//------------------------------// // Cat-astrophe // Story: Foal Necromancer // by Kytranis //------------------------------// I'm walking calmly outside. The winds around the mountain have died down and I'm in the middle of a statue garden. I feel for life around me and I only sense the grass a fair distance from the cobblestones and myself. I can also sense that my eyes are nearly finished regenerating, good grief the patch and goop combo works fast. It's what? My second day having them? Yes in a few hours it will be the end of my second day of having this eye regrowth done to me. By tomorrow morning I won't need the headband. Still nothing alive in range so I let loose the death energies that had been building since I arrived. A pulse of smoky black energy leaves my body in all directions and dissipates quickly. My body is much smaller now so what I normally ignore suddenly became a problem. Still, nothing living in range and this is a walkway meaning no dead bodies. So I killed and animated nothing. 'Crack!'. Oh that can't be good. I feel out with my senses before mentally kicking myself. Someone buried their pet cat right under the cobblestones. So now I have an animated skeleton that's absorbed a huge amount of necrotic energies meaning that's it's virtually indestructible, and I can't take the energy back. A few moments later there's a grinding sound and another crack as a cobblestone breaks free from under the packed snow and ice and a skeletal cat crawls out of the hole. “Son of a bitch... I'm really going to have to watch myself when venting.” I mutter as the energies of undeath actually begin forming a heart and series of veins followed by a brain and nerves, then muscles and organs, then skin. It was entertaining don't get me wrong but... I feel like a damned teenager again. Defying the laws of nature by accident. “Mew?” the undead horror in the shape of a cat asks. It was a kitten when it died so it's particularly small. It brushes up against my legs as the fur grows into place. It almost looks alive now... “This will end poorly. I think.” I say before the tiny abomination makes a frankly amazing jump and lands on my back between my wings. I freeze as it walks along my back ready to use a burst of power so that I might throw it off and make a run for it. I'm not sure if I have control of this thing. It... curls up right between my wings. I try and reach for it but it's just beyond my grasp. It... is it purring? It's purring. I can sense a strong link of loyalty from it to me but... I have no power over this creature. “Oh perfect. Way to go genius. Couldn't go three god damned days without creating an undead horror in a league all it's own.” I say to myself in frustration. I was told I could have a nice boring day. I was looking forwards to spending the whole day wandering and reading. And then this happened. I wait for a few more moments... any second now some self righteous meat head will come rushing over the snow with a sword. Any second now... any second now... it's actually really cold out... Gods damn it! If they don't have the decency to show up soon I'll wait for the moron inside where it's warm! I wait a few more moments stomping on the path a little before grunting in annoyance. I quickly push the cobblestone back into it's hole and stamp down on it before walking back towards the palace. “Meow.” the horror states and I sigh. “So you're hungry... just how close to life did that energy bring you?” I ask before reaching with me extra senses. What in all the hells? It's alive but... surviving off of death? So what is it? Reverse life? Anti-Death? How did this even happen? My energies usually just create zombies and skeletons when this happens. I skid to a stop on the ice and snow. It's been well over a hundred years since I had to vent energies. I used to use them up with spells before it built up too high. When it did happen the living died and the dead rose to serve me... last time it was a small army of skeletons and zombies because I deliberately did it over a forgotten graveyard I found. That was a great distraction, kept the idiots chasing my busy for a week as the lingering energies resurrected the plants as well. Well kept the survivors busy at any rate... Still nothing was ever revived this completely... is it because of how much energy was absorbed or has the energy itself changed. Maybe it's something with the bones... no... the bones were just cat bones... well kitten bones at any rate. I start moving towards the castle again and I open the door easily enough. I shake myself after closing the door behind me and take a deep breath of the warmer air. Hmm... still no swordsman. Or rather no swordspony. So strange... I'd better find Luna, it's unwise to surprise a deity. I start heading down to the throne room. It's a safe bet she's there. A few hallways later a guard clears his throat as I walk by. “Can I help you?” I ask wondering what's going on. “Just wondering where you are heading Prince Charon.” he states and there's a niggling in the back of my mind as the cat on my back stands up and growls. I quickly feel out with all of my senses and I 'see' the problem right away. It's a Changeling. I tense up immediately. There's no one nearby to help me so I have to fight it in my crippled state. At least I can see, so that's a major advantage. “Sorry, mom says I'm not allowed to talk to Changelings.” I tell him sounding casual as I look through my options. He's armoured and clearly here to kidnap or kill me, so stalling or diplomacy are right out the window anyways. It can fly and I'm grounded so I can't run. Maybe... “FREOOWWW!!” The cat jumps right at the Changeling with an unholy scream just as it's disguise drops. The horror grabs the monster by the horn and snaps it off with little issue. The insectoid monster screams in agony before grabbing the horror and stuffing it into it's mouth and biting down. I take a step back just before spikes of black energy shoot out of the changeling's head in all directions, it collapses, dead before it hits the ground. Green ooze spurts out of the wounds as the mouth is pried open from the inside and the horror steps out. I stare in horror at the horror for a while as it cleans itself calmly. “Am I next?” I ask carefully and the horror looks up at me before shaking it's head rapidly. It keeps cleaning itself. “So... you want to protect me?” I ask and this time it nods. “Did I make a familiar?” I ask and it nods again. A familiar... this will end badly. I sit down and wait for it to finish and it walks up to me. “Mew?” it asks me and I sigh. “After seeing that I'd rather not have you on my back.” I tell it and the horror looks so pitiful. Its eyes widen to massive shining orbs and it's lower lip starts to tremble. “After seeing you skewer a Changeling from inside it's mouth I don't even want to be near you.” I tell the horror and it suddenly looks angry. “Oh shit.” I say and dash off away from the undead horror before I feel a sudden sharp pain in my back. Right between the wings. I skid to a halt and quickly realize that it's lodged into my back but not making any more aggressive motions. I'm not sure which hurts more, the claws or my lack of choice in the matter. I'm leaning towards the former. I... don't really know what kind of creature this is... I've never made anything like this... It's physically present but it used an ability of a living shadow, something that is not physical. It's skeleton is animated, like well, a skeleton. It has flesh crafted wholly of necrotic energy like a lich, but it appears alive like a vampire. It used the ability of a walking shadow but they never make a sound, let alone that unholy scream. So banshee for the noise. What in all the hells have I created?! By accident no less! From a kitten! “I have the most unholy thing imaginable in the shape of a kitten for a familiar. That. Is. Just. Wretchedly. Perfect.” I growl out in frustration. After loosing my tenth (Bartok!) I gave up on familiars completely. Hunters just love taking them down, they seem to think that attacking a familiar weakens me. Well... okay it does but only in the sense that I'm alone again and without a loyal servant. Bastards. This could be a good thing. I guess. As the changeling was eager to demonstrate, the little horror is amazingly hard to kill. The horror in question is now walking up my back and is at the base of my neck... It jumps onto my head and sits down to survey the world from it's perch on my head. “Well let's go report this bit of trouble to Luna. I'm sure she'll be thrilled with you.” I remark raising my eyebrows to sort of point at the unholy cat on my head. “Mew.” it remarks back and I roll my eyes. Not that it can see it or it makes a difference... although the sensation is amazing... one more reason to hate being a child. Your mind will often wander off topic. I come across a guard half a minute later. “Excuse me sir. I had a run in with a changeling and the body is down the hall, could it removed before somepony finds it and panics?” I ask him and his eyes widen for a moment. The unicorn guard focuses before a ball of light gathers at the tip of his horn and shoots down the hall the way I came. A second later his eyes snap open and he's staring at me. “The cat did it.” I say pointing at the horror on top of my head. He's now staring at the both of us and I huff. “I doubt a cat could do that. How did you kill the monster in such a horrible way?” He asks sounding more fascinated than horrified. “The cat is enchanted. Apparently it can shoot out spikes so when the changeling tried to eat it in order to scare me and... well...” I explain and the guard looks vaguely disturbed. “I'm heading towards mom now but can you please get someone to clean up the mess? If a visiting pony spots that mess...” I say and he nods. “I'll get on it. Luna isn't in the throne room though. Check the library.” He says and I nod before going back the way I came. I pass the corpse and the horror starts snickering. For the love of... what form of monster have I conceived? I move off at a jogging pace and try to get towards Luna a little quicker. She'll probably want to hear about the changeling. It's strange. When I create some kind of undead creature it's usually a self proclaimed hero that tries to kill me. Not a well known monster. It doesn't take me long to reach the library, but only the caretaker is here. “Excuse me but do you know where mom is?” I ask and the mare clears her voice. “She's in her chambers. She likes to go over paperwork in the comfort of her own room.” she says and I nod. “By the way some new guards are looking for you. Have you run into one?” I reach out with my spirit sense. She's a pony. “I have, it was a changeling.” I say and she looks panicked. “Just be careful around anypony unfamiliar.” I tell her and she looks around nervously. “Right... thank you for the warning. Do the guards know?”she asks. “I told a unicorn guard that seemed clean. If I run into any more I'll do what I can.” I tell her and she looks surprised. “Alright get going then.” She tells me and I nod. It's not like I needed her to tell me. Its not long before I pass by a pair of guards and on a whim I sense for spirits and bite down a curse. One is changeling. “What does your kind want?” I ask it directly and it seems shocked at my question. “What's going on Prince Charon?” The other guard asks. “He's a changeling.” I say simply pointing towards the monster in question. It just hisses at me and lunges. The horror counter lunges and pins the monster to the ground. It's very strange to see a tiny kitten pin a fully grown stallion in platemail to the floor. The changeling's disguise drops and the guard and I stare in wonder as this does not help in the slightest. “Where did you get this cat?” he asks sounding like he's in shock. “It clawed it's way out of the ground while I was walking in the statue garden.” I said watching in sick fascination as the kitten's shadow leaped up and slammed into the changeling. “Hold on, I want to question it.” I tell the little horror hoping it will listen. “Mew.” it replies and I nod grateful for its obedience. “Alright, I know you're just a living golem and can't disobey your creators commands. So I'll make this simple, is your kind aiming for me or am I just in the way?” I ask and it spits at me. The kitten bats its face so hard it slams into the floor. Impressive, especially considering the horror had looked nothing more than playful. “Queen Chrysalis will devour all Love and Hope within your soul! If it takes a swarm of a thousand to destroy you Seer of Souls then it shall!” The monster announces and I sigh. Nothing's changed at all. Ah well, it was nice to get a few meals while I could. “Well that's just perfect.” I gripe as I place my hoof on the changelings head and snuff out the lifespark within it. The horror then lets the changeling corpse go. “Wait no!” The guard exclaims ready for a fight but is confused when the body doesn't move. “You can relax, it's dead now.” I tell him calmly. “Although, if you can dispose of the body for me I'd be appreciative.” “How did you kill it? It's not injured.” He asks me and I can't quite identify the tone. “I snuffed out it's life force. It wasn't really alive in the first place so it was pretty easy.” I tell him and I'm ready for the gasp of disgust, the declaration of my being a monster... “That's incredible.” he says. ...Well that's surprising! Where are the torches and pitchforks? I can't be the Liche Who Lives without an angry mob here! Come on! Work with me! “Anyways I'm going straight to my mom. Do you know if she's in her chambers?” I ask and he nods. “She is. I'll take care of the body and warn the other guards.” He tells me and I nod. “This isn't the first one I ran into. The cat got the other and a unicorn guard is taking care of it.” I tell him and he looks towards the horror with what I presume is new found respect. “Anyways I should be going. The less time I spend here the sooner I arrive.” He nods and I walk away from the scene of the crime. So I have hundreds of hidden enemies slowly closing in. They instantly know what another one knows have no regards for safety and I'm the only one who can find them meaning that I'll be fighting just about all of them. All I need is a bounty on my head and I'm back in familiar territory. Even if I only vaguely know the lay of the land. A few minutes later I groan out loud. There's another damn changeling. This one following me silently. “I know where you are changeling. I'm not impressed.” I say to the otherwise empty hall. Another guard rushes around the corner, he's a large earth pony. “Did you say changeling?!” He demands sounding a little panicked. “Yes, one of them is hiding just above that archway.” I say pointing a little ways down the hall and a few moments later an insect like head pokes out before ducking out of sight. “How did you know?” He asks and I grin. “I'd rather not say.” I reply before the kitten horror dashes off again and is now behind the archway. Moments later the changeling comes crashing to the ground and hits hard with a huge crunch. The kitten is comfortably sitting on the body as green ooze spreads from it. “What just happened?” The guard asks. “My new pet just killed the changeling. How? I have no clue.” I tell him and he just stares. “I'm going to continue my trek to Mom's room so that I can tell her just what's been going on.” I say before leaving the guard to his stunned vigil over the body. A few moments later and the kitten horror is just behind me again. It feels like it has taken most of the day just to get to this one door. I turn the nob and slowly open it before poking my head in. “Good afternoon Night-Shade. How are you?” Luna asks and I think quickly. “Well... that's a loaded question. Can I come in?” I ask and she nods. There was a stack of papers that had been floating near her but they move to the side and she smiles at me. I grin myself grateful that this bit is going smoothly as I walk in. The horror follows me. “Who's your new friend?” she asks downright beaming at me. “Well it followed me and... well... can I keep it?” I ask and she blinks and I feel a slight swell of power. “That's not a normal kitten.” she states looking annoyed. “No. It's not. I brought it to life by accident when... well venting excess necromantic energy. If I don't use my powers regularly it builds up until it leaks out. That's why everything was dying around me as a child. I tried to go where there was nothing that would die or come back to life and... there was a kitten skeleton I wasn't aware of.” I tell her and she blinks and looks up plainly thinking about what happened. Now she's smiling. “Can you vent by channelling more energy into this new pet?” she asks and I think before pushing a bit of energy into the horror. It works. “Easily.” I say and the smile widens. “Than I have no issue whatsoever with the kitten. Although we will need a name for the little dear.” she tells me and my eyebrows raise. She does realize that it's undead right? “You might not be so quick to accept it when I tell you what it has been doing.” I say and the smile is gone. “Has it hurt anypony?” Luna asks quickly and I chuckle ruefully. “Well Changelings at any rate. Three of them tried to attack me and each time the little horror either killed the creature or held it down.” I say and she looks shocked and stares at the little creature for a bit. She's smiling again. “If the little dear is going to protect you then... get some more!” Luna suggests and my jaw drops. During this the kitten bounds up to her and rolls onto it's back while mewing. Luna laughs and gives the little horror a belly scratch. “Although I would like to hear about the changelings. What happened?” “I caught three Changelings in the castle. Each one was disguised as a guard. The first was nearby the throne room. When I exposed it the creature you're currently cuddling jumped at it with a deafening scream. Broke it's horn off and when the Changeling tried to eat it, spikes shot out and killed the Changeling. The second one was after leaving the library and the creature there tackled the Changeling to the floor and held it there as I tried to question it.” I explain to Luna at length and she breaks away from the tummy rubs for a moment before going right back to them “Did you learn anything or did it just insult you?” Luna asks looking very attentive... to both me and the kitten thing. “Apparently they're afraid of me. It called me the Seer of Souls, and apparently they think that if it takes a thousand of their kind to kill me then it will be worth the price.” I tell her and her eyes widen. “This means I need to get moving now before they show up en masse.” I continue and her sheer expression of confusion and horror stops me cold. “What?” “Why would you... why would you leave when threatened? It's safer here.” Luna tells me and my eyebrows go up for a moment. “I don't let my trouble pass on. I provoked the Changelings, meaning I have to deal with it. The only way to make sure that they only focus on me is if it's just me in their path. So I have to leave.” I explain to her and she frowns. “The last time you left to protect someone they died.” She reminds me and I wince. Yes... they did... “Well what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and wait for them to come for me as they kill everyone in their path?!” I demand as I stomp up to her. This is absurd! How can she claim to be looking out for anyone's interest if she insists on holding the target of such ire behind the innocent?! “What we're going to do is find a way to find them before they find us. We are going to put in safety measures to make sure everyone is who they say they are so the Changelings can't get close. They only have power when we don't know they're coming. The monsters wanted revenge anyways. If they're focused on you and you can find them we can lay a trap and keep you safe at the same time.” Luna tells me and I sit down on the floor in surprise. “But it's an army... after me.” I say, weakly trying to justify my point of view. Luna picks me up with her magic and I float over to her. A moment later I'm laying down beside her and the cat horror is cuddled up beside me. “Now, you need to stop worrying so much. Also, we need a name for our new friend here. Should we get Twilight and her friends to help us with a name?” she asks and I shake my head. “Your name is now Bones.” I tell the cat, quickly turning to it so I can settle this debate here and now. “Mew.” It says and I sigh. That's one problem dealt with. “Bones? Simple and appropriate. I approve.” Luna says and I roll my eyes in their sockets. Yes Bones the Death-Kitten. Remind me again how my life got to this point? “A week ago I was the object of fear and loathing across an entire world. Feared and reviled for my power over life and death so that only the bravest or most foolish would dare challenge me. A living legend of undeniable power. So much so that my enemies knew trying to kill me was a fools endeavour so they sought to banish me instead.” I say mostly to myself in an effort to ground my mind. So much has happened in such a short time. “And now you're being cuddled between your mother and your pet cat. Safe and sound in the castle.” Luna says cutting me off. “Quite the stark contrast in a span of days you can count on your hands.” I note wryly. “Rather difficult to do without hands.” Luna notes and I snort. “Fair enough.” I note before sighing. It's just so hard to soak in everything happening. Some of it's familiar. What with having a small army out for my head, and my possessing an undead minion. However, the fact that the army is of a swarm of insects in the shape of horses and the minion is an obscenely powerful kitten takes away the familiarity. Not to mention the strange sensation of eyes and being well fed. If I get used to this it's going to be purest torture to readjust back to the Wandering Necromancer routine. It's very hard to ignore gaping holes in your head or a constant stabbing pain in your empty stomach, but I did it! I don't want to lose that edge where I only have to eat a pittance once every other week or my better than physical fourth sight ability. “Meow!” The cat suddenly announces and I feel like an idiot. “Right. You're hungry. Mom... uhm... do the kitchens have anything that would be good for a cat?” I ask and Luna titters happily. “Yes, some of the live-in servants own cats. There should be plenty.” Luna tells me and I nod as I get up. Bones happily jumps on top of me. “Do you want anything while I'm down there?” I offer mostly for the sake of being polite. “No I'm fine. I'll have to start organizing the guards anyways to deal with what's happened.” Luna tells me getting up herself. “So see you at dinner?” I ask still trying to be polite. “At the latest.” Luna replies in a chipper tone before giving me a kiss on the top of the head this time and simply fading away with a rush of magic. That was just... excessive.