> Bloodline of Flames > by Camlio > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The power of a Name > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~Abraham Lincoln (Opening theme, play until told to stop) -Episode One, The Power of A Name- So, it's another hot summer day in Florida, sun shining, grass growing, fish swimming in perpetual circles in the fish tank in the corner of my apartment. The life of a collage drop out is never dull. Okay that's a downright lie but, hey it's my life... What can I do? Strangely enough the answer is check my e-mail. Before I continue I should explain a bit about myself. My name is Cody A. ----(Data Not Available), I work at the Game stop in the Baywalk mall in downtown Saint Petersburg Florida. Well I guess all of that should be past-tense now but, I really don't care. I have brown hair and matching brown eyes, someone said my hair looked like the tenth doctor but I don't see it. I'm not exactly fat, but I'm not thin either. At 6 foot 2, I was always the tall guy with not much in the way of muscle or fat. So how did this all change, you may ask? Well sit your flank down and I'll tell you. You see it all started on July 4th 2012. (Opening Theme Stops here.) 'That's a cool saying. But, then again this is a cool game.' I thought as I was playing my copy of Infamous on the PS3 for the 17th time, when I suddenly got a message on my PC or as I had affectionately dubbed it 'The Craptacular 2000'. Yeah I know what your thinking, oh I've heard this part before and I'm going to tell you to shut up and sit your flank back down... It gets better. So I check my Skype and I get a notice from an anonymous source. 'Are you interested in a one-way trip to Equestria? I'm seeking a friend from your world and I hope you will accept. Sadly if you accept you can't go back. ~ Luna of Equestria' Well me being a dumb-ass and thinking it's a prank click yes what happened next will stay with me as long as I live. "What the fu---" Was all I was able to say as a blast of blue fire shot from my computer screen and enveloped me before I dematerialized and appeared again in front of the one and only Princess Luna, and let me tell you, seeing the Princess of the night in person is no picnic. "Are you alright? Oh and before you ask your records of our world are somewhat flawed." She said as she pointed to a computer, it had the word Pony written on the monitor and I'll just leave it at that. "Your name obviously isn't Camlio420 so I must ask what is your name human?" Now in case you don't know what Luna looks like I'm just going to state that the rumor about her looking different during the day is true. Her mane only does the Star thing when it's night-time, it looks like it did at the end of the NMM incident during the day. "Um... It's ____ your highness." She gave me a startled look when I mouthed my name but no words came out. You know the one where their eyes expand and the pupils shrink? Yes that one... "Um... I must be imagining things because I can't hear myself say my own name..." The look on her face fell to a sad one. "I-I'm so sorry... I didn't mean too..." She trailed off and the look on her face made me officially start losing it. It's the same look a Doctor gives someone when they tell them they're going to die. 'Gotta stay calm, can't freak out on an immortal goddess. Not only is that a one way ticket to hell... or is it Tartarus? But, it also wouldn't help me with my name issue. So the best plan of action? It's obviously to crack a joke and hope for the best.' I thought as I stood up. "Okay so tell it to me straight doc, do I have to start wearing a sheet of cloth and stealing people's names?" She laughed, whether it being at the image of me trying to steal names, while dressing in a sheet or the fact that I was making a very poor attempt at a ghost I'm not sure. But, I just got a Goddess to laugh... GO ME! "That will not be necessary, I think I've figured out your problem... you see in this world name's have power hence why most of the ponies of this land have such odd names." She smiled at her explanation which with Luna as my witness made perfect sense. "Sadly your old name had either no power or was to destructive to pass through the wards between dimensions. So I'm going to have to ask you to think up a new name." "Well if that's it I've already got one." She looked at me with a knowing smile as I said the name which sealed my fate. "Camlio Delle Fiamme at your service your majesty." And at that my hair changed color to a bright blonde and started to move like an active flame and my eyes changed to a glowing blue color similar to the flames that brought me here, along with this came a tickling in my nose. Now I'm going to tell you all something, you see dragons have it rough with fire breath. You see sneezing for them is a hazard to others, so I'm still thanking whichever pony figured out how to prevent allergies in dragons and dragon like humans. "AH-AH-AH-ACHOO!!!" FWOOOSH! When I opened my eyes from sneezing what I saw kinda freaked me out, Luna lowering a barrier spell around me and me standing in a circle of bright orange flames which died as I looked at them. "Bless you." Luna said with a smile. Moon bless that mare is all I can still say about that. "Well let's get you a way to prevent that deadly sneeze of yours and-" Both of our stomachs rumbled. "Get some lunch, shall we?" With the hunger in my stomach pushing me onwards I followed the Monarch of the Moon on our quest for the holy edibles. "You know the way this day is going I'm somewhat surprised we haven't run into some sort of, Ooph" i said as I fell backwards from colliding with a Lavender Pony and her Scaled companion that were now both staring wide eyed at me. "I just had to open by mouth..." I said with a sigh. (Ending Theme Play until end of text or song ends) Well, now you know how my story began, crazy huh? Well it gets better, I'll let you guys get on your way, thanks for listening to my tale for now. Come back next time oh... & here's a preview. "So you can breathe fire? That's pretty cool." The small dragon said to me eyes still glowing in wonder, Twilight introduced him as spike but, as he was almost Luna's height so I was having trouble believing that. "More like sneeze fire... But, yeah it is pretty cool. Destructive and crazy but, cool." I responded the childlike wonder in his eyes making me feel like an older brother for some reason. 'Luna said their was powers in names, does my name make me part dragon?' I though to myself as I looked to see the two ponies and one dragon staring at me with open mouths. This caused me to follow their gazes to see I was subconsciously tossing a ball of flames into the air and catching it. "Now that! Is definitely cool." Spike stated as I dispelled the flames by crushing them in my hand. > Seven years late to the party > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Circumstances are beyond human control, but our conduct is in our own power." ~ Benjamin Disraeli -Episode Two, Seven years late to the party- I do not own the rights to My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic, or any other show/game series I may reference, If I did I would be a very happy man. (Please stop Opening Music here) After about two minutes of the pair's wide eyed gazes I found myself getting extremely nervous. "Um, your highness? I think I broke them?" I asked sarcastically to which Luna reacted with a laugh. I was willing to bet at this point that if she hadn't summoned me out of boredom she would be reacting the same way as the pair in front of us. "Right... Sorry about running into you miss?" I asked as I reached my hand out towards the Lavender pony, the rounded face hinted that it was a mare. Well if that part wasn't different from normal equines at least. "Oh, it's alright, I'm Twilight Sparkle. Sorry for staring by the way it's just... I haven't seen anything like you before." She said with a sheepish grin. The look in her eyes just screamed scholarly interest. "Oh and this is my adoptive son Spike." She said with a smile as the young dragon bowed. The fact she introduced him as such made me think about just how far behind the show is from the real thing? "Hey, I know this is a little rude but, what's up with your eyes?" Spike asked me which caused me to stare blankly for several seconds before that all too familiar feeling crept into my nose. "Hey are you alright? Need a hanky?" Spike asked realizing that the convulsions I was beginning were the onset of a sneeze. To which I shook my head and move out of range. "I'm go... I'm goo... I'm Gooooo-ACHOO!" FWOOOSH! *Sniffle* "I'm good." I replied while stomping out the small blaze I had started on the hallway rug with my volatile sneeze. The looks on the groups faces were varied, Twilight's face had a mix of fear and curiosity that you would find in any scientist who had found a dangerous subject to study. Spike's was a mixture of wonder and hope, most likely thinking I'm some sort of dragon. Princess Luna's was a look of plain concern for the Janitorial ponies that would most likely have to tend to the burned rug if my stay was extended. *A burst of fire flashes across the screen as the scene changes* After my little stunt in the hallway Twilight told us where she and spike had been heading, lucky for us they were also on the way to the dining hall and so our merry band grew by two worthy knights. Sir Spike, the Scaly, and Ser Twilight the Sparkly. They would soon be joined by, Ser Rainbow the Dashing, Ser Flutter the Shy, and the aptly named, Sir not appearing in this film. Well not really it was just Twilight and Spike but, I made you look huh? And so we sat in the dining hall, Twilight and Luna chatting away like old friends across from me. Spike was sitting to my right and scarfing down a plate of gems. He suddenly looked at me with a look of realization that made me imagine that he'd have a light bulb hanging over his head. "So you can breathe fire? That's pretty cool." Spike said with a grin that had been steadily growing since that light bulb clicked in his head. It was now reaching a level that could give Pinkie competition. "Yeah I guess it is. Then again it would be better if I didn't have to worry about torching anything when I sneezed." I said with a chuckle which got a similar response from Spike. "Yeah I remember about seven years ago, I was looking for this book for Mom, and when I sneezed the whole thing burned to a crisp." The fact that he called Twilight 'Mom', while note worthy was rather overshadowed by the fact that he mentioned that the night he blasted a book with his volcanic dragon sneeze was seven years ago. How much happened in that amount of time? 'I guess it won't be hard to pretend I don't have a clue about this world... I really don't.' I thought with a sigh. I was brought out of my self reprisal when I noticed that all eyes in the room had become trained on me or more specifically my right hand. Which I noticed had somehow summoned a ball of deep crimson fire which I had been tossing up and down for a good five minutes. "Um, Camlio. How are you doing that?" Twilight asked me which caused me to drop the ball from her sudden question. When it touched the ground it burned for only a second then went out. It seems to be dependent on me to sustain it. "I really don't know... last I heard, humans couldn't do magic." Was all I managed to get out of my mouth before both Twilight and Spike gasped. "Your a human?!" Was their joint response and when I nodded they both nervously scooted away from me. Luna however did not. "Oh dear, it seems I forgot about that old dragon legend of the Terrible humans." She said with a sigh. Seven years passing since the dragon quest episode meant ample time for Twilight and Spike to find a book on Dragonic Folk tales and the like. If I didn't need help questioning if I was already being affected by the name change I surely wouldn't soon. Because as soon as I took in Twilight and Spike's fearful looks a stood up and started walking away. When Spike tried to stop me I shouted at him... "jaseve ve loaw! si mi tirir wux vi totafit persvek jaseveir! wux obviously tir ti tuor ve zahae... clax doege thurirli tangis sjek yth nurti tafiaf tenamalo.." Spike had a shocked look on his face as I left the room. "Did he just?" Spike asked while looking at Twilight and Luna who had shocked looks on their faces as well, Twilight managing a nod confirming that Spike heard correctly. "Camlio..." Was all Luna could say realizing that my name change did more to me than she expected. But, as she realized the last part of my speech she jumped up from her seat and followed me Twilight and Spike having already decided to chase after me. -The same burst of fire for scene transition- I sat on the edge of the cliff that Canterlot rested on. "Kinda funny how I always imagined meeting them to go a little bit more smoothly." I said with a sad chuckle as I stared into the sun set. I don't care how easy it is for ponies to travel Canterlot with four legs. It sucks on two. "Oh well, guess I might as well find somewhere to stay for the night." I said standing up and turning around only to be staring in the face of something or someone I wished I would never have too. "Well... aren't you the little oddity? And here I am coming to this retched city to see what all the fuss is about to find that one of those hairless apes is the source." The being spoke with a razor sharp feminine voice. Her figure looked an awful like some of the beetles I was freaked out by back home. Well if some sick bastard decided to crossbreed a beetle and a pony at least. "Sorry to bother you." I said trying to dismiss her and walk away. Sadly it was not to be seeing as soon as I did a burs of green fire caught my attention and when I turned around I saw a human female. "Okay what the hell?" Was all I could think of saying before she spoke again. "Your not the only human I've caught and oh how delicious your kinds energy tastes. It's akin to a rare wine. Now bow before your new master. Queen Chrysalis." Her chilling laughter resonating throughout the cliff side were we stood. "Oh hell." To Be continued! A cliffhanger?! OH NOES! Well my goal is to make each chapter longer than the last so look forward to that. And yes I have a terrible fear of beetles... Well not just beetles any insect creeps me out. Oh and before I forget... The speech before Cam ran out was in fact Dragonic or Dragon tongue. Here's the translation. "Leave me alone! I am doing you a favor in leaving! You obviously do not want me around... Take care friends even if we never meet again." > To watch the world burn > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A man can only be pushed so far, before he becomes a monster that only wishes to watch the world burn around him. ~ Unknown Author -Episode Three, To watch the world burn- I do not own the rights to My Little Pony Friendship is Magic or anything else I may reference. If I did I would have someone else writing this... they would probably do better. "Oh my? What's with that look human?" Chrysalis said with a tone filled with mock hurt that soon turned into something more... sultry. "Oh that glare of yours, is so-o intimidating, it's making me shiver... everywhere." She said while licking her lips and advancing on me. Her eyes glowing fiercely as she returned to her regular form. "I believe I'll harvest your energy, personally." She said as she walked past me rubbing me with her wing as she did so. "If you think I'm going to let you do..." I turned around to continue my rant only to be hit in the face with a sickly green bolt of magic. "You won't get away with this." I said before collapsing my last thought before blacking out was just how lame that sounded. Apparently she thought so to... "If I'm going to make you my pet, I'll simply have to do something about your choice in one-liners. That one was just... overdone." She said with a chuckle in her voice as she levitated me away. -A burst of flame crosses the screen for the scene transition.- "Ow my head... what did I drink last night?" While not the most original thing to say when you feel like you have the entire percussion section of an orchestra holding a concert in your head, I'd like to see you come up with something better. "Oh look, our guest is awake. I was worried you would miss out on your party." Chrysalis said with a happy tone which strangely didn't sound natural with the creepy grin she was wearing. "What party? I thought you only throw parties for friends, not prisoners?" While a valid question it's not usually one someone wants answered. "Why, your re-birthday party of coarse." She said with what looked like a twisted version of a motherly smile. "Oh how I love adding new children to the swarm." And with that she left me hanging in a large glowing cocoon. "Why am I suddenly wanting to find the fact that Queen Chrysalis placed me in a Chrysalis funny? Probably me trying to make impending doom feel less... doomy." I said with a sigh as I resigned myself to my fate. Well I was about to until my vision was assaulted by Pink. "Doomy isn't a word silly!" The pink blur said as it stepped back from the cocoon to reveal the form of one pink party pony. "You know... normally my first appearance is on a less serious note. But, oh well. Hold still Mr. trapped by the meanies" She said with a sigh towards an unseen being. Seven seconds of random antics and a razor sharp rubber chicken and I was free... to fall on my head. "Ouch... right, thanks for saving me but, what are you doing here anyway?" I said standing up and rubbing the back of my head which had started to bleed. The pink pony winced as I checked the blood on my hand it was a darker red than it should be. 'Huh... I wonder why it's like that?' Before I could ponder much on the subject the pink pony answered my question. "Because someone said Party Duh~! Though I don't think you can hold people prisoner for a party... I tried that once it... didn't end well." When my mind finally connected who I was talking with to what she was talking about I believe my instinctual reaction was appropriate. "*spical mojka de ve tilek kluchuduuna kothar si geou ti xkhat ir di dout jimva achthend tershai naeck!" For the second time I found myself shouting in a language I didn't understand, but from the sad look the pink mare in front of me was showing she understood all too well seeing as she started sniffling and then full out crying. "Why does everypony I meet who's read that stupid story think I'm a monster or something! It was an accident, Rainbow was drunk and tripped in my kitchen and when she woke up she thought I was trying to dissect her!" She screamed at me while her tears streamed from her face like waterfalls. "And even seven years after that she still treats me like a baked good that could expire any second! It's not fair!" After her tears dried up her mood brightened considerably. "But thanks for noticing my colors, you'd think more ponies besides rarity could tell the difference between Rose Pink and Hot Pink wouldn't you?" Sadly her little tantrum didn't leave us much room for a quiet escape as Queen Chrysalis along with several drones entered the chamber. "I thought I heard crying of the pony sort... sadly humans don't have the same knack for expressing themselves as you ponies do." Chrysalis said with a sigh as she fired a similar bolt of magic at my pink rescuer. Who barely dodged out of the way after yelling something about an itchy fetlock. Chrysalis sighed as she turned to magic me again only for her horn to stop glowing and her eyes to widen. The blood leaking out of the wounds I had sustained during my time being unconscious had started flowing freely from their wounds and coalescing into a ball in front of my mouth. "How in the... no time don't think just act." Was the last conscious thought I had before I bit into the ball of blood. (Please play this until told to stop.) Several glowing figures were all I could see, instincts that weren't mine taking over as whatever caused the blood to form like that took control. It's only command it gave to my limbs where to kill them... Kill them all. So I did... -scene transition of a screen filling with glowing green blood- The scent of blood was overpowering, whatever was giving me the strength to do what I was doing... was loving this. The snapping of changeling shells, their cries for mercy, their guttural sounds when they bled out. It was like a symphony to the beast that reigned over my thoughts. A symphony of death, blood, and fire. What drove it home that I wasn't doing any of this is that when I spoke it wasn't with my own voice, but a twisted and higher pitched version. "Oh come on! I can't believe I killed all of you... There were two more before I got started! Damn, I guess they fled. Guess they're lucky... for now." And with a snap of my fingers the hive exploded in flames. A sphere of blood colored flames keeping me safe from the blast. -Scene Transition- Twilight Sparkle's Point of View I couldn't believe what Pinkie told us was true and I honestly wouldn't have if she hadn't dragged along the half-dead form of Chrysalis to prove it. She had dragged her away from Camlio just as he started his rampage. But, there wasn't any denying it now. If there were any changelings left in Chrysalis' hive. They were dead now... destroyed by the monster she had captured to use for food. A beast covered in green blood and dying crimson flames. A shard of a changeling's shell turned into a large sword strapped to it's back. Whatever this thing was wasn't human anymore... And it was coming right towards us. (Please end song here. Thank you.) *Back away from me rose colored demon I will not become one of your sick food objects today. Translated from dragon tongue. > The cost of rage > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before - it takes something from him. ~ Louis L'Amour -Episode Four, The cost of rage- I do not own the rights to My Little Pony Friendship is Magic or anything else I may reference. Stars above, bless Lauren Faust and whoever else does. Because they deserve a medal. Twilight Sparkle's Point of View "Pinkie, Princess..." The looks on their faces conveyed that they could tell what I was planning. Pinkie moved up and hugged me as tight as she could refusing to let go as if doing so would sentence me to death. "I want you to make sure Chrysalis is taken somewhere safe. And Pinkie tell Spike I'm sorry okay?" Pinkie started crying loudly at my words, while Princess Luna simply nodded sadly and collected the unconscious changeling. "B-but you can tell him yourself Twilight! You don't have to do this! You could get hurt and then Spike won't have a mommy anymore..." Anything she said after that was too constricted by her sobbing to be understood clearly. I knew she was right, but I knew that I wanted to keep them safe. So I removed myself from Pinkie's hug and turned towards the approaching figure, a beast that I almost considered my friend. As he reached me I spared a glance backwards to see that the girls had done as I asked at least I could relax in knowing that they were safe. The figure stopped within striking distance of the chitinous sword that was strapped to it's back it's eyes gleaming with what looked like blood. If I hadn't seen it slaughter thousands I would have believed it was crying. As I readied myself for it's attack the unexpected happened. It only took two words to completely change my stance. "I-I'm sorry..." Camlio's Point of View "I-I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... Oh god, I'm sorry... oh god... oh god, what have I done? WHAT HAVE I DONE?!" I stared at my bloodstained hands before collapsing to my knees and crying. So what if they imprisoned me? At the very worst I would end up emotionless, but I would be alive. A shell perhaps but I would live. I had extinguished the sparks of thousands of lives without thinking twice. It made me sick a point my body made clear as I heaved what little I had eaten onto the ground in front of me. As soon as the realization of what I had done struck me, I had grabbed one of the fallen changeling's weapons and removed myself from the destruction I had caused. What was once a grand mountain just north of Canterlot reduced to a smoldering crater in seconds. I could see them clearly now, the terrified faces of those I had slain. The pleading they gave, the crying of their young. "I'm so... so... sorry... No matter what I do I'm tainted by this. There isn't anything that can cleanse these bloodstained hands." As the tears in my eyes changed from the strange blood-like ones to actual tears I was unable to stem their flow. "I'm a monster... I shouldn't exist." Was all I could say as I swiftly pulled the sword from my back and prepared to impale myself. My grief so overwhelming that it truly seemed like a reasonable trade. With my death they would find peace. My intentions clear and my self peace made, I was about to strike myself down when the sword was ripped from my hands and I was suddenly taken down by a Lavender blur. Which was revealed to be an extremely furious Twilight Sparkle with tears in her eyes. (Play this until end of text.) "No! You don't get to end your life! Not after what you've done! That would be too easy, you have to live with it! You owe them that, you owe them a life so your going to live yours!" The sadness and anger in her voice mingled nicely a subtle mixture of fury and sorrow all turned into the drive to see her words to their point. I owed it to them to live on, to find a way that would allow me to atone for my sins. The Lavender unicorn released me and allowed me to stand after making sure my arms were bound to my sides with magic. "I'm afraid your going to have to come back to Canterlot and face the consequences of your actions. You took someponies life... even if you weren't in control you still have to pay for it." She said as she led me back to Canterlot and my fate. 'If only I could have kept myself in control this wouldn't have happened. I'll need to make sure it never happens again.' With that final thought my vision was taken by a flash of light as Twilight teleported us to Canterlot. > The Fate of the Sinner > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay after a while on my butt doing nothing I've finally gotten the drive to add some new chapters. There will also be a minor format change. I will no longer jump to different perspectives. If you want the other sides then let me know and I'll write some sub-chapters. Until then this with stay with Camlio's Perspective. "The man without sin may walk through the valley of death without fear. But, what if these sins were forced upon the man?" -Episode Five, The Fate of the Sinner- I do not own the rights to My Little Pony Friendship is Magic or anything else I may reference. Which is cool because of the fact with how easily I get distracted it would be 2014 before season 3 came out. "Urghhh... why do my eyes burn? Damn, it feels like I've been out for three days." I said as I tried to stand. Only to realize my legs were chained to a glowing shackle in the floor but, that wasn't what worried me. "What the hell happened to my legs?!" (I admit I freaked out a bit... but, what would you do if your legs suddenly sported a coat of dull brown fur?) "I see that you are awake. I'm sorry about this..." A voice said as the door to the cell opened. Revealing the face of my harbinger of death. The Princess who started this whole mess. Luna. "I see you've noticed the changes. I'm afraid for the sake of everypony my sister forced you to ingest an experimental serum. I was originally developed to help creatures like the young drake Spike. Who are more of a pony then their own race adapt into our society by making them Equine." Her face showed that she really didn't want to say this next part. "Sadly, your body isn't adjusting to it... and I'm afraid that... unless you find some way to adjust your body... you'll die." She said sadly it was obvious why. She felt guilty, knowing she brought me here. "So that's it huh? My grand adventure? I'm here less than a week and I'm dead? That sucks..." I said bitterly. "It's not like I can be some kinda time lord and regenerate." The look on Luna's face was as if she was suppressing the biggest squeal of her life. "No... Your kidding? I can do that?" She nodded and placed her horn to my head. "Sadly for this to work I'll need to send you somewhere... back in time. You won't be you anymore. You'll remember... but, you'll never be human again. Forced to live eternally never dieing. A spirit of magic." She said softly. "Do you still wish me to proceed?" I simply nodded. "Hell, what do I have to lose?" With those words my fate was sealed. "Your path begins here sinner. May your quest for redemption go smoothly." A voice called out as darkness fell around me my world fading into a kaleidoscope of colors then I felt myself hit the ground with a thud. In a Cell... Again... Joy. Cold, wet, and dark. That's the best way to describe what I felt as I came too. A dungeon once again but, not the same place. "Something's off..." I said with a sigh as I managed to stand and take in my surroundings, this dungeon seemed more heavily used that the one before. The stones were more organic and functional than the other dungeon's marble walls. "If I'd have to guess... Ye' Olde Siblings palace." I said with a British that I'd actually been suppressing until now. "Thine guess is correct strange beast!" The royal caps lock blast belonged to a different Alicorn than I was used to. A stallion from what I could tell. "Tell me creature! Whom doth thou serve? Be it Discord?! Speak when addressed beast! Ye stand before King Cosmos ward of space and time!" I dropped to a knee. "Your majesty, I know not why I am here. Nor why I am imprisoned. Please tell me what year is this?" Thank you Odin Sphere and Drama club... "Tis the year 257 of the rule of Discord! How doth thou not know this? He looked at me confused. But, as I got a look at him I noticed he was heavily injured. His horn and wings were missing. Kinda easy to notice that we were both on the same side of the cell doors alongside a female alicorn who looked heavily pregnant. Wow... this is a long ways back. "I see... I'm a long way from my home then. Forgive me your majesty but, I believe I've had my fill of dungeons for today... ARGH! What the bloody hell?!" My body started to convulse and spasm. My heart felt like it was tearing itself out of my chest and then with a sharp pain and a cracking sound. Everything went black. 22 hours later. I awoke to the sounds of a crying foal. Apparently the mare had gone into labor during my time of incapacitation. The filly in her hooves was a noble white. With a soft pink mane and tail. I had just met Celestia's parents. But, apparently I was the hot subject as I started to stir. "What? Something the matter?" They both nod and point at me. "How didst thou perform such a miraculous change? Thine entire body is different." The mare said obviously to tired to used the royal caps lock. I hopped to my feet and decided to do as I saw the Good doctor do on TV. Take inventory in a comical fashion. "Right, two legs. That's good. Oh hooves." I said while making a show of picking up my legs and staring at the bottoms of my feet. "Hooves on the feet. More equine than last time I believe." I said with a smile before looking at my rump and the tail behind it. "Oh I'm loving the orange fur, very nice. Is that? Yes! My tail and mane are made of Fire! Fancy that?!" I said while waving my hands through the dancing cyan flames that strangely enough didn't burn me. Perhaps I still maintained my earlier immunity to heat? "Oh still have hands lovely. I'm absolute rubbish without fingers." I waved the fingers about to make sure there were all there. Satisfied that they were I continued my inspection. "Equine snout with herbivore teeth. No meat then? Hmm... Suppose I'll have to get used to that. But, anyways." I clapped my hands together with a smile. "What were we talking about?" To be continued... Betcha didn't see this coming did you? Well whatever. I'm tired... I'll see you all next chapter... > The Exodus/Fall of the Royal Parents > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -Episode 6, The Exodus/Fall of the Royal Parents- I don't own the rights to anyone or anything in this story save the plot and my characters. Though I must admit I'm slightly jelly of those who do. "Thou are a most unique creature. Obviously similar to a pony yet you are not." King Cosmos said with a sigh. "I guess I'm not a pony then." I said as if it was obvious. "Though I'll need to figure out what to call this new form of mine... oh well time for that later." I said cheerfully. "Hey! You in there! Shut up!" A guard walked up to the cell doors and banged a spear against them This creature looked like a centaur/spider cross. Drider I believe their called. "Don't make me drag you out and beat you." The voice identified it as a female. I chuckled a bit. "Really? I thought I was supposed to be scared... Sorry not working." I said with a chuckle as the alicorn family looked at me like I'd just signed my own death warrant. "What? It's just a big spider... thing with a stick?" I said looking at them while motioning to the now enraged Drider. "Oh that's it punk, we're going to see the boss. He'll deal with you." The Drider said as she pulled me out of the cage. "Oh I hope your not planning on living long, I heard Digestion is horrible for the body." She chuckled darkly as she drug me through the halls and tossed me down at the feet of the Master of the castle and lord of Chaos... Discord. Castle Throne Room "Well... that's new... he's a pony but, not." The Chaos beast said with a smirk. "Greetings creature." "Yo!" I said with a grin. Something in my head told me to be as strange as possible. As if nothing anyone around me could do would end me. At least not permanently. The thrown room was deftly silent for several seconds before Discord just started laughing hysterically. "Oh goodness me, that's fun. I haven't laughed like that in... ten minutes when I was listening to mare beg for her life... before I ate her. Don't worry I'll be sure to introduce you both." He said darkly as he picked me up without a second thought and swallowed me. "I hope that little voice in my head was right..." Was the only thought going through my mind before I landed in the stomach of the beast. Discords Stomach The sounds of a crying mare stopped as I landed only to pick up again. "Oh no... he ate somepony else..." She said between sobs. "Please be able to understand me... at least so I won't die alone." She said sadly as she moved closer to me pulling me into a gentle hug. "Yeah... I hear you. Mind telling me your name?" I asked calmly maybe to calmly looking in the fluids on the floor I saw my eyes had darkened. My body had been pulling energy from the air around me and the strange energy within Discord had caused this apparently. "Stardust Shine, I'm the Librarian at a small town to the east of here. Well, I guess I was... I was brought here to watch the books for Discord's library and... pleasure him." She started crying softly again hugging me tighter. Ponies who were taken by discord were obviously eaten eventually after being used by the sick creature. The walls of the stomach started to quake indicating Discord was moving. "You mean they had a foal? Sounds good... I haven't had a foal in years... I guess it should be considered a delicacy." He said his voice echoing around us. "No... he's going to eat Celestia!" My eyes widened at this before my mind started speaking in a voice that wasn't mine. "No... he won't WE won't let him. Now let ME take control so we can stop him and save the pretty mare in here with us!" I simply nodded as my body changed. The colors of my coat, mane, and tail became darker. My coat an oaken brown and the strange flames for my mane and tail a sickly green. When I spoke the voice wasn't mine this time. "Miss Stardust... Hold on tightly. We'll get you out of here, and protect others from this bastard as well." The not me commanded. Which caused Stardust to cling to me tightly out of fear. "Hmm? My stomach feels strange? Did they digest already?" Discord thought before doubling over in pain. "GRAHHH! What's going on?!" He shouted before his stomach literally exploded outwards a massive fireball plowing through it. Causing the beast to cry out in pain once more as myself and Stardust escaped within said Fireball. Three years have passed since the escape It had been three years... Discord's wounds were extremely severe and all his guards were called to search for the fireball's summoner. Little did they know that I'd escaped alongside all of Discords hostages in the resulting confusion taking refuge in an old castle. I had learned that this wasn't even Equestria... it was another world entirely. But, never the less the tide of the battle had started to shift all of ponykind had united against Discord and a war had begun. Luna was born only six months before the current day. An ancient spell casted upon the siblings to age them to a more self sufficient age left Celestia and Luna at 12 and 7 respectively. The following was the day the war ended... with Ponykind losing. Everfree Castle's Throne Room "Camlio, I see that thou hast arrived at our summons." Queen Gaia said with a sad smile watching me enter and take knee. The young siblings resting beside her. "I am at your call my lady." I replied with a smile after the escape I was given rank and a new name. "Firebrand, captain of the guard at your service." My bipedal nature required some special work but, the troops managed to come up with some light armor for me to wear that wouldn't hamper my wings. Which I'm still smiling about inside by the way. She nods. "Good, for I have a task for you... I require you to take my daughters... and flee. Hide them away." Her expression turned grave. "You see, Discords forces draw near, we will surely lose this battle and I will likely fall. I have been informed that my husband has been taken captive by Discord and he plans to execute our family to remove the morale of Ponykind. This cannot happen... I have... placed a spell on my daughters that will place all of Ponykind save for me and Cosmos in an alternate space that Discord cannot reach. Within this space you will all live and thrive yet, only you three will even remember us. "Promise me that you'll defend them. My highest Mage Stardust Shine will accompany you to the land ruled by the Goddess Faust." She said as Stardust appeared from behind her and helped me with the sisters by summoning a large cart for the four of us to sit inside. I nodded solemnly. She had resigned herself to her fate and I had watched it happen, the reason why Celestia and Luna never spoke of their parents... they had never even seen them properly. "It has been an honor to serve you your highness." I said with a sad smile as the spell washed over us. Each and Every pony falling asleep before fading from existence. To appear on the world of Equis on the continent that would become Equestria. "Goodbye my children, my ponies, my friend. May the kind Goddess 'Lady Faust' protect you and your Genasi Guardian." Gaia said sadly as Discord entered the throne room. Taking her head in a single swing of his tail before screaming in rage knowing that she had taken his victory from him in death.