At this critical moment, I was with my men, but compared to them, I was caught between the turmoil of my conscience and the duty that lay upon me. The hour of the assault was inexorably approaching. Behind the imposing silhouette of Canterlot Mountain, the city appeared almost unreachable under the rosy veil of a magical shield.
The buildings stood tall, solemn witnesses to the relentless passage of time and the history of an entire nation. Their white stone, laden with a past I had never seen equaled, whether in my past life or in this one, seemed imbued with a subtle touch of magic.
From my vantage point, I tried to guess the purpose of certain structures, particularly the one that stood out. It was hard not to let my mind wander to the enormous donut-shaped sign, suddenly reminding me of the hunger gnawing at me. Perhaps, once our mission was accomplished, I would indulge in this tempting treat.
Yet, once the buildings had been destroyed, once the population was under our control, once the cheers for the queen had resounded, and once the cultural heritage and civilization had sunk... I would find sleep ?
The nightmares I had experienced were coming back to haunt me, the faces of the ponies I was about to face were etched in my memory. They may have been weak, perhaps necessary for our survival, but no one deserved to endure this. My yellow eyes reflected the sadness that engulfed me.
My gaze swept over the city, and despite myself, I half-expected to see foals playing in the gardens, couples strolling hand in hand, groups of friends sharing moments of joy... But instead, I knew I would be the shadow that would darken their happiness. Like in my worst nightmares, I was there to sow terror and destroy lives.
Suspended in the air, I tried to contain the turmoil devouring me from within, whispering words to gather courage: "I do it for you, Mother..."
The column of green light rose inside the castle, signaling the beginning of the assault. That's when I spoke a line from a movie: "Everybody Fights, No One Quits. If You Don't Do Your Job, I'll Kill You Myself!" It was a way to rally the troops, but also to give myself the courage to fulfill what our mother expected of us, even though a heavy lump knotted my stomach and I struggled to hold back the tears threatening to fall.
We charged with all our might against the shield, making it waver under our repeated assault. It seemed to be losing its resistance under our combined weight. On the other side, I could make out six ponies running from what I assumed was the castle as we broke through the shield.
Suddenly, in a pink flash and the sound of shattered glass, cracks multiplied across the surface of the shield before finally giving way completely. My siblings immediately rushed in for the attack, except for one, the usual whiner, who seemed a bit dazed in the air. Knowing that I wasn't the only one feeling that our actions were wrong provided me with a slight comfort, even as I continued relentlessly.
My fears were realized as soon as I landed. I saw panic spread through the streets, barely enough time to realize that they were being attacked. I stood frozen, in shock at what we had just unleashed.
My yellow eyes were wide open as my siblings chased defenseless ponies. We were the aggressors, and the cries of fear and pleading pierced my heart. I took a deep breath, walking calmly, my yellow eyes burning with self-directed rage, heading towards the donut shop I had spotted earlier.
The door was ajar, and the occupants had already fled. I closed it behind me, locking it carefully, then went behind the counter to grab one of the still-warm donuts in my hooves.
Despite my exoskeleton, I could still feel the heat emanating from it. The scent wafting up was intoxicating. I sank my fangs into it. It was delicious, sweet, and undeniably prepared with love.
Tears streamed down my face as I ate. I had reached my breaking point. The sounds of battle still echoed outside. I gazed at my reflection in the glass display case .
The creature I saw was a monster, with long fangs, riddled with holes, its yellow eyes shining, filled with tears. "Another stranger in the mirror..." Hardly had these words left my mouth when memories of my previous life became impossible to contain.
Fell to the ground, striking it with my bare hoof, before a roar of rage escaped my throat, followed by a hiss. "Not in this life!"
With immense mental effort, I resumed my former appearance. "I am already dead, what should I be afraid of?" I gazed at myself again in the glass display case, a man with long black hair, a determined yet tear-filled gaze.
His arms were no longer frail, his skin less pale, modest pecs and abs concealed his ribs, and he wore a forced smile on his face.
I would no longueur follow my duty, but what is right. In my mind, I forged the image of a pegasus with a yellow mane and white coat, his cutie mark composed of two crossed lightning bolts.
I will stand against these monsters I once called brothers, as well as against this tyrant. That's why I'm not dead, and I won't repeat the mistakes of my past. If I'm to be a monster, I might as well hunt down others.
With my new appearance, I strode towards the door with determination. Opening it with a deep breath, I spread my wings and immediately flew towards three of my former colleagues who had cornered a pony in an alleyway.
I fought fiercely, trying to rally a few royal guards to help me evacuate civilians from the city. I had trained them well, but they couldn't match my skill. I held my ground with all my might, shouting war cries borrowed from movies and games.
I stood tall in front of a stack of incapacitated Changelings, with civilians behind me trying to escape. Of course, that's when he decided to show up.
Pharynx swooped down toward me in an attempt at a surprise attack. My dodge, though clumsy, was enough for him to land in front of me, his wings quivering, poised to redeploy.
I locked eyes with him, aware that other Changelings were watching the scene without intervening. Under normal circumstances, I would have been confident in my ability to win, but in this form, and after the exhaustion of my many battles, my odds seemed slim.
Pharynx lunged at me with surprising agility, his wings hissing through the air. I swiftly pivoted, evading his strike. Then, I reared up on my hind legs, spreading my limbs in a taunting gesture. "Sorry, but I don't dance, sweetheart."
I could see anger burning in Pharynx's eyes, and muffled laughter emanating from the ranks of onlookers. He came at me with a newfound fury, taking on the form of a wolf. I barely had time to dodge his jaws before he shifted into a dragon, belching a wave of flames toward my face.
Instinctively used my wing to shield myself, but it tore a cry of pain from me and prevented me from seeing his next attack. A violent impact sent me hurtling backward, smashing against a wall before hitting the ground.
Despite the searing pain, I forced myself to stand just as a pink light exploded within Canterlot Castle, propelling my mother through the same light. Without hesitation, I charged inside the building.
Intense pain gripped me, pressing me against the walls for several seconds. Inside, I felt one of my ribs give way, sending agonizing pain coursing through my body.
"Stay conscious," it was the only thought that crossed my mind as the pressure finally eased, don't show what you are.