It was a cold autumn night in the town of Horseshoe Heights, as the moon shined on a rather old and somewhat unkempt house. Such a house belong to Final Gambit, Sleight's father.
Sleight was visiting him, having been doing so for a while now. While their relationship had never been strong by any means, they had recently made some progress in reconnecting (with a little help from Chrysalis), and been trying to do what they can to salvage what they had back when Sleight's mother, Conjure Gambit, was still alive. It wasn't always easy for Sleight, as he had suffered much abuse at Final's hooves growing up after his mother passed away.
He only ever stayed as long as he did, because he felt that his father would someday come to his senses, and they could go back to the good old days. In fact, Sleight's paternal grandfather, a retired magician, had told him constantly that things would get better. At first, Sleight thought he meant that his father would change... but alas, he didn't.
It was after his grandfather passed that Sleight have had enough, and with nothing more but bitter remarks between him and his father, he left to join the circus.
However, the trauma of Final's abuse had left a rather dark demon looming in Sleight's mind, and it had for a while left Sleight unable to maintain relationships (his biggest failure being with Trixie) and with a bit of a drinking problem that was fortunately solved (or rather, utterly demolished by Wizel). In the end, it ultimately led Sleight back to Final, and after having it out, the two had decided to start over again.
It was easier said than done though. All that pain and misery couldn't just vanish, despite Final's best intentions. Any time Sleight heard him raise his voice, or get angry, he feared the old him would resurface, and while a grown stallion, Sleight couldn't help but cringe whenever his father's voice yelled. Despite Final's advanced years, he was still a formidable specimen, and could no doubt hit hard if he wanted to. But despite his fears, Sleight pressed on, knowing deep down that he needed to spend time with his father. After all, Final had been putting in a lot of effort himself, having given up drinking and trying to tidy up his house, all for him and himself. It was the least he could do.
Besides, Final was getting on in years, and Sleight knew it was very likely that he wouldn't have much time left with him and he had so much lost time to make up for...
At the moment, Sleight and Final were sitting in Final's living room, catching up.
"...So we locked them both in a room, and wouldn't let them out until they made up." Sleight declared.
"Seriously?" Final snorted. "You locked 'em both up? That takes guts, kid. That wife of yours is something else when she gets angry."
"Yeah, she is." Sleight admitted. "But when she's happy, she's a real sweetheart."
"I can tell." Final grinned. "Good to see being King hasn't dulled those trickster ways of yours. If your grandfather could see you now..."
"I know." Sleight nodded.
"You've done so much these last few years." Final declared. "I can't believe I ever thought you'd never amount to anything..."
"Well, you weren't the only one." Sleight admitted. "But I guess I proved everypony wrong, huh?"
"Including your idiot of an old stallion." As Final chuckled, he slipped into a coughing fit.
"You okay, dad?" Sleight asked.
"I'm fine." Final declared. "Just shaking off a sore throat, is all. Nothing to worry about."
"If you say so." Sleight frowned. "Hey, you know what's good for a sore throat? Some tea with honey. I'll make you some."
"Thanks, son." Final smiled. "Good of you to look out for me in my old age..."
"I know, right?" Sleight grinned.
"You're a good kid, Sleight." Final said fondly. "Too bad I couldn't have seen it sooner."
"Better late than never, right?" Sleight smiled.
"So true." Final nodded.
"I'll get that tea for you now." Sleight declared.
"Don't be gone too long, son." Final said wistfully. "When you're my age, every second counts..."
Sleight went into the kitchen, and brewed up some honey tea, all the while reflecting on how much better the relationship between himself and his father had become. It may have happened later than he would have liked, but he couldn't argue with results.
As Sleight returned to the living room, carrying the cup with his magic, he saw his father slumped back into his chair, his eyes shut.
"Fell asleep, huh?" Sleight chuckled. "Well, wake up, snoozy. I got your tea."
Final didn't so much as stir. Normally, a little talk could lull him out of his slumber, but not this time.
"Dad?" Sleight nudged him lightly on the shoulder. "Dad?"
Final leaned forward, almost tipping over. At that point, Sleight realised he wasn't breathing.
"No... no..." Sleight shook his head in disbelief. He frantically shook his father's body, in the vain hope of shaking some life back into him. "Dad, please... wake up!"
Despite his denial, slowly but surely, Sleight accepted the truth.
"Oh, dad..." He started weeping. "No... nooooo!"
Sleight embraced his father's dead body, crying unashamedly to his steadily-growing-colder coat.
Slowly, Sleight managed to gather himself enough, first to have the Changelings who brought him contact Chrysalis, and then to call for a doctor.
The local physician, Dr Stirrup, examined the body.
"I'm afraid your father suffered a fatal aneurysm." He told Sleight. "I'm so sorry. But at least you can take solace in the fact that it was quick..."
"Oddly enough, that doesn't make me feel better." Sleight said flatly.
"You have my condolences." Stirrup said quietly.
"Please, just... go." Sleight sighed.
"Of course." Stirrup nodded. "You need time to grieve."
As Stirrup left the house, paramedics taking Final's body to the morgue, Sleight fell into Final's chair, overcome with grief.
At that point, Chrysalis entered the house.
"Sleight!" She ran to her husband. "I came as soon as I heard... is your father really..."
Sleight nod his head woefully.
"He's gone, Chyrs... he's really gone..." Sleight whimpered, as he sat down, burying his head into his hooves.
"Sleight..." Chrysalis embraced him. "I'm so sorry..."
"I just can't believe he's dead..." Sleight sniffed, as Chrysalis continued to rub his shoulders softly. "It's just not fair... we were only starting to become like father and son again... and now, life has gone and sucker punched me..."
"It's a tragedy." Chrysalis agreed. "I know how it felt for you and your father to have reconciled. And for him to be taken so suddenly..."
"It's not fair." Sleight started crying again. "I never even got to say goodbye..."
"Oh, Sleight..." Chrysalis patted his shoulder.
Final's funeral was a small, quiet affair. Final didn't have much in the way of friends, and besides Sleight and Chrysalis, barely anypony had shown up. Trixie, of course, had come to provide Sleight support in this most painful time. Sleight barely spoke, still overcome with pain.
"I'm so sorry, Sleight." Trixie declared. "It's so wrong that your dad was taken from you, right after you were getting along again."
"Yeah, it is." Sleight said dolefully.
"But I'm here for you." Trixie smiled.
"And so am I." Chrysalis added. "You won't have to face this alone."
"Thanks, girls..." Sleight sighed.
The reverend in charge of the ceremony (a mustard yellow Earth Pony with a gray mane) stepped forward.
"We are gathered here today to bid farewell to Final Gambit." He proclaimed. "Though he led an unremarkable life, Final was still a member of our little community. His passing forever removes a piece of that community. Now, Sleight Gambit, Final's only living relative, will say a few words."
Sleight stepped forward.
"My dad..." He started. "My dad, Final, he..."
Sleight tried to think of something nice to say about Final, but every time he tried, memories of the days when he would insult and berate him flashed through his mind. Even their recent happy memories failed to help, as he found himself being overcome by the days when Final would insult and abuse him.
"You are such a failure!"
"What is wrong with you?!"
"You're worthless!"
"You can't do anything right."
"Useless kid!"
"I wish you had never been born!"
The moments when Final beat him were the worst. The fear, the pain... even the moment when they fully reconciled was buried beneath those traumatic moments. He had hoped that with all the progress he had made with his father would have the good memories outnumber the bad, but that hope had been forever dashed.
"I... I'm sorry..." He started crying again. "I just can't..."
"I understand." The reverend declared. "You don't have to speak if you don't feel up to it."
"No, I can do it..." Sleight insisted.
"Come on, Sleight." Chrysalis whispered.
"You can do this..." Trixie said in a hushed voice.
"My dad had his flaws...a whole lot of them..." Sleight wept. "But I try to not loom on the bad stuff...as many as there are. I believed that he had his good side... but I didn't get to see it often... or even had as many chances... and now, I'll never see it again..."
Unable to hold it in any longer, Sleight returned to his seat, embracing Chrysalis for comfort, as Trixie stood by for support.
"And now, we return Final's body to the earth from which we all sprang." The reverend declared.
With the pull of a lever, Final's coffin descended into the grave. Sleight looked upon the sight with tear-sodden eyes.
"Goodbye, dad." He whispered.
After the funeral came the wake. The few ponies who had attended the funeral gave Sleight their condolences.
"Your dad was a real hard-nose." One grizzled Pegasus admitted. "But he had a sort of... solid dignity. I always admired that about him."
"Thanks." Sleight sighed, "I know it was a lot to ask of you guys, given what kind of stallion my dad was."
"Look, he wasn't perfect. Far from it. But when he was in the mood, he was a great guy to be around." A lanky Earth Pony mare smiled. "We'll all miss him."
"So will I." Sleight frowned.
A couple of days later, Sleight, Trixie, Chrysalis, with help from Wizel and Sazh, were clearing out Final's house.
"Who knew ponies had so many... things?" Sazh remarked, as he looked through the contents of a trunk.
"They do lean towards materialism." Wizel noted. "They like to collect objects, own keepsakes, make memories..."
"And that's all that's left here... memories." Sazh said glumly. "Poor Sleight."
"Indeed." Wizel nodded sadly. "Losing one's parental figure is hard."
"No kidding." Sazh sighed. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."
"Alas, I fear that's not an 'if' so much as a 'when'." Wizel told him. "Death is an inevitability. It comes for all of us."
"I know." Sazh sighed. "I just hope it doesn't come for you soon."
"Even if it did, I'd want you to not let it consume you." Wizel smiled. "For no matter what, I will always be with you in spirit."
"Thanks, Wizel." Sazh smiled. "I sure hope Sleight's dad is with him in spirit."
"I'm sure he is." Wizel nodded. "Now, let's take these keepsakes downstairs."
"On it." Sazh agreed.
As the pair made their way downstairs, they saw that the others were still at work. Except for Sleight, who was looking at an old portrait of himself and his parents.
"You know, I always thought I'd end up turning out like my dad someday... whether I wanted to or not." He confessed. "That's probably why I had such a hard time keeping a relationship together. Subconsciously, I thought I wasn't worthy of a decent mare, so I sabotaged myself... like I did when we were dating, Trixie. That's why i acted the way I did when you brought up us maybe getting married, and having kids. I just didn't want to risk hurting you and any offspring the way my dad hurt me."
"Oh Sleight..." Trixie frowned. "If only I had known..."
"It's not your fault, Trixie." Sleight shook his head. "I just... I always believed that I coul deal with whatever life threw at me... but when it comes right down to it, I'm a mess... like now..."
"One can't be strong all the time." Wizel said sagely. "We all have moments when we must let our guard down, and feel."
"Wizel is right, Sleight." Chrysalis agreed. "None of us are made of stone."
"Pity..." Sleight sighed.
"Cheer up, pal." Sazh dug into the chest. "Hey, look at this." He pulled out a baseball bat. "Bet you and your dad had some fun with this, right?"
"Oh, yeah." Sleight scowled. "That's the bat dad used to break my leg this one time."
"Oh..." Sazh cringed. "Well, how about..." He dug around in the chest again, pulling out some lawn darts. "These?"
"Those?" Sleight frowned. "My dad threw those at me when he got really drunk this one time..."
"This?" Sazh held up a fishing rod. "Surely you had some decent father/son time with this?"
"Only if you count my dad whipping me with it." Sleight snorted.
"Perhaps you should stop." Wizel suggested to Sazh.
"Sorry, Sleight." Sazh sighed. "I really thought this would work."
"Well, it isn't." Sleight declared. "But it's not your fault. It's mine."
"What?" Trixie asked. "How could-?"
"Because no matter how hard I try, I can't hold any of the good memories of my dad in my head." Sleight admitted. "All I can remember is the bad stuff!"
"Calm down, Sleight." Chrysalis urged. "Your father wouldn't have wanted you to wallow in grief and anger."
"We don't know what my dad would have wanted." Sleight pouted. "Because he's gone!"
"You have every right to be angry." Chrysalis assured him.
"Of course I'm angry!" Sleight yelled. "We were finally starting to connect, to really be like father and son... then it was all snatched away from us! From me! And all I have to remember him by is memories after memories of his abuse."
"Don't talk like that." Trixie urged. "You can remember the good times."
"Trixie is correct." Wizel nodded. "It is your mind, and your memories. You can control them."
"Don't let your dad's memory be tainted by what came before." Sazh urged.
"I know how much your improved relationship meant to you." Chrysalis remarked. "And your father did come a long way, even from when I first met him..."
"I know." Sleight sighed. "It was hard to believe he was the same stallion sometimes."
"But he wasn't." Chrysalis declared "He had grown to be a tolerate, more open-minded individual."
"Yeah, he did." Sleight smiled wistfully. "Remember when I invited him to come and visit the hive?"
"How could I forget?" Chrysalis grinned.
Flashback...
Sleight was in the middle of visiting Final. Not much time had passed since their initial reconciliation, so they were still a little awkward around each other.
"So... how are things with you?" Sleight asked.
"Not so bad." Final shrugged. "I've been weaning myself off the booze and attending those meetings like you suggested. 'Course, that makes my days a little longer, and a lot boring..."
"Good for you, dad." Sleight smiled, genuinely supportive of his father's change in lifestyle.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm a real winner." Final shrugged. "How about you? How's your life as the stallion who would be King?"
"Can't complain." Sleight smiled. "Things at the hive are going pretty swell right now."
"Who'd've thought it?" Final smirked. "My boy, a leader."
"Thanks, pop." Sleight beamed.
"I'll bet that hive of yours is quite a sight." Final noted.
"Why bet?" Sleight asked. "You could always come by and see it for yourself."
"Say what?" Final frowned.
"Come and visit the hive." Sleight smiled. "Take a look at how things work over there."
"I dunno, kid." Final mused. "Doesn't really seem like my scene. You sure you want me there?"
"I'm sure most kids don't want their parents visiting them at work." Sleight declared. "But this is different. I want you there, dad. I want you to be a bigger part of my life. Plus, it'll be a great way for you to get to know Chrysalis more."
"Well... I guess staying a day or two wouldn't hurt." Final gave in.
"That's the spirit." Sleight grinned. "Seriously, dad, you won't regret it. Trust me."
"I trust you." Final admitted. "My own judgment, not so much... So, when should we do this?"
"No time like the present." Sleight chuckled. "That is, unless you have some pressing appointments?"
"Not really." Final shrugged. "Just let me get a few things together, and we'll be off."
"Sweet." Sleight grinned. "Just think, the two of us, living under the same roof again... only this time, we'll do it right."
"Sure, son." Final nodded. "Now, where'd I put my travel sandals..."
The present...
"Still can't believe I pulled it off." Sleight said proudly.
"Never could I." Chrysalis frowned.
Flashback...
Sleight, Final by his side, had returned to the hive, just before nightfall. The two guards at the gates showed slight surprise at Final's presence.
"Relax, guys." Sleight smiled. "He's with me."
"Of course, your highness." One of the guards bowed, while the other opened the gates. "Enjoy your visit, stranger."
"Here's hoping..." Final said flatly.
"Right this way, pop." Sleight led Final inside.
As they made their way through the hive, Final took note of the numerous Changeling dwellings.
"Nice." He remarked. "Very... rustic."
"Not exactly top-rate mansions, but they get the job done." Sleight declared.
"Do you and that wife of yours live in a place like that?" Final frowned.
"No, we live over there." Sleight pointed out the tower.
"Oh, good." Final breathed a sigh of relief. "Nothing personal, but I'm really not keen on spending the night in an overgrown treehouse."
"Somepony's a picky traveler." Sleight joked.
As they headed for the tower, several Changelings turned their gaze towards Final, some of them aware of the similarity in looks between the King and the newcomer.
"What's with all the looky-loos?" Final scowled. "It's not as if I'm the first pony who's been here..."
"They're probably just curious." Sleight shrugged. "Even with the peace treaty, and having a pony as their King, these guys still don't get many equine visitors."
"Well, unlike you, I'm don't enjoy an audience." Final frowned. He turned to the onlookers. "Why not take a picture? It'll last longer!"
"Come on, dad." Sleight sighed. "Be nice. You are the guest here, after all."
"Yeah, yeah..." Final scowled. "Why did this blasted tower have to be built so far from the gates? My hooves are killing me..."
"We're almost here, dad." Sleight rolled his eyes. "Just a little farther."
"There'd better be chairs in there." Final griped. "Or at least something to rest my hooves on."
"Oh, there's plenty to rest on." Sleight smiled. "Since I became King, I made sure to have them put in plenty of pony-style comforts."
"And I plan to use as much of those comforts as possible." Final declared.
Finally reaching the tower, Sleight led Final into the throne room, where Chrysalis was waiting.
"Sleight, welcome ho-" Chrysalis stopped as she took note of Final. "Ah. I see you've brought a guest."
"How you do, daughter-in-law." Final nodded. "Nice to see ya again."
"I must say, this was... a surprise." She glared at Sleight. "A little heads-up would have been nice."
"Sorry, Chrys." Sleight apologized. "The idea just came to me. I figured dad oughta get to know my world a little."
"I suppose that makes sense." Chrysalis sighed.
"Not to butt in, but I was promised a little comfort." Final declared. "My hooves aren't what they used to be..."
"Relax, dad." Sleight smiled. "We've got plenty of five-star rooms. I'll have you shown to one."
At that point, Sazh and Wizel entered the throne room.
"Seriously?" Sazh said increduously. "They actually pierce themselves there?"
"So I've heard." Wizel shrugged. "Though I can't imagine why..."
"Hey, guys." Sleight smiled. "Allow me to introduce you to my dad, Final Gambit."
"This is your father?" Sazh frowned. "The one who beat you, insulted you, drove you out of your own home and somehow in a string of events led Trixie to break up with you?"
"I see my reputation precedes me." Final deadpanned.
"Hey, that's all in the past now." Sleight smiled. "We've patched things up recently."
"Mr Gambit will be staying with us." Chrysalis announced. "Isn't that... nice?"
"...Well, it's nice to have guests every once in a while." Wizel admitted. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Gambit. And I must also thank you."
"Thank me?" Final frowned. "What for?"
"For siring Sleight, of course." Wizel smiled. "If you had not done so, Sleight would never have been there to save our hive in its darkest hour, nor become our beloved King."
"Oh... you're welcome." Final shrugged.
"Sazh, would you mind showing my dad to one of our best guest rooms?" Sleight requested.
"You got it." Sazh nodded, though his face was stuck with a frown. "This way, Mr Gambit."
"Lead the way, shorty." Final nodded.
As they left the throne room, Chrysalis turned to Sleight.
"Are you sure having him here is such a good idea?" She asked. "Your father isn't exactly the most tolerant pony around, you know."
"It'll be fine." Sleight declared. "Besides, what's really the worst that can happen?"
Meanwhile, Sazh was leading Final to his room.
"Here we are, then." Sazh stopped at a door. "One top-rate guest room. For a less than top-rate guest..." He added under his breath.
"What was that?" Final frowned.
"Nothing." Sazh said innocently.
"You got a problem with me, shorty?" Final demanded. "Then let's hear it."
"I heard all about you from Sleight." Sazh declared. "How you used to beat and insult him. And after all that, you think you can just come back into your life like nothing happened?"
"Who the buck are you to come down on me like that?!" Final snarled.
"I'm Sleight's friend." Sazh declared. "And as his friend, I'm just trying to look out for him. I don't want coming into his life just to end up hurting him again."
"For the record, Sleight came to me." Final growled. "And that Queen of yours talked me into changing my ways."
"I know all that." Sazh declared. "Sleight told me. But if you ask me, the damage has already been done. You almost ruined Sleight when he was a kid. What makes you think you deserve to be with him now?"
"Look, I don't think I deserve to be a dad to Sleight again." Final admitted. "You're right, I've done some pretty rotten things to him over the years. I wouldn't have been surprised if Sleight never wanted to see me again. But he did, and despite everything that's happened between us, he wants me to be a part of this new family of his. I don't know if I'm cut out for this, but I'm going to give it a shot. You can think what you like about me, but I'm here now, so you should get used to it."
Sazh froze for a moment, cowed by Final's sincerity.
"Alright then." He nodded. "But I'll be keeping an eye on you."
"A compound one, right?" Final joked.
Sazh scoffed and walked away. Final rolled his eyes and entered the guest room.
Within the room, there was a bed, a table and chair, and even a bathroom.
"Well, at least I don't have to go take a dump in the bushes." He snorted.
After putting away his luggage, Final got into bed, and fell asleep almost instantly.
The next morning, Final joined his son and daughter-in-law for breakfast. While he and Sleight enjoyed some waffles, Chrysalis fed on Sleight's love, her horn glowing as a stream of pink energy flowed into it from Sleight's own. The odd sight, combined with fact that Chrysalis was essentially feeding on Sleight, was more than a litle perturbing to Final.
"So... this whole thing." He pointed out awkwardly. "It's... safe, right?"
"Of course it's safe, dad." Sleight chuckled. "We've been doing this for years."
"And besides, Sleight's love for me is so strong, I barely even need to scratch the surface before I'm fully sated." Chrysalis smiled.
"But what about those stories I've heard about ponies bein' turned into lifeless husks after their love's been drained?" Final asked.
"We don't do that any more." Chrysalis said tensely. "And why would I even want to do that, and be deprived of my wonderful King?"
"Thanks, Chrys." Sleight smiled.
"Just doesn't feel right to me." Final shook his head. "Not at all..."
"Well, it feels right to me." Chrysalis retorted.
"I'm sure it does." Final declared. "But I'm not really used to seeing somepony's love getting pulled out of them and eaten..."
"Tell you what, dad." Sleight declared, hoping to shift focus to another subject. "How about I give you a tour of the hive? Let you see firsthoof how we do things here?"
"Sure, why not?" Final declared, finishing his waffles.
"Be back soon." Sleight kissed Chrysalis on the cheek.
"Hope you don't feel too sore about what I just said." Final told Chrysalis. "Didn't mean nuthin' by it."
"I'm sure you didn't." Chrysalis said fairly. "Hopefully, seeing how my kind lives might give you more of an open mind."
"That's the plan, at least." Sleight smiled. "Come on, dad."
"Right behind you, son." Final nodded, as he followed his son out of the room.
So they set out on their tour, starting with the nursery.
"So, this where all the new larva are cared for." He declared. "What do you think?"
Final looked at all the slime-coated honeycombs, and the white, wriggly larva. There was only one thought running through his head, and it wasn't a pleasant one. He turned to one side, and threw up all over the floor.
"Huuurrrgh!" He retched.
"...Yeah, that was pretty much my first reaction, too." Sleight said nonchalantly. "I didn't exactly puke, but I sure wanted to."
"Why couldn't you have shown me this before breakfast?" Final wiped his mouth.
"Mostly because I was worried you wouldn't want it afterwards." Sleight shrugged.
"This is payback, isn't it?" Final cringed. "Payback for all the times I messed with you when you were a kid."
"Come on, dad." Sleight smirked. "Sure, the larvae may seem gross at first, but they're actually kinda cute once you take a closer look."
"I don't want to take a closer look." Final gagged. "I want to get out of here, before I puke again."
"Don't be mean." Sleight picked up one of the larva. "I'd have thought you'd enjoy the thought of being a grandpa to so many." He waved the larva close to Final. "Say hi to your grampa, little guy!"
The larva skittered and squeaked happily.
"Get it away..." Final heaved. "I can't take much more..."
"Hey, this is the future of the hive, right here in my hooves." Sleight frowned.
"And I thought they were gross already." Final swallowed hard.
"Seriously, dad?" Sleight asked, as a nurse glared at him. "You could be a little nicer."
"Well excuse me If I find myself revolted by overgrown, slime-coated grubs." Final shuddered.
"Maybe we should just move on." Sleight suggested.
"Please, let's." Final agreed.
They left the nursery, and continued through the hive. As they rounded a corner, they witnessed some construction Changelings putting together a new dwelling.
"Ah, the construction guild are at it again." Sleight smiled. "Some Changelings are warriors, some are nurses, some are scouts... But without these guys to make homes and dens, they'd be nowhere. They're all about building stuff. It's their calling in life."
"Some calling." Final snorted. "It's not like there's much to it. Just lashing together some twigs, moss, a little mud..."
"Well, they make do with what they've got." Sleight said defensively. "Besides, I've been giving them some pointers in the way of Equestrian design."
"So you're an architect too?" Final raised an eyebrow. "I must have missed you practicing when you were a kid."
"Funny." Sleight rolled his eyes.
"Hey, don't get me wrong." Final declared. "They're not bad for what they are. But you gotta admit, they're not master builders. Even with your help..."
"Like I said, they make do." Sleight sighed.
"Hope it's not doo-doo." Final snickered. "You know, like dung beetles?"
"Of course not." Sleight frowned. "That'd just be disgusting."
"Especially since I was sleeping in one of those rooms." Final grimaced.
As they walked the streets, they saw some scouts flying overhead.
"Where are those guys going?" Final asked.
"Just scouting." Sleight shrugged. "Scouting for food, info, that sort of thing."
"Info?" Final frowned. "You mean like spying?"
"Information gathering." Sleight declared. "The days of Changeling infiltration are over. Now they learn how ponies do things so they can understand them better, and get along together."
"So you say." Final noted. "But I don't think a lot of ponies would be overjoyed at the idea of Changelings going over to their places and poking their noses into their business."
"You make it sound abnormal." Sleight frowned.
"Just calling it the way I see it." Final shrugged.
"Okay, let's move on to our next stop." Sleight shook his head.
Their destination were the barracks of the soldier Changelings.
"Here they are." Sleight smiled. "This is where the great defenders of the Changeling race reside."
"Pretty big fellers, aren't they?" Final said. "What kind of trouble do you think they could deal with?"
"Oh, a fair amount." Sleight grinned. "Timberwolves, hydras, parasprites, encyclopedia salesponies..."
"Funny." Final snorted. "You'd think they wouldn't be able to hit so hard, with all those holes in their legs."
"You'd be surprised." Sleight shrugged.
The soldiers bowd at Sleight as they passed.
"Regular stormtroopers, aren't they?" Final noted. "Got the whole 'undying loyalty' thing going on, huh?"
"Not entirely." Sleight admitted. "The old Commander got pretty ticked when I became King. Caused all sorts of problems before we finally locked him up."
"So much for inspiring loyalty, huh?" Final asked.
"Yeah..." Sleight sighed, feeling a tad guilty for sparking Char's rebellion in the first place.
"Still, if that's the quality of Commander around here, the guy deserves to be locked up." Final shrugged.
"Guess so." Sleight admitted.
"But at least you got all these guys to fall in and take orders like good little troops." Final declared. "Blind loyalty. Not my cup of tea, but at least it gets the job done."
"Right..." Sleight frowned.
"Well, I think that's about lunch." Final shrugged. "Thanks for the tour, son. It was... something."
"No problem." Sleight sighed.
As Final left the barracks, Sleight bowed his head, feeling like his father hadn't much appreciated the experience.
That afternoon, Sleight was moping in the throne room. Chrysalis joined him.
"Is everything okay?" She asked.
"Not really." Sleight sighed.
"Let me guess." Chrysalis frowned. "It's your father, right?"
"Kinda." Sleight shrugged. "I've been showing him around, letting him know what this hive's all about, but he doesn't seem to be the slightest bit impressed."
"I thought this wasn't about impressing him." Chrysalis noted. "I thought you just wanted to share your life with him."
"Well, yeah." Sleight nodded. "But I just... want him to be proud of me."
"I'm sure he is." Chrysalis smiled.
"Really?" Sleight raised an eyebrow.
"Partially." Chrysalis shrugged. "But he shouldn't be proud of you just for being a King. He should be proud of you for the kind of stallion you are."
"Yeah, I guess..." Sleight sighed.
"Son?"
Sleight and Chrysalis turned to see Final entered the room.
"Can I talk to you for a sec?" He asked.
"Sure, why not?" Sleight sighed.
"I'll... leave you to it." Chrysalis left the room.
Sleight and Final looked at each other.
"So... how was your lunch?" Sleight asked.
"...Good." Final shrugged.
"Glad to know you're enjoying one part of your visit." Sleight frowned.
"Say what?" Final asked.
"Well, it's not like you're really getting into the whole hive experience." Sleight declared. "You barely said one decent thing during our tour."
"Is that what this is about?" Final asked.
"I showed you everything about how this hive works." Sleight stated. "How I lead all the Changelings here. And you didn't look even the slightest bit impressed."
"I didn't?" Final asked. "Well, you're wrong about that, son."
"I am?" Sleight asked.
"I know it doesn't seem like I've been all that impressed by what I've seen today, but I am." Final declared. "I've seen how smoothly things are running around here, how all these Changeling look up to and adore you... You really are a King, Sleight. The kind of King who rules by example, and cares for his kingdom. I'm proud of you, Sleight. I really am."
"...Thanks, dad." Sleight said, a little choked up.
"...I'm going to hug you now." Final said flatly. "A little new for both of us, I know, but it just feels like the thing to do here. You up for it?"
"Sure am." Sleight grinned.
Father and son embraced in their first real hug.
"That wasn't too awkward, was it?" Final asked as they continued to hug.
"Not to me." Sleight smiled.
The two simply stood there for a moment...
"Pat. Pat." The two echoed, patting each other.
The present...
"As much as I disliked having you bring Final to the hive unannounced, his visit wasn't so bad after all." Chrysalis smiled.
"Yeah." Sleight nodded. "That was one of the best days of my life. Just having my dad with me, being proud of me..." The smile suddenly slipped from Sleight's face. "But even then... that is about the only big memorable thing we ever did together that was good..."
"That's not true." Trixie told him.
"Of course there's more." Wizel declared.
"There must be." Sazh urged.
"Well, it doesn't feel like there is right now..." Sleight sighed.
"Oh, Sleight." Chrysalis sighed. "Is there anything I can do?"
"I just... want to be alone right now." Sleight got up and left the room.
"Poor Sleight..." Trixie sighed.
"We should do something." Sazh declared.
"Sleight said he wants to be alone." Chrysalis pointed out.
The rest of the cleaning of the house was uneventful, as Sleight did eventually returned, but more depressed than ever. After they were done, Trixie went back to Baltimare, but not before telling Sleight to call her if she needed anything, and when they returned to the hive, Sazh and Wizel returned to their duties, while Chrysalis and Sleight returned to the tower. Sleight immediately sequestered himself in their bedroom. Chrysalis was willing to gave him his space, only interrupting his solitude to come into the room for bedtime. As they climbed into bed, Chrysalis noted that Sleight tried to be as seperate from her as possible. He worries about him persisted as he fell asleep.
The next morning, Chrysalis awoke to find Sleight was not in bed beside her.
"Sleight?" She frowned.
Immediately worried, Chrysalis looked all over the hive for Sleight. She was worried he might have departed in his grief, or perhaps worse... She eventually found him in the nursery.
"Sleight?" Chrysalis whispered.
As she got closer, she noticed that Sleight was cradling one of the larvaes, whispering, and judging by his voice, sobbing as well.
He was cradling a larva.
"I'll never leave you..." He whispered to the larva. "I'll always be there... always...always..."
"Sleight?" Chrysalis called.
"Oh... hey." Sleight frowned, not bothering to face his wife as he continued to hold the larva, "I couldn't sleep...I thought maybe these little guys would cheer me up..."
"I see..." Chrysalis frowned sympathetically. "And did they?"
"No..." Sleight shook his head, as he placed the little larva back in it's honeycomb, "If anything, it hurts even more..."
"Sleight, this can't go on..." Chrysalis declared. "I know you are grieving, but you are still King, and everypony in this hive looks to you now as guidance as much as they do me."
"You don't think I know that?" Sleight growled, "But this... this is not just about me losing my dad... it's the fact that everytime I try to remember something good in him... I just remember the abuse. For every good I saw, there were more bad...."
"I know how hard it is to forget the worst of your past." Chrysalis sighed. "For a time, I could barely even look at a pony without being reminded of the pain they brought upon us. But I eventually got past that, and I know you will too."
"But even if I do, so what?" Sleight groaned. "I'll still be without my father. A father that I was just starting to reconnect with. Just starting to love again..."
"I can relate, Sleight." Chrysalis declared. "Truly, I can. I may not have had a father, but I know what it's like to lose a parent. When my mother died, I was devastated. I felt like my heart had been torn out. But I can't deny that my mother wasn't a good role model. She was ruthless and cold towards anypony that defied her... but that didn't change the fact that I loved her. And while I remember all the bad things she done... I can still look back to all the good things, as few as there may be, and know that she loved me. It took me a while to realize this, but I knew I had a duty to perform and I couldn't waste time to figure it out. I had to lead my hive, my subjects... And it's the same with you, Sleight. The hive needs you. I need you."
"It's not that simple." Sleight sniffed.
"Sleight... do you think your father would want this for you?" Chrysalis asked.
"I don't know what he'd want... because he's dead!" Sleight yelled.
"Yes, he's dead." Chrysalis hardened. "But I know he wouldn't want you disgracing his memory like this."
"Disgracing?" Sleight frowned. "What left is there to disgrace? When all I can remember is how he beat me and called me worthless."
"That may as well be..." Chrysalis nodded, "But let's not forget what you had done for Final..."
"What do you mean?" Sleight asked.
"Think about it, love." Chrysalis gave a warm smile. "Before you came back, Final was this miserable alcoholic, who had little to no friends and all his own family either was dead or hated him... but you returned. Because of you, Final got a second chance, a chance to make up for his past mistakes..."
"But that doesn't change the fact that he died before..." Sleight whimpered.
"That itself is unfortunate, but I don't think Final would had cared." Chrysalis explained. "I'm sure he thought he was going to die alone, thinking that you hated him... but instead, he passed away, knowing that he had finally made peace with you..."
"You sure about that?" Sleight asked.
"Of course." Chrysalis nodded. "And while you can't make all the bad memories go away, you can at least take solace in the fact that you father is now at peace, knowing he was loved, and that he loved you in return."
"Yeah, I really can..." Sleight admitted.
"And as long as you treasure the good times with your father, he'll never truly be gone." Chrysalis declared.
"I know." Sleight smiled. "There may not be too many, but it's quality that counts, not quantity."
"Exactly." Chrysalis beamed. "Now, I believe we should go back and let our children rest..."
"Yes, hate to keep them up..." Sleight took Chrysalis' hoof. "Thanks, Chrys. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Hopefully, you'll never have to find out." Chrysalis chuckled, as they departed the nursery.
Losing his father had been one of Sleight's greatest trials. But with a little help from his beloved Chrysalis, he was starting to work past his loss. He felt like he was ready for whatever the future held. ...Or was he?
Unbeknownst to all, a pair of cloaked stallions were watching the hive from a fair distance. One of them was a large Earth Pony, donning a rustic silver mask, and a somewhat tattered cloak, while the other was a lanky and small Unicorn, his silver mask polished.
"Look at them..." The larger pony growled, looking through a pair of binoculars. "A whole bunch of leeches, going about their parasitic lives like they don't have a care in the world... they make me sick..."
"Now, now..." The smaller stallion declared. "You shouldn't be so quick to judge these beautiful creatures. After all, who else can shapeshift and feed on love?"
"They're bugs!" The larger stallion scowled. "Insolent insects that had been infesting the Equestrian system since Faust knows when... that is all that they are good for... infestation."
"Well, soon, they will be good for another thing." The Unicorn declared. "With our project finally out of the alpha stage, we are one step closer to completion, and they will soon have their kind... immortalized..."
"Not soon enough if you ask me." The larger stallion growled. "Every day, there's always something delaying the inevitable..."
"Patience is a virtue, my large friend." The smaller stallion declared. "We need to be patient if we want things to turn out perfectly. You remember what happened when we rushed things? When 'somepony' found out about our plans and interfere?"
"Oh, yeah." The larger stallion shuddered. "That was a real mess..."
"One which I think we'd all prefer not to repeat." The smaller stallion noted.
"No kidding." The larger stallion cringed.
"No screw ups this time." The smaller stallion declared. "This time, we do things right. No more interference. And a guaranteed chance of success. This time, Project: Infestation will finally be revived."
"Yes." The larger stallion sneered. "Those overgrown cockroaches won't know what hit them. Them, and all the other hives..."
"Ah, ah, let's just focus on this hive for now." The smaller stallion corrected, "Once the project is a go, the others will soon follow."
"It won't be soon enough for me." The larger stallion said gruffly.
"But it will be so worth it." The smaller stallion smirked. "To watch our plans finally coming to fruition... I don't know about you, but I'm willing to wait for that kind of gratification."
"Just so long as we don't have to wait too long..." The larger stallion chuckled.
The two fiends departed, their evil plans hanging in the air. None of the hive's inhabitants knew it, but they were heading for their greatest time of strife yet...