Thread 16: Stories 106-121

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>SA
"Chrysalis"
'Cadence'
~~~~~~

>Make it stop...

"EEE! EEEEE! EEEEEEE~!"

>For the love of all that is good in this world, make it stop.

"E! E! E! E! E! EEEEEEEEE!"

>MAKE IT STOP!

'Chrysalis, would you please quit that?'

"Kay."

>...Seriously?

"What? She asked nicely."

>...

"...Fiiiixxxx...."

>...

'Can... can anyone else see, I don't know, fire? I see fire in his eyes. Little flames of some sort, and possibly a bunch of burning bodies on pikes, it's hard to make out.'

"Nahhhh, he's fine."

>....

"...Fiiiiiixxxxxxx...."

>...

'...His nose is bleeding.'

"Temporary setback, FIX!"

>...Okay.

'Shiny?'

>No no... give me time... it will be worth it... eventually.

"See? Totally reasonable."

'His voice went about five octaves lower.'

"Bah, you're imagining things."

>Soon... soon.... soon...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Trixie
"Guard"
'Zecora'
-MM-
~~~

>Are you SERIOUS!?

"As a heart attack, ma'am."

'Are you high, is that your issue? Stand aside or I will tear you like a tissue!'

"Can't let you into the castle."

-Give me ONE good reason!-

"Because that."

>What, because he's injured!? We can't take him to a hospital, idiot!

"No, it's not the fact I can see sparks flying from behind his eyes, it's the other thing."

'...I have no finger to silently voice it, so to your face I will have to tell. My good friend, oh guard of this castle, you can go right to hell.'

"Princess Applejack's orders. All of them are to be locked up in the center on the edge of the castle for their own protection."

>Buffaloshit! You just want to shove them off to draw her away from the castle!

"Just following orders, ma'am."

>...Run in the other direction?

'Do not be fooled by my frown. With this plan, I am down.'

-You sir may suck on the sharpest rock I can find.-

"Have fun out there."

>THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE WILL MAKE YOU EAT A DICK!
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>Pinkie
"42"
'77'
~~~
Pinkie Pie tags out with 42 who hops down into the arena to continue Spike's training, which seems to result in him mostly getting beaten up

'He's not progressing lately...'

"He's just hit a plateau, everyone does."

'He's been at this plateau for awhile.'

"sometimes it lasts years, I didn't just wake up one day and start kicking ass."

Pinkie soon joins them while Spike is healed by Twilight and Shining

>Yeah, hate to say it but without Charity or resorting to dragon rage, he couldn't kill time if he wanted to

"Hey, take that back, he damn near kicked my ass!"

>Well, guess that says something about your fighting style

"Yeah, and your gym kata is so much better."

>Gym kata was a great mo- Pffft! okay, I couldn't ever say that with a straight face.

'Well, look, I think Spike needs a break fro0m Jeet Kun Do and heavy brawling.... I think his problem is that there's a decidedly large gap between anatomies which would need an entirely new fighting style.'

>Jeet Kun Do works for everyone, silly! Moose Lee said so!

"Moose Lee is also a quadruped... He's right, Spike's different, so... What can anyone teach him?"

'... I think only another dragon can.'

TOOK PLACE BEFORE CURRENT ARC

CANON DEBATABLE
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>Chrysalis
"Chitania"
~~~
Chrysalis smirks with pride as she saunters around Chitania's prison

>Well, well, well... It seems the Juggernaut Queen is just a shrimp princess. Wow, I almost wish mom were still around to see this, she would have loved it, so I guess I'll just laugh for both of us, maybe even laugh for all the ponies who died. Bwahahahahaha!

Chitania just keeps smiling wider and wider

>Oh, what are you smirking about? I won, Equestria lost, and most of all, you lost!

"If that's what you think, little niece."

>... What are you planning.

Chitania just smiles and easily kicked over her cell and drags Chrysalis to her level, hooves crushing Chrysalis' throat and leaving her helpless

"I am here because I want to be. Because I know what a grand revolutionary your mother was. A vision in which changelings could live in harmony with ponies, a vision she entrusted to you. I am here because THIS is my front row seat to watch that vision go up in flames."

Chrysalis' flailing becomes weaker and weaker, any attempt to do magic ends with her concentration broken by either a lack of air or her face being slammed with enough force to leave lacking cracks in the chitin

"And i know your vision, your desire to survive no matter what, and when your hive, your empire gives its last breath, I will watch as the ponies tear you apart and even survival is taken from you. Meanwhile, I will be here, watching, waiting, laughing. Are we clear?"

She releases Chrysalis who staggers back, choking and gasping

"I'll take that as a 'yes'. Now, go on and play queen, little niece. Playtime and reality, you will find, do not mix."

And with those words, Chitania just sealed the door she had broken over her cell, her laughter echoing through the halls.

NON CANON
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>Applejack
[{("-Changelings-")}]
+Royal Guard+

>Here you go fella's, just like i promised, full access to the royal rec room for the day.

[Is that pool filled with Jello?]

{OH MY GOSH THEY HAVE AN ENTIRE PIT FILLED WITH JUGGLE BALLS OVER HERE!}

(This closet is full of your cake, you really dont mind us eating any?)

"This crying corner has cushions. Why didnt we think of that?!"

-This is why you're best princess, you're always so nice to us!-

[{("-Thank You Applejack!-")}]

>N-no problem. I'm going to lock the door so you wont be disturbed by any of the maids. Y'all have fun now, y'hear?

Exiting the room and locking the door behind her, she turns to the platoon of guards stationed in the hallway.

>Not a soul leaves that room until i say the password that i gave you all earlier.

+Yes M'am.+

>If one of them attempts to leave, escort him back into the room. If they persist...

She takes a moment to prepare for what she said next.

>Then they should be considered a threat to equestria's citizens and must be dealt with as such by any means necessary, am i clear?

+Understood M'am+

>Good, i'll be attending to our foreign guests should you have need of me.

Walking away from the room containing most of the changeling race, she tried very hard to put the memory of happy faces thanking her without a hint of distrust in their eyes.

As a single tear rolled down her face, she decided it was a lost cause.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They had hit her with everything they had. Every canon, every rocket, every spell, every bullet, every limb, every celestial body available.

So they decided to hit it with itself. They would hit it with the true maker, they would summon her.

Pargon

Pargon

Tier

Pargon

Pargon

Pargon

Fäust

Pargon

Pargon

From the heavens she descended, the mother of Celestia and Luna and perhaps all the universe in strange and alien form. She stood up right before Chitania, 'forelegs' at her sides, her coat a brilliant white and hair a dark, flaming red.

Who was this arrogant one who dared to challenge her? Chitania thought to herself and focused all her fury into a beam of green lightning and flames from her horn.

The goddess didn't even move, her eyes only flaring as a rose red portal opened before her and took the full might of the beam

And then a second one opened behind Chitania and ripped her back open with her own attack.

Howling in fury, the titan queen tried a direct strike with one of her forelegs, only for another portal to open and catch her attack. Before she could pull out her limb, the portal snapped shut, taking her arm with it and second portal opened to drop the limb next to the wounded queen, now bleeding profusely and scared.

Celestia's mother took the offense now and a beam of energy struck from heaven and slowly burned away Chitania's other foreleg, crippling the giant who now turned to flee with her remaining limbs, tears down her face.

Then, behind her, Chitania felt a searing heat and the pulling sensation of a vacuum that drew her into a final portal. But only half way.

With a final snap of space and time, Chitania was split a twain, the remains of her body siphoned away while Faust became ardent with a vengeful triumph.

NON CANON
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>Spike
"42"
'DT'
-77-
[PJ]
{???}
~~~~~

She didn't care.

That's what hurt most of all. When he was in the Highwind, she cared. When he blew up the warehouse next to her, she cared. When he was a threat, she cared.

But now he felt no bigger than a flea.

>Notice me.

Charity unloaded onto her back, her head, everywhere. She didn't even turn back. Didn't even look in his direction.

>Notice me.

A quick reload, and he was firing again. Stronger rounds. Better aim.

She didn't care.

>Notice me!

"Spike, damn it, stop! Even if she does notice us, what then!?"

'We're out of rockets, reinforcements, everything!'

-We need a plan.-

[And that plan can't be shooting blindly at the back of her head!]

>NOTICE ME GODDAMN IT!

At last, he put his final bullet in the chamber.
His most devastating one.
The one he was never supposed to use.

"Spike no! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!"

No time to think.
He just aimed for her head, and pulled the trigger.

{OW!}

The world around them went still.
He had missed.
He missed his shot.
Of all the times...

{Who dares!?}

She turned on them, and struck without warning.

Nowhere to run.
No time to hide.
It was all over.

That's when they all saw the light, and found themselves surrounded by ponies. A heavenly sound filled their ears.
But it was not the courts of paradise before them. No. It was huddled, scared masses. All holding together amidst the grass not far from the other side of the mountain Canterlot rested upon.
They had been saved.

'Well...'

Her tone was more than a little bitter.

'She noticed you.'
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>Chrysalis
“SA”
'Cadence'
~~~~~~

>FIIIIIIIIII-

“FIXED! OKAY! IT'S FIXED! THE PORTAL IS BACK ON! Are you happy now!? This is what you wanted, right!? THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED!”

>....Eehhhhh, now I'm not sure if I want to go.

“ARRRHGGHHHHHHALALABALALGHGLS!”

'Yaaaay! Now I can go mingle!'

>Right? So nice. Hah! Probably isn't going to be as exciting as the Gala, I'll bet.

'Oh, thank goodness. After that fiasco, I don't know if I could take another...'

They had stepped through the portal, expecting to find themselves within the confines of Canterlot Castle. It was a bit... windier than they remembered.

>What are the odds Celestia just lost her shit and blew that hole in the ceiling?

'Zero... pretty sure it was that.'

There she was, in all her glory. Stomping right towards the castle. For once, she hadn't gotten distracted.

>It... it can't be...

The Queen whirled, angrily shoving her face next to Shining Armor's.

>YOU SAID SHE WAS DEAD!

He was horrified at the destruction, but not enough not to push right back.

“No, YOU said she was dead! I said she was still in the ice!”

>DOES IT FUCKING LOOK LIKE SHE'S IN THE ICE!?

“No...”

With a gruff snarl, she shoved past him, tossing aside the fancy dress she had brought.

>Stay out of this, I'll fucking handle it because obviously I'm the only one who knows how to make sure someone is dead around here!

Shining Armor paid no mind to her, all of his focus instead on Cadence, his eyes wide with worry.

“Two's still here.”

They didn't stay wide for long.

“Get down there, see if she's with her class, and if she is, signal me, pick her up and get her home. I'm going to go find Celestia in case she's watching her, and if so I'll send a signal into the air for you. The moment we're done, we're going to meet up with everyone and start fighting back.”

She curtly nodded, every bit as determined

“Don't try to fight her on your own.”

She realized he didn't mean it like it sounded, but...

'Shiny, I am an Alicorn. I'm immortal, and I possess a lot of magic. Do not worry about me, I can handle myself. You worry about getting her back home.'

He wanted to say something to clarify, but there was no time. There was only time to give her a kiss, and then he was off.

“Be safe!”

Further down the hall, stomping her way past any guard who tried to stop her and interrogate or direct her, Chrysalis was not in the best of moods.

>Goddamn Chitania, fucking up everything. So much fucking work. So many goddamn problems. So much...

Despite her ire, she couldn't help but admire all the devastation caused.

>Hm, still the same old Auntie Chitty, isn't she?

Her demeanor turned a bit more sour when she noticed one of Highwind's engines.

>If she killed 42 or 77, I am going to be pissed. Still, that is quite... quite impressive. Oh my...

A feral roar rattled the castle. Pure, primal rage shaking the windows.

>Huh... you know... she's quite unfocused... and Shiny did say today was about meeting foreign dignitaries...

Her mood improved as her mind began to race.

>Maybe today can still pick up a bit.

The tenseness in her shoulders left her, and she was all but grinning as she made her way. A few preparations were in order, but it would all be worth it.

After all, mother did always say, “One in a million chances don't come around all that often. When they do...”

>Take it.
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Stay put.

That's what her teacher had said before she left. Stay put. Stay here with the others. It'll be fine.

But it wasn't fine.

There was a monster out there. And the portal was broken.

She kept asking the guard to let her go home, and he said the portal was broken. He said she couldn't leave. He said Shiny couldn't come get her. He said Caddy wouldn't pick her up. He said just wait and then she can go home.

So she did.

She stayed put. With the others. Just like teacher said. Just wait. It'll be fine. Just wait... Shiny will be here...

SHINY!

She didn't know how she knew he was here, but he was! He was he was he was!

So she got up.

She told the teacher the portal was open.

And she left to go home.

They tried to stop her, but she didn't let them. She just ran. She ran as fast as she could towards her portal. She would go home, get in her room, and wait for Shiny to beat up the monster. She'd make marchmalleys for him and they'll all watch a movie and it'll be fine. Fine fine fine. Shiny wouldn't be too mad. He said listen to the teacher, but the teacher kept trying to leave her alone in a room. Teacher probably thought Shiny needed to be there to pick her up, but she knew how to use the portal! She did!

So she was going home.

And everything was going to be fine.
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>Chitania
“???”
~~~~~

At last.

Her location skills may have been sub-par, if one was being generous, but even she could detect the Changelings at this close of a range. They must have hid themselves well, but not well enough. Soon, she would be upon them.

But she was so close to the castle now. So close to where the Sun Goddess was no doubt lying in wait for her. She had heard many a story about her, how she moved the sun and moon as if they were baubles. No doubt one as immortal and powerful as herself was nothing more than slightly annoyed at her cities destruction. The being surely thought she would waltz right up to her, and face her summarily. But their confrontation would have to wait, Chitania had bigger things to deal with.

Her revenge was tantamount, the thing that must be done now. As loathsome as she was to admit it, she was damaged. She felt tiny cracks on her chitin and bruises hidden beneath the black skin. With no love to heal with, she was running lower on power than she had ever been before. She would have to take everything from her sister to be back at full strength.

Not that this would be a problem, of course.

“HALT!”

She did not know who had dared to stop her, but she was not going to take such an insult lying down.

>Who has the gall...

No.

It can't be.

Not yet.

“You will not go one step further, monster!”

>Princess Celestia, I presume?

The Alicorn in question seemed confused by her inquiry.

“I am not Celestia.”

There's more!? Alicorns were the things of legend! But one was said to be unstoppable in power! How could there be three of them in this city!? Damn damn damn! She was in no condition to take an Alicorn head on in this state! Their power was said to flatten cities, no way could she survive a direct hit!

“I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Alicorn of Love! You have done a great harm to this city, brought fear and hate to those within it, and you will go no further! In the name of Equestria, YOU DIE!”

Damn her massive size! There's no way she could dodge in time! That blast will surely...

Huh?

>What... what was that?

It hadn't hurt her at all. In fact, she actually felt a little better. If she looked particularly close on her chitin, she swore she saw it healing.

“Y-you... No, I didn't use my love magic for that! Or did I...”

Her strange faltering had only lasted a second.

“No! If you will not fall by my magic, then I shall make you feel it! I shall make you feel love for all that you have hurt! Your heart will be your own undoing!”

What appeared to be a cartoonish heart floated above the Princesses head, and shot forward. Chitania felt the magic surround her, try to make her think as she wished, make her feel.

It just made her feel more healed, actually. She could absorb the magic before it did a single thing to her mind. It was a magic forged of pure, undiluted love. She may as well have been throwing a floppy steak at a dragon. Oh, it felt good...

Her savage smile only grew wider, and the pink pony before her seemed to shrink.

>Anything else?

“I... I-”

>Good.

She swung her hoof as if she was aiming for a particularly nasty fly, putting forth all of her lessening power and sending the pink Alicorn clear up and into one of the towers on the castle. She did not know why the sun goddess had sent such a worm, but hopefully that would get the message across. Chitania was not some insect to be crushed on a whim.

>And I thought we had a problem with false Queens.

She grunted contemptuously, not even bothering to chuck something at the crumbling tower to make sure the princess stayed down.

>Apparently this place is infested with these fake Alicorns. Hrmph. They must be more amusing than they seem. Perhaps I'll keep a few around after this.

Oblivious to the heartbreak she had caused in the pink pony, the sheer feeling of uselessness, Chitania continued on.

Her target was finally in her grasp.

And she could feed.
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>Chitania
“???”
'Various'
~~~~~~

Huddling together in the ballroom probably wasn't the most dignified way to act during an invasion.

Screeching like fillies about to violently lose their viginities was somehow even less so. But they were sure few would blame them. After all, wouldn't you scream in terror when the top of the building you were in was abruptly ripped off and tossed aside?

If not, the giant Changeling staring down at them certainly was enough to justify it.

'AHHHHHH!'

'WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEEE!'

'I DON'T WANNA DIE A VIRGIN!'

'THAT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY!'

She roared, cutting off their frightened speech. She didn't look angry at them particularly, really, just annoyed.

>Is this it? Mother Chitanious The Wall Breaker, this is a sorry state.

By virtue of democratic vote, taken in the form of all of them grabbing at random and chucking the one grabbed the most, one unlucky changeling was shoved forward. AJ 13 cursed her fate once again, but tried to put on a smiling face.

'C-c-c-can we help you? Maybe some tea? You like little cakes? We've got little cakes... how about some directions?'

She looked at them as if she were weighing a limp fruit she wasn't sure she was actually going to purchase.

>Do I really want to do this?

'Kill us? No. No you do not. That is not something you want to do. Glad I could clear that up, and we will be more than happy to answer further questions regarding our totally unnecessary deaths.'

She ignored him, and sighed.

>I suppose it would be cruel to let you all wander after I finish killing your Queen. I don't want you, but it's only fair. I suppose you are... surprisingly well fed, actually. If nothing else you will make for excellent sources of food.

'...Come again?'

>Where is my sister?

'I-I-I d-d-don't think you u-u-”

>WHERE IS YOUR QUEEN!?

'S-s-s-s-s-s-shhheeee, uh, w-w-w-we-'

She roared in frustration.

>FINE! Then I'll just start killing you until she arrives!

They weren't even given a chance to voice their fear before a leg shot down, aimed squarely at the poor unlucky soul they had shoved forward. She expected a messy splat.

She received nothing but air and floor. He had gone, spirited away just seconds before death.

“Oh fine! I guess I can't keep my public waiting any longer!”

In a burst of green fire and far too much pomp, the Queen had arrived. She stood tall, proud, not a hint of fear upon her face.

“Oh my, is that you, Auntie Chitania? Oh joyous day, you're alive. Can't you see how excited I am? Bursting with joy, want you to know.”

Confusion marred Chitania's otherwise anger ridden face.

>Who the fuck...

“Ohhh, don't be like that, it's me! Chrysalis! You remember. Sat on you lap, you used to tell me all kinds of stories, it was a blast.”

>...You... my sister...

“Has bowed out of the grand stage of life, and in her place I, Queen Chrysalis, reign!”

The laughter was deep, mocking, nearly hysterical.

>She actually let YOU take over!?

The smile never left Chrysalis's lips.

“Always the asshole, Chitania.”

It never left Chitania's either.

>Oh well, I was hoping to crush my pathetic sister for her transgressions... but you'll have to do.

She abruptly swung, aiming right for Chrysalis's head. The massive appendage past through nothing but air as a green fire engulfed the smaller Queen, and she vanished.

Chitania was no stranger to the earth shaking beneath her hooves, but usually she had to stomp down for that to happen. Usually, the floor beneath her didn't just abruptly crack and fracture.

It seemed today was an exception.

She did not expect green fire to erupt from the cracks, nor did she expect them to surround her, and engulf her. She certainly did not expect to blink, and see only crystal and cave all around her.

>You... You mastered fire flight...

A chipper, happy laugh resounded around her, echoing through the empty cavern.

“Yep! Not even mom could pull that one off. Oh, it's served me so well... say, do you want to know what else I can do? Would love to show you this, you'll be so happy!”

What sounded like a hellish screeching resounded in her head. The walls seemed to amplify the sound, making it ring as if she had stuck her head in a bell and bounced around within it. She roared, aimlessly swinging and cracking the walls surrounding her. Her defenses lowered, wave after wave of green fire lanced into her hide, her face, her back. It was only after she stumbled to the ground that the screeching stopped, replaced with laughter instead. She did not know what stung more, her head, her skin, or her pride.

“Oooh, looks like that one hurt.”

>Arctiidaes technique... she would be furious if she knew you were using it against me.

“Meh, who cares. DEAD!”

>Oh?... Interesting. Who is her replacement?

“Nada.”

>Never met her.

“Nada as in nobody replaced her. Dead.”

>... Where is her hive?

“Dead.”

>None of the other Queens took them in?

“Nothing to take in.”

>What...

There was a silence after that.

“Oh, are you really going to make me go down the list for them? Look, I'll save you the slow revelation. It's just me. I'm it. That hive up there? That's all of them. ALL of them. Well, almost all, couple scattered about for a bit of... eh you get the point. They are the last hive.”

She was still for a long time after that.

>...You are the last Queen?'

“Besides you, yes. Which is why I have a little proposition for you. See, I have it kind of swank now, but I could always use a bit of... let's say, teamwork? There is quite a lot two Queens of our power could pull off, so many... many possibilities open up now. Oh sure, we'll have to do a bit of fast talk, and I-”

>Good.

“...What?”

Her bout of confusion had no time to take hold. The great Queen snapped her hooves sideward, shaking the entire cavern, as she shattered a particularly thick collection of crystals, but found nothing.

>I had planned to kill every Queen. So much time can be spared now, though sadly so many battles left forever unfought. In thanks, I will take good care of your hive.

A green arc of energy lanced out, cutting across Chitania's face. She didn't even flinch, just struck back. Nothing again.

“You idiot, we don't have to fight over a hive like this! Just have your own brood! Bolster our ranks! I can probably find a willing partner for you...”

She hesitated in her attacks, for just a second. It wasn't long, but Chrysalis noticed it.

“What... you haven't had your brood yet! Bullshit!”

The cold, bubbling fury started to seethe over, and the attack's speed increased.

“Bullshit bullshit bullshit! I was there! I helped 'dispose' of the bodies to keep us secret! Those were your mother's!”

>One.

“No, you did not have your one! Don't lie to me like that! And even if you did, it's theoretically POSSIBLE to have more than one, it's just... not...”

She didn't need to say it.

“...You... you had ONE... ONE!? Heh... ahah... AHAH! HAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHA~!”

>Quiet.

But she did not. She only laughed louder.

“AHAHAHAH~! CHITTY'S DEFECTIVE~! CHITTY'S DEFECTIVE~!”

>BE SILENT!

Blasts of green energy launched out in every direction, ripples of explosive green fire lighting up the cave.

“Ooooh, Chitty Chitty! Is that why you're so mad? Tsk tsk! Always so bitter, you defective ones. Well, you can't have my hive, it's mine. I don't care if you're broken.”

She let out a roar of pure, unadulterated fury.

>I DON'T EVEN WANT YOUR DAMNED HIVE! I JUST WANT YOU! YOU AND-

The monstrous form turned around, and there she was. A Queen so much smaller, and yet... she was smiling wide.

“Oooooh, Chitty. Never a good idea to lose your focus like that. Minds are so much more... easy when they're hazy. Foggy. Unfocused.”

Chiantia's head rocked back and she howled as a bolt of green energy launched from Chrysalis's horn and touched her forehead. It was as if a drill had sunken in right into her temple.

“Your skin may be impenetrable, but that big old brain of yours is just as soft and squishy as any.”

Chitania's head met stone as she rammed against it, the feeling of her mind being taken over was akin to blades whirring within her head.

“So much more easy to talk to now, I have to say. Now what you're going to do is go up there, say how absolutely sorry you are and beg for forgiveness, and then I'm going to convince a certain someone to take you 'into custody', and we are going to leave and have a nice, long, loooong talk. Wouldn't that be nice, Auntie Chitania? Don't you want to catch up with dear little Crissy? There's so much I would just love to show you.”

Gradually, her struggles began to slow.

“Atta girl... isn't that so much nicer? Don't you just love that feeling? Isn't being all content than being angry?”

>Angry?

And just like that, her lungs were filled with ice.

>You don't know angry.

Like a finger being pressed just under her horn, Chrysalis began to feel her absolute control waver.

>I can show you angry.

A bolt fired right back, cutting through Chrysalis's own mental defenses, and showing her... things. Things that made even Chrysalis's will waver just enough that the larger Queen could break free. Her own mental defenses were far too strong to be taken over, but the counter-attack did what it needed to. Distract her.

Just long enough for Chitania to vanish.

Chrysalis stood there, awkwardly looking in every direction as everything went silent.

A silence only broken by a flare of magic, and words coldly spoken.

>It was always going to end this way, tiny one.

She did not strike at her with hooves or magic. No, she simply snorted deeply, and hocked a glob of green goo right into Chrysalis's legs. The shocked Queen had no time to dodge before the substance hardened immediately and locked her into the ground.

>But I am not without my mercy for an old acquaintance... you deserve the chance I was granted.

A black, chitinous hoof shot out, and slammed into the wall.

>...it is possible you will fare as well as I did... but I'm not holding my breath.

Chrysalis's howl of fury was drowned out amidst the walls and rubble collapsing around her. She did not know if this was planned, or simple circumstance. All she knew was that the world was falling down upon her...

And Chitania had vanished with a smile.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Guard
'Celestia'
“???”
~~~

'Damn it all.'

There were fires everywhere. Devastation and destruction. But worst of all...

'Where did she go?'

The Changelings had said Chrysalis had vanished along with her. Perhaps the Queen was finally proving her worth?

'And maybe I'll suddenly become allergic to sweets.'

The doors to her room slammed open, a harrowed looking soldier rushing inside before coming to a stop behind her.

>MAJESTY! She's attacking from behind!

Her eyes flew wide in horror, looking out over her balcony to find...

Nothing.

'What are you-'

>I said...

The changing voice was the only warning she would receive.

>From behind.

Goddamn Changelings.

The spectators outside screeched in horror as the Princess's balcony exploded in a flurry of destruction and black skin. Celestia hit the ground hard, the mother of all sucker-punches taking away even the thought of retaliation. Her wings and back had been shattered from the sheer, unbridled force behind that blow. Every drop of Chitania's might had gone into that, and she felt it. The Queen landed just in front of the princess, horn pointed low and ready to strike when the alabaster Alicorn arose.

And she waited.

And waited.

>Are... are you done!? You are the sun raiser, are you not!? Is this another false... no, no you are real. You are real!? This is Celestia!?

She was too dazed to respond. Perhaps if she had not used so much magic to protect her subjects, this would be less of an issue. But alas, she was drained dry, and that was before being hit with a bomb vaguely shaped like a black hoof.

>This is a goddess..

If anything, this only seemed to make her angrier.

>I had heard you were an immortal being of unbridled power.

Her grin grew savage, and she reared back.

>I feel a tinge of regret you did not live up to the hype.

And then she swung down.

Bloop!

>...WHAT THE FUCK!?

“You know, retired or not, my Princess getting attacked so often is not really all that good for my record.”

Before she could turn her rage filled eyes towards the sound, the shield blocking her suddenly expanded, knocking her upwards, and leaving her vulnerable for a magical grip to take hold of her horn, and pull backwards. She flailed almost comically as she landed on her back, and was given no time to recover before she noticed the dozen or so spheres hovering above her.

All the size of a house.
All carrying explosives.

She howled in fury as they rained upon her, taking full advantage of her vulnerable state to rock her right to the core. But the bombs themselves were just a ruse. In her frenzied state, she couldn't fight off the barrier that formed around her, containing the blasts that went off... and taking away all her air.

She was already wounded, tired, winded from the constant bombardment she had faced since arrival. The lack of oxygen made her muscles burn, feel weak. Her massive tree trunks for legs suddenly felt like sticks. She tried to swing, tried to shatter the barrier that at any other time would have been a cakewalk to break through. But she could not. At last, with literally every scrap of firepower they could gather together thrown at her, she fell. Only with her oxygen destroyed could she be stopped.

That's when she saw him.

“Celestia? You okay?”

The damned Alicorn looked annoyed. Of all things to be, she was annoyed when that white stallion tenderly checked her over.

“Just meant in the general 'My immortality is going to fix me' sense.”

'Yes, Shining Armor. I'll be fine.'

“You sure?”

'Yes, Shining Armor.'

“Because you don't-”

'SHINY!'

“...Yeah, should probably stop stalling. So... you're Queen Chitania.”

If she had any sense to her, she would have been awestruck by his almost pitying tone when he regarded her, dispelling away the bubble and at last allowing her to breath again.

“I've heard a lot about you.”

Wearily, his eyes looked around the devastation of the city. But the look in his eyes as he turned back to her held no malice.

“You lived up to the stories, I admit. But Chitania... you've been in that ice a long time. A long, long time. I understand why you did this, really. From what I've heard, you have every reason to think we were a threat to you, that we would try to kill you. You sought revenge, but there's none to really be had. You may think you need to destroy us, but it does not have to be this way, not anymore.”

He gestured outward.

“Pony and Changeling can live in peace now. Working together, not fighting. You do not have to live under the threat of us killing you out of fear... but you hurt a lot of innocents today. Your actions may have been justified to you, but that does not excuse them. However...”

He smiled. He actually smiled at her.

“That doesn't mean you're beyond forgiveness. As big as you are, as powerful as you are, there is a place for you in this world. If you want... I can help you find it.”

He saw it in her eyes. She was thinking about it. She was considering it. She was honestly mulling over everything he had said to her.

Which was why it was all the worse when her eyes went dark.

>Never again.

Her horn flared up with green magic. He recognized that hue, it was the one Chrysalis had when she used telekinesis magic. But what the hell could she be grabbing-

'NOOOO!'

Her scream froze his heart cold. In the span of a blink, he went from staring the monster in the face, to watching her stand tall above him.

With Applejack Two right in one of the holes on her legs.

And that's when his heart collapsed.

Chitania cackled with glee as she sapped the love from the smaller Changeling. Such a massive supply! Why, she had never felt so much from one of the drones before! She had just been reaching out blindly before, but it seemed she had hit the jackpot and then some with this one. Once she sapped it all, she would be right back to-

>...Oh, how cute, you put up a little barrier!

Indeed, her draining had been halted by the magical barrier surrounding the little thing that had gone limp thanks to all of her energy being drained so quickly. She was not quite back at full power yet, but no matter. All she had to do was crush the stallion and...

>...Fucking coward.

Just like she had expected, he was gone.

>All talk, just like I thought.

'PUT HER DOWN!'

The blasts that clipped into the side of her face were merely an annoyance, nothing more. Still, the Alicorn was determined, it seemed. Broken wings and broken legs kept her from walking. Meaning it was impossible to dodge when Chitania leaned back, and ignited her horn.

>There is only one end for those who seek to command Chitania the Titan.

Her drawn out, malicious cackle rang out through the air.

>Dea-

She would have finished it. Really, she would.

But it was hard to speak when you couldn't breath.

And it was hard to breath when a giant blue machine of some sort is trying to force it's way into her lungs.

In the span of a blink of her eyes, the giant creature vanished from Celestia's vision. It was only by following the sound of rockets screaming and a furious, gasping roar that she could spot the blue shape arcing up into the air, and gaining speed.

Furious chitinous hooves smashed against the offending Juggernaut that lifted her into the sky, each swing tearing off massive chunks of it as if it were made of aluminum foil. Every weapon firing into her barely even registered, all she could focus on was this infernal machine, and making it HURT.

A lucky swing opened up her view to the cockpit, where that same white stallion was staring back at her, his eyes no longer soft and understanding. She knew that look. That was the look of pure, focused, rage.

She felt the bubble she had all but forgotten about slip from the hole in her leg, and move backwards towards the still glaring stallion.

“This is mine.”

He slammed his hoof into a button. What it did, she had no idea.

“And you can have the rest.”

Just like that, he leapt from the cockpit, out into the open air.

She barely had time to notice that the rockets had suddenly stopped before the screeching sound filled her ears, and everything went white.

Miles away, back at Canterlot, Celestia watched the explosion of the machine's magical core detonating light up the sky.

And she screamed.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
~~~~~~

The greatest Shieldcaster alive.

He still remembers the pride he felt when his old commander gave him that moniker. It had been a term of endearment, but he considered it truth all the same. However, the current tingly ringing going through his body made him question that title once more. His shield may have prevented him from becoming a bloody smear upon the ground, but that didn't mean it was going to protect him through and through.

Especially not when he focused so much attention on... her.

The wreckage was still raining around him, falling to the ground like fiery bits of the sky breaking loose. Not that it mattered overall, a bit more flame here or there certainly didn't stand out in this place. Where else would you find such a sight, but within the cone of a volcano?

He didn't have to peer over the edge to see that it was very much active, and quite intense. It's funny, were it not for his years of servitude under the Princess of the Sun, he likely would have burned away by now. But no time for reminiscence. There was another who needed his attention. The far too small, far too still little bundle floating in the shield he had summoned.

>T-Two?

He couldn't see her breath. The smoke and the bright light of the fires made it hard to see anything.

>Two... it's Shiny. Can you wake up for me, baby? I need you to open your eyes.

No response, not even a twitch.

>...Applejack Two, you open your eyes right this second! We do not have time to play games!

Nothing.

>TWO!

Something, finally.

Just not what he was hoping for.

As if a megaton bomb had gone off behind him, soot, sulfur and stone shot in every direction. Had he the sanity, he would have cursed the heavens for such rotten luck as to miss sending her into the damn lava like he planned. With the crumble of rocks and metal against a solid hide, he could only pray that he would turn to find her corpse staring back at him.

Alas.

>Are you fucking kidding me!?

The Changeling did not answer with with words, but with a roar of fury. Her chitin may have been slightly charred and splintered, but she was no less imposing now.

How he wished more than anything that his wife was here with him now. How he wished he could call upon her vast love, and recharge his might and bring it to untold heights. He did not have his sister's vast surplus of power. He did not have the untold well of magic of an Alicorn. He did not have those things. All he had was his shield spells...

She charged like a mad bull, her horn aimed low and pointed directly at his white chest. Goring him to death. Not subtle, but effective. Or it would have been, if he hadn't teleported away at the last moment. You would think a massive wall of heated rock from a volcano would slow her down slightly more than a wet paper towel. You would think wrong.

Her screech of frustration gave way to a roar of pain when the first shield collided with her. It was no bigger than a watermelon, but it did it's job well. Delivering a wad of the hottest substance on the planet right onto her already injured chitin. Many more followed.

It only pissed her off.

The walls crumbled and rocked as he dodged her, slipping into crevices that surely were too small for her to fit. But when Chitania finds a wall she cannot fit through, she does not go around. She does not move for the wall. The wall moves for her.

Her brief slowing as she moved through the earth like a black drill from hell gave him the perfect opportunity to resume pelting her with the spheres of lava. They burned, they hurt her, but they could not stop her.

And all it took was one stray swing of her limb to rock the entire mountain, just enough to get him off his balance, and allowing her to follow up with a blow that would have turned him into a messy pace if it had even grazed him. It may have passed over his head, but somehow a phantom force still overcame him, throwing him clear across the room. He clutched the still unconscious Changeling closer to his chest, shielding her from the brunt of the force as his body rolled across the dirt, but he could not keep his grip. She came to a stop a mere two feet from him.

Dazed, he could only watch as she resumed her charge.

>No.

Time slowed down as she closed in. She would crush him. She would crush his daughter. She would leave, and she would crush his family.

>No!

But only if he let her.

>NO!

Chitania roared again, but not in challenge. In pain.

And at last, she stopped.

She stared, confused. What had hit her? What could have possibly-

Again, something hit her side, burning into her like a drill. And then another, from the other side this time. Another. Another. Another!

Furiously, she began swinging in every direction, aimless, meaningless, nothing but anger! Nothing to aim at, she aimed at everything! Were it not for this fury, she may never have finally caught one of the offending projectiles. It was a shield, and yet, not a shield. It was warped, distorted, pointed at the end like a spear. Within it bubbled more lava, it's heat allowed to sear through the magic and burn her hooves. It was a mockery of a barrier, a cruel joke to the idea of defense.

And then it exploded.

>Hydrogen Sulfide.

In her brief haze, she could just barely hear his voice over her hacking as a toxic air surrounded her, infesting the smoke clouding her vision.

>Not that I expect you to know anything about chemistry, so I'll cut to the basics.

The smoke was dispelled with one swing.

Allowing her to see the dozen or so projectiles pointed right at her.

>It go boom.

The first few slammed into her, as expected. But the others focused elsewhere, hammering at her wings, cracking the edge of the place she stood upon, and pushing against her chest. She went back at the precise moment he wanted.

Exactly when a giant plume of lava shot up and nearly engulfed her.

He was aching, tired, feeling like he had just run every marathon in the world at the same time. But damn it, it felt good to watch that big, black shape fall forward, waves of molten lave rolling off it's hardening form and covering every inch into a black, misshapen blob. It cricked, it rumbled, and then... it was still.

He breathed one last sigh of relief, and went to collect his daughter.

Crack.

>...ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?

From within the black mound of hardened lava and crumbled stone, she emerged. She was no longer the massive, unspeakably tall monster she had been. She was no bigger than Chrysalis, actually a bit shorter, in height at least. And yet... she looked no less terrifying.

“Yeah.”

She growled, her eyes practically on fire.

“Not dead.”

The hardest fight of his life.

And it was only round one.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
“Chitania”
~~~~~
Fighting her solo was a poor decision.

She was no less brutal in her shorter form. She rampaged forward and hammered at whatever he could throw up just as powerfully as if she were still as tall as a dragon. Hooves, horn, head, even her damn teeth scraped at his barrier. His magical telekinesis may as well have been pulling at the wind for all the good it did. There was only one thing that slowed her down.

When she finally broke through, and focused more on just hammering him like a stubborn nail that wouldn't go down.

Were it not for his more intense training recently, he would not have blocked a single blow. Were it not for all the hours spent against a honed fighter, he would not have gotten a single retaliatory strike in. But he did. He held his own. Well, if you could consider barely staying conscious 'holding his own'. He was no slouch, but he was not the pure ball of fury and hate that nearly caved in his chest when it sent him rolling backwards.

But he could not stay down.

Especially not when her eyes turned to the prone Changeling.

She had that hungry look in her eyes. As if his daughter was merely a scrap of food, a quick recharge before she resumed her rampage, and nothing more.

>Wait..

She did not, ignoring him as she trotted towards that well of power.

>Wait! Don't hurt her! She's not involved in this!

“Of course she isn't, I don't care. I need a boost so I can get back there and finish what I started. That Sun Goddess will fall.”

And then she paused to think.

“Hmmm, I might have to make sure I killed that other one too. Certainly I'll make sure with the pink one. Noisy little pest.”

And then his world stopped.

>What... what did you say?

Her eyes held nothing but contempt as she neared the downed Changeling.

“Your gods were such a disappointment... as such, maybe it's time for a new God to take their place... this worthless drone will make a fine stepping stone.”

That was all he could take.

>You... you monster...

She may have the fury of hell within her, but even she had to pause and cock an eye at that.

>You MONSTER!

Something in his eyes...

>YOU MONSTER!

She expected the stallion to react in many ways.

Him charging full force into her side was not one of them. Him finding the strength to lift her off her hooves and slam her into the ground was even less so.

It was hard to see the rage bubbling over in his eyes as his hooves stamped down on her face over and over again. He had thrown all tactics to the wind. All that was left is the hoof on his legs, and the desire to see her blood across the floor. Can't have that.

His eyes rolled back, temporarily stunned, after she jutted her head forward and collided with his forehead. She expected him to roll off. She did not expect him to swing his head right back, and crash right into her nose. Again, and again, and again.

A moment of clawing desperation, and her hoof finally found purchase, a wad of black soot. Perfect. He screamed in pain, the substance burning his eyes. Finally, she could roll him off her, and chuck him clear into the wall beside them. Unsurprisingly, he shook off the damage.

>Y-you...

His voice was raspy, tired.

>You just don't care, do you?

She bucked backwards, catching him right under the chin and sending him to the ground. He didn't stay down.

>Oh no, it doesn't matter that we'll help you. It doesn't matter how much worse you're making everything. It doesn't matter that we'd let fucking DISCORD have a chance. It doesn't matter how much I wanted to help you, noooo. You don't care how much it hurts.

His horn was not sharp enough to pierce her hide, but she felt it all the same as it hit a weak spot in her neck, and made it hard to breath. She didn't stay down either.

>What is wrong with you? Why can't you understand!? How are you so... broken.

He didn't know what part of his speech was making her shake like that, and honestly had no time to question it. All he had time for was to rear back and strike her right across the face.

“You think I'm stupid!?”

That's when she was in the air. No longer able to fly, she simply used her weight and strength. He brought another shield up to protect himself, it just barely held.

“You don't WANT to live with us! You want our power, you want our magic, you want our loyalty, but I will give you nothing! I may have been foolish enough to consider the offer once...”

The blows were coming fast and furious now. Slamming over and over into the magic that flickered more with every strike.

“NEVER AGAIN!”

Like glass, his barrier shattered, and she was upon him. Her hoof was on his throat now, pressing down, cutting off his air.

“It was you fuckers, not us.”

Her free appendage went up, pointing right at his face, ready to crush him like a melon.

“We were all the same to you.”

>OH SHUT UP!

His mouth shot forward, sinking into her cracked and splintered skin. He painfully twisted her off of him, a buck to her side sending her sliding across the shaking platform.

>I don't care about your excuses. All I know is you hurt them, you hurt the ones I love, and you are not leaving this place alive!

She hissed, pointedly ignoring what felt like broken ribs.

“You're starting to make me mad.”

He wiped the blood from his nose.

>Feelings mutual.

And then they charged.

She had no magic to make her strong. She didn't need it.

He had no magic to shield her blows, he didn't need it.

Lava erupted besides them, but they did not need it's fires.

All they needed was their rage, and their might.

The blows agains one and other ended with a CRACK, and a body body hitting the ground.

Still standing, Chitania smiled.

“H-hah!”

Her every breath came in with a wheeze, but she did not care.

“Y-you really thought you would win? I am CHITANIA THE TITAN! I have the might of the ancients, born in the eye of an unspeakable storm, mover of the mountains high! All you have are your tiny little sparks! You little glowing lights are nothing but tricks, worthless! Where is your precious magic now?!”

>Behind you.

Instinctively, she jumped to the side. But nothing went past. She dodged nothing but air.

And that's when the stone beneath her cracked, and a giant chunk of the platform broke free. Her forelegs dug into the crumbling dirt just before she could be sent plummeting along with it, leaving her lower half dangling off the edge. The rest would have gone with her, if a pair of hooves blackened with soot had not slammed down on hers.

He stood tall over her, now covered from hooftip to horntip in that dark powdery substance, looking down on her with narrowed, contemptuous eyes.

>A noble stallion would save you out of altruism.
…
>A caring stallion would save you out of pity.
…
>A stallion of the law would save you to be tried.
…
>A strong stallion would save you because it's right.

“And what kind of stallion are you?”

He brought his face low, looking her right in the eyes.

>A weak one.

And his hooves went up.
And she slid down.

Time slowed as her hooves scraped stone as she slid backwards.
Slowed even more as she felt the fires of the lava get closer and hotter with every inch backwards.
Even more when she could no longer feel stone against her chitin, and she floated in the open air.
And then it stopped.

Her curses to his name were silenced as she hung there, a magic grip upon her hoof the only thing keeping her from dropping to her certain doom. At the last second, he had reached out. But even as she hissed and kicked at the air he did not look at her. His eyes were focused elsewhere.

At the tiny little bundle that had begun to stir.

His face seemed to melt, aghast. Tears began prickling at his eyes, barely visible thanks to all of the soot and dirt on his face.

He carelessly hurled her up, tossing her to safety from the collapsing platform. She was nothing more than an afterthought at the moment. His vision tunneled squarely on the twitch of two small little legs.

>T-Two? Did you... are you..

She didn't respond verbally. But nothing could bring him more relief than watching her inhale sharply, and breath.

For a time, he just watched her. His chest contracting and feeling heavy. He was too tired to move from that spot anyway. Too wounded to care if the Changeling behind him could still stand. Even now, she could be advancing on him, and he would have no way to stop her.

If her legs hadn't been ringing like a bell in an earthquake, she likely would have gone right back to charging.

“Is she yours?”

His throat suddenly felt very tight.

>Yes.

“Who is her mother?”

>...I don't know, I only met her a few months ago.

The silence resumed, punctuated by a wave of lava shooting up.

“There is no blood between you?”

>No.

She inhaled sharply, painfully rising to stand.

“...why?”

His hoof rubbed against the small Changeling's head, brushing through the now frayed mane.

>I thought she woke up.

“And?”

The pain in his chest could have been from the broken ribs, but he doubted it.

>I couldn't let her see that. She shouldn't... I can't let her think that was right. She thinks I'm...

He turned back, finally allowing the Queen to see the streaks on his cheeks.

>I can't stop you like that. That was... that was wrong.

"There is no such thing."

His eyes narrowed, just a bit.

>Then are you going to keep fighting me?

She didn't answer him. Taking it to be a negative, he lifted the small Changeling up, as gently as he would handle the most precious and fragile porcelain sculpture, and placed her upon his back.

And that's when the volcano had finally had enough, and the world started to turn red.

And all they could do is run.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"Chitania"
~~~~

There was no camaraderie between them as they escaped.

When he slowed from hitting a patch of unsteady stone, she shoved right past him without care. When she stumbled upon a bit of uneven dirt, he offered her no assistance back up. When the walls began to crack and fissure, they pushed against one another to get away from it. Even as broken and beaten as they were, the battle had never stopped.

Not even when they finally reached daylight, just an instant before the mountain behind them let loose, and spewed fire into the sky. The lave could not reach them. They were safe. At least, from the forces of nature.

Her eyes narrowed. The fury had never gone out.

His eyes narrowed. The brief flicker backwards saying all that needed to be said.

“Are you going to try to 'save' me?”

It was a long war within himself, before he could finally answer.

>No. Not right now.

“Oh?”

>I should. It would be the right thing to do. Our lives would be infinitely better if you worked with us. Stood by us. Helped us. But you know... I just can't bring myself to reach out to you.

“Because I'm a... 'monster'?”

>You had your reasons, I'm sure. Stupid and wrong as they are, you convinced yourself they were right. A part of me wants to help you. You have a heart. You have a mind. You could be saved... but that part of me can't be heard. All I hear is 'you hurt them, and you are not sorry'. Maybe someday I can be the knight she thinks I am, and I'll reach out to you... maybe someday, you'll feel remorse, we will work to make your wrongs set right, and we will stand together... as allies. But for now, all I want is for you to walk away, and never come back.

She was tense, ready to go forward.

He was just as tense, ready to finish the fight.

She made the first move.

“I hate ponies.”

>I don't care.

“But you are one.”

>...What?

“You are one. One pony.”

>...

“...And someday, you are going to be the last pony.”

>You haven't learned a thing.

“Ha... haha... Oh. Dear Shining Armor, I learned something today.”

Her eyes traveled up... and up... and up...

“There are gods upon this place. There are beings who can control chance and circumstance. The sun. The moon... even love itself.”

Her smile grew wicked.

“And I can kick their ass.”

>You're mad.

“Maybe... or maybe...”

She turned her back on him, and began to make her way down the mountain. Little by little, her body regained it's former massive size.

“Maybe I've just outgrown those false gods, and need to move on to the real thing.”

He didn't watch her walk away, didn't need to. She was going towards empty desert for hundreds of miles around, and he had a tired little girl who needed to be tucked in.

It was going to be a long, long walk back home... but he'll do it.

For her.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"2"
~~~~

It was dark as he trotted along the old, barely used road towards Canterlot. It was a forgotten one, he wasn't likely to see anyone around for miles yet. Which was good, he supposed, he needed some time to think to himself. It was just him, the cool night air, and-

“Shiny?”

Aaaand, of course she wakes up now.

>Go back to sleep, Two. We're almost home.

“...I wasn't sleepin'.”

His trot slowed, just a bit.

>How much did you see?

“...Lotta' it.”

>Did you see... the end?

“...Yeah.”

Damn it, good thing she couldn't see his face. Probably would not help to let her see him cry.

>Two, I...

“You saved her.”

>... I didn't want to.

Her little face found purchase in his mane.

“S'okay, I didn't wanna go to the dentist either, but I had ta'. Auntie Applejack didn't wanna do the paperwork, but she did it.”

>It's a little different.

“Yeah, the paperwork didn't punch her... I think. Spike said it knocked her out one time, but I wassn there.”

Oh damn, it felt good to laugh.

“Can you fix her?”

Okay.
This is it.
Just like we practiced.
Be a dad.

>I can only fix her if she wants to get fixed. If she wanted me to help her move on from all her anger and hate, I would. As much as she hurt us, it's still better to give those like her a chance, and do what we can to help them move on. But if she doesn't, if she wants to keep wrecking things and hurting others, then we can't. We can fix a building, Two, but not if the building keeps throwing it's bricks at us. Sometimes they don't want help, and you just have to accept that and do what you can.

“But if she asked... you would?”

>...Yes, Two, I think I would... but don't ask me to hug her, I don't think I could do that.

“What if she gave you marchmalleys?”

>...I'd consider it.

“...Shiny?”

>Yeah?

“I don't think she's gonna give ya' marchmalleys.”

>Wouldn't hold my breath. I think she'll be angry for a long, long time to come.

“... If she's still angry later... I'll try ta' fix her.”

And just like that his legs, and his heart, stopped.

>...Why?

“Cause you'll keep tryin'.”

He didn't bother hiding his tears.

He simply embraced her, and hugged her until he felt like his forelegs were going to fall off.

>Thanks for pulling me back.

She didn't have the life experience, or the knowledge to voice what she wanted to say, so she just hugged him back.

Her point got across just fine.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________