Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Since the doctors declared me healthy enough for physical activity, we had decided to enjoy a nice brunch out in the gardens. A moderate buffet had been laid out and plenty of tables, chairs, blankets, and cushions were provided. It was relaxing, quiet, comfortable, and exactly what I needed.
The sun was warm and inviting, especially since I couldn’t wear a shirt. Thanks to my new appendages, nothing fit anymore. Worse yet, I still couldn’t control them. At random times, my new wings would open and it took serious concentration to close them again. I didn’t mind too much though. I mean, it’s not every day you wake up with the build of a minotaur.
“Fluttershy, are alright? You look a little… flushed,” Luna asked.
“Oh, um, yes, I-I’m fine. I think it’s just the he-eep.”
I had knelt down in front of Fluttershy and held my palm to her forehead. This only seemed to make it worse. “Are you sure? You feel really warm.”
Rarity trotted over and pulled Fluttershy away from me. “Oh, I’m sure she the poor dear is just being plagued by the heat, Darling. I’ll just take her over to the shade. Applejack, do be a dear and bring her some cold water to drink, please.”
The three mares walked off to find some shade under one of the larger trees in the gardens. “I hope she’s okay,” I said as I stood back up.
“I’m sure she’s fine, Honey,” Celestia said with what appeared to be a knowing smile. “Besides, her friends will take good care of her, I’m sure. For now, let’s get something to eat.”
“Alright, but after this, I would like to try to find Willow.”
“Are you sure, Chris?” Twilight asked. “Will you be alright around all those changelings?”
“To be honest, I don’t know. But Willow risked her lie to try to save me, the least I could do is risk some sleepless nights.”
“Normally, I would praise you for such sentiments, but in this instance, I think you’re doing too much for one of those creatures.”
“Maybe, but I’m sure that somepony along the way told you the same thing about me.”
“Only once,” Celestia half teased. “Very well. If you are determined to see this through, than I shall accompany you to see that you are in no danger.”
“Ah, but, your highness, your schedule for today,” a random guard started before Celestia shot him a look I’m still glad I couldn’t see, “has uh, suddenly cleared up.”
“Mom, you can’t shirk your responsibilities just to protect me from a threat that isn’t there. I love you, but Equestria needs you more than I do right now.”
“And when did you become the parent here?” Celestia joked. “*Sigh* I guess you’re right though. As much as I detest paperwork, I hate it even more when it gets backed up. Guard!” A nearby unicorn guard answered the call with a salute. “Gather five of the best guards on duty today and have them accompany the prince on his errand.” The guard was about to hurry off to fulfill the order when Celestia added one more addendum; “and any harm that befalls my son shall be returned to you ten-fold.”
“Mom! You’re scaring the poor guy. Knock it off.”
“Not this time. I know I’ve made light about such things in the past, but I am serious. Deadly serious,” she growled.
“U-u-understood, y-your highness.” It’s not often you see a pony in such a hurry that their hooves actually go at four different speeds.
“Was that truly necessary, Sister?”
Celestia casually sipped at her tea. “Yes.”
*****
Twilight and Spike had decided to spend the night, but their friends all had to go back to Ponyville. Luna had gone to bed while Celestia went to the throne room. Bunny had gone to my quarters to make sure everything was perfect for me. She had to literally pry Cotton Tail from me. Little Fluffy Butt was starting to act as protective as Celestia. At least it was cute when she did it.
“Right this way, your highness,” a guard informed me as we headed down to the dungeon. “All the changeling we’ve captured are being kept here.”
We walked by several guards at multiple stations, a series of heavy drop gates, and a couple weapons racks that gave me pause. The sight of the spears yet to be removed made me freeze where I was.
“Your majesty? Are you alright?” the senior-most guard asked. He followed my gaze and saw what the problem was. “You two! Princess Luna has ordered all spears to be removed from the palace grounds, so why am I looking at some right now? Remove them or all of you can consider yourselves on an extended leave.”
After the spears were hastily removed, I was able to come to my senses. “Thank you, Sergeant. I can’t believe I froze up like that.”
“Don’t concern yourself, my prince. I have seen many a guard do far worse than lock up after suffering a trauma less severe than what you’ve suffered. Frankly, I’m surprised you’re even able to come this close to the changelings.”
“I don’t really have a choice. As a member of the royal family, I can’t allow myself to be swayed by fear or diplomatic talks could break down. Now, let’s see if I’m really as brave as I pretend to be or if I’m just blowing hot air.”
We walked past several cells filled with bunches of changelings locked inside. Chrysalis was secured in the last cell, chained to a wall with a suppression ring on her crooked horn. I looked in through a barred window in the heavy, iron door and shivered.
“If you don’t want to enter, there would be no shame, your highness,” a guard reminded me. “There are plenty of ponies who would never dare face the queen and none would have the reasons you have.”
“Again, I appreciate that, but I have someone who needs my help and I owe her at least an attempt. Please, open the door.”
He bowed and did as I asked. As soon as the door opened, I could hear the chains rattle. The sound sent chills down my spine. However, it was the laughing that made me sweat ice.
“Oh… do I have a visitor? I haven’t had one yet.” I stepped inside her dark cell but didn’t say anything. I was trying too hard to keep me knees from shaking. “You?! You’re dead! I ended you myself!”
“Where is Willow?” I impressed myself with the fact that I didn’t stutter.
“What?”
“Desert. Willow. Where is she?”
“Why do you care? She was the one who led us to you in the first place.”
“She was also the one who tried to get me out. That ultimately led to us being found and to your new gloves.” Chrysalis was still in her half-human form. Celestia had broken her hands so badly that she couldn’t change them back into hooves. This also meant she had to wear casts. Seeing her so weakened was making me feel a little braver too.
“And because of that, you feel she is a friend?” The queen laughed at the idea. “She is merely a minion of mine. Born to serve and obey my every whim. If I ordered her to feed herself to a cragadile, she would. If I commanded her to kill you and your friends, and I will when I get out of here, she would do it. Willow, as you know her, is a pawn, just as you, and everyone else in this world, are merely food. I am going to wipe her mind and there will be nothing you can do to stop it.”
I don’t remember what happened next. I only know because a guard told me later. I going to tell you what he told me.
I walked right up to Chrysalis while she laughed at my inability to get what I wanted. My hand shot out and grabbed ahold of her mandible, fangs and all, and dragged her face closer to my own.
“Now you listen to me, you filthy insect, you’re going to tell me what I want to know, or things are going to get very uncomfortable for you.”
I released her jaw with a rough thrust for good measure. “I’m sitting on a stone floor, shackled to a wall with a cast on each arm, and I only get given water at the end of a pole once an hour. Worse, I only get to feed off what little love manages to trickle down through the walls of this dungeon. I’m constantly thirsty and hungry. How much more uncomfortable could you possibly make it for me?”
I stepped on her leg, just above the hoof, and started to roll my foot around in a circle, grinding the bone against the floor with only a thin layer of skin to cushion it.
I then lifted my foot so she’d be able to pay attention to what I had to say. Once more, I took hold of her chin and made her look me in the eye. “Each day, I’m going to drag a random changeling into your cell and kill them in front of you. Better yet, I’m going to make sure you look them in the eye when I slit their throat. I’ll even make sure they know their death is all because of your pride.” Chrysalis’s eyes were the size of saucers and her pupils were pinpricks. “Then, after their blood is drained, I’ll gut them and skin them. I’ll make a pile of their innards over here,” I turned her head to look at a corner of the room, “their hollowed carcasses will be here,” another corner, “and then I’ll dump their shells over there. After that, I’ll line their heads up on a shelf along the wall. How’s that for uncomfortable?”
Tears poured down her face. “You-you’re a monster.”
“So the newspapers have said. Now, where is Willow? I know you know where all your bugs are, so tell me.”
This was the moment I came back to my senses. Chrysalis looked into my eyes and I could see the pleading in them. I didn’t know why at the time, but I would take what I could get.
“W-what do you plan to do to my youngling if I tell you where to find her?”
“I plan to free her. After all, I owe her at least that much. I have no desire to hurt her if that’s what you’re worried about.”
The queen nodded and let out a deep sigh. “She is in the cell fifteen yards in that direction,” she indicated with a thrust of her chin. “Now please, just go.”
I nodded and backed out of the cell. When the door was closed, I thought I could hear crying coming from inside, but I may have been mistaken.
“Um, my prince?” a guard started to ask.
“Yes?” I responded as I went off toward the cell Chrysalis indicated, carefully counting my steps.
“Are you, uh, are you feeling alright?”
“I feel fine, though I’m still a little anxious. Why do you ask?”
“It’s just, you didn’t seem like yourself in there. Like, you were another pony entirely. Somepony… scary.”
“Really? Well, to be honest, I don’t really remember what I said to get the queen to give in. Was I really that bad?”
“I will tell what happened later. Right now, we have a changeling to find.”
We had stopped in front of the door that was what we believed to be the correct one. It was opened and I stepped inside. There were at least a dozen of them in there. Each one was chained to the wall via steel collar with an inhibitor ring on their horns. Each one of them seemed to be… terrified of me. Whatever I did or said to Chrysalis must have been fed down a link to each of them. None of them dared to look me in the eye, choosing instead to appear as small as possible while keeping an eye on the biggest threat in the room.
All, that is, but one. One changeling was watching my every move with a look of hope. I knelt down in front of it to get a better look. Sadly, all changelings look far too similar in their natural form. Even worse, I couldn’t understand the chittering that was their language.
“I’m going to give you one chance,” I told the changeling. “If you are indeed the one I know as Dessert Willow, then you will know where I first met her, and what she said she was doing. When I remove the inhibitor, you will change and tell me. If you try anything or you give me the wrong answer, the ring goes back on and you stay chained up with all your buddies. Understood?” I received a single nod in reply. Carefully, I removed the ring from their horn.
A green flame spread over the changeling and I was once again face to face with Willow. “You were in the apple orchard and I told you I was looking for bugs, parasites and fruit bats.”
I smiled and stood up. “Guard, release this one.”
“Release? But, your highness…” He stopped his protests when I glared at him. “As you command, my prince.”
A set of keys floated in from another guard outside the cell door and unlocked the collar. Willow looked like she wanted to jump for joy, but restrained herself. “Th-thank you. I know I don’t deserve this opportunity or any mercy at all for that matter, but I am very happy to see you’re alright. I thought for sure the queen was going to kill you.”
“Funny you should say that.”
*****
We were all in the throne room, my family, Bunny and her family, and Willow. I was the only one who had a smile, albeit a small one, all the others were too busy scowling at Willow. Even little Cotton Tail looked angry, though I think Willow was more frightened of the large sledgehammer Iron Hammer was wielding.
“Alright, enough trying to cook her alive with your eyes. I know nopony here has any reason to like changelings, but Willow is different. If it weren’t for her, I might still be stuck in that cave.”
“If it weren’t for her,” Twilight spoke up, “you’d never have been in that cave to begin with.” Willow shrunk even more.
“Maybe, but she didn’t really have a choice in the matter. The queen isn’t very forgiving to any of her brood that goes against her orders.”
“All the more reason to keep her down in the dungeon with the others,” Bunny growled.
“None of you are even willing to give her a chance are you?” I got a lot of responses, all in the negative, but none from Celestia.
Instead, Celestia walked forward until she was towering over Willow. “Tell me, why should I show you any favor after you put my son in danger? Why should I not simply treat you in the same way that your mother him?”
“I-I-I-”
“Enough. Willow had no choice and risked her life to get me and Trixie out. You may not like it, but she’s not the bad guy, merely an easy target. Everything that happened was the fault of one being, and she’s not her. In fact, she may even be able to give us valuable insight into defending ourselves against a changeling attack in the future. You may not want to accept it, but I’ve seen her good side first hand and I know that Willow can help us came to a new standing with the changelings. Maybe we can even be allies someday. For now though, I plan to be friends with Willow and I hope that the rest of you can give her the benefit of a doubt.
“Very well,” Celestia said after some consideration, “but if any harm befalls my son again, I will hold her personally responsible.” Celestia got right in Willow’s face, “do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal clear, your majesty.”
“Good, now leave my sight.”
Willow and I left the throne room to find her a room to stay in. Sadly, Celestia had insisted on placing enough guards around her to fend off a minotaur invasion. This was going well beyond just a short leash and I was finding it very unfair. Willow, however, just seemed happy to be allowed to prove herself. I wished I could share her positive outlook, but I could only see negative outcomes at the time.
And that was the first clue that something was wrong.
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Strange, this chapter didn't pop up as an update on my favorites. Maybe it's due to the site update?
Well now... thats ominus.
5113902 I think that you have to track it now as well.
I didn't even see an update tab
5113902 ikr i think it is
Dun dun dun!
5113921
First, you spelt it wrong. Second, that is not me.
5113926 I doubt it. I had the same issue and the thing didn't even show up on my favorites list of Latest Posted.
Persona!
5113902
5113926
5113961
5114025
Go into your favorites, hit "edit" on the right, and turn email notifications on. (Also 'track unread', if it's off.)
Calling it now...in his efforts to prove he isn't a monster, he'll become one.
5114097 it already was
5114102 As if that matters. He's human. Stick a fork in him, he's done. Literally. I mean, have you stuck a fork in someone's neck? They go down real quick when you hit the blood vessels! And then there are the eyes...
5114109
Odd, I got an email notification on the story just fine. (It was sent twice, in fact.)
Dunno about tracking on the site, but I do still have one unread chapter in my faves and it's tracked just fine.
5114128 except he's not entirely human anymore...
The email update system was rebuilt so you need to go into your "Favorites" section and edit the settings for it. The same can be done for the "Tracking" and "Read Later" sections too. Anywho got some corrections here:
5114161 You're right! He's evolved into a Gary Stu! His powers will continue to grow as he continues to brood and grow more emo and dark with each passing day, and his incredible will power shall allow him to spout off ill-reasoned arguments that every other character will be instantly rendered too brain damaged to counter even when the flaws in his thinking are obvious!
He must be stopped before it's too late.
And I, the Unstoppable Hyooman Man, shall stop him! For I am the OP White Knight, the Deus Ex Insert!
(I know it's subtle, but I think my opinion that this human is going the route of all bad HiE is showing.)
Ahhh, he seems to have also gained an Alicorns righteous fury and extreme emotion.
5114267
You forgot? is not that they don't had the magic is that his body resist magic, Celestia and Luna had to focus a lot of power to do the most simple of spells on him, and it takes time to be activated, time they don't had.
And since when Death is a god? Death is not a god is a force of nature that just happen, is not out of the blue either, if the chapter before show him dying, he coming out of the blue is like saying 'and Chris just die without explanation'
Chrysalis stab him, he suffer he leaves his body, he was DYING how is that out of the blue?
5114308
you need energy of something to give energy to another thing, so no, requiring the life force of the alicorns is not an entirely foreign concept. also the multiverse thing isnt determined in this story, for all we know hes on another planet in another galaxy so death is still watching one universe. also would you prefer the author that wanted the main character to eventually go thru this transformation simply "because magic"? that sounds alot more boring then introducing the concept of death as a being capable of knowing when you are going to die.
remember the universe is fast and wholly unexplored, claiming that the time of your death is not known is equal in folly as claiming it is.
Ah…just a little question, I know he is still learning and he need some time, but…why not cut off the back part of his t-shirt so it leaves a rectangle? that way the wings will not get in his way and he can…I don't know maybe put a zipper or something, so he can wear them again.
Also…this is getting interesting, because he has alicorn blood in him, his emotions might be high wire, like Luna, she turn into Nightmare Moon because of a cocktail of 'anger, resentment, jealous, fear, and anguish' if Chris has the same he can in theory fall back into her as well.
His rage is LITERALLY taking over, ad that to human nature and you had a true monster. is like the meme say even the kindness of all people can became a demon if they get furious.
He need to had classes with Celestia and Luna…they are the only ones that know how to relax and had control of the dragon that is their rage, Chris don't…and is scary what that might mean
Kill them all KILL KILLLLLL
you alright?
Huh? Im fine, just have the sudden urge to kill all humans
I am ok with the Dark tag, but i am not sure how i think about the orince suddenly being someone semi-evil and possible evil Mastermind or something like that. Well i just wait what will happen and hope it is for the best.
I don´t know where i would draw the line, but right now i like the idea with the Dark Tag, that doesn´t have to mean that probably someone like Fluffbutt get´s killed. Well i hope Fluttershy can taste a bit love befor he is going to be the Dark Lord
PS: I like it that he is starting to prove himself against Celestia a bit. I mean i understand her, but she need to change her overprotective side to the previous level again.
5114413 death is in every universe i could be just one to go around or there could be billions
5114418
what if Nightmare is in him now
5114248 I concur, I stopped reading stories such as diaries of a madman and griffin the gryphon due to the directions becoming too dark and horrifying. I enjoy reading about chris' exploits due to his fragility and strong moral code, I'm not saying he is a terrible person now just because he threatened Chryssy (I would most likely do the same), but I am cautious as to what Chris is becoming, it is still early days though so I hope that I'm wrong.
Nothing I do or say can sway you from your intended path dear author, but I put my trust in you.
5114128 my god you're creepy.
Holy crap! He's becoming a Nightmare! Near death experiences gives you wiiiiiiiiings!
*aside*
(Methinks the author hates Chrysalis...)
5114117 Alright, then read something else
A 5114123 there is explanation later on
A 5114123 there is explanation later on
5114018 First, minor dyxlexia
, Second, heh, funny
5114669 unlikely Nightmare Moon is not a living being she is a the fusion of all of Luna negative emotions
5114808 Awww a little jealous of drnkntst's awesome work are we?
5114248 for once I actually Agree with you.
FRANKLY I HOPE A PEACE BETWEEN BOTH SIDES
CHRIS BUT ATTITUDE IN THE BLACK HOLE IS WORRIED
5114925
buzzkill killjoy
The only problem I see in this chapter is that there are a bunch of spelling and grammatical errors. One quick look through, and you should be able to find most of them though!
Chris probably could have defused the entire situation by just saying "It's okay willow, I know what's like to be called a monster."
boom! Shuts down everyone in the room.
5115037
Hey…why go with the obvious choose when the author can offer something more intriguing…like a Jeckyl and Hyde combat. I can't wait to see Chris fighting on a duet with his evil side
I wonder what name could he had?…the Nightmare Son perhaps?
5115174
or or...Sombra hah...hah
Well, looks like Chris went full on Vlad Dracul for a moment there. I'm frightened, to say the least.
5115448
Already taken
Maybe…the Despair Day? Or perhaps the Eternal Flame
5115458 ....maybe......i got nathen
encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTyfGoOyTP259o4uMIhri_4SRwNC1bSLzbkCwdl80blMVHkwG70JzE52KbT
I don't usually read Dark fics, and I don't know how dark this is gonna get. And i hope it doesn't get TOO dark. It's not that I have a weak stomach for such things, I just .. don't like them
5114925 Nightmare Rarity? Anyone?
5116347
That was also explain too…those were not nightmare, believed or not the moon WAS inhabited by those beings, when Luna was seal inside, her influence make those creatures that way, and as you can see, can make ponies into Nightmares as well, that is why she was so ashamed she think she destroy and create monsters out of living beings
5114982 MUWAH HA HA HA HA!!!
5114742 I'm part Sicilian... we instinctively know of these things. Capisci?
Don't ask no more questions...
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