Shadow Knight

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My hooves on my table, my pencil lying near the top of the paper before me; I glared down at the paper, filled with math questions, oh how much I hated these questions, with ever fiber of my being! When am I ever going to use the system for Log, in real life anytime soon?! I don’t know, heck…even my teacher said at the very beginning of the second term; that she would be cramming our heads with knowledge we would maybe never use outside of the school’s walls. I gave out a heavy sigh, high school sucked…really sucked, well…the math really, everything else was just dandy. Leaning my head on the table, I lightly knocked my forehead along the edge of the wood before I heard a soft snicker outside my door. “Having problems with math again?” I turned to my left, the side of my head on the table as I turned to look at my mother. My Mother was a Changeling Queen, leading so far only ten, ten that she trusted dearly, so I guess she wasn’t a ‘Queen’ per say, but she looked like a Queen from what I was told by teachers and even my father. I was told, at a young age, that she would be as tall as Princess Celestia herself, and I had seen her a few times when she came in to visit the kingdom I called home, her mane, long and flat near the end, with black lines going through her greenish like mane; her lighter green eyes, looking toward me, a warm smile on her face. She was so tall, she would have to duck a bit to walk into my room, and rather slender too.

I sighed and slowly turned my head back to the paper and glared at the questions. “It isn’t fair!” I muttered out, throwing the paper off to the side. “I mean, when am I ever going to use this stuff in really life?” I asked her waving my hoof to where the paper fell over, with a heavy huff. “I just want to follow in Dad’s hooves you know?” My Dad is the Captain of the Guards here in the Crystal Empire, having been that for nearly twenty years now. I knew of his story, and Mom’s as well. When I was old enough to fully understand, they sat me down and told me. I was confused at first, but it slowly started to sink in, I mean, ponies fearing Changelings? Lots of my friend’s think it’s cool that I could became them, or pretend to be a teacher and mock them. They even told me that I should never make somepony fall in love with me, unless it was for a dire reason. My Mom told me that one reason would be with somepony was hurt. That if the one harmed loved me, my magic could be stronger; but I should break the spell once it was done. Anyway, as I was saying, I wanted to follow the work that my Dad went into, but he kept going on that I have so many other choices to make. But I was dead set on becoming a guard. At one point, I remember him muttering, ‘so this is how Mother felt’. This was before I knew of what happened to him when he was much younger then what I was at the time. Mom explained to me then, that he just wanted me to truly think this through, which he just wanted me to have a teaching chance, which was taken from him. It didn’t matter, one day I would be a Guard.

At times, Dad would take me out back, years ago; he made a section in the backyard into a training area. Many of the guards would come on their days off to spar with him, rarely did my Dad lose, to me; he looked invincible. And the scar over his left eye; made him look more ‘bad ass’ as my Mom would say at times. The other reason I thought of him as invincible…was all the hardships he went through, fighting and defeating a Changeling Queen, was just one of the things he had done. Or the fact that he jumped off an edge to save Mom, not knowing that he could, or would; change. When I was younger, I remember bringing him to my class to ‘bring your Dad to school day. It was when I was in the second grade, and told everypony on how awesome he was. He blushed at my words as he answered questions for my classmates, to which many said how lucky I was to have him for a Dad.

We were close, seeing how we were the only stallions in this house we called home. But I think the other reason as that his Dad was never around after his Mom was killed in that fire back at his home kingdom. When I was still a young colt, I would follow him around, and at time watch him train with the other ponies at the castle. Shining Armor, the co-ruler with his wife Princess Cadence, would allow me to watch him when I came by. I was always amazed by how well he could order the ponies around, or how they always followed his orders. He told me it was because he knew their limits, and would never make them do something he knew they couldn’t do. This didn’t mean he wouldn’t push them when it came to training; as he told me that by pushing yourself in training, the hardest things in life will be easier; and the reward, much greater.

Lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t notice my Mom lift my sheet back up and place it back on the small table before me as she kissed my head softly. “Well,” she spoke. “It’s not due till the end of the week yes?” I nodded in agreement as she said. “Well, that leaves you with four more days; you can take a break for today, but don’t leave it till the last second like last time,”

“Yes Mom,” I answered as I looked up at her, and see smiled down at me and kissed my brow softly.

“Now, go get washed up, Light is almost done with dinner; alright?”

“Yes Mom,” I answered once more as se chuckled softly and left my room, closing it after her.

I leaned back in my chair, my hooves holding on the table as I rocked it back and forth on its back legs as I closed my eyes. Beside the Math, I was a happy Changeling…well…3/4 Changeling I believe it was, seeing how Dad is a Halfling. I then opened my wings and flew off my chair, as it rocked back on all fours as I landed on the ground. Opening the door and walking across the hall, I opened the door and went to wash my face in the sink. Looking into the mirror I came face to face with; well…myself.

My mother side I was a bit taller then a normal male Changeling, maybe because of my Dad’s pony side I guess. Unlike most Changelings as well, my horn was straight, much like Dad’s as well, but it did have its share of holes in it. When I turned my face, I noticed my green eyes, would change to a blue in the different light, I always found that cool, changeling, without the need to do it myself. I had my mane combed in a way, which it looked almost like Shining Armor’s, Dad thought it was a good look for me, and Shining well, he was flattered that I had copied his look. As I grew older though, some green was seen in my mane and tail, (which also had it shares of holes) I was confused onto why my mane changed colors like that, but I liked it all the same. I twisted my head left and right, to see any dirt I may had on my face, seeing that I didn’t, I dried myself quickly and left the bathroom.

Walking down towards the hallway, and then down the stairs, the smell of cooked pasta filled the air, as well as Dad’s sauce that he always made with said pasta. I closed my eyes, enjoying the smell. Even though I was more of a Changeling, then a pony, I still ate food. It didn’t ‘fill’ me, as the love of my family did, but it was still had a sort of fill to me. Turning into the dinning room, I noticed my Mom helping out Dad, with the last touched, and also, sitting at the table, was one more family member; my little sister.

Much like I took most of my mother side, when it came to the type of Changeling I was, my sister; took after Dad’s side. Her body was still black like any other Changeling out there, but the middle part of her body, mane, tail, and eyes, were all red like that of a Higher Wing Changeling. Where as I was seventeen, she was in fact only seven years old, her mane long and tied into a ponytail, and much like Dad’s mane when a Changeling, her mane had some black in it. Her eyes were much like mine, but blood red as she was busy humming a small tune, her front hooves lightly tapping on the table. As I went over to sit in my spot, on which I always sat in when we ate, my little sister turned to me and smiled. “Hi big Brother!” she smiled at me and made a small wave, as if we hadn’t seen each other in a while. I rolled my eyes and made a small wave back, as I sat on the table. “Daddy’s making pasta!”

“I know,” I answered as she looked at me in confusion. “I can smell you know,” I answered lightly tapping my nose.

“Oh…” she blinked once at me and started to tap her hooves again while humming another tune. “I’m bored,”

“You’re always bored,” I pointed out.

“Not when I’m bugging you,”

“You bug me to say you’re bored,”

“Because I’m so freaking bored!”

“Alright you two,” I heard Dad chuckle as he turned to bring the bowl of pasta and sauce to the table.

The years had done well for him, beside the small bags under his eyes; he looked pretty much the same. He had cut his mane a bit down, but it was still pushed back to what it always was. The white in his mane, still looking like a lighting bolt; his left eye, the line of which he was given when he was younger from Cocoon, was as red as my Sister’s eyes, his right eye, green as grass, he still wore the necklace that belonged to Mom, and rarely took it off. I think he took it off only when it came to showers, bed, and training. “Nina,” he then turned to look at his Daughter. “Why don’t you go get the forks and such, and Shadow?” he turned to me. “Go get the glasses?”

“Sure thing Daddy, do you need anything else?” Nina piped up as she jumped off the chair to go get the things that were needed. I saw Dad smile as he shook his head to her; I also went to the cupboards to get the glasses and bring them toward the table, as Mom went to get the juice, or for them, wine. I watched as Dad poured himself and Mom a glass of the wine, as Mom poured the juice for Nina and me.

We spoke of simple things as we ate our food Dad made, Dad asking me about school work, and me complaining how I didn’t like it, or how math was so hard. “Think outside the box, son,” he told me with a smile. “Don’t think of the easiest way to do it, for what may seem easy, is in fact much harder.” I frowned at his answered as he only smiled and shook his head slightly. “Believe me Shadow…life will never be planned out, things will happen, and you must jump to the change, or fall in failure.”

“I know…” I answered with a soft sigh as Nina spoke up.

“So…you always fall then?”

“Hey!” I yelled as she giggled sticking her tongue out. Before Dad could intervene, a knock came to the door. We all looked over as Dad said he would go and get it, when he did, I heard a bit of what was being said.

“Hey Armor, Cadence,” he spoke; I could hear the edge in his voice. “I thought you were stopping to see if Saki’s little group was still…”

“We are,” it was Shining Armor voice. “We trust both of you, and now, fully of the Changelings under her rule…in fact…we’re here about something else.” Their voices went down to a small whisper of sorts, making it impossible for me to hear, after a while, I watched as Dad came back in, Shining Armor, and Cadence behind. Shining Armor wore a armor much like Dad’s would be, seeing how he was now prince, (not sure why they don’t become king and queen…or are they?) he had to look the part now. The chest plate, and hoof shoes he wore, matched the colors of that of the guards, while Cadence wore the same thing she always did.

“Shadow, Nina,” Dad spoke looking at the two of us. “Go upstairs for a bit,”

“What’s wrong Daddy?” Nina asked walking over. He smiled, though I could see something he was hiding.

“Nothing sweetie,” he answered nuzzling her head. “Just go upstairs, the adults need to speak.”

“Dad…” I was about to say before he looked to me, his eyes told me more then what I needed to know. I just nodded my head slowly, ushering Nina upstairs.

When we were out of ear shot, I whispered to my little sister. “Go to the room alright…I want to hear what’s going on,”

“But Daddy said…”

“I know…I know…but…” I sighed and whispered. “Do this and I’ll get you two cupcakes?”

“Four,” she whispered back.

“Two and a half, plus I’ll play with you with the dolls,”

“Deal,” she nodded her head with a excited squeal in her voice and went toward the room, as I then went back downstairs slowly, and started to listen.

“Are you sure about this?” I heard Dad speak as he sighed. “And I mean very sure…I mean…”

“I know what you’re thinking,” that was Shining Armor now. “But yes…it’s true now…there was a sighting of a large hoard of both Cocoon’s Changelings…and Chrysalis’s Changelings.” I had to hold back a gasp, I had heard stories of both of these Changeling Queens, even Dad told me that Cocoon tried to kill Chrysalis…so why…?

“Where are they going?” Mom asked as I listened more.

“What we think…” the Love Princess spoke as she sighed. “Is that they are making their way here,”

“What reason would that be?” My Dad asked as Mom sighed.

“No doubt…they want you,”

“Then I’ll leave,”

“As humble as that may be,” Armor spoke again. “Do you think it would make a difference if you were here or not? If they plan on an attack, they will no doubt attack this place with, or without you.” I heard my Father make a small angry hum at this.

“Do we have a plan then?”

“You are the Captain of the Guard,” Shining spoke as the sound of paper being unrolled was heard. “We came here to tell you this information…as well as to think of a plan.”

“First things first,” Dad spoke again. “The schools and hospital, they needed to be guarded and if…” he paused himself before starting again. “When the attack comes, need to be escorted to a safe location. Armor, can you bring up that shield again, like you did all those years ago?” I heard nothing, no doubt the unicorn nodding his head or something. “Good, the safe zone should be the castle,” I heard the tapping of hooves on a paper, as well as the sound of something along the line of hooves being dragged along the item. “It’s large enough to house the city yes?”

“And some,” Shining spoke as my Dad hummed again.

“My Aunts will also be sending in some extra guards from Canterlot,” Cadence answered as I listened. “I sent them a letter this morning, and they are already sending a few now.”
“Do you think it may be enough?” I didn’t even hear if she said a number of guards or not.

“You and Shining should know better, they can hold their own.”

“So true…”

“Is something the matter?” I heard Mom asked as Dad sighed.

“Think about this,” he started. “For years now…no, nearly a few decades, both of these Queens had been in hiding…not a mane or a bug wing seen of them…and then all of a sudden, they ARE seen? No…I don’t like this one bit.” Nothing was said for a bit, before I heard my Dad sigh once more. “Well ether way, I believe this is a good idea, we section the guards at these areas here, here, and here,” I head the tapping of his hooves. “Then when the attack comes, the guards in those sections, will escort the ponies to the castle, where you Armor, will bring the shield up around the castle; yes?”

“That’s right,”

“Why can’t you just…I don’t know,” My mom then asked as she went on. “Put the shield all around the kingdom like you did in Canterlot?”

“Well,” Armor spoke. “If I place the shield in a small area, like only just the castle, it will be stronger, bigger the shield, weaker the mass.”

Knowing that the rest of the talk was going to end soon enough anyway, I left my spot and made my way back upstairs. I noticed Nina was not in my room, so I went to her room, seeing her fast asleep on her bed. Making my way back to my own room, as I sat on the bed; thinking deeply on what I heard. Two Changeling Queens, working together, and coming here; for what? It had to be more then Dad, that would be for sure. And really, why would they? Mom and Dad told me themselves that Cocoon tried to kill the other…my Grandmother, so why would they be working together? Two alphas are never a good mix together at all; after hearing the two leave, that being Cadence and Shining Armor. I was left lying on my bed, looking up at nothing really; I heard the soft knock on the head frame of my door.

Looking over, I saw it was Dad standing there, leaning on the frame while looking at me. “So…what was that about?” I asked, pretending that I didn’t hear a word that was said at all, but I saw his look; his eyes, half closed, almost dark. I made a small gulp as I saw this look, it was his ‘caught you’, look.

“I know you were listening,” he simple spoke as I blinked. Looking away, trying at act like I had no idea what he was talking about before answering.

“I don’t…” but he cut me off as he took a few steps in the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Shadow…” There was no anger in his voice, but still…I knew it was coming. And Dad always told me, he never asked a question he knew the answer to.

“Okay I was!” he sighed while rubbing his forehead with a hoof.

“How much did you hear?”

“Up…until Armor said something about shield mass.”

“So, pretty much the whole thing?”

“Pretty much,”

“Damn it Shadow…” he sighed and shook his head. “You want to be a guard, and yet you can’t follow orders when given!”

‘Well, why couldn’t I hear it in the first place?”

“I didn’t want you or Nina to be worried; ugh…” he sighed again and walked in more as he stood before me, still shaking his head softly. “Son, listen to me, I don’t know if those two know of the family I have now…” He was speaking of the Changeling Queens that much I knew of. “If they know of you and Nina, they will use you two to get to me and Saki!”

“W…what if I can help defend this place?” His head jerked back at this, before shaking his head and narrowing his eyes.

“Out of the question,” he answered sharply as I glared.

“Why not?” I demanded standing up. “You even said that I’m a fast learner, that I have skills when it comes to fighting, so why not?!”

“Because,” He forced his words out, raising his voice, which he rarely used on me or Nina. “I don’t want you to become a killer like me!”

I didn’t say anything as he looked away for a moment. As is aid, I knew of his past, I knew that he had to kill as well…but…he seemed so, fine with it, I mean. I had heard stories, in history class about soldiers that came back from war or battle, they were never the same. But from what Mom told me…he was fine with it, like it was second nature or something. “Shadow…listen to me…” he sighed once more, a lot more deeply as he looked back to me, his two color eyes digging right into my own. Even know, much older then the colt I use to be…those eyes still made me want to shrink backwards. “I understand that you want to be a guard like me, I’m flattered really…but you don’t understand what it is to wear the armor. Once you put it on, you are bound by duty to protect the lives of those around you. And even at times…take a life. You don’t know what it likes alright, to watch somepony’s life ebb away at your feet as you cut them down. And I don’t want your life tainted with that, of which I had to do when I was very young; it will haunt you,”

“It doesn’t look like that to you,” he gave me a look, between that of a glare, and a frown as I shirked back.

“It’s hard to explain son,” he answered sitting next to the bed with me. “Look…the reason why I push you into doing all these other sorts of things, or try to, is because this is not the life I want you to have. I don’t want you to have done the things I have done.”

“You know…” I answered. “Ether way…you know I will become a Guard ether way yes? I mean…I am almost at that age, and I’m dead set to become one like you.” Dad made a heavy sigh, shaking his head slowly before chuckling.

“You really are my son,” he answered as he pet the top of my head.

“So…you’ll let me fight?”

“Hell, no,” I frowned as he sighed. “Son, please listen, we have sparred yes, but you have no idea what it’s like on the battle field. The confusion you will see and feel. And I can’t be everywhere at once!” I frowned slightly, I was about to say something when he stopped me. “So how about this…stay out of the fight when it comes, go to the castle when the guards escort you, and when it’s done…” I say him sigh once more. “I’ll see what I can do to get you more training,”

“Really?” I asked in some disbelief at his words.

“Have I lied to you before?”

“Well…there was that fish thing…”

“You were four, what was I to say?” he both shared a laugh for a bit as he then sighed. “But really…deal?” I thought about it for a moment and nodded slightly. “Good…thank you Shadow.” He then turned to me as we shared a small hug. Growing up, I was not the hugging sort of type anymore, but when I or he hugged, it was a different sort of thing. Whenever I was down on my luck, or when the mare I was dating broke up with me, just because her friends were making fun with her. We hugged like this. It was hard to explain how this was different then the hugs I gave him as a colt, it just…was. He then stood up, jumping off my bed before walking off to my door.

I dozed off after the talk me and Dad had, waking up in the middle of the night, always an issue for me. I yawned as I sat up in bed, smacking my lips as I rolled out of bed to go to the restroom. After relieving myself, I was about to go back to my room, when I heard something downstairs. Going toward the noise, I found Mom there, sitting out back. She was just sitting there, looking up at the full moon as it gave off the soft pale light of the night. Beside her was a cup of something, it steamed a bit, leaving me to think of it ether as tea, coffee, or some other sort of hot drink. I went to her, opening the door as she looked down at me, her eyes seemed to glow in the dark. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” she asked as she always did.

“Shouldn’t you?” I questioned as she smiled.

“Light told me of the talk you two had,” she spoke as I sat beside her. She had always called him Light, never Lighting, or his true name, I asked her one time why, and she said, ‘it just felt right’. “He’s not happy that you still wanted to fight, even after all you heard.”

“It’s my life Mom…” I answered. “I mean…this is what I want to do!”

“Do you know why he wants’ you to do all these other things before you make your choice?” I was about to say what he told me before she spoke anyway. “It’s because he was never given that chance to.” I looked up at her, as she spoke before she looked ahead. “You know of his past Shadow, you know what happened to him and such. He was dragged into a war, much as he likes to say he did it on his own; I have a feeling in a way, he was forced into it.”

“He didn’t say anything like that,” I pointed out as she shook her head.

“Just because someone doesn’t say something, don’t mean it didn’t happen. You know how Light is, he always tries to be the calm one. He always goes along saying that everything he did in his past, was because he wanted it…but I don’t really believe it.” I said nothing as I looked away from her as I thought about this. “I understand Shadow…I really do,” she went on to saying as I looked up at her. “You want to follow in his hooves, and you think that he would be thrilled that you would want to. This is something you really want I see that, and I won’t tell you to stop.” She hen raised a hoof before I could say anything else. “However…at least look into other type of work, you may never know; you might find something that you think is far better!”

I understood where she was going with this, but I truly doubted it, I mean…I don’t know, being a Guard that is what I want, to be able to save the lives of many. Dad wanted me to stay ‘pure’ or something along the lines of that, but still…I would soon be of age, and he did promise me more training if…when I kept my word. “I’ll try Mom,” I told her looking up at the moon with her as she smiled and nuzzle my head softly, before kissing the top of my head.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she then said. “I rather not have another male in this home, who thinks he’s all that because he swings a sword around!” I only rolled my eyes slightly at this as she only cracked a smile, no doubt seeing my reaction. “Oh, and before I forget,” she turned to me. “I was going to tell you and Nina today, but forgot. When the weekend comes, we will be going to Higher Wing, to visit Light’s Father, Shade.”

“Grandfather Shade?” I asked, we visited him as much as we could, mostly it was a weekend trip ever few months or so. “Did something happen?”

“No, no,” she answered. “I mean, for school it is the long weekend yes? And Light was given that time off as well.”

“Do you think it’s wise to go…even after…?”

“Light said the same thing, but it will be fine, even if they do attack while we are away, just because he isn’t here, doesn’t mean that all is lost! He is in fact, one pony Shadow.”

“Eh…” I muttered rocking my head to the side. “Yes, I guess you are right.”

“You’re too much like your Father…you know that right?” she asked before softly pushing me on my side as I laughed and pushed her back as well. When we stopped laughing, we just stood side by side, looking up at the moon, but pretty soon, I felt my eyes grow heavy. I didn’t want to sleep…but right here…it…

My head slowly dropped, before I felt my side lean more on my Mother’s…before blackness took me in.

Always A Reason

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“Shadow, Shadow, Shadow, Shadow!” I was sitting at the table, eating my cereal, my eyes half closed in the hazed of the morning. I brought the spoon up to my mouth, chewing slowly, as Nina…my little sister, bouncing up and down to the right of me, while saying my name over, and over again. As she would reach the top of her jump, she would say my name. “Knight, Knight, Knight, Knight, brother, brother, brother, brother!” I closed my eyes, just block her out, you know she loves to do this to you in the morning… “Bro, bro, bro, bro, brah, brah, brah, brah!”

“WHAT?!” I screamed turning at her as she stopped bouncing, looking at me with a huge grin.

“Hi!” she said quickly, before giggling as she ran around the table as she did so, Mom and Dad walked in, no doubt hearing me scream. As she went around the table once more, she fell, face planted on the floor. She got up, shook herself, and started to giggle again as she ran out of the room. I watched her run with narrow eyes as my Dad started to laugh a bit, holding it back with a hoof before saying.

“Are you sure that none of Doc’s DNA entered her?” my Mom answered him by slapping him in the back of the head as he yelped rubbing it. it seemed that it was a joke, that Dad would say at times when Nina did something like this, I never understood truly what he meant by that. “Anyway…morning, Shadow,”

“Morning, Mom, Dad,” I answered them, going back to eating as I then took a bite out of my toast that was beside me. Dad came over toward the table, sitting down for a moment and then stood back up. “Is something the matter?”

“Just worried is all,” he answered as he went to grab some coffee. I turned to Mom, mouthing, ‘about what happened yesterday?’ she nodded her head quickly to confirm what I had thought. I watched as Dad leaned on the counter, drinking his coffee, softly sipping at the drink as he sighed. I noticed he wore his armor now. Much different then that of the Guards, seeing how he was Captain. He had armor that covered his legs, and nearly his whole body. The middle, was the necklace, the chest part of his armor was a two piece. That way, he could still wear the necklace, and it be shown. I noticed that his left forearm gauntlet was different, as I remembered the Hoof-Blade, another gift he had when he was younger, was made to match his armor. I never saw him use it in a fight; he always told me ‘you never know’.

“So…Nina is going to stay home today?” Dad asked as I looked to Mom in confusion.

“Yes,” she answered. “Her classes were cancelled, so she and I are going to stay home, and clean up a bit.” He nodded his head as I slurped at the milk in my cereal. “Don’t slurp,” I heard my Mom scold me.

“You do it,”

“I make it cute,”

“Bull,” I chuckled as even Dad did. She snorted once as she turned to leave as I stood up to clean my mess.

“So Dad,” I answered as I went to get my saddle bag for school. “What should I tell the others at school if they start seeing Guards around the school?”

“Training,” he said. “Tell them that they are just training in case something happens…”

“Do you really think…?” I started to say. “That it’s a good idea, to not tell the city that an incoming Changeling attack is coming soon?”

“We don’t want to start a full on panic,” he sated as he sighed putting his glass down. “I mean…if Shining and Cadence were to go right now outside, and announce that a hoard of two different types of Changelings were on their way here for an all out attack…what would they do you think?”

“Do you even know if it’s really is an attack?” I asked my Dad as he closed his eyes to answer.

“I have no doubt that it is,” I sighed softly as he came over and nudged me with his hoof, smiling softly. “Come on, I’ll walk you to school.”

After fetching his sword, strapping it to his back, and making his way beside me toward the heart of the city, we made soft chatter with one another. He was no wearing his helm, covering his head, save the front. After a while, I came to a stop in front of my school. It was a rather small school for a high school, there were only so many students there, it was three story high, and like everything else, made of crystal; or something that made it look like one. I could see guards station along the borderline of the school, as well as in front of every doorway. Many of the students around would stand in front of them, making funny faces to try and make them move. I saw one guard, when the colt’s back was turned; made the same face he was just given, making his friends laugh loudly. He returned to his former poster before he was caught. I heard my Dad laugh a bit as he petted my back, bidding me farewell, before walking off.

Ugh…first class of the day…math, oh how I hated it; how I wished that I could just skip this class and be over and done with it. I mean really…what was wrong with there just being numbers in math, and then they have to add letters and such?! Had they made a time machine yet…because I wish to go back in time to the pony who thought of this idea and fully bitch-hoof him across the face! Ugh, anyway, it was nearing the end of class, when I felt a bump beside me, looking over; I saw that it was my pure black unicorn friend. We didn’t know his real name; he just always called himself Buck…maybe because of his buck tooth? “Psst…Shadow?”

“Yeah?” I whispered back as he then said.

“What’s with the guards?”

“I dunno,” I lied. “Maybe it’s a training thing?”

“You don’t know?” he asked in slight confusion as I nodded. “How can you not know? I mean…your Dad is the Captain!”

“Boys?” we both jerked to see our teacher staring at us. “You wish to tell the class what you’re whispering about?”

We both looked at the teacher, everypony else was also watching us as Buck then answered. “Well…um…I was asking…” he sighed and then said. “I was asking him about all the guards around.”

“Yeah, why are they all around?” another student asked, as the whole class seem to come alive with chatter before the teacher then tapped her hooves on the floor.

“Class, class!” he called for our ears as everypony stopped. “I know you are wondering about the guards being sent around here, believe me I do…but that is not needed to be known at the moment.”

“Why not?” one student asked. “Do you know the true reason they are here?”She then sighed softly, looking at e, I could see it in her eyes…she knew.

“Teachers of the school, as well as nurses and other such ponies were told yes, but we swore not to speak of it. The guards are here for that reason, and we are to do as they say, if such a thing happens.”

Again, the clamors of voices overlapped each other as I looked around, the teacher was about to say something else, when the bell rang for class to change. Everypony, save for the teacher and myself soon left, as she went over to her desk and sat down sighing. I watched my friends leave; I waved them off as they left, as I went over. “Do…you really know?” she looked over, seeing it was me, and not anypony else eavesdropping on us.

“Yes…” she answered. “About…the Changeling attack on the way, I’m guessing you already knew yes?”

“I overheard my Dad speaking of it yesterday…:

“The princess called all teachers and nurses, and others that would care for young ponies, or sick ones, and told us. I’ll be truthful…I was…am, rather scared.”

“My Dad and the rest of the guards will stop them,” I answered with true belief in my voice. “I know he will, I mean…” I stopped when I felt her hoof on my shoulder.

“I know,” she smiled at me. “You look up to him greatly do you?”

“He’s my hero…” I admitted looking away. “But…he doesn’t want me to join the Guards, and I do want to!”

“He is just worried for you Shadow,” she answered as I looked up. “He doesn’t want your life to be just around fighting and such. Yes…all those years ago, with the civil war that happened in Higher Wing and such; but the guards are not needed that much.”

“Did you forget about the drug bust a few months back?”

“Well…that too, but you know what I mean,”

“I know…” I chuckled. “But still…this is my life, and this is the work I want to do!” I made a weird grunting sound, something even I don’t know how to do…it just…comes when I’m pissed you know? She smiled softly and chuckled.

“If only you were this passionate when it came to your work,”

“You know I loathed math!” she gave a small smile before nudging toward the door.

“Go to class Shadow,”

“I got an off block, but thanks,” she smiled and waved as I left, making my way to the mess hall.

Once I was seated in the mess hall, I took my bag that was now beside me on the table, and opened it up. Inside, I saw the lunch my Mom made me, cheese pizza. I smiled; she always knew how to make me happy. Unwrapping the few slices of pizza that was there, I placed one back in the wrapper, saving one for lunch when it came in the next few hours. I took the pizza out and slowly chewed on it, pizza cold was always the best. As I chewed, I pulled out a book, the cover was black, and I slightly smiled to myself from what the title was; Changeling Heart.

Dad and Mom gave the Princess of the Sun, there blessing to making copies of the book and sending it around the different area of the world, they wanted the whole world to know, and that anypony could love each other. Mom and Dad got a large sum of bits from the selling of the book, I mean, Dad did write it, and it was of there life. At first they didn’t care about the money, they just wanted their story, (well, the story that they shared, Mom and Dad told me of some things they left out) to be told. But, Nina was on the way when the book was just coming up, so they agreed. Most of the money went away for things like haircuts, or food and such; you know basic things that would be needed. Dad held onto the book he wrote in jail, in fact, this was indeed the one he wrote in. I read the book many times…and at one time or another, I read their little…sex parts; most of the time I would just skip over them. I must’ve read this book so many times, over and over again…why did I keep reading it, and I don’t know. Most of the stuff in the book, Dad rarely spoke of. One of those topics was his Mom. He spoke highly of her when he did speak about her…but, many times he just changed the subject when I would ask him about her. I would send letters to Grand-dad about her, and he told me all he knew of her. Mom told me, he was still haunted about her death, so I guess this was why.

Anyway, for someone that was in jail, his writing was rather neat, right now, I was at the part where he was knighted by King Vloor. I met him once in fact; I was rather small, Nina, only a small filly. Seems he wanted to have dinner with Dad, Mom, Grand-dad Shade, Doctor Love; and also Nina and I. And I knew I could possible skip this part of the story and just go on to the next part. But I couldn’t, there was something about HAVING to read it through and through I had to do. (Even though as I said, read it many times) I was just about to turn the page when I heard a voice beside me. “Um…can I sit here?” I placed the book down as I just looked ahead…that voice…I knew it all too well.

I slowly turned to my right, and looked away once more…it was my ex-mare-friend. Remember when I said that a mare broke off with me because her friends were making fun of her because of who I was…well here she was. “What do you want, Crystal Glimmer…?” looking with only my right eye, as I looked onto the mare I use to date, I turned back away. Even after she broke up with me, I still had deep feelings for her; I mean, we had dated for almost four years before she broke up with me for the dumbest reason ever! I could see that she looked hurt, I never, ever, called her by her full name, it was always ether Crystal, Glimmer, or even Glimm; but she didn’t like that nickname at all. She was a Pegasus, standing a bit shorter then I, her coat, was that of a light blue, almost like the sky in the morning type blue; her dark ocean color eyes looking at me, when I dared to sneak a peak at her. She changed her mane…I remember it being short, now it was long, her coat had a shade of a whitish grey to it, a light grey, but still white ether way as well. Part of her hair, covered her left side of her face, a small bit was out of the way, to allow me to see her eye. Her Cutie Mark was that what looked like two uncut gems, looking like it was a pair of Quartz; they were in a spot to make them look like they were making a V and a four point sparkle that pointed to the top, bottom, left and right. One was standing between the gems, below it, and one on the left and right of the gems. One was I looked back down at the half eaten pizza I had before me, not wanting to look at her.

“I…I want to talk?”

“Oh NOW you want to talk,” I heard her let out a small whimper as I looked back at her. “What happened a few months ago when I wanted to talk after you broke up with me? WHY did you huh? That’s what I want to know,” I looked at her fully, my left forearm on the table. “I mean…what went wrong, I mean, sure we had our fights and that, its normal…but then when your friends…”

“They didn’t make me break up with you…”

“But you said…”

“I know what I said!” she turned to face me, her face showed that of sadness, I wanted to hug her, but I forced myself not to. “It was…my Father.”

Her Dad…hrm…oh yeah, now I know him. It seems he use to be a Guard here, moved here when I was still a young colt, with Crystal as well. Not sure where they came from, and she couldn’t remember much anyway. Her Father was a large Earth Pony, and I mean big! I saw him sparing once before, he took down three guards easily; his weapon of choice, hammer. Seems one day he got hit hard in the head, though he looked fine, he couldn’t wield his weapon, or anything really, that well. Seems the blow to the head, damaged his nerves. This too, was around the same time he was let go, and Crystal here breaking up with me.

“He…He never did like you dating me,” she spoke as she looked down at the table before me. “The only reason he allowed us to date…was because he thought it would gain him a few ranks in the guards.” I looked at her in agape, he…what? “And when your Father pretty much made him leave, he told me…he didn’t want me dating someone that would MAKE me love him!” she sighed and looked back at me. “Didn’t help ether when that time you did make me love you, to heal my broken leg.”

“Again…sorry,” I told her. “Wasn’t thinking right…I saw you hurt and…”

“Shh…” she pressed her wing to my lips as I looked. “I know…”

“So then…?”

“I…I miss you Shadow,” she spoke looking at me again. “I truly do, I tried dating again but well…it never happened as well as I wished. Many of those horn balls just wanted to get me in bed!”

“Can you blame them?” I asked looking at her with a small blush. “You are a beautiful mare,” she blushed at my words as she smiled again at me.

“See…I miss that, you never forced yourself onto me, I tried to explain this to Daddy but…”

“So why now?” I asked as she sighed again.

“I’m going to be old enough to move out soon,” she sated as she looked to me. “In fact, already have a place in mind, the pony who owns it, is even holding it for me, it’s only a few houses down from your place.” She smiled and then said. “I am old enough to make my own choices Shadow…and…as much as he may hate it, I want you to be n my life.”

“I…I…” I don’t understand why I couldn’t speak; she giggled and leaned closer, pressing her lips to mine. I closed my eyes at once, as I felt the love she had for me, flow into my body, filling me more then the pizza ever could. When she broke away, I slowly opened my eyes to look at her as she was looking at me as well. “O…okay,”

“You’re cute when you act like that, you know that?” I could only smile as she moved the chair closer to me, nuzzling me under the chin softly as I sighed.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Sure, I’m sure, and beside…I will be gone for the next few weeks.”

“What….why?” I looked down at her as she explained.

“Grand-folks, they wanted to know if I wanted to spend the next few weeks with them in Ponyville, I agreed, been a while since I last saw them. they’re coming over for dinner tonight…in fact, they didn’t find out that you and me broke up, my grandmother even wanted to meet you in her last letter.”

“Say what?” she giggled again and said.

“Not everyday somepony dates a Changeling,”

“I’m only three-forth a Changeling,”

“Close enough,” she joked as I smiled.

It was the end of the school day, everypony was rushing out as me and Crystal walked side by side. My friends warned me to be careful, I brushed it off, and I knew what I was doing. But after a while, we both stopped, as a cretin Earth Pony was eyeing us. Even from here, he looked large, he was taller then my Dad, maybe by a foot and a half, and his body was wide. His coat was that of a muddy brain, his left eye, a large white circle around it. His mane was a simple black mane, that was cut slightly short, as well as his tail. He was glaring at me mostly, as I heard Crystal let out a small sigh of worry. “Stay here,” I whispered. “I wanna talk to him.”

“Shadow?”

“Please…” I looked to her as she looked up at me. She nodded once and stayed put, as I stayed my bag with her and walked up toward her father. I believe his name was Quake Rumble.

“What are you doing with my daughter?” he demanded when I was earshot of him. “From what I understood, she dumped your sorry ass,”

“We’re back together,”

“Like hell you are!”

“She told me why she ‘broke’ up with me,” I answered as he looked from me to her. “Listen…Quake…”

“That’s Mister Rumble to you,” sweet Celestia I hated this guy.

“Mister Rumble,” I corrected myself. “Tell me yourself, why do you not want me dating your daughter?”

“You are a Changeling,”

“Three forth,” I cut in.

“Still a Changeling ether way,” he snorted before poking my chest. “How do I know you haven’t got her under your spell?”

“Do you know what a Changeling spell looks like?”

“Course I do,” he answered as if I insulted him. “What do you take me for?” an idiot who needs a breath mint…

‘At any point, did she look like she was under any sort of spell?” I saw him glare down at me as he then answered.

“How do I know you just didn’t make a new spell that can’t be seen like the old one?”

“Can I venomous snake change it’s venom?”

“No, that’s impossible,”

“Same with me, I can’t change something that was given to me at birth!”

“But that one time…”

“ONE time…was to save the trip to the hospital; I knew she was scared of all the things there, so I did that to keep her away from it!”

We were glaring at each other before I gave in and sighed. “Look…I care for your daughter, truly I do. I would never, ever do anything to harm her in any way at all! If you just give me a chance…please,” we stared at each other for a while, before I saw him look up, I looked back, seeing that she was still watching us.

“You fuck up once,” he warned as I looked back. “That’s it, got it?”

“Got it,” I answered.

“Good…you…eat right?”

“I do,”

“Good,” he said again. “Eight o’clock come to the house, her grandmother and grandfather are coming, and from what I heard, they want to meet Crystal’s…colt-friend.”

I could only nod as he walked past me, I watched as he went over to Crystal, I was too far no to hear what she and he were saying, but when I saw the happiness in her face; it caused me to smile. He then walked back toward me, and then past me. “One, fuck up,” he reminded me, before walking away. When he was gone, I took a huge sigh of relief as I felt the arms of Crystal around my neck.

“You did it!” she cried out as I smiled softly.

“Yeah…I did,”

“How did you do it?”

“I have no idea…” I admitted. “Truthfully…didn’t think that would work.”

“Well I’m glad,” she got off my back and stood beside me, before then looking far off ahead. “Hey…isn’t that your Father with all those guards over there?”

I made a small ‘hrm?’ sound as I looked over, and sure enough, there he was; leading a large group of guard ponies toward the gate of the Crystal Kingdom. I looked to Crystal, telling her I would see her at her place later as she nodded, passing me my bag as I ran up to catch up to Dad. “Dad!” I called out as he turned to face me. “What’s going on?” he kept walking as I followed beside him.

“We’re going intercept of hoards of both Cocoon, and Chrysalis,” he told me looking ahead. “We still have many guards here to defend if any get through, and with the Equestria Guards coming in just the next few hours, we will be well defended.”

“Dad…”

“Don’t worry son,” he looked down to me and smiled. “Everything will be fine…but,” he sighed softly as he closed his eyes. He then stopped as the rest of the guards did as well as he undid the left forearm gantlet, before taking out from it, the hidden hoof-blade from it. He slipped the armor back on, leaving only the part where the blade would go inside the sheath, as well as the bound that would tie it to the hoof. He took my right hoof, and strapped it on, before looking to me. “IF it comes to it, only IF; do you understand me?”

“Dad…” I whispered again. “I thought…”

“I don’t want you to fight in a full fledge fight like this,” he spoke. “But…if it comes to it, where you have to fight to protect yourself…I rather you have something like this, and also your magic. But don’t you dare try and be a hero if it will cost you your life. Keep yourself, Nina, and your mother safe if it comes to it; alright?” I looked down at my hoof, flicking it as the blade came out. Dad taught me how to use this, seeing how I always wanted one myself. Mom barely used her at all anymore, so she said when I was older, she would give it to me.

“Alright Dad…you be careful.”

“Always am,”

“That’s a load of bull and you know it,” I heard a few guards snicker behind him as he looked back, they straightened up and said nothing as he smiled.

“We’re moving out!” he called out waving his arm as the small army of ponies made their way toward the gate. I watched as they want, Dad looking back at me once, as he nodded his head; I too, nodded back. Come back safe Dad…please, come back safe.

Return of the Queens

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I went home at once, the moment me and Crystal broke off to go our ways toward our homes. I nearly sprinted home, I was…I was happy! I mean sure, I was always happy, I mean, I wasn’t one of those loner ponies who just sulked and stayed away from others…but I felt my heart race with the thought of me and Crystal back together. Now, after at last finding out the reason why she broke up with me, it wasn’t because of who I was, or what I did; it was because of her overly protective Father. Truthfully, I was a little pissed off at the large Earth Pony for what he did, I mean…ugh, thinking that just because me and her were dating, would rank him up faster?! He was pretty much using his Daughter in a sense! But still, it was all in the past, right now, all I worried for, was the now.

Looking back, when she told me that she was breaking up with me…I felt, shattered, like something was torn from me. I had other mares in my past, and we broke up and such and that…but when she did it; it felt different. Mom told me that, even though I didn’t really see it, I truly had a deeper feeling for Crystal then I would let on. Maybe it was because she was in fact the mare who I lost, as my Mom would joke…V-card. When she told me she knew, seeing how she could feel the love and happiness from us when we returned back from my room from….’studying’ she made a comment, saying something along the lines of, ‘at least you didn’t keep all of your Father’s trait’. What did she mean by that? Anyway, I’m getting off track here, as I said, Crystal felt different to me then other mares. I felt her love before, and before we ‘broke up’, I felt her love for me increase, and so I knew that she loved me, as I did for her.

When I got home, I told Mom what had happened, she smiled at me, and nodded to me, telling me that I could go. Nina was helping her with dinner, before she then asked. “Did you see, Daddy go off?” I turned to her, how did she know that? I knew she had stayed home…oh wait, Dad must’ve came back quickly to tell Mom.

“Yeah I did,” I answered as Nina nodded, going back to mashing the potatoes. I looked down at my right arm, nearly forgetting that I had it on me, Mom saw this, and I explained what Dad told me.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” she spoke looking at me as I undid the straps on the hidden blade. “I don’t want to see none of you hurt…”

“I know, Mom,” I answered looking up at her as she looked down. “But…you know, it’s better to be safe then sorry.”

“Mhm…true,” she nodded sharply at this before sighing. “Well, ether way, go on and get washed up for your date, go on now!”

“Mom,” I spoke as she looked back. “Before I go…are you worried about facing your own Mom again?”

She looked away at this as she placed the boiling water onto a cloth, I saw her peer down into it as she nodded. “Yes, it had been a few decades since I last saw her; I beaten her to an inch of her life.” Nina was not listening; she seemed to have gotten bored with helping and bounded off, while singing a soft song. “And beside…she’s not really my Mother.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s say that you were raised in the Hive, when a Changeling egg is laid, they are gathered around an area of the Hive to be cared for by female Changelings who birthed them.”

“But I or Nina was not in eggs right?”

“That’s right, I think that is because Light is only a half Changeling…but ether way. You know how you and Nina, also feed off our love, and also the ones around you when you leave?” I nodded my head at this. “Well, to prevent the young from taking too much love from their blood family, all the eggs were gather into one place. When they were born, the mothers of the eggs were not permitted to care for any of them; other Changelings would care for them. Many times, it would be a male, caring for a male; this would most likely be the soldiers of the Hives. The females were ether care givers, or even workers. Pretty much, you were chosen what to do at hatched.”

“What about you?” I asked as she sighed again.

“My, ‘Mother’, picked me, because she felt somewhat alone, I guess, and for a little while, I was raised under her as her Daughter. I…I can’t remember much of my younger years with her, the only things I could remember, were the years with Granny.” I remember Mom talking a lot about her Granny, and when Dad told her years ago what happened, and it was Fang, and her ‘Mother’ who gave the order. At first, she was angry at Dad, this was the first fight I had ever seen the too in. I remember her demanding why he didn’t tell her when he found out, and he explained saying that he was worried she would do something crazy to get to him. More words of shouts were heard, and I even saw Mom slap the side of Dad’s face with her hoof. After a few days, Mom and Dad made up, with Mom crying on Dad’s shoulder, begging for his forgiveness. I asked Dad afterward why he didn’t get mad when he was slapped. And he told me.

‘Her heart is grieving, she thought she knew the truth of her Granny’s death, and then; the murderer was before her many times. Claiming that he loved her, or for the fact that Chrysalis did the same. I do not blame her, which was just her way of venting out her anger and I will allow her too.’

“I don’t even know if my blood family is alive out there,” I was brought back to the real world as Mom brought me back with her voice. “But…it matters not, Granny was more of a Mother to me, and now, I have my own family to worry about.”

She then turned to look at me with a small smile. “But, listen to me ramble on, you don’t need to worry about mine, nor your Father’s past. Sure, our past made us who we are today; but that is what it is, our pasts.”

“Still Mom,” I answered walking over to her and looking up. “The things you and Dad went through…nopony should ever have to go through that.”

“But we did; as I said; it’s fine.” she leaned down and softly kissed my forehead. “Now, go wash up.” I smiled and nodded, as I grew older, I didn’t really kiss Mom back, barely hugged her, it was just…I don’t know, I was growing further away from the two in that sort of thing. But today, after hearing a bit of what she said, I leaned up and wrapped my arms around her neck, softly kissing her cheek. I looked back at her when I went back on all fours; she had this silly look on her face, as if I had two heads. I only shrugged, I turned to wash up.

After coming out of the shower, and walking to my room, drying myself off as I did, I went to the mirror to comb my mane back to what it use to be. As I did, I looked down at one of the shelves, and pulled it open slowly. Inside, was the first gift Crystal had ever given me, in fact, it was how she got her Cutie Mark.

Inside, was a small little craved crystal, I don’t know how, but she somehow, got a black like crystal, (Not the evil kind mind you) and one that matched her coat, and craved out what looked to be me and her nuzzling each other. I smiled softly, I hid it because I just couldn’t stand to look at it after what happened, but with soft care, I placed it back on the mirror desk. Her Dad’s words echoed in my head, over and over again. ‘One fuck up,’ oh don’t worry…I plan on never fucking up with her at all…old stallion.

It was getting dark when I went toward Crystal’s home, pretty much; a lot of the homes here looked the same. Some had more floors, others were larger, but the same style was there, none the least. When I stopped before her home, I saw a small garden of flowers among the front, but these were made of crystals. I smiled, her skills at making these crystals things have greatly improved, I swear, from afar, these made have looked real; if they were colored I mean.

Looking at the door, I took a rather deep breath and walked up, my hoof at the ready, as I knocked three times. I tapped my hooves, counting to myself as I waited, not a half a minuet went by, before the door opened. Quake was at the door, looking down at me as I slightly gulped again, seeing how I was nearly at his chest now, as when before, I was a little bit away from him. His eyes, locked onto mine as he let out a soft rumble of annoyed.

“Hello…Quake,”

“That’s...never mind, come inside,” he turned and walked away, the door nearly closing in my face as I held it open, before it could slam shut. I knew he would never like it if I was dating his Daughter, this much was true. But it was like my Dad told me long ago, not everypony is going to like you. “My Mother joined us a little while ago, dinner is almost ready. Just needs to be set on the table.”

“Would…you like some help?” he turned back to look at me, before snorting.

“You are a…’guest’ he answered as I frowned at how he said it. It sounded as if the word he used for me, was as gross as tasting your own puke. “So no, other then eating my food, just sit at the table; and don’t do anything funny!”

“Daddy…who are you, OH!” Crystal came out of a room, no doubt hearing her Dad speaking. “Shadow, you made it!”

“Course I did,” I smiled softly. “I’m here, aren’t I?” I heard her Dad snort again before entering what looked to be the kitchen, as the sound of plates being brought onto a counter was heard.

“Don’t mind Dad so much…he may not show it, but he’s happy that I’m happy…anyway, only my Grandmother could make it, come meet her!” she took my arm with her own and hobbled us toward the dinning area. It was that grand, just a long able to hold four or five ponies with some food already on it.

Sitting at the table already was a rather old looking Pegasus, her coat sagging along with her skin underneath it, to truly show her age and such. I guess this is where Crystal got her wings from, seeing how she told me both of her Mother and Father were Earth Ponies. Her coat was grey, and I mean really grey and her mane and tail, grey just like her coat, but with a white ling going through each like a streak. She looked to me, her eyes, somehow an ice blue color, that seemed to make me freeze in place. A warm smile spreading over her muzzle. “Ah…so you are Shadow Knight then?” she asked, her voice a little cracked. “It is so nice to at last put a face to the name, come sit across from me!” I only blinked and Glimmer led me toward a chair, I sat down, her next to me as the old pony leaned forward, her eyes, tracing over me before she smiled. “Ah yes…you do so have your Father’s face.”

“You know of my Dad?” I asked slightly confused as she shook her head.

“No, no,” she answered. “How long had it been…two decades I think, ether way,” she shook her hoof as if it didn’t matter. “I was in the castle, the day your Father and Mother were to be trailed.”

“Trailed?” Crystal asked as her Grandmother chuckled.

“You did not read his book, or hear the news?”

“It was as you said, two decades ago,” she pointed out. “Beside, no, I never heard it come up. And I am going to read it...sooner or later,” I smiled; she never did like reading.

‘Well…where was I….oh yes!” she smiled and went on. “I came to meet with your Father, to thank him,”

“For what?” I asked as she smiled.

“He did help keep my sister safe from that vile Lunar Guard Eclipse!” Ah, now I see where this was going. “After founding out what had happened, and to why she never left Canterlot, when she came home at last, I wanted to go see the stallion that risked his own life, to keep her safe. The day I got there, the news was big and all over town. I decided to go there, and just missed my cue to speak up on his behalf, and I’m sure, you of all ponies should know, what happened next. I’ll admit, I was rather surprised when he STILL fought for the safety of those who imprisoned him and your Mother.”

“My Dad is much like that; yes,” I answered as she nodded. “I remember him telling me that the two of them could’ve easily escaped from there, but it was his choice not to try it. He believed deeply that they had no reason to run away. And if they did, then they, Nina and I, would also have been on the run with them.”

“So very true,” the pony answered with a smile. “Oh! Where are my manners, my name, is Sky Blitz, a pleasure of meeting you,”

“As to you,” I answered with a smile, before the clanks of plates of the table were heard.

I looked over, seeing Quake giving me a look as he placed my plate before him, it looked to be grilled veggies of sorts, carrots and other such items of food placed along the plate. I heard him grunt, no doubt because me and Crystal were sitting close together. I said nothing as he went to sit next to his Mother, who gave him a firm look. “You are not still upset, because of these two being together, are you?”

“I do not trust him,” he said in a low voice.

“Daddy…”

“No, don’t even,” he interrupted his Daughter. “How can I trust anypony that can MAKE somepony love them, and feed off that love? I will not have my Daughter be some sort of…of zombie in a way!”

“Quake Rumble!” all three heads turned to the old mare, who was now glaring at her son, with a look that looked very…very terrifying. “How dare you just think that he is, from what I understand, Crystal was only under his control for a brief moment, to heal her broken bones; am I right?”

“Well…yes,” he stammered. “But…”

“But nothing!” she answered. “Your Daughter is happy, happy with a stallion that makes her feel wonderful and you wish to tear that away?”

“He is not normal!”

“How can you define normal?” she snapped as Crystal and I slightly flinched, her, leaning closer to me as she pointed to the two of us. “He is a fine young stallion, yes, he may have Changeling in him from his mother side, but that shouldn’t change the fact of WHO he is, not WHAT he is,” she then snorted loudly as Quake looked lost for word. “Or must I remind you of that crush you had when you were but their age.”

“That…was….different.”

“How so?” she asked. “You wanted to be a colt-friend to a Gryphon! And ether way I supported you for that, but when she turned you down, because of…?”

“Because…I was a pony.”

“And that was the only reason, she didn’t know of who you were or anything!”

I blinked, not a word said as the large Earth Pony looked down at the table, like a child caught doing something he shouldn’t. Wow, I guess what my Mom said was true, no matter how old you would be, a Mom would still be able to keep their child in place; and here was proof of that matter. The room was still, the only sound that was heard, was our soft breathing as Sky sighed softly before looking between me and Crystal, I flinched when she turned her gaze at me, and I saw Crystal do the same.

“I…I never saw you this mad before Grandmother,” Crystal spoke softly as the old pony smiled and chuckled softly.

“Your Grandfather and I, did not raise your Father to treat ponies like that. No matter what their background of their family tree, that is nothing on them.” She then looked to me as I blinked and flinched slightly as she smiled. “Your mother is a Changeling, yes, this I know. And the race of the Changelings has done many, many things. But YOU did not do these things, and you should not bare the fault of it. And yes, you may control ponies to love you. But I can see it in your eyes; you would never do such a thing to anypony.” She then looked to her own Son, who was moving his food around with his fork. “Now, shall we eat, without fighting?”

The rest of the dinner was rather still when it came to talking, few words were said, some laughs, but Quake was rather…mute. He would glace at me a few times, and look away, I paid no heed to him, but still…I knew of ponies who disliked Changelings because of what they did…but this was different I felt from him; but what? After the food was done, Sky and Crystal spoke, something about her getting ready to leave. I watched as Quake took some plates, as I followed behind with plates as well. He saw me come in, sighing as he looked away, I helped place the plates in the sink, before I then heard him speak. “Believe me when I say…I will be watching you ether way.” He turned on the water in the sink. “Help, and we’ll talk,” I nodded and stood beside him, as he cleaned, I dried, placing the dishes on the side, seeing how I didn’t know where they went. “My wife…was murdered, and then a Changeling took over her life,” he answered as I looked to him for a moment. “This was after Crystal was born; I believe she was five at the time. So you can see why I…dislike your kind so much,”

“It’s understandable,” I answered back, drying more. “You were tricked, and pretty much used…what happen may I ask?”

“Stabbed her three times, and hacked her head off.”

“Gruesome,”

“Very

“So when you said you knew what a pony under a Changeling spell was like…?”

“It was because I was under the spell of one.”

“Does…”

“Crystal knows only that a Changeling took the form of her Mother. I told her she died of, you know, natural cause.” I turned to him and gave him a raised eyebrow look. “Her Mother was rather sick at the time, and beside…I knew moving here with her, your Father and Mother would be around; and I rather not have my Daughter thinking that it might have been your Mother’s fault.”

We said nothing else as we washed and dried, I soon was told where everything went, so I placed them in the right spot. “You know about the attack…yes?”

“Why do you think I’m sending Crystal away?”

“How did you find out?”

“Colt…I use to work in the Guard, I have friends in there still.”

“Why don’t you leave then?”

“Because Crystal would know something is up,”

“True,”

“Why are you staying?”

“This place is the only place I’ve known as home.” I answered him looking over. “Beside myself going to Higher Wing when I was younger with my family…haven’t really set foot outside the place.”

“You need to get out more,”

“You need to stop being an ass at times,” he gave a small grunting laugh as I cracked a smile.

“Much like Lighting, well,” he drained the sink and twisted his neck left and right, the loud popping of bones snapping was heard. “As I said, I’ll be watching you. I rather I still have a Daughter to be with in the coming years, and if that is with you; well, I’ll have to just suck it up, wont I?”

“Seems like it,” I answered, after putting the dishes away I turned to go find Crystal.

“One more thing,” I turned to look at him. “You ever control her love, for anything other then melding a broken bone; you’ll have more broken bones then you can count.” He then turned and waved me away. “Now, go say goodnight to Crystal…I need a drink.” I watched as he left out the back while grabbing a bottle on the counter, only smiled and shook my head, before going back to the dining room to see Crystal there.

Beside her was a pair of saddle bags, filled with a few things I couldn’t see; her Grandmother, walking past me, toward where Quake left to. She gave me a look, no doubt asking me where he went, I pointed with the jerk of my head as she nodded. When she was gone, I turned to face Crystal as she smiled. “So…ready to go?” I asked as she only nodded.

“Yes, Grandmother booked a late night flight back to Canterlot; it should be in dock in an hour or so, so we’ll be leaving soon.”

“I see…” I answered, not really sure what else to say from this. She knew nothing of what might, or would be happening. I was glad, truly I was, but it seemed upsetting how the same day we got back together (after finding out truly why we spilt) that she would be gone for a few days or week. She seemed to sense that I was deep in thought, for she moved closer and softly nuzzled my chin as I looked to her.

“It’s only for a while, I haven’t seen them in so long, and beside…I need to be away from Father and such,”

“I know, I know,”

“And plus, I can always write to you if you get THAT lonely.”

“Oh ha-ha…” she gave a soft giggle while holding her hoof to her mouth, before then pressing her lips onto my own.

Our eyes closed as we kissed softly, moving out mouths slightly as we pressed ourselves deeper into our lip lock. We broke the quick a few moments later; I smiled softly, not only from the kiss, but also at the love I had gotten from her, because of the kiss. It just felt so…right. When we broke the kiss, I opened my eyes to look at her, her eyes half closed as she smiled, giving me one last peck on the lips before her Dad and Grandmother could enter the room.

After the goodbyes were given, they going one way, and me the other, I made my way home. Quake, giving me a sideway glance, saying nothing as he just gave me a blank stare, before closing the door. Crystal and her Grandmother were far gone into the night now, toward the air ship’s docking area. It would be good; she out of harm ways now, hopefully the attack won’t come at all. But I can understand why Quake wants her as far away as possible. And now, me knowing the reason why he dislikes me so much, it gave me that closed door I’ve been having all day; lucky me I guess. He already lost a Wife to a Changeling, and he didn’t want that to be repeated with his Daughter. That I can truly understand. “Shadow, wait up!”

I turned back to see a Guard running toward me, but I knew who he was, a friend of the family; Lance. I truly can’t remember if I mention this before, but very few knew of my Dad’s Changeling skills, of changing I mean. Lance was one of them, the brown Earth pony with sliver mane and tail was one of the first to know. Then it was Shining Armor, Cadence, Grandfather found out, as well as Vloor, and the Princesses of Equestria last. Lance stuck to Dad a lot of the time, he still idled my Dad like a small colt or filly wanting to join the Wonder Bolts. Along his side, hung a spear, on the other side, a set of arrows; and lastly, a bow on his back. He still wore his armor as he ran up, I stopping to see what he had to say. He stopped before me in a small skid, standing much taller then me, for he was an Earth Pony. He leaned forward, catching his breath, a hoof over his chest before letting out a loud sigh. “Thought that was you,” he answered with a smile. “Nopony is as black as you, with holes in their legs.” I gave a small smile before then frowning.

“I thought you would be with Dad?” I asked. As I said, he idled my Dad in a way, and seeing him here, when he left early that day…”

“I’ll explain on the way, I’m on my way to your place anyway.” I gave another weird look to him as he waved his hoof. “Just walk, I’ll tell,”

We walked for a bit, before he then started to tell what he was meaning. “Many of the guards are staying here,” he sated. “That’s why Celestia and Luna have brought the Canterlot guards here, to somewhat even the odds if the attack breaks through. As you no doubt saw, many of the guards here are station around buildings of interest, however. Shining Armor and Cadence had now started adding some guards around homes of ponies.” I nodded at this as he went on. “There are already four there, it will be the night shift ponies right now, and when dawn comes, they’ll switch, and when the attack, if the attack comes, they will escort your Mother and Sister and you to the castle.”

“What if we are not home?”

“A guard will have to follow you everywhere…I’m sorry for that I know you hate being followed.”

“It’s just…when it’s dark out, and somepony is behind you…and you don’t know them…” I gave him a look, raising my eyebrow at him, as he chuckled.

“Yes, yes, so true, I see what you mean.” We said nothing for a bit as we kept on walking, before I then asked.

“What if the Changelings take the form of the guards and do a sneak attack once inside?”

“Your Dad will be leading the guards back,” he answered. “No duh on that, but two will be side him, one on each side. What will happen is that they should raise their left hoof as they walk, if we see that this is not happening…we will have no choice but to attack with our cannons.”

“What if they forgot?”

“It was Lighting’s idea; I doubt it would forget something that would save him, and the others.” I made a humming noise as he said this, and sure enough, we were soon able to see my home.

The inside held the lights on, as we made our way closer to the building I called home. Sure enough, from what I could see, two guards stood at the ready, blank face showed as they stood still. Lance told me the other two would be being the house. I watched as Nina, wondering why she wasn’t in bed, came out, still singing ‘lala’ over and over again as she carried a plate of food on her head, she placed it before the guard on the left; ran in, and did the same to the right. When she was gone, I noticed that one of them looked down, a small smile forming on his muzzle as he sat down on his rump to eat. The other didn’t still looking ahead before he looked down slightly at times. I and Lance entered the home, as I saw Mom make two more plates, before Nina went out the back, still singing her little song. She turned when she heard us walking in and smiled. “Ah, Lance, so good to see you, I’m guessing you are the one Shining spoke of in the note that will be here?”

“That is right,” he answered. “Sorry for doing this, but I know Lighting would like this.”

“Well,” she answered. “Not as if you’ll be sharing a room with me, the sofa is yours to use when you can sleep.” He smiled and thanked her before taking his leave to go outside as Nina came back in.

“Hiya big bro! How’d your daaaaaaaaate go?” I gave her a look as she only giggled as she turned and left out of the room, going upstairs, no doubt to bed. Mom laughed softly at this, before she too then asked the same question, as I started to tell her what happen.

I told her of what happened at dinner, and to why Crystal broke up with me in the first place, she listened, eyes, blank as if not having any emotion whatsoever. When I was done, she sighed and nodded. “I had sensed his anger toward me when I first met him.” She said. “As you know, we can feel the emotions of those around us, even though we feed off their love. I had a feeling his life was tainted by a Changeling, I just never thought like that.” She then looked away, still speaking to me as she looked at nothing really. “However, this does not give him the right to judge you on that, I raised you better then that. But, still…there still that as well…”

“I know Mom,” I answered looking up at her as she looked down. “Maybe not in my lifetime, but one day, Changelings and Pony will be able to live peacefully together, maybe all races will. I know that some don’t like others, base on what they look like; but maybe one day, that shell will be broken.” She smiled and nodded her head softly at this.

“Maybe so,” she answered. “I mean, from history class, you learned that Earth, Pegasus and Unicorns use to hate one another…so maybe one day, Changelings will be placed into that group as well.” She only nodded her head at this, as if she was talking to herself, before then turning to me. “The world…is ever changing.”

“That it is,” I answered her as I yawned softly, looking at the clock, seeing that it was rather late, even though I had no school in the morning; I did have my job I had to go to.

‘Seems somepony is tried,” my Mom teased me as I only smiled waving a hoof slightly as I turned before then asking.

“Why is Nina up way past her bedtime?”

“She wanted to make sure the Guards here were well fed before going to bed.” She answered as I only nodded my head, turning my back to my Mom and waving as I left to my room upstairs.

After closing the door, and pulling out my blue vest I would be using for work, and draping it over the chair, before making my way toward the bed. As I went over, my eye caught toward the hidden blade that belonged to my Dad, the one he gave me, just moments before he left. I picked it up with my magic and held it in my hoof where it would be strapped to. I gazed on it with wonder, and thoughts of me running into battle, as all young colts would dream of; defending the ones I cared for. Though, the words of my father from the night before echoed in my head. ‘Look…the reason why I push you into doing all these other sorts of things, or try to, is because this is not the life I want you to have. I don’t want you to have done the things I have done.’ My thought and smiled from that thought went away at once; maybe…maybe Dad was right about that. I mean, now that I think deeply on it, he was right. His foal-hood was taken; he never had the things that were before me now. All he did was fight; it’s all he could do. But, I want to be just like him, I know, it sounds foolish that a near adult stallion three/forth Changeling is saying that, but still…it was what I truly wanted…or was it?

I rubbed the back of my head as I placed the weapon back down. Why was I thinking of these things now? I mean, after all these years, now my brain starts to fight with something I truly wanted? Ugh…it seems I truly do need me some sleep, if I’m fighting along myself like this! Flipping the blankets off the side so I could climb in, I snuggled, curling myself into a ball as I lay on my side. Looking out my window seeing the darkness of the night cover the world in its blanket of black. Be safe Dad, really…I hope so…

-Hours later, Lighting POV-

There was still a bit of time before the sun would raise, my breath, making clouds with each deep exhale I took, my eyes closed as breathed deeply once more. My lungs feeling icy with the cold air around me. Behind me, stood many tents, I made sure that each tent, held a pair of guards, their partner. Never was one to be away from the other, I rule I sated with them before we set out. Around the camp, were a few dozen fires going, to keep the ones awake warm as they took a small break to warm up. We all wore cloaks to shield us from the wind’s cold embrace. It worked, for the most part, but sometimes, fire, was the best choice. My mane was slightly frosting now, as I shook my head, before pulling the hood up over my head, a light shiver coursed through my frame, before, the sound of snow being crunched under one’s weight was heard. “Sir!” I heard, looking back to see my second-in-command before me. He was a light blue unicorn, his eyes, blue like the sea, and easily seen through the wee hours of the moon’s last visible time. He was wearing his cloak as well, black as the night, but easily seen through the snow. And under the cloak, his armor. I noticed he was not with his other as he pointed, he was rather close by, just warming up; that was fine in my book.

“At ease Aura,” I answered as he relaxed his stance. “What brings you here?”

“May I speak rather freely sir?” he asked me with a tilt of his head. “I wish to speak to you…as if I was not a guard.”

“You may,” I answered looking at him. “Something troubling you, I’m guessing?”

“Yes,” he answered with a nod. “It’s well…why did we stop here? I mean,” he then looked around before going on. “What made you so sure, that the Changelings would come through this way?”

I could understand why he asked such a question, around for miles would be open snow field, and though there was a rather large cave we passed a while back, there was truly nothing around. But, I had seen Aura read my book, and he seemed pretty far into it, so luckily I wouldn’t have to say much for him to understand. I said nothing for a bit, as I just looked ahead at nothing of importance really, just thinking out into the nothingness that was this cold land. “How far are you in that book?” I asked looking back at him for a moment as he thought about it for a moment or looked like he was; he then answered.

“I, got to the part where you gave your Mother’s letters to Shade, your…” he then whispered lower. “Changeling Father.” I smiled softly and looked back at him fully. “Is it true…or do you just consider him your Father?”

“Many years ago we did a blood test, just to make sure,” I spoke again. “Beside, what reason would he have to lie to me? If he wanted to do something, or was really with Cocoon, he would’ve done it long ago.”

“You still haven’t answered my question,” I sighed, closing my eyes as I spoke.

“My Father never really left the Hive truly; he is still connected to it. But, he was gone so long; he doesn’t have that will to listen to the Queen, Cocoon. Don’t ask how it is, even I don’t know that answer. Anyway, even though I was never part of the Hive, in one way, because of my Father, and after a while I could do this…” this was just after I could change, every once in a while, I could hear…whisperings in my head. Hundred of voices speaking at once, it was rather scary at first, but Saki told me after she returned, that it was my Hive, Cocoon’s Hive, speaking to one another from miles apart. “I can…hear them with my mind,”

“Sir?”

“I know…it sounds strange, but well…I followed the voices here. They are strong around here, so no doubt they will be close here.”

“And what of the other hoard?” he asked now standing beside me.

“I can not hear them,” I sated. “I am not part of their Hive, but from the Intel we’ve gotten, the two groups are together.”

He said nothing as a cold air drifted around us, I watched as he shuddered, as well as I. the moon was slowly setting even as I thought of other things and behind us, the early glow of the sun was slowly coming to past. “Well…I trust you Captain,” I heard Aura speak again as I turned to him. “And I will not question you when it comes to this. But still, I worry that many will get through and still raid the kingdom.”

“No doubt some will,” I truthfully answered him once more. “That is why we did not bring all of the guards with us, and the fact we brought in extra from Canterlot. We know we will need the help. Our duty here is to at least hold off much of the bulk.”

“What of the other Kingdoms, the Dragon Kingdom and the Gryphon Kingdom, shall they help us as well?”

I remembered that Cadence and Armor sent a letter to each of these kingdoms to warn them of what was to come, saying that the Changelings might even come to their Kingdoms as well. An army this large was not just formed to take over one Kingdom, I knew, as well as the others; they meant to take all they could.

Before we left, both letters returned, both saying pretty much the same thing; they do not wish, at the moment, to waste the time bringing out any soldiers to this part of the land. I think they believe that the Changelings are nothing to truly be feared of, and will only help, if they deem them otherwise. Fools, lot of them, if it was their kingdoms attack; they would no doubt do an all out war, and demand the help of the others! But…in a true sense, it would take them at least another week for them to send even a small party of soldiers toward us anyway. Still…it pissed me to no end that they wouldn’t even consider to lift a claw to help us in this dire need! Ether way, we would hold out, even without them at the moment. By the moon I hope my family would be okay. I had taught Saki much in fighting, so I knew she would be okay, but Nina…and Shadow.

Lance, I knew he would care for them as best as he could, and he would make sure to get them to the castle when the attack hits them. And if any one of those bastards harmed my family, I swear, they would meet a slow, painful death. My head jerked up as I heard something, but not from near me…but in my head. I closed my eyes, grunting as I heard the small whispers once more, so many, always made my head hurt! “Sir…!”

“Shush!” I ordered holding a hoof up as I listened more. They would be moving soon…we were spotted and they were going to come to us head on, but why? I opened my eyes and turned to Aura. “Get Everypony ready!” I ordered as he nodded at once, running around yelling orders as I followed as well. The sun still rising higher and higher, making the snow a blinding white for a moment.

It took us all but a few moments to get a long line and many waves of guards at the ready. I stood at the front, wearing my full armor, sword in my right hoof, as we all but waited. But, we didn’t have to wait long. A large mass of black was seen on the snow, as hundreds of Changelings flew low over the snow. The buzzing loud as their wings moved fast as I crouched low to the ground. “All unicorns!” I yelled out looking back. “You are to shoot down any that pass us, if they get to far, we have no choice but to let them go, or let the far back group a few miles back deal with them! Do not give chase!” I then looked back forward. “For now, all magic users, point ahead, and ready a magic strike!” I heard the sound of magic being drawn on as I did as well, pointing ahead. I held my sword up, to hold back the attacks. I heard the sound of then string being pulled back, as the bow wielders also got ready. Closer and closer they came, but still, I did not give the order, until they were close enough that you could see that a mixture of green and red Changelings were in the group. “NOW!” I screamed, dropping my sword as all arrows and magic were let loose.

The sound of the arrows being let loose was heard first, followed by the different colors of volleys of magic as they sailed through the air. I watched as slowly, they arched downward, as the shrill screams of Changelings getting hit were heard. I watched as many tumbled down into the snow, some getting up, but heavily harmed, others; were killed at once. But, not all arrows or magic hit their mark, as I pointed my sword and sounded the charge. The thumping of our hooves were softened by the snow as many of us charged forward, some stayed behind, for they were our long range attackers, as they kept firing their magic and arrows. I collided with a Changeling head on, seeing that they wore armor of their own, not by much, only on their head, chest and a bit of their forelegs in the front. But it mattered not to me, swinging my sword over my head; I slammed the blunt of it like a hammer on the side of one head, dazing the Changeling to the ground, before stabbing the face. The roars of battle all around me as I kept attacking the ones around me. Why would they simply not change? Confuse the rest of us; not that I was complaining at all. Maybe they were so low of love, which they couldn’t afford to change at all. Many more flew over our heads, some were shot down as a group of guards came over to overwhelm them. But as I made a quick look, I noticed that many were still getting past us toward the Crystal Kingdom! Damit!

I yelped as I was thrown to the ground by a red Changeling, his large blood eyes looking at me. I was about to bring my hidden hoof-blade out to stab him, when I remembered I gave it to Shadow! Ether way, I slammed my hoof on the side of its helm, rolling up, and blasting him away with my magic. I shook my head, as I looked around…before I saw her; Cocoon.

She was hovering far above the fight, and I could see, even from where I stood, that her eyes blazed with anger, for she was glaring down at me. Her horn and wing had grown back, rather well. Somehow, she still looked the same as I last saw her all those many years ago, and across her chest, was the scar I gave her. I watched as her horn glowed, before she fired a set of magically bolts toward me, I fired back my own, colliding with her own, but jumped out of the way, as one missed and fired where I once stood. Landing back on my feet, I looked back up, seeing her rocket toward me. Her mouth open wide as she let out a loud screech, I ran toward her as well, as she followed me, looking forward, I saw two Changelings, one of each type come toward me as well. I grinned widely as I ran toward them, before jumping. My hooves landed on their backs, before jumping once more, right toward the Changeling Queen. Sword out, ready to slash her, before I was slammed hard on the side.

I was thrown back down into the snow, slightly bouncing, before rolling and landing on my side. I coughed, spitting up some blood as I shook the stars from my eyes. My helm was also thrown clean off my head, leaving my mane now whiter a bit, with snow. I slowly got onto my feet, noticing that I was flung a bit away from the battle that was taking place to my right, I was about to go back into it, when I saw from the corner of my eye, two beings standing; waiting. Looking over fully at the two, I took a step back to defend myself, I reached for my blade, but saw that it was sticking up a bit away; for the two, now standing before me, was none other then Cocoon…and Chrysalis.

Not much of the two had really changed that much in the near two decades since I last saw ether of them. Both of them wore armor as well like their little Changelings. Their helm looked almost like that of Nightmare Moon’s type, just ether a red or lighter blue shade to match their army’s colors. The chest plate they wore, covered all of their front, or Saki’s ‘mother’ was, Cocoon bore another that covered her scar, seemed she made the chest plate go around it, until I saw her make the missing piece appear with her magic, and placed it back on with a snap.

If looks could burn, Cocoon would’ve turned me to ash, for the look she was giving me, was that bad. Her eyes narrowed, a soft hissing escaping her as she tensed up, and yet, Chrysalis was as calm as could be, in fact; she was smiling, coy like at me. “My how the years have kept you looking, nearly the same.” Her voice still sent that chill down my back as I heard her speak. “Just the small bags under your eyes, and the white in your mane; other then that, still the same fool as before!”

“Says the one,” I answered as I tilted my head left and right, hearing the popping of my neck joints as I did. “Who is now fighting alongside the same one, who tried to kill you all those years ago?”

‘I’ll admit,” she answered waving a hoof as if not caring what I said. “It did strike me as odd when she came to me, but; I would’ve done the same. Two Queens should not be near the same area.”

“And yet…here you are,”

“Here we are,”

“Enough of these friendly chit chat!” Cocoon roared glaring at me. “I want this half breed’s fucking head!”

“And hello to you Cocoon,” I glared at her. “How did you like that cell?”

“Why you little...!”

“Cocoon! Remember the plan!”

“He cut my horn and wing off!” she snarled at her before then saying. “Do what you have to, but I want him now!” I saw the two then whispers harshly to one another, this giving me time to call my sword back to me, shaking the snow off as I got myself ready for anything. I watched as the red Queen sighed heavily as she then softly chuckled and looked to me. “You know, there is something funny about life,”

“The hells are you talking about?” I demanded as she smiled.

‘Well…you couldn’t do anything to save your Mother when you were but a small little foal.” She then casted me a wide, evil grin. “And now, you can do nothing to save your own children from me.”

“YOU WILL NOT TOUCH THEM!” I roared out as I ran forward at full speed, screaming as I brought my sword up to attack her, forgetting about anything else but her. I then saw the flash of a magic attack coming toward me. I twisted my body, twirling my blade and deflecting the attack, but was too slow to dodge the incoming hoof of Cocoon.

I release a cry of pain as I was thrown back to the ground, kicked once more on the side by two of her front hooves, knocking the air from my lungs, before I was picked up by the neck with her magic, struggling to break free from her. She pulled me closer to her, her flaming red eyes so close, that I could see they were blood shot. “Nearly ten years,” she hissed at me. “I was locked away, my wing grew back rather easily, but those damn Higher Wing guards kept my horn cut whenever it grew back. If it wasn’t for that recruit that came, for he was easy for me to get him under my control; I would’ve died!” I felt the magic tightened along my neck as I gasped, my legs kicking at nothing. I couldn’t call onto my magic to attack, and I couldn’t do anything at all! “My Hive was destroyed, and when I did at last escape, I had to rebuild, yes, it took a while, but now I am returned to my full glory! Oh how I wish I could just kill you here and…” I watched as she picked up my sword, turning it sideways and pressing the side to my throat as I gulped. “Oh yes…the poetic end of Lighting Knight, Captain of the Crystal Kingdom. Killed by the murder of his mother, by his own blade, but no; you will suffer, you will suffer then you will die!” she slammed me to the ground as she brought a hoof to my temple pushing down as I cried out in pain. “First, I will kill that son of yours, I heard he is much like you, so he will sate my twitch to kill you for now, and then; I’ll give your daughter to my males. Not many females to go around you know?” my eyes grew wide as I trashed around under her, but her magic and hoof kept me down. “And your dear little Saki, oh…I’ll make her watch as I take the life of your son away, and then your Daughter…maybe I’ll let her be raped before her eyes! And then, only then, will I slowly slice her throat, and whisper to her ear, that you will meet her soon enough!”

I felt the air knocked out of me as she kicked me once more, I curled slightly in a ball as I tried to stand up, grunted before I felt a hard hit across my muzzle. I fell back to the ground, blood seeping into the snow once more as I lazily opened my eye to see Cocoon sheathed my blade near my cheek, much like I did as she then leaned down and whispered in my ear. “You will wish you’ve had killed me then, Bright Star,” she hissed before moving away. I tried to move, to stand, but my body wouldn’t let me, no…no! I couldn’t let her do this, no, I wouldn’t! But tried as I did, to order my body to stand, I couldn’t! I watched as the two slowly walked away, before sending two bursts of magic balls into the air. At once, I watched as even more Changelings came from the far end, my breath caught, no…no, this was bad; it looked maybe a few hundred more! Where did they gain so many Changelings?! The sky blackened as they flew overhead of us, toward my home, my family. At last, I was able to stand up fully, pulling out my sword as Cocoon turned back with Chrysalis and smiled while then saying. “Catch us, if you can!”

The rest of the Changelings that did not die in the fight we had took off after them, as the two Queens took lead. I fell forward again, crying out in pain as I looked around. I saw many bodies of dead Changelings, the snow around that main area red with blood. I saw maybe, three bodies of my stallions on the ground, not moving. I laid my head on the snow, unable to move, until I heard the muffle order of Aura. “Healers, get over here now, and tend to the Captain!” a while later, I felt my wounds numb, close as I opened my eyes. Some of them still hurt when I breathed, but that was the least of my worry.

‘We must return…ugh…now!”

“Sir, you need to…”

“My family and the rest of the Kingdom are in danger!” I roared in anger looking around. “Everypony, listen to me! Our families are in danger, our homes, friends, everything we have will be gone if we do not move now! We are sworn protectors of this kingdom, and will we back down, before of a few cuts and broken bones?!”

“Sir, no Sir!”

“Many of us here are Father’s, Brother’s, Son’s, and yes, even Daughter’s and Mothers. Our family is back there, living their life, not truly knowing what will happen when those beasts come! I for one, will be there, and I know you all will come back, to fight!”

“Sir, yes sir!” they roared again as I went over and picked up my sword, sheathing it as I groaned in some pain, not all wounds were healed.

“Take only what we need, everything else leave it, for it is not needed; and let us go, and protect those we care for!”

At once they took off, doing what had to be done; I looked to Aura, as he only stood still, a hoof over his head in a salute as I pointed toward the Kingdom. We marched, and when they were done, the rest slowly followed. Once all was with us, I took off into a jog, and then a run. The thumping sound of our hooves and the flapping of wings heard.

We were coming, and I pray…that we will not be too late.

Live or Die

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“What?” my customer, who I had been dealing with, for the past thirty minuets asked me, with a weird, confused look on her muzzle. “You can’t just, I don’t know, use a magic spell to find what I want?” I worked in a retile, and really, this is the one job if you want to meet the dumbest ponies in the world! This mare was looking for a sweater, thing is, she wanted a size six. Now this moron thought we were like flee markets, you know, where they put all the sizes stuff together, not by style and other such stuff? Well as I said, this idiot here thought that there were none, and she didn’t know what type she wanted! And now, this earth pony thought I could just use magic to pull all the size six and bring them to her, so that she could look at them all?! I never heard of such a spell.

“No,” I simply said with my eyes half closed.

“Um, what?”

“No…that’s not what I can do ma’am.”

“Tsk, really? I can’t believe this place,” she then walked passed me still saying. “Can’t believe how this place doesn’t know how to keep it neat enough to find what you need!” the door slammed as I closed my eyes, and took a large sigh, before I heard my boss behind me as she laughed.

“Dumb pony?”

“Eeyup…” I muttered shaking my head. “How is it I get the crazy ones…and you get the somewhat sane ones?!”

“I think they are drawn to you, I mean, you being a Changeling and that,”

“Three forth,” I told her once more as she rolled her eyes.

“You know what I mean!” she joked with me, pushing me slightly.

She was a rather young mare, younger then my mother, but smart and full of wisdom like any old mare would have. At times, her Mother would come, and joke saying she was born not as a filly, but as a full grown mare. Her coat was that of an orange color, her mane, a blond yellow. She was a unicorn, and stood a bit higher then me, for I still had a few years of growing to do anyway. Her Cutie Mark was that of a simple cloth hanger, with cloth behind it, showing her skill of selling nearly anything of clothing. Her mane covered most of her face, as she would at times; flick her head to remove the strand of hair covering her eyes. She was kind to me, in fact, giving me this job when I couldn’t find other work at all. And I’ve been here for years now. Sure, I hated to fold and stock, but it was a job; and I was grateful. The relationship we had, been not of a simple, boss and worker type, no; she was like a good friend. She was always there to lean on when I needed a shoulder from more then my family. Thing was though…I never knew her real name, she never even told me a name! So I would just call her Boss. She could easily judge your character, and it took a while for her to forgive you, if you ever crossed her. “Anyway,” she spoke after she lightly pushed me as I went to clean up a bit of a mess on the folded vest area. “You seem a bit happier today then what you’ve been for a while.” I smiled softly as she said this, still beaming that me and Crystal were back together. “A mare back in your life?”

“You sure you can’t read minds?” I asked looking over my shoulder at her as she smiled. “But yes, I and Crystal are back together again.”

“Good for you two!” she proclaimed as she clapped her hooves together at once. “I always knew you two would be back together!”

“How so?”

“Well, you two seem so happy together,” she answered truthfully with a nod.”Something like that comes once in a while, and I’m glad that it was with you two.” She then added as she waved a hoof around. “Beside…it was sad to see you so down after you two broke up…why did she break it off with you anyway?”

“Long story,” I answered. “Well…not really long, but I rather not say.”

“Understandable,” she spoke as she went behind the counter. “Oh, one more thing,” she then pointed to the clock. “You can go on your hour lunch break, and when you’re on your way back,” she threw me a bag of bits; I caught it with my teeth. “Mind bringing me back that sub at that place I like?”

“Sure thing boss,” I nodded as I turned, placing the bag of bits in my vest pocket; before going out the door.

I was sitting down now, slowly eating a side of soup of tomatoes, and a side salad with ranch dressing on the side. I always liked it when I poured it on myself; weird to some I know. I brought the spoon up, the richness of the soup flowing on my tongue, causing me to let out a small ‘Mhm’ sound as I drank it. I brought a napkin up, dapping my lips of it, before; I heard the sound of commotion off to the side. The café where I was now eating, was pretty close to the edge of city, once you left, whatever was keeping the snow out; or what snow was not permitted to enter the city would be there. I thought nothing of it really; I mean what could really…be… I stopped when I was about to take a bite of my salad as I stood up and went to where a crowd of ponies were gathering. We were on a higher section of the city; a set of stairs would take you toward to the main streets. They were all looking ahead, far our in the sight of the snow filled world. “What is that?” I heard one pony say as I wormed my way through, to fully see what they were taking about. I narrowed my eyes, when I saw it. A large black…something, was coming toward the city, and rather quickly too. A black cloud maybe? Was there a thunderstorm I knew nothing of, heh; poor Mom she is gonna… Oh, no…no…no! It couldn’t be, that large?! But….if that was what I thought it was…then that means…?

My train of thought was cut as I heard a loud alarming bell go off, at once, everypony around me started to panic as they ran away from where the black cloud, which I knew now was a hoard of Changelings, making their way here! I heard the shouts of guards down below as they ordered the ponies to get to the safety of the castle, both Crystal Guards, and Canterlot Guards. I was about to follow them, when I heard the blast of a cannon fire. Looking over, I saw many guards had pulled out moveable cannons and were firing at them. Made no difference, I watched the ‘could’ split. I smiled though when I saw the ball break apart, a magic of lighting bursting through, hitting many of them, as small black dots fell from the sky. But now, knowing this, they would move as far away from the balls as possible. “Shadow!” I looked down, as one Crystal Guard who I couldn’t remember her name waved me down. “Come on, you got to get to safety!” I only nodded, about to go down…when I remembered about my boss, I couldn’t just leave her, I had to at least make sure she made it out! Plus, I stored the hidden hoof-blade there!

Not listening to the shouts of the guard, I raced back as fast as I could, toward the place of my work, flying high to avoid the stampede of ponies on ground, but I still had to watch for the ponies in the air! At last, with quickness, I made it there, pushing my way through the door as I looked around quickly. “Boss?!” I called out in panic as I went into the back room. “Are you here?” I heard nothing, letting out a soft sigh of relief, good, she was gone. I then moved my head, and looked back at the shelf that stood before me now, as I went through it, pulling out my Dad’s blade he gave me. Strapping it to my forearm, I gave it a few flicks to see if it was working fine, before nodding to myself when it was.

I made my way back outside, before I yelped as I hit the ground, a stream of green magic shot close to me, and when I looked up…they were here!

High above the sky, many Changelings flew along, shooting green magic from their horns, in a form of blasts. One, nearly hit me, which was not nothing but a hole in the building. I watched as still, many ponies ran for their lives, the guards, doing all they could to also protect them. The buzzing of their wings, were all I could hear, followed by the shouts of fear, and some fighting. I was about to run myself, when one landed before me, far enough away that it would run at me to attack, but still close enough. This was my chance! My chance to show and tell my Dad that I could do it, I could fight! But…but I couldn’t move, why couldn’t I move?! I saw the Changeling, the type my Dad was, slowly move closer to me, I then could move, and I backed up. No! Move forward, just like you always thought, stab him, kick him; do something! But I couldn’t, I looked over, watching as one guard easily cut down one Changeling, watching its face hold a face of pain, before falling over, my gut…I felt the need to throw up. I heard a chuckle from the Changeling, before looking over. “So…you are the son of Lighting Knight, and Saki; am I right?” the voice was male, a sly grin crossing over his muzzle. “What’s the matter? Can’t run? Are you scared?”

“N…no!” I screamed out flicking the blade out, holding it out toward me. “You…you stay back! I swear…I’ll…I’ll cut you!” He only laughed coldly at me as my hoof shook. What…what was wrong with me? Before I could even think of an answer, he attacked.

A red blot was shot before me, as I jumped back, something inside me snapped as I let loose a burst of my own magic onto him, he dodged and weaved through them with ease, before he tackled me to the ground, holding my arms out as he pointed his horn at me. I gasped, eyes closing in fright, before shooting him off with a powerful magic spell. He flipped in the air a few times, before falling flat on his back; his body slightly smocking from my spell. I rolled back to my hooves, as he got up as well, before three more landed around him; all the same clan as he.

I heard his hiss of anger at me as the other three slowly stalked me like he was now. I looked at the four, I couldn’t move, save for my small knife blade, which was waving back and forth between the four. They all looked ready to attack, before a loud battle like cry was heard. I jumped as I looked over, seeing Quake himself rush over, hammer in hand. The Changeling hissed in their own surprised, as they left me, to fight the more, willing foe. He made short work of the first, smashing his hammer down on its skull, the deafing crunch of bone heard, as well as the squishy splat of brain and muscle. I cringed at the sight of what was left of the Changeling. Its wings buzzing slightly, before stopping at once. Lifting his hammer, he span on his hooves, as if a dance, now gripping the handle in his mouth, as he smashed the second and third Changeling on the side of their skulls; they died before they hit the ground. The last one left, saw his three other kin dead, looked rightfully scared, before taking off, Quake, watched him go, eyes narrowed before he looked to me.

Out of all the ponies…the one that he saved, was the one he didn’t want dating his daughter at all; so why? He came up before me, his right hoof out, before cracking it across my muzzle, I yelled in pain, holding my now sore muzzle before yelling. “What the buck was that for?!”

“For being an idiot!” he yelled back, looking at his hammer, now covered in blood. “You want to be a guard? HA! You froze up like a bunny caught in a carrot field! If I didn’t see you, and come when I did, you be dead right now!” I didn’t say anything, because he was right. I froze up, like a scared colt, I was frozen in place, and confused…I couldn’t do it. I then yelped when he grabbed me, pulling me back into the shop, before shutting the door, and blocking it with a large shelf of clothing, before looking back at me. “Not safe out in the open, ugh…” he looked away and muttered. “I could’ve just left him,” he spoke to himself. “Could’ve just left with the others to the castle, but Noooo…had to save the plot of the stallion my daughter loves!” he then turned to look at me, before shoving me up to the wall with his forearm around my neck. “Listen here you!” he yelled, holding me, and pointing with his other foot. “I know Lighting taught you how to fight, so you better well use them; because let me tell you. It’s killed, or be killed you understand? You don’t fight out there, you freeze up again, and that’s it! And I will not be the one to tell my daughter, that you died, because you froze up!” he released me as I fell back on all fours, coughing slightly as he then went on to saying. “So stallions up, grows some, and follow me!”

“Wait!” I cried out as he looked back. “My…my mom, and sister…did you see them go toward the castle?” he said nothing for a bit, before looking away. “Well?”

“No,” he answered. “But…” he looked back at me. “I…saw a group of Changelings fly off away from the main group, if I had to guess…it would be toward your place.”

“Then I have to go back!” I yelled turning to leave out the back before he stopped me.

“Oh no you don’t!” he yelled. “You couldn’t handle one, and you want to fight off a few dozen to save your mom and sister who might be already dead?!”

“Shut up!” I yelled. “They are not dead, and I’m not going anywhere safe, until they are safe as well!”

We glared at each other for the longest time, or what felt like a long time, outside; I could hear the sounds of fighting. I watched as he then looked away and grumbled. “Fine,” Fine…that’s all he had to say? If I remembered right, dad told me that Quake was one of those ponies who fought for what he thought was right. Hours would go by to even get close for him to think of changing his mind…and yet; he did it so quickly; why? I noticed the way he then looked at me, I couldn’t quite but my hoof on it…but something was; off. “The main bulks seem to be going off toward the castle anyway,” he answered looking outside as he brought his hammer in its sheath. “We go, we go now.”

“Right,” I answered as I tightened the grip of my hoof-blade. He looked back to me and then answered.

“Can you wield a sword?” he asked me as I looked and nodded my head slightly. “Alright…I hate to say it, but I saw a few bodies of guards around. If you find a suitable weapon, I suggest you use it; the dead won’t have any use to it.” I only nodded once more and was about to leave, when he stopped me. “Once more thing…if…” he looked away. “If your mother and sister are truly gone, do not fight for revenge. You will feel rage, sadness…all emotions will boil inside you like a bottle; and then, release. But, do not let that happen!” he then gave me a firm glare. “If this happens, we turn and flee to safety, understand?”

“You know I can’t keep that promise,” I answered matter-of-factly.

“Then say it…as if Crystal asked you,”

“That is a low blow,” I hissed softly under my breath.

“You’ve done the same.” He was right…I would’ve.

“Fine,” I agreed as he nodded, leading the way outside.

Here…now, it was ghostly still. Though, were the castle was, and I could see from here, the Changelings were firing magic attacks on the large shield dome, a soft ‘ping’ was heard as the magic was deflected. And also, as I looked around, I gulped at the sight. Many bodies were in fact lying around. Mostly all Changelings, but a few, I counted maybe five from what I could see, were guard ponies. One of them…was the guard that ordered me to run. I went over to her, seeing how she was the closet, and also saw, that she in fact, held a normal looking blade. It was laying beside her hoof her eyes, transfixed at something. Five Changelings, lay dead around her. I brought my hoof out, and closed her eyes slowly, bowing my head for a moment. Before unclipping the sheath, and placing the blade inside; then around my back. “I’m sorry…” I whispered before turning to leave, following Quake. All around, was death, many of the buildings had crumbled roofs, and smelt of magic fire.

“Look,” he pointed up ahead, before hiding behind a building, pulling me along. I did, and in fact, did see some Changelings fly by, toward my home, what was worst; was two of them, were Changeling Queens. “Damit…now we got Changeling Queens coming…you sure about this foal?”

“I’m…sure,” I took a deep breath. “When dad’s away…I have to protect my family!”

“Got guts,” he pointed out. “Maybe my daughter did choose right, ether way; gets ready for a fight!” I nodded slightly before he ran off, and as I followed, the sound of fighting grew loud. The guards there was fighting I knew that for sure.

By the time we at last got there, I watched as Lance was thrown away, landing just outside the yard of my home. I jerked over, seeing that the one, who threw him, was a large red Changeling Queen. She held her head high, as she glared at the pony she just deposed of as if he was nothing more then a fly to her. This…was Cocoon; she looked just the way dad told me. Standing on the side, watching with an amused look on her face Chrysalis. But what fueled my rage the most when seeing her was the face, which she was holding my sister as she tried to get away! “Release her Chrysalis!” I turned my head, seeing mom slowly get up. Sweet Celestia…she was bleeding badly. Her right eye, even from here, I could see was closed shut. Her mane, messed and her muzzle was bleeding. I watched as Cocoon turned, snorting as she ready an attack.

“Stop!” I screamed running forward, drawing the blade, and pointing it at her. “Don’t you dare!”

“Shadow!” I heard my mom gasp as I just glared at Cocoon.

“Big brother!” I watched as Cocoon slowly turned to me, her red eyes causing me to slightly back away as I gulped softly. Her eyes narrowing at me as I gripped the sword.

“So,” she spoke looking at me, she knew mom couldn’t do anything, seeing how she was now back on the ground; her body weak from, whatever she or her ‘mother’ did to her. “You, are the eldest of their children; Shadow Knight, am I right?” she took a step forward; as I backed away slightly, before feeling Quake beside me, hammer at the ready. This seemed to make her stop as she only smiled. “I must say…you do look much like your father, yet; a mane style of…what his name?”

“Shining Armor,” I heard Chrysalis answered as she held Nina down with a single hoof.

“Yes him, why is that?” I said nothing, before she spoke once more. “Come now, this is just a simple chat, is it not?”

“Your attacking the Crystal Empire!” I cried out as Cocoon nearly snorting waving her hoof.

“Details, details,” she spoke as if it did not truly matter. “All that matters…is that you are all here,”

“What do you mean?”

“I met your father on the battle field out there,” she answered looking away with a smile. “And I made him a promise…one I intend,” she then turned to me. “To keep.” I then watched as her eyes seemed to flash, wait, a love spell? HA! Did she think she could control me? Impossible, I am part Changeling…waits…she wasn’t looking at me she was…

I yelped and jumped away as Quake dropped his hammer down where I use to stand. That’s when I saw it; his eyes, and face, that of a zombie blank like look; his eyes, glowing red. Impossible, how could she have gotten to him like that, that fast? Unless…unless he was prolonged to her spell for a longer base of time?! “We needed somepony on the inside,” I heard Cocoon speak as I looked over at her quickly and then back to Quake as he just stood there. “And when, we threatened to kill his daughter, well…he was more then willing to accept my offer. And what more, I made him my most loyal love giver.” She chuckled softly. “Oh how grand this will be, he knew that his daughter will hate him for the rest of his life, when I make him kill you,” I gulp again at hearing this. “But he doesn’t care, for as long as we leave his daughter alone, he’ll be happy with that; isn’t that right?”

“Yes…” he answered softly. The way he was…the way he was acting, it was as if he was a sleeper agent pony!

“Now what to do…what to do,” I watched as Cocoon tapped her chin. “You kill him, and Crystal hates you for the rest of your life, or he kills you, and she does the same to her father. So many choices aren’t that right?”

“You…bitch!”

“Eh, been called worst, now; Quake, kill him.”

Quake moved slowly at first, but then ran toward me; hammer up as he slammed it down, just after I jumped out of the way. I held the sword up in my right hoof, holding it before me. I knew it couldn’t do much with a hammer like his. It was common sense, his type of weapon was used only for raw power, for mine, was pretty much for quick attacks, or as quick as one could wield it. When I would spar with dad, when we use to do it daily at a time when I was younger, and he teaching me. We always used the wooden swords, never real metal ones, for fear of one of us being harmed greatly. So the weight of this sword, though I knew it was a simple blade, of normal length and width…it still felt heavy in my grip. His eyes…looked dead to me, transfixed on me, as they glowed an eerier red. It sent shivers down my spine. I heard my mom call out, telling me to just run, but I wouldn’t, and I couldn’t! My sister, Nina, was crying still, as her ‘grand-mother’ held her down. My arm shook a bit, as I slowly backed away, as Quake moved forward, holding his hammer to the side, as behind him, Cocoon grinned widely as she watched the show before her unfold. It’s killed, or be killed you understand? You don’t fight out there, you freeze up again, and that’s it! Those words echoed in my mind, remembering the words Quake told me when he saved me from those Changelings. If my guess was right, there must have been a small part of him…trying to warm me. He must’ve known, or knew when he saved me; how I didn’t try to fight them off at all. He knew all of this was going to happen, but he couldn’t say anything, ether he was ordered by Cocoon with her magic, or threatened of his daughter’s life. So he must’ve been ordered to bring me before Cocoon; that’s why he gave up so easily!

Killed…or be killed, those were the words he spoke to me…he knew this was going to happen, Cocoon was going to place me, into fighting him. He…he must want me more to end this control over him, then Crystal hating him for the rest of his life! “Quake, snap out of it!” I yelled out as he stopped for a mere second. “Listen to me…I…I can’t fight you, I can’t kill you! I could never look at Crystal in the eye again, knowing that I killed you!”

“Trying to break him free won’t work!” I heard Cocoon call to me. “He had been under my spell for a long time now! You can try to counter my love with your own. But even if you do, he will not make it easy! And once he is free; I’ll just put him back under!” I heard her laugh out loudly at this as I grunted. She was right.

“Keep…her…safe,” I turned to look back at Quake, his body was shuddering, and I saw it…tears, he was crying as he spoke in a drone like voice. The tears, unknown to Cocoon, streaming down his face as he spoke, much louder now. “Keep…her…safe!”

“That’s right, keep me safe my little pony,” I heard Cocoon chuckle once more. I looked to Quake, as he walked forward again. No…not Cocoon, Crystal.” I bowed my head for a moment, taking a deep breath as I pointed my blade toward him. I had to do it, I had no other choice.

“I will Quake,” I muttered, low enough that he could hear when he was closer. “I will…please, forgive me,” I rushed him then, holding the sword to my side as I brought it up in a sideway slash, he blocked it by the handle of his hammer, as he went to hit me with his free hoof. I ducked, before shooting him with my magic. He was sent skidding backwards as I fired a few more shots at him, hitting him in his chest as he fell forward slightly. I held my ground, before brining the sword up with my magic, and unsheathing the hoof-blade.

I moved, slowly, in a counter clock-wise stance, as he mirrored what I did. Holding his hammer up. It was ghastly still in the air, I swear, if we did this long enough, we would’ve made a noticeable circle by now. Once more he rushed me, as I moved to the side, sidestepping him, and, with a deep breath, slashed before myself. I could feel the edge cutting into the flesh of the pony before me; hear the cutting of small flush, as blood spattered onto the ground. It made me want to vomit, but I held it in, as Quake backed away, but he didn’t look in pain.

Blood trickled down his side, a long gash, but it looked hollowed from the slow bleeding of the wound. As I said, he didn’t even look like he was in any sort of pain whatsoever. He just stood there, watching me, with his blank look. I was surprised when he threw his hammer at me, spinning in the air, as it came closer to me; I dropped to the ground quickly as I could, as it flew over my head. When I got back up, I was thrown to the ground by the large pony, which started to hit my face over and over again. I saw red; blue…every color as he pounded me with his hooves. I tried to block some, I did in fact, but he still went. Dear Celestia…I was going to die here, I was going to die! I watched as he rose his right hoof, ready to slam it down on me once more, I closed my eyes; ready for the worst.

The echoing crack of a hoof colliding with thing was heard, but I felt no pain, was the pain so great…I just couldn’t feel it? I opened my eyes slowly, and looked up, my eyes widen slightly, Quake was hit hard enough, to send him tumbling to the ground away from me, and the one who did it… “D…dad!” I called out, as he, stood in front of me, his sword in its sheath, and his hoof, covered in blood from the hit.

“Light!” I heard mom call out.

“Daddy!” Nina tried as I stood up fully, before falling back down. I watched as Cocoon glared, her flaming eyes, seeming to ablaze in more anger. I looked over my dad; he still wore a bit of his armor, mostly his chest place. His helm was missing, his mane, for the first time I saw him, was down, messing.

“About time you showed up Bright Star,” I heard the red Changeling Queen call out. “You were missing out on all the fun!”

Like father like son

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I watched as my dad stood before me, his right hoof off the ground, the same hoof he used to hit Quake, who was now slowly standing up; a little stagger as well. I looked over my dad; his arm was filled with dings and dents, some magic blast like soot stood out on the armor, as well as a bit of his cheek. His sword, hung over his back, still sheathed as he looked back to me, with his scar eye. “Shadow,” he spoke softly. “Are you alright, are you hurt?” I only shook my head as I then slowly stood up. My face was a little bit sore, but with the love I had from my family for all those years, the bruises and aches slowly died away.

“I’m fine,” I answered shaking my head. “But Quake…”

“I see,” he answered looking back at Quake. “First you go after Vloor, and now Quake!” Dad yelled out to Cocoon. “Why, what could you need of him, for making him love you?”

“Rather simple,” she answered as Quake moved back to her side when she waved a hoof over to him. “We needed as much love as possible, for my Hive, the Queen needs the most. And Quake here, was kind enough to be my host…or his daughter would taste Death’s open arms.”

“L…Light…” Dad looked over when mom called him out, as he then said.

“Saki…honey, are you okay?” I saw my mom give a weak smile as she then answered.

“Haven’t been pounded on that hard…” she answered, panting softly as she returned again, with that smile, “Since our wedding night…”

“Really Saki?” dad asked, shaking his head softly.

“D…Daddy!” we jerked our heads over quickly as I saw Chrysalis, hand her over to a group of Changelings of her own, to keep her down as she walked over.

“Nina!” Dad snarled softly and turned to the two. “What you told me…it won’t happen!”

“Oh?” Chrysalis asked. “And how do you plan on stopping us?”

“First…” dad spoke looking to Chrysalis. “What is your gain? What do you want, when Cocoon bitch over here was ranting,” I heard the Changeling Queen hissed when dad called her that. “You didn’t offer up what you wanted!”

“All in good time, my little Halfling, all in good time,” she spoke, waving her hoof. “You see…for the past few decades, we have been working, on increasing our numbers of our Hives, and now; with enough, are plan is now at hoof.” She turned to Cocoon as she went on. “We shall take over the major Kingdoms of this world; and then spilt it between the two of us; a truces in place, until a year after we have done so!”

“That…is impossible!” I called out as both queens looked to me. “That would mean you would have to get rid of the Dragons race, or control them. But, I’m guessing now, that is near impossible.”

“Oh we’ve tried,” Cocoon answered. “But, dragons have a strong sense of smell; they can smell a Changeling, even when we are in pony form. No, we’ll simply destroy them in another way!”

“World domination,” Dad snorted shaking his head. “That is so old, I bet Celestia and Luna herself were around when that was first said!”

“What do you know?” Cocoon spoke. “What we have planed, is full proof. Even if we told you, which somepony already did; it is too late for you to stop us! And beside, we’ll just kill you here, its you two, on us; and we can easily trance you!”

“Not…quite…” I turned when I saw Lance, I didn’t noticed him on the ground till now, as he pulled out what seemed to be a firecracker, but longer and wider. He pointed it up, and shot it off, a red flare going up, before bursting. He gave a small chuckle as he slowly stood up. “Unknown to you…We held a small group of guards, just in case somepony outside the castle needed help, and when they see that; they will contrive here…so you’re going to be outnumbered, rather quickly!”

I watched as Cocoon gave a deep angry growl at this as she lowered herself toward the ground; Lance, making his way to dad’s side as he picked up a spear that was laying close by. I stood up, about to join them to fight as well, just to hold them off until the ponies Lance spoke of. I jerked back when I heard Quake stand up fully as well, his eyes still in the trance as Cocoon snorted. “No matter,” she sated as she glared at dad. “I shall simply have to do what I must, quickly before they come. Chrysalis?” I watched as the other Changeling Queen, gave up the hold of my sister as three other of her followers came over to hold her down, by now, mom was just too weak to move, but even then, there were Changelings holding her down as well.

“How long?” I heard my dad ask Lance as I backed up toward them, holding the sword out.

“Five minuets,” he answered. “Eight at most.” I heard dad hum his answered as I then heard him speak to me.

“Son,” he whispered.

“I’ll deal with Quake,” I said firmly. “I…I have to,”

“I know,” he answered. “Shadow…I know you can take ponies off the love you give them, but I know you can’t do well when others have been placed under the spell you did not cast on them…there may be only one option.”

“I know…” I whispered to him.

“I know this may sound cold when I tell you this,” he told me. “But…don’t think too much on it, do not think about what you might have to do, worry about the here, and the now.”

“It won’t come to that,” I answered as I watched Quake at the ready. I heard my dad let out a soft grunt, before all hell broke loose.

I watched as a large group of the combined Changelings rushed toward us, dad unsheathing his blade by the sound of it as he let out a loud battle cry, some came toward me as I turned and slashed along the side of one, falling to the side as it cried out in pain. Two more jumped on my back, I heard Nina calling out to me as I screamed and jumped on my back, knocking the wind out of their breath; before hoofing each in the face. I saw quickly Lance stab one through the chest, the gargling sound of blood bubbling in the Changeling mouth before he flicked the body off his spear. I rolled away as one flew down to me, pointing with my magic; I shot a small fire ball, causing it to hit the wings. The screeching of the red Changeling as it fell rang in my ear.

I jumped back when I saw that Quake was running toward me, still without his hammer, he swung at me with his hooves. At times standing on his hind legs to hit me (or try to) like a boxer would. After a bit of moving, I got hit a few times, myself, cracking him on the side of the head. Before I could attack once more, I felt something hit me in the back of the head, causing me to gasp, as I was then on the ground; unable to move.

I must’ve blacked out for a second, cause when I woke up, I found Quake over me, his hooves on my throat as he was chocking me! I started to gasp, batting at his arms, trying to get him off me. I could see, with what little vision I had from his keeping the air from getting to my brain, that deep down; he didn’t want this! I could see it in his eyes. Without thinking, knowing that I would die if I didn’t do anything, I brought my arm with the hidden hoof-blade out, flicking it out…and stabbed him in the neck.

I watched as the blood seeped onto the small knife, slowly going down my own arm as I gasped at what I was seeing. I watched Quake’s eyes slowly grow dimmer, as he pulled away, one hoof on his neck. His red eyes flickering back to the normal eyes he once had. He looked to me, not saying anything, before falling on his side; not moving. I backed away for a second, just watching his now limp body, before I gave out a yell, being slammed to the ground by many Changelings. I struggled to get them off of me, but was unable to, as they were just too many for me to throw them off. I watched as Cocoon easily threw off Lance, him, skipping along the ground, as dad looked back, to see if he was alright, before he was lifted up by magic. I was forced to watch as Cocoon lifted him up, dad looking in pretty messed up, and he already was when he first came here. I kept on struggling to be released, to help my dad. Nina was screaming, my mom also screaming as I tried to call on my magic, but I could not!

“I planed on doing this to you far later,” I heard Cocoon say to my father. “But, you’ve been nothing but a thorn in my side since that day all those years ago!” I watched as her horn glowed an odd green like color, unlike where her magic aura was red…what was she doing? I heard my mom yell as Cocoon stabbed her horn right into dad’s chest. I yelled out as well as Nina only cried louder for dad’s safety. I heard the scream of dad’s pain, the same color that was on Cocoon horn flowed into him. Thick lines of green covered along his body, I watched my dad’s face. A mixture of pain, shock, and something else. His eyes rolling in the back of his head as he screamed even louder, before Cocoon threw him to the ground.

“Over here!” I heard voices behind as I looked back, seeing many of the guards coming. “The flares come over here!”

‘Cocoon! We must make our leave; now!” Chrysalis yelled out as she went back, grabbed a hold of my sister who was screaming for dad, who was not moving now, beside the small twitch of his body. “We have what we wanted and them some!”

“What about the son,” she then turned to look at me.

“Leave him,” she spoke. “He can’t do anything anyway, and beside; don’t you want this family to suffer. Allow him to watch Lighting die a slow painful death!” the thundering hooves of the guards behind me were getting closer. “Now move!”

“Tsk,” she hissed before pointing her hoof and flicking it. the ones on me got off, and using their magic, picked my weak mother off the ground as they flew off.

“N…no!” I yelled, about to charged when I was hit in the chest with a powerful magic, making me fall to the ground hard. I was about to stand up, when Chrysalis stood over me, a wide smile on her face.

“How does it feel?” she asked leaning closer. “That you wished to be just like your father…but failing like the little colt you are?” I couldn’t move, frozen in fear as she smiled, before pushing her hoof on my chest and pushed down. “The reason I let you live, so that you’ll know, soon; your father will die. And your mother and sister, will be drained of their love, and then destroyed when they are of no use to us!” she leaned lower, her lips near my ear. “And you, will be left, knowing you couldn’t do a thing to save them.” and just like that…she was gone, the area, still as death; before the guards at last showed up.

-A few days later-

I watched as my dad rest on the bed giving to him by the hospital, his chest moving was all that could show he was alive. From what I understood, what Cocoon did to him was a rear type of magic, a slow poison of sort. There was a cure, but it was so far away, that it would be a close call. I was told a pony named Rainbow Dash would be flying to gather the plant which housed the cure, they thought that with her speed, it would take a few days. and even then, it would be months before dad was fully cured. Like the poison, the cure took a slow course in healing. Not a tip of a tail of the two Changeling Queens were seen…my mom…my sister… my wounds healed a while ago, quickly because of my love I had shored in my body. Lance was better now, luckily no broken bones.

Quake was dead…I had killed him…and whenever I closed my eyes, he was there, that same look…that same…death…look! The doctors told me that dad would wake once in a while, the longest so far was a hour…he was in a great deal of pain, he even said he couldn’t move his body. The doctors told me the poison was seeping the life from him, in the most slowest way possible.

News of what had happened spread quickly, many of the kingdoms were now offering shelter for the ponies here…now, after so many were killed, so many injured?! It made me sick, that they would not help until now, sick to my gut! I knew Vloor, and Princess Celestia and Luna was helping ether way. Well…Vloor couldn’t because he couldn’t send his troops quick enough, to me, that excuse was good enough. By now, more Canterlot Guards and Higher Wing Guards were here to thicken those who were lost here.

Chrysalis…she was right, I couldn’t do anything, I was weak…I am week. Now seeing this type of thing, witnessing, being, in a battle such as this…II…Could I be what I wanted to be all my life?! I was going to beat myself up even more, when I heard the cough of dad, I looked over at once, and saw his eyes slowly opened. “Shadow…” he whispered, I looked at his face, along his muzzle and around his eyes, thin lines of the poison were seen, as well as his body. The doctor said it was in his blood stream. I looked down at him, before closing my eyes and resting my head next to his hoof.

“They took them dad…” I whimpered softly as I felt tears coming. “And I couldn’t do anything!” I felt him softly place his hoof on my head, he looked down at me as I could see the sadness in his eyes as well.

“I know…” he told me. “But…it was out of your hooves, those two are powerful, you can not beat yourself over it…” I looked away before he then said. “Your sister and mother will escape, or be freed…I know this for sure.” Yes…he was right… “And I know you want to go and try, don’t you?” I blinked and looked up at him as he only chuckled. “I am your father, and you are a spiting image of me Shadow…but are you sure you can do this…?”

“You’re…not going to stop me?”

“I am confounded to this bed,” he pointed out. “Just…promise me you won’t do anything over your head.”

“I froze up dad…” I admitted. “I froze up, and was nearly killed…I…I even killed Quake!” I looked to him as he gave me a blank face. “He was going to kill me…I had to do it, also to free him….but….” I looked away as I then said. “All I feel…is regret.”

“Hold on to that feeling my son,” he answered looking at me. “Death should not be easy…killing is something that is not easy…but, the worst thing about killing; it gets easier every time.” He looked away, as if his own words were distasteful to him.

“I’m going to try and do what I can to get them back dad,” I whispered as he looked back to me.

“I know…but promise me something,”

“Anything,”

“Bring…him, with you,”

“Him…what do you…oh…HIM.”

“Yes,” he gave a weak smile. “He is a ass, and will get on your nerves…but I trust him, and he can teach you things.” I looked at him and took a deep breath.

“Alright…”

“And…also, take the Star of Nora, with you,”

I looked back into his tried eyes as he only smiled softly at me, before coughing loudly. He turned to his side as I held his back, and as he coughed, I flinched when I saw blood splattered onto the covers. I looked away at the sight, before I felt him rub my arm. “I know what you are feeling,” he whispered. “How you think your weak because you froze up…I was not the strong fighter I am over night son…it too me years to at last get use to all the fighting. I was raised around that, you were not.” He then pulled me closer to say. “Find something that you want to protect…your mother, your sister, Crystal. What keeps me going…is you Shadow…my family is what makes me want to fight!” he coughed again as he laid back down, his eyes slowly closing…before he went back to sleep.

After a few hours, I was ready, a saddle bag filled with a few items I would need, and my father’s blade strapped along my back. To have that sword with me…it made me feel that not only my father was with me…but something else. He told me once that he named his blade after his mother who was killed by none other then Cocoon. So I guess…maybe even Nora’s, my grandmother’s spirit was within it as well; as silly as that may be. I looked around and wrapped myself in my grey cloak, placing the hood over my head. This would shield me a bit from the cold of the winter wasteland outside the city’s barrier.

Walking toward the now known exit of the city, I looked ahead, and stopped, pushing my hood down at who I was seeing. Shining Armor and a small group of guards stood behind him, his face, blank; as he looked to me. Cadence was nowhere to be seen. “You’re going after them?” he asked mater-of-fact.

“Do you even have to ask?” I answered him as he took a deep breath and sighed. “They kidnapped my mom and my sister,” I told him. “What do you think I would do?”

“Are you sure you can do this?” the prince asked me as I looked away. “I know it’s hard Shadow, truly I do…I saw the body of Quake, I wish there was another way.” He then walked over to me, and placed his hoof on my shoulder. “It is hard to take a life…even more when you know that pony. But you know, it was ether you, or him,”

“I know that!” I muttered under my breath. “And…I’ll kill again if I have to!”

“Do you believe in your own words?” he asked as I looked away.

“Are you here to stop me then?” I asked looking at him dead in the eyes. “To hold me here or something?”

“No,” he shook his head. “I considered Lighting a friend, a very good friend…seeing him like that,” he looked back at the hospital. “It’s hard, but I know him. If he could move, even with that poison in him; he would still go after them.” I nodded at this, he was right; dad would go after them, even if he had a broken arm! “There was a sighting of a small group of Changelings in the Everfree Forest,” Shining Armor told me as I looked back to him. “I don’t know if they are still there, no doubt just there to rest. But I would go there first; you might get lucky and find tracks leading you to their next location.”

“Thanks,” I answered with a small smile.

“One more thing, at least bring somepony with you on your travels, the roads are no longer safe.”

“Who, one of these guards?”

“No, me,” I looked to the side, and watched as Lance came out, a spear tied behind his back, as well as a small strapped crossbow on his left hoof. He bore a bag as well like myself, and also wore a hooded cape.

“Lighting saved my life when I was but a colt,” he answered standing beside me. “I think it’s time I return the favor, by helping you out, eh?”

“There nopony I rather go with,” I smiled, thanking him for coming.

“So, where are you going first?” Shining Armor asked me as I looked at him and sighed.

“Somepony else that will help us is staying in Canterlot,” I answered. “He’s my God-father,”

“Who?” I gave a small chuckle as I waved at Lance to start walking.

“The one and only…Doctor Love,”

A Reunion Long Needed

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“So…why did your, mother and, father agreed to have this…Doctor Love pony become your god-father anyway?” It had been a couple of days since Lance and I set off on our journey. For the first day, I barely said anything, just walked, and answered a few things that needed to be answered. (Or just to pass the time quicker for us) Flashes of what my dad looked liked crossed through my mind every time I thought back to him. Just remembering how he looked, like an old stallion, unable to move that much; and confound to his bed like that. Heck, even when he was very sick, so sick that he was puking, dad was never in bed. He was like one f those ponies who couldn’t sit still, always on the go. As I said…seeing dad like that, It was hard. I hoped Rainbow Dash got the cure in the record time like I was told. It would still be a long time before dad was back to his old full self, but still; it was better then watching him waste away to nothing. When ponies would cross path with us, I would quickly change, not by much mind you. I made my body a black unicorn coat, and filled my holes as I did so. It was an easy small transformation; that didn’t require a lot of my love storage. But mostly, if I could, I always went as my true Changeling like self. Even though I did have nearly a lot of love inside my body, still, I didn’t want to risk over using it on things I didn’t need to always do. “I mean, from what Lighting told me…he’s well… a sex crazed unicorn.”

“Oh he is,” I answered shaking my head. “Nina and I, we considered him our uncle in a way, he’s been to every last one of our birthdays, holidays, you name it. But, he is also the closet pony that dad truly trust to take care of us if something were to happen.”

“I see…” he answered looking ahead. Canterlot was just up the way, from what I understand, beside the train from Ponyville going up through the hills and such; there was now a walkway and such. Yes it took longer, but by the time the train was there and back, it too the same time to walk. And beside, we didn’t have the bits, nor did we start from Ponyville ether.

I Remembered coming here a lot when visiting Doctor Love with ether dad, mom, or as the whole family, so I knew the area rather well, for this placed never changed that much. And also, as we walked, at times I would notice air ships, bearing the mark of my home, going in different ways. Lance told me these were ponies who needed a place to stay, or were too many beds filled to take the wounded or sick. At least the only ponies who were killed, were a few, and were the guards who sworn to protect the lives of those inside the walls of the city.

“He’s a good pony, don’t get me wrong,” I answered Lance after a while. “Sure he is a little…random at times; but he knows when not to go too far…at times,”

“Do I even want to know?” he asked me as I chuckled shaking my head.

“No…you don’t.”

We kept on walking, soon entering the grand city of Canterlot, looking around as we did. Many of the unicorns here just watched us with weird, distasteful. Mom was right, the ponies of this place were very high class, and if you didn’t look the part; they looked down at you. Some just kept out of our way, I mean, I would too if I saw somepony wearing a weapon that was showing a bit from their cloak. “So where is this Doctor Love, at then?” Lance asked me as I looked back at him, as we made our way through the streets. I had long since reverted to my pony self to keep any prying eyes off us, seeing how my home WAS attacked by Changelings not even a week ago.

Looking back at Lance, after he asked me his question, I pointed forward a bit, a little bit to the left of where the castle was. “He lives and works in that area over there,” I answered him as we kept on walking down the street. “I’m guessing a few blocks away maybe and we’ll be there…and oh, be warned about what type of job he does.”

“What does he do for a living?”

“You’ll see.” I sated as we kept on walking.

After a bit, I noticed a small group, four in totally of the Canterlot Guards making their way toward us. Was it because of our weapons, and our cloaks? “Stay you two,” one of them spoke as we stopped at once. I know for a fact that I didn’t wish to cause trouble here. “Sate your names,”

“I am Lance, guard of the Crystal Empire,” Lance spoke holding hoof over his chest. As I then did the same.

“And I and Shadow Knight, son of Lighting Knight,” after placing my hoof back down, the guard nodded.

“I thought as much,” he answered. “Word came to the princesses that you two were coming, and they wish to speak to you before you travel onward on your way.” Before ether I or Lance could speak again he then went on. “It would be wise to speak to them first before doing anything else.” I turned to look at Lance, the earth pony nodding his head sharply as I nodded back. After agreeing with the guard, he turned and started to escort us toward the castle.

“Your Highnesses,” The guard escorting us bowed on his forelegs as me and Lance stood before the three Princesses. Standing in the middle, the largest of the three, stood Princesses Celestia, her pinkish white coat stood out from her gold shoes and necklaces and crown. Her mane having different shades of color, flowing through the air as if wind was pushing along it, and her tail. Her wings were pressed to her sides as she looked to the guard and nodded. On her right was her sister, Princess Luna. Her coat was that of a dark blue, in a way, dark like the night sky. Like her sister’s mane and tail, it flowed in the air, but her mane and tail were two shades of blue, the middle, looking like stars. Her shoes, necklace, and crown that of black. The last was the newly princess, Twilight Sparkle. Her coat was that of a shade of purple, as well as her mane, a darker shade, with pink streak. Her eyes held wisdom, and her crown was that of the Element of Magic. She hadn’t aged at all, a sure sighed beside the horn and wings that she was indeed an Alicorn. “I have brought the two you wished to speak to,”

“Thank you Sir Guard,” Celestia spoke, her voice holding much wisdom. “You may return to your post,” he bowed his head once more and turned, walking between me and Lance as he did so, the mighty doors closing behind him. “Welcome Shadow Knight, and Lance,” Celestia spoke out as she and her sister and Twilight descended down the stairs. “I do wish we were speaking on much better and less grim terms.” The Princess of the Sun, eyes locked onto mine as I flinched back a bit. “You look much like your father,” she told me. “You may lower your form; you do no have a reason to fear us here.”

I gave her and the other two a look; I knew that they knew of my Changeling form, because dad would send letters at time to the princess, (mostly to Twilight Sparkle because of her wanting to learn about how I am) and such. Though, this was the first time I had been before the three, face to face. I nodded as I took off my cloak so they could see, my body shuddering as the flash of fire of green covered my body. My coat becoming the hard black shell, my wings showing once more, my mane and tail returning to normal, and my curved horn shown. Some of the guards around me and Lance flinched and ready to raise their weapons, when Celestia stopped them. “There is no need to fear,” she spoke, this time to her guards. “We knew of what Shadow was, and he is not like the Changelings you have grown to know.” She held her hoof up toward the guards making them slightly relax, but not fully at the same time. The large Alicorn moved over toward me and Lance, the other two staying back for the moment as I watched Celestia. When coming here with my family during the years, I had seen the sisters many times when they would come out and speak to their subjects. Never once did I meet them as I was now. To what they wanted from us; it was unknown.

“Welcome Shadow Knight, as well as you Lance,” she spoke, nodding her head slightly. “I am…deeply sorry for what had transpired, I wish there were more we could’ve done, to prevent the loses of what had happened in the Crystal Empire. But such things are even out of the control of even Alicorns.”

“I understand,” I spoke. “Just knowing that you could do what you could, says enough for me.” She gave me a small smile, before I went on; tilting my head to the side as I spoke. “But…if I may Princess Celestia, why have you asked to see Lance and I? Is there any truly needed reason as to why you have summoned us?”

“Near a week ago,” she sated walking back to the other two. “We received a letter from Shining Armor, saying that you, with the pony named Lance, were on a mission to rescue your mother and sister…again,” she looked down, a great sadness in her eyes, even Luna and Twilight shared these looks. “I am deeply sorry for what happened.” Luna then walked up next as she spoke.

“You two have traveled a long ways to get here, and we know why. The words of Changelings being in the Everfree Forest did not pass us; and we went as well to see. Though they seemed to have been a step ahead, for all Changelings were gone.” I sighed to myself. Still, I would have to go there, just to see if I could find some sort of clue. “And after such a long track to get from your home to here, we would like to offer you a hot meal, and a bed to sleep in.”

“I thank you for the offer,” I answered. “But I…huh, what?” I felt Lance tap my shoulder as he whispered.

“Shadow…we should take their offer…now before you get all huffy about it, let me say something.” I frowned, but nodded all the same. “We’ve been on the road for a while, our supplies are nearly gone. A day or two to rest and restock is just what we need…and didn’t you say you had a girlfriend here or something?”

He was right…Crystal…how was I to face her? I killed her father!

I know, every time I went back to that time, where I killed him, I thought back to saying ‘I had no choice, ether him, or me,’. But…I still killed him, and it changed me forever, I now knew what my father spoke of when he said killing was never easy. When I slept, I kept seeing it over, and over again, running through my mind of my killing Quake! I would wake up in shakes, I couldn’t breath. Even now I was having a small problem breathing just thinking of this! No doubt, the princesses could sense what was wrong with me, and after a while of convincing, I gave in…maybe a few days here would help; and I still needed to speak with my god-father…and Crystal.

After being settled into my room, a few servants came to ask if I needed anything. Inside the castle, I stayed as my Changeling form, and I could sense that it was scaring them slightly. When en I at last got them to leave, I took a moment to look around my room to see what I had within. The bed was large, that was the first thing I noticed, I mean, my bed was pretty big back home, enough to fit me and maybe two others, but this one, I swear, its like I could toss and turn all night and not fall off! A large glass door a bit off to the middle wall, leading to a outside area, small, but enough for myself and three others to speak outside if we wanted to. it was still bright outside when I quickly checked. Closing the door softly, I looked about once more, seeing a desk, with a scroll and a quill with books beside it. Along the wall closer to the door, my armor and sword hung there. I was about to go and sit down, before a soft knock, came from the door. “Come in!” I called out, going toward the bed. When the door open, I was shocked and surpised at who I was seeing…Princess Luna.

She was the younger sister of Celestia, so it made sense that she was smaller then her, but, she was still a bit taller then me. I remembered father telling me of how she wanted both mother and him dead, I could understand that, but she didn’t give them a chance at all! only her sister and a few others. Though, at the end, she did see them for what they were…but what was she doing here, what possible reason could she have, of speaking to me? “Have thy settled in well?” she asked me as I gave a small amused look, it seemed the stories were true, she still spoke much like in the old ways. Though, I guess it was because she was trapped for one thousand years on the moon, so she couldn’t have known at the time of the way we speak now. It baffled me, as to why the Night Princess was here, what could she want with me?

“I have Princess Luna,” I spoke, giving her a small bow as I did so. “Thank you for asking. And if it is able, could you please thank Princess Celestia as well for giving Lance and I these rooms to stay for the few days?”

“I shall relay the gratitude,” she answered me with a small smile. “But, I would like to speak to you, if this is able?”

“Of course,” I told her as I got off the bed. “What is there you wished to speak to me of.”

She was still for a moment, before once more starting. “I…I would like to tell you, how sorry I am for the lost you have received thus far.” She looked away before at last saying. “Though, I do wish this world were that of a true peaceful one, things such as these are painful to see.” She then looked to me before asking. “When word reached us as to what happened, I was glad not as many as we thought were taken from this world. Though, any death, is not worth celebrating.” Yes, how true she was of this. “And I’m sure the one who is known as Rainbow Dash,” she went on to say. “Shall gather the cure needed for your father, and save him from a impending doom.”

Now It was my turn to say nothing, the words she choose, hitting a cord within my being, sensing this, I saw her look as she shook her head. “Forgive me…I did not mean for that to come out as it did so.”

“No…no it is fine,” I offered her as she looked up to me. “I know you didn’t mean it as such, I too also hope that the cure reaches him in time. He is my father after all.” after a moment of nether speaking I then asked. “Was…that all you wished to speak to me of?”

The way she looked at me, I knew she wanted to say something, but it was as if she couldn’t at the same time, like something she held deep within her heart. She at last took a deep breath before saying. “You…already know how I felt about your mother’s and father relationship but then, yes?” The fact you wanted them dead because you thought mom was controlling him and that all Changelings were the same. Yes, I greatly knew of that, having read dad’s own book when he was imprisoned. When I gave her the nod of my head she too could only nod back. “Truthfully, I thought back then that all changelings were alike, much like Chrysalis was when she tried to take Shining Armor, and as well as this Kingdom…such a vial one she was.”

“She did it for her subjects,” I pointed out as she looked to me. “I am not agreeing with her terms, but tell me this, if your subjects were in need, and a kingdom had it, it you were desperate enough…you would’ve done the same.” She said nothing as I sighed. “If you came here asking for forgiveness, it is not in my place to give it. yes you did judge my mother and father wrongly, but it was them, not me.”

We stared at each other for a long moment, before the Princess of the Night slowly nodded her head. “Forgive me then,” she answered bowing her head slightly. “I…I did not wish to make it seem like I was taking the easy way out by trying to apologize to you, and not to them. I do hope, that one day, I may look them both in the eye, and tell them, how much I was wrong of them.”

“I’m sure you will princess,” I told her with a small smile. “I’m sure you will…but if you excuse me, I…have somepony to see, before Doctor Love.”

“The daughter of the one you killed?” I slightly flinched as I slowly nodded my head. “We received a letter from Shining Armor, a detail letter of what happened. This letter was to be forward to the one known as Crystal Glimmer, but what possible…”

“She’s my mare-friend,”

The air about us grew still as I saw Luna slowly look away. “I…didn’t know, it must’ve been painful…” I could only nod my head. “The letter sated he was under the control of one of the Changeling Queens, studies to the body showed as much, but…it was left out who killed him, and now I see why.” She looked at me again. “I shall ask my sister, and also Twilight Sparkle not to tell them the name of who did it, this choice, is along your shoulders.”

Holding my pony form up, meaning that of a full black body coat, much like when I walked into the city first, I copied my father’s cutie mark as I wondered through the streets of Canterlot. I always did hate this place so much; it felt like all of their eyes were locked along you, watching you, judging you without saying a word at all. these were all upperclass ponies, and you could tell by the way walked, seeming to push their chest out, not a care in the world other then their money or looks…I hated it. I bet they didn’t even care what was going on, or the other ponies coming here for the help they needed.

After a bit more walking, I came to a large building, the home of Crystal’s grandparents. My body felt tensed, like I was going to meet them for the first time all over again. Taking a deep breath, I slowly closed my eyes, and knocked on the door, slow, but a bit too loud. “Coming!” I heard a voice from inside, remembering it was the voice of her grandmother, of Sky Blitz. Soon the door opened, and showed the grey Pegasus looking at me. Her eyes…seemed darken, and I knew why. She looked at me, tilting her head to the side, but before she could say anything, I changed my eyes colors, to that of one she saw me in, my Changeling eyes. “S…Shadow?” she asked as I nodded with a soft smile. “Come in, come in…what are you…?”

“I’ll explain later,” I answered coming in. “Do you mind if I use my Changeling form?”

“By all means yes, but are you alone, what of your mother and father, or your sister you spoke about what…” she stopped, as I looked away, my actions, no doubt speaking more words then what any verbal ones could. “Are they….”

“Mom and Nina were taken,” I whispered. “Dad…posion.”

She said nothing for the moment, the air, still, the only sound heard, came from outside in the streets, the clamors of ponies going about their daily duties. “What of Crystal?” I spoke at last. “How…is she?” I had to pretend, to not know of the letter sent to them, if she knew, then she would ask questions; questions I did not wish to answer.

“Quake, was killed,” she spoke…the sadness and grim in her voice. “A letter, came in, sating what had happen, that he was being controlled…the only thing they left out; was the one who killed him.” Sky looked away from me, tears slowly running down her cheeks. “His body came a day ago, and we had to bury him…a mother should not have to bury their child.” She wiped her tears. “But no…Crystal…she’s been in her room, only at her father’s grave did she come out. other then that, I’m afraid if she is truly eating.”

“May, I…?”

“By all means yes,” she answered, with more of a plead then a agreement. “Maybe you can help her!” I surly doubt it…

Climbing up the stairs, and stopping at the room I was told, I took a huge deep breath before knocking. “I don’t want to be bothered, Grandmother,” I heard her call out, her voice, so shallow… “Just…”

“…It’s me, Crystal,” I heard a huge intake of air from the inside, followed by a thump of the floor before the door was swung open quickly. Crystal…her mane looked a mess, her face, mated with dried tears, her eyes; bloodshot. She looked to me, and I to her, before she then threw her arms around me quickly and held me close. I brought one arm slowly up, and held her, as she then broke down into tears.

“You haven’t been eating much,” I spoke after closing the door.

“I don’t feel like eating,” I looked about, finding food that was, looking rather fresh. A simple orange and toast, well; the toast looked stale slightly.

“Just eat the orange, please?” she looked to me, then to the orange, before nodding. She took it in her hooves and slowly peeled away the skin, before the soft squish like sound of her consuming it; was heard. Her room was a mess, things, looking like they were thrown all about. Like someone enraged. I could see broken pieces of crystals about as well, well, in one section of the room. Even her bed, even though she looked like she didn’t get much, if not any sleep whatsoever.

We just…talked, I told her why I was here, the look she gave me, shocked, fear, sadness…I couldn’t tell, all I knew, was that she didn’t want me to do this, even when she verbally said it; I knew it before hand. But this was something I had to do, I had to go and try to do something…I just had to! “I hope whoever killed father is alright,” I jerked and looked to her, we were sitting on the egde of her bed, she looking down before saying. “We knew everyone back home Shadow…so…nine times out of ten, whoever killed him, knew of him. Or were friends with him in the guards.” Oh you have no idea Crystal…no idea. “I…I know father was being controlled after reading that letter…how could’ve I been so blind to see the sighs?!”

“Don’t blame yourself, Crystal.” I answered placing a hoof on her shoulder. “How could’ve anypony knew this would happen?” I looked to her, seeing her looking away before she then said.

“I think…it’s just this feeling I mean, but I think daddy knew this was going to happen.” I remembered talking with him, that night I came to dinner. He knew alright, but I think he knew far more when he was under the control of Cocoon or Chrysalis. Maybe in the back of his mind, even if they tried to make him not know, I think he really did know. As strange as it sounds. Mother told me long ago that we have to be very careful if we were to take full control of somepony, that we know what we are doing. Or something like that happened with my grandfather, when he was controlling my grandmother, could happen.

“Whatever the case,” I spoke rubbing her mane out of her eye. “If he did know…then he kept you and your grandmother safe…”

“I supposed, but…it just…it just hurts,” she clenched at her chest softly as i looked down once more; before pulling her into a hard hug.

Afterward, we just…talked. It was strange, going from what we were just speaking of to a whole new topic, or topics. She asked how long I would be saying, and I told her a few days. She asked if we could spend those few days together, and I agreed. Telling her I was staying at the castle, she was slightly surprised, if the look she gave wasn’t clued in enough. “So who are you looking for?” she asked, having told her after a bit I was also looking for someone to help.

“He’s my god-father,” I answered. “Name is Doctor Love,”

“You mean…that pony that opened that…oh…”

“Yeah…the same one, really though I’m surprised I haven’t…” WHACK!

We both jerked, Crystal screaming in shock as I just help my jaw dropped. Does he have bat ears or something?! His cheek pressing along the glass window, a wide grin along his face. He looked just like he always did, as if time hadn’t even touched him for some reason, still wearing the trademark red tux he was known for. His grin was impossible wide, before waving as he said. “I’m baccccccccccccck!” he yelled out. “Did you all miss me?”

Not Like This

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Doctor Love, my God-Father, but in a sense, much like my uncle then anything else in this world. The former second in command of the Black Light rebels forces of Higher Wing, was somehow…sticking to the window. I knew for a fact, looking outside before entering, that there was nothing under that window that could hold him up! and his magical aura wasn’t even on ether…so how was he even sticking like…ugh…the thoughts running through my mind… his hooves tapped at the window for a few moments, before he opened it and rolled right in, I was surprised of what happened next. “What are you doing here?!” Crystal yelled out in what I think shock was.

“What are you doing here,” he asked blinking slightly as he looked about. “And what is with all this…junk?” he asked blinking before grinning.

“What are you doing here?!” she yelled out once more before pointing a hoof at him. “This is my room! And beside why couldn’t you just use the door like a normal pony?!” I muzzled slapped myself…he was not normal in any sense of the word.

“Free country, bitcccccccccch!” he rolled the last word as Crystal flinched back.

“Doc…” I groaned looking at him. “What…are you doing here?”

“Well my little half…”

“Three-forth,”

“Changeling,” he still went on as if nothing was said. “I was walking down the street, when my gay-dar went off, I looked and I found you here with her!”

“I…I’m not gay, she’s my mare-friend you idiotic fool!”

“Oh…good cover, but we all know you wanna join my shop as a sexy stallion-whore!”

“Shut up!” me and crystal both yelled at once as he only laughed before jumping out the window, turned, bowed, and fell down.

Me and Crystal turned to look at one another, I was about to say how sorry I was, on Doctor Love’s way of…being, until we heard a shout from the street. “This music is giving me a boner!” again…it was Doctor Love…why all the randomness…really?

“That…was…” Crystal spoke as she walked me to the door. “Was…”

“Don’t worry,” I told her. “I’ll be sure to talk to him about that…the way he was acting, I don’t even think he knows about what happened to my family…or the Crystal Empire…” I sighed softly. “I’m bringing him with me and Lance…he may be a pain, but he has great skills that can help us.”

“I know…but what was he was talking about…you being a stallion-whore?” I sighed, remembering when I came of age, Doctor Love pulling me to the side and asking me to…

“You really wanna know?” I asked her as she slowly nodded her head. “On my last birthday, he came to me…see…he does sell, er…sexually clothing for ponies, gryphons…you name it, he has it. Anyway…he also has a sex club going on, legal and everything, if you can believe that. Anyway…he wanted me to join his shop, seeing how he said and I quote,” I then turned into Doctor Love as she blinked at how I was being him. “Having a changeling as a staff can be fucking great; you can fuck, and be fucked by ponies who want ether a gryphon, diamond dog, or dragon loving!” I then reverted back, but this time as my black coat unicorn body. “So…yeah…”

“Just…how do you put up with that?”

“Dad always said…” I paused remembering about my father for a moment. “It just…how he forgets where he came from I guess…” she looked to me as I went on. “You know my dad and Doctor Love came from Higher Wing back with that civil war right?” when she nodded I went on. “Those two seen so much…I’m surprised dad is what he is, he may look un-scar, but he is. Maybe with Doctor Love…he became this alter of his former self…I don’t know, I rather not think about him as such. But I grew up with him around so this is my ‘normal’ with him.”

“So the stallion-whore part…” she asked with a small smile. “Isn’t because of that one time you dated a stallion back home?”

“It was for three months and nothing happened!” I laughed slightly. “But you know I’m bi Crystal, but you are the only one for me anyway.” She smiled before giving me a soft nuzzle under the chin, and a kiss.

Even though she still looked like crap, her mane still a mess and her eyes still red…she looked a bit better now…all things considered.

As I left…I kept looking back over my shoulder, she was still there, watching. I wanted to rush back and tell her, really I did…but I just couldn’t…I just…ugh! I stopped in the middle of the road as I looked down toward my hooves, mostly to the hoof where the hoof-blade would be if I didn’t take it off…my mind flashed; I saw the hoof-blade then, covered in blood, his blood… I jerked my head back, seeing my hoof back to normal as I groaned. My head shaking left and right. I wanted to forget that…I wanted to so badly! But I just couldn’t, I know dad said that I should never forget that moment…but…it was just too painful! “Shadow Knight…?” I blinked hearing my name and looked up, standing before me, was Princess Celestia herself! On ether side, stood a guard, at the ready, faces blank like all guards seem to have. “Come,” she spoke waving her hoof toward an outside café. “Let us drink tea and speak?”

Let me tell you something…sitting with one of the princesses that can move the sun (and the moon while Luna was imprisoned on it) while others watch you…are so awkward… I watched as she lifted her cup with her magic, and sipped the hot drink from her cup. I could hear the whispers, was I somehow her new little student to be trained under her? Or was I something more. I learned long ago to simply block it all out, I always joked, showing I had no more shame left in this life time anyway, so why should I really start caring now? “What is it you wish to speak of Celestia,” I asked, not trying to sound rude…but it sure came out as such. The princess, taking one more sip, released a soft sigh, as she slowly lowered her cup.

“Once more…I am greatly sorry, for the lost…and the trails you had to go through, at such a young age…”

“I am considered an adult you know,”

“Even so,” she answered once more looking toward me, as she once more placed her glass down. “It is a sadden time, when anypony has to see what you saw.”

“So is that it?” I asked. “All you wanted to tell me was this, once more saying sorry?”

“No…” she went on. “I also wish to…reconsider your choice on going after Chrysalis and Cocoon.”

I was about to take another sip, when I stopped, the rim of the cup, just grazing along my lips. I looked to her, my eyes, locked along her own. She stared right back at me, though I didn’t like it, no, loathed what she just said. Her eyes held that of wisdom, many years, of wisdom. “You must understand…that this is…”

“I’m still going,” I placed the cup down at once; the clacking of it along the plate was heard as she looked to me, her expression unchanged. “They took my family, harmed my father! And you want me to what?” I asked raising my arms out to the side. “Stay here, or go back home, like nothing happened?!”

“You can always look after Lighting…”

“He is fine there,” I forced through my clutched teeth then. “This talk is over!”

“And when do you plan on telling young Crystal about her father…?”

I was shocked that she even went that far, so shock it in fact sent me leaning back a bit. She no doubt saw the error of her choice of words, for she looked away. “For…give me, I…it was not my place…”

“You’re right…it’s NOT your place to even say that!” I whispered harshly so only myself, and she could hear. “Do you not think it eats away at me? To know I am the reason her father is no longer alive, that I stabbed him, and watched his blood seep out!?!” I took a deep heavy breath before going on. “And secondly, don’t you dare try and guilt trip me into staying, because I know for a fact, if you were a few hundred years younger, and your sister, your family was taken from you, you would do everything in your power, go through any sort of trail; to get her back. Wouldn’t you, Princess Celestia?” she said nothing after that as I spoke once more. “I agreed to stay these next few days, because Lance is right, we do need our rests, we do need supplies, but everyday we waste, they get further and further away!” it hen stood up, before placing some bits I ha don the table, as payment and tip for my tea. “I thank you the room that you provided, but…it would be best if we don’t speak at all princess, or I shall say something that will no doubt cause me to be exiled from Canterlot, now; good day,” and with that, I turned and left.

What right did she have to bring that up? She held no right to that; I know Crystal has a right to know…that I killed…ugh! Stomping down the road toward the castle, Doctor Love could wait, I needed to calm down, and no doubt sleeping would be the best way to do it. Walking toward the large main doors of the castle, the guards, standing at the ready like they always did so, I pushed passed. I noticed a few whispers, felt the smallest bit of fear around me. Word must’ve passed as to what I was, quickly I might add. But, I didn’t pay attention to them, I just quickly climbed some stairs, went to my room, closed the door. My back pressed along the door as I sighed. “Took you long enough,” I opened my eyes, not knowing that they were closed, as I saw Crystal sitting on the bed, smiling softly to me.

She looked…good, her mane, fixed and just the way it had always been. It put a small smile along my muzzle, to see her like this. Sure, under her eyes were still dark from no doubt lack of sleep, and her eyes, still held that bloodshot look…but she looked better. I felt my body shudder as I reverted back to my normal form, allowing her to see me in all my Changeling glory. “Crystal…what are you doing here…?” she seemed to scuff a bit as she looked away.

“Well, somepony’s God-father broke my window,” she pointed out as I smiled sheepish like. “And when I came looking for you, Princess Luna, said that I could spend the few days you’re here…in this bedroom if you wanted. Grandma already said yes, as long as I come over at times to eat and such.”

“I…would like that very much,” I answered walking over. I felt a boost of energy as I came closer to her. The love she held for me…the taste was just so divine. She patted the bed, as I hopped up, sitting next to her, as she nuzzled along my side, her coat, feeling rather good, along the hard shell of my body. I slowly dropped an arm about her shoulder, hugging her softly along my side.

“I love you, Shadow,” she softly whispered. My arm tightened about her a bit.

“I love you too, Crystal.” She turned to look at me, her eyes, wide, not of shock, but I knew of her look. She inched closer to me, her eyes slowly closing, and like a moth, I drew in close as well. My eyes closing before I soon, felt her lips along my own.

The kiss was short, and sweet, not very long, but long enough that if we were out in public. When we broke away, my eyes were still closed at least, but I felt her come again, this time it was deeper; our lips moving as if on their own, breathing into each other’s maws. I felt her tongue, lap at the lips of my muzzle. I pulled away, breathing deeply, as I felt something now, coming from her, love, and lust. “Crystal…I…”

“Shh…” she whispered placing a hoof on my lips. “Please…just…just for now…make me forget, please…?”

I looked into her eyes, seeing the need of what she was asking me, the want and need…for it to just be the two of us, here…; alone. I wanted to tell her…oh right now I wanted to…but…I just couldn’t tell her, I wanted to, on Luna’s name I did…but those eyes…I couldn’t give her more sorrow…I just couldn’t.

The night started off slow for us, kissing, and rubbing along one’s body, feeling her body pressed to my own, and her love, over coming my very being. I would shudder and moan at times as I felt her love enter me, and she would respond, with a small giggle and laugh, before going back to making out with me.

How long did we go on for…hours…days? I know, it seems impossible, but with her, by Celestia’s name it felt possible. At one point I found her under me, moaning out my name as I gave her slow, gentle rocks of my hips, feeling my stallion-hood push deep within her folds. She told me before-hoof that she was not in heat, and it would not matter. But I was still a bit wanting to wear a sheath, but…well, she can be rather convincing.

Another point of the night, I found her on top now, my hooves rubbing along her flanks, as I would thrust up, and at times, she would roughly push my shoulders down; and gave me such a deep kiss it sent my head spinning. I came into her many times, and she, over my thrusting pole.

We stopped to catch out breath, me, spooning behind her as we stopped, from yet another round. Both, out of breath as I nuzzled into her neck softly, giving her small kisses as she sighed and rolled to look at me; rubbing her hoof slowly along my cheek. “I love you, Shadow Knight…”

“I love you too…Crystal Glimmer,” and once more, our lips found each other as we started off, for what was our last romp of the night.

The sun slowly started to seep in through the small cracks the blinds made into the rather large room, which would be mine for the next couple of days. Crystal, sighed in her sleep, her mane, a mess from what happened last night, a small smile on her muzzle as she nuzzled up along my side. One arm, held her loosely as she so slept. Though last night I did fall asleep a bit after she did…I’ve been up for hours now, thinking. I couldn’t hold it off anymore…she had the right to know what happened to her father. I knew she would hate me, but I rather know, rather her know; then lie to her for years to come. I’ve known first hoof, when dad withheld the information of the murderer of her Granny. The only thing different…was that it was ME who did the killing blow. I know…I know, I say this a lot to myself, but I have to, I cant forget, even if I wanted to…I just cant!

Crystal released a soft sigh as she rolled over in her sleep, leaving me free of her hug. This gave me the time I needed to get out of bed, and softly onto the ground. What to say…I would have to choose my words ever so carefully…oh I know!

I went toward the table, pulling out a ink quill and a scroll. Mom taught me long ago, that writing down what you want to say, it makes it easier when you have to say it outloud, because you know what you are going to say to said pony. So, flatting out the scroll, the quill, dunking into the ink a few times, looking at the golden brown scroll…before slowly writing.

‘Dear Crystal…

Where do I even start with this, I am hoping you don’t read this part, but somehow, this one part here, the start before what needs to be said, I just need to write it down. The last days had been rough…an understatement that’s for sure, with the Changeling attack, and…everything, just everything.

I just want you to know Crystal…I love you, with ever fiber of my being, I love you. you are my world, and when we ‘broke’ up…I was crushed, when I didn’t know the reason why, then when you told me it was your friends, and then in fact it was because of…Quake, I was both pleased to know, and enraged at knowing. But know…I am glad we are together…and this is why it hurts so much to write this…

I…was the one who killed your father…’

I started to write more after that part, telling her, or explaining, what had happen, it just went on and on…and soon I had three scroll filled…back to back! Writing all of that, it was…it felt like I was drained, like everything was just…lifted. I knew I had to re-say all of this again to her. My lifted spirits became dampened once more as I thought of this. “Hrm…Shadow?” I flinched and quickly, as if hiding a play-colt magazine from my mother, I stuff the scrolls into a oversized book. Looking back, I watched as Crystal slowly sat up in bed, the blankets, slowly draping down off her as she yawned out loudly. She looked to me, a smile crossing over her face. “Hrm…morning,”

“And a good morning to you,” I answered with a small smile right back to her. “Sleep well?”

“I don’t think, ether of us got any sleep whatsoever last night,” she gave a soft giggle with a blush as I looked away before she asked. “Here a question though…why don’t you ever…you know, shift?”

“Hrm?”

“Well you know, I do love YOU,” she pointed out before she blushed. “But uh…you know when you…”

“Found that book of ‘Sexual Fantasies’?” I gave her a wide grin as she meep and covered her body with the blankets.

“Stop it!” she whined. “That’s embarrassing!” I gave her a half hearty laugh before walking over as she peaked from the blankets.

‘Listen,” I spoke softly to her. “I don’t care what you want me to be, be it a Gryphon, a dragon…well not full size!” I saw her look of horror as she then smiled. “Anything,” I lifted her chin and looked her in her eyes. “As long as you love ME, as long as you love Shadow Knight, this,” I placed her hoof along my cheek. “I’ll be whatever you want,”

“So…if I said I wanted a wild Gryphon tonight?”

“Best soundproof the room then,”

We both laughed at our sex joke, her eyes closed as she tilted her head to the side before her gut rumbled with need. “Why not you take a shower, and I’ll gather some food, alright?” she rubbed her mane with her hoof, before nodding in agreement with my idea. I smiled and came over, giving her a soft nuzzle as she kissed my cheek. I’ll tell her…just…not yet.

After seeing her leave to the washroom, I made my way out of the bedroom, toward where the food would be at. The guards, along the way, still gave me looks of that of weary, as if they were ready to pounce on me at any moment. I couldn’t really blame them.

I found my way into the kitchen, guards and servants gather their morning meal, until I remembered; what did Crystal want to eat. Excusing myself, I raced back up the stairs toward the room, before pushing it open. “Hey Crystal,” I answered. “What to you…” but I stopped, my eyes grew wide, as she was looking at the book…not, not at it…in it, the scrolls that were there! Her eyes, both wide, I couldn’t tell what, but then, she looked to me, her eyes narrowing, as the scroll in her hold being released, as it floated in the air, sliding along the floor, close to where I was. As the words, jumped out, the very words I just wrote that morning. ‘I….was the one, who killed your father…’

To Save Her

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Not a word was said, between the two of us, the scroll I had written that morning…a ‘rough’ draft in a sense; laid along the floor, in between myself, and Crystal Glimmer. This was not how it were to be…not how it was to go! And yet, here I was, in that moment, about to face the wrath. She said nothing, her eyes, glued onto mine, her still blood-shot eyes from days of sorrow, made her look even fiercer now. Celestia was right…and now, I had ruined it, ruined us. “Crystal…” I started to say, trying to move forward a bit, but my body couldn’t, wouldn’t allow me to.

“You…lied to me…”

“No, I didn’t…”

“You lied to me!” she screeched out loudly that I shrank back a bit. “You…you killed my father!”

“I had no…”

“Shut up!” she screamed again, before I felt a magical blast hit me in the chest. I allowed it to hit, making me slide and hit the wall hard, causing me to slightly coughed in pain. “You’d killed him, you killed him and you didn’t think of telling me!?!” I looked down; to ashamed to even look at her, before slowly saying.

“I…I couldn’t,” I told her. “I…I didn’t want to lose you,”

“Oh, so this was so much better?!” she yelled before I watched as a fire spell was launched, burning the scroll on the floor, two more was added, as the flames died down to a mist of embers. “You decided to take the easy way out, make me read those words…those…”

“No, I was going to tell you-”

‘When?!” she asked. “When you got more out of me like last night, so you wouldn’t go hungry?!”
I looked away from her, I couldn’t say anything to her; what could I say, but let her vent out her anger on me. Flashes of this, came back, much like when dad told mom about Fang…it was like we were being mirrored in a sense. “Dad was right…that’s all you cared about, you didn’t care nothing about me!” I looked up, feeling my chest tighten when she said that, her words, like daggers, stabbing at my chest.

“No, no that’s not true!” I called out as she glared and came over to me, her eyes, lit of rage! “I do love you Crystal, I just didn’t want to hurt you, I didn’t want you to…” I was cut off as a smacked was heard, my head being turned to the side, my eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
“How can I know for sure you’re even telling the truth about him being controlled?! How can I know that you just didn’t kill him because he was going to keep me from you, from your food sourced?” I slowly turned back to look at her, though her face showed that of rage, her eyes were wet with tears.
“C…Crystal…”

“Stay away from me, Changeling,” I shrank back again, never had she said that to me, the ice in her voice, the venom that leaked from her lips as she spoke those horrid words to me. “You cared, nothing, nothing of me! If you truly did, you would’ve told me! I would’ve been angry at first, but I knew the reason why!” tears flowed down more. “The thought of you keeping this from me…the one pony I thought I could trust!” she pushed me away and before I could go out to hold her, she once more slapped me with her hoof on the other side of the cheek, stopping me once more. “Stay away from me,” she spoke the words slowly. “Just…stay away, I never want to see your face again, you murderer!” The door slammed so hard, the echoing of the slam could be heard within the halls outside, the glass, shaking and waving. As I just stood there, frozen; blank.

How long had I stayed in the room, minutes, hours…? I just didn’t know, I couldn’t tell, and really…I didn’t even care. The world outside could be burning, flooding…whatever, I just didn’t care. And, for that small moment, a dark part in the back of my mind…I didn’t even care about my own family. The drapes drawn to a close, keeping the sunlight out, it was dark, so dark that if it wasn’t for the soft glow of my eyes in the mirror on the other side of the wall, I would’ve also believed myself not in the room. My cheeks still stung, my chest, pained…hard to breathe as my cheeks were also stained with tears. I heard the soft knock of the door being clunked along by somepony’s hoof, a voice that I didn’t know, asking if I was alright; if I would allow ether Lance or Doctor Love in…Doctor Love asking…he must’ve known then.
But I didn’t answer them, my voice was gone. I lifted up my hoof, the very one that would house the hoof-blade, the same one I used to kill Quake. Once more, my eyes flashed as I saw the blood on my hoof and arm, and when I looked down. I was outside, Quake’s body, looking back at me, eyes, locked to me, mouth agape. My eyes were half closed, as if I didn’t care, before a soft whispered came from the dead pony’s lips. “Your…fault…”

I brought myself back when a much louder, harder knock came from the door. “Shadow!” it was Doctor Love. “Open this door or…”

“Go fuck yourself Doctor Love!” I screamed out loudly. “Leave me alone!”

“How many times do I have to remind you?” I then heard him laugh. “I tried that! My dick just isn’t long enough!” I shook with rage as I ran to the door, feeling my body shifting into a large bear, I threw the door open, seeing him, and three guards there as I then slammed him hard in the chest, his body being thrown to the wall hard as the crack of it was heard. He blinked, somehow looking unharmed as I slammed the door closed, shifting back to my true form. “Okay…he’s having a pissy moment,” I scowled harder, as I went back to the bed and flopped down pulling the blankets over me…and bringing myself into a deeper darkness.

My body yearned for food, but I kept myself in the bed. I didn’t want to leave; I wouldn’t allow myself to leave.
I felt like this, much like when Crystal broke up with me because of her father, but this…because now it was my fault that she was not here, it just felt… I was pulled from my train of thought, by a knock along the door, three; soft knocks, not like the hard pounding of Doctor Love or, Lance.
Whoever was at the door, they did not wait for me to call them in, not that I would anyway.
“Shadow Knight?” the voice belong to that of Celestia…great, would she come here, tell me how she was right all along, to tell me it was wrong, and this was just the way of the world was telling me that I should’ve just told Crystal the truth from the start? The blankets were stil over my head, shrouding myself in the makeshift darkness I had made around me. “Shadow Knight…I can understand your grief,” she spoke once more, as I felt something being brought on the bed, he no doubt sitting on it. “But…you had been in this room, more nearly two days now.” Two days…hadn’t felt like that.

“You were right…” my voice sounded dry, horsed. “You…were right,” she was silent for a moment, before once more, allowing her voice to flow.

“Sometimes…the truth will hurt Shadow Knight,” I heard her say, ether she did not hear me speak before hand, or just choose not to answer my own answer. “It is better this way, her knowing, then always in the dark.” I heard her then sigh softly before she went on. “I know what you are thinking, Shadow. You are thinking right now, ‘what could’ve I’d done differently, what could’ve I’d done, so this course of action didn’t happen?’ I know these feelings, these thoughts, for I thought the same way, after I banished, Luna, my dear sister; to the moon. These thoughts will always be with you, Shadow Knight; these thoughts will always linger, like any choice you’ve made in the past that you wish to change. That one saying, what could I have done, it will always linger in the back of your mind.”

I could sense the wisdom in her words as she spoke them to me, I just knew it; a feeling in a sense. It had to be hard, to banish your own blood for so long, yes, Alicorns do have such long, lives. But in a way, a thousand years, even for one who seems immortal, it still is a thousand years.

We just…talked; I explained what happened, even worst what we did before she found out. She listened, sitting next to me, never cutting me off as I spoke. It seemed strange, seeing how I never knew Celestia enough to just, pour my feelings out, but here I was, doing just that. She had this sort of charm, the way she looked at you, im sure even if somepony just met her for the first time; they could tell her anything.

At times I stopped and listened to her, the advice she gave me, I hoped that what she was telling me would happen. Maybe Crystal couldn’t forget that I had done, but maybe forgive; I doubt it. Just then, the door gave out rather loud knocks, as Celestia called whoever in. it was one of her guards, who bowed before her, before speaking.

“Your highness, an elderly pony wishes to ask for help…it had been two days since she last saw her grandchild, Crystal Glimmer, and…”

“Wait, what!?!” I got up at once, hearing this as the guard looked to me with confusion. “Crystal is missing? What happened?”

“Sir, this is…”

“Allow him to hear,” Celestia answered, not a order, but in a way as well…it still was. The guard looked to her, and then back to me, before nodding.

“Two days ago, the missing pony, Crystal Glimmer, left home to gather items at the neighboring village of Ponyville. At first, the grandmother thought she had simply missed her train time, or was staying at a friend. She told us that she seemed…unease of something,” I cringed at how he worded it, it was like he knew. “But, when letters went out, none claimed to have seen the missing pony…however…”

“However what?” Celestia asked.

“A pony matching her description was seen following another pony toward the Everfree Forest, we’ve sent a team to look around, but had found no proof that she even with into the Everfree.”

“Was the pony…?”

“We’ve no idea if the pony in question is a Changeling, we sent out word, trying to find out, who this pony is…but I wouldn’t put it pass me if it truly is a Changeling at work.”

“I got to go after her,” I said at once, slipping out of the bed, I felt a bit weak, from the lack of movement, but I would deal with it, I had to save, Crystal, no matter the cost.

‘Wait, Shadow Knight…”

“I know what you are going to say princess,” I answered her before she could fully say what she wanted to. “And don’t worry, I don’t plan on going alone…I’ve two ponies who would be willing to help.”

It took me, Doctor Love, and Lance, a bit over an hour to get from Canterlot to Ponyville. The train ride was fast enough, but before we left, I did have to find the two and convince then to come along, while also filling in the blanks as to what was going on. Lance was in right at the start, and Doctor Love as well…only thing was…now he knew why we were here in the first place, to ask him to come along on our quest.

“So…did I ever tell you the time I got invited into an orgy, at one point?” Lance and I, myself in my black fur pony form, looked back at Doc, as he just blinked. The zebra pony now donning a belt of knives about his back and front legs, and Lance, true to his name, went with a small lance, which could enlarge for combat, and compressed to carry. He also had one new item as well, around his neck. To me, it looked much like the neck brace the princess’s would wear, but, save for being golden, it was black, a much darker shade perhaps of Luna’s own. In the middle, a single green stone sat in it, shining a bit as the sunlight hit it. to anyone who did not know of it, it seemed like a simple stone, but in fact, it was enchanted.

For years now, the princesses had been looking for a way, for ponies to not be taken over by Changelings love like spell, unless it was willing, much like my mom and dad relationship was. And, this stone, having gone through many tests before ready; could do that. It was one of the only three that were ready, and able to stop from a small group, they estimated from three or four Changelings at once. I tried it, and he seemed unaffected by it. Good thing too…I was worried that I would have to send him home. He wouldn’t be helping us, if every time a Changeling attack came, he would be turned.

“Is this, really the time?” he asked as Doc only smiled. “Who am I kidding…I’m talking to the Black Light Whore,”

“You’re just jelly because you didn’t get any of my mhmmmm smoky brown ass!” Remind me again why I agreed to have this guy follow us… “Anyway, the story is that I had two friends, who were two lesbians; who just happened to be a couple. Anyway, I knew them for a long time, and they were alright with me hanging with them, seeing how I never did anything to them…yet,” Lance and I just slowly rolled our eyes at his little edit of his story. “Anyway, any guy with a couple of lesbians is well, I was like…” then he looked us dead in the eye, and started to speak almost like a pervert…don’t ask, you don’t wanna know. “Maybe I will be invited into the threesome,’”

“Yeah, the threesome they are not having,” I pointed out as Lance just laughed a bit as we pushed our way out of the small village, toward where the forest would be.

“Yeah, so, anyway, I’m at they’re place, just hanging when one places her hoof on my leg and says very softly, ‘Um, Doctor…we have a little idea for you,’ and I’m just looking at her and then said. ‘Go onnnnnnnnn!’ he then showed us how he did it, he was now laying on his side, on the ground, one hoof under his head, the other on his hip, with a large grin on his face. Lance is laughing again, and even then, I was laughing as well and decided to just join in as well.

“And inside, there like, Fireworks going on in your head?” Doc started to nod as he got up, before then once more starting.

“Yeah, yeah, outside im like, ‘oh? Do tell,’ but inside, I’m like…’Ahhhhhhhhh!’” by then, all three of us were laughing.

It was a good thing…to just laugh, with all that had been happening as of late, Celestia knows how long it been since I had a good laugh.

All three soon stopped before the enter-way of the Everfree Forest, looking dark, and gloomy. I was not scared. Many ponies went on to saying that clouds move on their own, animals fend for themselves, ya da, ya da. I remembering my dad saying at one point, everything in this world was about order in a sense, that the Everfree, was the only place (That he knew of) that was not added to this order, why? That I did not know.

“So…we’re going inside the Everfree?” Doctor Love asked as I only nodded. “Gonna go look for your girl-friend or something…didn’t she like…bitch smack you, because you misused her?”

“Don’t make me misuse my hoof upside your head,” I answered. “I already told you the reason, and I’m not about to repeat that again…Crystal has to be here…and if there is a Changeling it could mean one of two things. One, whoever took her, they must know that she was in a relationship with me, and no doubt will use her, to get to me,”

“Or, it could just be a random one…like a Changeling just wanting his or her own love supply.”

“True,” I agreed. “I really hope it’s the latter,” Even though the other two said nothing, I believe in their own sense of the way, they too, were agreeing with me.

The forest was…creepy, in a sense, if I was but a colt again, looking around at the forest as we treaded through the forest, I would be no doubt scared. I remembered, walking through these very woods when I was ever sick. Mom told me of a Zebra pony, (not Doctor Love) who lived in these very woods, Zacora if I remembered the name right. I hope she was okay; she was a friend of the family, and our healer in a sense. Even though the doctors said that they have study the bodies and other such things that rather bored me to sleep; mom still didn’t trust them, as much as she did with the grey zebra. I sure hope she was alright, if Chrysalis and Cocoon were really here; I hope she was at least okay. And then there was Crystal…

Lance told me I should not beat myself over it, it was done and over with; but still, I kept replaying it over, and over again in my mind as to what had happened. My cheek, it burned as if I was struck that very morning. If we even…no, -when- we save Crystal, I just hope, prays, that she listens to me. I shook these thoughts from my head as we continued onward deeper and deeper into the Everfree Forest. She may hate me for life, and you know…as long as she was safe, as long as she was happy, maybe, just maybe; I could accept that. True, she wouldn’t be happy with me, no doubt somepony else; but at least happy.

“Hey…” I heard Lance call out as he was now leading the group. Doctor Love stopped next, just near him as I came up behind. “Who’s…that?” I came between the two, and stopped dead in my tracks, standing there, her back to us, was Crystal!

I couldn’t move for a moment, before releasing s soft sigh as I walked over to her.

“Crystal…?” I spoke softly, making each step a bit slow. “Look…you may not want to speak to me now, but colt and I glad to see you safe!” I smiled as I moved closer to her, the pony’s back still toward me. I slowly went to place my hoof on her shoulder, when I saw something glimmer in what little light there were.

Quickly jumping backwards, I was shocked to see that it was in fact a crude looking dagger, bent, and curved in places. I was shocked, even more when I felt Doctor and Lance come to my side, as Crystal slowly turned her head toward us; I took in a deep breath. Her eyes were a deep green…she was being controlled by a Changeling!

Changeling Heart: Shadow Knight

by eragon13666

Shadow Knight

Always A Reason

Return of the Queens

Live or Die

Like father like son

A Reunion Long Needed

Not Like This

To Save Her