//------------------------------// // Chapter 20: Rebirth. // Story: The Hunter's Heart // by Silentpegasus //------------------------------// Chapter 20 Rebirth Faust lowered the shield and shed a tear as Fluttershy galloped forward and wrapped her hooves around the statue and began to weep. The mares and foals started to do the same as they approached their fallen friend. Twilight looked up at the Queen with tear filled eyes. “What did he do?” “It’s called the Inferno. He split his soul in half and fused it with the Queen's. He had a direct link with the changeling horde through their hive mind. He destroyed his own soul and every changeling connected with him. Cross Hair has just exterminated the Changeling race.” The Queen looked at the lavender mare with tear stained eyes. “The spell was to act as a fail safe incase a race could no longer be reasoned with. The price is the sacrifice of the users soul.” “Is there nothing you can do?”Jeeves asked. “No.” She said in a saddened tone. Fluttershy went before the Queen with tears in her eyes. “Please. Bring him back.” The Alicorn looked at Fluttershy with a saddened look in her eyes. She felt a small pulse come from the mare. “You and your friends are the elements are you not?” The mares nodded in agreement. “There may be a way.” “How?” Rainbow yelled. The Queens horn glowed and scanned the statue. “We must act fast his soul still lives.” The mares looked at her in confusion. “It’s weak and growing weaker still. If you use the elements we could rebuild his soul.” Celestia’s horn glowed and levitated the elements over to the mares. “We need a bed rock to build off of.” The dark unicorn ghost stepped forward and kneeled before the Queen. “I beg of you your highness, use me to bring my son back.” He pleaded. The ponies looked at him in shock. “It’s the least I can do for my son.” He said as he still hung his head. The Queen looked at him with a raised eyebrow and let out a sigh. “As you wish.” He horn flared and a a beam of light connected the statue and the dark unicorn. The image began to fade and slowly turned to a pile of dust. “Elements now!” She ordered Twilight and her friends activated the elements and a bright Rainbow beam connected with the statue. A small explosion occurred that sent the mares flying against the wall. The dark unicorn disappeared and the statue remained the same. Faust lowered her head in sadness. “I’m sorry.” Fluttershy ran towards the statue and wrapped her hooves around the stone. “Please, I love you. Don’t go!” She said through the tears. Fluttershy looked at the stallion and saw a massive crack appear on the statues chest. She stepped back and watched as the whole statue began to shake and crack with beams of light pooling through. The mares adverted their eyes and saw the souls beginning to pool back into the statue. After the lights had faded the ponies looked with tears in their eyes as they saw the grey stallion stretch his back. “Oh....hello.” He said as he looked at the group of sobbing mares. Fluttershy quickly galloped up to him and hugged him with tears flowing down her face. “Don’t you EVER do that again!” She yelled through the tears. Cross embraced the mare and smiled. “I don’t plan to.” He said as he kissed the mare. He was suddenly tackled by the group of foals who trapped him in an unbreakable hug. He looked each one of them over and smiled. The mares trotted over to their friend and smiled at the grey stallion. As he got to his hooves he made his way over to the three Alicorns who looked at him in surprise. “Let me guess, soul transfer?” “Correct. Your father volunteered.” Faust said with a warm smile. “In the end he really did care for you.” Cross gave a heavy sigh and bowed his head. The ponies looked in surprise as they saw the goddess beginning to fade. “It looks like my time is up.” She said with a warm smile. The two alicorns rushed over to their mother and wrapped her in a tear filled hug. “P-please don’t leave us a second time!” Luna said as she sobbed into the mares chest. “Oh my dear Luna, I won’t say goodbye.” “W-why?” “We will see each other again. That I promise you.” She said as she smiled at the blue Princess. “Remember to always trust yourself and to look after your big sister.” The blue mare nodded. “And Tia.” “Yes, mom?” She said as she tried to control herself. “Look after Luna and try to lay off the cake.” She said with a warm smile. The white Alicorn blushed and hugged the goddess. They saw the image of her flicker and beginning to vanish. “Remember I’m always with you.” She said as her soul vanished and retreated back into the grey stallion who felt a shiver through his spine as the soul entered his body. “Jeeves. A word.” He said as he motioned with his head. “Yes, sir?” “If this little incident has taught us anything it’s that we have a huge security breach at the mansion and our enemies know where we are.” “What should we do about it sir?” “Simple, relocation. I happen to know a small town that is very accommodating.” He said as the mares looked at him with a smile on their face. “Sounds delightful.” “Yes, and the foals will be happy because there’s an organization there that can help them get their Cutie Marks.” He said as the foals grinned at him. He trotted over to the Princess’s and bowed before them. “Milady, I hope it’s not too much to ask to set aside some property for my estate in Ponyville.” “Consider it done. Do you have anywhere specific?” She asked in a sweet tone. “Maybe near the Everfree forest?” “Done.” She said as the yellow mare smiled at him. He trotted over to the wolf and patted him on the head. The mares, foals and the butler walked up next to him. “All of you hold still.” The ponies complied and felt a magical aura appear around them. They closed their eyes and vanished from the castle. When they opened their eyes they were back in front of Fluttershy’s cottage. Cross took a step forward and felt his legs give out from exhaustion. Fluttershy caught him and looked at the butler with a worried look on her face. “Calm down, he’s just exhausted. A good nights rest and he’ll be right as rain.” He said with a smile. “In the mean time I have to handle moving preparations.” He said as he withdrew a spell book. Jeeves flipped to a random page and a massive seal formed on the ground. The ponies watched in amazement as the manor they were in the day before appeared before them. “There we are, home sweet home.” Cross opened his eyes to see a familiar wooden roof over his head and a sleeping yellow mare next to him. Okay, I’ve got to stop waking up like this......minus the whole knocking out part. He smiled and gently stroked the mare’s mane causing her to stir. She let out a small yawn and looked at the stallion. “Morning.” She said with a smile. “Okay seriously, this is the third time you’ve dragged my sorry flank up here. I must be losing my touch.” He said in a playful tone. “I don’t know about that.” Fluttershy pressed her lips against the unicorn’s. The stallion returned the gesture causing the mare to let out a small moan of pleasure. “I stand corrected. Looks like I still got it.” He said with a grin. “I think it’s about time I get up and-” As he tried to rise from the cozy bed Fluttershy put a gently hoof on his chest and forced him down on the bed. Cross looked at the mare who had a bright blush on her face. “Or I could stay here.” The mare smiled and leaned in for another kiss. Cross saw out of the corner of his eye to see a group of foals with their mouths agate. Cross raised a hoof and made the ‘move along’ gesture with his hoof. His horn flared and the door was closed and would not open again for several hours.