//------------------------------//
// An Unlikely Bond 
// Story: Help Me! My Parents Are Bronies! 
// by Enfield 
//------------------------------//

	Douglas leaned back on his rifle and stared up at the ceiling of the town hall. Well over a hundred cocoons hung from the ceiling, each one contained a pony and Douglas could just see the fear distilled in their eyes as they sat in the slime coated pods. Most had given up trying to escape, the few that did where shot by Douglas and then put into another cocoon. He let the rest of the Changelings guard them and went over to Chrysalis. She as sitting on a black, hole filled throne that seemed to be made of organic material, Douglas didn't know what it was but he didn't really care much since his jacket and jeans had the same material staining them. 
"You've done a fantastic job," Chrysalis said, "I only wish that my other subjects could be like you." 
"Where are my parents?" Douglas asked.
"They managed to escape with Twilight, I've got my best Changelings searching for them."
"Xinkz included?" 
"Xinkz insisted that he should lead the search teams, he wants to bring your parents to you as a gift."
Douglas sniggered and leaned against the throne.
"Tis a shame now," he said, "Now that I've disowned myself I technically don't have a family anymore, but who needs them anyway?"
"Yes, quite," Chrysalis said as she ushered Douglas closer, "You don't need them anyway, because of what you managed to do I'm making you a part of the Swarm. You are now an honorary Changeling." 

"Really?" Douglas asked, "I'm one of you now?" 
"I've never had a non-Changeling in my Swarm, but I think you've earned a spot." 
Douglas felt pleased knowing that he had now joined the Swarm, but he wondered if they would laugh at him because his parents were fans of a kids TV show. He didn't want to be humiliated again.
"Chrysalis?"
Chrysalis looked down at him.
"Yes?" she asked.
"You know that in my world my parents were known as 'bronies', is the rest of the Swarm going to make fun of me for it?"
"No, you helped us take over the town. I think that you'll be loved by my subjects, and more importantly, by me."
"Really? Prove it," Douglas said. Chrysalis scooped him up and hugged him, Douglas didn't know what to do first but he hugged her back. Chrysalis set Douglas down just as three Changelings approached them dragging a large crate.
"My queen we have found this crate," a Changeling said.
"What is in it?" Chrysalis asked. 
"Hey!" a shout came from the cocoons, "That's mah secret cider stash. Nopony's allowed to have that."
Douglas took out his shank and walked over to the crate.
"Would you like us to leave it alone? Too bad."
Douglas pried the crate open and he pulled out a pair of unmarked bottles that was clearly apple cider. He smiled and held the two bottles above his head.
"Hey guys! We celebrate tonight!" 

An hour and three bottles of cider later Douglas slowly lapsed into a drunken state. He staggered around, babbled on about his evil parents and even a few times started singing rowdy Irish drinking songs. The Changelings all joined in, singing laughing and a few were even dancing. Douglas grabbed another bottle, popped it open and swallowed a forth of the cider. 
"Oi feel loike singin' again," Douglas said as he stumbled around a few of the Changelings. 
"Oh dear," Chrysalis said with a laugh. 
"Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness, I'm one hundred percent Irish. Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness, I'm two hundred percent Irish! Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness, why do you love the leprechaun? Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness, we love them because they turn us on!"
"What's he saying?" one Changeling asked his friend. The other Changeling shook his head. 
"Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness, how can you call yourself Irish? Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness Guinness, 'cause I'm fecking Irish!" 
Douglas then dropped the bottle and fell over backwards, giggling like a madman. A few Changelings gathered around him and helped him sit up.
"Geroff, I'm fine," Douglas said. Chrysalis walked over to him and sat down beside him. 
"You should get some sleep."
Douglas didn't say anything, instead he hugged Chrysalis.
"I'm so glad that your my adoptive mother," Douglas said. Chrysalis pulled him closer.
"I knew that you'd be the best for the task at hand," she said. Douglas motioned her closer and whispered in her ear.
"I love you," he said, and then he fell against Chrysalis and fell asleep. Chrysalis smiled and placed Douglas on her back and took him to a small room. Douglas stirred and woke up, he rubbed his eyes and tried to sit on Chrysalis' back.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"I'm going to take you to your new quarters," Chrysalis said, "I hope you don't mind sharing with Xinkz." 
"We'll get on like a house on fire," Douglas said as he was set down next to what looked like a bed made from hay and a broken cocoon. 
"You should get some sleep," Chrysalis said as she left, "I'll need you to look around the town for any ponies who escaped." 
Douglas was left alone in the small room, he looked around in his drunken, blurry view and figured out that it used to be an office. The Changeling beds where added along with a smaller cocoon that Douglas tossed his rifle and jacket into before he dropped down into the bed. He lay back and stared out towards the moon, there was a funny glow coming from a crater but he didn't think much of it. Douglas rolled over and drifted off into a blissful sleep, happy and content now that he was a part of Chrysalis' Swarm.

"Ay'up laddie. Wakey wakey," a distorted voice said in Douglas' ear.
"Huh? What?"
"You're a right wanker aren't ya?" the voice said, "I really should purge you but sadly your not a nightmare."
Douglas sat up and found himself in a black void standing on a floating island. Several other islands were scattered around the void. Douglas looked around to try and figure out where he was. 
"What's going on? Where am I?" 
"This was a dreamscape but I've cleaned it up," the voice said, Douglas could now pick out a distinct accent.
"Give me your name," Douglas said.
"I'm not going to do that," the voice said, "But I can at least show you who I am."
"Come on out then you fecker." 
"Tisk tisk, you Irish should really learn to calm down, especially you, Douglas."
Douglas stepped back and looked around.
"How did you know my name?" 
"My little friend told me about you, what you did to her. Crushing her with your boot and pointing your gun at her, what kind of sick person are you?"
"Show yourself!" Douglas barked. There was a snort and then the voice spoke.
"Very well, keep an eye on the island approaching you."

Douglas saw the floating island and watched as a mist formed on it and took the shape of another human. The human then fully manifested in front of him and the island stopped just a few feet from him. The human was a few inches taller than Douglas, his hair was black with silver streaks running from his fringe all the way to the back of his head. The human appeared to be wearing a black armor vest with a gray t-shirt under it, he was also wearing black jeans and silver shin guards. Douglas saw a small red stone around his neck and saw that the human's arm was burned.
"Funny really," the human said as he rubbed his chin, "You're not as scary as my friend said you were."
"Who are you?" Douglas asked.
"I'm nothing but a human just like you," the person said, "But I'm a little different." 
"Where are you from?" Douglas asked curiously, "I know you're from the British isles."
"You figure that out for yourself," the person said. Douglas snorted and leaned against the desk on his island.
"Tell me, whoever you are. Why am I here?"
"Three reasons," the person said, "The first is a warning and the second is something that you've been wanting to know for a while, the third I don't think you'll believe."
"Go on."
The person leaned back and a small leather armchair appeared from the mist. He then leaned forward and stared at Douglas, the tips of his index fingers touching his upper lip.
"First reason, you should give up working for Chrysalis while you can. I've been down that path and trust me, it's not pretty. Just walk away and it'll only get better."
"And why should I?" Douglas asked, "What makes you think I'll believe you? And why should I give up working for Chrysalis?"
"Second reason. I know where your parents are."
Douglas stood up and stepped closer. The person smirked and leaned back.
"I knew that would get you attention."
"Tell me where they are."
"They're in Canterlot with Twilight, she's already told Celestia about what you've done and as I speak there are entire battalions of soldiers bearing down on Ponyville to rid the Changelings for good. As for your mother and father, they're worried sick about you. Your dad is trying to counter what you did with heavy drinking and your mother cries for you each night, go back to them, they need you."
"They're liars and I hate them, Chrysalis showed me what they did to me. I'm never going back to them."
"I'd go back to them," the person said as he rested his cheek on his fist and stared off into the distance, "I don't think you understand that I'm trying to help you, lad. You have no clue what it's like for me."
"And how are you worse off?" Douglas asked, "How can your parents be worse than my brony parents?"
"My parents," the person said as he leaned closer to Douglas, "Are dead. Killed in the fires that fell from the sky along with the rest of my bloody family. Listen to me Douglas, get away from here and I promise you that you won't lose you family like I did."
"I'm staying with Chrysalis," Douglas said defiantly.
"I'm hoping you'll reconsider after I tell you this; Chrysalis purposely changed your memories."
"What?" Douglas scoffed, "No she didn't."
"Then how come she knew that you wanted your memory back when you first met her?" the person asked slyly. Douglas stammered for a few seconds and then shook his head irritated about what this person was saying.
"Feck off whoever you are, you're nothing but a dream brought on by my drinking. I'm not going to believe another word that spews from you anymore."

The person stood up and kicked the chair backwards, sending it plummeting off the island and into the void where it blew up.
"Do not test me Douglas! You know what you bloody well did and I swear that you're going to pay for it, I've killed a god and I'll have no trouble killing you." 
"If you want a scrap now then I'm ready," Douglas said. The person sighed and stood back.
"No," he said, "Not now, we will meet again Douglas and I promise you that the fire you tried to stop out will burn you. We will do battle, but not here. It won't matter."
"Fine, but I want to know this; if we do meet, will I recognize you?"
"You will, you will. But I'll tell you now, you're not going to remember much of this."
The person started laughing as he walked backwards into the mist. Douglas tried to pursue him but the island drifted away.
"Wait, what the hell do you mean I won't remember?"
"You said yourself, you're drunk. As for me, I'm going to keep watch until I can get back. Once we meet again I'll tell you my name. Oh, one more thing, watch your back."
The person then evaporated and Douglas woke up, sweaty and dizzy. His head pounded and his mouth was dry, Douglas walked over to the sink and rinsed his mouth with water. He didn't know what that dream was all about but he didn't care, he just wanted to get back to sleep. As he did he looked up to the night sky again, he was about to settle down when a chilling voice whispered in his ear.
"Always watching."