We stood right outside Kenny’s house, right across the street. It was a white, two-story house with a front porch, a garage, capable of storing two cars inside and on the lawn was a flower garden with different types of flowers. I gave a short laugh and I looked at it. “Heh, I always kinda knew he would still be living in this place.” I pointed out.
“Morgan,” Shift spoke up. “If it’s ok, I think I’ll be the one to tell them of your presence here.”
“That won’t be necessary Shift,” I replied as she looked at me in confusion.
“A-are you sure?” She questioned. “What if he-”
“If he thinks that I’m a Changeling in disguise… Well, I have something that will change his mind.” I stated, patting one of my pockets.
She nodded, hoping that nothing bad will come out of it. I don’t blame her for not wanting me the first person Kenny sees at his door. People have changed a lot over the years cause In this world, with shapeshifting Changelings all over the place, you can’t trust anybody anymore, even if they may seem friendly. While on scavenging missions, Jacob and I have met a few people who held up their weapons at us, thinking that we were Changelings. We were able to convince them by answering questions that they would ask. They would be simple questions like ‘who won the world series 2014’ or ‘name one contestant that was on America’s got talent’.
I looked back at Evan and Luna with a concerned look. “I want you two to stay here until I tell you to come out,” I told them as they both nodded. Truth be told, I was unsure how my uncle would react to a talking alicorn from another world, Evan on the other hand, he would be ok with, but I wanted him to stay with Luna as protection. I looked back at Shift, nodding to her that I was ready as we both walked to the front door.
As we made our way to the porch, Shift stood to the side as I walked up to the door. I was about to knock till I hesitated. I was about to see my uncle Kenny who I haven't seen or talked to in five years, this was very big for me. After a few seconds, I was able to get my composure back and I knocked three times, only to get an abrupt answer.
“I already told you bastards that we already paid the rent, now get the hell off our property!” A southern masculine voice yelled from inside which I could only guess was Kenny.
“Guess the Changelings haven’t been treating him and his family that well.” I thought as I knocked again, and a second later, I could hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the door.
“Are you deaf?” He asked loudly as the door opened, relieving a man with a horseshoe mustache, an olive green T-shirt with words that said ‘cast away your troubles, go fishing’, jeans and a John Deere trucker cap. “I said get the hell… off my…” His voice trailed off as he saw me, standing right in front of him. “Morgan?” He asked, eyes widening.
“Hi, Uncle Kenny.” I greeted, smiling.
His brow furrowed and his eyes glared at me. “Now you listen to me you Changeling shit, I don’t know what kind of trick you’re trying to play on me, but you better give one reason why I shouldn't kill you, right now.” He growled as his arm reaching behind the door, probably going for his hunting rifle he always kept.
“Because I don’t Changelings would be interested in jewelry like this,” I stated, pulling out a metal chain and on it was a gold cross with a single ruby in the center from my pocket. Kenny stared at the necklace with wide eyes, mouth agape in astonishment.
“Carol’s necklace.” He said softly as he then looked to me with shock and pulled me into a hug. “We thought you were dead, kid!” He exclaimed. “The first year I searched the city looking for you or your parents but you weren't anywhere. Where the hell have you been all this time!” He asked as he released me from the hug.
“I've been holed up in the basement at my old school with some others I met over the years. We had a nice, small but secluded home until recently.” I told him.
“Well, it’s nice to see you again after so many years.” He said with a smile. He then noticed Shift next to me. “And I see you’ve already met Shift!” He stated, looking at her with a friendly smile.
“Hello, Kenny.” Shift greeted with a wave of her hoof.
“Yeah, she helped guide me and the others to your place after Father David said that the city had changed over the years, and I can see why,” I said, looking behind me to the streets and sidewalks which were littered with trash and old, rusted cars.
“Entire community has gone to shit, I can tell you that.” He said plainly. “So you said that others from your group came with you?”
“A few, yes. I told them to hold back cause I didn’t know how you’d react when you saw them.” I explained as I then turned towards Shift. “Shift, you wanna go get them, tell them my uncle would like to meet them?” I asked.
“Of course.” She replied as she then walked off, leaving me and Kenny to ourselves.
“So,” Kenny spoke, leaning against the door frame. “I take it that your parents aren’t with you?” He asked, looking at me with pity as I shook my head.
“I waited for them for so long, but after a year went by, I knew that they were gone,” I said, looking away from him, doing my best not to cry again. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I knew it was him.
“You still got family right here Morgan. Don't forget that.” He said reassuringly as I gave a small smile, but I still had that feeling that he was going to freak out at Luna, so I had to tell him what was about to happen.
“Kenny, I need to tell you something, one of the members in our group who came with us here… Well, she’s not exactly who you think she is.” I said but he gave me a confused look.
“The hell do you mean by that?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Just… promise you won’t freak out, ok?” I said as his face went from confusion to concern.
“Morgan, of course I promise, but you have to tell me what I shouldn’t… freak out… about.” He trailed, breaking contact with my eyes and looking past me. I looked behind me to see Shift standing next to Evan and the Princess of the night herself on Kenny’s lawn.
“Sweet holy Jesus.” He muttered, astonished at seeing a blue, winged horse outside his house.
I slightly glanced at him and saw in the corner of my eye, Kenny’s arm reaching behind the door for his gun. I put my hand on his shoulder and gave him a look that said 'Don’t'. I looked back at the others and gestured my hand for them to come closer. They started walking up the yard and on the patio, with Kenny still staring at her.
“Kenny, I’d like you to meet Evan Shepard and Princess Luna, one of the four Princesses of Equestria. Guys, Meet my Uncle, Kenny Rogers.” I introduced as Luna stepped towards Kenny.
“Tis an honor to meet you, Mr. Rogers. Morgan has told us a lot about you.” Luna greeted with a smile.
“Uh, just ‘Kenny’ is fine.” He said, then looking at me. “Morgan, you mind telling me what the hell is going on?” He questioned, gesturing a hand at Luna.
“Long story, you mind if we come inside?” I asked as he nodded and moved out of the way, allowing us to come in.
Kenny’s living room was about average size and had furniture you’d usually see. An L-shaped couch, two armchairs, a wooden coffee table, pictures of his family, the usual. But what really stood out was how the room was painted, a nice light brown which I always thought was nice.
“Carol, can you come out here?” Kenny called. “We have company.” A few seconds later, a woman with short brown hair, wearing a light blue shirt with a guitar on it and light grey pants walked from the hall.
“Yes Kenny, what is-” She then gasped as she saw us, but more importantly, me. “Morgan?”
“Hi, Aunt Carol.” I smiled as she ran up to me and pulled me into a hug. She then looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Oh, it’s good to see you again. We missed you so much, and I see you and Shift brought some… friends with you.” She said as she looked at Evan and Luna.
“Miss’d you too Aunt Carol, and don’t worry, they don’t mean any trouble,” I replied. I then looked around the room and saw someone was missing. “Wait a minute, where’s Noah?” Just as I asked, a kid wearing a plaid shirt and jeans stepped around the corner and had an open smile as he saw me.
“Morgan!” He yelled, rushing towards me, ignoring the fact that a stranger and a pony was in the house as I greeted him with open arms.
“Hey, bud!” I said, happy to see my cousin after so long. “God I haven't seen you in so long. How old are you now?” I asked.
“Ten years old.” He replied as I looked at him in shock.
“Ten! God, now I feel bad for not attending your birthdays, five years in a row.” I joked, earning a laugh from him. I then looked at Kenny and Carol who stared at me with concern. “Alright, I think it’s time you know what’s going on,” I said as both nodded in agreement. Getting my answer, I stood up and looked at Evan and Shift. “Hey, guys? You mind hanging out with my cousin in his room while we talk about some things?” I asked.
“Not at all.” Shift replied with a nod as Evan walked up to Noah.
“Come on, kid, I was told by your cousin that you like Star Wars.” He said to him as they walked out of the room. Thank god I had time to tell Evan and Luna stuff about my family before we arrived, like what they liked and disliked.
Once we knew they were out of sight, I turned back to Kenny and Carol with a serious look on my face. “Now I want you to listen very, very carefully from what I’m about to say.”
*******
“And to sum it all up, Me, Jacob, Evan, Chris, Marcus and the Equestrians, including Luna and Celestia plan to take back Saint Paul and overthrow Chrysalis and her forces and we want you to help us.” I finished. Luna and I had just finished explaining everything that happened in the last twelve hours in thirty minutes. Carol had her hand up, covering her mouth in astonishment and for Kenny, it was a lot to take in as he had his head in his hands but he soon raised his head and stared at me.
“Morgan, you are a good kid and if you had a brother or sister, I would actually title you as my favorite nephew… But have you gone completely mental?!” Kenny question, raising his voice but not too loud to gain attention from the neighbors.
“Kenny, please,” Carol reassured, not wanting him to make a scene but he just ignored her.
“Kid, we’re in enough shit with the Changeling guard as it is, and now you want us to go full robin hood and steal the entire city and give it back to the people who were living in it?.” He questioned.
“Kenny, I know it sounds crazy-” I started.
“It is crazy!” He interrupted. “You’re talking about attacking a city with highly trained Changelings guarding it and you’re asking me to help you?” I said nothing as I looked to the floor with Kenny staring daggers at me till he gave a sigh. “We have gone on dozens of hunting trips Morgan, and I loved even single one of them… But I’m not joining you on this one. I'm sorry Morgan, but my answer is No.” He said as he stood up and started to walk away.
“I’m trying to save you!” I blurted out which made him stop in his tracks, giving me a chance to explain. “Kenny, I am labeled as a wanted criminal, just for saving Luna and others like her! It’s only a matter of time until Razorfang or the other Changelings learn that I have relations with you and when they do… I didn’t just come here to invite you into the rebellion we’re making, I came here because I’m scared that they will torture you or worse, just to make me turn myself in and have Luna and the others killed. You, Aunt Carol, Noah… you guys are the only family I have left now and if anything happened to you… I would be lost. Please, I’m begging you, I-I don’t expect you to help us by fighting alongside us against the Changelings, but I don’t want you living here either. I just want you to be safe from them.”
“...”
He never turned around, he didn’t even slightly turn his head to look at me, he just stood there, facing away from me. I had lost this battle to convince him. That was until Luna walked up to him.
“Mr. Ro- I mean, Kenny?” She corrected herself. “Morgan is right, sooner or later Changelings will learn that you are part of his family and use you to get to him. He has spoken very highly of you and thinks that you would be of great help to us. I understand that his plan to take back this city sounds absurd, but if it means liberating your world from Changeling oppression and dethroning Chrysalis from power, then it needs to be done.” I could see Kenny shift his position, thinking about what Luna had said. “I can sense that you care deeply for your family and that you would do anything you could to protect them,” She continued. “But staying her will cost them their lives, including yours. Morgan hasn’t seen his parents in half a decade and he doesn’t even know if they are alive or not. You, your wife and your child are all Morgan has left now. He wants to win a war that has ravaged this nation but he can’t do it unless he knows that you are safe. Please… He needs you now more than ever.” There was a strong silence throughout the room that lasted a few minutes, that was until Kenny finally broke the silence and spoke.
“You’re girlfriend has a way with words.”
“We are not a couple!” I yelled, a hint of blush appearing on my face as well as Luna's.
Kenny laughed until he was out of breath as he then looked to Kris. “Honey, get the bags ready.” He said. Carol nodded, got up from the couch and walked to their room, passing Evan and Shift in the hall as they came to check in on us.
“We could hear Kenny laughing from Noah’s room, I take it that Kenny is now going to help you?” Shift asked.
“Indeed! Well Morgan, now that you and Luna have me convinced in fighting a battle, what happens next?” He asked.
“Honestly, I don't know.” I shrugged. “I think if we gather some people who are handy with weapons, we could mount an assault on the capital and once we make it inside, we march our way up to Razorfang’s office and eliminate him, thus taking back the city and having the entire army surrender,” I explained, but Kenny just shook his head.
“As much as I want to go through with that plan, it won’t work. There are more than a thousand Changelings occupying this city and if we march our way to the capital with guns in our hands… well, we won’t last five minutes.”
“Well, what do you propose we do?” I asked, open to ideas.
“For starters, if we’re going up against an army, we’re going to need an army of our own.” He said.
“And what army would that be, the only one there is are the Changeling Rebels who are outside Richmond like Father David and Shift said, and they’re a thousand miles away!” Evan exclaimed but Kenny just shook his head.
“I’m not talking about them, son, I’m talking about the Remnants of Minnesota,” Kenny said, bluntly. Upon hearing this, I burst out in laughter. I probably laughed my ass off for a good two minutes till I tried to catch my breath.
“Oh God, oh that was a good one Kenny, getting the Remnants to help us. Maybe we should travel to Germany and ask the Nazis for help as well!” I joked.
“Morgan.” Shift spoke, getting my attention as when I looked at her, she was giving me a blank stare. “The Remnants are real.” It took me only half a minute to understand what she meant by that until my eyes went wide as saucers and my mouth agape.
“You’ve got to be kidding, the Remnants are real!” I exclaimed dumbfoundedly as Kenny and shift nodded, smiling.
“Who are the Remnants of Minnesota?” Luna asked, not understanding what we were talking about.
“So it started out like this. Months after Chrysalis took power and mouths after the walls around Saint Paul were built, people all over Minnesota made their way to where a group called ‘the Remnants of Minnesota’ was building a militia. All these people who joined originally had jobs that involved keeping the peace. They were police officers, firefighters, served in the military, you name it. No one knows of their exact location, but some say that one day, they that they would kick down the gates of the city and free it of the Changeling oppression. Everyone, including our group thought they were a myth, stories to give hope to kids and other survivors in the state!” I finished.
“Their real Morgan, real as… well… her!” He said as he pointed at Luna.
“They sound like a brave group if the stories say they would fight against the Changelings,” Luna commented.
“It gets better, we were told that some members of the Changeling Rebellion had recently joined as well.” Shift added.
“How do you know this?” Evan questioned.
“You remember the Carsons on Bellows Street, Right Morgan? Well Mary’s husband, John, happens to be leading the Remnants. He was in Texas visiting a friend when her Highness took over and made his way up here on foot a month later. When he finally made his way up here, he had a bunch of people with him who helped him on way here. As for how we know all this, well Mary got a package one day that contained a radio, and sure enough, John was on the other end and he has been informing her what was happening where he was. Mary told us a year later and we’ve been keeping it a secret ever since.” Kenny explained.
“So if Mary has been keeping in touch with him, then that means we know where to find them?” I asked eagerly but Kenny quickly walked over to me, gesturing with his hand to keep my voice down.
“The Changelings have been searching for them for the last three years and they want to make sure that don’t try and take the city. It’d be better if I told you when we’re out of the city. You never know whether their listening or not.” He said quietly as I nodded in agreement.
“So then this is the plan? We search for these Remnants and ask for their assistance in order to take back the city?” Luna asked, making sure she was right.
“Sounds like it,” I confirmed.
A few seconds later, Carol, carrying two backpacks and Noah, with a black and red Star Wars backpack walked into the room. From the size of the bags that Carol was carrying, I could only presume that they were bug-out bags, kits that were for evacuating after a recent disaster.
“Everything packed, Carol?” Kenny asked as he grabbed his rifle from behind the door. She nodded in response as he then looked at Noah. “You have your things, son?”
“Yes, dad,” Noah replied.
“Good, then let’s get the hell out of this damn city.” He announced as we all stepped out of the door, back into the night.
As we walked away from his house, I felt something that I hadn't felt in some time. Pride. I felt pride, now that I had finally reunited with the only family I have left in this world, and it feels good. But not just that, now we were on our way to find the legendary Remnants to help us in the upcoming battle. This has been one strange, yet exciting day.