As I slowly regain conscience, my ears slowly detect a low tune being sing by someone near me from the left. It was relaxing and sooting, almost like when Chrysalis used to hold when I wake up in the hive for the first time. I manage to let go of everything and simple enjoy the sensation before remembering everything and what Chrysalis did to me.
In fear I jump out of the bed, resulting in the sheets wrapping around my body, making me loss m balance and almost hit the floor, but that happen my body stop in mid air and soon discover that I was being held in someone magic and lifting me up.
"Oh my…are you ok? please don't be afraid, you are safe now" The unmistakable voice of Celestia told me as I was slowly put in bed again facing directly at her she was wearing her typical white toga with golden regalia and crown, her mane was slightly messy and there were some bags under her eyes, but besides that she was still giving the royal and beauty appearance she was know for as one of the co rulers of the land with her hourglass figure, fur as white as snow, and rainbow flowing mare moving on an perpetual and invisible breeze.
"Pr…Princ…"Before I was able to say a word she already wrap her arms around my own, just like she did on the first day I was pretending to be Blueblood, confusing me to no end, as I look at my arms to ensure that I was not in disguise. "Oh my sweet child, you have no idea how much I miss you"
"Princess Celestia, what are you…?"
Once more I try to speak only to be interrupted again, this time for the door of the room opening and from it see princess Luna and princess Miamore entering. Luna like her sister was also wearing a type of toga with the difference that her was blue instead of white, her regalia was silver instead of gold and the crown was smaller, she also had some bags under her eyes but was looking better than her sister. Miamore on the other hand looked perfectly fine, with her pink toga, golden bracelets and crown as her only jewellery and some minor makeup on her face that accentuated her already beautiful figure that even Chrysalis was jealous of and didn't mind the opportunity of exploiting it while impersonating her. In fact jogging some of my memory I recall Freya and Tempress pretending to be the sisters too when we were preparing for the invasion, mentioning how their bodies and faces where ones that they were particularly eager to take.
An image that now that I could see them up close understand more clearly why they were getting in patient and put a small smile on my face thinking on how angry they and any other changelight must be feeling when they discover that impersonate them would be imposible. My train of though whoever was interrupted the moment princess Luna spoke.
"Tia! Are you ok? We heard screaming and we though…" Luna stop as she spot us.
"Oh he is awake!" Cadence let go a big shrink, similar to one a teenager mare would make, before rushing to me join the hug as well "Oh I have so many questions, do you know me? how does love taste? did you took some love off Rarity? Did it hurt when trans…?"
Starting to panic I push them both away from be and start to wake up "W…what are you doing?! What is going on!" Suddenly I felt something in my back pushing me into the air and making me felt on the floor, and when I look back I did notices two big blue wings with white feathers attach to it.
I stare in shock at them before looking at them again who were all looking at me with a mixture of confusion and concern "What did you do to my body?!"
Once I manage to calm down enough the princesses started to explain all the events that happen after my petrification, how despite my best efforts, Tempress did manage to kidnap them, how Mother Chrysalis basically won and took control of everything, how four unlikely individuals manage to fool her and rescue everyone (witch I still find hard to believed consider the security measure Chitin was more than obsess and like to left behind all over the castle, and that Tempress was there…even if injured) and how the hive has forever changed.
At first I didn't believed them, but once Thorax enter the room I knew how serious they were. Instead of being another copy of soldier changeling his shell was now green, his arms orange and instead of a single horn he had two big horns making him resemble more a moose than a changeling, not only that but the transformation made him and the others grow, when normal changelings had a regular 5. 6 or 5. 8 foot height, he now had at least 6.5 or 6. 7 give or take, and the new changelings now had a regular height of 6.
Like it was expected Freya was taken into custody and was now awaiting trial while I was inform that Cicada decided to join the change when it was offer to her. As for the rest, they have being mark fugitive and its presume that they escape, Chrysalis has being the only one confirm since everyone saw her run; Exos and Chitin were still in Ponyville when the bomb exploit so there is a strong possibility that they were trap on the blast, (something that I dough consider how skill is Chitin avoiding that kind of situations) and, after leaving the hive to find a cure for my 'parting gift' Tempress has being nowhere to be found. Whatever the case, all of them are alone, weak or both and it will be very unlikely that any of them would become a real treat on a near future.
Part of me was happy to know that Cicada wasn't ok with the charade, they all pull on me but was conviced that it was the only way for me to cooperate and they told her that it was just temporary… Still the wound is still very fresh and I not ready to face her yet. That is why I didn't ask to see her or Freya and instead ask that those two didn't know about my returning, there was still a lot in my mind and I fear that I would do something violent if I see their faces. Something that the princesses reluctantly agree after some convincing.
And speaking of changes, now that the hype was over, I decided to take the opportunity to see my new body in front of a full body mirror in the room, to admire the new 'form' I was given into. First because I had wings, for now I couldn't wear a shirt so that means that I would be force to walk around shirtless in my slightly buffer and fit chest as well as my skin that had acquired a light tan. Thanks to that, and the bandages, wrap around my forearms and forehead I couldn't help but feel like I was ready to be selected on a street fighter game.
Great, I pass from being Baraka to be Ryu I mentally say before continue to see the new changes.
Because of the bandage I couldn't really see if I still had the shell crown on but I could see that my hair had grown a couple of inches and instead of the spike short style I used to have, I was now wearing a more straight and lighter version of it, I had a small goat beard and my eyes although still green had little more bright than before, very similar to princess Luna eye color. Other than that, and the addition of wings I couldn't find any other changes making me sigh in relief, as the fear of me less and less human was wash away.
"It really suits you" The voice of Celestia broke my line of though, as I turn around to face both her, and the other two princess and the newly crown Thorax. "Your changeling appearance did have its merits but this new form of yours really do justice to your natural beauty" She say with a smile before turning to Thorax "No offence"
"None taken, I think the same, after all, the first change was though so he look scary I think this one makes him show what he really is"
I just stare at them for a second before looking at the mirror again in sadness "Kabuto what is wrong?" Looking up I could see princess Miamore throw the mirror approaching me with concern "Don't you like your new body?"
"Why did you brought me back?"
"What?"
"Why did you brought me back Miamore?" I say before looking at them "That night I had already made peace with my sins, I was willing to give up and just accept my destine as the monster everyone keep saying I'm. If everything was solve and the war is over, then why did you brought me back? What could you possible gain by giving me; an ancient monster, a new body with new powers?"
To my surprise all three were just smiling at me like they were just waiting for me to finish so they could talk, and then they simple shake their head "None of us wish to gain anything from this, we only wanted to give you what you deserve" Luna answers.
"And what is that?"
"A second chance" Celestia say as she approach me
"What?" I ask in complete shock as she put her hand on my check "Even though we meet under less that ideals circumstances, when the moment of truth arrive and a decision needed to be made you choose to do the right thing, and not even being control stop you from making that choose, from that moment on, I knew that you really were deserving of a second chance at life, an opportunity to make amends for everything…" Once again I found myself in yet another hug "…and for us to be a family again"
"F…family?" I ask in shock as the other princess only nod and smile "Don't even try to deny it cousin, we know the story"
"I…I don't understand"
"Kabuto…that story that Chrysalis told you about, the one about her being your mother…it was truth, only that she wasn't the reincarnation" Thorax said taking a step forward
"What…b…but that means"
Celestia let me go and I could see how she had teary eyes on her face "Please Jeremy, just say it one more time"
I didn't knew when it happen but I was starting to tear up as well "Mom?"
Celestia openly wip and hug me once more. Her hug felt nice and comfortable I feel safe, and love, and this one felt real, Chrysalis might have made a really convincing act, it didn't hold a candle to Celestia touch, it was in that moment I knew it, all those feeling, all what I experience in Canterlot, it was real and I now knew why, my real mother was in there all along.
"Oh Jeremy, I really had wish we have meet in some other circumstance, but never the least I'm so happy to have you in my arms once more, and this time I promise, I will not go anywhere"
For the first time I smile and return the hug trying to remember every second of it.
"Oh by the way cousin, its Cadence" The princess butt in "Just call me Cadence, that Miamore stuff, its not exactly my style so if possible don't call me that ok?"
"Je ok Cadence…as for me, just call me Caeruleo. Just…Caeruleo"
That gains the attention of everyone who just look at me in confusion "Ever since I arrive at Equestria everything I have know has being a lie, all except my time in Canterlot, so I want to keep having that name, I mean if Blueblood really don't want it, I will gladly take it"
Celestia and smile and then nod "I think its fits you sweetie, and if that is what you wish then I will not be oppose"
"Not arguments here, I think its really suits my nephew" Luna tells.
"And prince Jeremy, and prince Kabuto didn't exactly sounded all that good anyway" Cadence say with a shrug "I think Caeruleo works better, and like you say Blueblood didn't like it, so I don't think he will mind all that much"
I nod at them and look down "Thank for understanding"
"Anytime cousin"