Previously, on A Free Spirit in Ponyville:
“Engaging warp drive!”
“I, am your father.”
“Game over, man! Game over!”
“I’ll be back.”
“Kamehameha!”
And now, the thrilling conclusion.
“Kalinka!? Is that you!?” Spirit exclaimed. “It is! What on Echidna are you doing here!?” He said, sweeping her up in a tight embrace.”
“S-Spirit! Get off of me, ya joker!” she said, trying to push him off. “You’re gonna cause a scene!”
“Oh, sorry.” he apologized, pulling away. He turned around, searching his surroundings. “There!” He said, pointing a hoof towards an alleyway. “We can continue our conversation in that alley!”
“WHAT! Uh-uh! There is no way in Tartarus I’m go-WHA!” Kalinka began to protest, but was dragged towards it against her will. “Funny, I don’t remember you being this strong.” Kalinka said once they were inside the alleyway.
“Five months of traveling alone by foot will do that to a Changeling.” Spirit explained, staring closely her. To anypony else, she may a have look like an everyday pony, but Spirit knew better. In truth, she was just like him: a Changeling. Expect that she was a pure-blooded Changeling. Her disguise was that of a red Pegasus, sporting a green mane of all things. Her cutie mark appeared to be some kind of fruit or something.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” Kalinka suddenly said.
“Huh?”
“If you stare at my flank any harder, your eyes are gonna pop out.” she said, a sultry grin on her face.
“N-no! I-I wasn’t, I-I mean-” Spirit stuttered, turning red for the second.
“Hahahahaha! Calm down before you blow a gasket. I’m only teasing. The only reason I can think of why you were ogling my plot is that you’re trying to figure out the mark. It’s a cranberry, if you must know. I thought it would be fitting, considering my name and all.” Kalinka explained.
“Hey, Kalinka?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing in Ponyville? This isn’t exactly a safe place for you.”
“Said the Changeling.” Kalinka stated. “But if you really want to know, why don’t you just use that little gift of yours?”
“A-are you sure? To tell you the truth, I’ve never used my gift on another Changeling. I might hurt you.”
“C’mon, are you waiting for a written invitation or something? I thought you wanted to know why I was here?” she said.
“Of course I do, but not at the cost of hurting you. Can’t you just tell me?” Spirit asked.
“Ugh, would it kill you to stop having a heart for one second. Look, I’ve seen you use it before when you were still apart of the Empire and I wanna know what it feels like, okay?”
“But-”
“Spirit. I am two years older than you, so that makes me your superior. And as your superior, I command you to use your gift on me.”
“I-but-you...fine.” Spirit relented, staring her directly in the eyes.
~~~~~~~
“B-but! Please, give me a chance! Please!” Spirit begged, taking a half step forward. His only answer was a magical bolt landing in front of of his feet, stopping him in his tracks.
“Leave now. Or the next blast will go through your head.” Chrysalis threatened, horn still smoking.
Backing away from the small crater the attack had done, Spirit stared forlornly at his ex-Queen, tear spilling from eyes. Without any further words, he turned around and ran out the door.
“Spirit,” Kalinka called, stepping out of the door’s shadow. But she was unheard by the fleeing Changeling.
“Kalinka,” a voice behind her said. Kalinka turned around and was shocked to see who had said her name.
“M-my Queen! You have need of my services?” she said, bowing in respect.
“At ease, my loyal subject.” Chrysalis said. “I ask a favor of you: the Changeling known as Free Spirit, the one I have just exiled, I want you to follow him.”
“M-me!? If I may ask, why do you want me to follow him?” Kalinka asked.
“I want you to make sure he does not do anything reckless. I may have banished him, but that doesn’t mean that I want harm to come to him. Understood?” Chrysalis explained.
“But why me, Your Highness?” Kalinka questioned further.
“Out of all the Changelings, you are the only one who showed him some form of compassion, even if it wasn’t much. That is why I believe you are best suited for this task.” Chrysalis said with something akin to a smile on her face. “Will you accept?”
“O-of course my Queen! I promise to keep him safe.”
~~~~~~~
“So that’s why you’re here. You’re just my babysitter.” Spirit said, pulling back. Kalinka slowly gripped her head as the connection was broken.
“Woah! What a rush!” Kalinka said, her eyes spinning as she collected herself. “In a nutshell, yeah. I’m basically your babysitter. But how about we continue this conversation somewhere...less dank?” she asked.
“...Wanna grab a smoothie?” Spirit asked.
~SugarCube Corner~
“Here ya go: two strawberry and oat smoothies!” Pinkie said, placing the drinks on the table.
“Thanks, Pinkie.” Spirit said, handing her ten bits.
“It’s no problem, Spiry! Have fun you two!” the bubbly mare said, taking the bits as she bounced her way back into the kitchen.
“‘Spiry’?” Kalinka asked.
“That’s just Pinkie being Pinkie. Learn to accept that quickly and you’ll live longer.” he warned, taking a sip from his smoothie.
“Got it. So Spirit, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“What is it?” he said.
“It’s about your banishment. Do you hate Chrysalis for exiling you?” Spirit stared at her for a second, then slowly put his drink down.
“I-it’s complicated,” he said, sighing. “During the first month of my banishment, I was burning with anger. Just thinking about her name filled me with rage. Then a few months later, I started looking at it from her perspective. Chrysalis was just doing what she believed was right. She was looking after her subjects, like a queen should. In a way, I don’t fully despise the Queen. I just wish she would have given me a chance.” Spirit explained.
“Wow, that’s actually pretty mature of you, Spirit. You’re no longer that cry-baby I knew back at the Hive. You’ve toughened up quite nicely.” Kalinka complemented.
“Thanks...I think.” Spirit said, taking another sip of his smoothie.
Feed.
“Ngh! Ah!” Spirit grunted as clutched his suddenly throbbing head, dropping his glass in the process.
“Spirit!?” Kalinka exclaimed as she rushed to his side. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I-I’m fine. Just a headache.” he said weakly. The pain disappeared as quickly as it came.
“Fine? That can’t be a simple headache. A simple headache doesn’t make you convulse. I’m taking you home right now. You’ve been through a lot, you need to rest.” she commanded.
“Man, you sound like Fluttershy.” Spirit muttered as Kalinka lead him through the nearly empty restaurant.
~~~~~~~
Spirit stood over Fluttershy’s still body, blood dripping from his fangs. Her blood. He stared in awe at the handiwork he had caused. He began to giggle, which quickly turned into full-on laughter. Soon, he sounded like a raving lunatic. He had killed Fluttershy, and he was proud of it!
“Spiry?” a familiar voice asked. Spirit turned to face owner of the voice.
“Spiry,” Pinkie repeated. “What did you do to Fluttershy?”
“I was hungry,” Spirit said, his voice and eyes devoid of all emotion. “So I decided to feed. It’s as simple as that.”
“Bu-but you killed Fluttershy!”
“Yes, did I. Is there a problem?” he asked.
“You Pinkie Promised you wouldn’t hurt anypony!” Pinkie said, clearly angry.
“Oh, Pinkamena Diane Pie. You should have known better than to expect a Changeling of all things to actually keep such a silly request.”
“But, but I thought we were friends!”
“Friends!? I do not make friends with food!” Spirit said in disgust. “And speaking of food, I’m feeling hungry again. I have always wondered what joy taste like.” he said, taking a step towards the pink mare.
“N-no! Stay back!”
“I’m going to thoroughly enjoy this.” Spirit hissed as he pounced on Pinkie, plunging his fangs deep into her neck. Her screams were music to his ears.