[Satyr] Agnus Dei - Chapter 1 [Changeling]

                                            Chapter 1 - The Satyr

Darkness. What is it? The absence of light. The lack of knowledge. The devoid of the absolute truth. Sinister. Gloom.

	"Hello?"

It is the home to many. They welcome it. They adapt to its comfort. They embrace it with their heart.

	"Hey!"

But what happens when the truth is shown? What does the individual do then? Face it or run? That is the question one must decide.

	"Wake up, sleepyhead!"

The satyr opened his eyes. His pupils dilated as the sun's rays pierced through the iris. His left arm reacted quickly, blocking the blinding light. As his eyes adjusted to it, he slowly removed his arm. He saw something white and roundish. A small horn rested on its forehead. Its mane consisted of mulberry and pink rose streaks.

	"You're awake!" the angelic voice said.

The satyr sat up. He focused on the surrounding environment. He was on a grassy field. The distant river ran along the side of the massive mountain. Only a single tall, pink tree stood alone. Its petals wavered in the wind.

	"Hi!" the same voice called.

The satyr turned his head, noticing a young filly. He stared into her harlequin, a shade of green, eyes.

	"Who are you?" he asked.

	"I'm Sweetie Belle!" the filly smiled. "And you?"

	"I don't know," the satyr admitted.

	"Huh? Really?"

	"I... I can't remember anything."

The satyr looked down at his legs. They were black and insect-like with open holes. As he touched them, he felt a rough sensation rubbing against his fingertips.

	"What are these?" he asked, pulling his hands back from the unusual feeling.

	"Your legs!" Sweetie Belle blinked. "See! Here's mine! It's a hoof. It's smooth and white."

The satyr seemed perplexed, showing his hand to her. "But mine looks nothing like yours."

Sweetie Belle tapped her chin with her hoof. "Wow! You really don't remember anything! I bet you don't know where you are, either."

The satyr shook his head. Where was he? Fortunately, Sweetie Belle read his mind.

	"You're in the land of Equestria," she said, giving a history lesson. "It's home to many species: ponies, like me, satyrs, like you, humans, dragons, griffons, minotaurs, and much more. Then, we have the regular animals, like birds, cats, dogs, and many others!"

	"Which one am I?"

	"You're a changeling satyr! Those holes in your legs prove it."

	"You know plenty," the satyr complimented. Wrapping his head around this information was overwhelming.

Sweetie Belle grinned widely, her eyes closed. She took the praise well.

	"And now you're sitting in the Grassy Plains with the giant Blooming Tree, named after the town, Bloomington," she continued, filling the satyr's head with more knowledge. "The Blooming Tree is an ancient tree. History says the trunk is carved with old symbols of magic, but I haven't seen anything like that, except for the pictures. Oh! And the town is where my sister and I live."

	"Sister?"

	"Yeah! Her name's Rarity. She's the best fashion designer EVER!" Sweetie Belle's voice cracked.

	"Where is she?"

	Sweetie Belle's excitement departed. Her mood turned gloomy.

	"Busy as always," she explained, sighing. "I wanted to help, but she shooed me away. I don't think I'm that much of a bother."

The satyr listened to her problem; however, he had absolutely no idea what to say.

	"Sweetie Belle!"

The satyr's ears perked at the enchanting voice calling the filly's name. Sweetie Belle hid behind the satyr.

	"I kind of did something when I stormed off," she confessed.

	"Sweetie Belle! I can see that mane of yours!"

	"Ohh," Sweetie Belle trotted in place. Running away wouldn't work. She'd be chased down, like a fugitive.

Rarity came into view. Similar to Sweetie Belle, Rarity had the same white coat but with a larger horn. Her purple mane looked extravagant, as if she cared for it day and night. Her beauty turned a few male heads her way. Charming them was like slicing through butter, simple and effortless.

	"What do we do?" Sweetie Belle asked, needing a way out.

	"We?" the satyr replied, shocked by her question.

	"You're in this mess as well!"

	"Huh?!"

	"Sweetie Belle, come on out," Rarity ordered. "Hiding won't do much. I do not wish to use my magic to pull you out."

A defeated Sweetie Belle appeared, her ears folded back. "H-hi, Rarity. How are you?"

Rarity used her magic to pull a large, pink cloth and a roll of green yarn from the side of her body. A dab of green ink was stained in the middle of the cloth.

	"Care to explain THIS?" Rarity asked, her mellowed face waited patiently.

	"Um," Sweetie Belle quietly replied. "Remember when I asked if I could help and you said no? Well, I still wanted to anyway, so after hearing you ran out of green yarn, I decided to make my own."

	"By dipping one of the yarns into green ink causing a big mess everywhere that would take days to clean up?"

	"Yes?"

Rarity bit her lip and sighed. Her temper reached a boiling point, but she stopped herself from exploding.

	"Sweetie Belle, you must grasp the situation. I am on a tight schedule. There is absolutely no room for error for this client. If I can impress her, maybe, just maybe I can become noticed! The dresses I make will be a huge hit. Understand?"

	"Yes, Rarity," Sweetie Belle accepted.

	"Now, I must return before sunset to finish the design."

	"Wait!" Sweetie Belle shouted. She directed her sister's attention to the satyr.

	"What is it, Sweetie Belle? Who is this?"

	"He's... um... my... new friend!" the filly lied.

Rarity raised an eyebrow. She suspected Sweetie Belle's odd behavior but decided to play along.

	"Is that so?" she questioned.

	"Yeah! He's new to town! And, uh, he doesn't have anywhere to stay, so maybe he could, you know, stay at our place?"

	"And where shall he stay?" Rarity argued. "Obviously, your room is simply out of the question. Same with mine. A lady, such as myself, must not be disturbed."

	"The other one, Rarity! It's completely unoccupied!"

	"THAT room you incline on using is for my personal inspiration."

	"But there's a bed in it."

	"That's part of the inspiration. Without it-."

Rarity stopped, her eyes gazed at the satyr. His ragged bottoms disturbed her, even more so with him being shirtless. Truthfully, she could not deny him, for her generosity knew no bounds. Sweetie Belle insisted he needed shelter.

	"All right," Rarity sighed. "But I must straighten out the room before it is used. You mustn't touch anything of value in there."

Rarity marched up to the satyr and asked, "Yes?"

	"Yes," the satyr agreed, a small tinge of fear crawled up his spine.

	"Good! Now, what is your name?"

	"Name?"

The satyr peered to Sweetie Belle's panicking face.

	"Why, yes," Rarity said. "I was born with the most magnificent name. You must have one, just not as spectacular as mine."

	The satyr rubbed his neck. "My name is..."

	"Rune!" Sweetie Belle blurted.

	"Rune?" Rarity asked, surprised at the name.

	"Yeah! He told me right before you arrived with your moody behavior."

	"What a strange name," Rarity noted, rubbing her chin with her hoof while gawking at the blue skies. "Well, no matter! Come, Rune. We must head home if you wish to stay with us."

As Rarity left, the satyr, now known as Rune, turned to Sweetie Belle. He had one thing to ask.

	"Rune?"

	"What?" Sweetie Belle kept a straight face. "It was either that or Tree. I went with the best name."

Rune snorted. The name sounded odd, but Sweetie Belle chose it, therefore, it was locked in. Many questions stirred inside Rune's mind. The most common bothered him. Who was he?

	"Hey!" Sweetie Belle interrupted, waving her hoof in front of Rune's face. "Let's go! Rarity isn't going to wait forever!"

Rune followed Sweetie Belle to the town, the place where his new life began.

END