//------------------------------// // Revelations // Story: What Am I? // by LordOctavianStark //------------------------------// You continue to pace as you have done for the past thirty or so minutes. Your eyes glancing to and fro anything in the small room, just something to latch on to so you can continue to postpone your planned venture. Unfortunately, the waiting room offers nothing more than the same two paintings and matching loveseats that were present when you first entered. Stopping at the large double oak doors that lead to Luna's antechamber, you proceed to lightly bang your head against the oak surface. Foltess left you to your own devices nearly an hour ago, and in this hour you had yet to steel your resolve and just commit to it. I need to know what's going on. Taking a deep breath as if you're about to plunge into frigid water, you slowly push the door open with your hoof. Just enough to peak your head through. Glancing around the antechamber, you see nothing out of place, and most importantly: you see no signs of the Lunar Goddess. Releasing the breath you'd been holding. You trot your way into the room, attempting to be as quiet as possible. Your eyes locked on your objective, a beautifully carved box sitting atop a golden inlaid desk. Pausing before it, you eye it cautiously. If Luna thought this was dangerous, she wouldn't leave it out, right? You reason to yourself before taking the box in your left hoof and hobbling your way to the love seat across from the large desk. Placing the box on the adjacent cushion, you take your seat. I've come this far, no reason to stop now. You think as you use your muzzle to unlatch the container and peer into it's contents… …….. Darkness was the best word you could use to describe your location. A hallway with only a floor, no walls, no ceiling. The only thing present was the rows upon rows of floating mirrors on either side of you, stretching for nearly eternity. Each one with a nameplate below it. "These must be the names of Luna's friends." You think to yourself aloud. Flapping your wings you approach the first mirror on your left, Cloud Chaser was stamped boldly on the bronze plate. Glancing to the dull mirror you see nothing but yourself. Shrugging, you continue down the row. Each mirror presents the same as before. That is, until something catches your eye. A soft glow eminents from the mirror furthest down. Though, that is not the only thing that separates it from the rest. Unlike the previous mirrors, this seems to have two nameplates as opposed to one. The top plate was scratched out and entirely unlegible, the bottom on the other hoof read Shielded Star plain as day. Running a hoof over the raised lettering you look up to the mirror only to see everything fade to black. Then a brightness overtook all causing you to shield your eyes with your left foreleg. Lowering your hoof back down to the ground you notice that you are in the throne room of the palace. Everything seems to have a slightly hazy appearance, as if trying to remember a dream. You move to take a step but trip over yourself, impacting the marble ground. "By the Gods, that hurt," checking for any injuries makes you pause. Your hooves are replaced with stubby, pinkish white, claws. Staring down at the reflective marble you can see the confused mien of the beast that has been haunting your dreams. It's face no longer clouded and obscured, soft and familiar blue eyes stare back at you, between those a small protrusion of flesh sticks out. Looking further down you see soft pinkish lips. Bringing your hoof up to touch them you feel the soft digits of your claw brush against them. The feeling so foreign, yet familiar. You continue you brush the claw across your face, trying to understand this feeling of hiraeth. "While thy face is unique, we would assume thou had seen quite enough of it." Jolted from your stupor you fling yourself back. Staring up you see the face of your close friend. Luna looks at you with a smugly amused smirk. "By the Gods Luna! What did I say about sneaking up on me!?" You shout in annoyance. "By the Gods? Hmm, has't thee converted to our religion? Yond doest not soundeth liketh thee, what is it thee sayeth? Jesus?" Glancing to her, you quickly remember that you are not truly experiencing this. Shaking your head from this realization you began to stand up on your two shaky legs. “Luna, what are you saying? And why are you speaking like that? You've never used classical Equestrian this much.” Bringing yourself to your full height you see that you stand far above the alicorn. Possibly even taller than Celestia herself. “Mine own apolo-, I mean, I'm sorry. It doth take time to adjust to the new ‘lingo’ as it t'were.” She says while making air routes with her left hoof. “But art thee well? You seemeth unsteady?” Her voice laden with concern as she approaches further. You finally make sense of what is happening. This is a memory. If this is Luna's memory I wonder what other one's are here? As if on cue everything fades to black. Until the blinding flash returns. Looking down to yourself you see your hooves have returned. Lifting your gaze you see a cake, further above are Luna and Celestia in pointed party hats. “Happy birthday Sheilded Star.” Celestia says as she magically proffers you a gift, opening it you see a new set of spell binding rings. “I know the department issues these already, but I had them specifically ordered. They are enchanted by the best spell drafters around. Not a single unicorn would be able to break this.” She finishes with a smile, the same one she gives you every time you see her. Deja-vu hits like a steam train. “T-thank you” You say, still baffled. This is my last birthday. Why are my memories with that creature? What is he? Suddenly the blinding flash returns. Looking over yourself you see your stuby claws locked in steel chains. Glancing up you find yourself surrounded by guards. To your front are the element bearers and Princess Celestia. the confusion you've had since entering this strange realm returned a thousand fold. Your attention is drawn to Celestia as she begins to speak. “Since you have lived here A̴̡̜̗̩͌͆̃̏͠n̶͔̙̫̻̪̏̅͗̒̈͐͠o̴̩̖̎̎̔ṇ̵̦͓̲͈̞̖̖̮͑̈́͌̆̿̕ͅ, you have been subject to ridicule and disdain. I would like to think that Pony Kind is above that, but sadly we are not. I want to protect you A̴̡̜̗̩͌͆̃̏͠n̶͔̙̫̻̪̏̅͗̒̈͐͠o̴̩̖̎̎̔ṇ̵̦͓̲͈̞̖̖̮͑̈́͌̆̿̕ͅ, I don't want you to spend the remainder of your life cooped up in here. But if I were to let you out the world would know of your existence, countries would do their best to capture you for the information you possess, then when that is done you will most likely be experimented on until death. I refuse to let that happen so I had Princess Twilight develop a spell.” She finishes with a nod to the young alicorn. Everytime she states the creature's name a pulsing migraine forms behind your eye. You try your best to ignore it to formulate a response but it was nearly useless as you could barely think straight. “W-what?” was the only response you could form as the migraine began to subside. Celestia continues her speech. “In order to… Protect you from the world, Twilight has developed a spell that will allow you to become a member of Ponykind.” “I'll become a pony?” You state aloud, your mind begins reeling as the migraine returns with burning intensity. “AHHH” You howl in pain as a fire lights in your skull and you fling yourself back in pain as you are ejected from the dream. Darkness claims you as you pass out from the intensity. …….. You're jolted awake by a sharp strike to the muzzle, it spins your skull to the side as you awake from your slumber. Opening your eyes you see pale claws lift your gaze skyward. Above you is the beast, you stare into his eyes as he gazes into your soul. “Wake the fuck up samurai, we have a city to burn."