Just Like You - Prologue

>"Where is he?"
>"Did you see which way he went?"
>"He's over there, get him!"
>Wanted by the royal guard, as usual.
>You notice the while stallions clad in gold armor approaching behind you.
>You didn't feel like getting caught today.
>Dashing into the fields behind the castle, your legs carry you faster than you thought they could go.
>But you couldn't run forever.
>To your left, salvation.
>You run through a large gate of bush and shrubbery, and enter the Labyrinth.
>"He went into the Labyrinth again!"
>"He always escapes into that wretched place."
>One of the guards sighs.
>"You two wait outside for him to leave."
>After instructing his fellow guards, he runs into the Labyrinth after you.
>But he won't find you.
>He never does.

>Being a child at the royal palace is a pain, sometimes.
>You're well aware your upbringing is more lucrative, priveliged, and probably envied by most p0nies.
>You're not a fan, however.
>Being 11 now, you were only 7 when taken in by the Princesses.
>You have no clue how you managed to end up in this place, but after a year, crying for your mommy stopped being useful.
>Now you just like to spend your time alone.
>The Princesses liked to keep you close, being an 'endangered species', whatever that means.
>Them setting up playdates with their students and relatives.
>You always felt so out of place, though.
>You used to constantly wonder why they never brought other humans.
>Then they told you why.
>The want to be alone only increased.
>They royal guard always tried keeping an eye on you.
>It gets old, fast.
>So you begin your daily routine, escaping the guards line of sight, dashing to the Labyrinth.
>The other p0nies hate this structure, but you love it.
>You've memorized it's twists and turns, as you come here every time you want to be alone.
>Which is quite often.

>However, you wouldn't get to be alone today.
>But you don't know that yet.
>As you make your way into the Labyrinth, you recount the twists and turns necessary to reach your favorite point.
>Left, right, right, left, straight, left...
>It was clockwork by this point.
>One last turn, and your destination was reached.
>The center of the Labyrinth, occupied by a brilliant stone statue of the Princesses.
>Well, others thought it was brilliant.
>You liked it because of the stone bench where you could relax.
>You take your seat, staring at the statue.
>Luna and Celestia.
>They wanted you to call them your 'Mom's.
>You know who your mom is.
>She's not them.
>You still miss her...
>But you quickly toss that fleeting emotion aside.
>You know there's no way to send you back.
>You asked every day for the first year of your life here.
>Surely they would have tried to get rid of you by that point.
>And since you're still here, they failed.

>You reach into your jacket pocket and pull out a shiny apple.
>Taking a bite, you relax on the stone bench.
>No matter where you are, apples taste awesome.
>You lie back on the stone slab, hand behind your head.
>Eyes closed, you relax.
>Another day of solitude.
>*crunch*
>Another bite of your apple is gone.
>However this time, it wasn't you biting it.
>You peek open your eyes to see a pair of dark green ones staring down at you.
>"Hi!"
>Unperturbed, you sit up.
>So much for being alone.
>The pair of green eyes takes a seat next to you on the bench.
>Well, as much of 'taking a seat' is when lying down on the bench aside you.
>"I'm still hungry..."
>It whines.
>She's always like this.
>Reaching into your jacket pocket, you bring out a second apple.
>You learned to bring extras after she kept eating yours.
>You playfully stick it on her horn.
>"..."
"..."
>"...meanie."
>She conjures some green magic, her horn disappearing momentarily, the apple falling into her hooves.
>The horn reappears, and she happily starts eating.

>This apple-eating nuisance is no other than a changeling, Chrysalis.
>Well, THE changeling, to you.
>She tells you there are others, but they are disguised at other p0nies.
>That makes you truly paranoid.
>Well, it would, if the changeling in front of you could actually change into other p0nies.
>She doesn't seem to be good at changing yet.
>This one, at least, happens to be your friend.
>She's been your friend for a few years now.
>One of your only friends at that.
>Well, there's Cadenza and Shining...
>But they're just there because the Princess tells them to be.
>Makes you feel REALLY wanted.
>Back to the black thing full of holes.
>"Running from the guards again, are we?"
>You nod.
>She knows you come here when being chased.
>Off in the distance, a cry is heard.
>"Anon! Come out wherever you are..."
>The guard is still looking for you.
>Chrissy laughs.
>"Allow me."

>A flash of green overtakes her throat for a second.
>She then yells in the direction of the guard.
>"I found the boy!"
>She sounds remarkably like a fully grown male guard.
>Impressions were always her strong point.
>"Y...you have?"
>"Yes! I'll be bringing him to the castle immediately."
>She jabs a holed hoof into your side.
>Oh, right, this is a two man act.
"Yeah, I'm coming back!"
>The guard remains silent for a moment.
>"...very well."
>You hear hoofsteps as the guard gets farther and father away...
>Then closer for a moment.
>Then farther again.
>It IS a Labyrinth.
>Once he's out of earshot, Chrissy explodes into a bout of laughter.
>She still sounds like the guard though, so it's mildly disturbing.
>Realizing she forgot to change back, she bashfully covers her mouth with her hooves.
>After a brief awkward silence, you two both laugh.
>Which is good, the mouth covering bit was futile anyways.
>You can always look through her hooves.

>The hours pass, you spend your time talking, as usual.
>Nothing in particual, just life in the castle, being an outcast.
>She can relate to the second one, at least.
>The sun starts setting, the Princess' doing of course.
>It's also a sign you really should be getting back.
"I gotta get going."
>You get up from the oddly comfortable stone slab.
>"Oh come on, so soon?"
>You look down to Chrissy, who is still on the bench.
"I've been here for a few hours, isn't that enough? Besides, the Princess is gonna be mad if I'm not back soon."
>"Well I'm a Princess too, and I say you have to stay!"
>You chuckle.
>She did say she was the Princess of the Changelings.
>Though, with not seeing any other changelings around, you're hesitant to believe her.
"Okay, 'Princess', but I'm pretty sure that the sun holds a bit more sway than walking cheese."
>That struck a chord.
>"HEY!"
>You zip up your jacket, and start walking away.
"See ya later, Chrissy."
>"Yeah, see ya..."
>Goodbyes are never pleasant with this one.
>You make your way out of the Labyrinth.
>Right, straight, right, left, right, right, left...
>And the gardens appear in front of you.
>Like clockwork.

>You make your way into the castle, past the steps into the throne room, which is empty.
>Past the hallways that lead to the library.
>Up the stairs, past the balconies.
>And into your room.
>And, as expected, a certain Princess of the Sun was waiting for you.
>"Anon, you're back."
>You trudge into the room, dropping your jacket on the floor.
>Without even glancing at the large white mare in your room, you plop down on your bed.
"Goodnight."
>You hear an audible sigh.
>"I worry about you...I know you were in the gardens."
"Then why didn't you come get me?"
>Silence.
>"I want you to come back on your own, you know."
"Well I didn't."
>You were being a brat, you know it.
>But you never cared for the Princess' nagging you.
>Finally, she gives up.
>She walks towards the door.
>"Anon, you shouldn't spend all your time alone."
>You don't respond.
>You aren't always alone.
>"You're spending the day with Cadenza tomorrow."
>No response.
>Another playdate with the younger Princess.
>Whoopee.
>"Goodnight, Anon."
"Night."
>She closes the door, leaving you to solitude once more.

>You hated being alone.
>You hated being TOLD you're alone.
>You hated being forced to play with others as if it would ease your loneliness.
>But it doesn't, and you hate it.
>The only thing keeping you moderately happy would be apples.
>Apples, and the odd thing you share those apples with.
>At that exact moment, a young changeling falls asleep with her clutch.
>She hated being an outcast.
>She hated being TOLD she was an outcast.
>She hated being forced to deal with others because she was special.
>But they don't get her, and she hated it.
>The only thing keeping her moderately content were apples.
>Apples, and the odd thing that gave them to her.