//------------------------------// // Unnecessary Worry // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic -- Off The Record // by The King of Hearts //------------------------------// //// Unnecessary Worry //// Alpha stirred, opening his eyes to the blankness that had engulfed his room in Canterlot Castle. Had he overslept? He was supposed to be having a meeting with Princess Celestia today! Jolting up, he looked to the place he had expected to see the clock, but was surprised to see a bookshelf in its place. In fact, the entire room was filled with them… It was almost like he was back in the library in Ponyville. “Hmmm…” A voice hummed from next to him in the bed, as immediately turned to face the source. Then everything came back to him from the night before. Twilight had come hurling back in to Equestria during his meeting in Canterlot. Then, she had teleported him back to Ponyville, where they had talked about his desertion, and their mutual love for one another… Following that, things got rather hot and heavy. Closing his eyes, Alpha cursed himself for falling prey to his base instincts. He had a plan. One where he didn’t end up breaking her heart. How was he going to achieve that now? “Hey…” Twilight’s tired voice said, as Alpha looked over his shoulder to her, “Rested?” “Yeah,” Alpha nodded, looking away from her for a second, as she sat herself up next to him, “I- Um, thanks.” Twilight cocked an eyebrow and stifled her laughter. “Are you thanking me for last night?” She asked, a giggle escaping her throat, “Because I should really be the one thanking you. Your mouth is good for a lot more than kissing.” Alpha didn’t respond, as he simply stared in to the darkness of the room. Twilight blinked a couple of times as she tried to see if he was looking at something. However, as she got a chance to study his expression, she realized that he wasn’t in what you would call a ‘post-coital mood.’ “Are you okay?” She asked, sliding over on the mattress so she could wrap her left arm around his right, “Is something on your mind?” Alpha exhaled slowly as he collected his thoughts, and formulated exactly what he was going to say to her. “Well?” Twilight asked again after ten seconds of silence between them. “I don’t think we should have done this.” Alpha said finally, feeling Twilight instantly pull away from his arm. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She asked, scoffing as she looked to his unfixed gaze, “And would you look at me already?!” Sighing, Alpha looked at her, revealing an expression that was vastly sadder than she had expected. What was going on here? “I meant every word I said,” Alpha said, his expression softening as a small smile grew on his face, “I- I really do love you, and I would love nothing more than to spend every minute of the rest of my life with you.” Twilight blushed at the admittance, but didn’t interrupt him. “But… the Hive needs a leader right now,” Alpha explained, staring right in to her eyes, “Without me, the Council would take command of the army, and pick up on the war right where it left off.” “What does that have to do with us- well, being together?” She asked, clearing her throat awkwardly at her evasion of the word ‘sex.’ “Because it makes me feel even more for you, don’t you understand? I don’t know if I’ll be able to settle down for years.” Alpha said, “I need to take apart the Hive myself, and rebuild it from the ground up. I can’t be distracted.” Twilight felt the wind be taken out of her chest by his explanation, but by no means was she letting the discussion end here. “If you’re going to be busy for a few years, I think I could get by on visits,” Twilight said, not loving that particular plan of action, but figuring that it would work, just so long as it wasn’t permanent, “I’d come see you one weekend, and you would come see me the other.” “I can’t be seen running off to Equestria twice a month, Twilight, “Alpha explained, shaking his head, “The fact that I’m here now has already started rumors that I’m an Equestrian sympathizer… and to be courting the personal student of Princess Celestia inside the hive? I’d be ripped apart by my critics.” Twilight blinked a few times. “This has to be the last trip I make here for… months.” He continued, feeling his heart break as Twilight’s expression weakened further and further, “It’s why I promised myself not to see you. What we just did makes all of this so much harder for me.” “What would it take for you to be able to come back?” Twilight spoke up, curious if there was something she could make happen. “Twilight, look-“ Alpha began, before seeing the gleam of hope in her eyes… maybe just answering her would help, “As far as I can tell, there is only one pony that would fix everything. And that’s Chrysalis.” “What power does she have that you don’t?” Twilight asked, half knowing the answer already. “There’s no contest,” Alpha said, shaking his head slightly, “Chrysalis is an icon. She’s loved by almost everypony in the Hive, regardless of affiliation. My support comes from the vocal war dissenters, which has grown over the past few years, but still pales in comparison to the supporters. Chrysalis would unify them all in to a single group, and on top of that, she would be able to shut down the council with a single word. They’ve only clung to power because they insist on hearing the end of the war be declared by her.” “But…” Twilight sighed. “She’ll never side with me,” Alpha shook his head, “I mean, she lost the stallion she loved to the Zebra nation. I’d probably do the same if something happened to you or one of your- well, our friends.” Twilight felt a dirty thought creep in to her mind, as she tilted her head and asked, “Couldn’t you just condition her? Like you tried with us at Haven Station?” Alpha smiled at the suggestion. “She invented the magic that’s used in the process. I’d never be able to brainwash her.” “Damn.” Twilight said, before yet another idea popped in to her mind. And it wasn’t one that would bend any morals, “How would it look to the Hive if you were to start dating a Changeling?” Alpha raised an eyebrow at the odd question, “Well, there wouldn’t be a problem if I were to court a citizen. But what does that have to do with anything?” “One sec!” Twilight said, hopping out of the bed and levitating a book off of a shelf across the room, “Hmm… where is it?” Alpha only sat in silence as she leafed through the massive tome, scanning for whatever it was that she wanted. “Ah ha!” She said as she read the passage over a couple of times, “Okay, watch this!” Dropping the book, Twilight took a single deep breath, and closed her eyes. A small ring appeared on the floor at her feet, as she started muttering something silently to herself. Alpha slowly got out of the bed as he watched her work. When it came to this mare, he really had no idea what ever ran through her head… It was one of his favorite things about her. He was so used to being able to manipulate every situation he was presented with, that a little bit of chaos felt invigorating. The ring on the ground slowly darkened from the white it had been, until it changed to a dark green. A color that Alpha was completely familiar with. Then, as if she was covered in gasoline, a green fire ripped its way up her coat, and engulfed her completely. “Twilight!” Alpha shouted, reaching forward. However, before he could even reach her, the fire vanished, leaving nothing more than a completely burnt coat. …Or was it? “How do I look?” Twilight asked timidly, “Did the spell work properly?” It only took him another second to realize that her coat hadn’t been burnt. She had transformed herself in to a Changeling. “Oooh,” She said, looking over her shoulder to her back, “Wings!” “I- I don’t want you to take this the wrong way,” Alpha stammered, as he gave her a complete look-over, “But you just got a lot sexier.” Twilight giggled, as she turned to look herself over in the mirror. She had indeed pulled off the spell, and transformed into a changeling. Her coat was more or less black, with a slight hue of her purple coat mixed in. Her eyes were a solid blue, and her mane hadn’t changed much either, neither had her tail. Her midsection, however, had a hard plating over it. It was extremely similar to the exoskeleton that some insects had, only a much larger version. Her tongue was now forked at the end, and easily three times its original length, while only a fraction of its original girth. Finally, both her new wings and horn were filled with holes. The only thing missing from her perfect disguise, was the holes in her legs. However, she knew for a matter of fact that there were Changelings without them. “I- I guess you just solved our problem,” Alpha said breathlessly, inspecting her body over once more, “You could come live with me if you wanted to with that disguise.” Twilight giggled as she flared her new wings and gave them a few powerful flaps. “I just might take you up on that offer,” She winked, levitating her book back in to place, before turning around and staring to Alpha with a narrowed gaze, and smirk. “But for now… why don’t you get back on the bed?” “Listen, Twilight.” Alpha laughed, loving the attitude she was bringing with the change of look, “I really do need to get back to the Castle. Celestia probably—“ “Alpha. Celestia knows. You and I vanished for an entire night.” Twilight said, her tone unchanging as she stepped even closer, “So, we’re not going to leave any doubt in her mind. So can you please get back on the bed?” “Twilight…” He began, quickly losing any will to fight with her on. Reaching up, Twilight whispered in his ear one final time. “I’m not going to ask again.” And there it was yet again. That chaos he loved. She truly made him feel like he had no choice of his own in the matter. It was a foreign feeling to surrender his control like this… but it was exhilarating too. “Yes ma’am.” He said, backing up and placing himself back on the bed. Twilight had no idea where this attitude had come from, but she loved every bit of it. //// “Has there been any word from Alpha yet?” Celestia asked her sister as she entered the throne room for the first time that day. “None.” Luna shook her head, “Twilight seems to be keeping him quite busy.” Celestia only smiled to herself. Her little student was growing up so fast. ////