//------------------------------// // Change // Story: not so lonesome road // by Xerain //------------------------------// Ponyville's nights were strangely cold, making Ulysses shiver slightly in a soft breeze. He wasn't quite used to the cool nights, normally acquainted with the hot sun of the Mojave Wastes. He walked with purpose now, as if he'd finally done something worth mention. He walked to Twilight's library, opening the door to be greeted with not only Twilight and her five friends,But Princess Celestia as well. Celestia's face was stern, evaluating Ulysses as he walked in. Ulysses stared at all of them, his gaze expressionless. Celestia cleared her throat, making Ulysses turn his attention to her. "I've been informed that you plan on removing your Cutie-Mark." she said stonily. "As ruler of this land, I must punish those who break my laws." Ulysses had an expression not evident under his mask. "If you've already done so, Then I must punish you accordingly." Ulysses sighed. "No need for punishment. Never came through with my plans." He said. "Learned of the mark's meaning. Learned a history of myself today." The ponies looked at him dumbfounded. "What do you mean?" Ulysses looked up to the ceiling, almost completely lost in thought. "Met somebody. Taught me a meaning, lesson." *Earlier that day* Ulysses reached the outskirts of the everfree forest, treading on a beaten path that lead deep within it. The forest, foreboding as it was, was nothing like the hell of the Divide. Ulysses treaded into the forest, wanting to distance himself from the ponies of Ponyville. He walked, reaching a hut at the end of the dirt path. Ulysses stared at the hut, quietly contemplating ignoring it a moving on. "Ah, Ulysses, A nice chance of luck to meet you in this forest." Zecora said as she exited her hut. A warm smile was spread on her face. "I welcome you to my home, a warm birds nest." She said. Ulysses contemplated moving on, but decided to stay. Maybe she would have something Relevant to say. He walked up to her, a strange look on his face. "A chance meeting. Needed distance from the town. From the people." He said. Zecora nodded and let Ulysses enter. "I see you are weary from your travels. Please sit down and rest a few spells." She said. Ulysses nodded and sat. "So tell me, What does somebody like you want in this forest much scary? You walked without pause, not even wary." Ulysses sighed. "Needed time. Thinking. A mark on my body. Not part of me." He showed his Cutie-Mark to Zecora. "Bull. No place in me. Not of me anymore." Zecora thought for a moment. "You see the mark as wrong of you? You don't see that it is part of you?" Zecora said. Ulysses glared at her. "Mark isn't part of me. Part of my past maybe. History." he said. Zecora frowned slightly. "So you don't embrace your history, Only look to the present?" She sighed. "You can't see what your mark is meant." Ulysses narrowed his eyes. "Not part of me. I don't need it." He said. Zecora nodded. "No matter what you say or do, It will always be a part of you." She said. "Take it off, cover it up, wouldn't matter. You would't destory it, only tatter." Ulysses looked at her, contemplating her words. "You say no matter what I do. Mark is there. It's my history. part of me whether I like it or not." He mused. "I've forggotten a lesson I've taught. Who are you, who do not know your history? Lost true Meaning of the mark. Only the meaning te Bear gives it." He looked up, lost in thought. "Can't change it. Can change meaning though. History, instead of destruction. Not savagery, Shaping of myself." He looked at her, Smiling slightly under his mask. "Thank you. Taught me a meaning I tought was lost." Zecora nodded. "A lost soul wanders to the forest, lost his meaning. Learned of a new one, after a warm greeting." She said. Ulysses nodded. "Never knew a wise woman in you." he said. Zecora chuckled. "I've learned of things for quite some time. I know much, yet still in my prime." She said. Ulysses glanced around the hut, taking in the lush decorations. He nodded slightly. Soon they slipped into a comfortable conversation, talking about topics Ulysses barely knew of. Not a history or lesson, but topics that were strange to him. thier talk lasted until the rays of sunlight finally bled from the sky, bathing the world in cool darkness. Ulysses thanked Zecora for thier conversation, Walking out of the hut with a much better outlook, and a realization. Back to Present. Ulysses finished his tale, A short smile under his mask. Celestia sighed. "So you won't take off your Cutie-Mark?" Ulysses nodded. The ponies sighed in relief. "So you finally learned it would be illegal?" Twilight said. Ulysses shook his head. "Burn the flesh, mark will remain, just out of sight. Heart, mind, both carry the past, shaped by the road I've walked. Body, too. Can't deny what I've done, who I've been, who I am. Leave it, as a reminder. Symbol of what I was." He said. Twilight looked at him strangely. "Well, Whatever your reason, I'm glad you didn't come thought with what you originally planned." Celestia said. Ulysses nodded. "Though I must say, My subjects are taking your fight of the changelings well." The Ponies looked at thier leader in confusion. "Whaddya mean?" Applejack said. "Ah Thought Shining Armor and Cadance beat the changelings?" Celestia sighed. "Can you tell them Ulysses?" She said. Ulysses nodded. "Taught an old world lesson. Killed many of thier number. Almost kille-" "WAIT! YOU KILLED THEM?!" Pinkie interrupted. Her mane parially deflating. "Why would you do that?" The ponies looked at him shocked. "You-you killed changelings? But wh-why?" Twilight asked stunned. Ulysses shuffled awkwardly. "Only way to ensure victory." He started. "Won't teach a lesson through word. Only blood. they won't return. Fear infects thier minds. Attacking would be futile." The ponies looked at him disgusted. "How revolting. Killing something for what you believe in!" Rarity said. Ulysses glared at her. "It's war. War never changes." Ulysses said. Celestia Frowned. "Lets Change the subject, Shall we?" Her tone of voice wasn't a suggestion, rather a command. The ponies nodded sheepishly. Ulysses looked out of the window. "Getting late. Rest seems to be in order." He said. Celestia looked outside, and indeed the black of night permeated the sky. "It seems so." She said. "Everypony have a good night. Oh and Twilight?" Twilight looked at Celestia. "I want you to give Ulysses shelter for the night. And I want you to send reports about any activity he does that harms anypony." Celestia said in a clear tone. Twilight nodded, a little scared. Celestia smiled at her. "I shall take my leave then." With a flash of light, Princess Celestia disappeared from sight. Almost instantly Rainbow Dash fluttered to Ulysses' face, angry. "Listen pal, I don't care if you've got Celestia to like you. I don't care if you've killed changelings. You hurt any one of my friends, and I'll make you regret it." She said lowly. Ulysses glared in response. "Won't hurt anybody. Not Who I am anymore." He said. Rainbow Dash continued to glare. She turned and flew out of a window, almost crashing into the wall. The ponies drifted out slowly, eyes almost never leaving Ulysses. Fluttershy was the last to leave, giving a look of sorrow and fear to him. She eeped when Ulysses met her eyes. The Library was silent, and Twilight stood nervous at Ulysses gaze. "Um...I don't have a bed for you to sleep on, But you can sleep on the couch if you'd like." She was scared. He could tell. "I will." He said. Twilight continued to stare at him. "No need to fear me. Won't hurt you. Won't kill you." Twilight still looked at him scared. "Um...ok...I'll go get you a pillow." Twilight turned and left up the stairs. Ulysses sat on his haunches, partially confused. Seemed this world was not accustomed to the violence and hatred of war. Ulysses sighed, Turning his attenention to the form of Spike. Spike looked at Ulysses fearfully. "Uh...Hi?" He said. "I was just going t-to bed." He stammered. He rushed up the stairs after Twilight. Ulysses sighed and layed down. He drifted off to sleep soon after. Twilight came down the stairs clutching a pillow in her magic. She spotted Ulysses' sleeping form on the couch. Feeling partially sympathetic, She trotted over and with close care rivaling that of a surgeon's, she placed the pillow under his head. She hoped Celestia knew what she was doing, Twilight didn't want to see her nation burn.