> A Celestial Surrogate > by Blueprint_ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1 I felt a soft nudging along my side and a warm bubbly voice prodding me out of my deep slumber. “Wake up little one” the distant voice prodded I moved my head and opened one of my large sapphire eyes. My eyes met two very large purple irises; the face my brain attached to them was smiling softly at me. “Good morning” the soft but regal voice said quietly Thats when my brain went in to panic mode; the large cloud white alicorn waking me up was Princess Celestia herself! I sat up and reeled backwards in panic a small “eep” type sound emanating from my mouth. Why am I here? Am I dreaming? What's going on?. Promptly after reeling backwards I fell off the edge of the bed in a tangle of sheets. I heard a small chuckle come from the princess as she approached and untangled me. “What was a young colt such as yourself doing on the castle grounds so late last night just before I summoned dawn?” She questioned in good nature My mind was blank and I trembled transitioning between tremble and vibrate. “I-I am so sorry princess; I was trespassing, I know but I didn’t mean too. I was just looking for somewhere warm” I finally was able to stutter Now I was just vibrating, terrified of the consequences that would unfold. “Do not worry little one you are safe now, do you have a family you can return too?” Celestia questioned I shook my head and started to back up slightly “N-no your highness, I was taken a long time ago from my family and I do not believe they are...” A small tear ran down my face and yet Celestia used her hoof to wipe it away. “I understand little one; may I know your name?” Celestia looked at me as I gave a small sob. “My name is Blueprint, your highness” I looked away from her as I said my name “Well young Blueprint, I will commend you on your magic abilities I did see how you were defending yourself from my royal guard. Your abilities seem not too far from my faithful student Twilight Sparkles'” She said with a small smile on her face. the princess admiring me for my magic abilities? “Rise little one and accompany me to the governing hall” She said as she took the scruff of my neck in her mouth and picked up to stand on my own hooves and turned away. Her mane was just a cotton candy pink and wasn’t flowing on the solar wind today nor did she bother putting on her crown or horseshoes. I followed closely against her rear leg brushing against it occasionally. I was timid as we walked down the halls until a royal guard pony saw me. “There is that little squirt! He gave us so much hassle last night” He shouted as he rushed toward me from down the hall. I froze in place terrified and shook menacingly unknowing what to do I cast a shield spell in front of me. A shield appeared around me made of hexagonal shapes making up the entirety of the sphere and stopped the guard in his tracks before he could reach me even though he was only about a foot away. I let out a sob as I started to cry again out of fear of the guard. “When you let that shield down colt I am going to show yo.....” Was all he was able to get out before a regal voice that I had heard this morning but not in a good tone now spoke silencing him “Captain Storm-sky!, I will assume you were going to say that you were going to show “this colt” to the governing room because he had gotten separated from me” Celestia snapped at him glaring down at Storm-sky. Storm-sky quickly backed up with his head down in embarrassment sputtering “Yes princess, I meant no ill toward him” She nodded and gave a final command “Good, now go attend to your proper duties” “Yes princess” He stated and darted off down the hall. I still had my shield unconsciously up and felt something press against it and she was talking softly again an apologetic look on her face. “It is alright Blueprint, please lower your shield” She asked so I could take my time and didn’t demand that I did. It took me a few moments but I lowered it and she nuzzled my neck softly. “There is no need to cry, I am sorry for Storm-sky actions but I will notify my guard to not treat you as a hostile while you are here. Now come” I suddenly felt an aura of golden magic around me as I was levitated up onto her back. I felt awkward standing up there so I sat on her back and looked around as we walked through the halls. So many paintings of her and princess luna, and so many guards around too. Not too much after my pondering two large dark stained cedar doors loomed over us emanating their age and prowess over everything. The doors themselves were opened by two guards and they looked at me with disdain. I did not remember the events of last night very much but rumor had it quite a few guards were quite bruised but not seriously injured from me. Princess Celestia went and took her royal chair at the head of the governing room; as she sat I started to slide off of her back hanging from her back by my two hooves thus she helped my down with her wing after I almost fell off. “To all members of the court, the first order of business is about our little trespasser here” She said with a smile in a lighthearted manner. I backed up a little a blush across my face until I backed into her wing and suddenly all the ponies of the courts eyes were on me. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2: I sat and watched as some of the ponies looked at me with curiosity and some looked at the princess in utter disbelief. "He should be thrown out" One older pegasus yelled A older golden maned unicorn looked me over. "He is just a colt, he should be taken to the orphanage" The golden maned unicorn said I began to worry again and to refuge against the princesses wing. The sudden sound of a gavel made me jump as a unicorn with a very curly and long mane that flowed down past his shoulders and horned rim glasses looked down at me from his podium infront of the princess. "I will have order in the royal court!" He shouted "As per Equestrian rule I suggest that this colt be taken to an orphanage until proper parents are found; what says the princess? For this colt is too young to be tried for trespassing on royal grounds" "No" Said Celestias' quiet regal voice "Princess, Do you have an objection? If so speak of it now" Said the judge Celestia sat quietly again thinking then rose and unfurled her wings and looked down at the judge. "By the powers I, Princess Celestia, uphold I will adopt Blueprint as my own child" She spoke softly and matter of factly; the judge cowered and backed away slowly. "Yes princess, then hear by the power invested in me I rule that the princess herself now has sole custody of the orphan Blueprint, we will have The Doctor sent to make sure everything is sound" he said and the gavel struck the mahogony plate signalling that the court deemed it legal. A collective gasp went through the crowd as she looked over them all. One pony ran out of the room wearing a hat that said reporter on a paper tag in the band; he looked panicked. I looked up at the princess who was smiling down at me before she looked back at the court. "I wish to not be disturbed for the rest of the day" She spoke softly and rose out of her chair "Come along Blueprint, It's time to eat" I nodded and stood up since I had taken to laying against the soft feathers of her wing. We walked around the halls until we stopped, Celestia seemed beside herself with joy breaking into a trot occasionally forcing me to gallop to catch up. She also seemed to have a glow about herself as she greeted the guards to the dining hall with a cheery attitude. As we entered I spotted a navy blue mare sitting at the grand marble table who was sipping tea. She rose as she spotted Celestia. "Good morning sister" she said with a smile "I hear you had quite the morning in the governing hall" Celestia nodded "Yes I did, it was quite eventful. Are you hungry? I see you havent started breakfast without me" "I'm quited starved actually, Ive been waiting on you to eat" the navy blue mare said Celestia looked down at me and put a hoof on my flank and pushed me forward "Luna, this is Blueprint. Your new nephew. I adopted him this morning" I looked up at luna and smiled the best I could. She looked down at me and smiled "Well aren't you just so cute!" Luna yelled picking me up in her hooves I was shocked and i felt my pupils shrink and I froze not because i was scared but because i was unsure, this was something new. "Luna, be careful I dont want you to scare him" Celestia chuckled Luna set me down gently in a chair and sat down next to me while Celestia sat down across from us. "Dont worry big sister, I wont scare him too much" Luna jabbed I used my magic to pick up a spoon and moved it around so i could see my reflection. Charcol gray coat, Sapphire blue eyes, Black flat mane with strands of silver in it. I'm not very special looking like some of the guards or some of the other ponies ive seen in the court room. After boredom of observing myself I observed the aura of magic i created, sapphire blue like my eyes. I felt a hoof on my shoulder startling me that caused me to drop my spoon and clatter on the floor "I'm sorry" I said and watched as Lunas' aura of magic picked it up and set it back on the table. They both smiled at me and Celestia was first to speak "It is alright my dear, no harm done." Suddenly luna clopped her hooves together as the meal arrived and looked over at me "We are going to have so much fun today!" Unbenounced to me was the fact that Princess Luna was quite the prankster around canterlot. "Luna" Celestia said softly "Yes big sister?" "The Doctor must perform an examination on Blueprint before we can do too much" Celestia smiled "But you are more than welcome after his examination to play" We finished our breakfast in silence after the meal however I trotted along next to Celestia back up to her royal chambers. I had no more run ins with the guards or rather really anyone. "Tia?" I asked midstep "Yes little one?" "Luna is very nice to me" I said "Yes she is, She is your aunt you know." I nodded and trotted into the royal chambers when i spotted a brown stallion with a darker brown mane with an hourglass on his flank. He spoke with an odd accent that i couldnt place. "Goodmorning Princess Celestia" He said bowing slightly "Goodmorning Doctor" She said and bowed her head forward in return "Is this the colt i have heard so much about from the guards and the report i read from the governing room?" The stallion spoke with haste as if hyper active or excitement. I nodded and sat in the middle of the floor looking up with him with piqued interest, he was not like the other ponies I had encountered and he had some weird object in his mouth that glowed at one end. The object hummed and whirred, it was fascinating! "What are you a doctor of?" I questioned "Time, Space, Quantam Physics, Health, Dentistry, Mechanics, Travel" He kept going on his voice getting quieter "If your a doctor of all that then what is your title?" I asked "The Doctor" He replied matter of factly "Why just "The Doctor?" I pondered "Because if I put everything that i provide in my name would be so winded it would take me ten minutes to get through it and not many ponies understand that the space time continium is really just a jumble of things and not an actual line" The Doctor stated. As I was getting an evaluation we talked for quite some time while Celestia watched idily from her sun chair by the window. "Ahem" The Doctor coughed Celestia looked over "Yes Doctor?" "Blueprint here seems to be just fine and in perfect health" He smiled as he spoke "That is wonderful, though i had expected he would be" She said softly with a bob of her head "Well, it is nice to meet you Blueprint but i must be off, you know all of that timey whimey stuff to take care of!" He shouted and sped off out the door galloping down the halls "I never will truely understand that stallion" Celestia laughed "Tia? Where does he live in the castle?" I pondered "He has his own wing next to the observatory" She answered The search and the adventure had begun! > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I awoke early the next day, the horizon just starting to brim with a warm orange glow. I had about twenty minutes before the sun peaked over the horizon. I was grateful for my dark colored coat and mane; it would make it easier to blend into the shadows. I trotted down the halls looking to and fro for any signs of the day or night guards. Maybe I caught them on shift change; or not. As i rounded the corner I collided with loud clunk of metal. The female guard pony looked down at me while i sat on my plot dazed. "Are you alright?" She spoke softly with a gentle smile on her face leaning down to my level "Erm.... Yes, i was trying to go to the observatory" I said while rubbing my skull. "Its actually down this hall here to the left, then take your first right, and then third left" She said drawing out a map with magic infront of me. I got up and started to follow directions, i had just made my first right when i ran into Captian Storm-sky. "You!" He shouted as we were the only one in the hall. Crap. "Your not getting away this time; now that you dont have your surrogate to protect you" He growled taking a defensive stance. More crap. "Why cant you just leave me alone?" I questioned "Because, you little runt. Your a pain in my flank" He growled yet again I walked up to him staring at him directly in the eye. "You cant touch me" I said "The buck I cant" He countered as his hoof connected with my cheek I was able to throw up my shield just in time to soften the blow but i was still sent skittering across the floor like a sack of potatoes. I lay there my cheek on fire. I felt it growing in me, the anger and power. I got up and reared up as he charged me and brought my hooves back to the marble floor two sets of blue sparks emanated from the contact each hoof step i took as i charged him. I cast a spell and a arc of blue magic whipped out and struck his metal plate denting it with tears running down my cheeks. I reared my head around causing the arc to hit his helmet and it threw him off balance staggering him. I was able to dodge him and run around him, i kept running down the halls until i skidded to a stop panting infront of two large metal doors with an hourglass enscribed in the center. I arrived. I tried to nudge the door open but it wouldnt budge, i tried using magic and it still wouldnt budge. What a waste, I make it all the way down here and I cant get in!. Well to make the most of my morning I'll go up into the observatory. With a huff and moving my mane out from my face with my breath I truged over to the observatory door and pushed it open. Letting my anger subside I trotted up the steps and sat on the dais watching the sun rise. Tia makes it looks so beautiful in the morning, I wonder if i can help!. I guess I could go through the royal library and read up on combat magic and defensive magic in case of anymore alterations with Captian Storm-sky. Getting up while swishing my tail I turned around and trotted down the stairs and out the door; turning to the left I followed the only signs which were markings in the posts of a set of stars to the royal library and the Star Swirl the bearded wing which meant I had to cross the gardens of the castle. The gardens loomed infront of me, guard ponies everywhere. Instead of trying to be stealthy I casually walked up to the front of the library and looked at both the guard ponies who paid me no attention. Maybe i was too short for them to notice? I walked between them and walked into the library. I had figured I was going to be stopped. I knew very little magic, what i did pick up was from the other ponies I had met before. Which were few and far between but i did pick up one or two spells here or there. Walking through the library I started to pick out books such as "The Psychology and Secrets of Pegasi", "Combat Magic 101" and "Defensive Magic 101". There were a few others I set on my back. Noting that i would need a saddle bag soon. I found a table and set all of my current books on it; my back now empty I searched for an illusions book. I trotted down the aisles for "I" once found I searched and searched for any book regarding illusions and was out of luck. I stamped my front hoof down and what happend next I wouldnt believe for it had never happened before. Suddenly the entire row of "I" turned dark blue and white lines covered it. I did not understand what it was or how I created it. I never had created anything like that before. I leaned inwards and touched it with the tip of my horn and it rippled like a disturbed pool of water. It looked like nothing had happend until my brain started to process the titles and positions of all the books on the shelf that had the word "Illusion" in it. The field went away and I still knew where those books where so I used my weak levitation to pull it off the shelf where it then dropped uncerimoneously onto the floor. "The Art of Illusions and Hiding". The title seemed useful so i picked it up with my teeth and it pulled me forward. This book was plain heavy but was serving its purpose. So i began to drag the book toward the table. Until a aura of green magic envoloped it and lifted the book and me into the air. "Good evening, I am Quill. The head librarian" Stated quill a dark green coated unicorn. I let the book go and dropped back to the floor. "It appears you are having trouble, let me help you. I can and will have these" She paused. "Interesting selections sent to Princess Celestias room for you." She said and suddenly all of the books i had picked out dissapeared. "Now it would be best if you got going, before I have to clean up the library" I got going, thanking Ms. Quill for sending those books off for me and bolted toward Tias' room. > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Stop!" A guards pony shouted "Hey!" Another shouted I kept running. I must get to the room! I burst through the doors and ran right into a purple flank causing us to both crash into a heap. A small giggle emanated from Celestia. I groaned and rubbed my head with a hoof and stood up shaking my head trying to clear it. I trotted over briskly to celestia and nuzzled her soft and warm coat she kissed my forehead lightly to dispell the pain. Twilight stood up and looked Celestia and I over an inquisitve look on her face. "I had heard about you adopting a colt princess" Twilight said putting on her glasses lowering her head down to my level and looked me over "Indeed you did, I had sent a letter explaining to you that I would require your assistance in his magical training." Celestia said smiling. "However since you arrived so unexpectedly, i would assume you havent read the letter yet" Twilight nodded "My apologies princess, but if you wish we can start his training whenever you like" Celestia looked down at me. "Would you like Ms. Sparkle to be your mentor in teaching you magic?" I had read about Ms. Sparkle and all of the things she has acomplished. She was number one in the dueling crowd and was the element of magic!. I sat star struck. "My personal mentor?" I stammered Celestia nodded. "I....uh...I" I blushed unable to speak "I believe what Blueprint is saying is that he would love for you to teach him" Celestia spoke for me "It would be an honor princess" Twilight said bowing slightly "There is no such need for formalities Twilight" Celestia said matter of factly "When do we start, princess?" Twilight looked a bit confused "Now, I had heard about your run in with the captian this morning Blueprint. So I deem that it is a good time for you to learn" Celestia pushed me forward with her nuzzle softly "Lets go then" Twilight said and a sudden crack of air we were sucked into space and time and popped back out inside of a glass dome. "Welcome my student to the Dueling arena" Twilight spoke with a smile a hint of pride in her voice. "I will teach you everything you need to know and then some" She monolouged while i sat quietly listening intently "First things first, lets test your ability. I will be taking notes." She spoke as she cast apparitions of herself standing infront of me. "Yes Ms. Sparkle." I said "First, Defensive magic" She said as one of the apparitions stepped forward. "Ready?" She asked I nodded and readied myself unsure of what was to come. Suddenly a bolt of magic came flying toward me, I threw up my shield and watched it rebound sliding back slightly with each hit. Twilight took notes. "Retaliate!" She yelled. "You must learn to defend and retaliate simeultaniously" I snorted and used conjured up my whip and struck at the apparition which side stepped the attack. I saw my pile of books on the floor. If I can do that thing again like i did to that book shelf maybe I can do that to learn books! As it dawned on me I sprinted toward the aparition and slid under its hooves as it reared up to engage me in hoof to hoof combat. Sprinting past twilight I tackled the book and rolling with it and using my magic to try to conjure up that ability again stamping my hoof in frustration as I had to hold up my shield to hold off my attacker. Suddenly the book turned blue and pulsed with white lines and i jerked my head back as my mind was filled with the entirety of the book. I stood stunned for a moment my brain having to reset itself to process all of the information. Once i opened my eyes again I stared at the apparition and let loose a blast of concussive force slamming and dispersing the first apparition. Apparently the book I picked at random was "Combat Magic 101". I walked over to the rest of the books and devoured them with my ability until Twilight touched my shoulder. "Blueprint that ability of yours is extraordinary!" She exclaimed "Is it my special talent?" I question a smile on my face my tail twitching with excitement. "Possibly but ive never seen a pony do something like that before especially use and conjure magic without their horn." She said a gleeful expression on her face. Suddenly a ring was placed around my horn. "This will stop you from being able to use your horn, you seem adept at conjuring that low classification whip. Try it" She said. I felt like a guinapig. I stopped for a second contemplating it and clapped my hooves together pulling them apart I noticed a white strand between them flickering and I stared at it harder and it seemed to flicker back into life and I dropped my other hoof and let it hang from one hoof, This was definitly new to me. I bit the strand and pulled on it, it stretched like it normally did. "So interesting!" She was giddy with excitement. She also started writing down detailed notes into her floating notebook. "Can i take off this ring now? It makes me feel funny" I looked up at her a slight pout on my lip. She obliged and removed it setting it back into a wooden box. "So your spell or natural talent you have lets you know the information of the book entirely without reading it?" She quiped I nodded "Ive always been able to do it when I was upset but its easier to do now" I replied. "That would make sense since younger unicorns are known for having fits of random emotional magic" She said, which I didnt argue with because her knowledge base rivaled that of the royal library. I suddenly felt a warm tingling sensation over my body and lavender aura covered me. "I am scanning you for any abnormalities" She said in my state of confusion I simply just sat there and let her. "You seem to have some learning disabilities and a genetic abnormality that does seem to affect you that much even though im not sure what it changed. So you are healthy but I think for today your training is done and I have much to read about. Its getting late so I will accompany you to the dining hall" She said with her usual tone of enjoyment. The apparitions dissapeared and so did the books as we walked through the doors and into the courtyard. Suddenly there was a loud thump behind me as a pegasus landed behind us. "Twilight sparkle and Blueprint, you both have been requested to make haste to the dining hall for dinner" Said the dark blue armor wearing guards pegasi. We both nodded. "We were already on route to the dining hall, sir" Twilight responded "Understoond Ms. Sparkle, I will report back to the princess" He said giving a salute. While he was saluting I ventured over to study his wings until my horn touched it and a faint spark connected with it. I froze. Terrified. I let out a whimper before I cried out in pure pain. > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prince Blueblood watched from the tower above the courtyard; looking down onto the scene below sipping his hot tea. The young colt in the courtyard was writhing in pain as the colt's horn slowly shrunk back into his skull and a pair of wings grew from his sides. He watched the scene with amusement reveling in the astonoshing achievement in his work. "Perfect" He said a small smile across his face jotting down in a notebook: It appears that the genectic modifications to the colt has finally taken effect. In due time he will learn that he can change between pegasi and unicorn at will* *It also appears that because of the genetic modifications he is able to use magic without a horn. Further investigation is required He closed the notebook and replaced it in the case file labeled "P.C.G.M." before rising and putting it back in his desk drawer, locking it with an audible click. ================================================================================================= Blueprint lay on his side panting in the courtyard whimpering in pain, now that the feeling of bones and cells being ripped apart and re molded to fit wings onto his small frame had dissapeared. His vision swam as he felt a warm touch of magic caress down his spine trying to soothe him. First it was his hearing that went. "Mooooooom" He softly groaned seeking comfort as a foal would then slowly his vision started to darken from the outer edges at last he had fallen unconcious just a whine was heard. Twilight looked down at him stunned and shocked. She had never seen a unicorn transform into a pegasi. She had given rarity wings but that was different. She sent out a distress signal to the only person she could think of and no more than a moment later a large white stallion with a dark blue mane popped out of thin air and rushed over slurring his words together. "TwilightIgotyourdistressandI'mherewhat'swrong" He said a crazed worried look in his eyes heaving for breath looking positivly disstressed. Twilight put a hoof to his shoulder still a bit mortified over the entire situation. "Its not me Shiny, it's Blueprint that needs your help." She spoke softly trying to stay calm Without a second word Shining Armor flipped the unconcious Blueprint onto his back and dissapated into air again. Doctor Whooves was sitting at a bench with his screwdriver clenched between his teeth repairing a T-RAM card when Shining Armor popped into his space. Doctor Whooves reeled sideways uttering a yelp as he fell out of his chair and his screwdriver clattering to the marble floor below. "GREAT SCOTT! SHINING ARMOR!" He bellowed in shock. Apparently the doctor was easy to startle. "Doctor, we need your help. Now" Shining said in an all buisness fashion plopping the unconcious Blueprint down on a cot softly. "Oh...dear" Doctor said softly a slight shake to his voice, his usual excitement gone. "Oh dear indeed" He repeated. "Shining, I think it would be best if you left him and went and notified the princesses" He said "Yes, Doctor" Shining said poofing into thin air again. The doctor cleared off a table and began to set up medical equipment. "I am grateful for the wonderful ponies machines on planet Theta-5531" He spoke to himself in his usual fashion but without the usual skip and hapiness, this time it was replaced with dread. He started with drawing a vial of Blueprints blood noticing it had a slight glow to it and setting it into one of his machines to run tests. The machine whirred and spun blinking with a red light to indicate it was on; while he waited he hooked up blueprint to various monitoring devices. "Apparently I was correct about this" He sighed confirming his suspiscions of when he first encountered Blueprint. ================================================================================================= Shining Armor poofed back into place infront of Celestia's throne recieveing a collective gasp from the gallery. He let out a breath of exaughstion. Teleporting took alot of effort. "Princess! Blueprint is unconcious and I left him in the care of Doctor Whooves." He proclaimed walking forward to confront the princess directly. Celestia sat in her throne and the solar wind immidietly stopped flowing and her mane and tail returned to its pink state. A visible sense of fear came over her as her pupils dilated and her breath came in quick rapid strokes. "Take me to them now Shining Armor" She said panic rising in her voice speaking as if something was lodged in her throat rising from her throne quickly. Shining Armor simply noded and they both poofed into thin air without a second word. Twilight Sparkle had been helping Doctor Whooves take care of his wing doing this and that while he watched over Blueprint like a hawk. Neither of them talked much but she had cleaned everywhere and was checking off her list. *Organize books Alphabetize *Put all things into a container *Gather all ties *Sort all ties by color Then Length Then Material The Doctor did not have many things in his wing. Mostly ties, everywhere. A quiet knocked sounded at the door before it burst open in a film of golden magic; Shining Armors hoof still raised. "Doctor!" She said her voice raised "He is fine, Celestia" He said not bothering to look at her "Then why did I sense the panic in his mind!" She said stalking angerly toward him a snap in her step, an air of anger emenated from her as she flicked her wings in annoyance. "Because, you adopted him and your magical ability has caused you to link with him psychologically" Doctor Whooves stated dryly taking a sip of the coffee in his plaid mug. "There is nothing i can do positivly at this moment to help him, he is sleeping now which I am thankful for I was afraid he would be in a comatose state." She gave a long sigh. Twilight took a seat. Shining armor was dissmissed and even luna came to sit beside celestia while they watched Blueprint sleep. There wasnt much to do besides wait. > Dreams: 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rubbing my face with my hooves slowly; one eye cracked open. Looking around the sky was blue and there were no clouds; infact what he was laying on he could not identify. It was slightly moist but very fluffy and felt weightless laying there. A flutter of wings roused him from his stupor as his what Blueprint guessed was cloud moved and wobbled slightly adjusting to the pressure change. Looking around there were not one but two other colts forming a triangle waiting for him to rise. One a earth pony and one a pegasi. They were sitting patiently waiting for Blueprint to rise from his stupor. The grogginess slowly melting away and resisding in his his joints. "Welcome" They said in unison one voice slightly higher than the other while the next was a deeper voice. "Where am I?" He asked slowly still rubbing his temple "We are in your mind" They once again spoke in unison. "Who are both of you?" He blurted out taking a seat by plopping his plot down on the cloud. "We. Are. You. We represent the best traits of you; essentially we make up you up with the inclusion of the physical form of you" They said in time with each other "I am a unicorn though" He spoke softly genuinly confused before he realized there subtle differences between himself and himselves? "We know" They said. He didnt speak just watched the two colts. The pegasi seemed to be slightly slow cognativly but seemed to understand flying fairly well as the colt stretched his wings out flapping them testingly and then clopping his hooves together a spread of glee on his face. Blueprint understood what they represented. The pegasi was mentally a little bit slow and seemed to be almost child like in his emotions and simplicity. Granted they were colts, but it was obvious. The earth colt however wore a set of spectacles on his snout but looked mildly depressed but highly intelligent and out of place. He was out of place but seemed to have a softer side too him. He gave a soft sigh and laid down placing his hooves underhim and resting his muzzle against the cloud closing his eyes peacefully. He was more mature beyond his years; something clicked in Blueprints brain. So one of them is extremely intelligent and the other is not so. Blueprint thought trying not to be obvious about watching them while they waited for Blueprint to give a reply "You say you both make me, me?" Blueprint asked tenativly with a questioning gaze. "Yes" They said. The earth pony said with a sigh with a mild annoyed tone. The pegasi said it with enthusiasm and excitement. "If i am the physical portion of all three of us; then why am i here?" He looked between them. All of a sudden a soft female voice spoke quietly as she appeared in the center of the triangle. "You are here, Blueprint, because your body is recovering in the real world and this is a place you can be whenever you need to heal." She spoke with a smile. As if reading Blueprint's mind she answered his next question. "Yes, I am also part of you. If i wasnt you would not be so...How would you say, emotional" She gave a giggle. "You will not be here much longer, little one" She said rising looking very much like a mother speaking to her own foal with a soft calming voice that Blueprint enjoyed causing him to close his eyes and feel the breeze around him. The pegasi rose and dove off the cloud Blueprint could hear him screaming with joy at flight. So simple the pegasi was. The earth pony looked puzzled and simply trotted down the banks of clouds that made a makeshift staircase. Thus left Blueprint with the emotions pony. Blueprint had no idea his mind was capable of such wonders. He would have to consult. Celes.....Mom or Auntie Luna on this matter. "I think it is time you go back" She said softly and touched his horn a soft white spark of magic transpiring between them. "I am glad you could find yourself completley, embrace it". With that Blueprint began to fall down through the clouds a blinding torrent of white fluffly clouds rushing past him as his eyes began to feel heavy and hooves splayed out infront of him. Blinking slowly eyes getting heavier; the sound of air rushing past his ears as he picked up speed too tired to do anything but enjoy the feeling; his joints and limbs felt heavier the further away he got from the cloud a small smile on his face for feeling serene and perfectly calm, exaughsted. The emotions pony jumped after Blueprint, going into a headlong dive keeping her hooves close to herself as she sped to catch up to him. The air whipped her mane back and tail straight; tears forming and being whipped away by the increasing speed of her fall. She was reluctant to let him go so easily but there were consequences for staying here too long and it would pain her too much to keep him here longer. The earth pony watched them fall with dry amusment on the verge of boredom. His higher than average IQ made many things boring for him. Adjusting his glasses he continued to watch. Just being an earth pony had its disadvantages however; he was an engineer but sadly without a unicorn assistant many of his plans and drawns would never had come to fruition. The emotional pony caught up with Blueprint and touched his head again softly, her warm hoof caressing his cheek looking into Blueprint's sapphire blue eyes. "Sleep and go back to your own world, we will speak again. Remember to not loose yourself" She said softly into his ear giving his cheek a gentle kiss to send him off. Blueprint lost conciousness in his dream constructed world just before hitting the beckoning green earth below. > Chapter 7 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- With the feeling sudden weight being pushed against his joints his entire body spasming and jerking forward as if he had been shocked. Blueprint eyes snapped violently open as he felt his wings flare out in panic a tear rolling down his cheek. Blueprint bycicled his hooves his breathing erratic and short. MUST FLY! FLY! GET AWAY! His mind screamed with his fight or flight instincts taking over and up was the only option. His heart beat pounding into his ears and drowning out all other sounds he began flapping his wings mindlessly. Blueprint strained but could not achieve any altitude his heart racing more like quivering in his chest a loud but steady rapid beep rapped in time with his heartbeat. Floundering over the side of the bed and onto his hooves just about spring him off the ground to take flight a tight cylinder of a brown hoof pushed down right between his wings making them go limp no matter how hard Blueprint tried to flap. Blinded by the dream Blueprint still felt like he needed to get away from falling to the ground. Arching his back away from the hoof that pushed him down he tried to get away from it scraping his hooves down across the marble floors getting nowhere mewling and whinning loudly like a scared foal. "Blueprint, your alright. Your just dreaming" Doctor whooves said slowly and quietly almost whispering trying to coax Blueprint slowly out of the dream. "Blueprint" Doctor whooves spoke again softly. Slowly like unwinding a clock Blueprint began to come out of the dream the grogginess set in and Blueprint stopped struggling under Doctor Whooves hoof and laid himself flat against the marble floor laying his head down. Doctor Whooves reluctantly released some of the pressure off of Blueprints back. Blueprint lay still unmoving, unblinking and hardly breathing still trapped in a slight mixture of fear and confusion of what events had just occured. Blueprint was unfocused in his vision but was coming to grips with reality. A slight shake had embedded itself in Blueprints spine causing his vision to ripple slightly everytime it coursed through him. "Blueprint?" Doctor Whooves asked more of as a question with a concerned look in his eyes and even more obviously on his face. He studied Blueprint closely to make sure Blueprint was still alive. At hearing his name called, Blueprint fully snapped back to reality completley. The large white washed marble room the Doctor had called his wing filtered back into place. A bed sat invitingly to Blueprints right and an I.V was stuck into his hoof probably keeping him hydrated. Blueprint blinked a couple times trying to grasp what happend but his memory was lost to him such as normal for dreams not to be remembered always. "Doctor?" Blueprint asked looking up at him craning his neck using his breath to throw his wild mane out of his face. "Yes Blueprint?" Doctor hooves looked down at him seemingly unfazed by the events that had just occured. Though supposing one as old as he pretty much left you with nothing new in the universe to experience even with all that timey whimey stuff. "What just happend, why am I on the floor?" Blueprint asked cautiously with intrepid curiousity. "You had quite the vivid dream." Doctor Whooves stated planely unwilling to budge on the subject even though Blueprint began to pester him about it. "Your aunt Luna wishes to see you" Doctor Whooves said in mild irritation after nearly shoving his hoof in Blueprints mouth or possibly drugging him back to sleep again. Aunt Luna or Auntie Luna as Blueprint had taken to calling her waiting in almost anticipated impatience. Her silver clad hooves scraped against the marble as Luna waited her starry mane flowed in a unseen breeze. She got bored and sat her flank against the cool tiles of marble and decided to wait patiently by balancing a book on the end of her snout and practice the art of not moving in order to keep the book as still as possible. As childish as it was, it was a wonderful past time with the royal sisters generally going for days on end. Coughing lightly Luna nearly dropped the book on the floor and caught it with her magic before it struck the tiles and levitated it back to the shelf. Another soft cough emanated from the door way as the speaker was trying to supress laughter. With a sudden rush of grey pegasi in her face Blueprint errupted with glee. "AUNT LUNA AUNT LUNA! YOU CAME TO SEE ME!" Blueprint shouted at the top of his lungs nearing the point of the canterlot voice. Excitement poured out of him like waves of energy genuinly eager to see his aunt, related or not. "Hast Thou not expected your dearest Luna to come see thy blueprint?" She questioned raising one of her eyebrows Blueprint raced around Luna in circles nuzzling at her affectionatly with a big smile. "That ist better" Luna said quietly pulling Blueprint into a large hug and she in return showered him with love and affection. "I hath come to give thou a break from being couped up in here all day with Doctor Whooves" She said jokingly poking fun at the doctor. "Come Blueprint" Luna said more as a command. Thus Bluprint followed her. Doctor Whooves went back to his desk and looked down at the open brown leather notebook sitting amongst the clutter. A sneer on his face as he began to read his passage that he wrote: After running tests on Blueprints DNA and genetics as well as blood it appears that Blueprint is not 100% pony. His DNA has been changed and spliced together with what appears to be an unidentifiable source. From the UDNAS (Unidentifiable DNA Source) I was able to understand that it changes the appearence and attributes of the carrier. At this point I am unsure whether this is a contagion or not, after running more tests it appears it is not spreadable through bodily fluids nor is it a virus but i cannot say that it is 100% safe because it may be spreadable through the transmission of blood. Futher tests and studies are required into how this new strain of DNA works. However; I was able to take a strain of my own DNA and put it under a microscope against Blueprints after I coded each of our DNA's to show what traits were placed where. When the two strains collided the UDNAS took the more prominent of my traits and added them to its own carriers DNA. However it did not take the parts of my DNA to change the carriers appearence only certain traits are taken like hearing or vision; or in our case it took a pegasi's wings and then compared those wings to Blueprints small frame and rejected those wings so it modified the DNA it was trying to take into something that would suit the carriers body better. This gave the carrier the perfect set of wings for his body at this time, it is unknown if the wings will adapt and grow as the carrier does. I destroyed our particular strain with acid i poured into the tray. The UDNAS seems to not always take the traits of another ponys DNA when the collision happens. I am afraid that this may affect what these ponies call a "Special talent" because if the UDNAS were to adjust or add to Blueprints special talent it could have severe consequences. Blueprint already seems to be able to learn just about anything with a spell that was embedded into his cortex aswell as the blueprinting spell; which ill assume is why his name is Blueprint. If the UDNAS and the spell were used together as an example if Pony A had the ability to heal. Then the UDNAS would be able to take that spell thats used from Pony A and add it to his cortex of spells. Think of it as accelerated learning but not as quickly as Twilight Sparkle. Though I have noticed there are limitations to my theory. These are due to Blueprints brain already having disabilities which I will have to look into in depth. Whatever pony did this to him as a science project I am intruiged to meet but they are without a doubt a monster for doing this to Blueprint. On a side note: I believe Twilight Sparkle is the best suited teacher for Blueprint at this time. With a snort he shut the notebook and rewrapped the black cord around it to keep it shut disgusted but intruiged by what was actually going on. Dropping the book back onto the table Doctor Whooves walked out into the night on his balcony and overheard two ponies speaking. One with quite excitement and one speaking with controlled amusement. "Aunt Luna! What is that con...conste...constellation!" Blueprint asked in awe of his aunts knowledge of the stars. Well it was her night sky after all. "That is the Ursa major constellation, and if you look to the right that is the star Sirius" Luna said her body language soft and she she smiled as she spoke; it had been awhile since anypony took as much excited interested as Blueprint did. "Wowwwww" Blueprint said in a breathy voice overwhelmed that his aunt had made this all and made it every night. "Would you like to see a star up close?" She asked looking down at him her eyebrows raised as she flicked her wings and huddled Blueprint closer to her. Blueprint nodded so furiously it caused him to sneeze. Which made Luna erupt in a fit of giggles and she ruffled the hair on Blueprints mane. She placed her hooves together and a bit of alicorn magic caused the air around them to suck into a visible sphere between her hooves. "What are you doing?" Blueprint inquired "Just watch" Luna spoke as she concentrated on the whirling ball of gasses as it suddenly erupted from the center expanding outwards till it touched her whooves and then it shrank back slightly pulsing with light and energy. "You see, stars are nothing more than a ball of gas that is on fire. Now this is not a complete star but it will burn indefinitly using the air around it to fuel itself. The Stars I have up there in the night sky use what is called fisson to burn." Luna spoke informativly looking down at Blueprint who was eyeing the faux star with curiousity and wonder and the star that was burning a cool blue color and was white in the center for it was an easily understood concept to explain it that way to the younger ponies. "This is also a cold star, it is called that because it emits nearly no heat above 80 degrees E." She spoke much like a teacher would to a student. "Aunt Luna" Blueprint said looking up at her barely able to tear his eyes away from the star. "Yes Blueprint?" Luna asked. "Can I keep it in my room near the ceiling?" Blueprint asked still awed by the star and his aunts abilities. "Certainly" Luna said with a soft giggle and suddenly the star was whisked away in a pop of light. Soon there after Luna was laying down with Blueprint nestled under her wing fast asleep and snoring lightly but audibly. "Luna are you alright out here?" Celestia came up to the balcony for it was almost dawn. "Yes I am sister, but be soft for the little one is fast asleep." Luna said smiling "It appears he loves spending time with his aunt Luna" said Celestia with a smile laying down next to Luna and the fast asleep Blueprint. "It truely a wonderful twilight tonight." Luna said smiling. "That it is dear sister." Celestia smiled back at her sister and nuzzled her affectionatly. Over in a tower of the castle adorned with its white marble and bronze regalia. Blueblood sat at his writing desk looking distraught as cups of coffee seemed spilled and stacked around the room towering as high as the ceiling. He was feverishly writing in a notebook concerned and sweating. Day 7: Blueprint is missing and I have not been able to conduct a search due to my.... obligations to my work. I must find him quickly in order to study him and the effects of the modifications. As Blueblood finished writing and closing the notebook a large white pegasi landed with a soft pattering of hooves as he bled off speed approaching the balcony doors which were thrown open. "Captian, I am glad you could make it" Blueblood said with a dry amusment a hint of his accent seeping through his facade. In Bluebloods mind he knew what the end result was going to be. The Captian saluted Blueblood and bowed slightly. "I have been unable to find him, he is getting stronger though. I have been testing him as you have asked; it appears that Twilight Sparkle has become his personal mentor" The captain spoke with a frown. An audible hiss came from Blueblood just as the captain was jerked up against the wall a aura of white magic around his throat constricting it tightly. "Find him before you fail me again and this last time may be the last assignment I give you before you wind up sitting before Faust herself; I must go find a way to deal with Ms. Twilight. Sparkle. before she meddles unconciously into my affairs." Blueblood said neatly and quietly before adjusting his monacle coughing once and dropping the captain onto the floor with a loud thump before turning away and striding out of his chambers. The captain coughed and gasped for air rubbing his neck with his hooves before diving off the balcony to the gardens below. Not wanting to again fail. > Chapter 8 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colts and fillies ran and played some taking flight and trying easy tricks and rolls across the playground. A young Storm-sky stood atop the cloud dome nervously as he flicked his wings testingly in the light breeze. He was small for his age and lanky not to mention a blank flank; most of the colts made fun of him for his oversized wings and his emotional sensativity. One of his largest fears was falling from the sky which he did often because of his larger than average wings. The wings made it hard to stay aloft because he did not have all of the strength required to propel himself for long distances. Storm-sky stood there peering over the dome. His friends said it was easy to fly from up there with the breeze always blowing. He opened his wings to take off when he heard a snickering from behind. "Are you going to try to fly from here "Sob"-sky?" The bullied tormented. The bullies had been taking a likeness to calling him Sob-sky for the few occasions he broke down and cried from his insecurities about flight. Storm-sky snapped his wings shut with a rustle of feathers a blush crossing his face. "Ummmm..." Storm-sky could say nothing in regards to the bullys question. "How about I give you a little help!" The bully sneered stalking towards Storm-sky trying to get Storm-sky to slip and fall. The fall would not have hurt Storm-sky due to the fact that below was made out of soft cushiony cloud but the fear of falling was still there; it had been months of torment and Storm-sky had just about enough. With a stomp of Storm-skys hoof more for effect and a snort he flared his wings out. "NO! I will work on my flying by myself and I dont need help from someone like you! Your just a no good featherless bully." Storm-sky shouted back. Calling a fellow pegasi featherless was an offense most pegasi got sent to the head principals office. Storm-sky always had stuck up for others in the past because he felt right helping others. "What did you just call me?" The bully said darkly and lowly lowering his head slightly "Featherless!" Storm-sky shouted again. At this point a gaggle of fellow students who had gathered all gasped wide eyed in shock. Some murmered back and forth with each other in awe of their fellow student and the words he chose to use. "Im going to squash you!" The bullied charged at him wings raised and ready to fight. Storm-sky using his oversized wings launched himself like a rocket off the cloud dome racing high into the cloud layer. The bully followed closely behind; as the air got thinner and the clouds got darker streaks of lightning arced across the clouds. A storm was brewing; no colts or fillies had been up this high that he knew of. Storm-skys larger wings helped propel him through the constantly thining air. The bully latched on Storm-skys hoof and hung on until Storm-sky buffeted the bully with his wings a resound crack to the air shaking the bully off. Once again they flew until a blinding light made it feel like Storm-sky was frozen in mid air; the sizzling of his fur and mane and the feeling of something hot and slick being etched into his front left hoof and shoulder. His eyes fluttered shut and he began to fall back to the cloud below. Storm-sky shot awake a cold sweat had broken out across his brow and he had been weeping in his sleep. He rubbed his Lichtenberg figure on his left shoulder tracing it down his hoof. The mere nightmare of how he recieved his storm cloud and lightning cutie mark haunted him; it was rare for him to dream about that, he mostly dreamed about mares. However he was commited to his work and did not indudlge in those fantasies. His thoughts doubted him however; the inner mind working itself to a conclusion about Blueblood. A couple weeks later Blueprint was sunning himself lazily in the gardens. Laying there without a care in the world a flutter of wings alerting him to a precense of at least a pegasi and possibly an alicorn. Blueprint looked up at the face of none other than Captain Storm-sky. Blueprint fluttered his wings in order to put some distance between them expecting a fight. The Captain dove forward catching Blueprint unaware and too quickly for Blueprint to act. The captain barreled over Blueprint pinning him down on Blueprint's back wings splayed out underneath him a soft whimper left Blueprint's muzzle. "Shhhh. Kid. I dont want to hurt you; I'm not here to hurt you." Captain Storm-sky spoke softly into Blueprint's ear trying not to make a scene or draw attention. "Do you understand?" Captain asked slowly. Blueprint nodded slowly trying to comply the best he could. The captain smiled; he was treating Blueprint just as he would his own colt. Internally priding himself The captain sat and released Blueprint before flopping down tiredly on his side. "Why are you here?" Blueprint asked with a small amount of acidity to his voice. "Im here, because who I work for reminds me of someone who bullied me along time ago" Storm-sky spoke in a soft tone trying to sound as gentle as possible. "I came to apologize to you, Blueprint." The captain spoke slowly letting Blueprint process the information. Before Blueprint could say anything Storm-sky took off looking only back to say. "I'm sorry." > Chapter 9 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Months had passed, Summer had come and gone; many shenanigans with Blueprint and Luna had happened. Nightmare night was tonight. “Oh, Blueprint!”, Luna called from the hallway as she trotted toward his door. Luna's starry mane trailing behind her as her hooves clopped along the floor. Blueprint rolled out of bed falling onto the nice plush area rug he had bought himself after saving up the bits; he had become accustomed to his aunts amusements and the time of the night where she was most likely to rouse him from slumber. Getting to his hooves still groggy from being asleep he shook out his mane as best he could and lazily stepped to the large double doors too lazy to conjure up magic Blueprint pushed down the handle with a wing. “Yes, Auntie?” Blueprint asked looking up to see Luna looking down at him. “Why does thou not use magic, like thyself?”, Luna asked since it was the first thing to come to the forefront of her mind. “I use it sparingly Auntie. Now what is it you woke me about?”, Blueprint asked tail swishing tiredly. “It is a celebration! For the Nightmare Holiday hast begun!” Luna shouted flaring her wings proudly. Nightmare Night was Luna's Holiday after all. “Auntie, Nightmare Night isn't until tonight.”, Blueprint spoke softly still half asleep his wings drooping with exhaustion. “But!”, Luna said a bit wilted. “It is night time and it is day of Nightmare night.” Blueprint looked up at his aunt noticing that she seemed and looked hurt by his words. Surrogate or not Blueprint did love his new family. “Alright, we can go terrorize the solar guards” Blueprint said with a smile and an affectionate nuzzle toward his aunt. “HUZZAH!” Luna shouted with gale wind force and throwing her front hooves high into the air in triumph, causing Blueprint to flap his wings to say upright. Terrorizing the solar guards had become quite the past time for Luna and Blueprint even if it meant Blueprint lost some sleep “We knew we could get you to help! Give us a moment to get ready” She grinned. She began her chant quietly her mouth barely moving. In the night we rend, to the fear we tend. Lust and Fight makes us right. To the weak we weep To the strong we reap In this night let us fight. Poof! Nightmare Lunamoon. “Are we ready?”, Luna's quiet sultry and seductive voice asked. “As always Auntie”, Blueprint said trotting out the door. Luna cantered next to him gleefully. A few minutes later. Luna had used magic to make herself look just like a statue of herself in her “Nightmare” form meant for war. She now stood on a pedestal stock still breathing from her stomach so she wasn’t noticeable. Blueprint lurked around behind a pillar. Two solar guards in full armor stood on either side of the pedestal unknowing of the living statue above them. Luna leaned down and whispered quietly into the guards ear. “Hello” She said simply and quietly before snapping back to her pose on the pedestal before he could look toward her. “Hey, did you hear that?” Left Guard said. “No.” Right guard replied. Luna stayed quiet and leaned down to the right guard this time and whispered in his ear. “Your not imagining things at all” Luna spoke softly using a tendril of magic to rub behind his ear slowly before once again snapping back to her pose. “Hey, did you hear something?” Right Guard said a bit apprehensively. “Nope.” Left guard said flatly. Luna looked at both of them with a wide grin without being noticed. Removing the statute cloak. Speaking loudly to both of them this time; her Nightmare regalia gleaming. “Hello boys!” Both guards screamed like mares in spring and ran off before crashing headfirst into each other. Little stars circled their helmets as their eyes revolved in their sockets both groaning in pain. Luna and Blueprint were no where to be seen when the guards came to their senses and noticed the statute was gone. Luna and Blueprint laughed and chuckled together as they strolled along to the next destination in mind. “Blueprint, The kitchens?” Luna asked looking down at Blueprint. “Agreed!” Blueprint said merrily trotting along with Luna down the hallways of the castle. The kitchen doors loomed ahead. Luna's nightmare regalia clinked as she stepped closer to the large white double doors. Crouching low blueprint stalked behind Luna much like a timber wolf stalking it's prey. Luna hid in the shadows between two pillars, her blue feral snake like eyes glowing ominously against the blackness of the shadows. “Ok, Blueprint go to the door and open it” Luna spoke softly and quietly not wanting to alert anyone. Doing as he was told Blueprint nudged the door open and retreated back into the shadows, his ashen gray coat blending in nicely with the marble walls. Not to long after a flour covered server stepped into the hallway to inspect the ajar door. Turning to close it she made the mistake of turning her back to Luna. Who stepped out of the shadows and nipped the tip of the servers ear. “Hullo there.”, Luna cooed softly The server gasped and whirled around. “P...Princess Luna! I didn’t recognize you.”, The server stammered. “My, my what beautiful aqua eyes you have.” Luna said stroking her face softly with a hoof. The server mare blushed wildly and averted her gaze as best she could. “My chambers now. I will come for you later.” Luna spoke seductively again before releasing the mare. The mare scurried off. Luna coming back to reality blinked a few times and looked over at Blueprint. “We will get Cele in the morning”? Luna said with a smile her nightmare regalia dissipating into nothing. Blueprint simply nodded slinking out of the shadows and standing next to Luna. Luna simply grinned as her horn ignited and her starry mane began to mold and shape itself slowly into a ball above her head. Afro Luna! Blueprint giggled and fell over onto his back laughing wildly. Luna gave a soft giggle before cantering toward the throne room. Blueprint flitted above Luna flapping his wings idly. “What are we doing now?”, Blueprint asked looking down at Luna. “Well little Blueprint, I think its best that you go back to bed and we will get Cele in the morning during tea.” Luna spoke tipping her head back to see up at Blueprint. Blueprint nodded and dropped back onto the marble floors. “Goodnight Auntie, I always have fun with you.” Blueprint spoke with a blush looking at the floor. “As I do as well” Luna said with a smile. “Be off, I have duties to attend to and a colt needs his sleep in order to become a stallion.”