I sat at the table, enjoying a cup of tea.
"This is perfect, Fluttershy."
"Oh good! I hoped you'd like it. It's a new kind Discord introduced to me."
I paused mid-sip, staring at the pegasus. She giggled at my hesitance.
"Don't worry. It's perfectly safe."
I finished my sip and put the cup down.
"So, what brought on this invitation?"
Fluttershy walked over to check on some of the animals. Her cottage was unusually light on furry residents at the moment.
"I was giving it some thought, and I wanted to run the idea by you."
Now I was curious.
"What's up?"
She didn't look at me as she passed out some food to her visitors.
"I'll be going to check on the sanctuary soon, but I have to pick up some medicine first. I thought...you might want to come along?"
"Uh...okay. I guess I've never seen the vet's office before, so that could be fun?"
"Well...the medicine isn't from the vet."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Where else could you get..."
I trailed off as she looked at me. She had a small smile and was shrugging her shoulders.
"I just thought...if we went together...well...maybe it wouldn't be so bad?"
I shook my head.
"I don't know Fluttershy."
"I know it holds bad memories for you. Rarity and I thought it might be...therapeutic."
Of course, Rarity was involved.
"Fluttershy...I haven't gone near the forest in years. I...I don't know if I can..."
Her smile grew as she approached me.
"Could you do it if I were with you? And we're not going far. Just to Zecora's."
I stared at the pegasus, her smile boring into my heart.
"Well...when were you planning on going?"
"In a few minutes."
"Geez. You don't waste any time."
"Well, Rarity knew if we delayed, you'd find an excuse."
I groaned.
"She knows me too well. Okay! I'll go."
"Oh good! I'm so happy I get to help you with this."
I summoned one of my pills, swallowing it with another sip of tea.
"Yeah. What could go wrong?"
Fluttershy grabbed her saddlebag and hoisted it onto her back.
"Are you ready?"
I slowly stood up.
"As ready as I can be, I suppose."
She smiled and opened the door, letting me walk out first. We followed the path towards the forest, the trees growing closer with each step. I felt my heart picking up its pace.
"Deep breaths. You can do this."
Fluttershy glanced at me.
"It'll be okay Shade. I don't especially like going in the forest either, but sometimes you have to do things you don't like for something more important."
"Like this medicine?"
"Yes! I have a young bear cub dealing with an infection. Zecora's made a potion that should help clear it up by tomorrow. I could try something more conventional, but it might take too long to help the cub heal. The infection could spread if it's not taken care of quickly."
"So, your desire to help your animals outweighs your fear of the forest."
She nodded.
"I know you don't have much of a reason to go in yourself, but today you do."
"And what's that?"
"Protecting me and Angel Bunny."
I looked at her saddlebag and discovered the bunny riding along. How did I miss that?
"Well...I guess I wouldn't want either of you to get hurt."
She smiled as we approached the treeline. I stopped at the edge of the shadows, staring into the forest.
"Fluttershy-"
I stopped as I felt her hoof on my shoulder.
"You can do it."
I took a deep breath and set a hoof into the outstretched shadows.
Nothing happened.
I took another step. And another. Fluttershy stayed by my side as I slowly moved closer to the trees. I couldn't help but look up as the canopy began to stretch over my head. My heart skipped a beat as the sunlight broke up into fragments through the leaves.
"I...I..."
"It's okay. I'm right here."
I looked around as the forest surrounded us. The shadows were black as night. My mind raced, thinking of what could be lurking there.
And then something clicked in my head.
I reached within myself and pulled my fragment of dark magic forward. I didn't allow myself to turn into a shadow, but I let my aura emanate from me. The bushes rustled slightly, signaling the retreat of some small creatures. Fluttershy looked at me.
"Are...are you doing something?"
I realized my error. Nopony besides Rarity and Twilight really knew what I'd gone through. Or the power I'd gained from my trials. I slowly turned to Fluttershy.
"What's wrong?"
"I...I feel cold. Or like something...bad is going to happen."
I had nearly forgotten how much discomfort dark magic caused. I reigned my power in bit by bit.
"I'm sorry. I think my defenses are a little too on edge. I'm probably putting off all sorts of negative energy."
She nodded.
"I understand. I can't imagine what's going through your head right now. But we'll be safe if we stay on the path."
I pulled back a little more and I could see her visibly relax.
"See? It's not so bad, right?"
"Right..."
She led the way as we moved further into the forest. I kept my eye on the trees and bushes, flinching whenever I heard something. I muttered under my breath.
"Not so bad. Yeah, right."
We curved around a large bush and Zecora's place came into sight. I'd never gotten a good look at it before. It was the thickest tree in this part of the forest by far. Zecora had decorated it with masks and symbols of her homeland. It was quite the sight.
Fluttershy moved to the door while I looked around the clearing. There were so many noises around us. Most of them sounded like small enough creatures, but that didn't help set my fears to rest. And there was something else... I couldn't put my hoof on it, but something was off. I heard Zecora answer the door behind me.
"Hello dear Fluttershy, is that Shade I spy?"
I turned around and waved.
"Good to see you Zecora."
Fluttershy nodded to the door.
"Aren't you coming in?"
I looked around the clearing again, my curiosity and fear growing together. I recognized this feeling...
"I think...I'd prefer to stay out here... Keep a lookout, you know?"
"Are you sure? It might be a minute."
I nodded and waved her off.
"Go on. I'll be fine. Just...not too long?"
She smiled and nodded, following Zecora inside. The door shut behind them and I returned my gaze to the forest.
"Something's out there..."
-----------------------------
I still hadn't gotten used to how fast I could move in my shadow form. I was flying through the forest. I had panicked for a brief moment, worried of what I would run into. Then again, I was a shadow. What could anything do to me when I was like this?
I began to feel my fear ebb away. Nothing could hurt me here anymore. I slowed down to check my bearing. I could feel the aura now. It was deep in the heart of the Everfree Forest. I moved forward again, determined to find my target. How far had I come? Would I be able to find Zecora's again? I pushed these thoughts to the back of my mind. There were more pressing matters at hoof.
I came to a halt, floating between the trees. I had prayed I was wrong. A voice was carrying through this patch of the forest.
"Idiots! Fools! I will have my revenge at all costs! I will take back my throne. And no one can stand in my way!"
I felt a shiver pass through me. What was she doing here? I moved forward, staying away from any sunlight. I couldn't risk being seen. Not yet anyway. I peered around a tree, confirming my fear.
Chrysalis.
I took the whole picture in. She looked thinner than the last time I’d seen her. Her wings looked ragged. Even her eyes seemed more sunken in than usual. She'd become a shell of her former self. She was standing in a small clearing. Sunlight was scarce, but there was enough to see her. I looked around the clearing, noticing carvings in the trees around her. The carvings looked like changelings. And she was pacing around to each of them.
"You'll all see! I will destroy Twilight and her friends. Especially that wretched Starlight!"
I couldn't believe my eyes. She'd gone crazy.
I wanted to run. Twilight and the others should know about this, right? But the longer I watched her, the more I felt old anger returning. Why waste the chance?
"Maybe my last plan didn't work, but only because those stupid clones thought they could overthrow me! Fools! Next time I'll take care of those ponies myself."
I moved forward, skirting the clearing. When would I get this opportunity again?
"How sad. Look what's become of you."
Chrysalis whipped around.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!!"
I chuckled.
"Don't you recognize me? Then again, it's been years since you last saw me."
Her eyes searched the trees.
"What sort of coward hides from his enemy?"
I laughed.
"Big words from the changeling in the woods."
"Show yourself coward!!"
"There's nothing to show...Mother."
She seemed confused for a moment. And then her eyes grew bigger.
"It...It can't be. You're supposed to be dead!"
"Am I not? It certainly feels like I died here."
She began running around the clearing.
"You can't have survived in this forest all this time. You would have starved!"
"Oh yes, I starved. I was broken and weak. And alone."
Her eyes began to sparkle. What was she thinking?
"You're not alone anymore. You have me! Help me return to my throne. You wouldn't leave your queen to live like this, would you?"
I sighed, moving around the outskirts of the clearing.
"How the mighty have fallen. Do you think I don't know the changelings rose against you? I've heard the stories. I've even seen the hive."
Her eyes began to fill with anger.
"So, you've become one of those weaklings."
I pushed into the clearing, allowing my body to reform. Chrysalis stared at me, her anger wavering into fear for a moment.
"What...what are you?"
I smiled.
"I'm certainly not yours anymore. Then again, did you ever really consider me yours?"
The fear disappeared and she scowled.
"This again? You could never stop complaining about your position."
I felt my heart contort slightly, hurt by the remark.
"Position? I'm your son!"
"I have hundreds of children! You're no different from the rest!"
"Maybe I wasn't. But I am now. I'm not some common changeling anymore. I've been through death and darkness to get where I am. I'm stronger than I ever was. And I did it without you."
She sneered.
"What nonsense is this?"
I didn't even think as I allowed my dark magic to emanate around me. The forest grew silent as creatures ran away. Chrysalis looked around the clearing.
"What is this magic?"
I reached out with a tendril of magic, touching a nearby tree. It began to wither and turn grey.
"I've fought against darker powers than yours. I've seen greater horrors. If you could feel a fraction of the pain I've endured, you would scream in agony."
The tree began to crack. The trunk gave, tipping the body over into the clearing. Chrysalis jumped back to avoid the deceased tree. Her eyes quickly found me again.
"How can you have such power?"
My vision clouded slightly as a green hue enveloped everything. I couldn't help but smile.
"I looked into the darkness and took what power it held over me. It's mine to control now. I will never again bow to the likes of you. And you will never rule over anyone. You will die in this forest, lost to time."
I took a step forward. It brought me far too much pleasure to see her take a step back as her eyes filled with fear again.
"Stay away! You can't kill me!"
I let out a laugh. It didn't sound like me. It sounded like something else. My voice had taken on a deeper, more sinister cadence.
"Kill you? I don't want to kill you. I mean to leave you here to rot like this tree!"
Her eyes darted to the dead tree in front of her.
"You...you can't! I'm your queen! I'm...your mother!"
My eyes narrowed.
"You were never a mother to me."
I felt my anger building. A part of me actually wanted to kill her. Where was these feelings coming from?
Chrysalis took another step back and tripped on a rock. She fell over with a cry of pain.
As I moved closer, she looked up at me. Her eyes were filled with fear.
"Please...Varus..."
I froze. The magic began to recede into me. My vision cleared as I stared at the creature in front of me. I hadn't noticed before, but I'd apparently been blocking out the light from the clearing. Sunlight began to dance on the forest floor again. There were even a few birds chirping again. I looked down at Chrysalis.
"I'm surprised you even remember that name."
I didn't give her the chance to respond. I let my body dissolve and flew at top speed back towards Zecora's.
-------------------------
In a matter of minutes, I found myself back where I started. I reformed and walked into the clearing just as Fluttershy emerged through the doorway.
"There you are! I couldn't see you out the window."
She looked where I was coming from, her eyes growing bigger.
"Did you wander off into the forest?!"
I nodded, taking a deep breath.
"Yeah. Not far. I just thought I should try something."
She approached me.
"And?"
I smiled.
"You're right. It's not so bad here."
She smiled back.
"I'm so glad to hear you say that!"
We began walking along the path towards her sanctuary. Fluttershy started talking about what she and Zecora had been discussing. I didn't really catch much of it though. My mind was filled with thoughts of what had just happened. I'd wanted to kill Chrysalis. I'd never felt that sort of hatred before. And the power behind my magic...
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I connected the dots. It seemed I had inherited more than just some of Sombra's magic. And I couldn't allow him to get the better of me ever again. I'd even stop using dark magic all together if it meant I could keep that part from taking over like it did.
I looked around the forest, realizing that the things in the shadows probably feared me more than I did them. Somehow that was comforting. I let out a sigh as we came to the border of the forest. I basked in the sunlight, feeling warm for the first time that day. I wouldn't let what happened hinder me. I would move forward. Everfree was nothing to me now. And I would never feel threatened by Chrysalis again. I was finally free of my past.
I was finally free to live.