//------------------------------// // Her Anniversary // Story: Conquest: Prologues // by pretty-pegasus-wings //------------------------------// Through the chaotic rooms of the draconequus’ home, a hum rang as his long, slender body ducked in and out of the kitchen. “Some of these and, oh! We must have that!” He floated over a couple oddly colored doilies and napkins in the shapes of origami animals over to the table. The setting already prepared upon the uniquely shaped table had uneven plates, twisted tea cups, and other decorative items such as a vase with sneezing flower; the new additions complimented the insanity. “Now the hors d'oeuvre!” With a flick of his claw, platters ran out of the kitchen carrying cookies, biscuits, all sorts of delicious tea time snacks. “And of course,” he snapped his claw and a curvy teapot dropped in bounding a few times before it settled “the tea!” Triumphantly, he brushed his claw and paw together, resting them comfortably on his hips. “That should be everything!” He looked over his work proudly, the polka-dot table lively and full of excitement. Yet something was off, but what…. “Oh, that’s right!” He slapped his paw against his face. “The cucumber sandwiches!” With another snap, the plate appeared filled to the brim with little sandwiches neatly arranged. “Perfect! Now, for the guest of honor!” Another snap with a flash of light and he was in the living room. “My dear, it is your time to shine!” Out from his “sleeve”, he pulled a roll of red carpet and draped it across the room. From behind his ear, he took out a trumpet and played a grand tune to announce her arrival. “This way!” He lifted the picture frame from its mantle and bought it over to the side opposite him at the table. “I thought I’d try something new this year, what do you think? The sneezing flowers too much?” The draconequus smiled at the picture before him. “Of course not, how silly of me!” A moment of silence came between them as he looked over her image. A yellow pegasus with beautiful blueish green eyes and a soft pink mane that curled at the ends. Her smile had the warmth of the sun, presence like a soothing breeze. “You were so perfect….” Catching himself, he shook his head and puts his charming smile back on. “How about those cucumber sandwiches?! Your favorite recipe!” He lifted his claw floating a few to his plate. Gently, he took one in his paw, put out his pinkie, and tossed it into his mouth happily chomping away. “Lovely day today, the swirls are a perfect shade of orange! We should go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Watch the purple turn to blue, see if there are any straggling objects flying by to wish on like old times….” The draconequus eyes drifted away, nails burrowed into the wood. With a sigh, he took the salt shaker off the table and bit into it in a melancholy fashion. “It hasn’t gotten easier, even after a hundred years. You’d most likely be miserable if you stayed. All your friends would be gone except for Twilight, the animals would grow old and wither away, over and over no matter which you took in. A purely, miserable, existence….” Again, he shook his head. “No matter! You’re still here in spirit! It’s better that way.” Despite his attempt, he couldn’t hide the pain in his voice, not while he stared at her. The salt shaker flew past his left shoulder bursting into little white butterflies. “The other day, when I visited the sanctuary, I had a picnic with the caretaker; you would have been so proud. I made sure to keep the chaos at a comfortable level.” He placed his paw over his chest and raised his claw, swearing truth to his statement. “The animals are doing well, I helped to get them a few new additions since last year. Celestia helped with some of the funds for the upkeep… I wasn’t there to see her, but I was out taking care of some errands.” The tips of his eagle claw ran around the edge of his pate, scratching the outer rim. “No matter how much I miss you, I kept our promise, to keep moving forward. Some days, it hurts, but… knowing you died the way you did…. No regrets, for all those you loved… that brings me some peace….” He clasped his paw over his mouth, taking in a few slow breaths, shoulders weighed downward as he took a moment. Soon enough, his paw moved away and his smile returned. “How about that sky? You should see it, such a perfect day out-” Neck wiggled in a wavy motion… that could only mean one thing. “I will be one moment!” He snapped his claws and appeared a fair ways outside his home. “Where are you?” His eyes extended from his sockets like binoculars, searching the area for his target. “There….” A dark tone graced his words as he zipped at the dark flying creature invading his home, and on this precious day no less. Before the creature could realize it, her body was wrapped tightly in a stranglehold, the draconequus’ squeezed the helpless invader like a python. “Gwah!” She cried, struggling against the crushing force, her exoskeleton crunched slightly under the force. “What do we have here? One of her minions?” His lips pressed close to his victim’s ear, white goatee grazing her neck. “How nice of her to send me a new toy to play with.” “Pl-Please sir! I’m not you ene-enemy! AH!” Tighter his brown coated body and dragon like tail constricted, wanting nothing more than to drain the bug of its juices. “After your queen kidnapped my Fluttershy, why would I ever work with you?” His hissing, dark tone ran chills through her in shards. The draconequus’ tongue flickered against the edge of her ear like a deadly viper causing her to shake. He wiggled his claws into a comfortable position to run his nails against her face causing his prey to simper. “I have a letter, from the queen herself!” A letter, for him? Strange, yet he was curious. Reluctantly, he loosened his grip leaving the insect like pony to gasp for air. “Give it here.” The messenger slowly lifted her hoof pointing at the letter which floated aimlessly away. Swiftly, he shot his claws out at the letter like an extendable arm and snatched it. As quick as he sent it out, he reeled it back, letter in tow. With little care, he tore it open and surveyed the letter. He hadn’t gotten far before bursting into laughter. “She wants me to attend some meeting?! What, will it be a dark circle of villains in hoods?!” He snapped his fingers and summoned a dark grey cloak around him, hood shrouding his face in darkness. “It’s been years since I brought this old thing out.” As he brought up his arms to survey the dusty old cloth, his nostrils wrinkled. It couldn’t be the cloak, could it? He brought his sleeve to his nose and sniffed. “Blegh! This needs to be washed!” The cloak disappeared in another flash of light. “So, you will come?” He defiantly crossed his arms. “Pfft! You didn’t think I would, did you?! I don’t care what she has to offer, there is no way I would ever assist her even if it meant saving my life.” “Nothing?” “Can you bring back the dead?” His voice turned cold once more, the messenger shivered at his words. “No… but she said you’re not one to miss out on a good party.” He raised a scruffy eyebrow. “A party?” “She’s got something big planned and she knows you’d hate being left out of all the fun.” That queen, thinking she knows me so well… but she’s not wrong. No wonder I hate her so. His thoughts wandered as he tried to restrain that creeping interest. “More importantly, she knows how you feel about the princesses, how you resent them.” “As if she knows anything.” He turned up his nose, claws dug into his arms as it crept further. “We lost a lot to them too, our home, many of our siblings, all because of their pupils. You want revenge, don’t you?” “Revenge… what does that get you? Nothing but pain, that’s what.” The changeling gritted her teeth. “Don’t look at it like that!” She spoke with fervor and passion, enough so to grab his attention. “This is your chance to right a wrong, to fix what’s broken!” The draconequus could give no response. “She knows you’re going to come no matter what and I know you are too, for the princesses or not.” “Why do you care?” He looked back at the creature, stare firm. “Because you’ve lost everything like us, that’s why….” She lit her horn and made a portal showing the world outside. The messenger left, the portal closed behind her. Once he was sure the creature had left, he dropped his arms, claw and paw placing themselves firmly on his hips. “And here I thought I had prepared for all potential intruders.” He snapped his fingers and a massive bug zapper appeared, lighting the realm like a sun. Soon after, he teleported a pair of oversize sunglasses with purple beads adorning the edges of the frames. “Perfect!” The draconequus yelled over the sound of the deafening buzzing. Satisfied, he turned and went back home, walking in as if nothing was wrong. “Sorry to keep you waiting, had to deal with a little pest control. How about that sky?”