They say that the love of a mother can lift heaven an earth, but in the case of Princess Celestia, it can tear off the barrriers of time and space.
After the events that transpire in Canterlot and Ponyville, peace has being restore and life has return to the normality that its used to be. But to prince Kabuto (now re name Caeruleo) the nightmare is far from over. Consume by guilt and remorse, Caeruleo must find a way to atone for his self proclaim sins if he ever wish to rest peacefully again.
Luckily for him the rulers of the lands as well as the main six will have his back whenever he liked it or not
As the elements try to release Kabuto yet again from his imprisonment, Princess Celestia looks at him with concern while holding her chest with her hand on a fist. A flash of light happen yet besides a weak glow on his body the statue remain intact.
The princess tight her grip and then look to the side in sadness
"I'm sorry princess," Twilight tells getting up with her friends all of them matching Celestia expression. "I don't know why but for some reason we can't break him free"
"Right! Why is this keep happening?!" Dash said in anger "Discord never was this hard to break free"
"Have to agree with Rainbow Dash here sugar cube, we had never had any problem with our elements before, I really don't understand why this one is different" Applejack answer.
"It's just like what happens to the other changelings, for some reason our powers don't work on them" Fluttershy add.
"Come on Kabuto! Wake up" Pinkie tells shaking the rock until Rarity pull her away
"Pinkie darling, although I appreciate the intention, I don't think that shaking him will help us, getting him out"
"She is right Twilight, what we need to do is figure it out why is that, that our necklace isn't working anymore," AJ tells looking at Twilight who sigh and nod "It's not that they are not working AJ, is that something is preventing them from work properly"
"What could possibly be able to do that?" AJ asks with a raised eyebrow
"I don't know that is why I send Starlight and Spike to search for clues while we were here. With any luck, they would have better luck than…"
Right on cue Starlight and Spike rush inside the throne room "Twilight, I think I found what the problem is"
"You did?" Twilight asked as both of them approach the group. Celestia paying close attention to what she wanted to say. "It's the elements, the elements are keeping the changeling and Kabuto petrified"
"Wait you are telling us that WE are the ones that are keeping them like that?" Dash asks incredulously
"I'm not the one that wants to keep him like that, I swear" Pinkie mention in panic
"Me neither" Fluttershy adds
"None of us want that darling I believed Starlight is talking about something else"
"Yeah exactly, when I say the elements I don't mean yours, well…maybe kind of like yours but not specifically you" She lights her horn and show a hologram showing all of Canterlot cover in what looks like a rainbow cloud. "I don't know why or how, but for some reason when I was scanning the area around the changelings I discover that remaining magic lingering in the air, this is just what is left of a spell that was used but somehow it's still strong enough to cast its power at full force"
"But…that is impossible only us could do something like that…and even if we did we couldn't do something that big"
"That is what is confusing me, its the power of the elements of harmony but not yours is way weaker than the power of your necklace, yet it had enough energy to make this"
"I see and tell me Starlight do you know what kind of spell is that cloud casting" Celestia ask with interest
She nods and end the spell "Its a petrification spell and for the looks of things, it works like the throne of Chrysalis but in reverse, instead of preventing anything but changeling magic to work, this one is affecting only changelings" She then cast an illusion of the statue and zoom in the arm who turns normal before returning to stone "The elements are working, its only that the spell is turning him right back to stone faster than you can use it. That is why it looks like it has no effect" She tells ending the spell "That also explains why the other changelings can't turn back from stone, we need to move them far away from the cloud if we want to free them…and its very possible that if Torak or any other changeling come here now, they will be turned into stone until the cloud dissipated"
"That is great Starlight now we know what cause, and what we can do about it, but I still don't get one thing, who could possibly cast that spell in the first place" Twilight ask in wonder
"You are looking at him," Celestia says looking down and putting her hand on Kabuto shoulder "Before being kidnap I saw how Kabuto was able to use the elements of harmony without the help of the necklace, in fact, his stingers resemble the tree of harmony" she confesses making everyone in the room gasp.
"But that is impossible!" Twilight exclaim
"When it comes to the elements few things are impossible Twilight," Celestia tell finally looking at her before turning to Starlight "He was the one that cast the spell using that same magic, that is why the power is weaker than the actual elements"
"That…that could explain, you told me that he stole some of your elements back in ponyville right?"
AJ and Dash grumble, while Rarity and Fluttershy just blush looking away in embarrassment as Pinkie just nod rapidly. "That is where he manages to obtain them"
The room is filled with some awkward silence until Spike breaks it "So…does that mean you can remove the cloud"
Twilight shakes her head "I'm afraid it doesn't work like that Spike, this is not a spell being cast, its what was left of a spell already cast, worse an element of harmony spell being cast, there are some methods of cleaning it but I don't know if it will work on them and it takes time"
"Ah, …how much time exactly?" Rarity ask out of curiosity
"Normal cases? like an hour, or two, a spell this strong and this big? I would say fifty to sixty" Starlight answer
"Hours?"
Starlight remains silent for a while "…years"
"YEARS?" The main six all yell in shock
"Like I say its really strong and its range it's extremely big, the image I show you weren't how big it was, it was how far I could track it…and I didn't even manage to reach the epicenter!"
They all look at her in shock "This blast could have easily cover Canterlot, Ponyville, and maybe the cities surrounded it…this place has turned into a cursed zone for all changeling race for a very long time"
"And because Kabuto is half changeling" Twilight turn back to see him "If we want to save him we will have to take him to the badlands and…"
"No!" Celestia said in tears while hugging Kabuto openly crying "I already banish a family member once I will NOT banish another loved one! not him, not my son…I will not let him go again"
The rest of the room remains quiet, not completely sure on what to do until Twilight decided to approach Celestia and pat her back "I'm sorry princess, but its the only way…we can't live for sixty years, if we don't send him to the badlands you will have to keep him like that until the elements choose new ponies to wear them, and that could take another thousand years, would that really be fair for you? or your son?"
"But I will never see him again" Celestia say wiping as the rest just look down in sadness
"I'm so sorry princess but its the only way, since he is a changeling he can't stay here"
Pinkie remain quiet until something click on her "What if he wasn't a changeling anymore?"
Everyone turns to look at her confused as she slowly smiles "Well he is a hybrid right? Thorax say that he used to be human until Chrysalis did something to him that transforms him into a changeling right? Well…what if we do something similar and make him complete human again" She then turns to Twilight "Like when you turn us into Breezies"
"Pinkie that is different, he is not only human he is also from another world I don't know what the spell can do to him I can't just change his race"
"But I can" Celestia say in realisation gaining the attention to everyone present "Well…not me alone of course, but if Luna and Cadence help me out, the three of us can change his attribute, like you said we can't alter his human part, but we CAN change his changeling part and turn it into something else!" She says with a smile before rushing to Pinkie and hugs her
"Pinkie you are a genius!"
Pinkie only giggle accepting the hug, "Glad that I could help"
"That could work, if he no longer is a changeling then the spell will not affect him, we can change him back with no problem!" Starlight says with a smile
"I'm not so sure, will this be safe?" Twilight asked with some worry.
"Do not worry Twilight, do you forgot who teach you that spell?" Celestia mentions releasing Pinkie "Besides I will have the aid of my sister and Cadence too, I can assure you, we know what we are doing"
Twilight still look a bit unsure but ultimately nod and look at the princess "Ok princess Celestia, if you say that is safe I will believe you" She then turns to the statue, "We can't just turn our backs on him now either, not when there is a way to help him"
"Je and I still need to give him a piece of my mind" Dash says getting serious
"Rainbow Dash! How could you say that?! Don't you remember? He was being used from the start the poor dear need support not being scolded" Fluttershy tells her
"Je I was just kidding," She says with a little chuckle
"Then its decided" Twilight says "If everyone is ok with it, we can move all the changelings and Kabuto to the Chrystal empire change them back there, and once the prisoners are secured and deliver to Thorax, all nine of us could work on turning Kabuto back" Everyone nod and Spike start to write "I will start making the letters to Princess Luna and Cadence right away"
"And we would help to prepare the trip," AJ says as she and the others elements exit the room leaving Celestia alone with Kabuto. She smiles and nuzzles her cheek with his own "Soon Jeremy, we will be a family again" She whispered closing her eyes as a lonely tear run throw her check
"…one!" Freya manage to say before collapsing into the floor along side the other changelings soldiers all around her.
"Princess Freya" Lifting her head, she was meet by a spear pointing right at her by a insect equine creature she couldn't recognised, the armour he was wearing was oddly similar to hers but there subtle differences it looked brand new "By order of prince Thorax you are officially under arrest"
"What?" As she look at the soldier un confused but her and the changelings were put handcuff on them and force to stand up by more of the same creatures surrounding them. "What is going on? What are you doing? Do you even know who I'm?" She complain while trashing.
"Or we know who you are Freya" The soldier tells taking a step closer "Its over Freya, you lost the war, please don't make this even harder"
She just continue glaring at him before noticing the main six looking at her direction all wearing their necklace, and ready to used them once more. Freya just clench her fist one more time before sighing and stop her trashing. "How long was I out?"
"We will explain all your question back to the hive, for now just follow the group" She nod and with the other changelings they all march into a giant zeppelin surrounded by pegasus guards keeping an eye to all the prisoners.
"What is going to happen to them?" Starlight ask as she and Thorax who now was wearing an emperor tunic, with a red cape on top of his regular soldier uniform, look at the prisoners boarding the zeppelin throw a window.
"Well first off we will explain how the hunting for love is over and why did Chrysalis keep us thinking her way was the only way, after that we will encourage them to try show their own love and if they comply and change too we will welcome them into our colony"
"And if they refused?"
Thorax sigh and look down "We will not hold anyone against their will so if after hearing everything they still want to follow in Chrysalis step they can leave and look for her" He then look at Starlight "And will be treated as criminals for any other act against ponies or changelings alike"
She sigh too and look at the window as well "Sounds relatively fair, they didn't new any better so the least we can do is show them the alternative and hope for the best"
Thorax nod and walk away from the window "That is all I can do for them now" He open the door to the throne room where the three princesses are talking while the statue of Kabuto is in the middle of the room "As well as explain everything to him and apologies in behave of my people of what Chrysalis make him do"
Starlight put a hand on his shoulder "You weren't responsible for any of what happen Thorax I'm sure he will not hold anything against you, less if he also decided to turn on Chrysalis in the end"
"Must have being very painful, I was just a another soldier serving Chrysalis but him…she took extra care on making him believed that we were his family and she was his real mother. I can only imagine the sort of pain he endure when discover the truth"
"One can only imagine"
"Speaking of witch, did they tell you what exactly are the elements and the princess going to do?"
"According to what they told me, the elements and the princesses will perform two spells at the same time in order to remove the changeling part off his body, it will be like a 3rd reincarnation, for him. That way he can return to Canterlot where he will be educate and then integrate into our society"
"Sounds fair, consider what Celestia told me…do you really believed he is her son?"
"I decided not to ask, she was determine to have him by her side and I decided to believed that, that was prove enough"
Thorax nod and smell the air "Her love do look really sincere too…I will have to ask her about it later, also did they told you into what will he be hybridise?"
She shake her head "They didn't told me, Twilight say that since it will be a team effort all three princess will have to agree on the subject when they cast the spell so its up to them"
Soon after that the elements arrive and head to the princess "We are ready princess" Twilight tells speaking for the rest who just nod.
"Excellent Twilight, in that case get into position, we will be with you very soon"
The elements comply and surround Kabuto.
Luna turn to see Cadence "Thanks for your help fair Cadence I know that you never meet him but the fact that you are helping means a lot to us"
"Are you kidding? rescue AND have the chance to meet a new cousin? Of course I would help"
Luna can't help but to smile as they go behind the elements and make a triangular formation.
"Remember, keep your energy active but do not cast it until Luna, Cadence and I finish our on chanting, we will cast the spells at the same time"
"You got it princess" Dash say as they all lift their hands and start to activate their necklace at the same time the princesses activate their horns and lift themselves into the air. Soon their magic surround their body and connects them in a ray of magic forming a triangle with the harmony magic circle inside of it. Their eyes shut open showing a bright white light as they start their chant, taking turns as they speak.
"To embrace the day…" Celestia starts
"…To trust the night…" Luna continues
…To love and lived Cadence goes after her and then all three talk at the same time.
Our blessing we grant…as our magic reach you…and a new page start…let it be said…that our love you shall have…A new life start…And your spark we will ignite…That as the rulers of Equestria…We command
At the end of the chant all nine mare shout their magic at the statue as it start to shake and break until a flash of light blind everyone for a second, and soon after they hear Kabuto gasp and then fall into the ground. With shaky arms and foggy vision he looks up to see blurry colors all around him, while trying to understand what he was hearing.
"It work!"
"Be careful girls he is still weak"
"Kabuto" Soon he find a hand holding his cheek "You are home"
With all his force, he manage to utter one word before passing out "Why?"
"Is he ok?" Fluttershy ask with concern getting closer to him
"He is ok Fluttershy, only drain from waking up, we need to give him proper treatment right away, he has a new body but, the injuries are still there" Luna mentions inspecting his cuts while Celestia take him in her arms, with a smile on her face.
"Welcome back my son" she whisper as they all exit the room. Thorax soon follow but stop when something among the rubble where Kabuto was catch his attention. Digging throw it he gasp as he take out a stinger made of diamond with a rainbow light still lingering inside.
"Hey guys! wait up, you need to see this" Thorax yells while giving chase to the group.
Once the doctor concluded his examination he turn to the three princesses who were waiting for him with some anxiety "Well…how is it doctor? Is he going to be ok?" Celestia finally ask after some awkward silence.
"There is nothing to be worry about princess, his wounds are healing at a moderate fast pace and any risk for infection has being neutralised, he will probably feel some discomfort and perhaps, minor itchiness from his ghost limps for a while but other than that, the human…ah, prince?" The doctor ask with a raise eyebrow as Celestia nod
"Yeah the…prince, will make a full recovery, I would even say, that with the exception of a minor scar in the shape of the sun on his back, he will not have any scars"
"Those are great news" Luna say letting go a breath she didn't knew she was holding. The doctor write something down on his chart as the three go sit next to the bed where Kabuto is currently in, with some bandage attach on his stomach, forehead and arms.
"Oh almost forget, his hybridisation will be complete very soon, the wings are starting to show and by the time he wakes up they will be reach their full potential"
That catch Celestia and Cadence attention "Wings?" They ask turning to the doctor confused while Luna look at her sister and niece confused.
"Yeah, good thing too, because I would think that the process might be particularly painful for someone who normally doesn't have ones, maybe like growing teeth all over again, and don't make light about that princesses, studies show that the pain of that could make a healthy grown stallion pass out. Good thing that he is already unconscious right?" The doctor chuckle as the princess lightly turn Kabuto to see that he in fact was growing wings on his back, blue with white feathers to be precisely.
"Well I will be delivering this forms to the receptionist, don't be afraid to call me if anything else happen" The doctor say goodbye and leave as the princess just look at one another in confusion until Celestia breaks the silence.
"Ok what happen? Didn't we agree that we will only infused unicorn magic in his body so no to alter the anatomy too much?"
"Unicorn? I though you meant earth ponies system, you know? Because they have the best immunity system of the three races?" Cadence counters.
"What are you two saying?, I recall agreeing on the pegasus attributes so we could have the excuse of teaching him how to fly like a mother teach her colt"
"Luna we talk about this, family or not, Kabuto is not a baby that we can take and shape into our own image" Celestia say putting her hand on her forehead.
"Right…because all those books about magic, school equipment, and magic lessons you had summon to your room, were just so he could draw sketches" Luna say with a smirk, gaining Celestia attention "W…well his education is also important"
"Of course it is" Luna say sarcastically keeping her expression, earning a glare from Celestia, who is about to answer but Cadence interrupt her.
"So if I'm understanding this correctly by mistake we put the three pony attributes on my cousin?" Luna and Celestia eye wide in realisation as they see the sleeping form of Kabuto as his wings slowly start to show from under him
"Looks that way" That is all what Luna could say with a nervous smile.
"None of this leave this room, if the others ask we planed the alicorn hybrid from the start, agree?" Celestia say pointing at both princesses who nods and say "Agree" at the same time.
In that moment they heard a knock from the door the doctor left and the voice of Twilight from the other side "Princesses? Can we come in?"
"You may come, just please be very quiet, Kabuto needs his rest" Luna answer and soon everyone enters the room and look at him
"Hey are those wings? Oh right, he will be a pegasus hybrid" Dash say fist pumping the air "That mean that I can teach him how to fly like I did with Twilight"
"We thank you for the offer Rainbow Dash, but I already agree to take upon myself that task" Luna mentions
"Plus he is not only a pegasus" Celestia say earning the attention to everyone in the room. The princesses look at one another and then nod "After some deliberation we decided to turn him into a alicorn hybrid so not to alienated him from the family and help him fit in better"
That surprise everyone minos Applejack who just look at them with a raise eyebrow. "So all of you decided to turn him into an alicorn? how did you do that? wasn't a bit risky? I mean the poor colt was just a changeling before, how did you cramble three types of pony races into one body?"
"Details are not important Applejack what it important is that he is with us and soon he will be a part of our family" Celestia tells her with a fake smile, similar than Luna and Cadence. AJ clearly doesn't bought it but ultimately nod regardless.
After that the room is fill with some voices as the main six, Starlight and Thorax all leave get well soon gift near Kabuto bed and then start to talk among themselves regarding what would they do once he wake up, what plans do they intent to do with him or even joke about possible adventures to had with him, Luna and Dash even had a heated argument about how his flying lessons will be imparted.
While all of that happen Thorax approach Celestia with some concern "Ah princess do you have a moment?"
"Of course prince Thorax, what can I do for you?"
"Well…before I left the throne room something among the remaining rubble catch my eye and when I inspect it I found this" He show her the stinger making her gasp and look at the light emaneting from it
"Is that the only one you found?" Thorax nod and pass the stinger to her "There was only that, some small rocks and dust, nothing else. I don't know how the elements work so I though that you might know something, is it dangerous?"
"I don't know, the elements have taken many forms in the past, but this is the first time I see them turn into a weapon. When I saw Kabuto used this, anything they touch turn into stone in seconds"
She then look at Thorax "For now I think it will be best if I keep it, something like this could potentially be very dangerous in the wrong hands"
"Agree, maybe its better that way, I don't know what that could do and honestly I'm afraid that it might try to control me if I try to used it"
"I don't think this could do something like that, but it could have other dangers, thanks for telling me this Thorax"
"Don't mention, after all that has happen the last thing I want is to give ponies another reason to be wary of us"
He then look at the sleeping form of Kabuto "Also if I may ask, how exactly do you know that he is your son? He is from another world and not even inmortal so I can't help but think that things don't match up"
"Its a complicated matter to discuss actually but to resume, you could say that his world and our move at a different times lines, my death in his world was six years ago but one year there equals one thousand yeas in here. That is how time match up, as for now…I suppose my mind block it but when I saw his face for the first time…all those memories, all my past, all what I used to be just came crashing down on me, like a damp breaking, that is why I knew he was my son…and I'm sure he felt the same way, call it, a mother instinct"
Thorax nod in understanding, before he start to think of something "Wait…one year here, equals one thousand here? Doesn't that mean that you have…"
"…thank you Thorax!" Celestia look at him with a smile and a glare "My age is not a subject that needs to be discuss"
"Oh sorry" Thorax apologies with some embarrassment before looking at Kabuto once more "So what happens next? A lot of ponies will fear him because of his race, adapting and being accepted will not come easy"
Celestia sigh in understanding "I know, it will be a big obstacle to overcome" She then smile and look around the room "But I know he at least will not be alone, and if not Canterlot perhaps the citizen of Ponyville will be wiling to give him a chance, and once word spread he will be accepted as prince as well, we will only need to be patience and take everything one step at the time"
She top noticing Rarity holding Kabuto hand and Cadence smirking at her from the distance "And I think I might even have some ideas to speed the process if needed" The princess tells not noticing how the stinger start to flickering pink before turning back to normal
"Faster Kabuto! Faster!" My sister command as I keep dodging arrows from below me, while trying to reach the end of a dirt track.
"The ponies will not be this merciful with you, out there its a war zone, if you ever wish to survive, you need to be ready for any attacks in any direction"
Suddenly row after row of crossbows appear from the walls and the roof all pointing at me and blocking the way to my objective "From the left, from the right, on top of you, below you…" As she keep listing the direction I concentrate on dodging the attacks on said directions until one single arrow reach my back and make me fall down inches from the goal. I try to reach it with my hand but the end of a baton hit it into the ground and start to put pressure on it "…and behind you" Freya mention appearing from behind me holding the baton that was crushing my hand and bow and arrow secure on her back, after some more pressure she determine that, that I had my fill of pain and remove the baton.
"That is enough training for today" She walk besides me and remove the arrow in one swing without any sort of care or delicacy, causing me to scream in pain "Oh quit being such a baby, the hive pool will heal you right away"
Freya say not bothering to look back as I saw her walk to a bench. Fighting the pain, I manage to stand up and start to walk toward her "Would it kill you to go easy on me next time? I swear Freya, sometimes I think you are trying to kill me"
"Je better me than them" Freya say with a shrug before tossing a bottle of water that I catch before sitting next to her and take a deep gulp out of it. "If I'm pushing this hard now its because I'm really worry about you Kabuto" She say after taking a drink of her on bottle, and then look back at me, her expression softening "No matter how tough or brutal I'm being with you now, it will be nothing compare to what is waiting for you out there brother, the outside world its a horrible place that pray on the weak and only the stronger survive, if you can't take my training here, there will be no chance for you to survive one night out there, and it will be a cold day in Tartarus before I let anyone or anything kill my baby bro"
Her comments make me smile, as I stare the bottle in my hands "Thank you, Freya"
"And that is why I can't go easy on you!" Freya say patting my back right in my wound giving me a bolt of energy as I glare at her "Oh grow up would you? Go get into the pool if you can't take that bee sting"
Rolling my eyes I decided to what she say before, she decided to get more 'funny' ideas with my injuries. "Or better yet…"
Turning around I barely have time to register what was happening as Freya attack me with her sword, her eyes turning white and her voice getting distorted as well as the rest of the place. "…Let me give you a real reason for you to cry"
Waking up with a gasp, I soon discover myself on a comfortable bed that I don't recognised, while taking a moment to calm my nerves I decide to look at my surroundings in an attempt to figure out my current situation. The room was dark with the moonlight passing throw a window as the only source of light. A heart monitor to me right, and a IV to my left were all the clues I needed to know, to figure out that I was currently in a hospital, or an infirmary judging by the other beds that were in the room, how small it was and how the place didn't smell like medicine.
They…are treating me? Why? Why did they brought me back?
With all the force I could muster I start to pass my left and right hand to my body eventually determine my condition and where was my body bandage. Not only did they treat my wounds they also somehow ripoff some parts of my body, for some reason only the changeling section of them.
Je, so that is how they brought me back, they figure out, how my spell work and found a plot hole around. Well played Sparkle, I did really underestimate you
I allow myself a little chuckle as my body went limp, it was begging me to not move and just rest and I was tempted to give into fatigue. Yet when I close my eyes and were about to fall sleep again, the door of my room open and from it I could heard steps approaching.
Before it reaches me, I already knew who was my visitor by just the smell of the expensive perfume invading the place like a stink bomb…Blueblood.
"So…you are the so call prince that replace me and almost destroy Canterlot using my face. Je I shouldn't be surprise, after all, this is what the likes of you do, right human? Destroy and bring misery wherever you go" The prince was practically spitting his words like they were venom before backing away from the bed. "Of all the ponies, of all the creatures in all of Equestria, why its turns out to be a human the one that replace me?!" I could detect the anger in his tone, as he was passing back and forward in front of me. "I know I haven't being the best nephew in the world, I'm stallion enough to admit that even I made mistakes from time to time, but to be replace so easily…an by YOUR kind of all species…?!"
His pacing stop and opening slowly one of my eyes, I was able to see how he was starting to tear up "They didn't even bat an eyelash. The moment I was acting 'strange' everyone just accept you and were ok with that…the snobbish prince that became 'good' in one night…BY a freaking headbud!? The explanation was even ridiculous an they still believed it!" Holding his eyes with both hands he just drop to his knees and start to wipe openly "I don't know what hurt me more, that a human pretended to be me, or that everypony prefer you over me. I might have not showed in the past but I did love my aunts, and you stole them from me!"
"They didn't even question it…I bet that if you were had done the same in front of their eyes, they would have throw a parade in your honour" His anger return, as I close my eyes while I could feel him approaching me once more. "I bet they would do that anyway regardless of how you look, I can see it now. You gaining the favour of my aunts as I got to the sidelines with everyone hoping that I disappear, my name slowly being erase while you gain force, and finally be gone for good while you take the tittle of the true prince of Equestria, doesn't that sound great!? Just toss me out into the garbage as the defectuos prince and give you MY crown, as everpony pretends that I never existed in the first place"
I could feel the hot breath of his snot as he gets near my face "I bet you are laughing at this now, thinking that you got away with it simple because you stab your insect buddies on the back before we capture you."
He stand back and even if I couldn't see him I could still felt his glare on me "Maybe that was enough to fool all of Equestria, but not me, I know what you are up to…human, and the moment you slip out of your little act, I'll make sure that you rot in hell…and if you ever dare hurt my family again, I will personally deal with your execution"
I heard him walk away and open the door to the room, but I stop him before he could fully leave.
"Do it quickly" I look back and saw how he have just froze the moment he heard my voice. "Maybe I'm an ancient monster, but there is no reason for you to act like one…if you grant me that much mercy, your people will respect you more"
He quickly turns around but I have already resume position making me look like I was still sleeping.
The place is fill with a tense silence until I heard the door move and close, leaving me alone once more, as one lonely tear fall from my left eye.
I'm sorry for taking your life I mentally say to Blueblood before my conscious start to fade and soon found myself asleep.
As I slowly regain conscience, my ears slowly detect a low tune being sing by someone near me from the left. It was relaxing and sooting, almost like when Chrysalis used to hold when I wake up in the hive for the first time. I manage to let go of everything and simple enjoy the sensation before remembering everything and what Chrysalis did to me.
In fear I jump out of the bed, resulting in the sheets wrapping around my body, making me loss m balance and almost hit the floor, but that happen my body stop in mid air and soon discover that I was being held in someone magic and lifting me up.
"Oh my…are you ok? please don't be afraid, you are safe now" The unmistakable voice of Celestia told me as I was slowly put in bed again facing directly at her she was wearing her typical white toga with golden regalia and crown, her mane was slightly messy and there were some bags under her eyes, but besides that she was still giving the royal and beauty appearance she was know for as one of the co rulers of the land with her hourglass figure, fur as white as snow, and rainbow flowing mare moving on an perpetual and invisible breeze.
"Pr…Princ…"Before I was able to say a word she already wrap her arms around my own, just like she did on the first day I was pretending to be Blueblood, confusing me to no end, as I look at my arms to ensure that I was not in disguise. "Oh my sweet child, you have no idea how much I miss you"
"Princess Celestia, what are you…?"
Once more I try to speak only to be interrupted again, this time for the door of the room opening and from it see princess Luna and princess Miamore entering. Luna like her sister was also wearing a type of toga with the difference that her was blue instead of white, her regalia was silver instead of gold and the crown was smaller, she also had some bags under her eyes but was looking better than her sister. Miamore on the other hand looked perfectly fine, with her pink toga, golden bracelets and crown as her only jewellery and some minor makeup on her face that accentuated her already beautiful figure that even Chrysalis was jealous of and didn't mind the opportunity of exploiting it while impersonating her. In fact jogging some of my memory I recall Freya and Tempress pretending to be the sisters too when we were preparing for the invasion, mentioning how their bodies and faces where ones that they were particularly eager to take.
An image that now that I could see them up close understand more clearly why they were getting in patient and put a small smile on my face thinking on how angry they and any other changelight must be feeling when they discover that impersonate them would be imposible. My train of though whoever was interrupted the moment princess Luna spoke.
"Tia! Are you ok? We heard screaming and we though…" Luna stop as she spot us.
"Oh he is awake!" Cadence let go a big shrink, similar to one a teenager mare would make, before rushing to me join the hug as well "Oh I have so many questions, do you know me? how does love taste? did you took some love off Rarity? Did it hurt when trans…?"
Starting to panic I push them both away from be and start to wake up "W…what are you doing?! What is going on!" Suddenly I felt something in my back pushing me into the air and making me felt on the floor, and when I look back I did notices two big blue wings with white feathers attach to it.
I stare in shock at them before looking at them again who were all looking at me with a mixture of confusion and concern "What did you do to my body?!"
Once I manage to calm down enough the princesses started to explain all the events that happen after my petrification, how despite my best efforts, Tempress did manage to kidnap them, how Mother Chrysalis basically won and took control of everything, how four unlikely individuals manage to fool her and rescue everyone (witch I still find hard to believed consider the security measure Chitin was more than obsess and like to left behind all over the castle, and that Tempress was there…even if injured) and how the hive has forever changed.
At first I didn't believed them, but once Thorax enter the room I knew how serious they were. Instead of being another copy of soldier changeling his shell was now green, his arms orange and instead of a single horn he had two big horns making him resemble more a moose than a changeling, not only that but the transformation made him and the others grow, when normal changelings had a regular 5. 6 or 5. 8 foot height, he now had at least 6.5 or 6. 7 give or take, and the new changelings now had a regular height of 6. Like it was expected Freya was taken into custody and was now awaiting trial while I was inform that Cicada decided to join the change when it was offer to her. As for the rest, they have being mark fugitive and its presume that they escape, Chrysalis has being the only one confirm since everyone saw her run; Exos and Chitin were still in Ponyville when the bomb exploit so there is a strong possibility that they were trap on the blast, (something that I dough consider how skill is Chitin avoiding that kind of situations) and, after leaving the hive to find a cure for my 'parting gift' Tempress has being nowhere to be found. Whatever the case, all of them are alone, weak or both and it will be very unlikely that any of them would become a real treat on a near future.
Part of me was happy to know that Cicada wasn't ok with the charade, they all pull on me but was conviced that it was the only way for me to cooperate and they told her that it was just temporary… Still the wound is still very fresh and I not ready to face her yet. That is why I didn't ask to see her or Freya and instead ask that those two didn't know about my returning, there was still a lot in my mind and I fear that I would do something violent if I see their faces. Something that the princesses reluctantly agree after some convincing.
And speaking of changes, now that the hype was over, I decided to take the opportunity to see my new body in front of a full body mirror in the room, to admire the new 'form' I was given into. First because I had wings, for now I couldn't wear a shirt so that means that I would be force to walk around shirtless in my slightly buffer and fit chest as well as my skin that had acquired a light tan. Thanks to that, and the bandages, wrap around my forearms and forehead I couldn't help but feel like I was ready to be selected on a street fighter game.
Great, I pass from being Baraka to be Ryu I mentally say before continue to see the new changes.
Because of the bandage I couldn't really see if I still had the shell crown on but I could see that my hair had grown a couple of inches and instead of the spike short style I used to have, I was now wearing a more straight and lighter version of it, I had a small goat beard and my eyes although still green had little more bright than before, very similar to princess Luna eye color. Other than that, and the addition of wings I couldn't find any other changes making me sigh in relief, as the fear of me less and less human was wash away.
"It really suits you" The voice of Celestia broke my line of though, as I turn around to face both her, and the other two princess and the newly crown Thorax. "Your changeling appearance did have its merits but this new form of yours really do justice to your natural beauty" She say with a smile before turning to Thorax "No offence"
"None taken, I think the same, after all, the first change was though so he look scary I think this one makes him show what he really is"
I just stare at them for a second before looking at the mirror again in sadness "Kabuto what is wrong?" Looking up I could see princess Miamore throw the mirror approaching me with concern "Don't you like your new body?"
"Why did you brought me back?"
"What?"
"Why did you brought me back Miamore?" I say before looking at them "That night I had already made peace with my sins, I was willing to give up and just accept my destine as the monster everyone keep saying I'm. If everything was solve and the war is over, then why did you brought me back? What could you possible gain by giving me; an ancient monster, a new body with new powers?"
To my surprise all three were just smiling at me like they were just waiting for me to finish so they could talk, and then they simple shake their head "None of us wish to gain anything from this, we only wanted to give you what you deserve" Luna answers.
"And what is that?"
"A second chance" Celestia say as she approach me
"What?" I ask in complete shock as she put her hand on my check "Even though we meet under less that ideals circumstances, when the moment of truth arrive and a decision needed to be made you choose to do the right thing, and not even being control stop you from making that choose, from that moment on, I knew that you really were deserving of a second chance at life, an opportunity to make amends for everything…" Once again I found myself in yet another hug "…and for us to be a family again"
"F…family?" I ask in shock as the other princess only nod and smile "Don't even try to deny it cousin, we know the story"
"I…I don't understand"
"Kabuto…that story that Chrysalis told you about, the one about her being your mother…it was truth, only that she wasn't the reincarnation" Thorax said taking a step forward
"What…b…but that means"
Celestia let me go and I could see how she had teary eyes on her face "Please Jeremy, just say it one more time"
I didn't knew when it happen but I was starting to tear up as well "Mom?"
Celestia openly wip and hug me once more. Her hug felt nice and comfortable I feel safe, and love, and this one felt real, Chrysalis might have made a really convincing act, it didn't hold a candle to Celestia touch, it was in that moment I knew it, all those feeling, all what I experience in Canterlot, it was real and I now knew why, my real mother was in there all along.
"Oh Jeremy, I really had wish we have meet in some other circumstance, but never the least I'm so happy to have you in my arms once more, and this time I promise, I will not go anywhere"
For the first time I smile and return the hug trying to remember every second of it.
"Oh by the way cousin, its Cadence" The princess butt in "Just call me Cadence, that Miamore stuff, its not exactly my style so if possible don't call me that ok?"
"Je ok Cadence…as for me, just call me Caeruleo. Just…Caeruleo"
That gains the attention of everyone who just look at me in confusion "Ever since I arrive at Equestria everything I have know has being a lie, all except my time in Canterlot, so I want to keep having that name, I mean if Blueblood really don't want it, I will gladly take it"
Celestia and smile and then nod "I think its fits you sweetie, and if that is what you wish then I will not be oppose"
"Not arguments here, I think its really suits my nephew" Luna tells.
"And prince Jeremy, and prince Kabuto didn't exactly sounded all that good anyway" Cadence say with a shrug "I think Caeruleo works better, and like you say Blueblood didn't like it, so I don't think he will mind all that much"
I nod at them and look down "Thank for understanding"
After some time getting to know what it was essentially my new family and apologies with Thorax for what Chrysalis made me do, the princess decided to let the rest of the main six in. Not exactly the mares I wanted to see at the moment but I knew sooner or latter I had to face them and apologies for what I did. Something that her stares weren't helping. After what I though was an eternity I decided to break the ice get this over with.
So with a heavy sigh I just look down in shame "I'm aware than a simple apology will not be enough to atone for my sins, I lie and betray all of your trust, witch such ease that only a true monster could do and I'll understand if none of you ever forgive me that is more than comprehensive but still I want to say that…" I look back at them only to discover the same stares directly at me, but now I could comprehend that they weren't staring out of anger but more of surprise, not only that but they weren't even looking at my face but rather my chest. "Ah…hello?"
"What?" That is the only answer I got from AJ who was the only one of the six that answer back, Pinkie was even starting to droll. Getting a bit annoy I clap my hands together as hard as I can to get their attentions witch I got as they all shake their heads and look back at me.
"Oh…oh! right, right, sorry Kabuto what where you saying?" Twilight ask pretending nothing happen witch make me raise an eyebrow and lean into my cousin, aunt and mother for answers "Does this happen to you too?"
"All the time" All three answer inexpressive and rolling their eyes at the memory
"The curse of beauty cousin, the curse of beauty" Cadence told me while shaking her head.
I stare back at them in confusion for a moment before turning to the main six once more "Anyway, in short what I wanted to say is that I'm really sorry for what I did to all of you and I hope that with time you will be able to forgive me"
They all look at one another and then close their eyes as one by one they gave their answers.
"You really did some dirty tricks back there partner…but you also did it because you were helping your family so I can't really be too mad at you, so if you work on the farm for a while I think my family could forgive you"
"I'm still need to get a rematch for that race…that totally didn't count the cloud was in my way so that victory you got was only the practice round"
"Well…you did seem to be suffering a lot and I kind of…ah…eh kiss you first" Fluttershy manage to utter before hide in her own mane with a strong blush on her face.
"Sweetie Bell told me that you were attack after you reach me so, I'm assume by now you were starting to dough yourself witch would be comprehensive do to my incredible negotiation skills so I can really be mad at you…specially for how nice and sweet you were with me and my sister"
"And I already knew what was going on, so I imagine you only kiss me to protect me from all those changelings right?" Pinkie ask and I can only nod at her respond "Then apology accepted"
"W…what? j…just like that you all willing to give me a second chance?"
I ask incredulous for all her quick response specially Pinkie how although was giving a valid point was forgiving me really fast there. I came back to reality once Twilight put her hand on my shoulder.
"Having a grudge never solves anything Kabuto, true we are still mad"
"Not me" Pinkie quickly answer
"Ok, all except Pinkie are mad but none of us are saints either, we all made mistakes and we learn from them, that is why we are willing to give you a second chance, just like the princesses, so why not you?"
I stare at her before looking down in though "I don't know if I deserve it…but mopping about it and do nothing will not solve anything" I stand up and look at them "So that is why I'm intend to earn it back, no matter how much it takes I gain back your trust and atone for my mistakes"
Twilight smile and nod "And we will be with you all the way Kabuto"
"Yeah like we eventually warm up to Discord, if we manage to deal with him we will be able to deal with you" Dash say with a smile before getting serious "But don't you think there is going to be a third chance buster, you mess this up and its back to the rock for you"
"Rainbow!" Twilight tells her with a glare
"Trust me Rainbow Dash if I ever turn back I will beg for you to send me into tartarus, I refused to repeat that nightmare" I tell her while holding her hand, witch catch her attention as she look at her hand holding mine with a blush. "I will never going to be that villain ever again, this is the start of a new life for me and this time I will intent to build it on my own"
She stay quiet before taking the hand back and look to the side "Whatever"
"Hey you know what this call for girls?" Pinkie ask before she throws some confetti everywhere "A reformation party!"
"Party?"
"That is right, we never actually gave you a welcome party to ponyville…or any party now that you think about it" Rarity start to wonder who soon is follow by the others two ponies that weren't replace by then "How did that happen?" Twilight ask confused
"Yeah…that was also my fault" I say with some embarrassment "Some of my soldiers disperse a light amnetiac spell on the air while they were in disguise near you…basically it make you forget about parties, without your knowing…it was too risky letting you throw me one"
My comment make Pinkie gasp and rush to me "You make me forget about parties?!"
"J…just mine!, All others you did without a problem"
"Oh we need to fix that right away, we need to make you a party of welcoming, forgiveness, congratulation on your new body, welcome to the family party, re encounter party…"
"Pinkie, pinkie calm down" I tell her shaking her a little before she blows a fuse in her mind "What do you think we just join them together in one big party"
I tell her before walking to Celestia and stand to her side "A family reunion party" I tells as I give her a small side hug witch she return with gusto.
All of the present smile and then nod "I think that can work" AJ mentions.
"Yeah…a welcome party for the new prince Kabuto!" Pinkie exclaims
I scratch behind my head in some embarrassment once more "Yeah, about that name…"
At that moment in Canterlot
A mysterious figure continue to circle around the center of the royal garden sniffing the air and apparently following a track. Once he detect it. The creature stops and look up into the sky to admire the moon. One single howl escape its mouth before it runs away from two very exhausted and mangled guards who stop to try catching back their breath
"How can something so small…can be so destructive?!"
"On your feet soldier, if we left that creature wins by the time the princesses arrive we will be the laughing stuck in all of Canterlot"
"Sword Head that thing just dodge the entire barracks, the staff, and the wonder bolt…I think pride stop being an issue when its already more than show how big of a treat it is!"
"Just shut up and keep running" They resume the chase after the creature going back into the castle.
As the night pass by, the castle found itself in complete silence with everyone in there soundly asleep, for anyone else this would be the perfect moment to go to sleep but for an ex-spy/ soldier/ weapon, like me, a moment like this could only spell one thing…opportunity.
Like an old habit refusing to fade away I found myself exploring the castle halls, I might not be a changeling anymore yet the emotion and energy the walls themselves were emanating were very palpable. I only heard of this kingdom before, Tempress and mo… Chrysalis ensure that I learn it, for how they describe it, I though this would be the final battle ground on our take over, instead it was but the first target that fail.
This place has too much potential, the security is loosely as best I could easily sneak into the rulers room and… Stopping myself I was force to hold my head in pain as though of my previous life show themselves.
You are not that…you are not a puppet! My train of though was then interrupted when something in the distant catch my attention, it was faint and unrecognisable for not the train ear, but I could clearly translated the sound. It was a low whimper, one belonging to a child, an infant even.
Ah baby? In here? But how? Not a single report ever told about a baby…princess?
As curiosity took the better of my I end up following the sound until I found a room with a crib on it, and stuffed snail on the floor near it. Approaching say crib I found a baby alicorn mare starting to whimper and turn while her hands where looking for something.
What the…who are you?
The baby in question just keep squirming around as I could see some tears starting to form in her eyes, quickly understanding what was happening I just pick the stuff snail and gave it back to her. The moment it was on her reach she immediately hug it and smile going back to sleep. Content with my work I just tuck her in and clear the tears from her eyes.
"Adorable…"
Spinning around in surprise I saw Cadence in a pink robe with her cutie mark on the left side of her chest
"…isn't it?"
"Pri…princes Cadence I was just…"
"…What did I tell you about honorific?" She tells with a giggle as she step inside "For you its either cousin our Cadence I will not take tittles to refer family ever"
I look down in embarrassment "Sorry, force of habit I suppose"
"Don't worry, it will eventually fade away" Cadence say with a smile as she reach the crib too.
"Cadence if I may ask, why are you up so late?"
"Curious I was about to ask you the same, but if you wanted to know" She look down at the baby with a smile I recognised immediately and make me silently gasp in shock "I wanted to check on Flurry Hearts"
"She…she is your…"
"That is right" Cadence say with a nod "And judging by your reaction, its clear that Chrysalis didn't knew about it" She tells before sighing "Thank the stars for that, I don't know what would I have done if she have tried to used Flurry against me"
I just nod understanding her feelings in more than one way "Cadence, exactly, how long did you…well…?"
"…Very recently actually" she tells me while passing her finger on Flurry cheeks making her giggle in her sleep "And I couldn't be happier for it. She is mine and Shining Armor most valuable treasure, a kid for us to call our own"
I stare at the image and smile before turning to the baby "She is very lucky"
"Hmm?" Cadence look back at me a bit confused and I just turn to see her "Having the princess of love as your mom? Je something tell me that kindness and attention will not be in short supply during her childhood"
"Oh, stop it" Cadence say with a smile and blushing a little.
I chuckle a little before turning to Flurry once more "So what does this turn me into? An uncle?"
Cadence nods and tuck her in "I bet she would love you…you are already doing a better job than Blueblood with just being here, he really took it personal that Flurry got her wings before him"
"I see" I mention before turn around and start heading to the door "Then again I could understand his feelings"
"Ah?"
"Cadence…did you ever consider that he might had a small inferior complex? His aunts are alicorns, his cousin is an alicorn, the student of his aunt is an alicorn and now his niece is an alicorn, all of his life, all the time he has being force to be reminded that no matter what he does or say, he will always be 'the unicorn' among the family" I stop at the base of the door and then look at her who just look down in though. "Yeah his actions are unjustified no matter what, but be surrounded by power, specially if it was for so long…I don't know, maybe, just maybe, being a jerk end up being just his cry for help"
"I…I never though…"
"…Yeah of course you never knew…maybe that is why it was so easy for me to disguise as him" I look in front of me and continue my march. "I hope you at least said sorry to him after the truth was reveal, because being ignore in that way…might have hurt him a lot"
Cadence nods with a smile "Even knowing what type of pony he is, you still wants to defend him? You really are my aunt son, aren't you?" She giggles before remembering something and give chase after me. "Hey wait a minute! You still haven't answer my question, why were you up so late at night?"
The next day we were preparing to depart to Canterlot in the royal chariot, I could see in the distance how Cadence and Blueblood were talking about something. He had his arms cross and looking at the distance while Cadence looked like she did something really bad and wish to be forgiven
Come on Blueblood, this is your chance to take the first step…please just crack your shell a little bit
To my relief and probably the surprise of many including Cadence, I manage to see him tear up and then hug Cadence, who soon return the hug.
Good boy, now the healing can begin
"What are you looking at sweetie?" Celestia ask sitting next to me while my aunt Luna decided to sit in front of us. Smiling I just look in front of me and close my eyes "Nothing important, just admiring the view" I say in satisfaction as the chariot start to move and suddenly we were all lifted into the air.
"Je its a very beautiful place isn't it? Maybe in the future we could come again as tourist and explore it properly" Celestia mention as she look the kingdom getting smaller as we fly away from it, I could manage to see the train where the main six were located leave the station too and follow us toward Canterlot.
"That sounds like a good idea, maybe we can even take part of on one of their festivities?"
"Of course honey anything you want"
"And so it begins again" Luna chips with a smirk earning a glare from Celestia.
"Begins what?" I ask confused looking at the siblings who continue staring at each others
"Nothing Caeruleo, your aunt and I just have a little discussion, between siblings"
"Witch I seem to be winning for how your mother is proving my point"
"No I'm not"
"Yes you are"
I continue to watch them as they continue to act like a couple of filies for a moment before chucking at the ridiculous of the scene, and decided to look at the window once more.
They say that no good deed goes unpunished, that no matter how hard you try, how good is your fake smile or how well do you cover your tracks, the truth has its own ways of showing its ugly face. I used to belived that saying like those were only fortune cookies. Nonsense who's only purpose is help others fell better, and remind them of their own moral code, but now…now I might start to pay more attention to those kind of teachings
Dodging the shadow once more I take some steps back toward Celestia and Luna who try to catch a glimpse of the intruder of the castle while Rainbow and Fluttershy were busy chasing it on the celling.
"Ok this is turning ridiculous, were are nine vs one, how is it that thing keep making us look like fouls?" Dash yell complaining yet again when the shadow dodge her.
"Oh he will be so good playing hide and seek" Pinkie say not able to reach it either as it escape throw out a mouse hole
"What I don't get it, is why is he here, we didn't disturbe his habitat, it doesn't seem to be hungry or scare, and its not acting all that hostile" Fluttershy say while looking around with a worry and confused expression "Is like he is simple playing"
"Yeah, playing us as fouls" AJ comments getting annoyed "And its starting to get into my last nerve"
The shadow finally lands in front of me and turn to look directly at my direction. The moment I had a clear view of it, my eyes wide in surprise "Impossible"
Everyone in the room notice my reaction and turn to look at me. "What is it Caeruleo?" Celestia ask "Do you know him?"
Three hours preview
The moment we landed in Canterlot and step down of the chariot we were greeted by a very unusual sight. Scatter throw out the garden lay guards, maids, and even wonder bolts, all on the ground trying to catch their breath and with what appear to be cat paws marks spread all over their bodies.
"What happen?" I ask while approaching them, mom and aunt Luna soon going to check on their servants and see if they were all ok
"Who did this to you?" Luna ask with concern lifting the captain of the wonderbolts heads slightly up. "The fox" The captain manage to say before passing out from exhaustion.
"The fox?" I ask with a raise eyebrow before looking at our surroundings "She can't be serious right? There is no way a single fox can out manoeuvre the entire royal guard"
"Evidence say otherwise nephew" Luna say "Yet its a valid point, this can't possible be the job of a single animal"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that Luna" Celestia ask before pointing to a hall at the end of the gardens where we see AJ and Rainbow Dash were chasing what appear to be a shadow in the shape of a fox, jumping from wall to wall.
"Ok that is impossible, there is no way a fox moves that fast" I say in disbelieved.
"Caeruleo is right, whatever that creature is, its far from a regular animal, we need to stop it before it harms itself or anyone else" Luna mentions as she and I give chase.
"Careful you two, unnatural or not that creature is still an animal, probably a scare one too, we need to approach him slow and careful so not to spoke the poor dear, and then release him gently back into the wild" Mom says as she catch up to us, and we soon join the rest of the main six who have manage to corner the fox inside the throne room and close all the exist so to ensure it doesn't escape.
Now
"Her" I answer her while the elements continue to stare at me as I approach the fox cub with 3 tails, white fur with red ends on each tail and ears, chest and center of the face, wearing a piece of cloth around her face, preventing from seeing anything. The moment she hear me approach, she stand on guard ready to pounce once more. "Its a her mom, I know this because I…nurture her back to health once" I say, making all the main six gasp as I kneel down and extend my hand toward her. "Although back then she only had one tail, I know, its you, isn't it? Why are you here? I though you wanted to be free."
The fox simple smell my hand for a couple of seconds before jumping at me and a surprise me in a series of lick attacks follow by a series of low grows "She is saying 'I found you I finally found you'" Fluttershy tells acting as translator. "'Why did you go? I got scare when I didn't find you when you wake up, I though something bad happen to you'"
"Ok times up, would you mind explaining what is going on Caeruleo?" She ask crossing her arms.
"I'm also intrigue son, how did you know this fox?" Celestia ask as she and the rest approach us. Looking at them I just sigh before I start to tell the story.
"It all started when I was still training, back then, I spend most of the time basically preparing for the invasion, and to do so, all my brothers and sister took turns in teaching various things. When it came Chitin time, he often took me to the heart of a forest blindfolded, gave me just enough resource to survive and, left me to my luck. Those were some lonely times"
Back then, in one of the forest of the badlands
It was in one of those occasions when I was jumping from branch to branch, on the top of trees, heading back to my hide out when the screams of an animal caught my attention, and made me stop on my tracks. Looking down I saw a small fox cub with injuries all over her body slowly walking until it falls from exhaustion, soon afterwards, two shadow wolf appear from some near by bushes and started to circle the poor creature like sharks biding their time for their final strike.
Against my better judgment I sprung to action and took down both attackers using my stingers, landing right on top of them, saving the fox in question. Feeling pity for the thing I decided to pick it up and take her with me to my hideout.
Once there I didn't waste time in tending her injuries, I didn't had a lot of medical items back then, but my time surving in the forest, help me learn how to used medicinal plants and other elements to treat wounds, and infection. The little cub keep shaking like a leaf during all that time, most likely do to the traumatic experience she endured. So I made everything in my power, to make her feel safe and confortable, the least thing I wanted was scaring her and making her get violent. Fortunately, it work and the fox soon start to relax and let me do my job.
Her condition was very bad and she couldn't even stand up so for the next three weeks I made my priority to stay by her side, feeding, bathing, tucking her to bed and of course treating her wounds, I didn't want her to make a connection with me, so from the very start I blindfold her using a piece of cloth to cover her eyes, the knot wasn't very firm on purpose and she could removed easily it using any tree branch, at any moment.
Now
By the end of the story the fox was curl up in my lap as everyone listen to it. "The rest pretty much speak for itself, I waited until she was healthy enough, left some food, for her to eat when she wake up, made sure my hideout would keep her safe for the time she needed to rest and afterwards I simple left" I then look at the fox in confusion "I don't understand, why and how did you manage to find me little one?"
The fox start to growls again and Fluttershy acts as a translator. " 'Of course I will track you, I didn't have anywhere else to go, I thank you for offer me my freedom but I much rather be with you than out there alone'" She say before nuzzling my stomach. " 'As for how I did it, I used the smell you left in this blindfold to track your here'"
"What?! No way, there is no way a single fox have manage to being tracking him for that long" Dash say in disbelieve.
"Normal fox, can't, but this one is a ninetails fox Dash, their sense of smell and hearing is five times of a bloodhound, faster, stronger and even be able to cast magic, you can say that they are the equivalent of an alicorn in the animal kingdom" Twilight mention "Maybe you save her when she was in her first stage Caeruleo, ninetails usually grow extra tails as they mature"
She kneel down to inspect her "This is quiet fascinating, this race of foxes is very rare and they usually stay away from civilisation, that one has choose you as a master is incredible and even fitting, since they are mystical inmortal creatures"
"Je like mother, like son I suppose, princess Celestia has her fenix and now you have a nine tails as a pet" AJ say impress.
"Oh! of course that is why she was going all around the place, because she was stumbling with everything, she wasn't being mean, she just didn't knew what was in front of her" Pinkie say.
I just look down at the fox in sadness when I suddenly feel someone put its hand on my shoulder and when I turn I see Celestia looking at me "I know what you are thinking son, and I think you should let her, stay"
"But mom…"
"Its ok, you wish for her to be free, but that also mean to let her make her decision and her actions speak volumes, she didn't want to be anywhere else but with you, please don't ignore her emotions"
I sigh and nod, and took to heart her words, before looking at the fox. "You need to know this, staying with me means give up your life in the wild, there are rules, and you can no longer do all you please, will that be ok with you?"
" 'If it means stay with you then yes'" Fluttershy translate one last time.
"In that case…" I reach behind her head and take off the blindfold "…welcome to the family…Fira" I tell her, naming her in the process while letting her green emerald eyes to adjust to the light. The moment they do she look directly at me before attacking me in licks once more
"She is saying that she loves the name and loves you too" Fluttershy tells
"Je ok, ok, I get it, I love you too" I tell her while trying to pry her off me earning a collecting of 'awws' from everyone in the room.
Back then. Deep inside a dense forest not to far away from the hive.
The sound of wildlife was the only thing that could be heard in the heart of the forest as two stallions wearing camping gear lay unconscious and severely injured in the middle of their own camp. Some vultures had started to circle around them, knowing full well that food soon will be available for the taking. Their wait is cut short when a third stallion follow by two royal guards and three emergency medics emerge from the bushes nearby and approach the pair as fast as they could.
“Hurry up! We need to take them to a hospital! now!” The camper yell at the medics while pointing at his companions.
“Calm down sir” One of the guards stood behind and attempt to tranquillised the exasperad stallion while the rest get to work on the patients “We will take care of your friends now, there is no need to panic, everything will be fine we…we got…you” The guard is unable to finish his sentence as he slowly start to loss his balance and fall into the ground.
“No mister” The camper voice suddenly got deeper and his appearance change to show the form of Kabuto as he smirk at the poor stallion as the changelings acting as bait do quick work, incapacitating their victims “WE got you”
“Y…you are a…a monster!” He try to walk away but its unable to move farther away than a couple of feets before collapsing into the ground “Give it up soldier, its all over” I kneel down and try to pick him but the moment I turn his face, I back away from the fear at the image of his face in the process of discomposing and releasing a fault stench. To my horror the eyes of the now corpse shine red and little dots of lights stare right at me while the guard rise once more.
“What is the matter my prince, grew tired of your thropies?!”
“N…no stay away, I…I changed I no longer this…I…I’m not a monster!”
“Lies!” The corpse pounce at me. Trying to stop him I unless my stingers but that only result of his guts smearing all over the floor and my arms as he hold both my shoulder “You might had changed your face, you might have tricked all of Equestria, but I know you better, I know what you really are and that is…” His face contort and break until another one exploit from inside it revealing the face of a giant and deform beetle “…a changeling!” The monster yells before his fangs reach out and proceed to devoured my face.
With a gasp I wake up and sit on my bed holding my chest with my arm, all of my body cover in cold sweat and my wings messy and unkept from the scare I just witness.
Bringing my hand to my chest I take a couple minutes to inspect the room I was currently on. After we fix the mess Fira made and give her a proper bath, much to her displeasure. Things got back to a relatively normal day. Mom didn’t want to waste time and announce me to Canterlot as her legitimate son, but after some couching from aunt Luna and Twilight and some negotiation we manage to convince her that maybe now it wasn’t the best time, since the city had quiet the scare with my pet fox, and re schedule my revelation for a later date. That date is now 3 days ago and the nervous alone have being preventing me from sleeping a blink from it, it has being a miracle that aun Luna didn’t suspect my lack of sleep or even that I have being having nightmares, but after all I was say and done, how could I tell her? It was already a miracle they forgive me for attacking them, If word were to get out about what I did during my training, they would just see me as a monster.
No I couldn’t let them find out about that, I needed to keep it hidden and find a way to solve it on my own. If was really going to become Celestia son I couldn’t just crawl back to her and hide under her skirt each time I have a problem, that would just be cowardly and worse it could ruin her name. So for that, the only thing I could do was smile and convince them that everything was ok. Afterward I was giving a room of my own near my mom own room equip with all the basic necesites that I could need including a even smaller bed for Fira to sleep in that included a pillow and even a blanket of her own. It was a bit much but consider the image I was soon to uphold I imagine that it was a necessary evil.
After managing to calm myself down I decided to get out of bed and go into yet another midnight stroll through the castle, taking a glance at my clock I saw that it was nearing one am in the morning. Good by this time aunt Luna most be diving inside the dreams of Canterlot, witch me that I was free to explore without her seeing me. Putting on a golden and blue rope that Rarity made for me as a welcome home present and petting Fira head lightly so not to wake her up. I step outside and start to walk around the empty hallways. Unfortunately, my midnight stroll was short lived do to an unexpected and annoying guest that decided that exact moment to approach me.
“Well, well, well what do we have here? The crown prince of Equestria sneaking around in his own castle? What is the matter boy? Did you inherit your mother peculiar appetitive?” Turning around I start to scan my surroundings in search for the origin of the voice, all my muscle alert and tense, and my magic starting to sip out. “Oh aren’t we jumpy tonight? Did junior had a nightmare and is looking for mommy?” The voice cackle as I keep looking for it. “If that is the case you are going the wrong way boy”
“Show yourself Discord! I have no time for this”
“Ah, so you have heard about me, I’m touched, your first mommy took the time of telling me about me” I finally located in mural to my left showing him like a saint “Kind of make me wonder how much did she told you, and what things did she exaggerated”
“What do you want Discord?” I tell him unimpressed by his presence
“Me? Oh nothing much I simple wanted to know what was all the commotion about you being here was about. How to say, you did a good job spreading chaos and disharmony throw all the land, I’m really…hey! where are you going?!”
Discord yell as I continue walking “Listen Discord, I really don’t have time for this, if you really don’t have anything to say to me, then go away”
“Oh come on, don’t be like that buddy” He say appearing next to me and float all around me “Lets be friendly, start over after all we freaks need to look after each other, don’t we?” He tells me with a smirk as I clench my fist.
“Then again when I took over Equestria I wasn’t being control by a giant bug that claim to be my mommy”
I stop in place and feel how my magic and anger start to pour out “Discord I’m warning you”
“Or perhaps you did knew all alone but though it will be more fun playing stab the back? Come on, tell me the truth was it funny?, I promise mommy doesn’t have to know”
“Last chance. Go away”
He only smirk and get his head closer to mine "Or what? Are you going to make a tantrum?" I try my best to ignore him and just walk away but the draconish only follows me "Tell me Jr. what did you enjoy the most? Lying to everypony in front of you? Have an excuse to attack what you though was a family? Play the emotions of 6 innocents mares…” I close my eyes and stretch my wings preparing to take flight but the moment I’m in the air Discord capture me in one of his claws, making it bigger so it can grab my entire body “Or deep down you only wish for a mommy? Tell me baby, witch milk taste the better? Celestia o Chrysalis?”
As my eyes turn white I release a strong wave of magic that makes him release me and hold her now burn hand but, he only chuckle as he looks at me “Was it something I say?”
“Discord…if you don’t take back that now I swear I will…”
“…You what boy? eh? eh?” He start to taunt me “You would accuse me to mommy?"
He continue to laugh as I point my charged arm at him "Go ahead boy, do it we both know that you don't have the guts to…" Before he has a chance to finish his sentence I unload my entire magic at him in a powerful blast that hit him head on. From the light I see him trying to teleport away in surprise but my blast was way faster than his fingers so he receive the full frontal attack.
Once my energy is depleted and the smoke clear I fall into the ground and kneel from exhaustion before looking up to be shock the result of my actions. In front of me I see Discord capture in what appears to a mountain of cristal made of the same type of rock that the tree of harmony is based on. In the middle of it Discord is shaking and barely able to move from his cristal prison.
"W…Well looks like Jr. had in him after all" He tells me still smirking earning a confused look from me "What so funny?"
"Only the fact that you just fail right into my trap"
"What?"
"This way princess! the ruckus came from here" My blood freeze when I heard a guard fast approaching follow by the sound of both his hooves and the flapping of what I can only assume is my aunt, my mom or both.
"Now you can't hide your problems anymore" Discord say before chuckling
Looking back at him I see in shock how the cristal I made was big enough, it might as well be a second castle growing from inside the first one He delivery made me angry so I would shot, a magic blast with enough force that would alert everyone, and make sure that I would be to tired to try to hide or run away. He play me from the very start!
"You…you trick me!" I say as I try to stand up only to fall again do to my fatigue
"That is right! You might have fool Celestia and Luna" He boost while breaking off his prison with some difficulty "But like I say, we are the same, I know when some pony with guilt try to put a brave face in front of the others" His gaze finally soften I see him talking with all seriousness "And trust me, it only make things worse"
"Discord…you" I glare at him but he only took a step back and start to levitated.
"Consider it payback for what you did to Fluttershy /advice from a friend. You need help Caeruleo, please open up to your mother. You really can't do this on your own" He tells before teleporting away in time for both my mother and aunt to walk in.
"Ca…Caeruleo what are you doing up so late? What happen?" Celestia ask in worry while Luna looks at me with some suspicious. I can only sigh in defeat at the gaze they were both giving me. There was no way I would be able to weasel my way out of this.
"Aght, do we really need to have this? What else do you need to know? I told you, I'm a broken man, lie, betrayed, and train to be nothing but the perfect weapon. What else is there to talk about?"
"I'm honestly don't know your highness, that is why I'm asking. Please, I'm assure you this is a safe place nothing you say will leave this room" I sigh frustration as I lean on the sofa I was currently on. After my little…lets call it 'fallout' it was pointless to try and hide things for mom, it was hard enough keeping the act, now that she has proved that I really needed help, she will not leave me alone until I came clean, so although not without some final resistance I finally gave in and told them all about my nightmares, the type of training I had and even how at nights, unless I go to lure the hallways sleep doesn't come easy. Needless to say they took it as I expected they would.
Aunt Luna took upon herself to visit my dreams first before making her routes and each tree hours come to check if everything was ok, all well and good although poping and going so frequently result in one awkward dream that both of us swear will never talk about it. As for mom…well it was a war of negotiation, reassurance and cake (don't ask) until we both came to a solution that would put her poor heart at rest and leave me some space to breath. In other words now. If I agree to go see a psychologist twice a week she will back down from spooning me at night in her quote on quote 'Therapeutic mother love'. I mean, sure it can be a bit nice to have company and I really miss my mom, plus her wings can be very soft and fluffy, but there is a reason moms don't do that after their kids are like 12 or 13.
My sessions aren't all that bad but after the first introductions and brief exploration of my mind things have gotten a bit more difficult to talk about.
After sighing in resignation I decided to just come clean and start to talk "Tell me Miss Practice, have you ever experience the 'start again' situation? Like for example the new kid on the block that needs times to absorb what is happening around him when his family decided to move. Or start in a new school?"
"I believed I have, my father was a wonder bolt so we actually move quiet frequently"
"Then that experience multiply a thousand folds might be what I'm going throw. When I was born, I was nothing but a normal human, in a nuclear family. Life was boring sure but it was safe and sometimes kind. Then in one single night, all of what I knew was whisk away by a car accident, experience death was a roller coaster of emotions on its own but before I could have embrace it. I was took and transform for the queen of the changelings"
"I bet that probably was to much to take in"
"That is to put it lightly. For the first days I couldn't believed my own eyes, my mother who die years ago just suddenly welcoming to join her not in the after life but in…agh I don't even now what to call this"
"Well technically its a new fresh start so it could be call that too your highness"
"Whatever it might be, it was huge, and I…well I was happy. I feel horrible for saying this but my life, my human life was something I constantly fought to fit in, even when I was with my friends I somehow felt like I didn't belong, like I was a misfit in that world" I clench my fist with force as my magic appear turning red. "And that Ogre"
"Wait I'm sorry did you say Ogre?" The therapist say with some confusion.
"A…stupid low life scumbag that claimed to be my…father"
"I see" She say starting to write that down. "Something tell me that you and him…"
"No we didn't, I…I suppose it was blame on both of us, I try to reach him and made peace multi times but each times I dared to lower my guard he would simple crush me and betray me with a smile thinking it was just 'funny'" The magic glow brighter. "The bastard didn't even call me by my name, prefer to simple refer to me as 'thing' under the pretext 'oh its just what in means in other language, so its ok!'" I yell in frustration.
"Prince Caeruleo" Looking at her I notice how I was levitating things on the room and my magic was gradually increasing the temperature on it to the point when the magazining in the desk were staring to be set on fire. Oddly enough my therapist, Dr. Prime Practice a light purple pegasus with formal cloths and librarian glasses was complete unfazed by my display as she too was levitating from her chair. Realising what I was doing I stop my spell and put everything down.
"I'm sorry"
"Don't have to, it come with the job, plus I have give your mother some session so I'm familiar with 'heaten' situations"
"Je no wonder she recommended you"
"Anyway you were saying?"
"Oh yeah, well with all that in mind and 'him' as part of the deal, making the jump into another life was actually a very easy decision. I was even giving the option of be some kind of super hero and defend a land that I until recently though it was my new, new home"
"Interesting, so you were happy during your training in the hive?"
"In a way…yeah, sure the session where harsh and even brutal at times but for the first time in my life I felt like, my family really listen to me and I was included on it rather than be the 'special case' that needs to be dealt carefully and talk in a way that not hurt his feelings"
Practice stop what she was doing so she could see me again "Did your human family never took seriously?"
I simple nod before continuing "It was hard, I knew they were only concern for my well being but the way they saw me, those eyes full of pity, no matter how many times I old them, they just keep staring at me with them. Not even realising how much did they hurt. I'm not even sure if they care" I say looking down "I know I know compare to millions other I got off extremely easy but that doesn't make the pain lesser"
"Nobody is judging you Caeruleo, just wanting to help. But I'm starting to realised why you were so willing to accept this world and even the lies of Queen Chrysalis"
"Yeah it was a dream come true, even with the price to pay I was feeling like I for the first time belonged somewhere…and then that happen"
"The invasion"
"Yeah, attacking the elements on its on was hard but then be betray by my sister and became a mockery once again? I bet they never really love me to begin with. That was the tip that overflow the cup, I was furious at everyone, I was thinking straight and barely had a will to lived at all"
Once more Practice stop but this time out of fear. "Prince, are you saying…"
"…Yes doctor, in that moment I really was prepare to just ended up, I was done with betrays, with lies and with pity" He say looking at her with a glare. "At least death is honest, so tell me doctor. After making peace with everything, and lose faith on everything, how do you expect me to just start everything again?"
"By taking the first step" She simple answer "I understand your situation a little better now prince, I'm truly sorry for what happen but there is no point for us to hold into the past. Doing so would just poison our minds and make us repeat the same mistakes" She smile and put her hand on my knee "Every pony deserve a second chance your grace, this opportunity might have come from an unexpected place but is yet an opportunity that you willingly took. All is forgiven and your family is want to give you a chance. Why don't you give it to yourself?"
For a moment I remain quiet contemplating what she says until I heard her wrist watch as an alarm on it went of and she quickly turn it off "I'm afraid our times is up"
We both stand up and I start to follow her to the entrance "Thanks for your help Dr. Practice"
"It was my pleasure prince Caeruleo, can I count to see you again next week?"
"I will be here first thing in the morning"
"Good now, no more talking about those dark though of I might have to reconsider princess Celestia treatment"
"Je you got it, I will try to stay positive"
"That is all I wanted to hear" I wave at her and went to the waiting room where an eager Pyra was waggling her tails with a happy bark "Je sorry to keep you waiting" I reach up and let her climb into my shoulder before we make our way throw out the hall.
Give myself a chance… I though as I look at my left shoulder, still feeling my stinger attach to it even though there was nothing there. Will it really be that easy?
At that moment in a underground fight club, in the heart of Manehattan
The sound of metal being hit echoes throw the room as Exsos keep using industrial barrels as punching bags, to practice. A large pile of destroy barrels lying in a corner while he continue his training, until a door behind him open and throw that Chitin walks in holding a grocery bag in one hand and a gag and tie up mare on the other.
"Exsos!" He yells to gain his attention before tossing the grocery bag at his face "Dinner"
Exxon take the bag and open it revealing a whole gouda cheese, and a red wine. "Cheese and wine?" He ask with a smirk and a raise eyebrow "What is the occasion? Do you intent to give the royal treatment to our 'guest'" He joke as Chitin move to a table and toss the mare on it. Before pulling out a knife "Don't be ridiculous" He start to cut her ties making her sprung her limbs like a spring and lay there breathless. Do to her be wearing a skirt and not caring of covering it. Both the changelings could see her panties smoking wet. "I already ate, that is to cover the smell" Chitin say opening a closet revealing a dozen coccuns all fill with mares in similar situation. and with a vein connecting them all into bucket being fill with a pink sustain.
"Oh so are going to make another one" Exsos laugh as he take a bite of the cheese "You are a sadist bastard Chitin" He tells as the barrel he was currently punching fall over and a broken and bloody hand fall off it as a stream of blood start to leak from it.
"That is rich coming from you" Chitin say looking at both the broken barrels and his last victims. "Another bar fight?"
"Je a rapist actually, the son of a bitch thought he could take…" Exsos transform into a fragile and small little earth pony mare with white fur and yellow mane with a soft female tune "…a little fragile mare" He exploit in laugher "Oh the look on his face when he saw the 'wrong equipment'. Just priceless!"
Chitin sigh and turn around to look at the mare "Seriously, with how many of them have you find I don't know if you are a committing a crime or a public service"
"Hey we all have to eat right?"
"Right" Chitin make his horn shine and get to work "Anyway I have good news" He levitate a news paper and give it to him. "It appear your wish was granted, you will have a chance to fight our dear old brother after all"
Exsos read the article on the paper before reaping it apart "He lives!?" In a strong swing he punch the barrel once more breaking in two "That little, good for nothing, back stabbing…"
"I know Exsos" Chitin say silence him with his magic before looking at him with a smile "But instead of bursting in rage, why don't we take this opportunity to our advantage" He tells before lifting the poor mare by the back of her neck and show it to Exsos "After all we still need to send him our thanks for that wonderful harmony cloud that keep us away"
Exsos smile once more and clean his bloody knuckles "Like I say a complete sadistic"
That was the exact moment when all chaos broke loss on what once was a quiet police station. It all started with a distress call from a little filly, crying her eyes out as she tried to speak. "My mommy, 'sob' something…something bad is happening to her!, please somepony! help us!!" That was the last thing the police heard before the call was cut with a yell. Fortunately for them, a skill unicorn was able to catch the call and track it down to its origins on the suburbs five blocks from the station.
Three police cars, as well as an ambulance were quickly despatch to said house but what the officer witness there, soon become the stuff of nightmares that haunt their dreams for years, despite princess Luna assistance.
There, right in the middle of the living room was a mare holding a bloody knife on her left hand, shaking as a leaf, and chuckling with red eyes and dry tears on her cheeks. On the ground in front of her was a grown up stalling gagging with big knife cut on his neck and two children were tie up to a chair in front of them.
"Oh dear Celestia!" All the cops point their weapons at the mare in question, both being blades, crossbows or even their own horns. "Freeze!"
They command and as the mare slowly turn she only smile at them with an empty gaze "H…Hello officers. I'm sorry for the mess, but could you please arrest me?" She tells while tears start to stream from her eyes again as she slowly raise her hands in the air.
After the mare in question was reprehend and put in custody and the children taken to child support, the day slowly but steadily turn into a nightmare as report after report of this kind crimes start to pop up at alarming rate, all the criminals responding to the same profiling. In witch they turn violently against the ponies they loved the most, in an almost psychosis behaviour. Yet none of them have a history of having any kind of mental disorder and some even were highly respected and know psychologist.
"I did it because I love him/her"
That was the only answer all of them gave to the authorities, when asked why.
Such a horrible event would forever be mark and remember by the citizens of Manehattan as the 'Venon Love day, or the V.L Day
"Chitin" I say in rage as I rip the newspaper in half. Bursting the front doors open I marched to the throne room where my mom and aunt were currently having a meeting with Twilight Sparkle. Most likely about the same problem, judging by the map of Manehattan Twilight was levitating "Mother!" I yell in anger as I continue my march.
"Caeruleo, have you lost your mind?!" Celestia told me in both shock and anger "You can't just march in here whenever you…"
"…When were you planning on tell me?" I interrupt her.
"What?"
"When exactly were you planning to tell me that Manehattan was under attack!" I yell again and I toss the newspaper at her, to witch she caught in her magic grasp and brought closer to her
"Caeruleo I don't understand why are you so angry but I don't see why would it have matter if you knew of this tragedy" Celestia ask getting angered herself
"It matters because I know what is going on!" I exclaim making the mares eyes to wide in surprise
"You do?" Twilight ask with a raise eyebrow.
"This has the work of Chitin all over the place, what you are seeing is not just some random attack or a terrorist attempt, its a message from my 'brother'" I spat the last word with as much venom as I could.
The princesses looked at one another with some concern before looking back at me "Tell us what you know dear nephew" Luna finally said after some time in witch the throne room was in complete silence.
Taking a moment to calm down, and recover my composure I sigh before explaining "During my time in the hive, I was not only train to be the ultimate soldier against the elements, but also be the perfect changeling. To accomplish that, my mo…Chrysalis! and her offspring often times took me with them on their hunts, you can imagine exactly of what type"
"I rather don't" Twilight said with a shiver on her back.
"Anyway, the hunts were usually as you had expected, but Chitin…from all of us, he had the most efficient yet inhuman way to catch his preys, even Chrysalis herself banned him from using that kind of methods. The exact same method he is using right here"
"Wait you mean…?" Twilight eyes wide as she looks at the police reports again in shock and start to see the meaning of such cryptic confessions "But why? They are killing their love ones, even from a changeling perspective that is sacrificing your resources"
"Thats is what you would think sure, until fase two commence"
"All this masacres are just face one?!" The tree mares all shout in alarm at the same time as I just simple nod in confirmation.
"I imagine you have heard of the story of poison love do you? Well for Chitin that concept of a poison that can provoque so much harm fascinated him, so much that he was convince that harvest it could be the key for Changeling supremacy, so he did horrible experiments until he created something even worse than the poison love…we call it 'venom love', you can see why by looking at the reports" I sigh before looking throw the window.
"Chitin used this method to harvest entire towns worth of loved, using fases in witch he attacks, first he attack married mares with big social circles or great power, then once they are infected with the venom, he release them back to their families. Afterwards its all a matter of time before chaos rein supreme, that is fase one "
"Fase two make the victims complete emphatic and emotionless, like a sort of vegetative stated. All of them can walk, eat, sleep normally but now they would need to be command to do basic actions, just like a mindless drones, witch brings the final state. The venom transform those mares in beacons of love that literally suck the love of anyone around them, no matter if they love or even know the mare or not. Hospital, prisons, homes they are all doom to feed those mares, especially homes, their bodies just harvest the love for us and then teleport it directly into the hive, and to make matter worse, if enough beacons are activated no matter if disperse or collected, they can act as a circuit and incase entire cities in a love sucking dome, effectively transforming an entire city into a battery" I end my explanation with a sigh before looking at them
"Chrysalis herself though that this method was just inhumane and forbid Chitin from ever using it again, specially after the catastrophe that occur on the first try. I though he would had understand how horrible using venom love is, but to actually used it" I shake my head "I can't believed he actually went this far"
"Guards!" Mom call in alarms and soon two guards enter the room "Bring me my captain and tell him to prepare the troops we need to go to Manehattan immediately"
"Yes princess"
"I will go for my friends, we might need the elements" Twilight tells
"Wait!" I yell making everyone in the room stop "It will not be that easy either, this venom spread throw the air and affect mares eighteen or older, if you go there without the proper protection you will run the risk to turn aggressive and start attacking everything" I turn to my mother "Mom just think, the stars forbid but what would happen if just one of your guards, or aunt Luna or worse of all, you. What would happen if you get infected?"
"Oh my stars" She says in alarm "Caeruleo I…I would never forgive me if I end up attacking you"
I turn to Twilight "Our you Twilight just imagine you our any of your friends losing control, just one"
"That would be horrible!"
"Exactly, I know your frustration believe me, I understand but if we want to save Manehattan we need to act carefully"
"Our nephew is right Celestia, we can't just rush in"
"But all those poor ponies" She ask in worry but when put my hand on her shoulder, she was able to calm down. After a moment my mom is back and nod "What do we do sweetie?"
"Chitin is sending me a message, if we plan on saving as many as we can, I need to make sure that he receive an answer" I tell them with determination
As dawn creep its way on Manehattan loved daze mares carrying sharp and bloody weapons patrol the now deserted city without a directions in mind. Following my instructions the local police order an immediate evacuation from all the residents who weren't affected by Chitin sick venom. Families were break apart and conflicts ignite
Hard yet acceptable, I rather have them angry at me than in a massive funeral
I though while I steel my nerves and launch at an distracted house wife before knocking her unconscious using morphine. Soon various soldiers copy my example and capture more mares before dragging them into a safe house, all the while using the cover of a depth fog that was currently covering the entire city.
Prior to our mission and with the aid of pegasus soldiers, the weather factory and willing voluntaries, we decided to cover the entire area in a dense fog to used as cover while our eyes who has being enchanted by my mom allow us to infiltrate and explore the city without any problem.
"That is the last one sir" A guard approach me as place the last mare with the others and salute.
"At ease soldier" I tell him while approaching a desk with a map of the city on it. "Any news on the other squads?"
"Only the same report sir, everything seems to be progressing smoothly and even though its small we are taking more and more of the city, if we continue this pace we would be able to claim the area by nighttime"
"I see" I tell him with some uncertainty "Everything is going well"
"Sir?"
"Almost too well, have any team encounter the rouge changeling yet?"
"I'm afraid they haven't sir"
"I was afraid you were going to say that, things are calming down, and if I know Chitin that is exactly what he is aiming to archived. He want us to lower our guard in the middle of a war zone. Tell everyone to remain alert and after returning undergo the detection spell, we will let not any changeling in this camp"
"Yes sir" The soldier salute and its about to leave when another soldier approach them carrying a t.v with him "Prince Kabuto?"
The name instantly catch my attention as I turn to the soldier who is turning the t.v on "Message from your brother"
I need a couple of seconds to register what happen afterwards but by then it was too late. Images in quick pace start to show on the screen and before I could turn away everything fade to black.
Waking up with a groan I sit down and lean my back into a stone wall near by. Doing a quick scan of my surroundings, I discover that I was inside a warehouse with various wooden boxes around me, a chain was place on my left ankle leaving me bound into the wall and I was strip of my cloths and instead was now wearing a changeling uniform, this one enchanted and preventing me from using my wings or magic. My entire body feels like it weight a ton, I could feel my hands wet and looking down I confirm that they were indeed bleeding lightly and when I move, I detect bruises and even cuts all over my body, making me believed that when I was taken its was probably torture, and even bite in my legs? Shaking the though I look throw a near by window and judging by the sun rays coming from it I assume it was near sunset and the cold temperature made me think that was either still in the city or very near its limits.
"Its this suppose to be some sort of sick joke?" I say to no one in particularly as I start to stand up with some difficulty, my body still numb from the brainwash. "Don't pretend you are not there Chitin, I know your style and how you love to gloat when you get your pray, so lets just get this over with"
As I respond I heard footsteps and looking up I saw the changeling in question stepping from the shadows and heading to me from the second floor. He was wearing his usual hoodie and stealth uniform minus the mask who he was holding in his right hand. His face showing the beak prove of his griffin roots as well as his feline black eyes
"Hello brother" Chitin tells me with a smirk "So glad you receive my present, I was getting worry that, that bitch of a princess would try to hide it from you" He tells his smirk turning quickly into a glare.
"Chitin stop this now! This is gone too far, even for you. Do you really intend to go against mo…Chrysalis orders?"
"Don't disrespect mother you traitor!" He tells before shooting an arrow at me who almost find its target on my right knee "Sure we were planning on using you from the very start and we weren't exactly the family of the century, but we still are your family Kabuto, YOUR roots, and lie or not, you start life in this world as a changeling, as our brother"
"So this is all about? Petty revenge of a hypocrite that can't take being betray back? I though you were smarter than that Chitin but in the end you were even more pathetic than I though" My remark ear me another arrow this one rousing my left check and leaving a mark on my face.
"I advice you to choose your next words carefully brother, they might be your last, beside you don't want to taste the patience of someone with so many hostages do you?" Chitin tells before taking out a remote control and by pressing it, open various boxes around us with scare mares in cages looking around in fear, and with blood shot eyes from crying to much.
"Ah the smell of fear, spicy yet dry, so easy to harvest and yet low in power, a real shame I need so many victims to consider it a meal"
I look in shock how all those mares look at me before backing away in fear "Chitin are you gone insane? Do you even know what you are doing? Mother forbid us to harvest fear for a reason, that emotion will mess with your head, you need to stop this now!" I tell him in worry not realising what I'm saying.
"Je so my brother is still lingering in that head of yours then? Good, that bitch brainwash hasn't claim you head yet. There is still time for you to return home and join the search for mother"
"Search for mother? You mean she hasn't try to contact any of…?"
"But before that, there is still the issue of your re education, no dough the princesses have try to sell you the concept of friendship and love in a crazy attempt to make you 'pony'. I would be laughing at the idea if it wasn't for the fact that its appear to be working"
He lift the remote control into the air. "It appear that a quick reminder of your true nature is in order, as you wish I will release all the prisoners and allow you to hog all the glory of rescuing Manehattan as a means to show you how good of a brother am I, but not before having one last snack" He tells with a malice before pressing another button and starting a huge wide screen t.v on the roof.
On the video that was play make my blood freeze and the mares in the warehouse scream in terror. On it I saw myself with death eyes attacking my own soldiers and hunting them down like some sort of predators, not only that but my actions didn't seem to have directions as I soon start to aim for the mares we previously save and even look like I smile as some of my victims beg for mercy, or try to fight back earning the scars and bruises I previously felt, they weren't torture marks they were the remnants of the masacre I provoke!
No, no…that is not me, is not me
"Oh such wonderful and delicious fear brother, you emotions are always the tastiest" Chitin tells in gleed as he head back to the shadows "This is not the end of things Kabuto, we will see each other some other time, until then enjoy your cheers… hero" Chitin tells laughing maniacally as he press his control one last time and release every mare in the warehouse who didn't waste time in running away from me.
Tear start to stream from my face as I continue to watch the horror Chitin force me to do.
Oh god, what have I done, why…why I didn't see this? I knew him I knew he will try something? I should have stop him before letting him use me I…I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
I felt myself falling into the ground and shaking like a leaf while hearing the screaming of all those ponies, each one piercing my soul like hot swords and ripping me apart.
I didn't knew what was happening anymore and for a time I felt myself falling into a void until the voice of my mother sniffing catch my attention, and soon discover that I was being help by her. She was wearing a beautiful suit of armour and the warehouse where we used to be was now reduce to ashes and burn wood around me. I was unable to understand what was happening but soon realised that I was crying my eyes out in her chest while she was rooking me back and forward like a baby. I didn't care at the moment I was complete broken and as much as I wanted to talk I could only utter two word to her.
Shortly after being rescue, mom didn’t wasted time and start to put everything back in order, despite my episode there weren’t any casualties and although they were wounded, nopony seem to be in any sort of critical condition.
…Liars! All of them, even if I wasn’t a changeling anymore I could still see right throw all and each of them, of course information would be tamper and wrap, of course there would be wounded or even deaths that day. Chitin ensure to show it to me, it was crystal clear and yet, even my own mother refused to tell me the whole truth. And now either the city our my family will never be the same ever again
‘I was just another victim of Chitin trap’ that is what they all said, just another casualty in that horrible nightmare. Yet I can’t get mad at them, none of them. They only wanted to protect me, reassure me that things could get better, and I really appreciated that. But I know better. My self proclaim family is far from done with me, and this act was just their way of saying that their grip is still there and is as stronger as ever.
Exos, Tempress, Chitin, Freya, Cicada, and Chrysalis. All of them, sociopaths determined to turn their puppet around again, and willing to give one hell of a fight to get it. I need to do something to stop them, as long as their strings exist, nobody is truly safe around…
My inner thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on my door that startle me for a second as I look back at the entrance who was slowly opening and from it aunt Luna poke her head out.
“Dear nephew?” Her eyes start to inspect the place until they landed on me, her expression being one of pure concern and worry. “May I come in?”
I just sigh and close my eyes as I turn around back, to look at the full moon in display from my balcony. “Go ahead”
I hear the door closing follow by my aunt hoof steps approaching me “Why are you still awake dear nephew? It’s pretty late at night”
“Couldn’t sleep, I had a nightmare”
“Really?” Aunt Luna told as she stand next to me “Well in that case I would need to tell me more of this fascinating nightmare that you somehow manage to suffer while remaining awake, since I know for sure that you never went to bed on the first place. In fact, you have barely sleep for the last three days” she tell me with sarcasm. I didn’t need to turn to know that she was crossing her arms and had one eye raise at me
I look back at her in surprise “How did you…?”
“…Oh dear nephew, please don’t, don’t try to foul the princess of the night” She tells with a small smile as she used her wing to cover my back and bring me closer to her.
“So care to tell us what is afflicting you?”
With a heavy sigh, I look down at my feets “I’m that transparent?”
“Very” I can feel Luna putting her hand on my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me
I sigh in defeat and look down “I still think of what happen in Manehattan, and all of the ponies I hurt”
“Yeah, I imagine that could be the case, and believe me dear nephew, I’m more than familiar with the shame and guilt of harming others”
Looking back at her I could see how aunt Luna was looking at the moon with a thousand yard stare in pure contemplation and guilt. “Like you, I too walked through the wrong path once”
Signing in defeat I decided to look at the horizon in though “Why did you all decided to hide the truth from me?”
“Because there was nothing to hide, what we disclose with you is all truth. When Chitin took over…”
“…Enough!” I yell at her in complete rage “See? Right there, you are still doing it, you are still refusing to tell me what really happen and just expect me to believe that a miracle. Aunt don’t you get it? It’s impossible that there wasn’t any casualties, Chitin show me the footage, he made me remember, I…” shaking in place I slowly lift my hands so I could see them “…I can still feel the blood on my hands”
“And do you really believe it was all real?” Luna told me with a calm voice
“What?” I turn to her in confusion.
“Tell me nephew, have you ever experience a vivid dream? A subconscious experiences, so real that you can actually feel the heat of a flame or the cold of an ice?”
“I…I think I have” I answer honestly trying to remember, both my new and old life experience. Something that at the moment resulted very difficult to recall.
“Well, what if I told you that a very powerful illusion can make the lines of dreams and reality if not the same, extremely blurry” My aunt said with a knowing smile. “And it can work backwards too”
“Is…is that possible?” I ask in growing wonder and she just nod at me.
“Nephew if it will put your mind at rest I will tell you what my sister and I decided to avoid mentioning”
“Ah ha! I knew it! I knew you weren’t telling me…” Luna soon stop me by raising her hand to silence me.
“…But I will only do so, with the condition that what you are about to hear will not leave this room, ever” She tells in a very serious tone. “I’m serious Caeruleo, not even the elements knows of this secret and, I can assure you, if this knowledge falls in the hands of even Twilight Sparkle, it can spell a catastrophe on all of Equestria”
“Wow, a secret that not even mom student can’t know? Is it really that dangerous”
“It is, and that is why I must repeat, do we have an agreement?”
With determination I stand in front of her “We do aunt Luna, I will not tell a soul”
“Good” Aunt Luna expression soften as she nods and then goes to my bed before laying on it, resting her head on my pillow. “Now come dear nephew, lay next to me”
“…What?” That is the only thing I manage to tell as I process what she was demanding.
My aunt stand up and she gave me the biggest puppy eyes I have ever seen in my life “Are you going to deny, a request from your old, and fragile aunty, that love you so much?”
“Ok! Ok! I’m coming, I’m coming, just please stop doing that” I tell her as I approach the bed and her expression soon change of one of cheer as I lay next to her, while she didn’t waste time in bringing me for a hug and used her wing to cover me like a blanket.
“You can be the worse sometimes aunty” I grumble as I decided to just go with the flow and get comfortable.
Luna meanwhile just giggle as she rest her head on top of mine. “Let it this be a lesson dear nephew, no other pony in Equestria can guilt trip others like I do”
“Whatever” I tell her with a roll of my eyes “So, the secret?”
“Oh of course” Aunt Luna tells as she stare at the ceiling. “Pay attention dear nephew, look closely to what I’m about to show you” Her horn soon start to glow and with the flick of a finger, the rooftop of my room soon open up like a mouth and from inside of it, I could see space itself moving like water and like a drop slowly entering into the room.
“Behold! The gate of dreams Caeruleo, the realm in which I rule and watch over. What are you seeing is the collective subconscious of our citizens, resting on a plane of existence, away from what we perceived as reality”
As the substance start to get closer, I try to touch it with my bare hands only for it to pass throw like it was air. I couldn’t even feel a thing in doing so, it was as if image in front of me was not really there.
Aunt Luna giggle at my frustration as she raise her own hand and the substance start to circle her hand “I’m afraid it's not tangible nephew, like I told you, what you are seeing its the subconscious itself, dreams and thoughts that fly free and wild. So unless you have my gift, to you all of this was nothing but a pleasant, picture”
Her horn start to grow even brighter and soon the image morph into a small robin made complete of space who fly around us until finally landing on Luna hand.
“Beautiful, isn’t nephew?”
“Yeah, it is. But I still don’t get it, what does any of this has to do with what happen in Manehattan?”
“I assure you everything will connect in due time, but now I will need your assistance” She extend her other hand toward me “This spell requires a lot of power, I’m afraid that I’ll need your help to perform it”
“Me? But I’m still new when it comes to magic, I don’t even know how to make a spell yet”
“That is ok nephew, I will just need to borrow some of your magic, you will not have to do anything”
I look at her hand and then at her “And…will it hurt?”
“I assure you, you will only feel some mild uncomfort that is all”
“Well…ok” Still a bit unsure I hold her hand and soon I see how a magic purple ribbon emerge from both ours hands and bind us in a spiral. Soon I see a blue aura appearing on my arm and slowly moving toward aunt Luna ones.
Like she said I could feel some mild uncomfort and getting a bit tired.
“That will be enough, thanks” Aunt Luna release me and I could see how her horns start to glow even brighter.
“Now, like I told you there are cases where dreams can appear to us so real, that we can be easily be fooled into believing that we are awake” Using her magic she shoot a spell at the robin and in front my eyes I could see how it start to shape and transform into a real red robin, who start to sing. “Or sense of hearing, of smell…” The robin flew out of her finger and landed on mine, without it facing throw. “…of touch”
I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. If it wasn’t for what I saw earlier I could have sworn that, this was an actual bird. I could feel his feathers and feets on the palm of my hand, when petting, it actually chip in happiness, I could even felt its weight on me
“It is…alive?”
“It is now” Aunt Luna tells with a smirk
“What?!” I immediately turn to her in complete astonishment, scaring the bird who flew away, as she silence me once more by placing her finger on my lips. “Please nephew, there are ponies sleeping”
“You can actually transform illusions into reality?!” I harshly whisper to her and she nods.
“It’s a very ancient, and dangerous spell that takes a lot of effort and energy. So much that I always need to ask for some magic from my sister if I wish to perform it. Caeruleo, what Chitin made you do that day…its was beyond horrible, the repercussions of what would happen, the lives that were lost. He was bend on breaking your spirit as well as convince all of Equestria that you weren’t nothing other than a monster”
Her expression soon turns to anger “Tartarus would have frozen before me and my sister would let that happen”
“So this spell of yours, did you…”
“That is right, taking half of my sister energy, I create a magic dome in all of the city and for a second, impose the rules of a dream” Her expression soften as she looks at me “On a dream you can actually and have die…repeatedly even. Times itself also move different there too. So in one hour you could have at the very least have twenty dreams. Witch allow me to turn that horrible nightmare into that, just a very vivid dream. So it’s true Caeruleo” She told me holding my hand, with a worry expresion “You indeed, did kill all of those ponies…on a dream, a realm where nothings matters and the laws of life and death are none”
As I process that I stare into space in contemplation “All this time, those visions, aunt Luna I don’t…I yell at you” I tell her in regret.
Looking away in shame, I try to move but I soon found my aunt tightening her embrace on me “There is nothing to apologies for dear child, like I told you I too had walk that path, and I know of the pain you must be suffering, there is nothing you could have say that would have offend me”
“Thank you aunty”
“Anytime my dear nephew” When I felt her softening her embrace I look back at her “So, do you understand why I need to ask you keep this a secret? The knowledge and implication of this spell, a way to make literally anything you desire into a reality, even if complicated and paying a extremely large among of energy, the tentacion of such power, cool be too much for any pony, and even the purest of hearts could be willing to sacrifice more than his or her life in order to achieve it”
“I understand aunty, but do you really think that we can’t trust Twilight Sparkle? Her symbol represent magic and its studies, I’m sure she wouldn’t try it out, if we explains the risks”
I was answer immediately by my aunt giving me a deadpan stare “Tell me you jest”
“Ok point taken” I then notices the robin who had landed on my nightstand “And what is going to happen to him now” I look at Luna again “Are you going to turn him back into a dream again?”
“Nothing that extreme” She tells with a calm smile as she call the bird once more, as its flies and land on her finger “Creatures like this can of use to those lost in their own dreams” She breath on the robin and soon the feathers on it change to white and start to shine like a star. “Like lights that guides those scare and in search for help”
Moving her hand the, robin flew away and entered the void for witch he came from leaving behind a streak of white dust.
“Hope he is ok”
“Do not worry nephew, the robin will be safe and sound on my realm, and who knows maybe you will be able to encounter him again, in your next dream”
“Je I will make sure to keep an eye open for it” I told her as I try to stand up only to find most of my chest and the entire lower part of my body extremely heavy, and my energy almost gone.
“What the…” I try to move but to not avail
“Is there a problem nephew?”
“Yeah, I try to stand up but my body is not…” I start to tell but when I look back at her I notices how she was smirking at me.
“…Yes?” She ask with a raise eyebrow.
“You trick me into laying in bed and then drain me of my energy so I wouldn’t be able to fight the fatigue, didn’t you?”
Luna just giggle and nod in pride “You have being refusing to sleep for far too long young man” She bring me closer to her and putting a pillow under my head she rest next to me “I will not tolerate such crimes to continue for another second” She place a blanket on top of both of us. As I start to feel my energy starting to fade as well as my consciousness. “Now accept your punishment like a stallion”
“Weirdest punishment ever” I tell her with a roll of my eyes
“Just go to bed, Caeruleo, we will speak tomorrow” Luna tells me before I hear her lightly snoring besides me.
Wow, it really took a chunk of her energy if even she is sleepy
Hearing a bark I look to me right and see Pyra looking at me with a smile “Pyra my saviour, quickly help me get away from this bed”
To my horror she instead shake her head and approach my face “Pyra, what are you doing?”
She reach my cheek and start to lick it repeatedly “Pyra stop, Pyra, stop that” Soon I hear her purr as she nuzzle her own cheek with my own
“Pyra I command you, go get help, Pyra” In a last effort I see how she got underneath the blanket and then place herself on my chest and curl into a ball as she feel sleep. Her warm and fluffy fur, plus her light purr, were just too soothing for me to ignore as I was feeling my eyelash heavier and heavier.
“You…traitor” I manage to yawn before falling asleep.