the story of my life and how I went from just being an animal to having friends, a Life, a job and even a mare to call my own
Hello there, My name is Prism Strike and I am a dragon pony. This is the story of my life and of the difficulties I faced due to the actions of those that had come before me. How I overcame the past of my own kind to become a wanted and even valued member of Equestrian society. I have written these events down so that those who come after me will know that our kind need not be only monsters, that we can be valued members of equestrian society.
Takes place after the first half of season 5
Rated teen for violence. Will contain slice of life chapters, and possibly a bit of romance. gore tag added for semi graphic violence
The great yellow orb of fire begins its slow rise into the blue expanse overhead slowly bathing my forest with its light, a few clouds overhead dotting its majesty. The soft morning light eventually filtering into my cave, I wake slowly once the warm rays touch my face, yawning and stretching out my long limbs. I stand and look over myself, first checking the strong and thick dark blue outer layer of my body that protects the squishy me underneath. After taking sometime to clean the dirt and tiny bits of stone from under the individual parts of that outer protective layer that had built up during the night, I walk out into the small bits of light that filter through the green overhead of the tree's all around me. I practice the one word I can still say.
"P..ri...sm" I sound out the only word I can pronounce properly doing so slowly letting the letters roll off my forked tongue. Once that is done I head out into the forest to hunt and catch some breakfast not knowing that today would be the start of something new for me.
Pinkie Pie sits in her chair around the cutie map with a yawn having been woken up quite early when her cutie mark had begun to glow, pulse, and even vibrate slightly. She sits there with a sleepy eyed Twilight whose wings droop slightly and a rather grumpy looking Rainbow Dash who had been woken far to early for her liking. The map has their respective cutie marks hovering over a forest about six hours to the south by hoof from Ponyville.
"Ok according to the Equestrian Atlas: The Big Book Of Maps And Places." Twilight says while reading through a big red book on her lap. "This forest is known as the woods of" Twilight lets out a gasp her eyes jerking fully open as she reads, then turning to spike she sends him off to retrieve several more books from her castles library.
"Huh whats up Twilight whats with the name of the forest" Rainbow Dash says with a yawn.
"I just need to check on something Dash" Twilight says just as spike returns.
"I got the books you wanted Twilight" Spike says happily as he approaches the group carrying several large books, always the faithful assistant
"Thanks spike" Twilight says lifting the books from his claws with her magic and hovering them over to herself. Opening one she quickly scans through the pages. The name 'Forests Of Equestria A Reference Guide' is written in big black letters across the front of said book. "I knew that name was familiar." Twilight proclaims suddenly. "This particular woods has legends of a vicious creature that lives there said to be several feet tall with dragon scales, a pony's mane and tail, sharp claws and fangs along with a large set of pegasus wings. There are no recorded deaths from this creature but it is said to be dangerous having attacked and harmed several ponies that have entered its woods." Twilight finishes reading the description from the book before putting it down and bringing up another. This one with the words 'Compendium Of Rare, Mythological And Theoretical Creatures' In big gold letters along the front.
"Sounds like we gotta go and kick this monsters flank" Rainbow Dash says suddenly perking up the natural warrior instincts of the pegasi driving her to want to compete and fight.
"Maybe we need to bring it sweets and make friends with it" Pinkie Pies mane becomes fully inflated and she is bright eyed at the prospect of making a new friend."
Twilight suddenly speaking up cuts both of them off "This isn't good I found something that fits its description but its said to be a wild and vicious monster attacking and killing anything on sight."
Pinkie quickly interjects. "Well the other book said it hadn't killed any pony yet though" Pinkies smile doesn't leave her face "So maybe this one isn't a real meany head like the rest, we should totally try to make friends with it"
Both Twilight and Rainbow Dash can only look at Pinkie before Nodding "She has us there " Rainbow Dash says defeated. Twilight just nods
Pinkie jumps for joy "Yay time to make new friends" She suddenly gasps then zooms off saying as she goes. "GOTTAMAKESOMECUPCAKESSEEYOULATERBAI"
Both of her friends can only look on as the Pink mare disappears in a pink blur.
Many hours later after a good meal of fish caught from the stream that runs through MY forest, I'm relaxing on a cloud I had grabbed as it floated over the tops of the tree's therefor making the cloud mine. The great ball of fire and light is up high in the great blue expanse and I'm just about ready to doze off when I hear what could only be the sound of more ponies in my forest. I growl softly and drop from my cloud going to evict the trespassers from my home. I sniff the air as I glide down towards the ground smelling the presence of 3 mares, their very scent making my mouth water. I stop landing atop one of the trees and mentally chastise myself 'No no bad Prism' the voice in my head being my mothers 'No trying to eat other ponies its not right' Those words from my childhood from the time of warmth, comfort and happy feelings being the only thing that has kept me from indulging in my almost primal need to just eat every intruder to my forest.
With my self reminder done I once more spread my wings and slowly dip under the trees staying within the great green top's watching the ponies below for a few moments.
"Ungh this place is soooo quiet and sooooo boring" a blue pegasus with a mane and tail like my own says as she flies on her back above the other two mares.
"What I think this place is super fun its sooo much different from the Everfree Forest back home."A pink earth pony mare says as she bounces along a giant smile on her face, the packs along her back filled with something that smells very sweet.
"Well we should start by searching around. The books said that there aren't any other dangerous creatures in these woods so I think it will be okay if we split up for a short bit. Meet back here in 30 minutes" A Purple pony says that has both wings and a horn. She smells VERY powerful and it makes a chill run through my body. I decide to go after the pink one first wanting whatever smells so sweet in her bags.
The pink mare bounces along after her and the others had split up. The blue one had said they should stay together but had evenetually given in and flown off through the tree's in another direction leaving the pink mare bouncing along happily humming a tune.
I pause hearing this pink mare humming, the sound of her humming quite soft and sweet. After awhile I can't help but smile and hum along as I follow her from the tree's. After a short bit though the humming stops and my focus once again returns to the sweet smell coming from the bags on her back. She doesn't scream or try to run when a few moments later I drop down in front of her my wings spread, my fangs bared and my claws stretched out trying to look menacing. Instead she just casually walks up to me and starts rummaging in her bag. Pulling out some kind of colorful thing she begins to talk
"Hello Mr.Creature. I'm assuming your a stallion, because you definitely look like a stallion." The pink mare says in a rapid fire flurry of words which see's my wings droop, my arms go down and my mouth get shut. I stand stunned looking at this small pink pony who is showing no fear and has no smell of fear towards me what so ever when she suddenly continues on. "The book said your dangerous but I don't think you are Mr.Creature. If you were my knee would be pinchy and its not so you can't be dangerous" My jaw goes slack causing my mouth to fall open, the moment my mouth is open the pink mare manages to stuff something soft into my mouth. Feeling something enter my mouth causes it to slam shut to which I am greeted by the sweetest taste I have ever had in my life. Like my eyes start watering and everything its that damn good. I can only look at the mare now as she giggles.
"Looks like you like it" She says with a smile as she produces another of the treats she had made specially for this trip. Seeing the look on my face makes her smile go from ear to ear. While I had been trying sooo hard to look menacing a few moments ago I am now sitting on the ground licking around my mouth with a huge smile on my face before looking up to the pink mare holding out my hands. "Here ya go big guy" she says cheerfully as she places a cupcake in my hands which I just devour. " Woah you must really like those. Why don't you come with me and meet my friends and I'll give you lots more of these things" She tantalizingly holds out another cupcake.
At the pink mares urging's and the super sweet whatever it is that is now balanced on the top of her super soft looking mane I follow her every few minutes being tossed another one of the treats. After a short bit of walking we arrive in a small clearing and she goes over to a log and sits down.
"Come sit with me." She urges and I go over sitting next to her licking a bit of of the sweetness from my lips. She produces another but holds it back.- "Ok while we wait for my friends to show why don't you tell me your name. You do have a name right"
I look at her for a moment then at the sweet thing in her hoof before speaking slowly the only word I know which does just so happen to be my name. "Prism" I say it all together as one full word which elicits a smile from the Pink mare.
"Well its nice to meet you Prism. I'm Pinkie Pie but you can call me Pinkie cause that's what all my friends call me and were friends now" She looks at me with big round eyes that almost seem to sparkle.
I process the new words slowly sounding them out. "Pin...kie...fr...ie...nd...s" Pinkie nods vigorously and reiterates
"Yup were friends now "She says the big smile she has yet to leave her face.
I just nod not understanding what it means. Suddenly I can hear voices approaching and I jump up ready to fight or run as I can smell the powerful presence approaching. Pinkie though puts a hoof on my arm.
"Don't worry Glitter it's just my friends so calm down alright. No pony is going to hurt you okay" Pinkies smile is so honest, so pure and so sincere that I instinctively sit back down next to her at which point she throws her hooves around me in a bone crushing hug. Her friends arrive a moment later freezing as they enter the clearing seeing their friend wrapped around me in a big hug.
"Pinkie watch out" the blue pegasus comes flying at me slamming a hoof right into my face sending me flying for a few feet before I slam back first into the ground.
"Dashie no" Pinkie screams catching her attention for a moment after she has hit me but before she can move to strike me again.
In the next moment I am up and on her holding her against the ground snarling and snapping my jaws in her face the blue color having quickly drained from her leaving just white.
"PRISM STOP" the 2 words said at a volume so loud that it makes my ears ring, literally throws me back as Pinkie screams right in my face.
After a few moments of being stunned I sit up and see Pinkie standing between me and the other 2 mares the very powerful one talking to Pinkie.
"Ok Pinkie so you say hes safe" The purple one says
"Uh huh hes been sitting here with me and hasn't tried to hurt me at all" Pinkie responds
Twilight then just nods and smiles. "Alright then" She turns to me holding out a hoof "Hello there. I am Twilight Sparkle whats your name"
I look at her hoof not quite understanding but I do answer her question "Prism" she lowers her hoof and nods
"Hello Prism. I think we were sent here to help you. It cant be to nice living here in a forest all alone" Twilight says looking at me, concern easily readable in her features.
I think for a few moments and just shrug not really minding it here in my forest away from everything else when Pinkie suddenly speaks up
"Hey yeah. You should come with us back to Ponyville. You can make more friends. Learn so much stuff. Have parties and of course eat lots more cupcakes" Pinkie is just about exploding with excitement at the thought. The thought of more of those treats called cupcakes is enough to make my mouth water but I stop looking over at the blue pegasus simply just glaring at her.
"Awwww Dashie I think you hurt his feelings when you attacked him" Pinkie says to her friend.
"Hehe yeah sorry about that" The one called Dashie says rubbing a hoof along the back of her head before also holding it out to me as Twilight did earlier in a gesture I do not understand. "I'm Rainbow Dash its nice to meet ya Prism" after a moment when I haven't taken her hoof she adds "Your supposed to take my hoof and shake it to show that there is no hard feelings if you forgive me"
I look at her then to Pinkie with her great big hopeful smile and then I slowly extend my hand and shake Rainbow Dash's hoof and put on a somewhat creepy smile of my own it having been my first in a long time. Its not long after that the three of them have convinced me to return with them to their home. A decision i come to both cherish and regret at times in the future.
The trip back to Ponyville was more or less uneventful. Upon arriving at Ponyville I was greeted with what I had come to expect from these soft and colorful creatures, fear. I could read it in their eyes as they have the look I have seen so many times on so many of their kinds faces and I can also smell it coming from them like a great wave of sourness in the air. The only reason I don't think they ran screaming was because of the three mares that were escorting me. I later found out that the purple one, Twilight is a Princess and a ruler around here, no wonder they weren't fleeing their all powerful leader was escorting the monster through town. Twilight was pointing out buildings of interest as we passed, but all I could see was the fear in the brightly colored eyes of the ponies. It made me feel like a monster and so I hid under my wings which didn't go unnoticed.
"Its ok Prism they just don't know you yet" the nudge to my side and the soft spoken words were enough to get me to look down at Pinkie and smile.
'Why are these ponies being so nice to me, all I have ever been to them is a monster' I idly wonder to myself as we walk through the town. After a short bit we approach a large castle that sets my eyes sparkling in wonder that such a massive thing could exist. We approach it and Twilight opens the doors with her magic and ushers us all in. After walking through some long pathways and up a few indented inclines we reach a large chamber with many things it in. Things I would later come to find out were books that held words and knowledge. Twilight sat on something red that seemed to take her weight. She shifted once and seemed to get comfortable motioning for me to do the same. I move over and poke my claw at the strange looking thing. It was surprisingly soft and indented at the slightest touch. After a few moments of poking it I sit down and my eyes shoot open and I think to myself. ' This is so soft, it feels rather nice. Definitely better than sitting in my cave'
Twilight speaks up pulling me from my thoughts "Well Prism why don't you tell us a little about yourself " She smiles warmly to me as she speaks but I frown regardless the comfort of my seat forgotten. I look at her sadly and say the only word I can "Prism" My voice is sad and my eyes depressed knowing that I cant really answer her.
Pinkie seeing my distress immediately throws her hooves around me in a big hug " Awwww he cant talk properly" Her mane has seemed to deflate and her vibrant pink color has almost drained away to nothing her eyes seeming to be on the verge of pouring out great rivers. Seeing how I have affected this bundle of happy feelings I smile for her which seems to cheer her right up causing her mane to go back to being poofy and the innocent light to return to her eyes.
Twilight furrows her brow "So you don't know how to say anything but your name then?" She says questioningly her voice quite sad at the thought, my only response a slow nod. The three mares in the room look at me with such sadness in their eyes. The thought of a sentient creature being just left along in the wilds nearly breaking their sweet, kind hearts. Twilight suddenly jumps to her hooves Spreading her wings regally. "Then I Twilight Sparkle. Princess of Friendship and one of the four rulers of Equestria hereby decree that you will be taught our ways and customs as well as being taught to live as one of us" She finishes with a big smile on her face my eyes lighting up as tears well in them this being one of the nicest things anypony has done for me in my hard life.
After a moment Twilight looks to me "Prism do you accept this. Will you accept our help and learn the ways of Equestria. Its law, its rules, and its customs" I stop pondering for a moment not really understanding what she is talking about but knowing that this really powerful being wants to help me in some way to be better than I am. So I nod and then smile.
"Oooooohhh this is going to be sooo awesome" Squeals Pinkie
"Hahaha another one to fly against, can't wait to see how fast you are" Rainbow Dash adds in with a smirk and flourish of her wings.
"Oooooo oooo oooo and Ill teach you how to party, and make sweets, and do all sorts of fantabulous things" adds Pinkie
"For now though I think its time we all got a bit of rest, we can get started in the morning" Interjects Twilight noting that the great light giving orb had gone down and the smaller paler orb had risen. "Come Prism" Twilight smiles again "I have a few extra rooms here you can use one, so you have somewhere to stay while you are learning to be a proper Equestrian"
Looking up at her with a confused look upon my face she only smiles again
"Come you will see Prism" Twilight says softly extending her hoof to me. I take it and she leads me to another part of the castle using her magic to open a strong looking wood door. My jaw drops seeing the inside. A big bed the frame of which is made of crystal. crystal shelf's, crystal bookcases, a crystal dresser, even a few crystal tables and a crystal lamp. She waves her hoof in the doorway once. "Go ahead Prism this is your room now. You can keep things here that you get as well as anything you think is important to you." Unable to thank her for her generosity I do what Pinkie has kept doing and I hug her before bounding into the room on all fours sniffing about. She uses her magic to close the door and with a light chuckle walks off to her own room to get ready for bed talking to herself along the way. "Well you have done it now Twilight. You have gone and adopted a big dragon like thing and your going to teach it to be like everypony else. Well I guess I can always ask the other girls for help with this. They wouldn't just leave this all to me" She chuckles a bit waving that last thought away with a hoof. With a sigh as she gets to her room but before she gets into bed and falls asleep she says to herself "Yes tomorrow is going to be a long day indeed"
Its now been a week since I arrived in Ponyville, much of my time has been spent learning to talk with Twilight. I can now confidently say over 50 words. I have spent time with Rarity and her little sister Sweetie Belle learning manners and fashion. Thanks to her I now have a blue pair of pants exactly TWO shades darker than my scales or so she says, I cant really tell the difference but they are comfortable and feel so soft against my scales. Which is what the little dragon Spike told me is what the layer that covers me is called. Pinkie has decided to wait on my party as her first attempt didn't go so well. I really didn't mean to light that poor mares mane on fire I was just so surprised when they all jumped out of the dark and yelled that I just reacted by sending out a plume of flames from my mouth. Today is the first day that I'm showing my face in town since, even though its almost time for Luna's night to start. There are a few ponies around as I wander the town each of them regards me warily my actions at the party still fresh in their minds. If it hadn't been for Twilight being there with me I think these ponies may have done some truly horrible things to me. As I walk I take notice of everything, through every scent as my forked tongue flicks from my mouth periodically. Very little detail is able to escape my sharp draconic eyes, as I can see perfectly even in the gloom, every sound within twenty yards of myself is heard even without a visible set of ears, my body meant to be a top predator a truly lethal hunting and killing machine. Suddenly I pick up the faintest of cries in the air. A single word I know, Twilight having made sure to teach it to me right after the Equestrian alphabet
"Help"
The single word enough to send all of my senses towards the direction of the tiny sound. Twilight had told me that should I ever hear that word it would mean that somepony is in trouble and that as a citizen of Equestria it is now my duty to help. So without a second thought I go off towards it. It takes me only a few minutes to find the source once I take to the air. A dark alley, another cry for help brings me quickly to circling overhead. I can smell 2 ponies one stallion and one mare....no wait I can smell a filly and its the small voice calling out. I drop down into the alley my eyes quickly adjusting to the much denser darkness there allowing me to see as Luna's moon creeps into the sky overhead. The stallion I land behind turns looking up at me as I'm tall enough to look Celestia straight in the eyes.
"Who the buck are you" the stallion says
I ignore him looking down at the obviously terrified filly her back legs spread as she lies on her back sobbing and begging for help. Taking in this sight my blood boils. A memory trickles through my mind of a similar situation I found myself in while living in my forest. Of a mare being chased by a group of stallions of what they had started to do to the poor creature. How her cries had awoken something in me and how I had nearly killed each of her attackers leaving them only just barely alive. That same instinct comes up now and without a single word I grab the stallion by the throat in my scaled hand. I snarl peppering the now frightened stallions face with spittle. The color of my eyes turns red and the last thing this stallion ever does is scream before I crush his throat in my hand, the beating of his hooves against my scales not even felt until long after. Once the stallions body stops twitching in my grasp I drop him to the ground with a thud. Turning to the filly I can see her face once more filled with horror and fear. Seeing her all the rage and fire boiling through my blood dies in an instant being replaced by ice. I freeze just looking at this frightened filly who is now cowering away from me
"Pl..please...don't hurt me" the filly cries aa a ray of moonlight suddenly illuminates the alley fully showing the filly to be an orange pegasus with a purple mane and tail.
I kneel slowly extending a scaled hand out towards her and say a few more words I know "Me friend. No hurt you."
As I say this the filly seems to calm looking me over from my smile to the claws adorning the tips of my fingers. Before realization dawns upon her face. "I know you" she says "Your Prism aren't you. The one Princess Twilight took into her castle"
A nod and a smile is her response and suddenly without fear she moves over to me. She throws her hooves around me and begins to cry in relief from having been spared from what was going to happen to her at the hooves of that stallion. Instincts I didn't even know I had kick in and I begin to softly stroke the filly's mane as I pick her up in my arms. Holding her close to my chest I spread my wings taking off into the sky with the moon and stars above us, I leave the stallions corpse there to rot. After about a minute of flying, during which the filly had seemed to forget everything that had happened, having climbed up onto my back to spread's tiny wings of her own
"WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO" She nearly screams out the sound of the wind rushing past us blocking out her words from all but my ears. I smile at her innocence and push myself a little harder wanting to hear more of her happiness it making a large warm spot grow in my otherwise cold heart.
I start to slow down as we reach the castle reaching around to pull the filly from my back and into my arms as I come in for a landing at the big front doors to Twilight's castle. I walk through the halls still holding the filly securely she having fallen asleep only a moment after landing. I take her right to Twilight without hesitation. I find her of course in her study surrounded by books many of them floating around the room. She doesn't notice me at first so I let out a short growl to get her attention. She spins around so fast at my growl that I can't help but chuckle before recognition appears on her face
"Oh hello Prism sorry I didn't notice you come in." she looks down at the filly I am carrying "Wait...why are you holding Scootaloo?" Twilight asks curiously
I do my best to relay what happen but having such a limited vocabulary really doesn't help "Me help filly. Danger. Stallion tried hurt filly. Me hurt stallion. Stop stallion hurt filly" I say my words barely a sentence but hoping that it conveys what I want it to
Twilights eyes widen and she looks from me to the one she had called Scootaloo "Are you trying to say you saved her from some kinda danger. Danger that another stallion had or was putting her in" I nod vigorously a happy smile upon my face
Twilight's eyes turn to pinpricks and I can tell that she is angry but in the next moment she is smiling at me and patting my back. "You did good Prism I am really proud that you saved Scootaloo." She takes the orange filly from my grasp with her magic. Her words though send something coursing through me a feeling of warmth and worth. It is in that moment that I decide that I would do whatever it took no matter what to keep having this feeling. inside me and to see that same look I had seen on Twilight face of pride on the faces of every pony in town no on the face of every pony in Equestria.
It's been about two days now since I killed that stallion and protected that filly. Nothing really came of it no major uproar or anything save for a very stern lecture from Twilight about why its not ok under any circumstance to ever kill a pony. She had gone on as well to congratulate me for having protected the filly but I didn't hear it my mind focusing on the fact that I had done something wrong. Things quickly returned to normal though and Twilight wasted no time in starting me on doing math. I kinda hate it the numbers make my head hurt but the way I feel when she tells me I got something right makes me press on that is until that second day after the incident.
So as it is I'm in Twilight's throne room sitting in Pinkies chair who has graciously said I could use it during study time with Twilight.
"Whats the answer to this one" Twilight says to me pointing to one of the math problems in the textbook.
"Uhhhhhhh" I say looking at the math problem closely which for most ponies who would be around my age would be nothing but has kept me staring blankly at the page for the last few minutes a crease furrowed into my brow from concentration. I stare at the problem Five plus two equals before finally saying "five and two is" I quickly count up using my clawed fingers my ability to use words improving on almost a daily basis. "It 7"
Twilight looks at me smiling "That is correct good work"
Every time she says that to me, my entire body is filled with warmth and happiness like a foal who has just impressed their parents with something. Sadly it doesn't last my powerful senses picking up the scents and sounds of no less than ninety ponies approaching the castle. Twilight of course sees the change in my body language immediately "Whats wrong Prism" she asks with concern seeing me tense up.
Before I can answer though the room fills with a blinding flash of light leaving me temporarily unable to see as spots flood my vision. When my vision returns to me I can see that I'm currently surrounded by ponies. All of them white from snout to wingtips all of them in shiny looking shirts pointing shiny things with nasty looking points at every intersection of my scales the only places that I could easily be hurt. Behind them stands a mare as tall as I am her coat of the purest of whites, her long multicolored mane and tail flowing softly in a breeze that all my senses say does't exist. I can easily see this ponies wings and horn though and I can feel the power she has radiating from her body. Twilight has since gotten up from her chair and is addressing the much larger mare.
"Celestia what are you doing here and why have your guards surrounded him?" I can hear Twilight ask the larger mare.
"I have had reports of a strange creature being sighted around Ponyville. Its description matched a type of creature that has continued to plague Equestria since long before my rule ever started. Seeing as its true I believe the actions I have taken necessary to protect this land" The one called Celestia replies to Twilight her tone almost cold and emotionless despite the smile upon her face.
"But but but hes not like the ones who have come before him hes nothing like the ones in the books" Twilight cries out
The larger one stops for a moment seeming to study Twilight as if looking for any hint of trickery. After studying Twilight's pained expression for a few moments she raises a hoof and the ponies surrounding me all move back lowering their weapons but looking as if they could strike at a single moment. She then turns to me her face showing nothing and then she speaks. "It is possible that what you say is true Twilight but you have yet to live through an attack by one of his kind. They are vile creatures who feed upon our kind without regard. Many in the past having taken great joy in both killing and eating ponies."
After a moment to collect herself from the shock of Celestia's words Twilight manages to speak "He's not like that though. Hes been here almost 10 days now and has shown no hint of aggression or violence towards me or any other pony in Ponyville" Twilight says desperately trying to save me from what she knows will happen as the book she had read about my kind had stated quite clearly in big bold all capitol letters 'DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPROACH. HIGHLY DANGEROUS. INFORM LOCAL GUARD OF SIGHTING SO THAT APPROPRIATE ACTIONS MAY BE TAKEN'
"You say he has done nothing aggressive or violent" the big mare almost seems shocked
Finally I speak up replying for twilight. "Me good. No hurt pony. Me friend" I say putting a smile on my face as I take a step forward extending out a clawed hand to her like a foal would, slow and sheepishly only to be met with the metal tips of the weapons that the white, winged ponies are holding.
One of them speaking up "You will not approach the Princess creature" the pony says with a commanding tone to which I shrink back putting my arm back at my side a look like a colt caught in a disobedient act. I look to the big mare in the room it being fairly obvious that she is the one in charge here what I see though is strange.
The big mare has her mouth open and a look of utter shock upon her face as if the very act of me speaking had been far outside of what she expected which her words only prove to me "It can talk" She says disbelievingly looking between me and Twilight.
"Yes HE can talk. I've been teaching him to read, to speak Equestrian and only just yesterday I started teaching him math" Twilight says looking quite proud of herself to me
"You should have informed me about this right away Twilight. His kind can be VERY dangerous to ponies" The big mare says her stoic look back upon her face all emotion once more hidden.
"I..I'm sorry Celestia" Twilight says in return "I was going to when he had learned to talk properly when he could show himself to not be the monster his kind is depicted as. You haven't seen him these last few days though. He might be as tall as you but he is still very much like a colt mentally. He is learning fast and I promise I will take full responsibility for him and his actions. I am the Princess of Friendship and as such it is MY duty to bring its magic to all corners of Equestria." Twilight then points at me with a hoof. "If I am to do that though I must be allowed to bring it to ALL of its citizens especially to those in need and from what I can tell he DOES need it. From what I have learned from him he has been alone for most of his life, living in a forest fending for himself without ANYpony to love, care for or guide him. Through all of that though he has managed to not become a monster like all those before him. I've actually done quite a bit of research into the area where he was found and I have not been able to find a single reported death in that area for over fifty years." Twilight finishes her speech with a smile and flick of her wings a great big smile on my face not from her words as I only understood half of what she said but from the tone of her voice, somepony was sticking up for me was standing up to another far more powerful without moving a hoof in retreat and for reasons I never end up fully understanding I start to cry. Only a few tears at first but then quickly builds until I'm blubbering like a foal on the floor. This display bringing me the full attention of all in the room who simply just stare at this large vicious looking creature curled up and crying on the crystal floor like a young colt. I don't even realize that anypony has moved until I feel a hoof on my back softly rubbing my scales.
"Shhhh Shhhhh it is alright Prism" Twilight's soft voice reaches my ears and I slowly uncurl myself looking up into her big purple eyes a few sobs and sniffles still escaping from me and Twilight pulls me into a hug which I return. Once I have calmed Twilight looks to the other mare and says "As I said his mind is barely that of a colt hes not a danger to anypony"
I now look to the big white mare whose gaze has softened considerably a warm smile now adorning her face but sadness in her eyes. "Alright Twilight I will entrust you with his care, teaching and instruction in our ways and laws. but know that if he should become a threat to Equestria he will not be given a second chance" the big mare says almost matronly but the undertone of the threat doesn't slip past either my or Twilight's notice.
"I understand and I won't let you or him down" Twilight says looking from the mare to me with a smile which I return happily. Shortly after the big white mare and all of the white, winged ponies that were with her are gone leaving just me and Twilight in the room. I look to her and before I can say anything she says "Well at least now that wont be happening again' With a sigh and a look around "Why don't we take a break for lunch huh?" Twilight says to me her smile having not yet left her face. I nod and happily follow her to the kitchen for a meal.
So its been about two weeks since the big white pony came Princess Celestia is the name Twilight kept telling me after, but honestly I hope never to see her again. During these two weeks Twilight has intensified my studies. I am now confidently able to talk with most ponies although in a still very limited manner but I can get through many conversations without needing to look to another for help with words. My reading has improved I've gone from reading the foal level books with their bright colorful pictures and small words to books that a first grade colt or filly would be reading. Twilight is always saying how amazed she is at my progress at how I seem to just soak up everything she teaches me. Math is still a major problem for me the numbers just make my head hurt so much and on a few occasions after hard days of studying I have nightmares where I am attacked by math problems. It got so bad that another Princess was called in to help this one a dazzling mix of black's, blues and very subtle lavenders/purples. Her mane was truly entrancing to me, it looked like the whole sky was in it. All of the little lights that Twilight calls stars seemed to shimmer and shine within it. She introduced herself as Princess Luna and we spoke a bit about my dreams and even though reluctant I did let her help me. After that night the bad dreams about being attacked by numbers and such never came back. But I am getting away from myself thinking about all of this. Today is a special day because today is my first day of school.
Twilight woke me up early for it got me all ready and even gave me a small lunch she had packed for me mostly consisting of boiled eggs and some magically preserved fish. Twilight has been going all out on what I eat once she found out that my main diet was in fact meat not plants like her and the rest of ponykind. Thankfully it wasn't to much of an issue as ponies are used to some of the other creatures that call Equestria home being meat eaters as well like the big catbird things(1) or the cow people(2). So it wasn't all that bad, well not with her or her friends at least. A voice though cuts me off from my inner thoughts and brings me back to reality.
"Its ok Prism you don't need to be nervous, There is nothing to be afraid of here" Twilight says before resting a hoof on my back. Using another to point to the red brick building that is Ponyville's school house. "I know your probably nervous because its your first day but your going to do fine and I will be sticking around the school today so if you need me you can just find me" She finishes with a smile so pure that it brings one to my own face.
"O..ok Twilight" I nervously say clutching my lunch in one clawed hand while the other nervously rubs against my leg. She is right I am nervous but with her at my side I push on towards the building. After only another minute of walking we get to the doors and enter the school where I am quickly shown to one of the only classrooms. Twilight goes in first and i wait just outside while she talks to the teacher. I'm ushered in after only a few moments apparently knowing a Princess and being her personal student really helps out with things. I am made to stand in front of the class looking out over nine fillies and colts, I almost bolt out of the room but a voice breaks my thought and anchors me in my spot.
"Ok class we have a new student joining us today. I would like you all to give a big warm welcome to Prism" A magenta earth pony mare with three smiling flowers for a cutie mark speaks up from behind a very big desk, all but three fillies remaining quiet.
"Heya there and welcome ta our class" A yellowish filly with a red mane and a pink bow speaks up first waving to me from the front row.
"HeyPrism" The second voice is immediately recognizable to me as Scootaloo the filly I had protected
Finally a much smaller voice speaks up from behind the first filly this one a white unicorn with a pink and lavender mane and tail. "Hello and welcome to our class"
These three are the only ones to speak up the looks on the faces of the other's showing only one thing, fear. Every face I look at its clear for me to see. I cant fault them though I am five feet tall with scales, claws, wings and very sharp looking teeth. To try and get them to relax I introduce myself, talking so meekly that it makes Fluttershy sound outgoing. "Hel..hello I..I'm Pr..Prism"
Noticing my obvious tension and apprehension Twilight places a hoof on my back and speaks for me. "This is Prism. I am sure many of you have seen him around town lately. He is here to learn just like all of you. he may look big and scary but I assure you he isn't a danger to any of you" Twilight then smiles out to the students most of them calming, their faces softening from the reassurances of their Princess. I watch as the fear melts away to be replaced with curiosity.
The Magenta mare looks at me "You may call me Miss Cheerilee, Prism. You may take the seat that has been set up next to Diamond Tiara over there" she points to a young light pink earth pony filly who just so happens to have a tiara on her head.
"Unghhhhhhhhhhh I dont wanna sit next to that. Put it near the chicken there" The filly called Diamond Tiara sneers right at me before looking to Scootaloo with a chuckle.
"DIAMOND TIARA! Now that is enough of that. I will not have you making fun of other ponies in this classroom am I understood" Miss Cheerilee says as she stares down the filly with a look strong enough to make me cower back from her.
"Yes" Diamond Tiara says meekly before her composure returns. "Yes Miss Cheerilee" she finishes giving me a very unpleasant look.
"I...I wouldnt mind moving over to Scootaloo though" I say just loud enough to be heard.
Twilight speaking up before even Cheerilee can respond "If it will make you more comfortable then I am sure Miss Cheerilee won't mind" Twilight looks over at the mare in question who simply nods.
With a smile I go and grab the desk moving it over next to the orange pegasus filly, Twilight smiles then walks out of the room. the next few hours pass by rather quickly as Miss Cherilee leads us through reading a story and discussing it along with doing some math. Then the bell rings just about making me jump out of my own scales
"Ok everypony its time for recess" Miss Cheerilee calls out and the other colts and fillies quickly file out of the room and outside. I follow being the last to leave the room.
Once outside I simply find myself somewhere quiet to curl up which doesn't last very long as Scootaloo and her friends manage to find me rather quickly.
"Hey Prism" Scootaloo's familiar voice draws my attention as she walks right up to me flanked on each side by another filly.
"Hello Scootaloo" I reply
"Id like to properly introduce you to my bestest friends AppleBloom" Scootaloo points to the Earth pony with the redish/pink bow on one side. "and SweetieBelle" She then points her hoof to the white unicorn on her other.
"Hello there ah'm AppleBloom" The earth pony sticks out a hoof and I gently shake it.
"And I'm SweetieBelle. You might not remember but i helped my sister teach you the concept of manners and fashion with my sister." The unicorn then offers her hoof to me once AppleBloom has removed hers. I shakes SweetieBelles hoof just as softly as I did the other's.
"Nice to meet you both" I say genuinely
"I never really got to thank you for what you did Prism" Scootaloo says as she gives me a big hug "If it wasn't for you I...." I cut her off by placing my hand over her mouth.
"No we not suppose to talk about" I say looking from Scootaloo to her friends
"Its ok Prism we know what happened and were both really grateful that you protected our friend" SweetieBelle says with a large tone of gratitude
"Yeah if it weren't for ya helpin Scootaloo...well we try not to think about it to much" AppleABloom says sadly
"Dont worry Prism I made them Pinkie promise to not tell anypony" Scootaloo says to which I nod knowing of the Pinkie promise having been made by Pinkie to promise by it to not ever become like the book said my kind is.
Sadly that is where the happiness ends as the one Miss Cheerilee called Diamond Tiara walks over with another earth pony this one grey with a 2 tone grey mane and tail.
"Oh Look Silver the blank flanks are hanging out with the monster" Diamond Tiara sneers once she is close enough
"Maybe their trying to domesticate it, make it their pet" the Second filly says with a chuckle
"You leave Prism alone Diamond hes done nothing to you" Scootaloo says jumping between us.
"Yeah why can't you just be nice" SweetieBelle adds.
"Oh I am nice just not to loser blank flanks and things that belong in a cage rather than here in town" Diamond Tiara says with a bit of an evil laugh "My daddy says that you don't belong here in regular pony society. That all you are is a monster just waiting to devour us all" She says coming just a little bit to close to me "My daddy says that creatures like you are not capable of being civilized. That your just another bloodthirsty creature from some forest. My Daddy also says that Princess Twilight found you all alone and that by her own words you had been alone for a long time. Which got me to thinking. Perhaps you were all alone because your such a monster that your own mother abandoned you" her words cut off there as my mind goes elsewhere
23 years ago
"Don't worry everything is going to be ok my little Prism" an azure colored pegasus mare with a ruby red mane says nuzzling me as we run through a forest voices shouting from behind.
"Come on just let us have it" one of the voices sounds out clear enough. the mare carrying me not even looking back or slowing down.
"Don't worry my little Prism I wont let them get you "she says stopping looking around her. Spotting a hole in a tree she flaps her wings each barely able to lift her as many of the feathers have been torn out but still through sheer will she manages to get me up to it and put me inside. "You stay here ok. Mommy is just going to wait and have a talk with the mean stallions" She smiles softly and i reach out running my hands along her muzzle before pulling myself over and nuzzling her. She quickly forces me back though and then she drops back to the forest floor 3 pegasus stallions emerging from the forest and surrounding her only a few moments later.
"Where is the abomination" one of the stallions says
"I...I don't know I dropped him while running from you" my mother replies.
"We dont believe you" another stallion says after which a dull thump and a scream is heard making me go to the edge of the hole to look out. What I see is horrible, the three stallions have begun to stomp and punch my mother each of them screaming at her "where is the abomination" throughout the whole thing my mother just keeps saying 'I don't know' right up until one stallion stomps her head and she goes quiet and still. After several more minutes of stomping her the group goes off to look through the rest of the forest for me ending up leaving before they do.
Present day
As the memory plays through my mind I can feel something shift inside myself, the Magenta slits of my eyes turn a deep and menacing red, my wings shoot out to full extension, the claws on my hands flick out then I let out a terrifying and truly menacing roar, loud and strong enough to turn back most full grown dragons. Moving with such speed that I am just a blur I grab both Diamond Tiara and her friend by their tails lifting them up to let out another roar in their faces the color draining from them both completely as fear takes hold in their minds. I open my mouth and flames begin to build up at the back of my throat. I exhale covering the two in...taffy
"Now now now we can't be having that now can we" A voice says from all around me. The sheer enormity of the power I feel in that voice is enough to make me drop the fillies who both go scampering off at full speed. I whip around looking for the source my mind still completely consumed with the animal rage my kind suffers so greatly from. "You need to calm down" the voice says, my inability to find it only fueling my anger
Suddenly my nose picks up the scent of fresh meat real close by and the need to feed takes over and I turn towards Scootaloo and her friends. Seeing the look of hunger on my face the three scream and then suddenly I find myself unable to move and a rather mismatched looking creature comes walking over to me. "I was hoping to not have to interfere. That this time you would be better. Fluttershy always says everything deserves kindness, love and a second chance. I do not want to have to kill you again" (3)
My body Twitches, my muscles strain as I try to break free of whatever power holds me. I let out an unearthly feral snarl at the creature who simply proceeds to bop me on the head.
"Ok that's enough of that it's time you calmed down " with that, one of the creatures strange limbs reaches over placing itself over my face. A single flash of light and my body falls limp my conscious mind simply being turned off.
"Sleep now Prism the day will come when you will need to make a choice but that is not today" The creature chuckles and then takes my unconscious body to Twilight.
Slowly consciousness returns to me and I find myself somewhere cold and damp. I try to cover myself with my wings and am alarmed to find that I cannot move them. My eyes fly open and I find myself surrounded in darkness. My draconic eyes quickly adjust and I find myself covered in chains and metal. My hands are bound in front of me to my chest, my wings directly to my back with big heavy bands even my muzzle is held closed by thick metal bands. Thick chains coming from a vest around my midsection connecting me to the floor completely Immobilizing me. Unable to do anything I just sit there and cry silently. Not to long after though a door opens and light floods into the room blinding me but I can still smell the two ponies that enter the room both scents known to me. One being Twilight the other Princess Celestia. I whimper and Twilight rushes over to me.
"Oh I am so sorry Prism please believe me" Twilight's voice is pained and there are tears in her eyes just looking at me
"Be careful Twilight we do not know if it is still a beast right now" Celestia says flatly making me whimper again
"I know that all of your previous interactions with his kind have been bad" Twilight begins only to be cut off
"They have all seen the deaths of countless of MY little ponies I will not tolerate threats to any of my subjects" once again Celestia's voice is flat but the undertone of disdain for my kind and protectiveness of her subjects is blazingly apparent. Punctuated by the fact that the cold and dampness of the room is immediately dispelled by a single flare up of her magic.
"Celestia please" Twilight pleads with her for me "I was there afterwards. I talked with the ones present. Three filly's one of whom is the sister of AppleJack the element of honesty. Not a single one of the three there are known to lie. All three of them had told me that he was set off by another filly who had been attempting to bully him and the other three. He may not be one of our little ponies Celestia but he is still a sentient being and deserves the right to speak for himself and to face those who accuse him. I would also remind you that we are not in Canterlot right now. If my crown has any meaning at all then the jurisdiction here is mine"
With a sigh of defeat Celestia gives "You are right of course twilight I am sorry. The protection of my ponies will always come first to me and can often cloud my mind when a threat real or imagined comes up." She then turns to me "I have treated you unfairly and for that I do apologize"
I simply nod to her unable to talk with the bands around my muzzle.
"Here let me help with that Prism" Twilight says smiling softly to me as her horn glows. Her magic surrounds the bands on my muzzle and they stretch out before falling away.
"Thank you Twilight" I say meekly the presence of Celestia still rather imposing to me.
"You are welcome Prism" Twilight says running her hoof through my mane comfortingly like she would for a scared foal.
Once I have calmed Twilight leads me out of the room With Celestia following behind us. After a flight of stairs I find myself on the main floor of Twilight's castle, my cell having apparently been one of the cold storage rooms underneath her castle. I am lead to my room and told to wait Twilight being kind enough to free my hands but not my wings.
"Sorry Prism but can't have you trying to run away. You must wait here in your room ok. I promise I will come and get you soon so all of this can be sorted out" Twilight's smile is enough for me to nod in agreement knowing that she isn't going to just abandon me.
The moment she is gone though I start trashing my room "Stupid stupid such worthless pony you are. You nothing but monster" I repeat to myself over and over as I smash everything within the confines of my room.
Its over an hour later that Twilight returns by which point I've simply curled up in the corner surrounded by bits of shattered crystal. "Prism what happened here" she comes rushing into my room and over to me.
"I..I sorry twilight....Perhaps is better if bigger pony does end life....I only monster" I say without even looking up or uncurling from myself.
"No no your not a monster Prism. you're nothing like those who have come before you." She wraps her hooves around me in a tight hug.
It takes her several minutes to calm me down enough to get me to stand and follow her to the main throne room of her castle. Before even entering the doors I catch the scents of about twenty ponies. Six of the scents I immediately recognize as belonging to Celestia, Scootaloo, AppleBloom, SweetieBelle aswell as Diamond Tiara and her friend. When the doors open the other scents become obvious as Twelve all white pegasi in the same shining clothes with the same metal weapons are lining the walls along with two other stallions standing near Diamond Tiara and her friend. I am led in and before the throne which Twilight goes and takes.
The sadness in her eyes as she speaks clearly visible "Prism you are being charged with two counts of endangerment of a filly. Do you understand the charges"
A simple nod of my head and a barely audible "yes" is my only response.
Twilight nods and calls forth the two fillies in Question "DiamondTiara and SilverSpoon will you two please step forwards"
Both filly's do, both accompanied by stallions that I have to assume are their fathers as one speaks up
"Now Princess Twilight I do not see the need for this. It is clearly obvious that this beast is guilty and an obvious danger to all ponies and should be treated as such" a very light brown earth pony stallion with a black mane and tail says calmly
"FilthyRich you will not refer to him as such in my presence" Twilight growls out making the stallion cower back in fear.
"Please forgive me Princess" The stallion is barely able to say through his fear of the small yet powerful alicorn
"FilthyRich we are not here today to decide upon the guilt or Innocence of Prism nor is it to assign punishment to him. Today we are here to determine if the attack by him was as unprovoked as your daughter claims"
"It was I was.." Diamond Tiara goes to say before being cut off by Scootaloo
"You know that's a lie Diamond you had come over to pick on us AGAIN only this time you chose the wrong target and somepony finally fought back" Scootaloo says with more than a little anger in her voice her wings buzzing and body shaking from the rage that she is managing to suppress. "YOU provoked him and when your teasing went to far Diamond you set him off" Twilight raises a hoof to silence Scootaloo who blinks a few times at her own outburst.
"Thank you for that Scootaloo but I would ask that you keep such outbursts for when you are called upon. Mr.Rich I would now like to place a truthfulness spell upon your daughter, I will also place one upon SilverSpoon, Scootaloo, SweetieBelle and AppleBloom so that the truth can be without a doubt known" Twilight says without much room for debate the fact that she had asked being only a formality. Her horn glows for a moment, magic starting to swirl around the necks of the aforementioned fillies. when the spell concludes there are rings of light going around each fillies throat. "There now not a single one of them will be able to speak any falsehoods or outright lies" Twilight is smiling softly "Now the full truth will come to light." She turns to DiamondTiara once more " Now would you please tell your story from the beginning DiamondTiara"
Diamond opens her mouth to lie but is shocked when "Well recess had just started and I was looking for the those blank flanked looser's to torment for a bit" She clamps her hooves over her mouth in shock.
"I said you would be unable to lie DiamondTiara now please do continue on" Twilight says with a hint of irritation at the nasty words that such a young filly is using. Even her father is looking at her with horror.
DiamondTiara refuses to speak any further as well as SilverSpoon so Twilight turns to Scootaloo and her friends "Would you like to then tell us what happened girls as you three where there" Twilight asks them politely.
"Of course Twilight" Scootalooo steps forwards putting her hooves out to stop her friends. with a look to them she says "Don't worry girls i got this. "Well once recess had started me, SweetieBelle and AppleBloom had gone to look for Prism to talk with him about ummmmm" She stops there looking from me to Twilight.
"Its ok Scootaloo" Twilight says with a sigh "You can tell them"
"O..ok Twilight....well we had gone to talk to him about how he had saved me from that stallion just over two weeks ago that..that tried to" her voice breaks a bit and every eye in the room is filled with shock save Celestia's who's eyes are filled with fire at the thought.
"Where is the stallion now my little pony" Celestia asks cutting Scootaloo off, her voice as cold as ice
"Prism...killed him Princess" Scootaloo says looking down "But he protected me in doing so. I don't even want to think of what would have happened had he not saved me" a tremor runs through her body as she pushes the thoughts from her mind. Celestia simply nodding the fire disappearing from her eyes.
"Ok Scootaloo please do continue on with the events in question" Twilight says in a soft almost motherly tone.
After taking a few moments to compose herself Scootaloo continues on "Well after talking to him about that. DiamondTiara and SilverSpoon showed up and began to torment us as usual. The three of us are used to it from them and have learned to take it in stride butPrism....she really went after him...even went so far as to say that it is his own fault that he was left alone in the forest. That his own mother abandoned him there where you found him Twilight, after which he went off" Scootaloo finishes off glaring at Diamond Tiara
"So you claim it was a provoked outburst then Scootaloo?" Twilight asks
"Yes Princess" Scootaloo replies with a matter of fact tone.
"With the truth spell upon you and Diamonds own confession of having been there looking to torment you three. I think I can call this hearing finished." Twilight looks to DiamondTiara, SilverSpoon and their fathers. "Now as for you two. I am hereby ordering that you both make restitution's towards Scootaloo, SweetieBelle and AppleBloom for the years you have apparently been tormenting them as well as full letters of apology to each of them. That includes one addressed to Prism my personal student" With that both of the fillies fathers are horrified and shocked.
"But..but Princess" Diamonds father starts before being cut off by Twilight as she uses her magic to clamp his jaws shut.
"Filthy Rich. It is through your own negligence and lack of observation that your daughter has become a bully. This is as much your fault as it is hers. Now the four of you may go" With that her horn glows and she teleports the 2 fillies and their fathers from her castle.
After all the other ponies had filed out of the room leaving just me, Twilight and Celestia. Twilight finally turns her attention to me. "Glitter despite the fact that your attack upon them was provoked you did still attack them" The sadness in her voice thick and heavy.
"Hmmmm I do believe that I may have a solution Twilight" Celestia says surprising both of us.
"Really" Twilight's eyes shoot open full of hope but then she droops again "I hope your not going to suggest that we simply lock him up"
"Do not worry twilight I was not going to suggest that. Your right he is no monster. I was wrong to judge him as such based solely upon the past. As such I think he would be able to benefit from the guidance of the Minotaurs. They are accustomed to containing their anger save for the odd loner or miscreant. We are actually good allies with them and it should not be to much trouble to get the King to acquiesce to this" After saying this Celestia turns towards me "I do hope you can forgive me and accept my thanks for protecting that young filly" the smile she beams at me is both apologetic and caring at the same time.
"I..can try" is my only response my fear of her making it hard to forgive her despite her apologetic tone and smile.
"I understand Prism. I do hope you will be able to benefit from this and that when you have returned I will be able to welcome you as a part of Equestria, but you will need to work hard and overcome the rage that your kind has always suffered from. If you do manage that though upon your return I will gladly give you full citizenship with all the rights and responsibilities included with such" Celestia isn't quite beaming but the tone of her voice is very matter of fact and directly challenging me to succeed.
"I will do so" I smile and bow to Celestia "Me make all proud"
With that Twilight's horn glows once more and the bands holding my wings are removed allowing my cramped wings to whip out to full extension to stretch "Until this has been set up you will not be allowed to leave the castle for ANY reason Prism is that understood" Twilight's commanding tone takes me aback but I do agree with a nod.
I then spend the rest of the day in a different room having smashed all the stuff in my previous one save for a single gem that spike had given me shortly after my arrival. Once dark comes though I bolt making my way out of the castle furtively, unbeknownst to me my path setting off many silent alarm spells that Twilight had set up. I do manage to make it from the castle though and into the sky heading back towards my forest. I push my wings as hard as I can trying to make it back to my old cave. I only get about a mile outside of Ponyville though before a lavender flash appears right in front of me.
"PRISM! What are you doing. I told you that you could not leave the castle for any reason" Twilight's voice is filled with both anger and hurt at having defied her. "You will explain yourself right now or I will have no choice but to lock you up until you can be transported"
With a sigh of resignation I go and land upon a cloud Twilight landing beside me. " I sorry Twilight...but cannot go to Mino..taurs without mom"
The anger and hurt disappear in an instant "I..I'm sorry Prism thought you were simply trying to run away"
"No, no run me show big pony but....am scared....want mom to come with" I say sadly
"Ok Prism but where is she. I thought you had said that you were all alone there?" Twilight asks me quizically
"I was all alone...mom...dead...want get remains take with" I reply looking pretty hard into the cloud
"Oh" is Twilight's only reply for several moments before she lifts her head up and says" Well lets go and get her then"
"Really...you help get her?" I ask with surprise "You not stop from doing?"
"No Prism I wont stop you in fact Ill help this way at least we can say you never left my sight" She smiles to me and we both share a soft hug before taking back to the sky for the rest of the trip to my old home.
It doesn't take very long for us to get there maybe an hour at most both of us landing just outside my old cave. Twilight follows just behind me as we enter my cave. The cave is dark so i head straight to the center and light the wood I know to still be sitting there even after all this time lighting the cave quickly. Twilight doesnt even speak as i go to the back of the cave grabbing the only item in the entire room. With a nod to twilight the both of us once more take off and head back towards her castle.
After our outing we both manage to return to the castle without fuss, the spells Twilight had placed apparently linking to only her so only she knew of my trip outside the castle. Sadly after that I spend the next two days under guard within the castle not being left alone for a single moment not even during the intensified study session's with Twilight focusing solely upon my ability to speak and interact with others. I am very grateful when finally my time comes and I'm lead from the castle and then to Canterlot by Twilight. We skip entering the town proper going right to one of the strange outcroppings near the edge of Canterlot. As we come into view I can see several very large metal constructs resting only about a foot from the ground each nestled by its own private dock. We walk past a few of them coming to stop in front of a rather simple looking contraption although its size dwarfs all the others currently there.
"Ok Prism this one will take you to the Minotaur lands. I want you to be good and listen to what you are being taught" Twilight says to me placing a hoof upon my back and I nod
"I will Twilight" I lean down and hug her tightly just as a Minotaur comes out from the ship.
"Ok you the passenger then?" the rather thin and weak looking Minotaur asks me calmly
"I nod and walk over towards him. "Yes I am going to Minotaur lands to learn"
"Ok then. Well I hope your ready it will be a few days travel before we arrive and there is no turning around once we get underway" The Minotaur says with only a hint of boredom.
"I ready" is my only reply before I follow him onto the ship.
After a Rather boring few days of travel we finally arrive in Minotauria specifically a city called Sparta. where I am greeted by the Minotaur King himself.
"Ahhh Welcome welcome. You must be the one Celestia herself asked me for help with" the rather large and imposing Minotaur says
"Yes. I am Prism.I have come to train with Minotaur's to learn control" I state plainly.
"Well you have definitely come to the right place. We Minotaur's are known for the impeccable control of our tempers, But where are my manners. I am king Minos ruler of Minotauria and I officially welcome you to our lands Prism" King Minos says with genuine cheer in his voice. "It is not often that our great allies in Equestria ask for our help"
I nod and smile to him politely and then with a nod of his own, he shows me around the city of Sparta. After which I am lead to a secluded part just outside of the city proper.
"You will live and train here with the best warriors Minotuaria has to offer. you will learn control and discipline under the guidance of the Battle Master here. I will not lie to you it will not be an easy task nor will it be pleasant. You will train and work hard and when you are done you will leave here better for it" King Mino's says clamping a hand over my shoulder. "Make me proud but above all else make those waiting for you to come back proud" With that he simply points me in the direction I need to go and walks off.
After about 5 minutes of walking my nose is assaulted by the smell of an unknown Minotaur and my face is almost assaulted by a rather large double bladed axe that takes several hairs from my mane as I just manage to duck to avoid it taking my entire head.
"Ho there. You will state your name and intentions or the next wont miss" The Minotaur in question says as he steps from a large bush. The Minotaur's body is large and well muscled another axe slung across his shoulder, but nothing compared to the King still though I try my best to be polite.
"I am Prism. Come to learn from Minotaur's. Come to learn control so I can live with pony friends" is my response
"Ahhhh your the new one then huh" the Minotaur says looking me over "Well I have seen worse come through here and leave as warriors. Come I will take you to Battle Master Troi" With that his posture changes becoming much more friendly. He then leads me for a short distance to a large building made entirely of white stone that makes me think of Rarity. I am led in and through to a moderate sized room.
"Battle Master. The new meat has arrived" The Minotaur says to a rather large all black Minotaur.
"Hmmm step forwards new meat and present yourself" The Battle Master commands
Stepping forwards I say " I am Prism. Here to learn control from great Minotaur's" I say to him rather sheepishly
"Ha you learn. With your posture and demeanor wouldn't you be better off learning to farm or something else meant for the weak" The Battle Master's tone is to much like Diamonds was for me and my blood begins to boil in my veins.
"I here to learn to control animal inside. Not learn to do things for weak" I growl out my posture changing from shy passivity to an almost feral aggression.
"Ha your probably not even worth my time. You will probably leave after just the first day" The Battle Master sneers at me
My pulse pounds in my ears and my heart feels like it wants to tear forth from my chest, my blood feeling like lava within my veins. "I. Not. Weak. Me monster...need train to keep from hurting friends" my voice is filled with anger my body shaking slightly as I try to contain myself, the animal inside me snarling at the gates of my mind to be let loose.
"A monster huh. Maybe that's why you were abandoned then. Not only a weak creature but a weak monster." The Battle Masters laugh is full and thick, laced with venom and fully condescending towards me.
The moment the laugh leaves his lips my mind flips over, my eyes turn red and I rush the Battle Master with a roar of fury. Only to be silenced when the powerful Minotaur simply grabs me by the throat and squeezes down hard enough to completely halt my ability to breath.
"Ahhhh there we are. That is the Monster I wanted to see. I was told about you. Your past, your problems. Everything. I wanted to see this monster for myself." The Battle Master says looking at me with cold impassive eyes. "You will learn here from us and you will come to control this animal inside of you. For now though I think you need a nap." With that he clunks me over the head with his bare fist and I am rendered unconscious from the force of the blow.
The next three months are spent going between combat training and meditation to train both my body and mind. They also spend time teaching me some of the finer things like Battle Master Troi who paints landscapes of the multi colored flower covered hills that cap the horizon to the north of Sparta or one my my new friends the dual war hammer wielder Krath who loves to cook and is the designated chef of our war house. And so many others who have simple quiet pastimes for when they are not training or meditating. I have learned so much during my time here it is simply amazing the least of which is the level of control I have gained through the long hours of meditation and camaraderie from a group of creatures that can easily handle me when I do go feral which I no longer need to be knocked out to recover from only held back or talked down from. I can almost focus it like another weapon. I am soo close but not quite there. The Battle Master tells me it will come but its just so hard to be patient I miss all of the friends I had made back in ponyville one of who I had confided in with Krath about having a liking for to which after hearing my description of had given me some rather good advice on the subject. Sadly such pleasantries were all cut short when Equestria had sent out a desperate call to its allies for immediate help defending its lands, to which of course Minotauria had agreed to send its warriors, the news making its way to my ears shortly after making my blood boil hotter than it had ever before at the thought that my friends may be in danger. I go to my Battle Master immediatly.
"Battle Master Troi...Please I must go...my friends they must be in danger." The look I give the Battle Master of sheer and utter need to protect my friends completely blocking out the rage boiling through my veins stifling any sound of protest in his throat.
"Alright Prism. You have done well these three months. I was asked by King Minos if I felt you might be ready to do this and I told him I would see how you handled the news which arrived 3 days ago to my ears and only now to yours. But I feel as though your want to protect your friends will help in this there are no greater bonds than friends or family both are the only ones you can count upon in life" The Battle Master says with a satisfied huff "We will leave by the eve so go and prepare quickly we shall be in your home within days.
With that I almost fly from his war room and into my own quarters packing up the sword and even armor I have acquired both of which was custom made by the local blacksmith for me the day I truly started my training after. I of course also grab the sack containing my mothers bones her skull, spine and twenty feathers ten from each of her wings. With my small collection of belongings gathered I turn to meditation until it is time to leave. When the time arrives and our war house goes to the airship I am the very first to board being eager to come to the aid of my friends.
Several days later as we approach Canterlot Airspace close enough to make out the shape of the castle on the horizon, our airship is attacked by pegasi who bring it down with bolts of lightning from their wings. In the ensuing panic I am only able to save my friend Krath the rest of our war house dying when the ship explodes moments after I get myself and my friend to the relative safety of the skies which lasts only a moment as the pagasi come in to attack us. Racing towards the ground I let out blasts of fire from my muzzle deterring some of the weaker flyers but many of them working their magics to rain lightning down upon me. Many bolts strike me scorching my scales but not much more making me grateful for once for having them. Though when a bolt strikes my wing it freezes mid flap and I fall from the sky only just managing to hold onto Krath as we plummet. I drop him when the ground has come close enough letting him roll to safety before I slam face first into the grass and dirt again making me thankful for having scales as they absorb most of the impact many along my face and chest cracking heavily. A quick check shows my wing to be useless many of the primary and secondary feathers smoldering from the hit others ripped out during the landing. With one look to krath who had landed nearby we break into a run doing our best to avoid the lightning being completely unarmed save for the chestplate, spiked shoulder guards and gauntlets I was wearing and the short sword currently in Krath's hands the rest of our gear including my mothers bones lost to the explosion of our ship. As we run my rage seethes from the loss of something so important and my inability to protect it. A lightning bolt zips just over my head singeing my mane to which I reply with a fireball from my mouth scoring a direct hit making the pegasi burst into flames and fall from the sky screaming. Recognizing the area where we landed as being one of the open plains just a mile or two outside of ponyville I urge my friend on to move faster, when suddenly a rainbow streak breaks through the sky knocking the other pegasi from it as a large rainbow colored explosion bursts across the sky. The rainbow streak comes in landing right near us.
"Dash" I exclaim running over and hugging her
"Hey Prism glad to see your ok" RainbowDash says before looking me over "Although it definitely looks like you have been better"
After exchanging a soft smile aswell as another hug I state simply "The others. Are they ok" the look she gives me as she replies is enough to make my blood boil.
"Most of us are Prism But...but Twilight was captured along with the rest of the Princesses. They are being held in Canterlot with Celesita knows what being done to them. None of us have been able to get close enough to try and mount a rescue" She says looking almost defeated her expression so sad that it wrenches upon my heart.
Placing a hand upon her back I say comfortingly " Don't worry Dash. I will get Twilight back along with the other Princesses. I'm gunna make whoever is responsible for this wish they had never been born...but first. i need to get my wing looked at"
Dash nods to me and we go towards Ponyville general hospital. Krath following behind us.
As we walk Dash tells me about the last two weeks since the insurrection happened, as she calls it. Where a group of ponies had lead a rather large force against Canterlot consisting mostly of pegasi, and unicorns but bolstered with griffons and even a half dozen young dragons. The fight had been short they had simply swarmed the city killed the guard and taken the citizens hostage and then used them to negotiate for Celestia and Luna's unconditional surrender. After that a Unicorn had taken the sun throne and a pegasus the Moon throne. They captured Twilight when she attempted a rescue of them soon after. Since then most of Equestria has come under their influence with the rest rallying around the banner of the Crystal empire in opposition. Ponyville being so close had quickly been subjugated the entire force that had been left to occupy the town having gone to attack the Airship which is what gave Dash the chance to knock them from the sky with her rainboom. Once we arrive at the hospital after Dash makes a big deal of letting them know who I am, I am seen to right away. The singed and scorched feathers are easily treated while the ones that had been violently ripped out would need to grow back in on their own the fix though giving me back some limited ability to fly. Not very fast but I could still fly so I thank the doctor kindly and after Krath has his injuries treated which goes a lot better than mine most of his being only scorches and cuts we are on our way to Twilight's castle to depose the Unicorn that had taken up residence there and had a thing for younger ponies. I easily take care of the young dragon guarding the front door as I rush up grabbing the roughly Alicorn sized dragon, snapping its neck with a sharp twist of his head the look of confusion never leaving its face not even in death.
"Wow" Dash exclaims "Your really a badflank now huh"
Smiling I nod and toss the dragons body aside before I let krath use his greater physical strength to smash the doors down
"By the way Prism who is your new friend. I mean I'm glad for the help but he hasn't said very much?" Dash asks me curiously
"Oh sorry that's Krath. hes a good warrior but does tend to keep to himself" I reply stepping past the now shattered doors. The trip through the rest of the castle is rather uneventful until for the second time in my life I hear a cry that sends my instincts into over drive.
"No please no. Somepony please help me" the voice is so tiny I can barely hear it but I'm not the only one who does as all three of us turn down a hallway running flat out. We arrive at a door where another cry for help pierces the silence and I don't even take the time to open it simply going right through it leaving a space in my shape in the door. The scene before me sends ice through my veins. There on the bed is a fully grown unicorn stallion advancing on something hidden. The unicorn turns to me after a moment and from his changed spot I can see a single orange colored wing and a wisp of purple tail. For me that's it and from my spot in the door I fling myself through the air like a spear, tackling the unicorn from the bed my opened jaws in his face the moment we land showing him all of my very sharp, pointy and slightly serrated teeth. Dash follows in after as I hear her exclaim
"SCOOTS!" I turn my eyes to see her fly to the bed and scoop up the now sobbing pegasus filly in her arms and race out the door but not before saying with such venom and ice in her words that it makes even me shudder "He's all yours Prism"
Smiling though I turn back to the now very scared unicorn easily shown by the fact that hes just pissed on the floor and motion for Krath to leave the room which he does but only to stand outside in the hall. With my full attention on the unicorn though I say slowly and clearly my voice so cold that i can see him shiver at my words. "I have always wondered what pony tastes like" the very next sound is his very short scream as I tear out his throat with my teeth and then proceed to actually eat him not seeing this thing beneath me as a pony. My rage never once taking over.
Chapter 11: Taking Back The Throne part 1.5 That Night
After cleaning up me and Krath head towards the castle entrance only to find that Dash and Scootaloo have been captured by a Pink unicorn. Both of them currently being held in a magical bubble that is quickly shrinking. Krath reacts first charging the unicorn only to take a blast of magic to the chest as the bubble around Dash and Scootaloo disappears dropping them both to the floor. Krath falls backwards a smoking hole in his chest where his heart used to be. The sight sends me over the edge and I'm on the mare before her next spell can even start charging. I grab her by the horn with both hands squeezing tightly upon it making her scream out in pain.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" She lets out a blood curdling scream as I plant one of my feet against her barrel and with all my might rip her horn straight from her head. Her eyes roll back and her jaw hangs slack as a spray of blood flows from the hole in her forehead as she hits the floor dead. The pain and shock of having her horn ripped from her having overloaded her nervous system. For good measure though I turn her horn around and jam it point first back into the hole and into her brain her body jerking once before settling. As I turn to face Dash and Scootaloo I force my rage down.
"Are you two alright?" I ask concerned for their well being.
"Yeah Prism were ok thanks" Dash replies quickly having used her wing to shield Scootaloo's from the violence.
"I'm so glad your both ok" comes my relieved reply before I turn to Kraths body. "I am sorry my friend" I say placing my hand upon him. "I will see to it that the ones who did this will pay dearly"
After that things proceed quickly. Spike informs Cadance through a letter of Ponyville's freedom and in a reply she promises both royal and crystal guard forces to help protect the town to arrive by morning. Kraths body is also seen to being readied to be returned to his homeland for burial. As the time moves on towards evening I decide to go out and just fly around for abit trying to clear my head of what I had done today. After a bit of flying something catches my attention, a rainbow streak of light that passes me by then stops right in my flight path forcing me to stop mid air.
"Hey Prism think we can talk" Rainbow Dash says once she is sure she has my complete focus.
"Uhhh yeah sure Dash" I then fly with her over to a large nearby cloud.
"So I..I wanted to thank you for saving Scootaloo again. She means so much to me and i just don't know what I would do if anything happened to her" Dash's voice is soft completely lacking her normal bravado
"Its ok Dash I am just doing what Twilight said I should do" comes my reply to her.
"I know that Prism but it really means sooo much to me. And look at how awesome you have become so strong and fierce. The way you took on that dragon without any hesitation was sooo cool" Dash says almost seeming to fawn over the achievement.
"Well I had to act quickly or it would have seriously hurt you and Krath" the mention of his name makes me wince which doesn't go unnoticed by Dash who puts a hoof around my shoulders.
"I know how you feel Prism Krath was a brave warrior and he died protecting us. We gotta think of his memory and be happy for who he was and how he lived" Dash says surprising me a bit with her ability to think this deeply.
'Wow Dash that's really deep" I say slightly shocked.
"Well yeah I have my moments" she says with a blush and a punch to my shoulder.
Its only now that I realize just how close we have come on the cloud our bodies just about pressing up against one another. "Uhhh Dash" I say looking at her
"Yes Prism" is her response her voice almost sultry and alluring (1)
"Uhhh we seem to have gotten kinda close" I say half seriously something about her scent making my head swim.
"Is that a bad thing" Dash replies to me a rather devious look on her face that makes me sweat.
'Uhhhh no not really" I reply fidgeting a bit
"Mmmm good" Dash says pressing herself a little closer to me her scent almost overpowering me
"Uhhhh Dash" I say nervously to which she just puts a hoof against my mouth.
"Now shhhhh Prism. I've seen the way you look at me. I've seen the way your eyes linger on my flanks and withers" She says with a wink. "I want you to know i haven't minded. As Rarity would say being admired is good for a mare. And honestly I haven't been able to stop myself looking at you from time to time" Dash's voice is fully alluring almost inviting me in. " Your strong chest, large wings, those muscles rippling slightly under your scales" She punctuates that last part by running a hoof over my arm. "What mare wouldn't want a piece of this at times"
Moving her hoof from my mouth I manage to say" Dash what are you-" only to be cut off again as her lips meet mine in a deep and lustful kiss.
After a few moments she pulls back licking her own lips. "Mmmmm that answer your question big boy" The way she looks at me soo innocently but with such fire and want makes my mind break down another set of instincts taking over as me and Dash spend the rest of the night in each others arms and hooves not sleeping.(2)
Chapter 12. Taking Back The Throne part 2 (minor edits)
The next morning as consciousness begins to slowly fill my world I quickly find 2 things apparent, one the warm spot where a pony body should be curled up against my scales is rather cold and secondly that I am unable to move my arms, legs or wings. The realization of the second thing quickly brings my eyes fully open to find that I have been bound in chains and am being towed by 2 pegasi stallions one red with a black tail the other blue with a yellow tail on the cloud that I spent most of the night with Rainbow Dash. Going to speak I find my muzzle also currently enclosed in chains so I'm just able to make a few muffled growls.
"Oh look big fella's awake brother" The blue one says his yellow mane and rather striking green eyes coming into view as he turns his head
"So he is brother. So he is" The red one says as he turns to look at me with his left eye a large jagged scar running down his right one. The piercing stare from his remaining blue eye though still just as powerful. "Well after the boss got wind of some creature coming in and freeing up ponyville didn't think we would find it just laying there all alone sleeping on some cloud" The red one continues on with a smirk
"Hehe yeah was almost too easy brother but the boss is going to want talk with this one. This dumb thing went and killed the new kings sister can't say what he will have in store for him is going to be pleasant" The words of the blue pegasus makes me gulp but not panic. I am a killing machine a MONSTER if this king thinks he will have such an easy time of it ill give him what for so for now I decide to bide my time waiting until I have my chance to strike.
About two hours later we arrive at Canterlot the length of the trip caused by the need to add to and reinforce the cloud every so often. Upon arrival I am swiftly handed off to a group of unicorns who unbind my legs with their magic then command me to walk forwards without giving me much choice in the matter. I am led through the town in chains a spectacle of those who would dare go against the new crown as such it takes another forty five minutes before we reach the castle. When we finally do I am quickly led in and directly to the throne room, I am brought before a rather large emerald green unicorn who sits upon a large white throne. He turns to me his citron colored eyes seeming to bore holes directly into my scales. I am forced to kneel before him with my head held low by the magic of the guards
"You must be the one who killed my sister in Ponyville. My planted spies were correct you are quite the creature to behold. But you are nothing and I am going to make sure you know that." The emerald green unicorn turns to his guards. "I want him put in the darkest cell in the lowest part of the dungeon. I'm going to enjoy making you the beast you should be" his laugh echoes in my ears as I'm dragged off into the bowels of Canterlot castle.
6 MONTHS LATER
Noise wakes me into the darkness from a fitful slumber, and I push myself away from where I know the door to be and into a corner pressing my useless wings up against the cold stone in a vain attempt to protect them from further harm. I can hear the lock of the door as the key slides in and turns the clicks of it unlocking quite loud. I curl up in on myself whimpering before the door even opens and the light of a torch falls upon me.
"Princess here I have found him." The voice is male but I do not look as I barely even register what he has said. I curl up a little tighter expecting any moment for the pain to begin. The rapid sound of hooves upon stone hits my ears as another pony comes rushing towards my cell. They stop with a skid then a distinctly feminine gasp of shock.
"Oh Prism..." The voice seems familiar but I can't place it. The sound of hooves on stone resounds through my cell moving towards me slowly. "Prism do you know who I am. Do you remember me"
The voice is so soft so warm nothing like what I have heard for so long now that when the source of it touches me I barely even flinch something deep inside me saying I can trust this one. Slowly I open my eyes and look upon a Lavender colored mare with a horn and wings. She smiles softly but I stare at her blankly. Seeing no recognition dawn on my face and having not gotten a response from me she speaks again.
"Prism It's me Twilight don't you recognize me" Her voice is shaky but I just stare at her blankly not knowing who this warm mare before me is. Seeing that no I don't know her she almost seems to break down into tears before quickly composing herself. Pulling away from me and turning out to face the hall she gives a quick shout the volume and power of her voice causing it to reverberate down through the halls making sure every ear hears her. "Guards we have found what we came for. Free the other slaves and then get topside. We. Are. Leaving." Her final words are commanding, authoritative and with that she turns to me the smile on her face so warm and her words so soft "Come Prism its time to go home" She reaches out a hoof to me and I take it without even thinking every fiber of my being screaming that this mare CAN be trusted for some reason despite my broken mind telling me to flee or fight. She smiles one more time and her horn begins to glow. The glow from her horn surrounds the both of us and in a flash of lavender light the dark cell I have called home disappears.
As the flash of Twilight's teleportation spell fades I find myself standing outside, the sun warm upon my body. I turn my head up to look at it and smile taking in a deep breath of fresh air. When I turn my head back down though I find 6 mares all staring at me in abject horror.
"My..my word.." The white unicorn mutters.
"L.. look at.. his wings" A blue pegasus nearly chokes on her words as she speaks.
The tan earth pony of the group just stares at me her eyes wide, her mouth agape unable to either move or speak. A yellow pegasus in the group is doing her very best to hide behind her wings as she audibly cries. I watch as the mane and tail of a pink earth pony in the group goes flat with the sound of escaping air as she falls to the ground unable to continue looking at me.
"Prism..what did they do to you" Finally the lavender one called Twilight speaks, the look of pain clearly written on her face as she looks me over.
Finally I decide to do so myself seeing the few patches of scales I have on my body and the scars that cover most of my front. Turning to my backside I see my mangled, featherless wings as well as the scars that crisscross down the length of my back from my shoulders to my hips. I then stare at her blankly knowing that this is how I have always looked but then I find I can only think so far back, the only thing I can remember is my cell nothing from before then. I drop to the ground as my head begins to hurt the traces of magic that then begin to course through my brain impossible for the embodiment of the element magic to miss. The lavender mare is at my side the moment I hit the ground.
"Prism. Whats wrong?" She asks me concerned. Getting no response from me her horn begins to glow then abruptly stops after just a moment. She gasps then looks at me speaking slow and softly. "Don't worry Prism. I am going to fix this." Her horn begins to glow once more and she slowly begins to move it towards my forehead.
Every fiber of my being screams at me to run as she inches closer her horn glowing but the same voice inside me that said i could trust her in my cell is now screaming at me, far louder than any other instinct to not move, to let her do this and so I simply sit there on my knees waiting. When her horn touches me a bright flash goes off both in my eyes and inside of my mind. Suddenly visions fill my eyes as all of my memories come flooding back from the start right up till now. The violence and pain of the last six months is to much for me to take all at once and with a scream I pass once more into unconsciousness.
Slowly awareness fills the void as consciousness begins to return to me. There are voices just outside of the darkness but I cannot make them out, then there is only pain as my body realizes that my brain has once more become active. I let out a groan as my body shudders and one of the voices in the darkness rapidly comes much closer almost to where I can make it out.
"...Started moving...bring more..Prism...drink." I can vaguely feel as something is pressed to my mouth a cold liquid running down my throat as something is poured in. As the coolness washes down through my body I begin to feel heavy and the darkness once more takes complete hold of my mind.
Once again awareness begins to fill my mind as consciousness once again begins to return to me. The voices in the darkness have gone though replaced now with only a single one the source of it sounding almost close enough to touch its words clear despite it sounding like barely a whisper/
"I..I am so sorry Prism. If I hadn't left you alone that night, if i had stayed with you until morning...maybe you wouldn't be like you are now" the voice is definitely female seeming so familiar to me. Suddenly I can feel something soft and wet falling onto me and the darkness in my mind slowly gives way to the light of wakefulness. My eyes slowly flutter open and i find myself in a hospital room the smell of antiseptic quickly overpowering my sensitive nose but the smell doesn't matter to me as there right next to me, sitting on a chair hunched down over my bed, the front half of her hovering over my body with her hooves covering her face sits Rainbow Dash crying softly.
"D..Dash." I manage to just barely squeak out causing the mare to jump in surprise then hug me as tightly as she thinks she can without hurting me her tears quickly staining my shoulder.
"Prism. Your awake." Dash says in an unusually soft tone of voice for the normally exuberant mare "I...We thought you might never wake up" She says her tears still running down her face to land upon me.
"N..no...cr..cry..Dash" I weakly try to lift an hand up to wipe away one of her tears managing to only bring my hand about an inch up from the bed before Dash quickly stops me.
"Prism shhhh. Don't try to move to much ok. You gotta try and stay still big guy alright" Dash smiles as best she can trying to be reassuring, not moving her hooves from holding me down until she is sure I'm not going to try and move. Once she is sure I'm not going to try anything stupid like moving she speaks again. "Ok Prism I am just going to go and tell the others that your awake. Just stay there in bed and don't try to move" After an ever so slight nod from me she turns and walks out of the room leaving me alone for a short time which I use to just close my eyes and rest. A short while later the sound of the door and six sets of hooves clip clopping along the floor brings me back to the world of the living to see Rainbow Dash followed by Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and then finally Twilight. Once they are in the room all of them but Dash come running over to my bed side.
"Ah'm so relieved to see you are ok Prism" AppleJack says in her usual southern drawl as she places a hoof along the edge of my bed.
"Yes. You gave us all quite the scare darling" Rarity's sweet velvety voice chimes in next as she places a hoof along the edge of my bed.
"I am going to have to throw such a huge party once your able to join in Prism. You have already missed so many of them that its going to have to be extra super huge to make up for it." Pinkie Pie says cheerfully her mane fully inflated with a big smile on her face as she places a hoof along the edge of my bed
"I..I'm really glad your ok" FlutterShy quietly whispers as she places a hoof along the edge of my bed.
Finally Twilight looks to me "Prism. I am so glad to see that your awake. I was so worried that you wouldn't ever wake up" She says as she places a hoof on my shoulder.
I look over at Dash now who hasn't come over to my bed. "Dash..." I am barely able to speak her name but it does draw her attention and she looks over at me with a forlorn expression on her face barely able to meet my eyes. "Dash...." I say again my voice once more barely a whisper. Dash with her head hung not looking at me walks over next to my bed. "Dash...no...blame...your...self" I slowly rasp out barely able to speak.
"How can I not...If I had just stayed...If i hadn't just left you during the night...maybe...maybe I could have-" I cut her off right there with one glare.
"Dash...no...no...blame...yourself...not...your...fault" I rasp out panting and wheezing a bit once I finish speaking.
Twilight looks from Dash to me before noticing my breathing.- "Ok girls I think that's enough for now. Let's let Prism rest up. We can talk to him more later." With that she ushers her friends out not giving them a chance to argue. "We will be by to see you again later Prism for now just rest alright." Twilight says as she smiles before closing the door behind herself and her friends leaving me once more alone in the hospital room.
Once the group has filed out of the room I slowly let my eyes close allowing sleep to once more take me. As my mind passes through into the realm of dreams though I find myself surrounded by darkness a deep sense of foreboding permeating all of my senses as I attempt to get some idea of where I could be a voice suddenly rings out from the darkness.
"Why do you fight your instincts. Why do you hold back when you could easily be their superior. Why work for food" the voice from the darkness says in a rather condescending tone.
"Who are you." I call out ignoring the voices questions.
"I am the darkness that swallows the light. I am the evil that waits in the shadows. I am the bringer of death. I am Seshareem lord of darkness once proud king of the dragons." comes the voices reply.
"Haven't heard of you before. why are you here. I know that I must be dreaming" I quip sarcastically.
"You are only partially right. this may be the realm of dreams but this itself is no dream. I have entered into your mind to find out why you are so different than those who have come before you." comes the darkness' reply.
"That is easy to explain. I choose to be better than those who have come before. I choose to not be a monster. I have chosen friendship." comes my quick and proud reply.
"Friendship...bah. Friendship is not for your kind. You and those before you were made to be one thing. A monster, and when your 'friends' see the monster within you they will turn on you" the voice sneers out chuckling.
"No my friends would never abandon me. They care for me." I say sternly no doubt in my mind that they would stand by me.
"You will see one day little monster. Their kind has always viewed yours as an abomination and soon your friends will see you as such as well. For now though I am finished talking with you so wake up little monster" the voice slowly fades back into the darkness before I find myself sitting bolt upright in my hospital bed.
"Prism?" I turn my head and there's Dash once more next to my bed, her hoof on my scaled hand concern easily readable in her eyes. "You were fidgeting and seemed stressed in your sleep."
I smile softly looking up at her and weakly say. "Its ok... Dash just... a bad... dream"
my smile seems to work as she relaxes.
"Ok I thought something might have been wrong but I am glad it was just a dream" Dash says softly moving up to give me a soft hug. "You should try and get some more rest if you can though tomorrow is going to be busy."
"What is... going on tomorrow" I ask her as i lay myself back down.
"Don't worry about that now ok. For now just rest" comes her reply
"Ok Dash" I say placing my other hand upon her hoof. "Thanks for being... here it really,,,, means a lot... to me"
a slight blush comes to her cyan cheeks as she replies." It's nothing Prism what are friends for right"
I smile once more before letting my eyes close this time proper sleep coming to claim me.
The morning seems to come far to fast for me after I return to sleep. The first rays of Celestia's sun waking me as they shine through the window of my room and right into my face. As I look round there is Dash still curled up in her chair with her head resting on her fore hooves near my side. I smile softly just looking at this beautiful mare staying silent so as not to wake her. Upon going to flex my wings though I realise I cannot move them, nor can I even feel them.
"Ugh..oh hey your awake. Uhh? what's wrong Prism?" Dash says sleepily as I started to fidget and move trying to look behind me.
"I..I can't feel or move my wings Dash..." The look she gives me when I say that makes my normally hot blood run ice cold.
"Prism try to calm down ok" she says softly
"Dash...Dash! whats wrong with my wings Dash? Why can't I move or feel my wings?" my voice starting to fill with panic as I continue to look at her
She hangs her head and in barely a whisper says "Your wings are gone Prism"
My eyes go wide, my jaw goes slack and then everything goes black as I faint from sheer shock. When I wake up again it is no longer just Dash in the room with me. Accompanying her to this wake up are Twilight, the big white tank flanked sun butt Celestia, Luna and another Alicorn I have not yet met before who is pretty much all pink with a big heart on her flank. Upon noticing that I have once more returned to the land of the living Celestia is the first to speak.
"Prism I would first off like to say I am sorry for how I have treated you in the past. My experience with your kind made me biased towards you and for that I am sorry." I look over at Celestia as she hangs her head her tone apologetic. I sit there dumbfounded having not expected this from her before I can reply though she continues on.
"Next I would like to thank you for your efforts in freeing Ponyville. If you had not removed the one who had been placed in charge and given Cadence a place to assault Canterlot from I do not know how long this civil war would have lasted" Celestia motions to the pink alicorn as she says her name, who then steps forwards and speaks next.
"Yes Celestia is right. Your help in freeing Ponyville let me bring my forces in and set up a base camp close to Canterlot where we were able to quickly retake the capitol and free the other Princesses and then take back the rest of Equestria." the pink alicorn now known as Cadence says to me with a small smile.
"I did good then" I finally manage to say as the room goes quiet once Cadence had finished speaking.
"Yes Prism you did good" Twilight places her hoof upon my shoulder smiling warmly to me as speaks with pride in her voice.
Celestia begins to speak again and my attention quickly turns to her her voice having turned regal. "For your service to the crown in freeing Ponyville Prism. I have decided that once you are well enough to leave this hospital room that you will be awarded the Equestrian service medal. It is the highest honor that a civilian in Equestria can be given." Her bright smile once again catches me off guard for a moment before I look around at the others and see them all smiling to.
"So I do really good then" I say as I manage a smile before my face falls remembering about my wings.- "Dash said that my wings are gone?" I ask looking around the room none of them really seeming to want to make direct eye contact. It being Twilight who speaks up first after almost a full minute of silence.
"I am sorry Prism. But your wings were far to damaged and had to be surgically removed." says solemnly while looking down at the floor.
I let myself just sink back into the bed just staring up at the ceiling. After several minutes of silence Celestia quietly says to the others. "Come I think he needs to be alone for awhile" I can hear four sets of hooves quickly exit the room after that but then I feel another set place themselves on my arm.
"I really am sorry for what happened to you Prism" I know its Dash from her voice but I don't turn my head to look just continue to stare at the ceiling until I feel something wet against my arm and turn to look to see Dash crying silently.
"Dash. Please no be sad." I smile lifting my arm to lift her head to look at me. "I will be ok. I just need time. Be happy Dash, be Dash I know not sad Dash. Dash I know so much better to be around"
She looks at me for a few moments before managing to smile. "Ok Prism. I... I'll try"
"Thank you Dash. If you want there is one thing can do" I say to her.
"Oh what's that" comes her short reply.
I manage to turn to my side and raise my arm. "let me hold you while I rest feeling tired again" I say a little hopeful.
Dash looks to me and to the space I have made for her before chuckling softly and climbing up onto the bed pressing her back against my chest letting my arm drape around her. "Like this Prism"
I smile as I feel her warmth fill my body. "Yes, Thank you Dash." I lay my head against her neck before closing my eyes and quickly falling back asleep.
Over the course of the next week my bones are mended, my wounds healed and my scales regrown through a combination of magic spells, healing potions and medicinal balms. I see several doctors during this time of recovery the only constant during it being Dash, who stays by my side without leaving, helping me to get through the pain of healing. During my week of recovery I do manage to find out that I am in the royal Canterlot hospital in the wing usually reserved directly for the Princesses. Once my body has healed enough though I am lead out with Dash in tow to the main throne room where sun butt Celestia and Luna are seated upon their thrones surrounded by a rather large crowd of ponies I do not know. As I enter the room Celestia has just begun speaking and I am quietly told to wait until called.
"Today my little ponies I have called you here today to honor a pony who helped in our time of strife. Whose actions lead to a quick end of the fanatical uprising of the unicorn Emerald Spark. This ponies single hoofed actions in the freeing of Ponyville quickly led to the retaking of canterlot and the subsequent freeing of myself, my sister and Princess Twilight as well as the rest of Equestria. So today I am proud to call forth Prism Strike" Celestia's smile is warm and kind as she looks to the doors right at me before I am ushered by the guard along with Dash up to the thrones. I keep my eyes forwards and pretend not to hear the hushed murmurs as I pass.
"What is that thing"
"It's quite large isn't it"
"Look at those claws and scales it looks like a dragon"
All sound stops though as I come to the thrones Celestia holding up a wing to gather the attention of all.
"Prism Strike. For you service to the crown of Equestria I hereby present to you the Equestrian service medal." Celestia says to me regally floating over a gold medal with a red strap. Using her magic she places it around my neck and stands from her throne along with her sister both giving courteous bows to me, the rest of the crowd quickly following suit. Once the Princesses have returned to their thrones several ponies come forwards from the crowds holding to me what look like rather strange devices.
"Hello Princess Celestia. Cloudy Feather of the Canterlot Times" a medium sized grey pegasus, male by the sound of his voice. Is the first to speak. "Mind if I get a picture of your new pet for the front page."
At being called a pet I turn ready to snap at this Pegasus but I don't even get the chance as Dash leaps from the stage and onto the pegasus in question.
"What did you call him" She says through gritted teeth. "Prism is no ones 'pet'." She spits her words at him with such ferocity that I half expect her to tear the now shivering pegasus' wings off. Celestia is quick to regain order though.
"That is enough Rainbow Dash" Celestia says calmy shocking me as Rainbow actually backs off the pegasus and walks back over to me although she keeps glaring daggers over at him. "Now then. I will clarify this once as it has been proven to me, through report and interaction. Prism Strike is a free being. As smart as any pony in this room and in some cases smarter," She lets out a small chuckle, watching as the grey pegasus tries to melt into the crowd. Before continuing on "He is to be treated with the same respect you would show anypony else who had just been given the same award. Any and all questions should be directed to him. For now I am sure if you are polite he would allow for a few photographs for the papers but I would ask that you give him time to rest more as he has only just finished recovering from his injuries" I am shocked as Celestia finishes speaking never expecting her to speak so kindly of me but in the next moment one of the others in the crowd with the weird devices clears their throat rather loudly garnering my attention.
"So Prism. Would you allow us to get some photographs of you for the paper" A griffon, female by its voice asks me. I look from her to Celestia then to Dash who upon seeing the confusion on my face chuckles slightly.
"Its ok Prism having your photo taken isn't going to hurt, its fine. Just really bright" Dash smiles as she speaks, So I turn back and give a quick nod before I'm assaulted by bright flashing lights. I manage to not flinch away as they don't hurt just like Dash said. After a minute or so they die down and the crowd dispurses leaving me alone with the Princesses, Dash and a few guards.
"You did good Prism" Dash says with another smile that I happily return absently playing with the new medal around my neck.
"Yes Prism you have done quite well, we are all quite proud and I am glad to have been mistaken about you" I turn to Celestia as she speaks. "I truly thought you would be nothing but a danger to my ponies yet you helped to save them, for which I cannot thank you enough"
"Its ok Celestia. I forgive you" I say as I go over and place once of my scaled hands upon her back.
"Thank you Prism. Now I am sure you would like to rest some more A guard can escort you to a room to relax if you want." Celestia says to me in an almost motherly tone.
"Thank you Princess I will" I reply still shocked a bit by her. She motions to a guard who comes over and leads me and Dash out of the throne room and off into one of the many spare bedrooms.
It does not take me and Dash long to get ourselves comfy in the room we are brought to. I taking the bed with Dash curled up against me. "You don't have to keep letting me hold you Dash" I say to her softly having expected this to only last during my stay in the Princess's personal medical ward. Her reply though is shocking to me.
"I..I well, it feels good to be held" comes her rather soft response along with a fluttering of her wings and a shiver along her spine.
I smile softly snuggling up to her closely my arms resting over her soft belly. "Ok Dash. If it feels good for you than I'll keep holding and never let go"
The blush that comes to her cheeks at my words gets me giggling softly and her hiding her head in the crook of her wing. "Never took you for such a sap Prism" She teases me from her wing.
"Only when it comes to you Dash. Ummm hey do you know when we are going back to Ponyville." I quickly change what I am saying before it comes from my lips.
She chuckles softly and says "Yeah tomorrow or the next day depending on you. Pinkie has already gone on ahead of us saying she had something to take care of"
With a smile and a nod I reply "I think I'd like to go back tomorrow. Canterlot's been fun but I want to go back home to Twilight's Crystal castle" A small yawn escapes from me "For now though I think maybe some more sleep may be in order" From there it doesn't take long for me to fall asleep, between the softness of the bed and the warmth of Dash's body I am able to fall into a rather peaceful slumber.
The next morning I am woken up rather early by Dash "Hey come on sleepy head. We gotta get going if we want to catch the train before it leaves"
Not long after, we meet up with Twilight, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy at the train station just as the last call is being made giving us very little time to converse before boarding. The trip back to Ponyville passes rather uneventfully as I sleep through it with Dash held close to my chest like a stuffed animal to which she makes absolutely zero protest despite the looks her friends give her which Dash makes sure to mention to me later once we have some alone time. A few soft taps bring me back to conciousness when we arrive at the Ponyville station. The platform is rather quiet us having been the only passengers. The fact that Pinkie is not here to assault us with friendship is alarming to me and I begin to sniff the air catching the scents of no less than one hundred ponies all grouped together at the edge of town only a half kilometre away. I keep it to myself figuring that its just Pinkie having set up a party how much of an understatement that thought is. As we arrive at the edge of town a great cheer goes out as every resident of Ponyville from foal to elder is present a huge banner strung across the main entrance to Ponyville reading in big rainbow colored letters. 'WELCOMEBACKTO PONYVILLEANDCONGRATULATIONSONYOURMEDALPRISM' the wall of sound stops us dead in our tracks our mouths agape each of us staring in shock at the crowd and banner. Pinkie though breaks us out of it as she seems to simply materialize in the air in front of us.
"HEYWELCOMEBACKTHANKSFORSAVINGUSDECIDEDTOTHROWTHISHUGEPARTYFORYOU..." I stop pinkie by grabbing her muzzle letting out a soft chuckle.
"It is good to see you again aswell Pinkie" I pull the pink bundle of energy into a warm hug which she returns happily, before once again just materializing on the ground in front of us seeming to have teleported out of my hug.
"Ok come on everypony wants to say thank you for freeing us here in Ponyville Prism" Pinkie says excitedly as her hoof grabs my hand and pulls me along.
'Jeeze the sheer strength of this mare when there is a party about' I think to myself as Applejack has had trouble moving me before when I haven't wanted to be moved. The crowd quickly gathers each pony giving me thanks or offering me things which I politely decline. Even Diamond Tiara quietly gives me her thanks sadly later on I would find out that she hadn't been as lucky as Scootaloo had been along with several other of the young filly's in town(1). After everypony has had their chance Pinkie leads us all to the center of town where it has been set up with games, music, treats the whole works for a huge entire town party by Pinkie. The party lasts well into the day the sun begining to set before all the snacks have been eaten, all the games have been played and all the music listened to graciously provided by the resident DJ and Cello duets of Octavia and Vinyl(2). After the party most ponies simply wander off returning to their homes to ready themselves for the night and sleep. AppleJack returns to her farm with her family, Rarity to her boutique with her sister on her back, Fluttershy home to her cottage and animals, I go with Twilight back to her castle carrying Dash who is passed out from to much cider her muzzle softly nuzzling against my chest in her drunken sleep as she mumbles to low for even me to understand. Once we get to the castle I take her to my room laying her out on my crystal bed before curling up around her a happy smile on my face finally feeling accepted by the ponies here.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" My scream echoes through the room and the rest of the castle as I sit bolt upright in the bed nearly launching Dash from it. I breath hard nearly panting as cold sweat covers my scales in a thick sheen. Dash having gone from sleep to instant alert looks at me as my scream fades from my mouth echoing down the corridors of Twilights crystal castle. She rubs her ears a moment before asking me with concern in her voice.
"Prism what's wrong?" before I can even reply a lavender burst of light fills the room as Twilight teleports in
"I heard a scream is everything okay?" Twilights voice is tired but filled with the same concern as Dash's.
I smile sheepishly my blush turning my deep blue scales a bright shade of violet as I say. "Sorry girls...really bad dream"
Dash's hoof makes its way to my shoulder rubbing it softly. "Heh. Its ok Prism happens to all of us. You have been through a lot lately"
"Yeah I agree with Dash. I am glad everything is okay though." Comes Twilights relieved response "Well I am going to return to bed. Hope your night is better Glitter" With that Twilight leaves back to her room. Once we are alone though Dash gives me a soft look before asking
"You wanna talk about it?" I look to her and with a sigh I begin to tell her of the dream.
"It started off with me falling from the sky...I opened my wings to stop myself but nothing happened. When I looked back at them they were just mangled worthless things. I watched as the ground came closer knowing it would be my end. I woke up just before hitting"
Dash quickly wraps a wing around my back as she presses her side against me . "While I can't speak for how a dragon takes it but it is hard for a pegasus to lose their wings. I have heard stories where pegasi just go into complete stupors and lose all will to live and others where they end up becoming suicidal.." She stops talking when she looks at the expression that has come to my face. "But that isn't going to happen to you. Because you have got one of the most awesome mares in Equestria as your friend and plus your still part dragon so you have that going for you. Wings were only one part of you" I chuckle softly at her nervous attempt to change the subject that she herself started.
"Thanks Dash, but like you I really liked to fly. To feel the wind in my mane and passing through my feathers. Its gunna take some time to get fully adjusted to not having them right. For now though I think I'd just like to get back to sleep" I let out a soft yawn before laying back down. Dash smiles and nods curling up with me once more.
The next week just seems to fly by. After my return to Ponyville the residents there actually started to warm up to me. I guess once you have been given an award for service by the Princess herself ponies look at you differently. Mostly the change was in how they saw me. No longer would I get looks of fear from them as I walked down the streets, some of them would even stop to say hello or to simply say thanks for helping to free their town. The biggest thing though has been getting used to not having my wings although Dash bless her heart came up with a way for me to still get some feeling of being off the ground. See even without my wings I am still able to walk on clouds so Dash whenever she has the chance gathers up a cloud big enough to hold me, she brings it down letting me climb on before taking it up into the sky. Today though is different even though it starts off so innocently.
"Your on all the way right" Comes dash voice from just off to my side.
"Yeah Dash I'm on" is my reply before the cloud she has brought down is lifted up towards the sky high above ponyville giving me the pegasi eye view of the town. "I'll never be able to thank you enough for doing this for me Dash"
"Oh please. Were friends Prism and I never leave my friends hanging" Dash says as she flies up into my field of vision striking a pose mid air.
I clap when she poses then scoop her out of the air pulling her in close against me. "It really does mean a lot to me Dash. You going out of your way like this to make me still feel pony"
The flush of red that brightens her face as she blushes makes me smile, with a giggle I give her nose a boop at which point she threatens to throw me from the cloud.
"Do that again Prism and your going to take the express route back to the ground" is her threat although the way she says it makes her just so cute. Sadly our moment is ended when whipped cream begins floating up from our shared cloud.
"Ok this is different" comes my shocked response as I grab a dollop of the rather sweet stuff floating up towards the sky.
"Only one pony I know would do this. Discord come on out" is Dash's rather irate response to the same thing.
"Oh hehehe you know me all to well Dash" says a voice from thin air before a pair of teeth materialize before us. "Just thought id have a bit of fun with the new hero of the hour" The creature known as Discord laughs out merrily as the rest of his twisted and mismatched form arrives within the bonds of reality.
"What do you want Discord?" Dash asks the nearly all powerful god of chaos in a tone i would have personally reserved for a much less powerful being yet to my surprise Discord simply does several flips in the air before pulling out a scroll.
"Well Princess twilight wants to see our scaled friend here and asked if I could come and get him since I just so happened to be around the castle today" Comes Discord's quick reply as he himself scoops up a handful of the whipped cream floating from our cloud stuffing it in his mouth.
"Soooo uhhh whats with the whipped cream then?" Dash asks him confused as I sit there just staring at this creature that simply exudes power almost every cell in my body yelling at me to run from it.
"What pony doesn't like whipped cream" Discord says with a grin and a laugh that sends chills up my spine. "Now then come come Princess twilight is waiting" with that he simply grabs my wrist teleporting away with me leaving Dash alone on the cloud.
Both me and Discord pop into existence through a cloud of confetti that bursts from the air as The chaos lords teleport finishes. Not in the least being used to this and probably because of the chaos master himself I quickly double over throwing up what amounts to a liquid stream of glitter right into the face and mane of the Princess of Friendship.
"Oh what perfect timing" Discord laughs hovering up just out of my reach.
MEANWHILE ON EQUESTRIA'S SOUTHERNMOST TIP
Life in the small town of Trotz was simple, nothing ever happened. Everypony knew everypony, no monsters ever attacked life was boring an uneventful. That is until it appeared shattering the calm of their peaceful lives with the crack of a powerful teleportation spell.
"Hah finally I am free. Free once more to grind these ponies to nothing." The creature laughs after the flash from the teleportation ends, several ponies within the small marketplace at the center of town watching frozen in fear. The creature a nearly 8 foot tall biped covered in red scales from head to toe begins to scan its surrounding, thick cords of muscle twitching underneath its layer of thick armour like scales. The first pony to enter its view as it pans its pony like head is rushed then grabbed in the creatures powerful arms and torn in two before its pieces are tossed aside like garbage. This sends the rest of the citizens nearby into full on panic mode each of them screaming and running around haphazardly.
"I see the ponies are just as weak as they once were." The creature looks up to the sun as it says this "It would seem you have not yet learned dear sister. It appears you need another lesson in the laws of nature" With that the creature goes about laying waste to the town leaving not a single soul foal, mare or stallion alive.
After a quick apology to Twilight and a hearty attempt at lighting Discord on fire, who Twilight quickly dismisses, the two of us sit down to talk. Before we can even begin to exchange pleasantries though a scroll forces itself into existence in a flash of green fire. The scroll bearing the mark of Celestia is quickly snatched from the air by Twilights magic her face falling as she reads.
"What's wrong Twilight?" I ask with concern watching her face drop.
"Its a letter from the Princess. She has requested me and the other elements in Canterlot immediately. She has even requested that you be brought along." She says as she quickly gets up and starts to run around her castle gathering things in her magic.
"Did she say why?" I ask her as I follow her around doing my best to keep up.
"Only that something has happened and that she wants all of us in Canterlot right away" With that declaration from Twilight. I offer to go and grab the others which she gratefully accepts. It takes me only about an hour to gather the other elements and take them to the train station finding Twilight waiting for us. Pleasantries are exchanged and that's about it as the train arrives only moments later.
CANTERLOT A FEW HOURS LATER
As we step off the train we are immediately met by several of Celestia's royal guards who usher us quickly to the castle. Upon arriving we are then taken by a completely different set of guards this time being from Luna's elite units. We are taken not to the throne room but into one of the off limits parts of the castle where not even the staff are allowed only the Celestial sisters having stepped hoof in this part in hundreds of years. The guards lead us to a large set of heavily magic reinforced solid steel double doors depictions of what almost appears to be a creature like myself carved deep into the metal, before quickly galloping away and out of this wing of the castle like frightened foals.
I find myself drawn to it like a moth to a flame but before my hand can make contact with the metal of the door I am stopped by a voice.
"Do not touch that or thy shall find thyself in a world of great discomfort" my head whips around along with the rest of the elements to see Luna and Celestia walking up the hallway.
"My sister is correct. You would not want to touch that Prism." Celestia says to me in a soft voice.
"And why is that?" I say nonchalantly looking at Luna.
"Because service to Equestria or not. I would tear thy arms off" comes Luna's rather aggressive reply
Celestia quickly gives Luna a tap with her wing. "My sister's comments aside, this room holds some importance for us both. It is our brothers room, painstakingly moved from the castle of the two sisters during the construction of Canterlot castle."
"Or it was before he became a monster" Luna adds in, tears doting at her eyes as ancient memories play behind them.
"I..I didn't know you had any other siblings" Twilights says completely flabbergasted once her jaw starts to work.
"Ney I doubt anypony would. Just as they did not remember me only the nightmare I had become" once again Luna's voice is sad, distant like she is thousands of years away.
Celestia's wing finds its way to her sisters back stroking it comfortingly. "It is not your fault sister. We both failed him"
"Okay okay what is going on here" Dash says rather irately.
Luna flashes her a glare of death but Celestia is quick to cut her anger off by saying "Come let me show you" her horn begins to glow before her magic swings the door open. The lot of us go in, Luna hesitating last before entering herself.
What we see cannot properly be described in words. If the room was brought over perfectly...then the slash marks in the walls must be from its former occupant. There is almost no furniture only a few paintings of Celestia, Luna their parents and a small creature covered from head to toe in crimson red scales, a crimson red mane and tail attached to its body and two crimson red eyes. If it wasn't for the fact that it was crimson and had no wings it would be me. Dash being the first to make this feature known.
"Hey that thing looks a lot like Prism doesn't it....." she begins to say only to be cut off when a midnight blue aura latches itself around her throat squeezing down.
"OUR BROTHER IS NOT A THING" Luna practically screams with the full power of the Royal Canterlot voice right in Dash's face nearly de-feathering and de-furring her with its power.
'Luna let Rainbow Dash go! She did not mean anything by her comment" Celestia quickly snaps off the order her sister following it before she can even think Dash dropping to the floor gasping for air.
"Sister she called our brother a thing" Luna snaps back keeping her attention upon the poor cyan pegasus. I move quickly myself now putting my body directly between the irate Princess of the night and my Dash. I let out a deep growl my eyes actually flashing red for a single moment the beast within rattling at its cage to get out and gut this pony.
"Now now let us all calm down please. We would not want anything unpleasant happening" Celestia is once again quick to be the voice of reason. It is a few tense moments though before Luna backs down first, it taking another few and Dash herself to help me reel the beast in. After apologies all round Celestia begins her tale of the dark family secret.
"It was very long ago now. Me and Luna were still only fillies just having only recently gotten our cutie marks. While I decided to stay within the castle Luna had decided to go out among the ponies of the small village that had grown up around the Castle of the Two Sisters. She found him huddled in a dark alley between two houses. He was nearly dead barely skin, bones and scales. She brought him back to the castle and somehow convinced our parents to let him stay. It didn't take long for Crimson to become part of our family even being officially adopted by our parents into the royal family." at this all of the ponies jaws drop to the floor including mine
"Yes I know it is hard to imagine. Everything went well, he came to be accepted by the villagers, made himself as helpful as he could to the ponies. As a young stallion he even found himself a mare that he fell deeply in love with. She became his entire world, they did everything together. Until the day they went out into the plains that used to surround the old castle. They were attacked by a manticore and she was seriously injured. She...she didn't survive and he ended up blaming himself for being to weak to protect her...at first. After that he became somepony else, Obssesed with becoming stronger and stronger. He joined the Military, climbed up its ranks. He must have fought in every war during the next 200 years. It changed him though, he became merciless, cruel. Eventually coming to delight in the suffering of others."
After giving the elements a few moments to process this she continues on. "Eventually his mind became twisted, somehow he got it into his head that his marefriend had died because she had been the weak one not him and so he raised an army and brought war directly to Equestrian soil in an attempt to make us strong once again. The war raged for nearly 300 years costing the lives of our mother and father" its at this point that Celestia's usually stoic mask breaks, tears slowly running down her face as the memories break the armour she has built up. Luna is the first to move putting both of her wings around her sister as they both begin to cry together. The rest of the elements eventually joining in for a large group hug. It takes them all a short bit to calm themselves including the older Alicorns.
Eventually they manage to get themselves under control and Celestia finishes her tale. "After the war was over he was banished to the very pits of Tarturus itself in hopes of never being seen upon Equestrian soil."
I speak up first before any of the others can asking the most obvious of questions. "And what does this have to do with why you brought us here?"
"We fear that our brother hath returned somehow to seek revenge once more" Luna says with quite a bit of fire in her voice.
"Yes it is as my sister said. We fear that somehow our brother has returned from his banishment. Already a town in the far south has been razed. Not a single soul was left living. The carnage that was found is indescribable, truly horrendous acts of brutality were visited upon those poor helpless ponies." Celestia hangs her head at this feeling great shame over the loss.
Despite myself I actually go over placing my hand upon Celestia's back comfortingly. "Do not worry Celestia. I will not let him hurt any more of your ponies. I have worked hard to earn their trust. Just being the same species as him they may see me as the monster I have tried so hard to not be"
Celestia's head raises slowly, her eyes locking with mine almost seeming to peer right down into my soul. She holds her gaze for a single moment before smiling "While I thank you for your offer Prism. I cannot ask that of you. You are not part of either my or Luna's guard-"
I cut her off there with a single deep growl. "If you think that will stop me then you are sorely mistaken. If it is your brother just by what you have said he will eventually threaten my friends and then I would be forced to face him anyways. I would rather go after him first." I finish with a huff and a flick of my mane.
Celestia goes to rebuke me but Luna speaks up first. 'He is right dear sister. If it is our brother then all ponies would be in danger. Glitter would be a great ally against him" With that said to her sister she turns her stoic gaze upon me. "Prism our sister is right though as you are not part of the guard or a recognized defender of the land you have no real authority to go and fight. Yet we are almost sure your services will be needed by Equestria again as such I have an offer for you"
I look at the lunar Princess tilting my head to the side. "An offer Princess."
"Yes Prism. since you lack the authority to do anything officially but we see your particular abilities being needed we are willing to have you join our Lunar Guard" Luna's tone and gaze betray nothing of what she is truly thinking as I gaze at her trying to figure out why. finding nothing in her stone like gaze I decide I have no other choice.
I drop down to one knee placing a scaled fist against my heart "I will take your offer Princess and become on of your Night Guard"
"Then rise Prism your training shall begin immediately" Luna then leads me off leaving Celestia to talk with the others about how to handle this.
As Crimson snuffs out the last life in the small town where he had arrived he takes a moment to look around, surveying the destruction and death he had single handedly caused. With a short laugh he gloats to himself simply to hear the sound of his own voice. "Ha wonderful I had almost forgotten how satisfying it is to kill these poor wretched creatures. Shame all the fights gone out of them would have enjoyed at..." Crimson stops mid-sentence as the sounds of three sets of wings being pushed as hard as they can pierce the deathly quiet of the town. Three all white pegasi guards touch down in front of Crimson kicking up small clouds of dust from the impact the head one immediately yelling out.
"In the name of the crown you will halt your rampage at once or force will be used" The guard's voice is authoritative and precise though all it does is bring a chuckle from the crimson creature.
"You must be what passes for the guard now. Come show me how far it has fallen under my sister's rule." With that the Crimson launches himself forwards at a flat run cocking his arm back as he comes within reach of the guard who dared to order him in anyway. With a resounding crack his fist slams into the guards head causing the entire front of the guards face to simply cave in splashing blood and bits of brain against the Crimsons scales. The other two look on in horror as their commanders body slumps to the ground, only for that horror to grow when the creature turns its attention to them.
Paralyzed with fear the next guard goes down quickly having its head torn clean from its body before being tossed aside like a squishy ball. The third one is already in the air and taking off by the time his buddy has been decapitated though he doesn't make it very far before his body is engulfed in a torrent of fire. The guard drops from the air writhing around on the ground before Crimson suanters over giving one quick precise stomp to the ponies head that stops it cold.
"Just as I thought. No fight in them either. I do hope a worthy challenge shows itself otherwise this will just be boring" Crimson tilts his head back letting out an evil cackle towards the sun before turning his gaze to the buildings around him. "Hmmm I think this place would look a lot better burning to the ground" With that decided the Crimson opens his maw one more time letting a torrential plume of flames spew forth igniting every building within his view, quickly turning the now dead town into a raging inferno. As the town burns behind him the Crimson stalks out towards the next strong scent of pony.
Soon after Princess Luna had escorted me to where her Night Guard train, I was quickly put to the test. By her own order every last guard there had begun to form a circle around me me as she stood off to the side and watched. I was understandably nervous as the nearly twenty guards started to circle me, their bat like wings flared each baring a sharp looking set of fangs at me. A single stomp of the Princess's hoof and three of her guards rushed towards me. As they take to their wings barrel straight towards me I bring my hands up squaring my feet with my shoulders using one of the basic stances taught to me by the Minotuars. The first one comes in range and I lash out with a straight jab, the guard having been going for a flying tackle doesn't see my blue scaled fist coming until it connects with its forehead, the momentum of the batpony causing it to knock itself out as it crumples to the ground in front of me. The second one catches me from the side tackling me to the ground forcing me to bring my scaled forearms up to protect from the blows of its hooves. I manage to grab said hooves in my hands throwing the Night Guard off me in time to take a flying hoof to my temple.
"Do not let your guard down for a moment, for my brother shall show you no mercy" I can just barely hear Luna say over the ringing in my head.
The moment she says that the two still conscious guards drop down onto me trying to pin my arms and legs. With a grunt of exertion I fling the guard trying to hold down my arms off me before giving the other a swat across its helmeted head to knock it from my legs, I flip myself forwards and up onto my feet once more bringing my hands up. "Ok lets do this then" I saw motioning for the two Night guards to bring it
The two guards take my challenge both taking off low to the ground coming at me at a fairly rapid pace. I slide my left foot back bending my knees to try and root myself to the ground, digging my clawed toes into the soft dirt and grass beneath me also helps. As the both of them come into range I grab them by their helmeted heads swinging them up and around in an arc before slamming their backs into the ground getting a solid whoomf from each as I knock the air from their lungs.
"Impressive Prism but thou are not done yet" Luna says rather impassively as she motions for more of her guards to come at me. The next several hours are filled with me fighting wave after wave of her guards in ever increasing numbers finally being forced to submit when fighting six of them at once.
"You are a cruel teacher Princess" I say panting and out of breath as her guards pile off of me.
"I must be Prism. My brother had hundreds of years of training and combat experience. He will not be an easy foe to fight." Luna says as she leans down helping me up with a wing. "Come though I think this is enough for the moment. You are tired and probably hungry"
"I can keep-" my words are cut off as my stomach growls fiercely "perhaps you are right Princess, a Meal does sound good." With that Luna leads me back into the castle and over to the kitchens.
Somewhere In The Equestrian South Near Appleloosa
After exiting through some hills The Crimson scaled creature looks down towards a town. "It seems I have found another settlement of my sisters weak peace loving ponies." With a slight laugh the creature licks its lips. "I wonder what these ones will taste like." With another laugh it takes off towards the town thoughts of fresh meat and its own bloodlust swirling around its head.
The first sign that there was any trouble in the sleepy town of Appleloosa had been the sound. A mighty roar rolled down through their town turning the ear of everypony and buffalo. The next sign came as the edge of town facing towards the Macintosh Hills suddenly lit up in flames. Then it happened the quiet and peaceful town was full of screaming as ponies ran around in fear. As the townsponies ran the contingent of guards that had been placed there after the attack on the previous town ran towards the source of the blaze.
Upon arriving to the scene the guards could only watch in horror as a rather large bipedal creature held a filly by her head in its crimson scaled hand.
"By the authority of the crown, you are commanded to cease all hostilities and surrender" the commander of the guards calls out.
Looking over at the guards the crimson creature just smiles the corners of its mouth raising slowly. "oh finally my sisters soldiers come to save the day" The creature laughs out as I closes its hand around the poor filly's head. The little pony screams only for it to be cut short by the sound of her skull being crushed by the creature.
The guards all pale at the sight the creature laughing once more, the guard commander is the first to act giving out a single command "Attack!"
The guards all rush forwards their weapons held at the ready. The creature just stands with its arms hung loosely at its sides. As the first guard nears it, it cocks its arm back before deliver a bone shattering blow to the guards face caving both that and its skull in almost to the back of its head. With its hand and some of its forearm planted directly into the head of said guard it uses the guards body like a club swinging it around to knock the next several guards back from their charge.
"You ponies always so weak. Never a true challenge for me." The creature says with an almost bored tone of voice before giving its arm a flick sending the guards corpse into its still living allies.
Several of the guards having managed to make their way around behind the creature jab at it with their spears only for its scales to deflect or block every attempt. feeling only a slightly prick in its backside the creature whips around with its muzzle wide open. Quicker than the guards can react it lets out a torrent of crimson colored fire bathing the helpless guards igniting their fur and partially melting their armor into their hides. As the guards writhe and burn on the ground the creature turns its attention back to the rest of those between it and the destruction of this town.
The rest of the guards are quick to form a circle around the creature attempting to box it in. A unicorn then steps forwards into the impromtu ring, the creature simply standing there waiting as the ponies get themselves ready.
"Creature you will progress no-" The unicorns statement is ended mid sentence as the creature launches itself forwards with its claws outstretched. Before the unicorn guard or any of its friends can even react the creature has the unicorn guard by its horn and is dangling it above the ground.
The creature looks out over the rest of the guards its crimson eyes cold and unfeeling. "You ponies. You simple minded and weak little ponies. You have never and will never stand a chance against me but I am feeling just a tiny bit generous and so I have decided that one of you is going to live through this to report back to my sister what it is that you have seen" With its small monologue over the creature raises its other hand turning to look into the now fear filled eyes of the unicorn it is holding. With a quick jerk of its clawed fingers upwards it rends the poor ponies stomach open its claws slicing through its armor like paper. The unicorn makes a few gurgling sounds before it goes limp in the creatures hands as the ponies guts spill out onto the ground.
The other guards looks all turn to absolute terror as they realize that they are probably not going to survive through this. One of the pegasi in the group a fairly new recruit has his fear get the better of him as he drops his spear and turns tail to run. the moment it is in the air though it feels something extremely hot connect with its flank before it is blown from the air as a fireball connects with the guards backside. The guard drops from the air with a thud before rolling on the ground screaming in agony as it burns to death.
"I did not say any of you could leave yet though did I. I am simply not done playing with you yet." The creatures voice is once again calm with no outward signs of any actual emotion to it. "now then which of you is next"
2 Hours Later
Lunch with Luna had been a fairly pleasant event. I even got to sit with her in the Princesses private dining room. After the meal which took a considerable amount of time considering my size and just how much i can eat after a physical workout. It was just as I had finished and Luna was about to lead me back to the courtyard to continue training that a guard came rushing into the dining area.
"I am sorry for the intrusion Princess but there has been a development. Appleloosa has been attacked" The guard says after a quick bow to the Princess of the night.
"An attack you say. Our sister must be summoned at once. Go and report to her I will go to the throne room to await her." Once the guard scurries off to go and inform the Sun Princess Luna turns her gaze to me. "Prism it would appear that I am needed. I am sorry but you will need to return to the courtyard alone" Luna's voice holds no emotion her face as stoic as her sisters. my response though almost manages to break it.
"Princess, we both know that this could only be your brother. So i am sorry that i must decline and insist that I come with. If it is your brother i can then be swiftly deployed to meet him."
Luna looks at me for a few minutes and i find myself almost shrinking under her gaze. "Why are you so eager to fight my brother Prism?"
I look at Luna after she asks her question steeling my gaze and heart as I respond. "This land is my home. While I may not always have been welcome or accepted in it, it is still my home. I have made friends, I have made dreams and hopes. I even have found myself interested in a mare. If your brother is allowed to continue unchecked, unchallenged then I have no doubt that he will soon come to put my friends in danger perhaps even manage to kill them. I cannot and will not let that happen. Even if it should cost me my life I will protect those I have come to care for" As I speak Luna can feel my will overflowing strong as steel in my belief. My eyes while not actually aflame burn with the intensity of the sun with my need to see my friends protected and safe.
My passion and determination are enough to make the Princess take pause for a moment before she speaks. "If that is how you truly feel Prism than there is no way I could possibly stop you from doing so." With a wing she motions for me to follow her to the throne room.
It only takes a few minutes to arrive at the throne room as Luna trots forcing me to jog to keep up with her. When we arrive Celestia is already on her throne speaking with the Twilight and her group of friends.
"...Now Twilight I know you and your friends want to help out but in this case I think it would be best left to the.." Celestia stops speaking as me and Luna enter smiling wearily to her sister before addressing us. "Hello sister, hello Prism. I was just informing Twilight and her friends of the situation"
Luna smiles back to her sister before walking over to her throne giving her sister a quick hug with one of her wings before taking her seat. "Please continue on dear sister, do not let us interfere"
"Thank you sister. Now Twilight as I was saying I think this would be best left to the guards to handle. Losing anyone of you would be a major blow to pony moral around Equestria. If our attempt to stop him now fails you will all be needed as hero's of Equestria to help keep the population calm so that if it came to it we could re-muster our forces for a second attempt. Though i am hoping that our first attempt will be successful" Celestia says to Twilight and her friends in a calm controlled manner.
"But Celestia if what you have said is true and your brother has attacked Appleloosa and that he is moving towards Canterlot. Then his very next target will be Ponyville. I could not sit on the sidelines while my home is being attacked. There are many ponies there that I also consider to be my friends. I simply could not abandon them " Comes Twilight's swift if slightly emotional reply followed by a chorus of her friends.
"Yeah I could never leave Ponyville hanging in its time of need" Rainbow Dash says with pride.
"Yes Princess, though your brother may be acting quite garish, Ponyville is my home and I would fight for it." Rarity says quickly
"If he attacks Ponyville a lot of ponies would get hurt, and id just feel sooo bad about not having been there to help all of my friends" Pinkie says solemnly her mane and tail partially deflated at the thoughts of all the sad ponies.
"My farm and family are in Ponyville and we apples always stick together" AppleJack says with conviction.
"I...I don't want to have to fight anypony but..but I couldn't just sit here while Ponyville is being attacked" comes Fluttershy's quiet and meek voice last though it holds the same tone of finality to it that the others have had.
Finally all eyes turn to me and I simply shrug before speaking "I have already made up my mind to face him. To personally stop him from hurting anymore ponies and to maybe make up for the fact that were both the same species. Ponies have begun truly accepting me as of late, especially those in Ponyville. I would die before I let him hurt another Equestrian Citizen"
Celestia looks over each of us seeing the determination on the faces of her little ponies along with the decided finality on mine before nodding "I can see that none of you will be dissuaded. Fine if that is what you wish I will see you each are issued armour. Twilight you and your friends will follow me, Prism you will follow Luna"
Twilight and her friends bow to Celestia followed by a quick bow from me before that group quickly exits the throne room heading for the guard barracks and armoury. Luna however simply sits upon her throne looking stoically at me as she speaks. "Such strong words Prism, though much more than words will be needed to defeat our brother. Were you truly serious when you said you would die to protect our ponies?"
I look right into her eyes unblinking unmoving as I reply to her with a deep fire in my voice and strong conviction in my words. "Yes Princess. If it came down to it, I would give my life in order to stop your brother."
Luna smiles softly letting her stoic mask break "Good. Now come there is much to do to make you ready for this fight." She stands from her throne, swiftly lighting her horn before i can even think or move the crack of a teleportation spell goes off in my ears as I am partially blinded by a strong flash of bluish magic.
When my vision clears it becomes immediately obvious that I'm no longer in the throne room. The walls of the hallway I now stare at are the flat dull grey of unpainted stone, the floors and ceiling matching perfectly.
"Come Prism our destination is not far" Luna says to me as she begins to walk forwards down the hallway. after several minutes we come to a large metal door the sounds of a hammer striking metal coming from beyond it. "This is the royal smithy. When either our sister or myself needs something made we come here" Her horn glows once more the door being covered by the same aura before opening.
The door exposes a stair case that leads down quite far, the room beyond it being almost like a massive cavern. A bright glow from the bottom the only light as the sound of the hammer continues on. "Come Prism, let us go and see the royal smithy" Luna says as she motions for me to head down the stairs, following behind as I start to descend.
It takes several more minutes to reach the bottom where I am struck dumb by the sight. A gigantic room filled with metals and gems, a massive furnace taking up one entire wall. Off in the corner of the room though sits a bright red scaled dragon holding a huge hammer in one scaled hand striking something that i cannot see as its hidden by the dragons body.
"Maltharoz" Luna's voice cuts in over the sound of the dragons hammer striking metal cuasing it to stop and turn around.
"Ahhh Princess Luna, how good it is to see you again. Your order is almost finished, a true masterpiece of metal and magic if I do say so myself." The large red dragons voice is deep yet still kind and inviting.
"Thank you Maltharoz, your work is always of the highest quality. I have brought the recipient of said item here to be fitted" Luna smiles as she speaks her voice soft and kind yet still filled with authority.
"Alright Princess." the dragon says before moving so he can get a better look at me. " Hmmm I see now why you had this made Princess, this one is in definite need" The dragon then shifts his body revealing a pair of what could only be described as metal wings.
My jaw drops seeing them being rendered speechless twice in a short span and I simply stare at the items dumbfounded until Luna gives me a slight push with her wing.
"Go on Prism give them a look" though I hear Luna her words barely register, although her push does get me moving forwards until I am standing over the anvil upon which the wings sit. I run one of my scaled hands over them slowly, feeling the magic contained within them. as I do the large dragon near me speaks up.
"These wings have been made to be as light as possible while also being enchanted to not only act like normal pegasi wings but also to allow normal pegasi magic to flow through them. The outer layer is purified dragon steel while inside is a crystal lattice of purified mana stone to allow your natural pegasi magic to flow through them. While heavier than normal pegasi wings they should be able to perform at or even above the same level as natural ones." As the dragon speaks my head turns towards him looking up at it in awe, the dragon smiling down at me with pride.
I turn to Luna before rushing over throwing my arms around her in a tight hug. "Thank you so much. I'm not going to let you down Princess. I promise that I will stop your brother."
Luna goes to reply but Maltharoz's laughter cuts her off. "Dont go thanking her just yet little one. You still need to go through the attachment process, which sadly will not be in anyway pleasant, as they need to be connected not only to your flesh but your natural leylines and magical channels"
I nod letting go of Luna. I look to the wings, then to the dragon then finally back at Luna seeing her looking back at me sadly. "Do not worry Princess. I will make it through this and i will stop your brother. for now why don't you go and see to the others along with the calling of your guard. I will stay here and get this done with."
Luna looks from the wings then back at me before nodding. "Alright Prism. come and see me once you have finished." She then looks up at Maltharoz. "try not to be to hard on him ok, we do need him alive to help fight."
Once again the dragon laughs. "No Promises can be made Princess but I can promise that he will be returned to you in one piece."
Luna nods once before heading towards the stairs then out of the royal smithy. I turn to the dragon once she is gone and simply say. "alright lets get this over with."
Maltharoz's smirk should have been my first warning as several moments later I am strapped face down on a table with my back fully exposed the tiny stumps of what where once my own wings being held up by wires. "ok little one I am going to start by simply placing the wings over the stumps of your old ones"
I nod and the dragon lifts up the pair of wings from its anvil placing the hollowed ends over my stumps. "Ok now comes the bonding process. his could take anywhere from a few minuets to over an hour and it is going to hurt like nothing you have ever felt before. Please try not to die" I go to reply but instead let out a blood curdling scream of pure anguish as I feel the metal first heat up then begin to send what feels like tiny worms down into my flesh"
OUTSKIRTS OF APPLELOOSA
The crimson creature looks over the burning ruins that was once a sleepy pony settlement smirking happily to itself as the smell of smoke, fire and burning ponies fills its nostrils. "Another town destroyed, another group of weak ponies removed from existing. truly I hope something comes to challenge me, for I am starting to get bored with these weaklings." its attention turns off towards Canterlot mountain and it lets out a hard huff.
"Soon my sisters i will be there and when you both lay at my feet defeated i will make you tell me just how wrong you both were." the creature laughs once before continuing on its trek towards Canerlot.
My screams ring out through the massive cavern of the royal forge as my body writhes and struggles against my bonds. My mouth foams from the pain as my fingers curl up digging my claws into my palms. after what feels like years but in reality is only a few minutes my mind blanks out and I lose consciousness.
"YOU WILL FAIL" A booming voice fills the darkness within my mind the voice itself filled with evil, malice and a sheer hate for all life. "YOU WILL FAIL AND THEY WILL ALL DIE"
"I will protect them. All of them. No matter what." comes my stern reply wishing that this particular voice would quit haunting my dreams.
"YOU WILL TRY AND YOU WILL FAIL. YOU WILL LIE BROKEN UPON THE FIELD OF BATTLE AND YOUR SOUL WILL WEEP IN AGONY IN TARTARUS AS YOU ARE FORCED TO WATCH THESE PITIFUL PONIES DIE" The pure hatred in this voice is tangible like i could reach out and hold its unfiltered hate in my hands.
"Even if i must die I will protect them. I will stop this creature no matter what. I WILL PROTECT MY FRIENDS!" The last part is screamed into my mind with every bit of force i can conjure to which the voice only laughs only to be cut off by a voice tinged with both power and insanity..
"Pathetic. Still trying to scare the mortals with your big bad self huh Seshy" says the new voice before a large grin appears within the darkness a single snaggle tooth poking out from the under the top lip. "And here i was thinking that you might actually stay within your realm of darkness for a change"
"D...Discord!? why are you here. You have not interfered with me before. Not once in all of the realities i have destroyed that you have also existed in have you even lifted a single paw or claw to directly help out the weak and pathetic equines. So why now?" the dark voice asks of the floating smile, the fear in the voice almost tangible.
"Why its simple Seshy. In those realities I didn't have any reason to interfere with you but here in this one." Two dark red eyes appear above the floating smile, a calm yet highly destructive anger held within those two glowing orbs as the Master of chaos finishes replying. "In this reality. I have made friends. I have come to cherish these ponies and their simple yet amusing ways. I've even come to deeply care for one of them and now your plans directly threaten those friendships and the pony i have come to care for."
Silence reigns within the darkness for several moments before the dark voice once more speaks. "I see and what do you plan to do then"
Discords laughter is both startling and confusing to me before he begins to speak. "Do? I don't actually plan to do anything. If i were to lock you away in the dark realm again ponies might come to expect that kind of thing from me and well being a hero is a full time job. I prefer my ME time to much for that. But at the same time I can't just let you destroy this world and my friends along with it. As such i decided i would tip the scales a bit in the ponies favor" Discords still floating smile and red eyes then turn towards me. "I ensured that they would have somepony to fight for them. somepony who could fight with whatever warrior you chose to bring out of your lineup. I wasn't expecting you to bring out the Crimson Terror but I am still certain that my champion will be able to find a way to bring down your dark warrior." Discord says with pride.
"You are a fool then. your champion will fall and this world will be engulfed within the darkness as so many have been before it-" the voice begins only to be silenced as a lion paw materializes in the darkness snapping two of its digits immediately replacing the darkness with a warm and sunny cloudless sky.
"well that's better now isn't it." A fully formed Discord says to me a we both float within the cloudless expanse of endless blue sky. "That has always been one of Seshy's big problems, doesn't know when to stop talking" The Draconequus turns to me a smile almost big enough to split his face appearing quickly as our eyes meet. "Now though Prism. The rest is up to you, I'm not going to be able to help you out in the coming battle. All i can do is hope both for your sake and that of the ponies that you come out victorious in this. For now though it's time for you to wake up. There is much still for you to do and precious little time for it to be done." with that he flicks my forehead and the sunny, cloudless sky quickly vanishes to be replaced by the much more real waking world.
As consciousness floods into my mind I am once more greeted with the strong scent of antiseptic. Without even opening my eyes to check I let out a soft groan knowing that I've once more found myself in Canterlots medical wing. Within moments of the mental realization of where I am I feel a hoof press against my shoulder and I hear a voice that most ponies would describe as scratchy and perhaps a little annoying but to me is the voice of a most beautiful angel.
"Prism" just hearing my name is enough to get me to open my eyes to see Dash there one hoof on my shoulder and a look of worry on her face.
"Hey Dash. Seems like i just can't keep outta this wing of the castle huh?" I joke giving her a soft smile
She chuckles returning my smile, smacking me softly on the arm before climbing onto the bed to hug me. "It's good to see you awake again Prism." She says softly as I return her hug letting her curl up against my chest with her head laying in the crook of my neck. We lay like that for several minutes just enjoying being close to each other both of us knowing this could very well be the last time we do so. Eventually though she is the one to break the silence. "Ok I think its time I went and told everypony your awake now. The Princesses wanted to see you when you woke up and I'm sure the others will also be glad to hear your once more among the living" we chuckle softly at her joke then she gets up off the bed and leaves the room leaving me with only my thoughts.
'I'm not going to let them down. I'm going to prove myself to that voice, to the ponies, to everything that me and my kind can be more than just animals. That we can be more than just a threat to them. That we can be friends if we try and most importantly I wanna show my friends that I have over come the beast within me so that I can return with them finally to Ponyville.' I sigh softly knowing that even with everything I have done and accomplished that what lies ahead of me will be the hardest challenge of my life up to this point. Before I can continue on with my thoughts though the door opens five ponies and three alicorns entering through it.
"It is good to see-" Celestia starts to say as she approaches me only to be cut off as a Pink blur rushes past her to my bedside.
"Oh woowiee look at those! They're like metal pegasi wings!" Pinkie exclaims exhuberantly as she actually begins to tug upon one of them the looks of awe on the faces of Rarity, Fluttershy, Apllejack and Twilight simply just priceless. Celestia though clears her throat a little to get attention back upon her before anypony can say anything else.
"They are quite the feat of both pony magic and dragon craftsmanship are they not." Celestia says with a smile and some pride.
"But up until now every attempt to create prosthetic pegasi wings has ended in failure. As we all know pegasi use more than just their wings to fly and so far to my knowledge a way hasn't been devised to let pegasi magic flow through the prosthetic wings. " Twilight begins one of her classic rants only for Luna to stop her with a hoof.
"You are correct Twilight. Up until a few months ago there was not a known way to allow a ponies magic to flow through prosthetic wings. But recently a group of unicorn scholars found a way to reshape purified mana stone to allow for innate magics to be sent through it passively. A way to re-arrange the stone into a sort of lattice work that functions much the same as the natural leylines a pegasi has in their wings for their magic." Luna states simply
"But then why keep it a secret until now. If the technique has been found to work why not share it with everypony" comes Twilights quick and obvious question.
"I think i can answer this one best" Celestia says as she looks over to twilight "When artificial replacements for lost pegasi wings and even other limbs was first brought forth as an idea. Our ponies were overjoyed at the thought of artificial limbs as replacements for those lost. When the venture initially turned out to be unfeasible in the way promised many many ponies became quite depressed most notably those who had been waiting for the artificial limbs to restore their ability to be ponies again. This time we wanted to make sure it would work first. So we could give those ponies out there who have been permanently injured by the loss of a limb real hope instead of just another disappointment."
"Ok I can understand that Princess" Twilight admits as she hangs her head a little.
"So I'm a test case then?" I finally speak up interrupting their conversation. Celestia turns back to me looking a little ashamed.
"I am sorry to say that yes you are Prism. We had to make sure this would work for our ponies. You were seen as a prime candidate. You are determined and committed to helping us. That with your recent award and subsequent revealing to all of Equestria as a hero we figured it would be best for you to be the first subject. If it truly has worked we can show all of ponykind that we are always looking out for their best interests but also that with your upcoming battle against my and Luna's brother, that they function just as regular wings should." Celestia says rather flatly as if trying to hide her emotions.
"Its ok Princess. I understand. I actually don't mind either. If this has worked then as you said. I get to start being a pony again." I raise my claw to stop her from interrupting me. "Since my wings were taken from me. I haven't really felt much like a pony, just a strange flightless dragon. If these wings work. I can at least once more call myself part pegasi"
"Well then let us go and test them out then Prism." Everypony turns to Princess Luna as she speaks most of them save Celestia and me looking at her like she just grew a second head.
"But he only just woke up Princ..." Twilight begins only for me to cut her off with a quick snap of my claws.
"Twilight. its fine. Id rather go and try to fly than lay here another moment longer." the determination with which i look at Twilight is enough to keep her from protesting anymore.
with that said I quickly rise up from the bed, as my feet hit the floor i go to flex my new wings and nearly collapse needing to grab onto the bed as the mana stone lattice within the wings greedily sucks up every available ounce of magic within my body. I hear some indistinct shouting around me but the words are lost as my mind begins to blank as the wings continue to just drain me. just as suddenly as it started though it ends, the draw upon my bodies magic ceases and the world begins to refocus. I blink my eyes to clear the fuzz from my vision as i rub my head to try and alleviate the magical exhaustion induced headache. as my vision clears up i look over to the ponies and alicorns present all of whom are wearing worried expressions.
It ends up being Dash who finds her voice first. "You ok Prism? what happened?" the tone of her voice betrays her worry far more so than the look upon her face. I manage a smile looking to each of them before answering.
"Yeah I'm ok Dash. Went to flex the new wings when i stood up and i guess they must have needed charging up or something first cuse the moment i tried to move them, it felt like they were trying to suck up every bit of magic within my body. I honestly thought i might pass out for a moment"
Celestia's expression turns to thoughtfulness for a moment before speaking." Something future recipients of artificial limbs will need to be made aware of then."
"Indeed sister" Luna says quickly cutting her sister off. "we also owe a debt of thanks to Prism for being the test subject for this but for now that will have to wait. Come let us see if they work Prism" I turn to her to respond and instead find myself being teleported to the castle courtyard, specifically the one where Luna has her night guard train.
MEANWHILE The destruction of that town had taken considerably longer than expected. The buffalo that had appeared soon after the ponies had been wiped out had proved tenacious though not much of a threat. many of them even charging as they burned. "You creatures. for all your size and bearing are just as weak as the ponies" the crimson scaled creature laughs as it grabbed a particularly large buffalo by the horns tearing its head off with a few jerks and twists to throw at another that had been charging towards it. "Is there no creature here that can stand against me." The crimson creature bellows to the sky as the remaining buffalo begin to retreat, most of them simply trying to survive this onslaught now that their leader had been decapitated.
To the crimson creatures surprise though the sky answers. two dozen screeches fill the air as a large pack of griffons descend from the sky. having come from a nearby mountain where Celestia had let them set up a small griffon commune away from the economic depression in griffonia. Having seen the town ablaze from their mountain perch they had decided to offer whatever assistance possible. Having seen the creature from some distance up watching as it tore through the Buffalo, the griffons had decided to attack.
hearing the screeches the crimson creature looks up and smirks. "Finally perhaps now I will find myself a challenge" its smile grows even wider as the griffons come within range some of them brandishing short swords while others simply brandish their claws. suddenly a griffon rushes forwards going for a double claw slash aiming right for the crimson creatures chest. to which our crimson scaled baddy simply replies with a gout of fire from its mouth engulfing the poor griffon in moments leaving it writhing and screeching on the ground until crimson crushes its skull with his heel.
"Perhaps i was wrong then. simply another group of weaklings with no experience fighting" Sighing slightly the crimson creature motions the rest of the griffons forwards. the flock responds then by attacking en-mass, though after only a few minutes the ground is littered with bits of griffon to accompany the bits of pony and buffalo
With the last griffon falling the destruction of Appleloosa comes to a close. The crimson creature stands surveying the destruction he has wrought when his mind is turned blank, his consciousness ripped from his body for a chat with his Master.
"Crimson Flash. why have you not destroyed those insufferable Princesses yet. Why do you insist on filling your primal need for destruction" Come the bellow from the darkness his mind now inhabits twin glowing eyes seeming to peer down into his very soul.
"I apologize Master. After so long without the taste of their sweet flesh i felt it only right to gorge myself a bit my lord Seshreem" Crimson Flash replies with as much reverence and fear as he can muster.
The ancient dragon chuckles dryly at the crimson scaled creatures reply."Yes I do wish I could taste one of them again and one day I will.. but not until the Princesses of the sun and moon lay dead. Do not forget it is I who had you freed from your imprisonment in the bowels of Tartarus. You owe me Crimson. I want out of the shadow lands so that I might once again bathe this land in darkness as I did before the ponies came to it. In-fact to hurry you along while we have been talking here another of my minions there in Equestria has come up to your catatonic body and plucked your heart from your chest using a dark ritual and spell I gave him. You will now follow his commands as he currently has convinced me of his renewed vigor and ability to actually follow my orders."
Before Crimson can even reply to his Master his mind is flung back to his body. Once sight and consciousness has returned to his body he is greeted by the sight of a large emerald green unicorn with a pine green tail and mane. the unicorns citron colored eyes boring into his own.
"I see that our Master has finished with you then. I am Emerald Spark you will come with me and do as I say or risk upsetting our glorious Master" Emerald Spark says rather flatly his voice hollow and cold.
"Puny pony. You will return to me my heart or I will end you in a most unpleasant manner" comes crimsons snarled reply to the pony who would dare take something from him until a massive pain explodes in his chest as his heart is brought into view in Emerald Sparks magic
"I could end you right here creature. Do not forget who our Master has put in charge here. Now fall inline and do as your told. We will be directly attacking Canterlot in a few days and all must be prepared." Without another word or a single moments hesitation the whites of Emerald Spark's eyes turn green while wisp's of purple come from the outer edges. His horn glows black as he channels his newly acquired dark magic forcibly teleporting both himself and Crimson to Emeralds currently hidden base of operations.
Once the Flash of Luna's teleport fades I turn to her and with a fairly blank expression say "Princess. Perhaps you could warn me next time you are going to teleport me. I know I don't usually complain but the regular teleports have begun to mess with my senses just a little. Leaves a faint ringing in my ears"
"Hmmm that is odd Prism but we shall keep it in mind." comes Luna's rather casual reply before she gets to the task at hand. "Come though it is time to give your new wings a test. For now just try to hover and maybe move. We do not know how much the mana stone may have drained your internal magic stores."
I nod to my Princess before extending out the wings, slowly testing each of the metal feathers in just the right wing by attempting to flex them and finding them rather responsive to my mental commands as each feather flex's in turn. "I wasn't expecting the individual feathers to be so responsive. I can actually flex each one individually." I say out loud as I move onto the left wing repeating the same test. "Alright Princess I think I'm ready to try and hover now.
"Alright Prism Proceed as you wish" Luna replies having produced a quill and parchment from somewhere unknown upon which she seems to be writing notes.
I nod again and begin to push any pegasus magic i can bring forth into my wings doing my best to focus it as I would have through my old wings. After a few seconds I can feel the air currents under my wings shift. With a few flaps of my wings I begin to rise up from the ground achieving a distance of a few inches before strain on my internal magic reserve forces me to land. Which I am horrified to say I manage to mess up. As my feet come down the tips of the claws for my left foot touch first and as my body weight is applied to them they slip backwards and I faceplant onto the stone of the courtyard, which has the immediate effect of causing Princess Luna to snicker and giggle.
"I am sorry Prism but the look of complete shock on your face as you fell was priceless" Luna finally says getting her giggling under control after a few seconds.
"It is fine Princess though I think it would be prudent for me to probably eat and rest. That was a good first test I think. Proves they do work but I'm just currently to exhausted from them powering up to be able to properly use them." I reply first with a slight groan then a sigh.
Luna nods softly to me with a smile "Yes you are right Prism. Go find your friends and take a small bit of time to relax. Once you feel yourself capable though we shall finish testing your new wings, In the meantime I shall have another guard division sent towards where Crimson was last seen with strict orders to only engage if he should come across another town." Her expression sours a little as she mentions her brother though she quickly puts up the same regal mask her sister does. Once finished with me she simply teleport's off to only she knows where leaving me alone in the courtyard.
A SHORT WHILE LATER
It takes me only about twenty minutes to find the group my powerful sense of smell leading me directly to them. I find them in the dining hall and though the two guards at the door give me strange looks neither make a move to impede me almost the entire guard having already learned of my induction into Luna's night guard. I open the door to which I am greeted by my six smiling mare friends, one smiling dragon and another mare who I don't know. My eyes Immediately focus upon the new mare in the room taking in and almost immediately memorizing how she looks. The mare is a unicorn with a lavender colored coat. Both her mane and tail are purple and some shade of blue the name of which I am not sure of. I can see her cutie mark is that of a purple and white eight pointed star pattern with a two toned bluish green wisp coming from it.
My hesitation and gaze Immediately catches Twilight's attention to which she immediately goes into action. "Oh Prism hey. Your back already from your testing but before we get into that I would like to introduce you to Starlight Glimmer my first student of friendship"
The new mare almost seems a little skittish as she replies though her tone manages to not betray it. "Hello there. As Twilight said I am Starlight Glimmer her first student of friendship. It's good to finally make your acquaintance I have heard so much about you from the others." She actually gets up from the table and walks over to me extending one of her front hooves for me to shake despite the sheer amount of fear I can smell pouring off her.
I slowly and calmly extend out my hand taking her hoof giving it a light shake even giving her a soft toothless smile doing my best not to make this mare anymore afraid then she is though she is hiding it well "It is nice to meet you Starlight Glimmer. I am Prism Strike, though most ponies do just call me Prism." I slowly lean down whispering into her ear so only she can hear me. "There is no reason to be afraid of me I promise that I am no danger to you."
her entire body seems to freeze as I say this going as still and as rigid as a statue. After a moment she manages to whisper out "Ho..how did you know"
With a soft chuckle I tap the end of my snout. "I can literally smell your fear" Starlight seems to blanch a little giving me another chuckle before i move to the table taking a free seat next to Rainbow Dash who quickly turns to me while sliding a large platter over in front of me.
"Here Prism. Ordered you some fish. Figured you would be hungry after testing your new wings." Dash says between bites of a rather large hay burger that she is rapidly devouring.
Lifting the lid of the platter reveals three large fire grilled fish the scent of which makes all but Dash, Fluttershy and spike wrinkle their nose though none of them say anything until the smell reaches Starlight having since returned to the table.her head shoots up from her salad to look right at the three fish in front of me her eyes bulging a little from her head. "I know that Twilight said you ate meat but actually seeing you sit there with your mouth watering a little is just downright creepy"
I run my forearm along my mouth and find that I am indeed drooling a little to which I blush a shrink away a little. "Yeah sorry...I haven't had a real meal in almost a full day."
"Well you should hurry up and eat then. I have heard what your kind does prefer to eat" and with that the source of this mares fear towards me becomes apparent before I can say anything though Dash spits out her current bite of hay burger and practically leaps across the table at Starlight grabbing her by her mane.
"He is not like that. Prism is kind and caring and sweet and one of the most loyal ponies I have ever known. I don't care that your still learning about friendship. if you ever speak like that about him again..." Twilight cuts off Rainbow at this point using her telekinesis to pry Rainbow away from Starlight.
"While Rainbow has definitely overreacted here she is right. Prism would never do anything to harm any of us. In fact he has gone out of his way to protect ponies and even helped to free Ponyville during that short uprising by that fanatical sect." Twilight says to Starlight rather sternly immediately reminding me of Celestia "And further more he is counted by each of us here as a good friend. Perhaps your next lesson should be about being more socially aware around other ponies." She finishes her short piece with a rather motherly tone and i find myself with a newfound respect for Twilight because of it.
The rest of lunch passes by rather uneventfully well that is until a guard comes bursting in requesting the presence of Twilight sparkle and myself in the throne room we take one look at each other before nodding to the guard. We say quick partings to our friends before racing off behind said guard to the throne room.
As Twilight and I arrive at the throne room both of us out of breath from having run the majority of the length of the castle we are quickly seen in by the guard stationed outside its massive doors. Upon entering the throne room we are greeted by Celestia sitting upon her throne in all of her regal glory.
"Twilight, Prism. Thank you both for coming so quickly. The news I bear is both good and bad respectively. Scouts sent out towards my brothers last known location came back telling of the complete destruction of Appleloosa. Both ponies and buffalo have been completely wiped out along with several dozen gryphons I had personally given leave to roost in the nearby mountains. The scene was reported as 'one of utter devastation and carnage'. My brother was also not found at all even after extensive searches of both the ruins and the surrounding area. The only good news that comes from this is that for the moment his march towards Ponyville and eventually Canterlot has stopped, but what is bad about that is that he has disappeared completely."
Both me and Twilight just stand there letting all of that sink in neither of us moving or even speaking for several minutes. Twilight is the first to break the silence by speaking though.
"Well I'm glad that Ponyville and all my friends there are safe but, like you I am concerned that he has just disappeared. He could be anywhere now doing only Faust knows what." Twilight says more than a little worried. though Celestia stops her before her mind can get to far.
"Do not worry to much. all that can be done to prepare has been. I have personally sent out declarations of evacuation to many of the small towns asking that they go to the larger cities where there are already larger guard forces along with asking the larger cities to host said refugees. Letters of warning were sent to Princess Cadence and your brother Shining Armour and the Crystal empires defensive barrier has been put up. Our main fear here is that our brother either by choice or by some machinations has joined forces with another and may very well attack Canterlot in order to get at us-."
Celestia is cut off there as the throne room is suddenly filled with deep maniacal laughter. "How very astute of you Celestia." the voice booms from the very shadows that seem to be slowly creeping towards the center of the room.
After all the shadows in the room have pooled in the center of the room a Dragon's head slowly rises from it dripping darkness like it was made of liquid. Its eyes slowly open revealing two red orbs of pure malice floating in its black ooze like head. it lets off a deeply unsettling cackle before continuing to speak "I have forced two of my minions to work together for my benefit. Your brother is a fine tool of destruction but I see that he has need of direction and so I have provided that for him. Enjoy this small reprieve from the destruction of your land, for when my minions strike next it shall be your end-"
Before it can continue on with its rant Celestia blasts it with a lance of pure solar magic from her horn. Celestia then calls for several aids to which she begins to bark out orders with such fluidity and precision that I am left awed. "Send out another notice to have the evacuations sped up. If anypony refuses to go have them forced to do so." She quips to a light orange earth pony mare who then runs off to do as bidden Celestia though continuing on without even stopping. " I wan't every available guard either protecting the major cities or Canterlot itself" Another mare this one a lime green pegasus goes flying off out one of the windows to the barracks to inform the current head captain. "I want all of our allies contacted. Offer whatever amounts of gold, silver, metals or minerals needed to gain their support. I have the feeling we are going to need it." Another mare this one a unicorn simply teleports away to do as commanded. Finally she turns to me and Twilight. "Prism. I know you have sworn yourself to my sister but I would like you to stay here and help with the defense of Canterlot." when I nod in reply she then speaks to Twilight. "Twilight. I would like you to take your friends to Ponyville and move all of the citizens inside of your castle and await the all clear from us."
Twilight's reaction to this is not what I expect nor what Celestia expect by her reaction it it as Twilight very firmly states. "No" The shocked look on Celestia's face is absolutely priceless though Twilight does continue on before she can be interrupted. "I won't simply run and hide like last time. This time I'm going to stand and fight for my home, for my friends and for what I believe in and I promise you there is nothing you can say that is going to change my mind" by the end of her short speech Twilight has managed to make herself look rather imposing having puffed out her chest and spread her wings all the while holding her head up high.
Celestia finally breaking out of her shocked confusion smiles softly. "I understand Twilight. I keep forgetting that despite your young age, you are every bit an Alicorn Princess. Your drive to protect our little ponies is every bit as strong as mine if not stronger due to the nature of your ascension." Celestia finishes with a slight sigh though she is smiling. "Alright Princess Twilight do what you and your friends can to help in the defense of Canterlot. I shall send an extra contingent of guards to Ponyville to ensure that the citizens are safely moved to your castle." With A nod and smile from Twilight in confirmation we are both dismissed to inform our shared friends of the situation.
In the black, empty void of the nether realm a small point of light suddenly calls itself forth into being. For a moment all the light does is flicker but eventually it stabilizes and begins a trek through the nothingness surrounding it. The little point of light moves as if it has a purpose here among the nothing of this realm of creation, as it treks its way through the darkness. After what would seem like days of travel to any thing capable of doing so within the complete void this place is, the little speck of illumination comes to a stop by smacking into something.
“Hmmm what is this here that finds itself among the nothingness of my prison i wonder” Speaks a dark and malevolent voice. “A tiny speck of light how interesting” Something within the void moves slithering its way though the vacuum of this place to turn and bring its head to bear staring at this tiny speck of light with one massive slitted red eye.
“Tis just me brother.” A new voice calls out, emanating from the tiny speck. “I’ve come once more to see how you fare here in your prison of nothingness.”
“Your visits do nothing but infuriate me Xadaxadril.” the massive beast rages uselessly at the tiny speck “All they do is serve to remind me of how I am trapped here”
“Well I may be a being of light, goodness and life but I am still your brother and must admit to a small bit of pleasure in bringing you this torment, After all you did bring this upon yourself Seshareem. That pony gave you the chance to surrender before he trapped you here” Xadaxadril chimes out as the little speck of light pulses yellow and blue.
“AS if I would ever surrender to such pathetic creatures as those ponies.” Seshareem roars out into the void. “That Starswirl simply got lucky with his spell and managed to banish me here another moment and I would have squashed him like the insect his kind are”
“You have always under estimated your foes Brother. It has always been your weakness. You did not see that pony as a worthy opponent, whose magic outclassed your will, ferocity and dark arts, that is why he was able to banish you here to this long dead realm. Your continued inability to see them as worthy opponents will see the failure of your current plans as well” Xadaxadril says in a bored tone while slowly flitting about the void around his brothers massive form.
“They are nothing and they shall fall. This time they ponies do not have one that skilled in portal magic, and I have sent one of my most ferocious minions to deal with them.” Seshareem retorts to his brother attempting to swat at the light without success.
“You mean Crimson Flash. That monster may be strong physically but he has the same weakness as you. He under estimates his opponent, which will be his downfall just like it was yours.” Xadaxadril laughs as he says this flitting past one of his brothers large eyes before going down along his brothers black scaled back.
“ENOUGH” Seshareem roars out in fury bathing the void around him in glowing black fire. After his outburst and much to his dismay as always the speck of light that his brother always uses here is still flitting about around him. “Your presence begins to annoy me, begone brother and leave me to my plans.”
“Fine fine, I will let you be for now big brother, but I will check in on you again eventually. Tata for now” With that the little speck of light winks out of existence from this lifeless void leaving his brother alone once more.
“How I wish he would finally just die but never the less perhaps I should give my minions just a little more help.” With that Seshareem calls forth his power as he tries to decide who else of his minions to send forth against the Equestrians.
It took me and Twilight only a short while to find our friends who had moved out to one of the tree and grass filled courtyards within the castle. We found them sitting as a group around one of the larger tree’s, talking amongst themselves in this particular yard. As we approached all of them of course greet Princess Twilight but the one called Starlight gives me a wide berth as the group greets me, though I am unable to mention it as Twilight goes into full regal mode quickly gathering up our friends close so she can tell them of what has gone on.
“Girls” Twilight begins, looking into the eyes of each of her friend one by one. “Princess Celestia has asked us to help in the defense of Canterlot. After we were summoned to the throne room some kind of shadow thing appeared and made a threat of an impending attack upon the capitol city and the Princesses themselves. An extra detachment of guards has been sent to ponyville to help ensure that our friends and neighbors there are safely kept within my castle until this crisis is over, That includes SweetieBelle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo aswell, so none of you need to worry about your sisters official or otherwise, so will you help?” Twilight stops there to give her friends a chance to answer Dash of course the first to speak up.
“If the Princess needs me to help defend Canterlot then sign me up. Heck being a wonderbolt now practically means that I have to anyways.” Dash says proudly
“Even though a lady doesn’t usually involve herself in these kind of things, who am I to say no to the Princess. You can count me in Darling” Rarity replies with a flourish of her mane.
“Well me an mah family owe everything to tha Princess, and it wouldn’t be right for an Apple to turn down a request for help, so you can count me in Twi” AppleJack responds with a smile holding her head up proudly.
“I’ll totaly help show these meanies just how wrong they are, then we can all have a big victory party afterwards” Pinkie says with her usual exuberance and energy.
“Well I’ll do what I can to help though I don’t know how useful I will be” Comes Fluttershy’s soft voice from behind her mane.
All eyes then turn to Starlight who had yet to speak though what she says catches me off guard for a moment "I am more than willing to help use my magic to protect Canterlot, but what about him." Starlight finishes by pointing her hoof at me
"Starlight that's just..." Twilight begins only to be cut off as I move forwards and extend my arm infront of her.
"Let me handle this Twilight" I say to her turning my head to look at her over my shoulder before my gaze moves back to Starlight, who flinches back slightly as my eyes make contact with hers. "As the rest of our friends all know this Starlight and have come to accept what I am, I shall say this only once." I stop speaking for a moment to smile at the mare before continuing on. "As it has been proven time and time again, not all ponies are good, through my actions since Princess Twilight and her friends first came and took me from the forest I called home for most of my life. I have been trying to show the world that not all of my kind are monsters. That given the chance my kind can be productive and valuable members of pony society." As I have spoken I have slowly been moving forwards closer to Starlight, though as i come within reach of her she suddenly rushes backwards stopping only when she comes into contact with something solid which just so happens to be the tree that the group had been sitting around.
"st..stay back" Starlights voice is full of fear despite what I had just said, as I look into her eyes I can see that the fear she holds is from her own imagination and I to this day suspect that her mind had been showing her all the ways in which i could have killed her. I begin to raise my hands and arms up to show i mean her no harm but she must end up taking it the wrong way as her horn quickly glows and then i find myself falling through the sky the edge of Canterlot city several dozen yards off to one side and more than a few dozen feet below.
"Oh Tartarus" I exclaim as I look down to see only the plains that surround Canterlot mountain stretching out around me. 'ok Prism you got this, no better time then now i guess to see if these things actually work for full flight' I think to myself as I slowly take in as deep a breath as I can before spreading out my metal wings. Immediately the drain upon what little pegasi magic my body has managed to restore since this morning is taxed, my body strains against the pull as my mind fights to remain conscious as the manastone in my wings tries to fully activate. After several moments where I find myself unsure of wether or not this is going to work, my decent begins to stop and my flight slowly becomes stabilized though I am only able to manage a glide towards the general direction of Canterlot city.
As i sail in towards the white stone of the streets and buildings along the outskirts my flight magic begins to fail me 'no no no no not yet just a little further' I scream at myself within my mind trying as hard as i can to get those last few needed feet out of my flight. Just as I get up towards the edge of the city my flight magic fails me entirely and I once more begin to plummet from the sky, though I am able to grab onto the very edge of the city's overhang digging my claws into the white stone that Cantrelot is made from. After several tense moments of hanging there over the edge of the city I manage to pull myself up and over the lip and deposit myself onto the edge of canterlots outskirts. I lay there panting, barely conscious from the strain of my wings, when suddenly a familiar sight greets me, spears and white ponies in golden armour
"state your name and business here in Canterlot" One of the white ponies in the golden armour say but I find myself unable to respond as my mind begins to go black, thankfully the last thing my mind registers before i fully lose consciousness is another of the ponies saying "Hey isn't that, that Prism fellow, the one who got that medal recently from the Princesses." that though is where my mind blanks and the darkness once more takes me.
As consciousness swells into me I open my eyes to find myself somewhere new, somewhere I've never been before. I can only describe it as being a paradise, a forest of such majesty and beauty that words would fail to describe it properly. The trees I find myself among are tall, thick and look ancient beyond compare their trunks towering up into the sky where their tops actually become obscured by clouds. As I look around this splendor I hear a voice calling out from the forest.
"Come, come to me my little one" The voice that calls out sounds so familiar to me and brings with it such feelings of longing that I find myself compelled to go towards it. It takes me sometime to find my way through the dense forest though the voice guides me ever forwards until finally I reach the edge of it to find a towering golden city surrounded by an immense plain of grass. The sky above me is a perfect shade of powder blue and though the sun sits high in a cloudless sky its rays only seem to give enough heat to pleasantly warm me.
"Come, come your almost there" The voice says in its soft and sweet tone beckoning me towards the city and so I follow it. This time though without the trees surrounding me I go to spread my wings only to feel something different then the metal i had started to become accustomed to feeling, I feel the soft brush of actual feathers along the scales of my back, and I actually turn my head to look behind me as my flesh and blood wings spread out to their fullest. With shock and surprise written upon my face I give each and experimental flex, feeling the muscles and feathers respond the way they should. With a hearty grin I take to the sky soaring up towards the clouds before leveling off and just hovering.
"YAHOOOO!" I bellow out into the empty sky surrounding me before I turn and face myself towards the city pushing my wings as hard as I can simply to feel the muscles strain. With several mighty flaps i take off like a bullet. I cut through the sky eating up the distance between the forest and the city as I keep pushing my body harder and harder relishing in the feeling of just flying. Sadly it doesn't take me long to reach the great city and I land just a few yards from the main gate. As I land I notice something odd, guarding the massive golden gate is both a unicorn and a dragon
As I approach the gate slowly having folded my wings up on my back upon landing, both the unicorn and dragon seem to regard me for a moment before stepping aside, the dragon opening the gate as it speaks to me. "You are expected, you will go to the castle all will be explained for you there.
I nod and give a quick" Thanks" to the dragon before stepping in past the gate. What greets me is a city made of gold, each of the double story buildings litteraly crafted from what seems like solid chunks of the mineral. I marvel at the intricate work and carvings upon some of the buildings as I move through the street while also noticing some of the residents. The majority of which are ponies of all three races and dragons of every conceivable color, size and type, but every now and then as i walk I see something that makes me do a double take. Members of my own kind walking around smiling and happily interacting with both pony and dragon. After seeing a few examples of my own kind walking about freely I decide I must know what this place is and I speed up my pace as much as i think would be polite though I am all but jogging towards the castle.
It takes me only a short while longer to reach the massive golden structure. At the front gate to the castle I am greeted by two of my own kind though both are obviously half unicorn judging by the Alicorn sized horns coming from their foreheads. Both are midnight black, with bright red eyes and fiery manes and tails. Both are obviously female judging by their physical appearance and voices when both begin to speak in complete union. "Ahh finally you arrive Prism Strike, you are expected by our Lord. He will answer the questions you no doubt have. The throne room is not hard to find just follow the main hallway and you should reach it in no time." Both then step aside igniting their horns in a deep red aura which then surrounds the gate opening it for me. I bow to both before quickly making my way inside.
As the two had said it does not take me long to find the main throne room another pair of midnight black, female dragon unicorns are guarding a massive golden door, with intricate carvings of ponies, dragons and all the types of my kind. Both look at me and without saying a word step aside using the same red aura as the two outside to open the doors. As with the other two these ones as well both speak in unison as they announce my presence. "The dragon pegasus Prism Strike has finally arrived Lord." I am then quickly ushered into the room where I find myself before two dragons and a pegasus who seems so familiar to me.
"Welcome Prism Strike to my kingdom. I am Xadaxadril Master of this realm and lord of those who seek to protect all life no matter the personal cost. But enough of that I know you must have questions so please ask them" A large bipedal white dragon sitting upon a throne made of gold says while smiling down to me his body practically glowing with a white light.
"Wh..what is this place?" Is the first question that I am able to get out after several moments of stunned silence.
"This is my realm. It does not have a name but many here call it paradise. i created this place to honor those of your kind who rose above their demon and fought to protect rather than to kill, along with those who had sired such wonderful beings. You can think of this as the final reward for those of your kind who fight for life rather than death." Xadaxadril's reply leaves me speechless for several moments until something he said clicks into my head.
"Wait you said final reward... as in after their death..does this mean that I.." I stammer out the words not really wanting an answer to that though before I can finish the sentance Xadaxadril cuts me off.
"No your not dead Prism. Your very much alive back in Equestria though currently unconscious. I brought your mind here to give you a small glimpse of what you have to look forward to should you remain on your current path and also to give you a small reward for getting under my brothers skin so thoroughly." with one clawed hand he then motions to the pegasus and the other dragon standing near the base of his throne.
"The two having finally been acknowledge look at me and smile, and I note that the dragon has his arm around the pegasus. I start off by looking over the dragon who is a bipedal variant like Xadaxadril though he seems to only bee about 8 feet tall. His scales are a rather dark almost black shade of blue, his ruby red eyes though sharp seem kind when looking at me. his most striking feature though has to be what looks like a rainbow mane coming from his head, though upon focusing abit more I can see that what looked like hair at first is actually a multitude of thin spines protruding from the top of his head. I then look down at the mare and my mind simply freezes as a memory comes up.
'A small pegasus looks down at me with soft, loving magenta eyes, a lock of her fire red mane comes tumbling over her azure blue face. I reach out placing my tiny scaled hands upon her cheeks as I babble and coo. She fixes her mane before leaning in to gently blow on my scaled belly' as the memory ends and my eyes focus i dart forwards scooping up the pegasus in my arms and hugging her tightly. "Mo..Momm..is..is that really you" I stammer out tears already flowing down my face.
"Yes my special little boy, its me" those few words from her as she strokes me mane is enough to break me down and I fall to my knees hugging her against my chest crying into her mane.
"I..I nev..never thought I wou..would see you again" I manage to say between deep and heavy sobs of both joy and from the immense feeling of loss that has been bottled up since her death.
"Shhhhh. Its ok my little Prism. I want you to know that I am so proud of you.you have been such a good boy and getting recognized by Princess Celestia herself, thats not something any other Citizen here can claim. You have made me so soo proud of you my little Prism." She speaks to me softly, stroking my mane as she does for the next five minutes she just lets me sit there crying into her mane while she just repeats how proud of me she is until I finally manage to get myself under control. When i finally have she gets me to look at her before smiling again.
"Do you feel better now." She asks me lovingly her Bright magenta eyes and soft, warm smile greeting me as I look at her. I nod slowly before nuzzling my cheek against hers. She returns it then motions my attention towards the other dragon who has simply stood by and waited for us to finish. "Prism I would like to introduce you to your Father" My eyes go wide as i look upon the dragon with the rainbow spine mane.
"Hello son, I am so glad to finally get to meet you. I want you to know that just like your mother I am so proud of what you have ebcome. I honestly could not be happier with how you have turned out. Your strong and fierce yet kind and compassionate enough to want to protect those that cannot do so for themselves And i know that with every day that passes, you are only going to make me prouder of you." He smiles at me the entire time he talks
I reach out pulling him into the embrace with my mother hugging both of them tightly before I look over at Xadaxadril. "Thank you..thank you so much for this, this means more to me than I can ever put into words." I then look to my parents giving them both another big hug. "And I won't disappoint either of you. I am going to make sure that both of you have an endless amount of reasons to be proud "
"well then I guess it is time for you to return home then. there is much you still need to do and precious little time to do it." Xadaxadril says from his throne getting my attention. "It is time to wake up Prism. Go, train yourself for the fight ahead and know that we will all be watching and rooting for you."
I nod to Xadaxadril, give my parents another tight loving hug, then I close my eyes and wake up.
My eyes open much slower this time though I once again find myself in the medical wing of Canterlot castle, probably in the same room I've been put in each time though this time I find more than just Rainbow Dash waiting for me.
"Look he is waking up" Comes a familiar voice off to my side and I slowly sit up looking over towards its source to see, though blurry, the unmistakable form of Princess Luna along with Princess Twilight, Rainbow Dash and most surprisingly Princess Celestia herself. Luna though is quick to move, crossing the short distance between us quickly to place a wing against my chest and push me back down against the hospital bed. "Nay Prism. Do not try to move much yet, just let yourself and your senses focus"
I quickly do as bidden by my Princess where she immediately removes the pressure of her wing from my chest. "What..what happened." I croak out a few moments later
"The unicorn Starlight Glimmer had a mild freak out when you approached her and she teleported you into the sky above Canterlot. Reports say you managed to glide back to the city and barely managed to grab hold of its edge and pull yourself up. You were found moments later by several of my sisters day guards and proceeded to lose Consciousness. They brought you to the medical wing here and informed us of what had happened after one of them recognized you." Luna's response is said in such a flat regal tone that I turn my head to stare at her even though my vision hasn't fully focused yet.
"Princess...Princess Luna..some..something" I am cut off there by Twilight suddenly speaking from my other side.
"Prism Please you need to rest right now. Your body is suffering from magical withdrawal, its not severe but your new wings sucked up every ounce of pegasus magic your body had been able to generate since your test earlier. If you don't rest right now you could seriously injure yourself." I can hear the sincere worry and care in Twilight's voice along with what i would assume is the sternness of a mother telling her foal to do something and I am almost tempted to just do as she says but this is something I have to say.
"Some.. something happened.. to me whi.. while I... I was unconscious.. I.. I went somewhere, Somewhere beau..beautiful" my own voice fails me at this point as I devolve into a coughing fit. This time its Dash pushing herself up and over me who pleads.
"Please Prism just rest for now. Regain a little strength then you can tell us all about it ok." the sheer amount of fear I can both hear in her voice and smell coming from her body gives me pause.
'I've never heard Dash like this before. Can this really be that bad' is the first though I have hearing her, then looking into her large magenta eyes I find I can't say no to her. So with a nod I allow myself to sink into the hospital bed, though I do slowly lift my arm to lay it out over her. "St..ay with me."
"Sure big guy no problem" comes her rather soft spoken reply. The others quickly excuse themselves to allow me to rest. "Alright Prism try and rest ok. I promise I will be right here when you wake up again" with that i slowly close my eyes letting myself rest with Dash laid out over me.
It's sometime later when I regain consciousness again, judging by the fact that the darkness of night can be seen through the only window in my room. Dash as promised is still right there though she has slid off to one side of me. I smile softly looking over at her as she is curled up against my side a hoof or a wing twitching every now and then while she sleeps. I slowly raise my hand to stroke her mane finding myself oddly mesmerized by just how soft it is as my hand makes contact with her hair. After a few runs of my hand along her mane a strange thought enters my head and I find myself entertaining it.
'How did I ever get so lucky. If these mares hadn't come into my life I am afraid to think of what I could have become, the monster I could have been but now I've got so many amazing friends, I could probably count both of the royal sisters among them to. I have come to cherish all of my friends quite a bit, the honest Applejack always dependable when the situation gets tough, the rambunctious and energetic Pinkiepie always there to put a smile on anyponies face when they are feeling down, the lovely Rarity always there to help when it comes to fashion or just to lend a hoof in aid when it is needed, the shy yet incredibly kind Fluttershy who despite her fears would always support her friends, the incredibly talented and wonderfully friendly Twilight sparkle a fountain of knowledge and skill in both magic and friendship, and then there is RainbowDash. She is the single most loyal pony I have ever met, always there for her friends no matter what. When this is all over I am going to have to find a way to thank them all for everything they have done for me but Dash especially. She has been here for me like none of the others have, she has spent so much time with me, most of it here in this room, given up so much of her own time just to see me through these troubles. I have to find someway to do something extra special just for her to make things even'
My thoughts are broken there as I feel Dash stir next to me her eyes slowly opening as my petting of her mane has finally roused her from slumbers sweet embrace. "Prism your awake" she says half sleepily and half surprised
"Yeah and feeling much better" I reply with a smile once more running my hand along her mane.
The still half asleep smile Dash gives me in return is just to precious. "I'm glad to hear that Prism I was.. I mean we were all worried about you, which you seem to have a bad habit of making us do" her voice though stern is not overly so. "But I can forgive ya for it"
"Thanks Dash" I say with another smile to her along with pulling her into a soft hug. "When all of this is over, I am going to find someway to pay you back for everything you have done for me. Anything you want, anything you could wish for, I WILL find some way to either get you it or make it happen no matter what it is."
"Heh that's sweet Prism but all I really want is for Equestria to go back to the way it was, where the biggest things we had to worry about during the day would be what friendship problem the map might send us to or what kind of creature from the Everfree forest might come stalking out next. All of this business with fanatics, dark dragons and bloodthirsty monsters bent on nothing more than our destruction has been a bit much even for me" The look of longing in Dash's eyes for those happier days tears at my heart in a way I don't fully understand
"Don't worry Dash, I'm going to make sure that those days return soon and that they never get taken from you again" I find myself saying to her before the thought of saying it even enters my mind, before my mouth just keeps going without regard for my brain and its insistence to shut up "And since that's all you want. Well.. maybe after all this is done and over with, we could have a meal together. Just you and me, if your interested that is" I feel my face blush as I say that not knowing why I even brought this up.
The surprise that springs to her face is almost instant as she says "A meal together? You mean like a date"
"N..no, no. I mean unless you want it to be.." comes my rather fumbled reply to her question to which she giggles.
Dash's reply is almost instant the moment her giggles stop though "Sure why not Prism, I mean I've shown you a side of myself that not many other ponies have gotten to see and I've already seen you at your worst so it can only go up from here. Also if I'm being honest, I do kinda like you" She turns her head as a blush appears on her cheeks as she finishes speaking.
"Y..you do?" Now it's my turn to be shocked as I lay there simply staring at her.
"What is that so hard to believe. I mean we have cuddled so many times. Yeah sure at first it was because I was feeling guilty at having left you and then you being captured like that but it quickly changed as the days went on. I found myself becoming more and more comfortable with you not to mention the few times we have had some fun with each other" she stops talking there blushing deeply while she tries to hide it with her hooves.
I smile pulling her hooves away from her face gazing deeply into those large magenta eyes of hers as she gazes back into mine. "I like you to Dash. At first I just respected you for your flying prowess and the amount of loyalty you showed to your friends but then after I was taken and came back, you spending all of that time with me being there day after day and night after night barely ever leaving my side, well I came to care about you quite alot. If I do end up helping to saving Equestria from this current threat I honestly wont be able to say if its for my duty to the Princesses, my friendship with our friends, or for you specifically"
Barely a moment after we finish speaking I feel Dash plant her lips against mine putting her hooves around me tightly. My arms go around her after I recover from the surprise of it and I return her kiss finding myself enjoying this simple act far more than I ever thought possible to enjoy something. We stay like that just caught up in each others embrace for what seems like forever before finally our lips part and we both sigh contently still holding each other. It's another few moments before Dash lets out a small yawn to which I chuckle a little.
"We should probably get a bit more sleep tonite before the sun comes up" I suggest to which Dash nods laying herself out next to me though this time with a hoof and a wing draped over my chest as her head finds a comfortable spot on my shoulder. With another yawn she mumbles out a goodnight before quickly falling asleep. I myself though watch her for a few minutes before I let sleep claim me once again.
"You have failed weakling and now Equestria belongs to my Master" Crimson Flash laughs at me while pushing his foot ever downwards upon my chest slowly negating my ability to draw in breath. I turn my head to the side to see my friends and the Princesses all lying in a pile of broken and mangled bodies, each of them staring lifelessly at me. Each of their stares holding an accusation of failure in them each of those accusations levied directly towards me "Now you shall watch as the one you care for most in this world dies." Crimsons words return my gaze to him to see RainbowDash held in his arms, one around her barrel pinning both her forelegs and wings to her body, while his other hand has a hard grip upon her mane.
"n..no..pl..please...do..don't" I whimper as best i can to which he just laughs.
"This is what you get for opposing my Master, Seshareem. For opposing his grand design for us" With a final laugh he begins to pull Dash's mane up and I watch as her neck muscles begin to strain.
"Prism I love.." Dash begins to say only to be cut off as Crimsons arm quickly jerks to the side a loud snap ringing out through the throne room. He lets her mane go to allow Dash's head to flop forwards her neck obviously broken. Her tongue hangs from her mouth and i look up into her eyes to find that same accusing stare on her face.
"NOOOOOOOOOO" my scream is loud and pained as I watch him drop her body lifelessly to the floor next to me. I reach out towards her now lifeless body wanting to pull her close to me to feel her warmth one last time before meeting my final end.
"And now traitor it is your turn to..." Suddenly everything stops, Crimson Flash frozen mid sentence with a sinister smile upon his face, as he leans down towards me, the throne room shimmers once then the world around me shatters like glass as a bluish white flash consumes the throne room. As the flash of bluish white light recedes I find myself standing in a large field of many colored flowers and thick green grass surrounded on all sides by a thick dense forest. A sound catches my attention and I turn my gaze towards it to see all of my friends just a few yards away sharing a picnic happily with laughter and good cheer. "Ho..how is this..." I go to voice my confusion at this change only to be cut off by an all to familiar voice.
"This has been naught but a dream Prism, I am surprised that after some of the nighttime troubles you have had, you could not recognize that." I turn my head to see Princess Luna next to me beaming a warm smile to me.
"A dream...but it felt so real, I could feel his heel upon my chest, I could smell the fear from Dash as he held her." my eyes glaze over a little as i recall the events of the prior dream.
"Dreams can very often feel just as real as the waking world, the anguish and fear you felt in yours was strong enough to pull me into it from another's dream. Do you truly fear losing that much?" her words pull me back to the moment and I shake my head.
"No Princess, I don't fear losing to Crimson Flash, Emerald Spark or even Seshareem. What I fear is failing my friends, failing you and failing all of Equestria in the process" I say without much emotion trying to not dwell on that thought.
"It is ok to be afraid Prism, that is completely normal. Even me and my sister are afraid of what the next few days may hold but we know that those tasked with the defense of Equestria will do their best to see us through to victory and even if tomorrow ends up being Equestria's last day of freedom know that at least none of us shall hold it against you.-" she quickly gestures towards the others still enjoying their picnic within my dream. "-All any of us can do is try our best and put forth our maximum effort" As Princess Luna finishes speaking her wing finds its way to my shoulders laying out over them comfortingly.
As I go to reply to her the world around us begins to shimmer slightly before beginning to fade rapidly. "It appears as though you have begun to wake Prism so I shall leave and will see you in the waking world but please do remember what I have said and that no matter what the future shall bring for Equestria, that we your friends, will always be here for you"
Princess Luna's final words echo through my mind only to be replaced by another familiar voice though the concern and fear in this one is easily discernible. "Prism? Prism? Come on big guy answer me." The voice seems frantic almost on the verge of hysteria. When my eyes finally start to slowly open I find Dash hovering over me, her front hooves on my shoulders, shaking me rather hard. I go to say something but the words catch in my throat as i see the sheer amount of terror on her face, tears beading her eyes which are almost as big as dinner plates, though before i can recover from my shock at seeing her of all ponies looking like that she tackles me in as tight a hug as she can manage.
"You had me so worried Prism. First you grab me out of no where pulling me into a bone crushing hug only to let me go moments later. You then called out my name sounding so anguished, before suddenly convulsing then going very still if it hadn't been for the fact you had been still breathing I would have thought you were dead. I was honestly just about to go find a nurse when you finally woke up" the tone in which she practically blurts all of that out is laced with so much fear and concern for me that i feel as though I could reach out and touch it like a physical thing.
"I'm so sorry Dash. I just had a really bad dream is all" I say pulling her down against my chest, she squirms a bit but quickly gives in returning the hug with both forelegs and wings sniffling a few times before I feel her body relax against me.
"Yeah just don't do it again okay. Though I find myself wondering what could have been so bad to make you react like that in your sleep" she says softly to me as she lays her head against my shoulder completely giving into our embrace while she looks up at me with those big magenta eyes of hers.
One of my hands absently goes to her mane my claws slowly combing through her hair more for my own comfort than for any benefit to her. "I dreamt that Crimson and his Master had won... I saw our friends all dead in a pile while Crimson held me down with his foot. He..he.." my voice breaks there and I find I am unable to finish my sentence.
"He what Prism?" I find myself staring into Dash's big, beautiful magenta eyes curiosity filling them completely. My next breath brings her scent to my nose and i find myself burying my muzzle into the fur of her neck.
While I slowly breath in her scent I reply to her though my voice is almost a whisper even Dash's strong pony ears having trouble hearing me. "He killed you"
I feel the muscles of her neck strain just a little as her head turns trying to hear me properly. "What was that Prism?" she asks me as I feel one of her hoofs slowly running along my own mane.
"He..he" my voice breaks with every word as I try to speak to her as I fight to not openly cry at just the memory of that dream. "He..he held me down and made me watch as he snapped your neck Dash..." I say just loud enough for her to hear me
Her hoof stops running along my mane and her jaw drops. She stares up at me for several minutes with those deep magenta pools that are her eyes before slowly turning her head to stare out the window as she replies. "I..I don't know what to say Prism... I can only imagine what that must have been like for you." Our heartfelt moment is ended there as the door to the room opens as none other than Princess Luna herself walks in. Both me and Dash stare at the lunar Diarch. Whatever she had come in to say quickly dies upon her tongue as she looks at me and Dash. Dash laid out on my chest both forelegs and wings around me, me with an arm around her barrel, my face buried in the fur of her neck, the pair of us looking not unlike a pair of longtime lovers.
"I see I have come at a bad time." She says clearing her throat "When you two have finished please report to the throne room. We will be evacuating the ponies of Canterlot into the crystal catacombs beneath the city for their protection before our brother and his unknown allies make their promised attack tomorrow and every hoof or claw in help will be useful in this endeavor" With that the lunar Princess simply turns and walks out leaving me and Dash blushing as we hold each other.
Shortly after the Princess leaves us both me and Dash are quick to make ourselves presentable before heading over to the throne room. Upon arrival there we are both quite rapidly told what our duties are, each of us ending up with a different section of Canterlot to go through. It is nearly six hours later when my section of the city has finally been cleared, the cities residents having been ushered through the castle, into and down an old passageway and then finally into the ancient crystal catacombs within the mountain itself. During the evacuations though a fleet of Airships had been spotted off in the distance, which had ended up turning out to be a fleet of Minotaur airships carrying over 1000 fully armed and armored of the minotaurs best soldiers, the first of Equestria's allies answering her call for help. By the time the citizens of Canterlot had been fully moved to the catacombs several more of Equestria's allies had arrived including an entire battle division of griffons, consisting of nearly 2000 griffon soliders and even a few of the older dragons had arrived. It was as I was making my way to the dining hall for lunch that I got an even bigger surprise as a frantic solar guard runs Directly into me.
"Hey whats the rush," I say getting myself back to my feet before helping the rather distraught guardpony to their feet.
"Every guard in the city has been called to the eastern side of the lower city. A swarm of changelings has been spotted on approach towards that section of the city. Celestia and Luna have already gone there to await the swarms arrival." The guard says to me in a rush before galloping off through the castle.
It takes me a moment to realize what he said but once it hits me I'm off running down the hall after the guard. It takes me about ten minutes to make the normally forty minute run as I drop down onto all fours using my claws for extra traction not even thinking about the gouges they leave in the smooth marble floor, having heard of the changelings and the threat they pose from Princess twilight during my original education about Equestria. As I arrive to the an open Area on the eastern side of the lower city doing my best to control my breathing so I'm not panting as I join the group of Guards and Princesses that are gathered There.
Almost every guard turns to look at me as I arrive as does Princess Luna who simply nods as i take my place among the groups. As i look out towards the horizon the sky is filled with what seems like a massive black cloud that is steadily moving closer towards the city and castle. When the giant cloud like swarm comes within a few kilometers of the castle it simply stops sitting there like a massive buzzing cloud. From the swarm comes a small group that rapidly begin to approach towards the Princesses and the gathered Guards. As the smaller group of changelings comes within a few hundreds yards it becomes clear that it is a very small group consisting of 2 slightly larger than average size changelings and one which could only be called Princess sized.
The small group quickly finishes approaching landing just at the edge of the group of guards though more Solar and Night guards continue to show up from around the city. The smaller changelings stand at the front for a moment before being beckoned aside by the taller one. Looking directly at her she is nothing like how Chrysalis the evil Changeling Queen was described to me as this one has A Ruby red mane and tail Along with bright golden colored eyes and red coverings for her wings and underbelly. She scans the gathered guards with those golden eyes going from one side of us to the other before speaking with a rather soft voice.
"Please be at peace. I come bearing no ill will towards you. In fact I have heard of your plight and have come to aid Equestria in its time of need." The Tallest one begins "I am Amaryllis Current Queen and Matriarch of the Changelings. Please believe me when I say I truly have come to help" The now identified Queen Amaryllis finishes with a hopeful look in those golden eyes of hers.
Princess Celestia is the first to get over her shock to make a response "Well this is definitely not what I was expecting when i was told Changelings had been spotted approaching Canterlot. I would like nothing more than to believe you Amaryllis but what Guarantees could you give us that you are not actually Chrysalis in disguise using this as a way to try to take over"
I keep my attention on the Changeling Queen wtaching her expression remain hopeful. "I can Promise you that the former Queen Chrysalis will not be bother Equestria ever again. After her failed attempt on Equestria during the wedding of Shining armour and Princess Mi Amora Cadenza the hive as a whole decided to remove herin a bloody yet thankfully short civil war. If you want proof of her death i do believe we still have her corpse stored somewhere. Regardless though I was chosen to lead the hive after that and underwent the process of becoming a Queen. When i finally finished only just recently I decided that it would be better to live with you Equestrians rather than against you. As in our shared history the changelings have fared better when Equestria and its citizens are happy." She finishes with a smile that hopeful look still upon her face.
Princess Celestia seems to mull this over for a few moments but while doing so her sister Princess Luna takes the time to speak "Quite the tale you have Amaryllis. Personally I would love to Inspect that vile bugs corpse just to ensure for myself that she is truly dead but if what you say is true then you and your changelings could be quite a powerful addition to our forces here" With a wave of her wing her Nightguard all immediately stand down "I shall give you the benefit of the doubt for now but know that if this is some trick I am not as kind as my sister when dealing with traitors"
Queen Amarylis nods to this and Celestia motions for her guards to stand down as well. Within a few moments of this the two Princesses are heading off towards the castle with Amaryllis following along behind them and I make my way back to the castle as well to seek out some lunch.
Upon a simple chair made of stone Emerald Spark sits surveying a well detailed map of Canterlot City laid out upon a similarly simple stone table, the only light in his personal "chambers" cast by torches rather than illumination spells to keep his base from being detected too soon by the mages and Princesses. As he sits and surveys his plans a unicorn garbed in pitch black armor forged in a way to make the pony seem far more demonic than it is comes rushing through the door less entryway huffing slightly.
"Sir I bring news from our spies in Canterlot." Emerald Spark slowly lifts his head his eyes focusing upon the unicorn for a moment before nodding for him to continue. "Equestria's allies have begun to mass in the city, there are confirmed reports of Minotaur squadrons in full battle plate and armed with heavy axes and swords patrolling the now seemingly empty streets, small flocks of light armored Griffons wielding crossbows and lances fly routine patrols alongside Pegasi Night guards over sections of the city in what seem like rotating shifts and less than an hour ago a massive swarm of changelings approached Canterlot only to stop some distance from its borders allowing a small contingent of them to go towards the massed group of guards and both Princesses. Roughly twenty minutes later Changelings were spotted being added both to foot and flight patrols around the city effectively doubling the amount of troops currently defending the city."
Emerald Spark coughs and sputters for a few moments before regaining his composure. "Thank you for your report soldier. I must inform our Lord of this new development so you are dismissed." With a nod the Unicorn leaves and Emerald spark turns gets up from his chair and sighs. After a moment to collect his thoughts he moves over to the far wall of his chambers where a large arcane circle has been cut directly into the stone. He places one hoof upon it and closes his eyes his mind being whisked away to his Lords realm.
Shadow Realm
Seshareem upon feeling his current General enter his domain and prison turns his attention to the incorporeal presence of his minion. "Yes Emerald Spark. I do hope for your sake that this is important." Seshareem grumbles out hating to be disturbed by anything.
"I...I believe so my Lord... Equestria's allies have begun to gather in Canterlot and more are presumed to be on their way-" Emerald Spark begins only to be cut off by Seshareem.
"Bah I care not for the Equestria's puny allies I have given you access to a portion of my own power, allowing you to then teach dark magics to those unicorns under your command. Your forces should be far superior to anything that Equestria and it's allies could field against you." Seshareem grumbles and sneers down at Emerald his voice dark and menacing the threat of violence in his tone against Emerald clear as day.
"Yes, indeed my Lord they would have been had a large swarm of changelings just allied themselves somehow with the Equestrians. i fear even with the power you have given me and my unicorns along with your...'pet' monster we may not have enough to overcome a swarm of changelings along with everything else we will come up against. I want to be granted a greater portion of your power temporarily and allowing me to directly infuse it into both the unicorns and pegasi under my command giving both groups a much needed power boost."Emerald Spark practically pleads with his Dark Lord.
Seshareem ponders this for a moment the sound of a claw absently scraping away at scale fills the infinite dark expanse that is both his home and prison. After a few moments he once more turns his gaze towards the apparition of his minion. "I have a better idea, to counter a swarm one must use a swarm and i have the perfect spell, brace yourself though as this will hurt" With a mad laugh Seshareem begins infusing his minions mind with a greater portion of his own self giving the unicorn greater power and access to greater spells but in return overwriting more of the mortals mind with Seshareems own far greater one Emerald Spark screaming in agony the entire time.
CANTERLOT CASTLE After a long day of patrols and as Celestia's sun was finally beginning to set I arrive at my room, with a weary look upon my face I open the door to my private chambers only to smile as I see Dash already in there sitting on one of the chairs reading what looks to be the most recent daring do book. Walking over to her I place a hand upon her shoulder "Hey Dash I wasn't expecting you figured you would probably be out patrolling as long as you could"
Smiling as she looks up to me she closes her book and hops down from the chair onto her hooves. "I could say the same to you big guy but honestly I finished my shift like 20 minutes ago and figured id come here to wait for you" She blushes a little as she speaks making me smile as i kneel down to hug her.
"I am always happy to spend time with you Dash, You make even the hardest of days better for me" I say before giving her cheek a soft kiss causing her face to turn almost completely red.
"You do the same for me Prism" comes her swift reply before she returns my kiss though planting her lips directly onto mine for a moment before breaking away to say more. "In fact I have this feeling like tonite will be the last time we are going to have to relax alone until all this is over and well..." She just kind trails off there still blushing as her tail swishes and her wings twitch.
I smirk a bit and pick her up succeeding in giving her a quick startle which makes her wings pop out. "Methinks i know what the lady has in mind for the night" I almost giggle out before nuzzling into her neck fur as I carry her over towards the bed. Dash meeps but makes no move to stop or halt my progress and a moment later we are both laying there snuggled up close to each other.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER I smile happily as i lay out on my side on the bed holding a passed out Dash in my arms up against my chest, a look of absolute contentment on her disheveled face. I sigh softly feeling just as content as she looks slowly running the claws on one hand through her mane, our snuggle session having turned rather physical quite quickly. 'wow what did i ever do to deserve such a mare' I silently think to myself as I just lay there watching her sleep staving off my own need for it for just a few more moments of being with her. 'there is literally nothing I would not do or give for her, I just hope I will prove enough to give her a future worth living' I keep myself from shuddering slightly as that thought runs through my mind though as I look at her sleeping so peacefully with a smile on her face i cant help but feel that things will work out. i watch her sleep for a few more minutes before allowing myself to succumb to it as well taking one last glance at her face before finally passing out.
