Princesses, but they were not the only ones there. Celestia and Luna stood side by side, as they always did, beside Celestia, was Princess Cadence, and Luna, was Shining Armor. I could not make out what the two sisters were thinking, their faces, blank as anything. No doubt a choice they made when addressing ponies, or events such as theses. Shining Armor…I couldn’t tell as well, but Cadence. She showed great sadness in her eyes as she watched us walk up, before we were standing before the four. The guards moved to ether side of us, Saki looking around, great fear still in her eyes, as I pulled her closer. “We face this, together,” I whispered a reminder to her as she only nodded, and slowly; stood up straight.

I took a slow deep breath, looking ahead at the four before us, our judges as I waited what needed to be said. “We had already made our choice,” Celestia spoke in a loud enough voice that all could hear, but ether way, nopony else was speaking, so no doubt they could hear our breathing. “But, before we give our ruling, I would like to know; is there anypony here, who would like to speak as well, for ether the good, or bad, for these two?”

“Right here!” I flinched as well as Saki as we craned out necks back, to see Doctor Love walking up now. He soon stood beside me as he looked and nodded. “If I am allowed that is?” he asked looking back at Princess Celestia who also nodded. “I’ve known Lighting here since we were but small colts,” he started as he looked back to me, and then to her. “He is a good friend of mine, and he will always do what needs to be done, to help those in needs…I knew that Saki here was a Changeling, in fact I walked in at one time…”

“Doc!” I screeched out.

“What? I did!”

“Please, continued,” Celestia spoke waving a hoof as Doc nodded.

“Alright…anyway, what you may not know, a lot of you, is that Lighting here can not be affected by Changeling magic, I mean; why else would the Black Light of Higher Wing, call on only him? Because if the Changeling Queen there tried to put him under her spell; nothing would happen to him!” I heard the whispers of ponies behind us as he spoke these words. “And beside…Saki isn’t like most Changelings, I see the love she has for my friend, she makes him happy…happier then I had ever seen him. And if you kill him, or exile him just because the two of them love each other, because he is a pony, and she a Changeling; then that’s more wrong then…putting weed in brownies…well taste good but still!”

“In a letter,” Luna spoke as she looked to Doctor Love. “The King of Higher Wing said that you also had something else to say.”

“Hrm…oh yeah, he knows who she is, in fact, he knighted her as a Changeling!” I saw the eyes of the night princess grow wide, she was about to say something when Celestia cut her off.

“Thank you then, I believe your name was…Lovey Dovey…ow!” she looked around, a small ‘bonk’ was heard as we all looked down, to see a rock rolling down the steps, it was rather small, but ‘nope’ was still written on it.

“Yeah…don’t say that name…universe seems to hate it when ponies say that!” wait…so Doctor Love wasn’t doing that?! Ugh…this was really starting to get to me rather fast now.

“In any other case,” she spoke, rubbing the spot of which the rock hit her. “Seeing how there is no one else, we had already made or decision.” She then looked down to me and Saki. “Cadence, told us a few days ago that she knew of whom you were Saki, that she gave you her word that she would not tell us, for she had seen your heart. If this was indeed her kingdom, I know you’ve been free by now…however,” she then raised a hoof up. “This is mine, and my sister’s kingdom. And as much as I wish to take the word over my niece…we must think of all our subjects.” She then looked right to Saki, as if I was not there. “We exiled your kind from Equestria, and yet, here you are. Also, you and your Queen attacked Canterlot, explain yourself.”

I watched as Saki lowered her head slightly, me beside her, I nudged her softly with my muzzle. She looked up as I softly nodded to her as she sighed and looked to the Princess. “The attack…I had no choice, I didn’t want to, believe me I didn’t. In fact, many other Changelings didn’t want to. I do not know there reasons as to why. When you are part of the Hive, when a Queen makes an order, we must follow it. There are few who are strong enough, strong in mind to not do it; those who wouldn’t fight…were killed on the spot.” She looked down before shooting her a glare, causing Celestia herself to flinch. “I was only part of the attack so that I could stay alive!”

“How long had you been hiding in Canterlot for?” Luna asked as Saki looked over at her and snorted.

“Even though you may think I got rid of a real Cloud Dasher…I did not, Cloud Dasher was the name of the pony who cared for me; my Granny. So you should already know how long I’ve been here,”

“Many years before the attack then,”

“Yes…I was abounded by my hive at a young age…Granny found me and care for me as if I was her own blood; and then…that Eclipse pony…that one you made your guard killed her!” she looked down again, her body shuddering as I heard her gasp softly, chocking back tears as I held her. She pushed me off and then walked forward, many of the guards moving pointing their weapons at her before she yelled out. “So go on! Kill me then if that is what you choose, and also Lighting if you think he a traitor for ‘hoarding’ a Changeling! Because let me tell you something, I have never harmed a pony in my life unless it was fear of my life of Lighting’s!”

The room we were in became ghastly silence, not a breath was breathed, not a hoof was moved, as Celestia walked forward a bit. I watched as Saki backed away as she took a step before she closed her eyes to speak. “We made our choice…and that choice is…”

“Princesses!” all heads jerked to the main doors as a guard came rushing in. “Princesses! Changelings! Changelings are attack Canterlot!” at once the area went into a panic as I looked down at Saki, she too was equally confused as I, before the double door was ripped from the hedges by a powerful magic. In reflex I covered my eyes with my forearm, thinking more things would be flung inward. More screaming was heard, and when I removed my arm, Changelings swarmed into the room, and on the ground, walking over; was Chrysalis herself.

I gave a small grunt as I saw her walk in, a large group of Changelings came, and attacked the guards around us, pinning them to the ground as I jumped Saki moving closer to me. “My, my,” The Changeling Queen spoke as she walked closer. I could see her teeth flashing as she smiled, a smug smile. “A court hearing and I am not invited to my own daughter’s trail?” she shook her head. “No matter, I’m here for a few things, and thanks to a good friend of mine…I would never have heard of this day, if wasn’t for him.” I watched as behind her…no…my father in his Changeling form walked out. I saw him look at me, a great deal of sadness. He…he must have asked her for help, to get me and Saki out of here safely. “Oh and before I forget… do it!” the Changelings that were on top of the guards jumped off and attacked the princesses, before then too, even the guards jumped on the princesses, only to be showed as Changelings! Even more came, covering them, and placing something weird. I watched as they did the same with Shining Armor and Cadence.

“Release them now!” I yelled out to Saki’s mother as she gave me a rather shock look.

“Those four would’ve no doubt exiled you, just for being with a Changeling, I come here to save you, and you wish to free them?”

“I know the real reason why you’re here,” I glared at her taking a step forward. “I bet you already knew of us being locked up, that you did nothing at all until I bet you found out Shining Armor was here; am I right?” I saw her give me a small glare as she grinded her teeth together. “You are just here to once more try to get something you want, and you know what…?” I turned and found a fallen spear on the ground; I picked it up, and pointed it to her. Though I was better with a blade, a spear I could work with. “I’m not about to let that happen.”

“They locked you up, just because of you being with Saki here!” she nearly roared out in rage, as I then closed my eyes and sighed.

“I know,” I answered as I reopened them to look at her. “And really, I don’t blame them. But this does not matter now,” I answered. “Even if you were our last chance of salvation; I wouldn’t go with you,”

“Nor I,” Saki answered standing beside me. “You may be my mother, but you didn’t raise me as one.

I then saw that behind the main doors of which she came through, many more guards came rushing in, their weapons pointed at the ready, and before I knew it; a fight had began.

I turned to look back at the princesses, and Shining Armor, I knew if I got them out, we would have a far better chance at pushing the Changelings back. Saki and Doctor Love must have thought the same thing, for they were on ether side of me as we rush the group that held them down. Thanks for the spear, I had a far better reach then what I was use to for the blade, but, it was too long for me, so my swings and stabs were slightly awkward. But once more, I felt that feeling…Saki’s love for me giving me more energy to press on. It still felt weird for me to feel this…to feel my more Changeling side coming out. I heard a hiss as three came after me from above, before a red blast was seen, hitting all three. Turning over, I saw my Father run up as I turned my back to him. His rear was close to my front as we went side by side, almost like a back, to back, attack as I heard him speak. “Son…I’m…I’m sorry I just,”

“I know father,” I whispered. “But let us talk later without all these bastards around us!” I heard him grunt his agreement as he picked up a sword and passed it to me. He took the spear from my hooves and snapped it in two, throwing the piece away that did not have a spear, to make it look like he had a knife in his hoof. Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Saki and Doctor Love soon came around to us, as we each took a spot, north, east, south, and west. “We need to free those four,” I told them. “So we rush them alright?”

“Right,” they all agreed, and once we did, we charged.

The Changelings, all removed themselves from their captives to meet us, I didn’t care to count how many we were going after, I ducked low, slashed, jumped back, stab. Using all my training and skills I had to bring each on my foes down. I saw flashes of green magic being shot around, as Saki fought beside Doctor Love, who, using the small ball magic as back in Higher Wing; shot it off on the throne room’s walls. Even with all the noise going on, you could still hear the ‘bong’ it made as it bounced off the walls. I felt a Changeling wrap its arm around my neck to chock me, and releasing a yell, I threw him over my shoulder and stabbed him in the chest, twisting the blade as I killed him. At last, I went up to the four before me, and removed the bindings that were put on them. Celestia stood up, spreading her wings, as did Luna to loosen them. I watched as Saki went over and did the same to Armor and his wife. “Thank you Lighting Knight,” I turned to look at the eldest sister. “Will you still lend us your blade?”

“If me and Saki, as well as Doctor Love here and Shade,” I remembered, they did not know of my origin. “Just rescued you, then I think you know the answer.” She gave a small nod, and also a smile as I turned to face the small army of Changelings, and also so Chrysalis fighting off a few guards as well.

“Hey Light!” I turned and caught the light of my blade, the Star of Nora as I caught it with my magic.

“My sword?” I asked as I looked to him.

“Long story short,” he said. “We were going to release you anyway, and I was going to public ask if you wished to still be my captain.” I gave him a shock look, and Saki, also an equally shocked look as Celestia spoke.

“We may speak of what may have been afterward, but now, we must fight!”

How long had we’ve been fighting, hours, no, that wouldn’t make sense, but it sure did feel like it. I hadn’t trained rightly in almost a few weeks, so I was feeling rather weak. But what Armor said, that they were going to release me and Saki…that we would be free to have our love openly…it gave me the will to keep fighting. With my own sword back in my hooves, it felt just…right, maybe because it was made using a bit of my blood, so I had a more connection to it.

Three more Changelings feel before me, I did not kill them, but wounded them enough for they would not be able to fight; that’s when I saw her. Saki and her mother were fighting! I watched as my lover rolled out of the way, jumping on her back to bit and shoot her with magic. I ran toward, about to help her, when I was jumped by a few more Changelings. I grunted and tried to shake them off, before I felt the weight of them off me. I looked up, to see Shining Armor, and the Captain there, as they helped me up. “Are you alright?” I heard Shining Armor asked me as I nodded shaking myself. “We are doing well to hold them back, they are pushing back! No doubt they will retreat soon!”

“So let us keep pushing them back then!” Captain roared out. I couldn’t agree more before I heard a scream of Saki. I looked over and saw that Chrysalis held her by her throat with her magic as Saki struggled to be let go.

“No, Saki!” I screamed running over, my sword to the side, being held by my magic. As I drew closer, I saw Chrysalis whisper something to her; I couldn’t make it out…before she threw Saki toward the nearest window! My eyes grew wide, my heart stopped as I watched her fly out the window. I skidded to a stop, dropping my sword, forgetting about everything else as I ran toward her.

Jumping through the window that was now broken window, looking ahead, to see Saki lying near the edge of a cliff; my eyes grew wide as I saw pieces of glass stuck out of her, as well as blood as I went over, about to use my magic to pull her away, when I watched the horror come before me. The part of the cliff where she was…slowly cracked, and fell under her weight, causing her to fall as well! Without thinking I ran over, and jumped off the edge, free falling down after her.

Closer and closer, I came to her as I fell down like an arrow after her, before grabbing her, and holding her to my chest. I tried to call onto my magic, the levitation spell, to slowly slow us down to the ground. I felt the magic wrap around us, as I thought hard on the magic, but it broke off, the speed was too much! No…no! I wouldn’t let it end here! I couldn’t! As we fell, I felt a wave of…something come over me, I almost fought it at first, but then it started to feel…right. I closed my eyes at first; I felt my body shudder, shift…change. A small burning feeling came over me, I felt, different as it happened, before I felt myself become slightly lighter, and something on my back. Whatever it was, they started to move, causing our fall to slow down, and I opened my eyes, seeing that we were now slowing down, but not by much, as the ground came up fast!

I turned my body, so that my back would hit the ground, and it did, but we were not going straight down, no, somehow. Like a flat rock on water, I started to skip across the ground, yelling out in pain as I did. Saki, thrown from my arms, as she rolled on the ground a few times, as did I as I slowly came to a stop. Gasping and coughing up blood a few times as I just laid flat on the ground.

How long had I just lain there…in pain…I don’t know, but I forced myself ether way to slowly make my way over to Saki. I heard her let out a soft groan of pain, as she whispered my name. “Light…?” she asked as I was soon close to her.

“I’m here…” I whispered as I went toward her slowly, trying to block out the pain I felt in my hind leg…it felt broken. She had her back to me as I soon made my way to her side, falling on my back again, unable to move anymore. I heard the groan of her as she looked over…before nothing.

“Lighting…?” she whispered as I grunted.

“Yes?”

“Is that really you?”

“Yes…why do you…?” I was going to lay my hoof on her when I turned over…when I saw it. My right forearm, had became, black, much like her own, with holes it in.

I blinked a few times, looking down at myself, and turning to look behind me, Changeling wings! “You’ve…changed into a Changeling!” yeah no shit! It felt so…weird, it was…it too hard to tell, just a weird feeling. Again, as before, I saw and felt the love of Saki…but it felt stronger now, so much stronger like this. I notice her love aura, slowly seep toward my body, and went into the holes, curling around it, before I watched it go right inside of my body. I was about to say something, when I felt my body shudder. I groaned slightly, a little more in my own pain, not at this new feeling. The burning returned, as I watched my arms lit in a red flame, moving upward my body, as my whitish coat returned. I let out a sigh, falling back fully on my back, well myself once more.

“Ugh…that felt so…”

“Weird?” I heard Saki ask as I nodded. “Such a…normal thing for Changelings…ugh…what happened?”

“You’re mother threw you out a window…” I panted pointing with a hoof to where the castle was. “I followed, grabbed you…and I guess flew a bit…”

“You…did, so you could already…change?”

“No…” I was surprised when she didn’t say anything else, I looked over, seems she was knocked out; I could see that she was still bleeding as well. I moved over, groaning as I place my hoof over the worst wound. I brought my head over to her belly, bout to also close my eyes…just for a moment…when I looked up. I noticed a few guards circling around; I heard a muffle yell as one pointed to me as he started to fly down. Good…they found us…maybe I cou-

My eyes fluttered open…the light blinding my eyes as I groaned out softly as I looked around, slightly. I heard the sound of a heart monitor. As my vision slowly cleared, I looked down to my right, seeing that I was flat on my back on a bed, my right hind-leg, in a cask…how did…oh, now I…Saki! I tried to sit up, but yelled in pain before I felt a set of hooves on my chest. “Easy Bright Star…you’ve been through a lot,” I turned to my side, seeing my father sitting on a chair beside my bed, in full Changeling sate.

“F…Father…” I hissed softly. “You’re in…”

“I know,” he answered with a shake of his head. “The Princesses know, and have allowed me be here with you as I am. Sure, other ponies are scared, I mean, what happened a week ago…”

“A…a week?!” I groaned as he pushed me back down.

“Stay down…I’ll tell you what happened alright?”

And so he did, he explained that Chrysalis soon afterward fled after I jumped out of the window to get after Saki, reinforcement arrived to drive back the Changelings. A few Changelings were killed in the fight, but beside the many who were hurt, none on our side was killed. My Father explained to the Princesses, as well as Shining Armor and his wife, of who he was, and also myself. Seems they even did a blood test to see if it was true; and it was, as I knew it. He told me they were rather shock, seeing how I (little known to them that I now could I guess) couldn’t change. And After Cadence looked deep within my father’s heart, as she did with Saki and I, my father was allowed to roam the city. And as he said, I was in a coma for nearly a week, within that week, the guards were out looking for the Changelings, seems they were not in the Hive when they went to see, on fact, the Hive was no longer there; but caved in.

“What…of Saki?” I asked sitting up, groaning at the pain of my leg. “Where…where is Saki?” my Father sighed, looking away from me, before I could ask, he simply pointed to the table beside me. Looking over, I saw my necklace, sitting on top of a folded piece of paper. Leaning on the table was also my sword.

“I’ll…I’ll leave you alone for a bit.” He simply answered as he got up and walked out of the room I was in, before I took the piece of paper, brought it before me; and started to read.

Dear Light:

If you are reading this now…then it seems that I had made my choice…I had no choice, please…I just…maybe I should start a little bit back…

After I woke up the next day after the attack, and well enough to move, I sat beside your bed, almost all the time. You looked…it pained me to see you like this, because of me…because of our love for each other. I know…I know, you would say something along the lines of ‘it doesn’t matter’, but it does…oh so it does. I heard, and seen myself that the Hive was caved in, the guards are still looking, (hopefully they are) for my mother, so far, nothing. She is a cunning mare, I guess I had to get that from somewhere yes? But as I said before, if you are reading this, then I had made my choice, for it was not my choice.

I found mother, or she rather found me. She came alone, and I was about to struck her down with your sword, when she stopped me. She told me that she could easily have you killed. She said she had Changelings as nurses there ready at any moment to kill you when nopony else was looking. I didn’t know if she was bluffing…or telling the truth. She gave me a choice, gather up enough love from you, to feed to the rest of the Hive, and leave with her to do the same…or I would be killed on the spot; as well, as you. I know you may hate my next words, but if it was only me, I would’ve told her to go fuck herself, and let her kill me there; but…no…I couldn’t lose you!

She…she has given myself enough time to write you this one last letter, and to also…send you a warning. Do not look for me…do not…come to find me! I…I don’t want you to die, please! I do this for you!

I’m sorry Light…for everything, I hope that one day, you will be happy…without me, and just…I want you to live…

Please, forgive me…

Watch over my Heart, for you now hold it in your hooves.

Yours’ forever; Saki…

As I read these words, I noticed dark round spots on the page…dried tears. The paper, crumbled and shook slightly as I tried to hold back the tears, my own, soon joining her’s on the page. I turned to look at my sword, rolling out of bed, landing hard on my side as I grunted, and held in my grunt of pain as I took it, holding the hilt, as I used it as a cane to hobble my way out of the room. I don’t care what she says, I am going to look for her, and I am bringing her back! “Bright Star!” I turned to see my Father coming down the hall way, with him was Shining Armor, and the three Princesses as I grunted, turning my back to them as I slipped on Saki’s necklace and limped slightly away. “Where are you going? You are in no shape to be moving around as you are!”

“I’m…going after her,” I hiss through my clenched teeth, trying to fight through the pain.

“What…what?! Like that, no you…”

“I am not going to lose her!” I screamed looking back as everypony around me said nothing. “Not after all this, not after all this shit! I.Won’t.Allow.It! Ugh!” I lost my footing and fell flat on my chest as I felt him come over. I tried to fight him off as he just held me. I screamed, telling him to let me go, using ever cruse I could think of, until…I just broke down. I held him with my arms around him, just…just letting myself go.

-A Few months later-

Nothing…nothing at all, as I stayed, letting my body heal, nothing, not a smallest bit of information on any Changeling sighting. Even Fang got away…fucking bastard, I would’ve knocked his muzzle in for information, if given the chance. Even when I had the cast off, I had to take it easy, so not to break the bone once more. So I was pretty much out of the job for guard duty for the while, for two reason, one, for taking it easy; and two, I was to be Captain for Shining Armor anyway. It still shocked me, even after all this, I mean…you know, it doesn’t matter anymore, I got a job as Captain in a new Kingdom. Father stayed with me for a while, but after the first month, I…I drove him off; I just wanted to be alone.

As time went on, the house…so still, nothing…everything seemed just so out of place. At times I swore I heard Saki upstairs, but, it was nothing…nothing the creaking of old headboards.

Celestia had my book, and after she was done, she sent me a rather long letter, sating what she thought about it, and how she never how…how I could be so, as she said sane, with everything that happened to me. I really didn’t say anything to what she wrote, it didn’t matter to me what anypony thought of me, it was my life; it was how I lived it, it was what made me who I am.

I now stood outside my home, looking at it, as I heard the grunts of ponies behind me. Moving ponies were now busy putting the last bit of boxes into the carriage for transport. Today was the day I would leave Canterlot, and go to the Crystal Empire, to start my new career as a full time Captain for them. I still wore the blue, and black heart shape necklace, I barely took it off anymore. On my back, I bore my sword; tighten the strap a bit as I sighed, before feeling a tap on my back. One of the movers, the supervisor was there as he cleared his throat. “We are almost done here sir,” he answered as he held a slip of paper before him. “We just need you to look at the boxes, right now, any damage you see, you tell me, and we’ll right it down. That way we can see if anything was damage along the way.”

“Of course,” I answered.

“And one more thing, we need you to go back in yourself, to see if we forgot anything.” He then sighed. “You forget one box, and well…”

“I understand,” I chuckled and patted his back. “Give me a sec,” he nodded and went over to look over the boxes as well as I went back inside.

It was empty, just as it was a year ago when I bought the place. I was still going to have ownership over the deed; I decided to in fact rent the place out. Walking slowly through the house, I looked into each room. I didn’t stay long, each room held a thought of what I and Saki did in each. After seeing that nothing was there, I turned back to leave; closing the doors and locking them.

After looking over the boxes, making notes for any damages I could find, which were none in fact, I waved them off. “I’ll be going there myself, through an Air-ship,” I told them. “I should be there by the end of the day, what will be your ETA?”

“Well, by carriage as you see, it will take a while, so tomorrow we’ll be there.” I nodded at this and gave him half of the payment so far, he would get the other half when the job was done, plus tip of services. As I watched the Pegasus’s take off with my stuff, waiting until they were out of sight I looked back at the place.

I remembered the mutters I heard from ponies in Canterlot when I would go there for items that I needed. Many thought I had just given up on finding Saki, seeing how I didn’t go out to look for her. Vloor even sent me a letter, saying that no Changelings, (as far as he could tell) was around at all. And my other family, after they came to see me, when news came to them, also said that they hadn’t seen ‘Cloud Dasher’, at all. The only places we went together, and she was not there, or seen there. She left…so that I could live. It still hurt, that I couldn’t even try to stop her, or to even say goodbye. But there was that part of me that would say, ‘she did it for you,’ I know…I know…but still…it hurt.

Closing my eyes, taking a deep breath, I turned, without looking back at the house. This chapter of my life…was done, and even though I hated to admit it, I had to move on. I had to stop living in the past, I had to press on…and so…today; my life, starts anew.