//------------------------------// // Politics by Knight of Lycaeus // Story: Tainted Love: A Twysalis Prompt Tag Collab // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// by Knight of Lycaeus I stood quietly looking over the town that welcomed me as one of their own. It was a hard adjustment at first, hostile glares everywhere I went with only a few willing to spare some time or a hoof towards helping me. Over time things changed and now the town, well most of the town welcomed me as though I lived there my entire life. This strange town on the edge of an even stranger forest where life changed greatly for me. A gentle nudge disturbs my thoughts and I turned to see the Pony who helped make the change all possible. Instead of asking me questions as she would usually do at any other time she instead quietly nuzzles me gently. It hasn’t been long since I’ve returned from dealing with the Collective and the factions that opposed me in my push for the right to rule as High Queen. “Hello Twilight,” I said breaking the quiet. “Hello Chrysalis, have you been doing any better today?” Twilight asked, I could hear the concern and hesitance in her voice as she spoke and knew how difficult the past few months as been for both of us. “I have, I was just enjoying watching the sunset from here.” I answered. “Are you sure?” Twilight asked. “I am.” Looking at the Alicorn next to me I knew she was curious about how I was doing. I figured it would be best that I should answer her better than I had been since I came back. I gently broke away from the comfortable embrace and made my way towards the bed, Twilight seeing what I was doing joins me. “Twilight,” I begin. “I have been somewhat hesitant telling you anything about what had happened.” “Are you comfortable about discussing it, I didn’t want to push you.” Twilight interjected. I gave her a soft nuzzle before continuing, “I am. I’ve been quiet since I’ve been having difficulties describing what I feel. Changelings live from feeding on positive emotions especially love. The species as a whole are in a sense emphatic, with that in mind it’s hard sometimes to describe the feeling when usually I can feel it and so can everyone else around me. I needed time to put my thoughts in order.” I felt a soft weight fall across my withers and noticed the lavender wing, Twilight gave me a supportive smile as she tightened the hug. “I’m not scared of killing, that I knew would be one of your first questions. I have killed before, not often since it wasn’t a sensible idea when you’re trying not to draw attention. But I have killed before, on assignments and for protection of the Hive, our homeland is more hostile and dangers can be anywhere. Killing Changelings is a different matter, I feel some conflict from doing so as I am fighting my own kin but even though we were at war I wanted to minimize the loss of life.” “Did that work? With how strong some factions were, did that work?” Twilight asked. “It did, most Changelings we fought we managed to restrain and secure away until peace had been made. No, what confuses me the most is myself.” Twilight blinked, “How?” I knew I had confused Twilight if all she could muster was a single word, “Myself, how I viewed others, how I conduct myself. If I was who I used to before I met you, before the failed invasion than I would have reveled in the victory. You knew how I used to be, arrogant, proud, subjecting others through power.” Twilight smiled, “My stubborn Changeling. You're still like that.” I nodded, “Sometimes but not always. Those words can define those who opposed me and in a way I now understand how you were confused by the paradoxes that our species lives on. In a way I feel conflicted, caught between two parts of myself. Who I was and who I am now. I may still be as I once was but I’ve changed. This town and you especially have changed me. Before I would have loved the opportunity to crush my enemies through strength and to prove myself by claiming the High Throne through force. Yet after my exile I went back to claim the High Throne not out of desire anymore but out of duty. I went back to help stop the Changeling Collective from collapsing on itself. Now I don’t want war anymore, I’m not the warmonger I used to be. I may enjoy fighting for the thrill of it but I don’t see a reason to kill or go to war needlessly anymore.” Twilight nuzzled me again, “That why you wanted to leave Changelings alive.” “It is, I can’t see myself just crushing skulls in, destroying those who oppose me. That isn't my life or aspiration anymore. I’ve found a life, a more peaceful life than I had imagined but a life I enjoy. But now I have absolute power yet I don’t want absolute power anymore.” “There’s more to this isn’t there?” Twilight asked. “There is more. By our strong connections through the Hive Mind I could feel the mood of those who fought for me. So many were wanted to return to the peace they knew yet they gave up what they had to help me. They willingly gave their peace and their lives to someone who they once declared a traitor. I’m not just conflicted but I feel the pressure, the desire more now. I want to be able to take this power that I fought for so I can protect the Changelings properly. I want the Changeling Collective to have peace, a proper lasting peace. Yet I can’t forget those who lost their lives in the conflict, I could feel their deaths even as they severed the link to spare us all the pain of feeling their end.” Twilight had shifted so that her hooves were now wrapped around me strengthening the hug she was giving me, “I know in a small way how it feels, that pressure of wanting to protect. I want to protect my friends, my family, this country I live in. I have felt that and continue to feel that pressure, more so now since my ascension. Although the other thing about the connection, I can’t understand what it is like to feel someone die. I have not been to the battlefield living in a time of peace. As well the Hive Mind still confuses me and is likely something that will take me a long time to understand if I ever do. But I know that our desire to protect is something we share, so please know I’m here whether you want me to talk or just to listen.” I returned the hug and gave her another nuzzle, “Thank you. I just wanted to you to know why I’ve been so quiet since I came home. More than any thing else I’m glad to be home, to be with you again.” “That’s all I wanted too, for you to be here,” Twilight said. “As for the conflict you feel, it’s hard and I’m probably not the best one to give advice but that something we can all feel. Our lives are shaped by what we do, your life took a great change recently and a greater one is still to come. I know I’m not the same Pony who came to Ponyville more than four years ago and I mean more than just physical appearances. It won't be easy nor will it come quickly but I’ll be here to help you find who you are between the two sides.” I couldn’t help but smile, some of her lectures go beyond my understanding but hearing her lecture was comforting. “We all have faults and virtues but to me you are the Changeling who turned my life upside down by coming here. You are stubborn, proud and protective, a bit arrogant at times. It may seem overbearing but I like seeing you being proud for who you are and what you can do. You bring something different and unique to this town and to my life, you are the one who I want to spend my life with for however long we have. You have many strengths and I know that one of them is that you are loyal, to your people, to those you protect, and to your promises.” I knew that as she talked that she was idly playing with her ring again. I smiled, "Thank you, I had some ideas what you would say, how you would respond but even though I knew that I think hearing it helped. Now there is one other thing I would like to talk about, something that I would like to announce during my coronation in a few weeks." "Oh? Now I'm curious as to what you have planned." Twilight said. Using my magic I took off the necklace I wore, the twin to Twilight's. Lifting up the ring I could see her putting it together. "Marriage," I said. "While everyone we trust knows we're together and supports us in our decision. It has not been easy getting officially married due to flimsy laws and excuses created by those who are opposed to even the idea of it but now here's the best excuse. What could help cement ties between Changelings and Ponies than a marriage between two rulers. So Twilight Sparkle will you marry me?" A happy shout of "Yes!" and the very firm hug were the only answers I needed. We had kept our promise to be together and we would keep it for however long we had together. For us marriage wasn't necessary, it was the outward sign but also a public symbol to the world about what we already shared.