In Swift Swap head there was a big confusion. A chaotic, terrifying sequence of scattered images, combined with overlapping sounds invaded and upset his mind like a hurricane. The most common images were terrified ponies who pointed him out and fled from him. The most common sounds were their screams of terror. And everything was combined with other sounds, of beings calling him weird, different.....
He hated those moments. Those moments of unconsciousness in which all its anxieties and fears came together in a single, chaotic vision. He couldn't avoid them, as he couldn't avoid sleeping. And every time they returned, every time enriched by new horrors, to take away from him even the fleeting and fragile moment of peace that sleep gave him.
Every time he wanted to rip the nightmare, cross the threshold that separated him from wakefulness and open his eyes. But this time he didn't succeed. His mind and his body didn't respond, they had abandoned him, in the grip of his demons.
And so, he remained at the mercy of his tremendous, crazy nightmare for a time that seemed endless, until, unexpectedly, he felt that the energies were returning. Then, gathering all his determination, he roared against his nasty visions, shattering them like glass sheets.
Everything around him became white, but then, after a few minutes, one at a time reappeared all the colors of the environment around him. And he knew he was awake. But when he saw where he was, he realized that something was wrong.
In fact, he was no longer in the forest where he had fainted. He was in a room with wooden walls, well-lit and full of shelves loaded with books. He remembered that place: it was the library of the princess Twilight Sparkle. And there was only one possible explanation to explain his presence there: that while he was unconscious, they had found him and captured him, and now they had left him in that place, waiting to figure out what to do with him.
It was over! Now that he had been taken, his mission was definitely failed. Now he would be locked up somewhere, and he would be interrogated for days to figure out what he was, and where were his fellows.
At that time he was alone, and wasn't even tied. This surprised him, but nevertheless he hadn't too many illusions. The one who had imprisoned him was a princess, and doubtless she had prepared some strange magic to prevent him from escaping.
In any case, he had to try. If he couldn't carry out the mission, he had at least to go back.
So, he stood up, despite the aching muscles and the blurred mind, and headed for the door, trying to open it. In vain, as it was closed. But it didn't matter. He was ready to break it down, to exit.
But before he could deliver even a single blow, he heard voices coming from the other side, followed by the sound of keys.
At that point he drew up another plan. As soon as the door was open, he would frighten his jailer, and taking advantage of his fright, he would escape. Sure, maybe so everyone would seen him, but it didn't matter. Probably the princess and her friends, by now, had spread the news throughout the city. Worry about his cover was now pointless.
So, just as the door was opening, he spread his forelimbs, opened his wings, began to shake wildly his tail and ruffled his fur, trying to make the most ferocious expression that he could. And at that point, he gave a deafening roar, straight in the face to the pony who had entered. Which, although didn't shouted of dread in turn, remained stunned from that unexpected, fierce appearance.
It was enough. And he was going to get out and take to the skies, when someone stopped him. Someone who, instead of fear, looked at him with curiosity and excitement.
“Woah, dude!” she said, “That was awesome! I wish I could roar like that! Although, to be honest, I'm quite good at it!”
And immediately she let out a roar incredibly realistic.
Swift Swap, caught off guard, fell back on the floor. Then he looked at the author of that incredible imitation. She was a light blue furred pegasus, with a messed mane that contained all the colors of the rainbow. She had a gritty and proud expression that he immediately recognized. She was the same that had blocked him as he tried to escape from the princess.
But the thing that surprised him the most was that she didn't seem scared of him at all. Even the princess Twilight Sparkle, to which he had roared in the face, wasn't scared. She was just startled at his sudden appearance.
“Oh, you're awake.” she said, “Thank goodness. I was beginning to worry. You have slept almost a full day!”
Along with them there were also her other friends, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity and Spike, and none of them was afraid.
Disoriented, he walked backwards, saying, “ I don't understand. Why aren't you scared of me? After all, I'm a monster in your eyes. A strange and dangerous monster!”
“Oh, goodness!” Rarity said, approaching him, “It's true that your appearance isn't exactly promising, but in the end, we live in a realm where you can meet all kinds of bizarre creatures. And trust me, you're not one of the nastiest!”
“Not one of the nastiest?” he replied, in disbelief, “Maybe you didn't understand! I'm a chimera! I'm a nasty creature by definition!”
“Honestly?” Applejack said, “Rather than nasty, I would say bizarre!”
And in fact his body was rather bizarre. His head was the head of a tiger, except for the unicorn horn that stood out on his forehead. Also the forelimbs were like those of a tiger, and of tiger were also the numerous black stripes that stood out on his orange body. The hind legs were rather those of a pony, with the cutie mark on the flank, between two black stripes. The wings were exactly as they were when they had sprouted during the welcome party, but now the ponies understood that they weren't bat wings. Those were the wings of a dragon, as of a dragon was the long, black tail, covered with scales, and the bony plates on his back.
All these traits, combined with his considerable tonnage, made him a creature who inspired fear, but not at that time. Not with his bewildered expression. And not as he stood huddled in that way, which made him look much smaller.
“Bizarre, you say?” he exclaimed, distraught, standing up and opening again his wings, “By chance, you find also this just bizarre?”
And he roared again, but this time, the roar was accompanied by a powerful burst of flames. The flames were of a very dark blue color, almost black, and they were very hot. Even if he had blown fire so that the flames didn't hit anything, flowing out the door without causing damage, the powerful wave of heat that accompany the flames invested them, straightening their manes and reddening their faces.
When he stopped blowing fire, he looked at them again, growling. But when he saw that they were just cowed, but not terrified, he calmed down.
“It means that you really aren't scared of me?” he asked hopefully, “What you really don't think I'm a monster?”
“Well,” Twilight started to reply, “to be honest, we are afraid of you. And not a little! But don't worry! We know that you aren't bad. We know that you're not going to hurt anypony! Yesterday we had mugged you because we believed that you had imprisoned somepony to take his likeness, with who knows what dark purpose in mind! But now we know that you are a good creature.”
All the others nodded, in support of Twilight claim.
And finally, on Swift Swap's lips, a shy smile appeared. A smile that showed his sharp teeth, but so timid, and accompanied by an expression such sincere and peaceful, that it wouldn't have frightened anyone.
“Well,” he started, “what to say. I'm glad to know that you don't think that I'm evil. But how did you know? I never tried to defend myself, and when you found me, I bet that my appearance was the current.”
“Indeed!” Twilight answered, “But then I thought back to how you acted, and I found hard to believe that you really were a dangerous creature. Then, I found this.”
And she showed, by lifting it with magic, something that she had hidden until then. It was a black scale.
“Hey!” Swift Swap exclaimed, “That's a scale of my tail! Where did you find it?”
“Rainbow Dash had torn it from your tail, trying to stop you. It was a hair, when I found it. But it doesn't matter! What really matters is this!”
And having said this, she began to focus, wrapping the scale in a more intense light, which gradually, from rose became yellow. A shade of yellow that resembled the sunshine.
“There” she said, while she interrupted the spell and put down the scale on the ground, “This is my spell to reveal the spiritual essence. Each essence is associated to a different color. And yellow indicates a timid creature but with a good heart, which puts the welfare of others before his own, and who wouldn't hurt a fly. That's why I'm sure we can trust you, even if you deceived us.”
“Yes.” he said, “about that, I'm sorry I lied to you. I know I shouldn't, but it was the only way. The existence of my race must remain as secret as possible! In any case, rest assured that I haven't imprisoned anyone to assume the form with which you have met me!”
“By the way, talkin' about race,” Applejack intervened, “do you mind explainin' what you are? What is the word that you said before? Chimera, I think....But I thought that the chimeras had many heads!”
“There are many different varieties of my kind. However, yes, I'm a chimera,” he answered, “namely a creature that is composed of three different races. Usually the chimeras are composed by a kind of dragon or snake, a feline, and a ungulate.”
“A what?” asked everyone except Fluttershy and Twilight.
“It means an animal with hooves.” he explained, “In my case, I'm for a third a black dragon, for a third a tiger and for a third a unicorn. The chimeras usually have three heads, but sometimes they have only two, or even four. And sometimes, in very rare cases, they have only one head, like me. Oh, and if you're wondering how I managed to change my appearance without the need to exchange it with someone else, you must know that my swapping spell is capable of acting on each individual kind that composes a chimera. With other races it doesn't work. For example, I can't act on the different racial parts that compose a griffon, or a manticore, but as regards the chimeras I can. So if I want to, I can limit my dragon and tiger parts in tiny details, and look like a normal unicorn. Of course, I can do the same with my other races.”
Said this, he emitted from his horn a dazzling flash of golden light, and in a few moments he turned into a tiger. But before the others could comment on the scene, he returned to his previous form with another flash of light.
The others were a bit confused from all those information, but in the end Fluttershy managed to ask, “So, now we understand how you managed to transform yourself, but what about that story about your country, your work and your mission? Was also that part of cover?”
“Oh, no. That was all true!” Swift Swap answered, “I'm really from the county of Chipados, I'm really an ambassador, and I really have a message for Princess Celestia by the Count. I simply omitted to tell you that the county is the only country inhabited only by chimeras throughout the world.
“Really?” Twilight asked, “But I've never heard of a country inhabited by chimeras! And when I searched for that county on my atlases, they say that it's inhabited by ponies!”
“Yes, that's what all the atlases say. This is because the existence or our community is a secret. You see, in the past chimeras have embarked terrible wars with the inhabitants of Euhock, drawing upon us the hatred and the disdain of any other race. This until a century ago, when Bright Master, the most powerful chimera ever existed, gathered under his command all the tribes and the bands of chimeras scattered across the continent, and offered them something that no one had offered them before: peace. He was tired of the violence that we were suffering and that we were inflicting. He dreamed of a peaceful future for our race, he dreamed that, one day, we wouldn't be feared or hated anymore. But unfortunately, none of the other races accepted our offers of peace. No one trusted us. So, Bright Master did the only thing possible to carry on his dream: staged our demise. Thanks to his enormous magical powers, he made everyone believe that we had destroyed each other in a fratricidal war, and then he built a city, in which there is a powerful magical artifact that makes any chimera that lives there seem like a perfect normal pony! That's how the county of Chipados was born. And from that moment Bright Master became the Count of Chipados. Practically, the county it's a safe place where our race is hiding, pretending to be ponies, waiting for the conditions to reveal to the world our existence again. But unfortunately, no one can leave the county without regaining his true form. That's why my job is so important! I'm the only one, in addition to the Count, to be able to travel out of the county without arousing suspicion. My task is to reveal, little by little, the existence of our species to the world leaders, and ask for their protection when we will reveal ourselves to everyone. In this way, we don't risk arising more wars. Surely, now my mission has failed, since now the whole town saw me....”
“Oh, don't worry about that!” Pinkie said, approaching him and raising his face, “Your secret is safe with us!”
“What!” he exclaimed, surprised, “What do you mean! Everyone have seen me last night. I don't think you'll be able to convince everyone to keep it a secret!”
“That won't be necessary!” Twilight explained, “After we brought you here, we have convinced everypony in town that what happened last night was a joke. We convinced them that I was the one that made you tick wings and fangs. It wasn't easy, but we managed to convince them. So, when you'll have recovered your strength, you'll take back the appearance of a pony, you'll exit from here, you'll behave normally, and everypony will be convinced that it was really a joke, and that you are a normal unicorn. As for us, as Pinkie said, we'll keep the secret. Yours is certainly an important mission, which aims to restore the dignity of your kind, and we don't want to interfere.”
At those words, for the first time since Swift Swap woke up, his eyes lit up. Despite the scary appearance, he radiated joy. He hadn't failed! His secret was safe! His hope, that of the Count, and that of all his people, was still alive! He couldn't restrain himself, and stood up on his hind legs, spread his wings and let out a roar of triumph, strong enough to shake the whole tree.
Luckily, Rainbow rose in the air and covered his mouth, saying, “Take it easy, big guy! At this rate, you'll be the one that will reveal the truth to the entire Ponyville!”
Immediately, he calmed down, folded his wings and crouched down, saying, “Yeah, right. I don't have to let me go!”. Then he added, smiling but without open his lips, so as not to show his fangs, “It's just that I'm very happy that the situation is resolved. After last night, I was afraid of having irretrievably compromised the plans of the Count. And, honestly, I'm also relieved to be able to share my secret with someone without fear. It makes me feel lighter, as if I didn't need to constantly watch my back anymore!”
“Yes, I understand.” Rarity said, “It must be a heavy burden having constantly to hide your identity, right?”
“You can't imagine how much!” he replied, a bit embarrassed.
After that statement, there was a long moment of silence, after which Applejack asked, “So, now you're goin' to deliver this famous message to the princess, right? Therefore, you will leave soon!”
“Yes, but I don't know when,” Swift Swap answered, “since Twilight told me that princess Celestia has left Equestria for a conference in United Keldom, right?”
“There's no problem, for what!” Twilight said, “When she returns from her trip, I'll be happy to personally accompany you to her presence. In the meantime, I'll be hosting you with pleasure in my house.”
Amazed by so much gentleness, he said, “Are you sure about that? I mean, I wouldn't want to be too much trouble! In short, I'm a huge fire-breathing creature, and I don't think it's the ideal combination with a library full of books!”
She chuckled, and replied, “For this, there's already a fire-breathing creature that lives here. Another won't be a problem. And in any case, I believe that sustain your ideal is the right thing to do. And I also feel a little guilty for having falsely accused in front of everypony yesterday!”
“Don't think about that.” he reassured her, “I'm not offended by what you thought yesterday. Anyone would have done it! I mean, a couple of huge wings that sprout from your back all of a sudden raises many suspicions, isn't it?”
Everyone giggled, to release the tension. All that strange, bizarre but also scary thing was started as an ordinary day, for culminate in total panic, but luckily everything was resolved for the better. And everyone was relieved of this.
However, after a while, Pinkie said, pulling out of Applejack's hat her by now infamous checklist, “However, speaking of business, I dare say that we can now mark as done 'Meet Rainbow Dash', but I'm sorry to say that, although you have crossed them, you haven't really known Thunderlane and Cloudchaser. And you haven't met Raindrops and Bulk Biceps at all! So, as soon as you get out of here, after that you return to be a unicorn, the first thing you and I will do is go to find them and make presentations as it should be!”
All those present raised their eyes to heaven, and Twilight scolded her, “Pinkie Pie! After all that has happened, after all the problems and the troubles we've been through, you still think to your list?”
But then she saw that Swift Swap was smiling, and in front of her confusion, he replied, “It's okay. By now, since I can take it easy and I don't longer have to worry about passing out on the street, I can finish her checklist, especially if she cares so much about it!”
“Great!” Pinkie cried, happy. Then, after a while, she added “Oh, and while we're at it, I think you also want to see my latest addition to the 'Make Your New Friend Meet All Of Your Old Friends' checklist!”
Said this, she showed to everyone the end of her list, where, in big and messy letters it was written: “Meet Swift Swap”.
After seeing those three words, Swift Swap looked up, at the face of that exuberant pink mare, and she remembered Rarity's words: “I know that sometimes her wild and unpredictable ways can catch off guard who doesn't know her, but after a few minutes, you always learn to love that!”
It was true. From the first moment, he had been intimidated by her because he was afraid that, because of her, his secret would come to light. But now, in front of that sign of affection, his heart was flooded with emotion.
But not only for Pinkie, but also for all those creatures who were in that room. Of those creatures who weren't scared because he was monstrous, but who had looked at what he had inside, and gave him a chance. The chance of being accepted.
“Thank you!” he said, “Thank you everybody!”
And having said that, he broadened his powerful, feline paws and squeezed everyone in a hug. A hug with which, without saying a word, he marked forever something unheard and unthinkable for him before that time.
He wasn't a monster.