Children of Chaos

by shirotora


Chapter 9: The Seer and the Skull

Chapter 9: The Seer and the Skull

As Razor and Surprise followed their old friend, they noticed how excited she seemed. They figured it was because, apparently, they were gone for five hundred years, but at the same time she seemed... off.

“Oh, this is so exciting,” she exclaimed, “I can't wait to have a nice talk over tea. It's been so long since I've had company.”

“So, Kat...” Razor trailed off, trying to think of a topic, “Is Paruk around?”

“Oh no, he's dead,” she replied plainly.

“W-what?” Razor gave a glance to Surprise, who returned the same, “Did you just say he's dead?”

“Yep,” she repeated as if she were talking about the weather, “Shiro killed him. He killed everyone. Well except Pinkie, she killed herself.”

Surprise stopped dead in her tracks, “W-what? Mom... killed herself?”

“Yep. After Solaris killed Phoenix, and Shiro killed the others, she hung herself with Applejack's rope.”

The changeling fell on her haunches, “That... that... no, mom wouldn't...”

“What? Steal? Applejack, Big Mac and Applebloom were already dead, so I don't think anypony else would have used it.”

The two were taken aback by the casual way she talked about their friends' and family's deaths.

“We're here!” Kataya spun around with a smile.

Razor and Surprise looked around at the surroundings, but saw nothing. Surprise looked at the massive oak in front of them and wondered if that was their destination. Kataya smirked knowingly and cleared her throat. She sang a short verse of the Derat Tagal, and as the changeling predicted a door opened on the massive tree.

The dragony turned with a huge smile, “I'm so excited! I haven't had company in a long time! Well, except for my roommate.”

“Roommate?” Razor asked rhetorically, not seeing who would want to live out here.

They went inside the tree and were surprised by how nice it really was. The living room was spacious with a few potted plants, shelves of trinkets and nicknacks, and a familiar TV in front of a couch. A set of stairs to their left went to the second story, and a doorway in the back led to what looked like a kitchen.

“Is that our TV?” Razor asked.

“You weren't using it,” she shrugged as she ran upstairs.

Razor and Surprise took a look at the shelves. There were several different things that seemed strange to them until a few on another shelf caught their eyes. A book on advanced wards, a heart shaped pink diamond, a glass-encased apple, a Wonder Bolts plush, a party hat, an artificial horn, and barghest tooth.

“They're mementos,” Razor said what they were both thinking.

“I can't believe mom...” Surprise tried voicing her pain, but couldn't.

“I know,” Razor put his paw on her back, “I guess that's something dad and Pinkie had in common.”

“Yeah, they both always did let their emotions run them.”

“Hey,” Kataya said as she came down stairs. She held out her claw, a pony's skull held therein, “Meet my roommate Lumpy!”

The pair couldn't believe what they were seeing.

After gawking for a bit, Razor finally asked, “How long has it been since you had company?”

The dragony scratched her chin in thought, “About... four hundred years. Why?”

Razor and Surprise gave each other a look.

“Well, unless you count that Specter colt,” the dragony added, “Such a nice demon.”

“O...kay...” Surprise said slowly.

“How about I go make us some tea, and Lumpy can show you around,” Kataya placed the skull on a chair and went into the kitchen.

The two stared at the pony skull for several seconds as if waiting for it to start moving.

Surprise finally broke the silence, “She's nuts.”

Razor could only nod in agreement.


(Kataya and Lumpy)

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Slowly, the world came back into focus. The first sight to greet Winter Snow was a pair of friendly, dark purple eyes. A smile spread across the face of Specter, his fiery mane flickering with joy.

“Glad to finally meet you in person,” said the demon, “How are you feeling?”

“Sore,” replied the tigony, “Like I got my ass blown up.”

“That's great,” Specter cheered, “Most ponies are a bit sore, tired, and disoriented after a healing.”

Snow chuckled at his use of 'healing' instead of 'possession' as she stretched and got to her hooves, taking in her surroundings, “When did we get to a house?”

“As soon as your legs mended, I managed to drag us home,” Specter explained, “It hurt, but I didn't want to draw a predator to us. Better take the pain then get eaten.”

Snow chuckled, “Yeah, that would suck. Speaking of eating, you wouldn't happen to have any food, would you? Do Nightmares even eat?”

He answered, “Normally we don't but since I have a body, it needs sustenance. It's worth it, though.”

“I bet,” Snow speculated, “It must suck not having a body.”

“You have no idea,” Specter confirmed.

The two of them sat in silence for a little bit before Snow asked the question she had been wanting to, “So what do we do now?”

Specter thought for a second before answering, “Well, I suppose we should go to the resistance. They'll be able to set you up with food and shelter.”

“That sounds good,” Snow said.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

“Did you enjoy your tour?” Kataya said as she returned with a tea tray on her back laden with tea and other goodies, “Lumpy didn't give you any trouble did he? I know he can be a bit of a chatter box.”

“No,” Razor answered too quickly with an awkward grin, “He didn't give us any trouble at all.”

“Good,” the dragony set out four cups for herself, guests, and 'roommate'.

“So...” Surprise fumbled around for a topic, “Do you still take care of animals?”

“Not really,” replied the dragony sadly, “They don't like to come around anymore.”

“Mmm, this is really good,” Razor complimented as he tasted the tea.

“I have had a few centuries to get it right,” Kataya chuckled, “I found a way to sing the poison from poison joke. That's one of the secret ingredients.”

“Poison joke tea?” Razor looked at his cup suspiciously, “Are you sure it's okay to drink?”

“Of course,” Kataya confirmed. Razor sighed in relief and took another drink, “Though, you'll hallucinate a little.”

Surprise looked down at her cup, “Well... It has been a while since I tripped out,” and downed her drink.

Razor saw his fillyfriend finish and followed suit, “Here's hoping it's a good trip.”

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Razor clapped his paws to the music as Surprise and Kataya danced with the hippo and wookie.

“They're pretty good,” he said.

“Indeed,” replied Lumpy as he adjusted his monocle.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Razor rolled over in his sleep and cuddled up against... something. Whatever it was, it was extremely fluffy and soft. Slowly, he opened his eyes to see...

“Pink..?”

He gazed blearily at the pink puff... and then it moved. It rolled over revealing a face and what looked like a paper horn.

“Morning, Razie,” said its familiar voice.

“Surprise?” Razor asked in confusion, “Oh... my... gods. Bwahahahaha!”

“What?” asked the changeling. Razor snapped his fingers and a mirror popped into existence. Surprise's eyes shot open at the sight of her most recent disguise. “Oh gods. You tell anypony about this, you die.”

A flash of green replaced the pink fluffy unicorn with her standard white coat and pink mane, though she had a horn protruding through her mane along with her usual wings.

“Going for the princess look?” Razor teased.

“There's nopony else around, and I would like to have my magic available if I need it,” Surprise crossed her forelegs in irritation.

“You could just drop the disguise all together,” Razor recommended.

“Not a chance,” the changeling deadpanned.

Razor rolled his eyes, “Whatever, let's go. I smell food.”

Sure enough, Kataya was already up and cooking breakfast. A pair of sizzling pans held what looked like little slices of ham and hash browns.

“Smells good,” Surprise said, “What's cooking?”

“Hash-browns and squirrel steak,” answered the dragony.

“Squirrel?” Surprise scrunched her snout.

“It's pretty good,” Razor said.

“I guess I'll try it,” the changeling said, “It has been a while since I've had meat.”

They all sat down and Kataya served the hot morning meal. Surprise took a bite of the meaty morsel and practically melted.

Razor shook his head and chuckled, “I don't get why you don't ask Pinkie to keep some meat for you. You know she'd be fine with it.”

“I can't do that,' Surprise said incredulously, “Ponies are vegetarians.”

“And you're a changeling,” Razor countered, “You shouldn't have to try to be something you're not.”

“Can we not start this right now?” Surprise put her hoof down.

Kataya looked at the changeling with concern and said, “Surprise, you need to embrace your people and heritage. If you continue to shun who you are, disaster will follow. I don't have to be a seer to know that.”

“I don't shun who I am! I tell everypony I meet.”

“So why not show them?” Answered the wise – if crazy – old dragony.

“Because... I... I like looking like mom,” she excused, though it wasn't bought.

Kataya sighed, “Well, that's not important. What's important is to eat up. I have something to show you.”

They quickly ate and were about to start cleaning up but Kataya stopped them, “Don't worry about that. Lumpy will clean up while I show you something. Follow me.”

She lead them back into the living room, stood in front of a wall, and began singing. Razor and Surprise felt the familiar magic of the Derat Tagal reach out and surround part of the wall. Cracks opened as the affected section opened inward revealing a staircase going down. With her song ended, Kataya led her guests down into the dark basement, the scales along her sides emitting a faint light.

“I didn't know she could do that,” Surprise whispered to Razor.

“I... should have. Dad's bracers glow in the dark. It's hard to see, but they do.”

“Here we are,” Kataya said in a cheery voice

She breathed a small beam of light at a gem, and the stone lit up.

“Whoa, that's awesome,” Razor said, “How does that work?”

“No clue. This is what I wanted to show you.” The dragony stopped before a large stone ring, covered in runes and twice the height of a pony.

Razor and Surprise stared at it in confusion until the changeling spoke up, “What is it?”

“It's a Divine Element,” Kataya stated, “It's called the Temporal Alignment/Realignment and Direct Insertion System.” Razor and Surprise shared a look of bemusement, “It's basically a time machine.”

“Oh, come on! Really?” Razor laughed.

“I spent three hundred years searching for it,” the dragony formerly known as Fluttershy brushed a hoof over the enchanted stone. “All you need is the power of a god.”

“Is that all?” Razor deadpanned, “And where do we find a god?”

Kataya grinned in a way that made Surprise homesick, “Right here.” She pulled out a shining white crystal shard, “Razor, Surprise... I'd like you to meet Princess Celestia.”