//------------------------------// // First Day and Experimentation // Story: Crystal Chris's Heart // by Trillionaire Doge //------------------------------// not proofread but I just wanted to get it out to keep you guys going “Hurry up and get dressed Chris” Clara called from down the hall where she, Celestia and Cadence stood with large smiles plastered upon their faces. “I can’t wait to see how cute he looks in those new clothes you had made Celestia.” “Yes it was a good thing Twilight’s friend Rarity was able to make a set of clothing on such short notice.” Celestia spoke back as Chris stepped from the room and looked down at the three of them with such vehemence it made her burst out into the giggles. Chris made his way towards the trio and spoke, clarifying that it wasn’t Chris at the moment but rather Christopher. “I truly despise all three of you at the moment; we will get you back for this Princess.” Christopher finished with a sigh before fading away and allowing Chris to return. “Mom do I really have to go.” He whined in protest, stomping his foot onto the ground to push his point. “Well sweetie, are you mature enough to be a big stallion?” Clara asked with another smile. “I’m more mature than Celery over there.” Chris complained and ignored the pout/glare Celestia gave him. “Oh well darling, let’s get going.” Clara nudged her son down the hall, “Can’t be late for your first day.” As she nudged Chris along his eyes lost their lustre for a moment, signalling the swapping of consciousness’s. “Whatever pony.” Christopher returned as he made his way down the hall mumbling to himself. “Come on Chris I can’t do this, you need to take over for the day.” “Do you think they will accept him?” Cadence asked as they followed the brooding boy down the hall. “I’m sure there may be a little teasing but with Cheerilee there I doubt it would get out of control, he needs to acclimatize to ponies now that he’s back,” Celestia calmly answered. “But why Pony Ville? Why not send him to a school located in the empire?” Cadence asked “Have you even seen any fillies or colts around the empire since you got here Cadence?” Clara cut in as they rounded a corner and noticed Chris waiting for them at a large door his small body couldn’t open. “Well… no I haven’t.” Cadence answered as the door swung open, courtesy of Celestia’s magic “Well I have and a few of them seem a little dark for Chris to be around, plus Twilight’s been begging me to allow her to study Chris.” Celestia replied. “Dark?” The two ponies responded in unison. “I haven’t seen any of them acting like the fillies or colts in Pony Ville, plus it’ll be good for Chris to get a change of scenery.” Celestia answered another question about the odd place for Chris’s schooling. “But won’t the travel take it out of him? Taking the train every day to Pony Ville?” Cadence asked. “Plus he can’t stay out there for too long since he would die.” Clara choked up when she thought of that happening. “I’ve planned for that as well” Celestia had her smile hidden from the two ponies as a small pendant appeared in her magic, seemingly from nowhere; hung on a golden chain was a large light blue gemstone that glowed softly in the daylight. “When he wears this he can travel from two set points.” She showed the pendant to the two ponies and they reached out to grasp it. “I’ve created a tether between the crystal empire and Twilight’s library. He need only rub the pendant and think of either one of the places and he shall disappear and reappear in the place he wishes.” Celestia released the pendant and allowed Clara to take it in her mouth, Cadence getting a better look at it as Clara steadied her walking. “You really do plan for everything don’t you Auntie?” Cadence asked with a smirk. “sadly no.” Celestia sighed softly, “I planned for everything except for what happened that day all those years ago.” “What day would that be auntie?” Cadence asked but was met with silence, the rest of the walk to the hall was spent in silence as Chris battled with himself. A short walk and a few tears later Chris, Clara and Celestia appeared inside Twilight’s library. Chris immediately let go of his mother’s foreleg, forgetting the act he had been putting on to get some leniency; taking to explore the library instead. “Princess?” Twilight called from upstairs which was followed by a loud crash, a few moments later an ink covered Twilight appeared at the top of the staircase; all other ponies covered their mouths to stifle laughter. Chris didn’t even try, Chris also learnt to fall with style that day. However after Chris had been recovered and placed onto his mother’s back Twilight had cleaned herself up and was enjoying a rather lively conversation with Princess Celestia. “So I can study him after school today?” Twilight happily spoke, the sentence causing Chris to tense and grip his mother; the look Twilight kept giving him was scary. “Mom, do I have to stay with her after school?” Chris whispered to his mother so that the other two ponies couldn’t hear. “Of course not dear, here take this.” Clara took the pendant out of her saddlebags she just so happened to have that were totally not full of film for a camera she had in her left saddlebag. “If Twilight scares you just rub the gemstone and picture the empire.” Chris took the pendant and cradled it happily “Thanks mom.” Chris latched onto his mother happily, nuzzling into her fur with renewed vigour. “Also Princess,” Twilight shouted before returning to a whisper. “Why is Chris so much smaller than when I last saw him?” “Ahhhh,” Celestia began and turned away from the door she was about to leave from. “That would be because he thought it funny to prank me,” Celestia began to recount the story and how Chris had transformed into a child. Unbeknownst to her Chris had snuck away from his mother and was buried within the fridge; Twilight watched him but didn’t want to interrupt her mentor and princess. Chris emerged from the fridge with a giant stick of Celery, he snuck towards Celestia and jumped onto her back; playing it off as an act of affection her hugged Celestia with his free hand. “Ahhh here is the perpetrator now,” Celestia nuzzled Chris before turning back to Twilight and continuing. Chris sat up on the princesses’ back and revealed the celery stick to the world, with the precision of a heart surgeon and professionalism of a burglar he quickly tied the stick of vegetation to the dubbed Celery’s hair and jumped off towards the door. “Can we go to school mom?” Chris asked once he was far enough away from the princess. “Sure honey,” Clara uneasily answered as she choked back laughter. “I shall tell you the rest of the story when I return from seeing Chris off.” Celestia smiled happily before turning from Twilight and heading out the door to follow Chris and his mother. Once the door clicked shut Twilight sat there stunned before trying to shout. “But. Princess.” Twilight immediately tried to speak but found it in vein as the Princess had already left “Maybe that’s a trait of Humans’?” Dashing for her quill and paper upstairs she hoped to document the small information she had just witnessed. With Celestia a little behind Chris and his mother reached the school before her and were inside speaking with the teacher Cheerilee, an earth pony with a cerise coat which blended well with her pale rose mane and tail; her cutie mark consisted of three flowers with happy faces in the middle. The building they were situated inside was known as the schoolhouse and it featured a single classroom for a single set of students, since there weren’t that many fillies or colts in Pony Ville. None of the students had shown up yet since school let in just before Lunchtime, allowing the students to wake a little before coming to school; Cheerilee found this method more efficient than having an earlier start with a class of sleepy foals and colts. Celestia made her way towards the doors and noticed as Chris pushed them open to try and make a run for it, Celestia stopped that immediately; picking him up and carrying him back in. “Bad boy” She chided while trotting up to Clara, Cheerilee bowed immediately and stopped speaking “Princess” Cheerilee spoke in an amazed breath. “Clara I believe your son was trying to escape” Celestia simply spoke and set Chris down, “Now how is the school arrangement going?” “Well Princess,” Clara responded with a smile as Cheerilee rose from her bow and set her eyes on Clara. “You’re the mother of the new student that Celestia asked me to teach?” Cheerilee asked as she set her eyes onto Chris “And… this… thing is your son?” “This thing is my son and his name is Chris,” Clara moved closer to the teacher. “He is also a human and the hope for saving the Crystal Empire and maybe Equestria if Sombra returns.” Cheerilee backed away uneasily “Oh… right I’m sorry.” Cheerilee then brightened up and turned towards Chris “So does... Chris here know anything about school and will he be able to catch up to what we’re learning?” “Chris here is a rather intelligent individual with very special abilities which include and are all based off his ability to turn emotions into power” Celestia butted in. “So don’t upset or anger him,” Clara answered quickly. “It would be really bad for Pony Ville.” “How bad?” Cheerilee dared to asked “All of Pony Ville becoming a crater if he is angered, if he was sad I’d imagine there would be a large earthquake.” Celestia calmly responded as Chris looked away in embarrassment. “Worst case scenarios of course, but you get the gist.” Cheerilee looked positively petrified at this point, “Princess Celestia are you sure Chris is safe to be around?” “One hundred percent sure” Celestia answered without hesitation. “Anyway I must be off; I need to speak with my faithful student Twilight.” Celestia turned and walked away, the stick of Celery still tied to her hair as she left, Cheerilee opened her mouth to speak but Chris stopped her by clamping her mouth shut with his hands “Shhhh, don’t tell her” he whispered. Cheerilee sighed and mouthed through the hands “This is going to be a long day.” Half an hour later Chris and Cheerilee had become quite acquainted and had almost exchanged a few blows, broken up immediately by Clara luckily. But as students began to fill the room Chris was pushed into another small room full of paperwork, “Stay here until I knock and let you out” Cheerilee spoke happily; taking on a completely different demeanour as to before. “Okay Cherry” Chris responded while poking his tongue out playfully, he was met with a bop on the head. “Don’t be rude Chris.” Cheerilee spoke before closing the door and returning to her gathering class. Most of her class had gathered and were milling around with a pleased expression, after a quick count she had all but four students gathered in her class. Three of said students were probably late due to their so called crusading as they called it and the other one was probably lost… again. “Did anyone see Dinky or the Crusaders this morning?” Cheerilee asked as she trotted up to her desk and awaited an answer. “No Ms. Cheerilee.” A chorus of answers rang out causing the teacher to sigh. “I guess they’ll show up eventually, we still have a few minutes until class starts anyway.” Cheerilee happily spoke as she trotted around the room and fixed out of the place objects and decorations. Sure enough the Crusaders came bounding in, all three at the same time. “Hi Ms. Cheerilee” they called in unison before taking their seats with the other fillies and colts. Cheerilee felt a twitch in her face but shook it off and watched the clock tick over symbolising the start of the school day, she could’ve sworn she heard a small crash as it ticked over but ignored it and began to speak about the days agenda. “Okay students” she began while shooting a glance back at Chris’s door, half expecting him to be watching through the small window. “Today we have a new student that I would like to introduce” immediately a chorus of whispers broke out but with a small stomp they were all silenced. “His name is Chris,” three fillies in the class turned to each other and began whispering to each other. “And he has come all the way from the Crystal Empire to go to school.” “Is it that weird thing that came from the heart?” Sweetie Belle chimed in and all heads turned towards her, she squeaked and tried retreating into her mane like Fluttershy; sadly she didn’t possess the prowess and failed miserably. “That thing…” Cheerilee continued “Is also known as a human,” she pulled down a chart that Celestia had left for her that showed a fully grown Chris. “This is a grown human and a smaller human will be joining us for class for now.” “That’s it” Sweetie chimed in again “That’s the thing from the crystal heart. My sister told me about it and it looked exactly like that.” All eyes were on her again as another crash could be heard from somewhere but this time much closer. “Don’t interrupt Sweetie Belle” Scootaloo whispered and nudged her gently; “you’ll get in trouble.” “Yes quite.” Cheerilee grated her teeth gently before resuming her happy demeanour, “So as I said Chris the human will be joining us for class today.” A pale magenta unicorn raised their hoof next an exquisite tiara sat upon her mane “But Ms. Cheerilee where is this… Chris the human right now?” “He’s hiding until I go and get him” Cheerilee responded as she made her way over to her small office and pushed the door open. On the ground in a flurry of human and pony was Chris and a light grey filly, the two were wrestling and pushing at each other. “Get off me” Chris cried out as he tried to push her away to no avail. “Help me it’s a monster” the filly retorted and tried to buck Chris but he dodged away at the last second. “Get this pony off of me!” “Get the monster off of me!” Cheerilee sighed and pulled the two flailing students away from each other, Chris settled down almost immediately but the Unicorn continued flailing and squeaking. “Dinky, He’s not on you anymore.” “Oh really?” the Unicorn stopped and looked at her teacher, leaping up and wrapping her forelegs around her she began sobbing into her mane. “I thought I was going to die” she cried into her teacher’s mane. “Chris here wouldn’t hurt you Dinky.” Cheerilee urged the point that Chris was harmless “He wouldn’t hurt a fly.” “That is true” Chris responded which caused all students present to gasp in shock. Cheerilee placed Dinky onto the ground and the Unicorn scrambled to her desk “Okay students, this is Chris as you have probably figured out. He will be joining us as a student from now on” Turning to Chris she pushed him forward so the class could see him. “Now I want you all to give him a warm welcome before we start class.” “Welcome to Pony Ville Elementary Chris!” the students all shouted causing Chris and Cheerilee to flinch visibly. “Okay Chris you can take that seat there” Cheerilee pointed to a desk near the front, besides an earth pony who wore a tiara. “Yes teacher” Chris made his way over and sat down at the desk, it was hard and awkward due to his different body structure but he managed decently and paid attention to class. “Today we will be learning maths” Cheerilee immediately brightened up and started to write on the chalkboard, Chris was perplexed at how ponies managed to perform tasks like this considering they had no hands but didn’t question it. Once Cheerilee had finished scrawling onto the chalkboard she turned to the class, “So who can tell me the answer to this problem?” Chris saw a few hooves fly up into the air and he was tempted to throw his own up into the air but decided against it at this current time, Christopher berated him for this ”Put your hand up Chris, you know a trivial question such as this. Sombra made sure that we were educated in simple mathematics and literature.” “But I don’t remember learning any maths or liter… liter… that other thing” Chris whispered to himself, drawing the attention of a few ponies sitting close to him. “Literature Chris. Also you don’t remember your past so that is to be expected but still I know you instantly knew this question, five by five is not a difficult question.” “I guess I know it, but the answer came immediately and I don’t know if that’s correct.” “Only one way to find out” Chris looked up from his desk to find Cheerilee standing in front of his desk, a small frown plastered on her face. “Chris, would you care to stop whispering and answer the question?” “S-Sure Ms. Cheerilee” Chris looked around the room and then back at the board, the question had changed but Chris knew it immediately. As he opened his mouth to answer he was interrupted by a colt who spoke up “Twenty One!” he said loudly. Cheerilee took on a thoughtful expression, turning back to the board she saw the question was nine plus ten; she had no idea how the colt had gotten twenty one but ignored it. Chris noticed her mouth something akin to ‘you stupid’ “The answer is nineteen” Christopher took over and spoke the answer taking everypony in the room back in surprise to the new voice. “Chris?” Cheerilee asked while crouching lower to meet eyes with him, she looked into his eyes and in a single second she watched the lustre within them fade before returning. “Yes Ms. Cheerilee?” Chris responded, now back to his own voice. “Nevermind, that was correct though Chris.” Cheerilee returned to the board and filled the answer in “Good job, now please don’t whisper to yourself during class.” Chris straightened up and readied himself for the long lesson ahead. Chris slumped down onto the desk as the bell rang “How do these ponies do this every day?” he asked himself as fillies and colts rushed from the room. “I’d say it’s because of their demeanour, their interest in the class probably directly relates to their cutie marks and what they mean.” “Thanks Christopher, always the optimist” Chris answered before realizing he had no idea what that word meant, it had just felt right to say it at that point. “I do try my hardest.” Chris was about to retort when a trio of fillies stopped in front of his desk, an earth pony with a coat of pale yellow stood before him, to her side stood both a Pegasus and Unicorn. The colour of the Pegasus’s coat was a light orange, the Unicorn’s coat resembled that of a Unicorn that Chris faintly remembers being light grey. “Hey there” The Pegasus spoke boldly as she held out a hoof for the started human; Chris regarded the hoof for a moment before taking it and shaking gently. “My name’s Scootaloo” she began, “This is Apple bloom” Scootaloo pointed to the Earth pony and then directed her hoof to the Unicorn “And that is Sweetie Belle. We came to say that it’s nice to meet you.” “I’m Chris, nice to meet the three of you” Chris responded as he shook hooves with the other two fillies before an awkward silence filled the air. This silence was broken when another voice came from Chris’s mouth. “I’m Christopher, the second being that resides inside Chris.” All three ponies leapt back at that, surprise evident on their faces; they looked at each other before sprinting from the room. “Nice one Christopher” the now alone human responded once he regained control. “I was just being nice, sheesh sometimes I wish I stayed insentient” “You don’t mean that do you? Also what does that mean?” Chris asked as he stood and began to make his way out of the schoolhouse. “Of course not, what would I do without you and what would you do without me?” “I’d be dead I suppose?” Chris answered as he drew a few glares from passing ponies. Christopher’s laugh echoed for a moment “I guess that’s true.” “I like it when we can talk together” Chris smiled as he unknowingly picked up a few followers, two to be correct. Of the two one wore large cyan glasses and the other wore a diamond encrusted tiara. “I also enjoy the talks we can have at these peaceful moments, before the heart we rarely spoke to each other; Sombra always preferred us to be focused on other developments.” “Well with him out of the picture we can interact a lot more now” Chris came to the library door and knocked on it gently. A loud crash came from inside which was followed by an annoyed “Coming right down” met Chris’s ears as hoof steps approached the door. Twilight opened the door with a sour expression, an expression that disappeared the moment she saw who it was “Oh Chris it’s you. Come right inside” Twilight was so excited she didn’t notice the small camera flash in the distance. Chris followed Twilight into the library and gripped onto the necklace he was given a little tighter as he saw the machinery that had been set up, “What are we going to be doing today?” “Oh just a few tests to find more about your genetic makeup” Twilight innocently responded as she lifted the human into the air and began to hook him up to a machine. Once Chris had been secured Twilight pulled out a quill and parchment, ready to take down any notes or information she got “So Chris first I want to find out a little about your nervous system and muscles. These cords I’ve hooked up will administer small shocks to your body, tell me when it becomes uncomfortable. “Okay Twilight just warn me whe-“ Chris was cut off from his sentence as Twilight threw the switch to its first setting, he awaited the shock but it never came; Twilight’s smile drooped slightly as a few hairs poked out of place. “Why didn’t it work?” she asked herself as she dialled the machine’s power forward more and more until it was maxed out, she groaned loudly before trotting out of the room and into what looked like a kitchen. From within Chris could hear Twilight reprimanding someone. “I don’t care if it didn’t work, where was the warning you crazy mare!” Christopher shouted through Chris’s mouth in anger. “Spike how many times do I have to tell you, do not unplug my machines when I’m experimenting.” “Sorry Twilight.” “It’s alright, just plug it back in please.” “Sure Twilight.” Chris began to shout for Twilight but it was too late, the immediate shock sent his body into spasms and his vision went black, consciousness quickly followed it. “Chris. Chris wakeup, come on darling wakeup already.” A far away voice called. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to, I promise I didn’t mean to.” Another voice repeated as fast as possible. “Twilight, I expected a little more safety from a pony such as yourself, make sure this never happens again. I also expect a full apology and a letter written to both myself and Chris, apologizing for what has transpired.” “Yes Princess I promise it won’t happen ever again.” Chris groaned as he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry and he could barely keep them open for a few seconds before pain set in and forced them shut. “That’s good honey, just stay still.” “M-Mom?” Chris wheezed from the floor, his entire body felt hot and it was hard to speak. “Shhhh, don’t speak anymore Chris” the voice of his mother responded as something damp hit his cheek. “I’m so glad you’re okay” Chris felt his body shift and something tighten around it “I’m so glad you’re okay” his mother repeated. “We need to sleep inside the heart tonight Chris, it’s the only way for this to heal by tomorrow.” “M-Mom.” “Yes sweetie?” “I.. need… Crystal hear… recover” Chris finished before it became too painful and a small tear rolled down his face. “Clara, get him to the heart now please.” Celestia pushed in as Clara began to grip the necklace around Chris’s neck. “I will” Clara answered before disappearing with a pop to get Chris cleaned up. “So Twilight” Celestia turned to her student who was still laying on the ground in tears. “Y-Yes Princess.” “Why did you not tell me of the Vegetable that was within my mane this morning?” “W-Well you see…” “Chris, come on honey.” Clara bounced a little, jostling Chris around and forcing his eyes open “Don’t fall asleep until you’re back and safe.” “Sure mom” He groaned into her fur before mumbling to himself. As Clara trotted towards the heart she began to wonder how this had happened to Chris and why it had happened. She was unable to find a suitable reason for how or why, so instead she focused on the perpetrators. First there was Twilight, a very studious unicorn with emotional ties to Celestia, her friends, her Brother Shining Armour and… Cadence. Suddenly all the pieces clicked and Clara trotted just that extra bit faster, she soon had the heart in sight and once arriving close enough she dropped Chris off at the base. His body fell slowly before disappearing into dust and rushing towards the heart. Clara swore she heard her son whisper “Thanks mommy.” “You’re welcome sweetie” Clara happily replied before turning away, “Now onto more pressing matters.” Clara trotted away in a huff as the Crystal Heart took Chris in and began to pulsate softly, she mumbled to herself as she trotted “Try to hurt my son will yah?” Cadence was sitting in a large decorated room of the castle, she had a cup of tea levitating in front of her with magic and a book open in front of her. She enjoyed the peace and quiet she was receiving at this time and had decided to read up a little on a book she’d found in her room. The general plot was a princess had been kidnapped by a nefarious villain and the hero went on a quest to find his princess. Cadence always loved this book, it was similar to a book she used to have read to herself and the human who had died when she was young. She turned the page and felt a tear drop from her eyes and hit the page, it had been years since she’d remembered that boy and ever since this new human who looks so much like him had appeared she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. “Are you truly the Chris who died that day?” she asked herself, shutting the book and gripping it tightly to her body, the book reminded her exactly of the book she remembered; even down to the small stain on the back. She found this peculiar and examined the book, opening to the back she dropped the book with a gasp. On the last page was a picture that she and Chris had drawn when they were kids, it depicted Chris as the hero and Cadence as the princess; oddly enough Celestia was the villain. A smile painted itself onto Cadence’s face “You always did like teasing Celestia didn’t you, Chris.” Cadence shut the book again and stared at the cover for a long while or at least until she heard some commotion in the hallway before the double doors blew open and Clara stood there. “Cadence.” “Yes Clara?” “you got some splainin to do.”