//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: She Lives! // Story: Pessimism and Sarcasm // by Jerec the Ascendant //------------------------------// Pessimism and Sarcasm Chapter 14 She Lives! Twilight and I approach her library, while Shade quickly hides in one of the large pockets of my cargo pants. Twilight's face still contorted with panic at this unannounced visit, she mutters to herself about how she might get banished for some form of uncleanliness in the library, have her new princesshood taken away, end up in magic kindergarten, and plenty of other punishments with no reasoning behind them. "Shade, Twilight, calm down. You really need to take into consideration just who we are dealing with." Now, with Shade I can see why she's apprehensive, but Twilight has been through this before, several times. Twilight glances up at me for a moment, and then returns to her panicked muttering. I roll my eyes. This is going to be fun. We get closer to the library, and are stopped by one of the guards, who breaks his composure as he observes me. He quickly recovers, and says, "Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are expecting you and your friend." "Wha -ahem- what is the nature of their visit today?" I roll my eyes once again at Twilight's feigned courage. "They didn't say, but they did wish for me to usher you inside post-haste." Twilight gulps and I stand wondering what could be so important that they came in this manner. "Alright." Twilight begins to look queasy, and I could feel Shade violently shivering in my pocket. The guard leads us to the door, opens it, and bows. "Her majesty, Princess Twilight, has arrived, your Highnesses." He holds the door for us to go in, and as soon as we do, it shuts again. Twilight is now in the final phase of her fear, virtually catatonic. "P-princess, I can explain-" but Twilight is cut off by one look from Celestia. She lets out a long, tired breath and frowns at her old student. "Twilight, why is it that if ever I choose to visit, it is always a time of panic for you? You should know by now that I am not the tyrant your imagination makes me out to be." Twilight flinches, as if struck. I told you to calm down. "Now then, Twilight, Jacob, Shade. Luna and I are here because we have good news. We discovered a spell to make Shade a true pony. Do not be scared,” she says to Shade, who peeked timidly from out of my pocket. “It is all right. Luna and I aren't going to hurt you." I reach into my pocket and scoop her out, her tiny body shivering in my fingers. I simply nod, with a smile to show that she would be fine. Slowly, her shivering stops. "As my sister said, we are here to help you, and I would never let any harm befall my daughter..." Luna's face changes from sincere and calm to mischievous and playful. "... or her brother." She sticks her tongue out slightly at me, while I groan. Shade leaps from my hand and assumes her usual filly form. Shade loves when Luna calls herself her mother, and her sudden glee was evident on her cheeks. Celestia crouches down to look Shade in the eye. "If you are ready we can begin." "Yes, I'm ready." "Alright." She stands again and nods to Luna. Their horns begin glowing with power, and the two focus on Shade. I can't catch the words they’re reciting, but they sound encouraging, and Shade remains calm. They finish the mantra and the energy they had built up on their horns fires at Shade. A small sphere of magic energy builds around her and lifts her into the air, and after a moment her silhouette appears within it. The sphere descends to the ground and bursts, leaving Shade in her new, real body. Her fur is a dark onyx gray, and her mane is now silver. She opens her eyes to reveal that they are a deep emerald green. Shade quickly looks her new body over, then rushes to Luna and Celestia, giving them each a hug. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Shade bounces and flutters around the entire room with excitement. She runs over to me, hopping into my arms and giving me a hug as well. "I will be leaving to talk to the mayor about my daughter and her current living arrangements. Shade, Jacob, you two continue to be good to poor Twilight." Luna walks out the door, her face maintaining its evil grin. Why me? Celestia watches her sister go, then turns back to me. "So, I heard from Twilight about a certain thing you call television. I also understand there is a certain television show that appears on it that would definitely interest me. Would you care to explain?" ...Why me?