Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR
Final Goodbye
Fire, a whole forest in flames, screams of the dead and dying filled the air as the village burned. The smell of smoke, ash, and cooking flesh filled the air clinging to ones nose and building bile at the back of the throat.
“Awww buck not this again, every freaking time ah try an get tah sleep, least this ain't tha dream about blood........ wait....” Applebloom grumbles before realizing something was very different this time. “ Ah'm... ah'm still me?”
She shifted her gaze seeing shadowy forms run past her, the fleeing elk and the demonic looking soldiers. This time however the forms were much clearer, the soldiers did not seem demonic. They seemed worried, and in most cases very angry. She had seen the symbol that was emblazoned on their armor before as well. Her uncle Rhede, Starfall, and aunt Velkorn had been wearing that symbol when she first met them in the Garden. It was the symbol of the Luna Republic, of Nightmare Moon.
“What tha hay.....”Applebloom questions.
The soldiers were not killing every one either, the adults were being cut down like wheat, but the children were being herded into a building that wasn't burning and several of the soldiers were standing outside protecting it. Applebloom blinked at that. The dreams of blood always had her as a foal being cut down. Who was attacking in the other nightmare then?
While the answer of who was in the dreams of blood remained unanswered, it seems the foals here were not to be saved wither. When the villagers rallied they began attacked the building with arrows and fire, thinking it the enemy HQ to be so well guarded. Many of the soldiers fell trying to protect it, their bodies filled with arrows or fried by lightning and fire. The building was set ablaze by the villagers themselves, they never bothered to look inside, and burned it to the ground.
Applebloom winces watching the soldiers, who were unable to approach and save the screaming foals within due to the hail of arrows. She watched them turn into the rage fueled monsters that her nightmares always showed charging through and destroying everything. Through it all the dark figure stood on the edge of the basin watching everything going on below.
Applebloom narrowed her eyes, she was here, none of the ponies or elk running around saw her. She had seen far more than she wanted down in the basin. She needed to know who that was, why he haunted her nightmares. She wanted answers and this was the first time she might be able to get them. She galloped towards the cliff seeing a number of soldiers running up and down a path along the side. She rushed up this, ignoring the soldiers as she ran up the cliff face, making it half way up in next to no time at all. She wasn't going to be stopped this time, that figure had to have the answers.
“You will not like what you find.”
She skids to a stop at the voice, she moves to the ledge looking out over the crater , certain it had come from there. All she could see was smoke and burning trees Her gaze swept around for the source, glancing at several of the soldiers running by. One stumbles as part of the path breaks away though his fellow catches him, stopping him from falling.
Applebloom was not so lucky as the crumbling rock that almost claimed the soldier continued and took out the large part of the ledge she was on. The gangly filly screamed as the rock gave way and the ground rushed up towards her.
===========================
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Applebloom screams scrambling against something hard and unyielding feeling herself start to slide before a pair of strong hooves grab her and pull her back steady.
“I told yah falling asleep on dragonback was a bad idea there cus.” Pip smirks as Spike cranes his neck back looking worried. “Oy she's fine Spike, jus dozed off an had a nightmare. Getting tah be a normal thing it seems.”
“Still having nightmares? I wish there was something I could do Applebloom, Twilight asked me to look a while back but I couldn't find anything about nightmares that even Princess Luna couldn't deal with.” Spike comments his voice carrying back to them as they soared though the air.
“Sokay Spike, ah'm sorta used to them by now..... thanks fer tha save Cos. I always feel a lil strange when off tha ground nowadays.” Applebloom responds her mind mulling over the change in her nightmare.
“Likely due to you connection to dragon magic. Even dragons feel a little off flying until they get used to not being near the ground... well most dragons...” Spike states.
Spike soared over the frozen north towards the Crystal Empire with Applebloom and Pip sitting on his back. The three dragons that had tried to eat them flew ahead of Spike looking rather subdued and carrying Sweetiebelle's luggage. Most of the gifts and trinkets she had picked up were burned away but her suitcases and personal bags were still intact if slight chard. Not only had they survived the dragons breath but they seemed to have grown in size somehow judging by how the dragons labored under their weight. The white unicorn attributed the fire resistance of her luggage to being friends with Scootaloo and claimed the luggage had been recommend by a pony named Joe, who claimed his set had survived a volcanic eruption.
They should have been at the Empire an hour ago save for an argument between Scootaloo and Bleu.
Pip wasn't entirely sure what had happened, he knew that Bleu and Scootaloo were not getting along however. When he asked Sweetiebelle about it she mentioned that the pegasus had had a crush on the purple dragon well before the war. Apparently the crush had only gotten worse when his fire had been responsible for her gaining a cutiemark, and being able to fly, two things she had always longed for.
Evidently Scootaloo had been more than ecstatic when Rarity married Lion Heart,seeing the white unicorn as her only real competition for Spike. But now she was face to face with Bleu who also seemed to be after Spike.
The information did not sit will with him, this was as bad as one of those dramatic romance novels his auntie Celestia seemed to like, love quadrangle and all. It had come to a head when the pair started arguing about flying. While it was a interesting argument on speed versus mobility, it had quickly gotten to the point where it was all gibberish to any non fliers. Still with most arguments it had come down to a gauntlet of sorts being thrown down. Pip wasn't sure what it had been but the results were clear.
“Here they come again.” growls Spike snapping Pip from his flashback.
“Here what again?” Applebloom stammers.
“You must have really been out of it if you slept through the first three times.” Pip sighs flattening his ears.
The argument had been about speed as Scootaloo claimed the dragons were slow fliers. Unless they were falling.
Bleu had taken great offense to that. Spike had explained that blue dragons tended to be the 'flier' types of the dragon race. Despite Bleu's disregard for most draconic practices the longer she stayed around Spike the more information she picked up, including a few tricks from some of the other 'rare' blue scaled dragons that they had met.
One such trick was something Spike called the draconic version of the Sonic Rainboom.
A large blue blur shot past the spot where the trio of dragons were flying ahead of Spike. The wind hit the three first sending them scrambling to remain in the air. The blue blur was gone by the time the noise hit, a rush of the wind filling the vortex of nothing leaving a violent boom like thunder. There was no light show, no explosion, just the roar of wind. Though in this case there was also the joyous screaming of Scootaloo and the horrified screaming of Sweetiebelle who decided to ride to the Crystal Empire on the back of her teacher for some reason.
Pip had seen Bleu show off her new tricks when she first learned them a few years ago. It was nothing like a Sonic Rainboom in anything but noise, Dash and Starfall could still fly rings around Bleu, but in a straight shot once she had her speed going even they couldn't keep up with her. Spike and Twilight had both gone into lecture mode at the same time when he asked about it and every pony else had fled leaving him to his fate of getting dryly lectured by a pair of scholars.
He had picked up that most dragons draw their power from the very earth of Equss. Blue dragons and a few others however drew their power from the air and the sky. There was a lot more to it than that though, Pip only really remembered being unable to convince Ma that being lectured for several hours should entitle him to a free day out of school.
“How long ken she keep this up?” Applebloom asks,
“I've never seen her get tired.” mutters Spike.
=======================================
[ 1 year ago, the Crystal Empire ]
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza looked nervously across the table at the large white alicorn and the smaller purple unicorn staring at her.
“I promised them I wouldn't tell you Auntie. This was all part of the deal to get them to go with Shinning Armor when they found Sombra and Chrysalis.” Cadence explains trying to placate the pair. “ I didn't think this would be that big of a deal really.”
“It is not really.” Celestia considers.” Well except to pretty much every one in New Canterlot, and several surrounding nations, and the Elements of Harmony, well two or three of them any way, at least four gods and every one who has bore the Elements of Harmony for the last thousand years. Given who the pair of them are and that all of Equss knows them by name their marriage would have been the largest positive event undertaken in my memory.”
Shining Armor took this moment to walk in the room. He made it about half way across it towards Cadence when he saw the looks Twilight and Celestia were giving. He spun on a hoof and walked the other way in one fluid motion.
“Get back here and save me..” whines Cadence.
“From my lil sister and Princess Celestia? The couch is safer.” Shining calls out from the hallway, his voice fading along with his galloping hoof falls.
“Told you my brother was smart. “ chuckles Twilight. “ Relax Cadence we're not mad... well I’m not. Not about you marrying Jer'rahd and Princess Luna any way.”
“Oh that's good, at least you are on my side.....” Cadence sighs.
“However I am a little annoyed you didn't tell me I was going to be an aunt! Twice!”Twilight shouts. “How did that even happen?”
“Well, when a mommy pony and a daddy pony love each other very much....” Cadence starts.
“Don't.” Twilight grumbles.
“Look aunt Celestia, I am sorry about presiding for your sister and her husband...” Cadence continues.
“Fiancee, I annulled it.” Celestia.
“You don't have that power in the Crystal Empire Auntie....” Cadence sighs.
“Fine then you annul it. If you wish to preside over it again then we will be sure to invite you to do so in New Canterlot.” Celestia states as if it is fact.” But they are not married until I say they are allowed to be.”
“You adopted a foal and are going to have another any day now. Pinkie Pie knew about it before I did. PINKIE PIE!” Twilight blurts out clearly annoyed though she stops a moment to consider her words. “Okay, I admit it's Pinkie Pie so that's not really a good argument, but you could have sent a letter or something!”
“Okay seriously auntie what is the big deal with your sister and her husband....” Cadence asks ignoring Twilight for a moment.
“Fiancee. “ Celestia corrects.
“What ever. What's the issue with them? Do you have a problem with the marriage or something? I can tell the pair of them love each other very much so that isn't the issue.”
“Of course I have a problem with the marriage, he's an idiotic violent lout. But I long ago accepted that she loved him. At the very least I should be able to attend their wedding, not just hear about it second hoof as they sulk around like thieves.” Celestia snorts.
“Really so does that mean that there will be a third wedding then as well? Or are you and my daughter going to, how did you say 'sulk about like thieves'?” comments a voice from the door.
Celestia and Twilight freeze in place as Cadence lets out a small sigh of relief.
“Err hi mom.” Twilight mutters.
“Don't you 'hi mom' me Missy. We moved up here six years ago and not once in all the times you visited did you ever say you and Princess Celestia were dating.” Twilight Velvet fusses. “ I had to hear about it from Pinkie Pie when she was here with that Discord fellow. Nice enough lad, but strange, I suppose she might like that though...”
Celestia smiles a little watching Twilight blush as her mother continues the tirade. She turns her attention away when she notices Twilight's father Nightlight take a seat at the table next to her with a case. He opens the case while his wife fusses over his daughter, pulling out what looked like griffon styled double bolt crossbow. She blinks in confusion a moment wondering what he was doing with the weapon as he strings it. wiping down the wooden grip of it with a rag before cocking it and setting a pair of bolts onto the table. Bolts that looked suspiciously like star metal.
Celestia's eyes widen at that, Nightlight pointedly seems to be ignoring her as he continues to wipe down the weapons handle before slotting the bolts into it before checking the sights.
“Sooo , Princess.... I hear you are dating my daughter.......” Nightlight states nonchalantly.
Cadence smiles watching Twilight Velvet nag and tease her daughter until Twilight was nearly completely red. She turns her head slightly as Nightlight held a very soft conversation with Celestia while polishing a crossbow he had recently acquired. Her aunts full attention on him as he mentioned a few rules for dating Twilight.
She glances back feeling Shining Armor move up beside her and kiss her cheek.
“Sorry about that dear. I needed some back up.”Shining grins.
====================================================
[Two years ago, New Canterlot.]
Peach Blossom looks sadly down at the small box he held in his white wings. The orange cream maned pegasus flipped it open and closed it listening to the faint thud of the box lids slapping together. The Gold band inside caught the light each time he flipped it open glimmering softly as the light caught the purple and white multifaceted gems set into the band. It had taken him time to figure out what to get for the band.
Traditionally unicorns used small horn rings, while earth ponies had bands that wrapped around their foreleg. Pegasi tended to use small wig bands, though that could interfere with flying, particularly high maneuver flying. Big mac had given Rainbow Dash an earth pony bracelet when he proposed and she still wore it. He had finally opted to do the same though instead of the rainbow of gems Mac had given Dash he opted only for two colors that he knew she liked..
Still after eight years of actually 'dating' Starfall, Peach Blossom wasn't sure if he was any further along with her than he was at the beginning. They got along well enough, they had gone on a number of dates, a few family gatherings on both sides, quite a number of more...... intimate nights as well. Still they lived in separate quarters despite often winding up staying over at one anothers place.
Then there had been tonight. They dressed up a bit and went out to dinner at a place she had liked, took in a show at a theater in Canterlot, one Rarity had recommended, and during a small break in the performance he had proposed. Not the most romantic thing that had ever been done he was sure, but given how well they had been getting along he had actually thought she might accept.
What he did not expect was her eyes to get wide in panic and for her to run away from him with enough speed to set off a sonic rainboom that blew out the windows of most of the theater and a number of buildings nearby.
That had been an hour ago. Right now he was sitting in a Guard station after being brought in for questioning in regards to the damages done. Peach Blossom didn't think he could get too much lower than this. A few moments ago the questioning Guard had left, leaving him sitting alone in the room half sprawled over the table flipping the box open and closed idly.
He barely noticed the door opening, expecting it was another officer come to ask him the same questions over again. Not like he had lied about any thing, he doubted Starfall would want him to lie for her even if it wasn't obvious who made the rain boom.
“Well you called it, he looks like shit.”
“Of course I called it. You think I wouldn't know how he would react given the situation? I have known him for years.”
Peach Blossom slowly lifts his head, his blue eyed gaze falling on a pair of very tall stallions standing in the door way of the room. One was a solid black stallion wearing a rather immaculate charcoal colored suit that some how managed to set off the black scales around his face and hooves. His green reptilian eyes looked down at the depressed pegasus with a good bit of pity.
The other was the same height, though with a long black mane and tail that fell nearly to the floor, both perfectly groomed. His red fur was criss crossed with black marks and white scars on his left side giving him the appearance of a half zebra, though only one of his forelegs was colored and it was a solid black.
“Come on Peach Blossom. You are being turned over to our custody.” Lion Heart states with a smirk.
“Seriously he still has the ring too. I figured he would do something stupid like toss it in a lake or something.” Rhede chuckles.
“He is far too practical for that.” Lion Heart sighs.
“Why are you in a suit?” Peach Blossom asks getting a small laugh from Rhede.
“It was a gift from Miss Rarity.....” Lion heart mutters.
“I think considering you are engaged now you can stop calling her Miss Rarity.” Rhede smirks. “ Any way, get up we need to go.”
“What's going on?” Peach Blossom questions slowly rising to his hooves, tucking the box back into one of his coat pockets.
“We're going out.” states another voice behind the two large ponies.
Lion Heart moves quickly to the side revealing a much smaller gray, heavily scarred unicorn with amber colored hair and a curved double blade hanging from a scabbard along his side. The red and green eyes of the unicorn focused on Peach Blossom causing the pegasus to freeze in place.
“Major Kaisur........”
“It's just Jer'rahd, neither of us is on the clock. Now get your flank in gear there's a number of bars I want to try out tonight and the moon isn't getting any higher.”
======================================================
[ 1 year ago, the Crystal Empire ]
“So how is he doing?” Celestia asks still casting nervous glances at Nightlight. She was considerably more worried about his 'rules ' after she was told he had become drinking buddies with Major Briar Rose while he was in the Empire.
“Surprisingly well. From what we can tell he is a true changeling. He drinks a formula like other foals, but the energies he draws also are similar to the emotions changelings feed on. It seems that the Crystal Heart is doing quite well at sustaining him as well as the rest of the swarm we have here.” Twilight Velvet explains. “It may be the only reason those who are still comatose are alive at all.”
“What are their numbers at now any way?” Twilight questions.
“Of active and aware changelings there are only three hundred and fifty one, counting the godling. Of the comatose drones however there are nearly a thousand. We have full documentation of their prime race as well. Every Changeling that is comatose was something else and was changed into what they are by the rest of the hive. All the ones that are awake are natural born changelings. Doctor Velkorn was quite helpful with our studies when she was here.” Nightlight adds.
“I will ask her to swing by again when she is able. I do not suppose there are any leads as to why they have yet to wake up? There are a number of families in New Canterlot who wish to know the fate of their family members.” Celestia responds.
“We have no real answers and the natural Changelings are not sure either. The most popular hypothesis has to do with the hive mind. When Chrysalis was alive she commanded all of them. The drones followed her orders perfectly, but were other wise mindless. That said even the ones who were not drones were forced to do what she commanded through the link. It is possible that they will not wake up nor move until a new ruler commands them. We expect Shin will in time, but for now he's barely figured out how crawl.” Twilight Velvet explains.
“Shin?” Twilight asks.
“Sombra and Chrysalis's son. His name was supposed to be Metamorpho or something like that, though that was a bit of a mouthful. Velkorn and Zecora called him Shintsha in their native tongue and it stuck better than Metamorpho. We call him Shin. “ Cadence points out as the group continues along the corridors.
“So you did adopt him? How did the Crystal ponies take that?” Twilight questions.
“Surprisingly well actually, but then the Crystal Empire wasn't the city that was attacked by them. Every one is wary mind you, particularly since Shin is Sombra's son, but no Crystal pony has so far paired the sins of the father on his child.” Shining states having been largely silent.
“I noticed you specified 'no Crystal Pony' brother....” Twilight points out.
“We've had a few ponies travel up from Equestria just to attempt to kill changelings. We've lost several trade agreements with other races who claim we are harboring terrorists. Griffons and the Minotaur mostly, though we have had some zebras and a lot of ponies cut their losses. Some of the businesses that moved in when the Empire returned pulled up stakes and moved out. And worst of all we were denied the chance to host the Equestrian games without a representative even showing up.” Shining snorted.
“It's not all bad, we struck a rather impressive trading deal with Spike and Cindervale for quarry stone and gems. Bleu has even added to the deal by purchasing a great deal of specific gems for musical and image recording. Her insistence on the gems we produce here and her position as Dean of the most well known musical school in Equss has made business for that sort of gem explode almost over night. Any musician worth their salt is buying crystals from us. With the influx of Changelings to the work force mining and preparing the crystals is relatively easy, though we still can barely keep up with the demand.“Cadence points out. “ So it is not as if there is no work or the Empire is in any sort of crisis. We even had a griffon playwright show up to see if he could recruit some of the changelings for his next venture. Something about cutting out the makeup and costume department.”
“Changelings are viewed as evil, much as the half dragons were a thousand years ago.” Twilight states.”So long as nothing else happens to add to that mind set, give ponies time and eventually things will calm down.”
Cadence smiles at that stopping before a door flanked by two Crystal pony Guards who saluted Shining before one tapped lightly on the door. A small pale brown earth pony mare with lime green hair pulled back into a bun glances out of the door spotting the group and bowing suddenly.
“How is he Locust?” Cadence whispers.
“He is still awake at the moment Princess. I just set him in for his nap however so he may be dozing.” the small mare responded.
“We will make this quick then. I'm sure Aunt Celestia would care to see him and Twilight would like to see her adopted nephew. “ Cadence says.
Celestia glances between Cadence and Shining.” So you did decided to keep him then. Luna explained that you were not very happy with Shining Armor.”
“I wasn't, but I do understand why he agreed to it as well. Besides if he is raised properly there's no telling what he could do with his abilities. Perhaps the changelings might wind up following the same path as the half dragons.” Cadence explains.
“I did have to sleep on the couch for three months however.” Shining sighs.
“And I had Major Rose think up a new training regiment for him.” Cadence grins.
“Wait that was your idea?” Shining questions glaring at the innocent look Cadence was trying to pull off.
“Whoops wasn't supposed to say that out loud.” Cadence grins as the group moves into the room.
Twilight glances back as the door is closed blinking at the green flame that suddenly surrounds the maid reverting her back to a changeling.
“Ummm...” Twilight begins as both she and Celestia stare at the revealed changeling.
“Hmm oh right. Locust was the changeling that was taking care of Shin after Chrysalis died and Sombra broke down. She's done every thing we asked so that she could to continue to do so. Her insight has been invaluable in regards to his care.” Velvet Sparkle explains.
“I am not sure I like the idea of a changeling that served Chrysalis and Sombra being this close to a new godling.” Celestia states.
“It is a little suspicious that she would work to stay close to him?” Twilight adds.
“You say it as if I had a choice in the matter in who I served Princesses. Chrysalis controlled most of us and when her power waned Sombra killed a large number of deserters.” Locust comments. “As for the rest Miss Sparkle do you not have ponies who willingly serve your gods? Do you expect us to be that different?”
“Hmm no I suppose.” Twilight mutters.
“I still worry because you are rather old to have been born after Chrysalis escaped Tartarus.” Celestia states coldly. “I still remember what happened when I first sealed your kind. Better now than I did before in fact.”
“I was born in Tartarus Princess. Our personal cell, island, or what ever you wish to call it gave us enough substance to stay alive, but we were always starving. That is where I was born and grew up along with a number of those who are left. When we were offered the chance to leave we took it. “ Locust looked annoyed that it had been brought up. “There were a large number of us living without incident in your kingdom for years before Chrysalis attacked the first time. After that we were hunted by your people and I lost everything I built and cared for. I had little choice but to return to the hive or be killed by those that had been friends. I along with a number of others here have suffered greatly due to your bounties and edits, and then we suffered more due to a mad mare bent of revenge.”
“You don't even know what suffering is.” Celestia growls glaring back before a series of multi colored shields suddenly appears between the Princess and the Changeling.
“If you two want to hold a 'woe is me' pissing contest you can take it outside. As in outside of the city.” Shining Armor states. “ Locust take a break for an hour or so. Twily control your mare friend before I punt her back to New Canterlot.”
Celestia glares at Shining noting that the entire family including Twilight had raised shields between the two. She also noticed her mane and tail were on fire. She was about to offer a counter threat to Shining when a foals cry cut though the tension building.
“And you woke the foal.” Cadence sighs poking Shining with her wing.
“And I woke the foal.......” Shining grumbles turning away from Celestia and heading into the nursery with Cadence and his parents.
Locust bows and changes back to the earth pony form before heading out the door. Leaving Twilight and Celestia in the room. Twilight glances up at Celestia curiously before shaking her head and moving into the next room with the others leaving Celestia alone.
===================================================
[Two Years Ago, New Canterlot]
Starfall landed heavily on a cloud curling up into it as she stares down at the lights of, what ever town she had stopped over. What the buck was she doing? She had been enjoying herself and then terror, depression, panic, and boom, here she was on a cloud well above some city. She had been flying for what felt like hours doing little more than just flying.
She really wasn't even sure why but the very idea of being proposed to terrified her. She liked Peach Blossom … but thinking of him much past that caused her to think of Loc and that sent her into a mess of over thinking. It wasn't as if he was bad, in fact he was probably the second stallion in her life she had feelings for. Which was part of the problem.
She was married with a child...... granted both of them had died a thousand years ago, but she always felt that sort of betrayal when she agreed to a date and it she hated feeling like she was leading him on. She didn't want to yet ….
“I can tell you have a very conflicted mind, that fact alone made you rather difficult to find.”
Starfall blinks glancing back to see a zebra mare standing on the cloud behind her. The striped mares poofy mane and tail seemed unaffected by the wind at this height and she was without her usual saddle bags.
“Velkorn what?”Starfall blinks lifting her head and looking back wondering how the zebra was standing on the cloud.
That question was answered as a massive blue scaled head pokes up through the under side of the cloud as well, the zebra standing atop of it as the dragon rose.
“Wow she was that far out of it she didn't even hear me fly up.“ Bleu chuckles.
“What are you two doing here!?” Starfall stammers.
“We were informed of what Peach blossom planned tonight......” Velkorn begins.
“... And we figured you would run so we tracked your flight!” Bleu finishes the rhyme getting an angry glare from Velkorn.
“Damnit... just go back to Canterlot I’ll figure this out on my own.” Starfall growls dropping her head back into the cloud again.
“No, I do not think we will do that Starfall. Your own stubbornness is preventing you from getting on with your life.” states another voice that caused Starfall to flinch.
The light gray pegasus looks up as Princess Luna landed softly on the cloud in front of her.
“Consider this a intervention of sorts Starfall. “Luna smiles softly.” I do not like seeing a friend suffer so for no reason. Perhaps we may talk of this and find a solution?”
“This is payback for my screwing with you and Jer'rahd isn't it?” Starfall grumbles.
“No......” Luna states with a smile.
“She says it is not the case, but she cannot hide the smile on her face.” Velkorn snarks.
“It totally is” Bleu cackles.
Starfall stares at the Goddess of Night before sighing and smashing her face into the cloud fluff.
“I am definitely going to need a drink.....”Starfall mutters.
=======================================================
[One Year ago]
“He doesn't really look like a changeling.” Twilight comments looking down at the tiny black foal in the crib.
Shin looked more like a baby Sombra than anything else his primary color was black with a bit of red on his mane and tail. He had a tiny slightly curved horn and his legs were solid without the holes most changelings had. The only real signs of his parentage were that he had a tiny pair of green insect like wings, and his eyes while not bug like were still multifaceted green as if gems had replaced his eyes.
“We hear that a lot. The holes in changelings legs and other parts are to reduce mass if they change into forms that require more than hooves. It allows them to shift their extremities into things like griffon claws or Diamond dog paws enough to allow movement.” Night Light begins. “According to our studies this is something that develops over time, it's not something they are born with. Like the half dragons they can acquire their own cutie marks it is just not something that happens often.”
“It is possible Shin will gain one due to his mixed parentage, but we don't know yet.” Twilight Velvet states lifting the small foal out of the crib with her magic. The little colt kicks and figits a bit, but doesn't seem to worried about his sudden flight. “He is a rather unique little colt, and how he grows up and what he does will likely cement or destroy the Changelings place in the world.”
“Nature versus nurture hmm?” Twilight sighs. “That is an awful lot to be placing on the head of a colt that's not even a year old yet.”
“Auntie Luna said the same thing. Although she was less worried about the parentage and more worried about the possibility of the books tainting him. We've run every test we can and there's no sign of anything out of the ordinary.” Cadence points out. “ We tested Jer'rahd and Auntie Luna and we could easily detect the influence of the books in them, especially in Jer'rahd. I would have to say he draws more power from them then Luna does.”
“He turns into a giant monster thing. Most of the energy he pulls from what ever the books did to him goes is converted into mass rather than energy. So yeah he draws a lot of power, but over all he doesn't use much of it.” Twilight explains, noting the stares of the others. “What, you think I haven’t been studying this too? I've looked into ways to remove the taint and all I’ve found is the only way to remove it is for the ones tainted to die. Even Discord is not fully free of it, the powers just weakened from repeated blasts from the elements of Harmony.”
“I suppose that would be why they were curious as to if Shin had anything wrong with him.“ Nightlight ponders reaching up a hoof to tickle the colt's belly until he giggled. “It wouldn't be good if he had to deal with being tainted on top of everything else.”
“Actually my sister is more worried about her own foal.” Celestia states trotting into the room finally. “Her concern is not removing the books influence from herself or Major Kaisur, but in making sure that her child isn't affected.”
“Luna's pregnant?!” Twilight stammers.
“Yes she is, and as such she wants the newly planned wedding to be put on hold until afterwards. Particularly since Rarity has already designed a wedding dress for her and she doesn't want to be re-sized.” Celestia rubs her temple with a hoof.
“Well that explains why you are grumpy.” Twilight sighs.
“There is far more to it that that Twilight. You know my history with the Changelings, and I find myself struggling not to reduce any I see to ash. Luna's actions have only compounded my headache.” Celestia trails off looking at the little colt floating in the air before her curiously. “ This is Shin?”
Cadence nods reaching out with her wings to take the colt from her mother in laws magic.
Celestia blinks looking down at him, tilting her head to the side a little as she regards him.
“He doesn't really look like a changeling.”
=========================================
[ Two years Ago, New Canterlot.]
“.......then she took off like a bat outta Tartarus. Shattered the front door and trashed pretty much every shop on the street with the rain boom.” Peach Blossom whined, tilting his head back and draining his cup.
“That's coming out of her pay so don't worry about it.” Jer'rahd comments knocking back another drink in annoyance. There was already near fifteen empty glasses in front of him, and that's just what the bar maid hadn't taken away yet. He barely even felt a buzz, granted when Troph was still with him, he never even felt this much. Still with as much as he needed to drink, even he could only afford to go out every so often. Particularly after he had been banned from a number of bars for abusing their one bit drink nights.
“She's skittish. Likely she's not sure what to do. She was fine with you as she didn't have to think about it very much. Now that you proposed she freaked out because she's still loyal to her husband in that regard.” Rhede mutters swirling the liquid in his glass. “ I'm actually impressed she agreed to date you at all.”
“She just needs to get over it already. Loc's over a thousand years dead.” Jer'rahd mutters.
“I am not sure you are the best one to comment on that sort of thing Jer'rahd.” Lion Heart points out. The half dragon seeming to be the only one of the group aside from Jer'rahd who was not feeling the effects of his drinks. “ From what your partner said you went into a depressive funk rather easily after the war due to some songs.”
“That's because I got to hear the voice of a mare I liked, who was killed in front of me, EVERYWHERE!!” Jer'rahd growls.” And not just her voice, the freaking song she was singing when she died in front of me. There is no way in Tartarus you can tell me that something like that wouldn't screw with any one. Bleu was a bigger mess than me, she just hid it better.”
“Bet Luna was thrilled about that.” Rhede mutters.
“She was understanding. It is not as if she doesn't have her own issues when it comes to lost loves.” Jer'rahd sighs.” She was a pretty big mess last time we went to Gallopagos.”
“I'm still not seeing the point of this conversation.” Peach Blossom mutters.
“The point is that she should move on already.” Jer'rahd growls slamming back another drink. “It's fine to remember what was lost, but you need to move on.”
“Not sure you should give out relationship advice Jer.” Rhede chuckles. “ After all, all of your mare friends either betrayed you, tried to kill you, or died.”
“Buck you Pelt. Like you are much better? I swear at times you seemed little more than a dick on hooves.”Jer'rahd grumbles.
“That does make me worry a little about his relationship with the Princess.” Lion Heart ponders.
“Don't worry about that. She's betrayed him, tried to kill him and 'died' at least once already. Granted so has he.” Rhede smirks slapping Jer'rahd on the back.
“All of you are horrible at helping.” Peach Blossom grumbles.
====================================================
[One Year ago, Crystal Empire.]
Celestia stared at the foal.
Shin stared at the Princess.
The pair of them simply looked at one another for a quite a while now. She wasn't even sure how Cadence had given her the foal or when, but here she was holding the child of a pair of monsters that she had ruined her young life and that she had fought for years. Monsters whose defeat made her a god and led to a long life of problems and and conflict, both with her self and others. She knew that without Chrysalis the Changelings were likely not even a threat any more, but that anger was there. She had come to terms that likely she could be just as angry as Kaisur, if not more in certain situations.
The height of it was her pursuit of Discord, she suppressed it as much as she could after that. She managed a state of serene calm after centuries of practice. Next to nothing could phase her. And then she met Kaisur and his group, cracks started to form in her armor from their antics. She regained her calm after a thousand years, until once again those five showed up and began poking at her again. Then Rose returned, while she did feel sorry for him, he took his anger with her almost as far as Kaisur did.
Centuries of repressing her rage almost seemed like an impossibility to her now. Over the last few years it had been a struggle to keep calm. When the truth of Aviana came out and what she had done it seemed the flood gates had opened and she was having a hard time holding herself in check.
Despite what many said, placing Rhede as head of the ambassadors again and pulling back from doing many diplomatic missions herself was not the result of her being lazy, nor wanting to spend more time with Twilight, although the latter did wind up being true. It was mostly because during the last political meeting she was a part off she found herself getting worked up over every little thing that was done. Small mannerisms and ticks the other gods and ambassadors she dealt with had, things that before , she ignored or didn't notice of, had now seemed to come to center stage in her mind and nearly everything they said annoyed her.
The explosion at the nurse maid earlier was just one more thing in a long list of issues that she had been developing. Thankfully both Kaisur and Rose were quite good at keeping her anger focused on them, so few noticed. Well save Twilight and her sister of course. Twilight had suggested therapy, her sister had suggested a good swift kick in the flank. She had refused both, though she was getting to the point where she might not be able to any more. Ten years after everything happened and she was still a mess.
Her musing was cut off as she felt a bit of pressure and a sharp pinch on her nose. Refocusing her eyes from where she was staring off into space she noted that the small changeling colt had clamped onto her nose biting her.
Celestia blinked hearing a few giggles and some worried tones from those around her. She sighs softly flattening her ears and glaring at Cadence and Twilight who were doing their best not to laugh.
“A widdle helf here?”
===================================================
[Two years ago, Hossenfeffor, Large mining community at the edge of the Foal Mountains]
“ …..... so I panicked and took off like a bat out of Tartarus. Shattered the front door and trashed pretty much every shop on the street with the rain boom.” Starfall whined tilting her head back and draining her cup.
“We'll take that out of his pay so don't worry about it.” Luna comments knocking back another drink in annoyance. There was already near fifteen empty glasses in front of her, and that's just what the bar maid hadn't taken away yet. It was rather hard to get a good buzz going when you were a goddess , granted at the moment she had disguised herself as a gray unicorn with a platinum blue mane. Bleu had joked that she looked like a female version of Jer'rahd. Luna had run with that a little more making her cutie mark look like his though with the Queen chess piece instead of the knight. That set Bleu into even more giggling fits, but it cheered up Starfall as well.
With the amount of alcohol she and Bleu were drinking she was glad she had a royal account to draw from. Perhaps offering to pay was not the best idea.
“Well you need to just get over it. You're still young, and I think you two would make a cute little feather duster foal....” Velkorn giggles, already having had enough drinks that her rhyming had all but vanished.
Bleu chuckles softly at that. “Hey boss pulled it off, you should be able to do the same. Getting over it I mean … not the feather duster thing. I mean there's only one forth pegasus in the mix there. Speaking of which hows that going there Lulu?”
“Yes, I know I should but I still feel like I’m betraying Loc by marrying some one else. “ Starfall bemoans. “I mean what am I gonna do if Loc's waiting there for me when I die and then Peach Blossom comes along? “
“Well then you oil them both up and let them wrestle it out. “ Velkorn giggles.” No matter who wins you get a nice show.”
“I expected that from Bleu.....” Starfall mutters.
“Don't worry I was thinking it.” Bleu grins, the small dragonling had shrunk down enough that she was sitting on the bar top downing what ever was put in front of her, often along with the glass if it was fancy enough crystal.
“I am not sure, you should be eating those Bleu. “ Luna mutters. “ The account for this is already going to be fairly high. Though at least I am finally starting to feel these drinks.”
“Don't worry about it there Loony. We've had stallions buying us drinks for a while now.” Bleu chuckles.
Luna blushes a bit glancing back and noting that the entire bar was full of rather burly stallions from the mines. Nearly all of them were watching the three mares and small dragon sitting at the bar.
“Nice to see even after twins I can turn heads like I did when I was younger,” grins Velkorn.
“Your not that old either.” …... mutters Starfall.
“I am older than you. Luna is the only one here who has me beat in terms of age.” Velkorn chuckles.
“The thousand years don't count.” Bleu mutters.
“Why do I feel like fresh produce being ogled?” Luna comments trying to hide her flank with her tail.
“Cause you are, likely a lot of single stallions in this place and then boom in walk three gorgeous females... and Starfall.” Bleu giggles.
“Bite me lizard.” Starfall grumbles.
“Only if you ask me nice.” Bleu flirts.” I bet Peachy would bite you if you're into that sort of thing.”
Starfall blushes a bit at the implication though choose to down the rest of her drink rather than respond.
“Pity I’m married. I could have some fun here...” Velkorn chuckles softly.
“Hey isn't that Rhede's line?” Luna protests.
“Why does everyone think I was some sort of pure virgin growing up?” Velkorn mutters. “ I got into medicine to find a way to make a cheap birth control when I was sixteen.”
“I am so saving that information for later use.” Bleu cackles.
“Why do I have the feeling I am the most sane one out of the four of us right now?” Luna sighs emptying another glass savoring the cheerful buzz she was finally getting. It had been a long time since she allowed herself to do this sort of thing.
“So then ladies what brings you out here tonight?” comments a rather smooth voice behind them.
Starfall glances back to see a rather well muscled looking, dusty gold colored stallion with short cropped white hair looking down to them where they were sitting at the bar. Luna glances back but doesn't respond.
“Quite a few things really.” Velkorn chuckles softly.
“Oh? Looking for a bit of fun then?” the stallion grins wider.
“I cannot say we are.” Luna comments taking another sip of her drink.
“Aww don't be like that ,I bet I can show you a great time....” the stallion mutters leaning closer to Luna. She was about to respond when she felt his hoof slap lightly against her flank. “Pretty little mare like you looks like you could use a big strong coOORFAHHHHH!!!”
What ever he was planning to say was cut off rather quickly as Luna whirls, her hoof mashing her glass against the side of his head sending the stallion staggering away from her.
“Tha fuck!!?... YOU BITCH!”the stallion hollers.
A large number of the other stallions rise as well, not taking to kindly to the stranger injuring their friend and coworker.
“Most sane one here huh Loony?” Bleu sighs watching as Luna roars rushing the group intent on laying waste.
“Eh what the buck, I was getting bored any way.” Starfall sighs draining her drink before she whirled about and smashed her stool against one of the stallions that ran up to surround Luna. Velkorn shouted something in a language that sounded like garbled zebra and lept into the fray as well.
Bleu sits on the bar top blinking before snatching up a crystal goblet full of ale and tossing the whole thing into her maw. She was about to eat another when a thrown pitcher hits her and knocks her off the bar top with a crash.
“Okay THAT'S IT!” shouts the dragonling from the floor.
=====================================
[One year ago, Crystal Empire.]
Celestia rubbed the tip of her nose with a hoof. While she was surprised the little colt already had a small pair of fangs, the bite had'nt hurt anything more than her pride. Still, in listening to Cadence try not to laugh while apologizing for not warning Celestia that the small colt was a nibbler, she missed out on the Sparkle families talk and only caught bits and pieces of it.
“...... alright I am still trying to wrap my head around this. What do you mean Chrysalis didn't create them?” Twilight questions.
“It's another theory your father and I have put together based on what we found in the Crystal Empire archives. Spike has been rather invaluable in this as well and one day we really need to test the limits of his abilities.....”
“Focus Dear. “ Nightlight counters.
“Umm yes,” Twilight Velvet corrects herself. “ We have found some evidence that seems to make us believe that the Changelings were around much longer than we first thought, perhaps even predating both Chrysalis and Sombra.”
“What sort of evidence?” Twilight asks.
“Primarily there are a few books and even a crystal stone tablet that we know predates the formation of the Empire itself that make references to things like shape shifters and green flames creating monsters....”
“The proper translation is Guardians not monsters.” Nightlight corrects.
“It's ancient, ancient Equestrian dear. Tomato translates to fruit and vegetable in that language.” Twilight Velvet sighs.
“Any way there are a number of things we found in documents. We even found notes on Starswirl the Bearded, hints that he may be much much older than any one considered.” Night Light chuckles.
“The biggest thing however that you two are dancing around are the dragonflies.” Shining interjects.
“Shiny dear, that isn't really admissible as important data.” Twilight Velvet states.
“What's with the Crystal Dragon flies?” Twilight asks.
“Most animals are afraid of the Changelings, most of them can sense the wrongness about them whether they are hidden or not.” Shining explains ignoring his mothers annoyed look. “We confirmed this with your friend Fluttershy and we started training dogs to help us spot changelings so we didn't need to tap everyone with starmetal all the time. Once we set up a area in the city for the captured Changelings we found out that the Crystal Dragonflies could tell too. Not only that, but they are not afraid of the changelings, and actually seem to prefer them to normal ponies. The changeling camp now also houses the largest number of Crystal Dragonfly nests. The dragonfly’s like to be near the changelings.”
“Why?”
“We don't know. We speculate that perhaps there is some sort of common ancestry, but we have not had a chance to pursue this line of inquiry, and the dragonflies themselves don't seem to know either.” Night Light responds. “ They say only that they feel like other dragonflies.”
“The dragon flies had all but fled from the Empire when I was a child. There were swarms of changelings, but no dragonflies. They only started to come back years after Chrysalis and Sombra were sealed. One of their number, Greenwitch, flew all the way from the empire to Canterlot to warn my sister and I about Sombra's return. With that warning we were able to cut Sombra's reign short, though his spell locked the empire away with him.“ Celestia interjects. “Well you all know the rest.”
“I remember him, he was the one who talked to Rhede in the garden before he died and warned about Sombra's return.” Twilight muses.
“Greenwitch. That name is familiar.” Twilight Velvet considers. “I have seen it some where.”
“That was the name of Queen Crystal's pet.” Nightlight comments.”There's an old painting of her with the dragon fly and King Sombra in one of the store rooms.”
“It can't be the same one, how long do Crystal Dragon flies live?” Celestia questions.
“Seems they live as long as they want. They hibernate for years at a time by turning themselves into crystal after they find a nice spot to perch. There are some families here who have had the same dragonfly in their family for generations. Every so often they freeze in place usually after saying their goodbyes and they simply becomes decoration for a while.” Cadence chimes in.”The only problem with that is they can be damaged or killed if some one tries to wake them up before they are ready.”
“Hmm that is what Greenwitch did. He landed in the garden and turned to crystal claiming he needed to rest. Discord's spell must have been what woke him and he died due to it.” Celestia fumes. “ Remind me to pass that information onto Rose later.”
“Stop trying to murder Discord indirectly Princess.” Twilight sighs.
“What about Directly?”
“No.”
“Fine....” Celestia sighs.
============================================================
[Two Years Ago New Canterlot, Luna's chamber.]
“KAISUR!” shouts an angry Sun Goddess bursting into the common room of her Sister's suite of rooms in the castle.
“Uh oh, Da. What did you do this time?” Pip asked looking up from his seat at the table. Ice Berry lifts a hoof waving to her, defusing Celestia's tirade for the moment.
“Beats me. I think your aunt just gets mad at me because she happened to hear some one say my name.” Jer'rahd chuckles closing Pipsqueak's lunch box before floating it over to tuck it into his bag.
“Alright every ones packed you better get going or you'll be late.”
Berry wanders over getting a hug from Jer'rahd before doing the same from Celestia before trotting out the door with Pip and Brush right behind her.
“Now then that they are headed out what's the issue this time?” Jer'rahd grumbles picking up the dishes from breakfast and putting them in the sink.
“The issue Jer'rahd is the news I got this morning about the riot you caused last night in Hossenfeffor. First you set up a royal expence tab then rack up nearly thirty thousand bits worth of drinks. Then I have reports of at least three dozen injured miners, six constables, five shop keepers and seven Royal Guards. Four structures were destroyed and many others vandalized or damaged. The grand total has come to near seven hundred and fifty thousand bits!” Celestia fumes. “Why is it the first thing I am greeted with in the morning is the after effects of your drunken rampage?”
“Okay first off, I was back here by midnight so Rarity could go home after keeping an eye on Berry, Brush and Pip, not that they need it, and Velkorn and Rhede's newborn foals. Second, I don't even know where Hossenfeffor is. Third I took out the tab for my drinks and Peach Blossoms. Rhede and Lion Heart paid for their own. I still have the receipt for that. We were at the Beryl Wyrm all night.”
Jer'rahd rants grabbing a strip of paper from the counter and waving it in Celestia's face. “ The tab was barely three hundred bits.”
“Then what is this? The reports claim a gray unicorn with a shield and chess piece cutiemark, a stripped pony, a dragon thing and a pegasus were the primary perpetrators of all this?” Celestia states. “That sounds like you, Rhede, Lion Heart, and Peach Blossom to me.”
Jer'rahd was about to respond when the door to the chambers opens and a very tired looking gray unicorn mare staggers in. Jer'rahd and Celestia watch for a moment as the mare stumbles a bit with a giggle and shushes the chair she bumps into.
“Luna?” Jer'rahd asks. The mare turns shushing him as well showing off a rather prominent black eye as she giggles again
“Quiet, you dun wanna wake the foals.......” Luna whispers very loudly before wandering down the hall making it half way into the bedroom before collapsing onto the floor in a fit of giggles and dragging herself the rest of the way into the room, showing off her altered cutiemark for a moment.
Jer'rahd and Celestia blink looking after her before they look to each other again. Celestia sighs throwing the list into the air in exasperation. “You know what I don't even want to know any more.”
“You might not want to know, but now I really, REALLY, want to now.” Jer'rahd grins.
==================================================
[ New Canterlot Current Day. ]
“Alright I want the recruits to come by tomorrow by noon for clean up detail” Jer'rahd orders pointing at the map laid out on the table.
“You sure there's going to be a need, Sir?” a green earth pony sergeant asks. “ I understand the idea of getting them used to being around the aftermath of a combat situation, but do you really think it will require a clean up at all? They might just surrender.”
“I doubt they will Hunter, keep in mind they didn't surrender the first time Celestia just ordered the Guards to stone the lot of them. Even then we suffered some heavy losses.” Jer'rahd responds.
“That's why they're sending you in huh? Equestria's nigh invulnerable tank.” A blue maned pegasus in glasses chuckles looking over the map on the table. “Makes me wonder sometimes why they need the rest of us Guards.”
“Can it Sterling, I can't be every where. Besides Celestia always needs some stallions to look pretty in armor around her.” Jer'rahd smirks.
Drill Sergeant Hunter and Drill Sergeant Sterling were a pair of ponies he had hoof picked two years ago to help him in training new recruits and retraining older ones. He had picked a few others as well, but they had often taken promotions or positions else where after a few classes. These two had stuck with him the longest and they had gotten nearly as good at inspiring terror as Jer'rahd and Rose were.
“Alright it'll be a days march to get there if we cut straight through. Knowing how green most of this unit is I want to follow the river and steer clear of the gate of Tartarus here. No need to let too many ponies know it's location. Sides there's some nasty stuff living around that area too.” Hunter points out. “That will delay us by a day, but it will give you more time to secure the area.”
“Make sure you get some trap finders in there right after you too, Sir. From my understanding the Red Hooves were really good at that sort of thing. They might have the whole camp wired to drop into the gorge.” Sterling points out.
Jer'rahd nods looking over the map. The Red Hooves camp was perched rather precariously on a cliff over a deep cleft in the earth. The other end of that ridge was where the main gate of Tartarus was, thankfully there wasn't an easy way to get to the gate that didn't run through the Everfree. Granted if the Red Hooves had found the Gate Troph likely would have gotten to them and this task would be moot. “Alright an extra day is fine. If I have to kill them then the bodies shouldn't be too ripe just yet for the cremation detail.
“Before I forget sir, Congratulations.” Hunter comments changing the subject.
“So hows the Princess and the new Kaisur doing any way? Saw the paper myself though most of them are complaining about you and the Guard forcefully removing the press from the premises.” Sterling snarks.
“Luna and Dawn are both doing fine, as soon as this is all settled we plan to make an an official announcement on her birth. It's stupid, but according to Celestia and Rhede it's what we are supposed to do.” Jer'rahd sighs.” I don't suppose you have any advice on a newborn Sterling?”
“What with my four kids? Loads of it. Though what is she pegasus or unicorn?” Sterling asks.
“Errrr pegasus... mostly.” Jer'rahd mutters.
“ Don't tell me we have another alicorn Princess? “Sterling gasps.
“No not another godling.” Jer'rahd stops him. “Well, not from us any way.”
“Wait so how come you didn't ask my advice?” Hunter questions.
“Because you don't have any foals.” Sterling points out. “Or a mare friend. Or any prospects.”
“Hey I'm just hunting for the perfect mare.” Hunter grins. “Still kinda annoyed Orange isn't available any more.”
“Do I need to put you through a wall again Hunter?” Jer'rahd growls.
“No sir once was enough and I apologized for that. Still, it doesn't mean my interest in her went away.” Hunter placates.
“Yes well, if she had shown interest in you in return, you wouldn't be working with me.” Jer'rahd sighs his ears flattening at the idea she was still with Blueblood..” She has terrible taste in stallions.”
=======================================
[Two Years Ago New Canterlot, Officers Quarters]
Shot from outer space, tearing through the atmosphere and speeds unmatched by even the fastest fliers on Equss, it effortlessly missed clouds on its way to it's target. Slipping in the window and passing through a small gap in the blinds it strikes unerringly, and with deadly precision.
Starfall groans flailing her fore hooves in the air as the beam of sunlight falls over her closed eyes. As if on cue the curtains are flung open wide bathing the bed in sunlight. Starfall hisses pulling the blanket up over her head and trying to bury her face in her wing.
After a moment or two her sleep addled brain notices several things. First was the pain, this had to be the worst hangover she had had since she had been woken from stone. Two she smell like a bar room floor and ash. Three some one else was in the room with her. Four that some one was a dick for opening the blinds on her. And five, her bedroom didn't have a window.
She slowly sits up with a groan, the blanket still over her head.
“Good you're finally up.”
Starfall whimpers a bit reaching up and rubbing her eyes with her hooves, flinching and pulling the blanket further over her head.
“Ahhh there's the hang over. While I find it amusing that I was the one your drunk brain thought of, I am less than amused that I had to get up at four am because you smashed through the window in the living room.”
“Peach Blossom?” Starfall mutters.
“Yeah.....” Peach Blossom responds. She could hear his hooves thudding on the wood at the end of the bed. “What the heck did you get up to last night?”
“Got ambushed by Luna, Bleu, and Velkorn, ruined a good sulk. Went out drinking..... other stuff happened and I don't know after that... maybe a fire, a small flood, and a ton of circus peanuts. I really don't think I want to remember what the circus peanuts were for.”
“I see. Had the same thing happen with me.... though with less, ummmm…. memory loss. Basicly Major Kaisur, Rhede Pelt and Lion Heart tried to cheer me up a bit. It sorta worked.”
“Same with me though they just tried to drive home how stupid I am.”
“I wouldn't say you were stupid...... well at least not until you smashed in my window at four am, gave me a necklace that was made out of pony teeth, threw up in my fern, and then passed out in my bed.” Peach Blossom sighs. “Now I won't call you stupid cause I like my teeth.”
Starfall chuckles wincing as she did so.
”So did you figure anything out?” Peach Blossom asks hesitantly.
“About?”
“Me, you, us.... if there is a thing.” Peach Blossom sighs.
Starfall groans pulling the blanket further over her head.” Close the window and I’ll talk....damn Celestia cursed sun......”
Peach blossom raises an eyebrow at that though he pulls the curtain back closed darkening the room again.
“Thank you.”
“.... well...”
“Give me a damn moment, I’m fighting a hangover.....”
“You're bitching so I guess it's not that bad of one.” Peach Blossom smirks. “ I've seen you worse.”
“That was because I tried to out drink Bleu.....”
“I'm amazed your liver didn't fail. I've seen how much she can put away.”
“Right, any way....” Starfall sits up looking to get this over with, though she pauses a moment considering. “ Why do you even put up with my crap...? I'm a damn mess and you know it.”
“Same reason I proposed. I'm in love with you...”
“That doesn't make any sense.....”
“Didn't think love was supposed to.”
“You have me there. You've put up with me for eight years now....”Starfall grumbles. “ You know about Loc and you're still here...”
“Yup....”
“Damn it ….. right, so about the time I was shoving one stallions head up another's ass I kinda realized my issues are pretty stupid and I’m dwelling too much in the past that I couldn't have.......”
“Wait what was that about a stallion's head....?”
“Don't interrupt I’m on a roll here. Basicly like I’ve been told a lot I should dwell much on what I lost when there's a lot of things I can still do with the time I’ve left. While it might always be an issue it's not something I need to freak out over......”
“Well that sounds promising. So what does that mean?”
“Yes... it means I accept your proposal.” Starfall smirks a little from under the blanket.
“That has got to be the least romantic acceptance I have ever heard.”
“Bite me. You're the one willing to put up with my crap.” Starfall smiles. “This is part of that, along with a lot of olive oil.....”
“What?”
“Never mind, that won't come up for a long while I think.” Starfall grins.
=============================================================
[ New Canterlot Current Day. ]
Jer'rahd looked over the chariot before him. He hated traveling like this but he wanted to get there and back as quickly as possible, so a pegasus pulled chariot was the way to go, particularly since Bleu was likely at the empire by now.
Aside from himself and Luna, Bleu was the last of his friends who were unattached, though she did seem fixated on Sparkle's companion Spike. He wasn't much a fan of dragons, but the purple lizard seemed to have a fairly decent head on his shoulders, despite what he wanted to do with Cindervale.
“So you really are leaving, geez and my wife says I’m a workaholic.”
Jer'rahd glances back to the black maned, red stallion trotting up to him.
“I don't want to hear it Rhede, from the reports you spent your honeymoon with Velkorn fending off a swarm of parisprites that were eating the Diamond Dog kingdom.” Jer'rahd grins.
“Yeah, but that was the honeymoon, as my two foals show, sexytimes were not halted.” Rhede chuckles. “ And I wasn't working when they were born.”
“I would think the fact you've already got a third coming would be proof of that.” Jer'rahd grins stepping away from the chariot.” How long until we get a new Pelt?”
“Still two to four months from what I’ve been told.” Rhede smirks. “ If it's a colt we're naming him after my Da, if a girl after her Grandmother. So why are you heading out?”
“It's not very often I’m needed for something like this any more. Aside from a few missions here and there, Equestria's pretty much peaceful. Still Nicker isn't afraid to send me into place that might get some of the other Guard hurt or killed. I don't mind so much for the same reason, plus it's nice to have a use aside from Luna's consort.”
“Careful they don't get too attached to you doing the hard lifting. I know you're pretty much nigh invulnerable and immortal but you're not invincible.”
I know, Starfall and Luna show me that every spar. Any way, once the Red Hooves are finished off everything that escaped from the Garden and Tartarus will finally be locked down.” Jer'rahd chuckles fidgeting with the harness for his sword. “This shouldn't take me more than a day at most. Get in there take out whatever resistance the remaining Red hooves have, remove them from being a threat, destroy the encampment so no other bandits think to use it, and come home.”
“Don't make it sound so easy, that's sure to invite trouble.” Rhede smiles.
“I'm not. It's why I’m given myself a day rather than the couple of hours it will really take. So what did you need any way Rhede?”
“Nothing much, I'm staying here while Velkorn's in Gallopagos. Fluttershy agreed to watch the foals while I took care of a bit of business here and swung by to see you off.
“Well that was nice of you. Any particular reason?”
“Do I need a reason to see an 'old' friend?”
“Usually, though I expect slipping 'old' into the conversation was reason enough.”
“I don't want to hear it from you. Applejack let slip you've been trying to get Wolf and Fox to say' My moma said my daddy's name is Rhede Pelt.' as their first words.” Rhede grumbles.
Jer'rahd laughs. “Because that would be the funniest thing ever.”
“I can't wait until your daughter is old enough so I can convince her to call you grandpa.”
“Rose might have issue with that, since by technicality he is her grandpa.... four generations back, but still.” Jer'rahd mutters.
“Yeah we have a bit of bucked up family lines.” Rhede chuckles.
“Of course we have bucked up family lines. I'm supposed to be your brother.” Jer'rahd smirks.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever Jer. Any way here.”
Rhede ducked his head back pulling out a box from under his robes holding it in his hooves as he opened it showing a selection of cigars.
“Since when do you smoke?” Jer'rahd questions.
“I do occasionally, and yes when I’m not on fire as well. Besides these are kinda rare. Diamond dogs have a tradition of passing them out when a foal is born. Usually the father gives them out to close family and friends. Since you suck at traditions I figure I’ll pass them out and we can all go out for a drink, light them up, and choke to death on the smoke together. Of course I planned to do that today, but NOOOOO you had to go to work. Your first foal was born Jer you're supposed to be partying. Heck Celestia let Pinkie, Bleu, and Discord raid the treasury, they stuffed an entire store room in the castle full of fire works to use when you and Luna announce Dawn to the public.”
“Fine. But not the bar.” Jer'rahd states taking one of the cigars in his magic tucking it into a saddle bag after a cursory look.
“What? Have I been talking to a changeling?” Rhede questions.
“Don't joke on that. Dusty and Breezy.... or should I say Lady Dusty and Lord Breezy..... nah screw that, I don't care if they are married, in charge of a kingdom, and have a hippogryph god as a kid, it's still private buck up and her cheering squad to me. Any way they sent me a bottle of something from her fathers private stash.” Jer'rahd smirks.”Seems Talon found some one to brew some kind of clear alcohol that has the same effect on gods as a Rainboom has on normal ponies.”
“ Damn... that sounds a bit potent.....”
“It's a potential disaster class four on it's own. Luna wouldn't let me touch it, but I found out where she hid it. I'll crack it open when I get back and we can give it a shot.”
“I think I’ll bring my own drink, thank you very much Jer.” Rhede chuckles.
“More for me then.“ Jer'rahd grins nodding to the Guard pegasi who set themselves into the chariots harnesses. “I'll see you when I get back Rhede. We'll get every one together for a party or something. When was the last time we pulled that off?”
“If you don't count your annulled wedding.....”
“I don't because I was comatose for a good deal of that thanks to you.”
“Yeah yeah Celestia told me to get you she didn't say how. The last time we all got together would have been Starfall's wedding two years ago.”
“Has it been that long?”
“Getting senile there grandpa?”
“Stuff it Pelt, We'll figure it out when I get back. Keep an eye on Luna and everything while I’m out.”
“Don't I always?” Rhede smirks watching the chariot take off into the air and vanish over the castle walls.