Thread 60: Stories 46-60

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>Arana
"???"
~~~

If anyone had looked up, they probably would have thought it pretty weird to see a giant pile of clothing shuffling along the ceiling.

Of course, when they noticed the legs stuck out of them, they probably would have also started screaming, with a few notable exceptions.

>Skitter skitter skitteriiiiing!... I need to start listening to pop songs, mama's only had like two silly songs... should I go see a concert? Miss Rarity's been paying me pretty nice for the bootsies, maybe I should-UMF!

Arana expected many thing in her life.

Colliding into chandelier was not one of them.

>OHSKITTERSOHSKITTERSOHSHOOTSHOOT-OOF!

Her fall had been cushioned, thank mama. Though, strangely, the myriad of clothing she carried had nothing to do with it. Rather, it had been a body of another that had provided the necessary salvation.

"...Oof."

>Sorry! Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry! I'm so...

Her eyes, and jaw, went wide at the figure that emerged from her piles of clothing, painfully twisting their spine to work out the kinks that had been forced in there.

"It's quite alright, I'm sure it was an... accident..."

A mirrored set of wide, shocked eyes locked into her own, and a sterling white coat shook just a bit.

"Oh. Hello, Arana-"

>BLUEBLOOD!

She didn't even wait for it. Didn't even wonder if it was okay, didn't even question if she was doing something wrong like she did every other time like this.

She just hugged him. Hugged him with every single one of her many, many legs, and gripped him so tightly she wondered if she would ever let go.

>You're back I never get to see you anymore cause you're always running around and I miss you but Applejack says you have to work hard so I don't wanna bug you but you're right here so this is fine so-

"Arana! Arana, do calm down, it's fine. I'm sorry I haven't been to see you that much, but I have been busy."

She nodded into his chest, rubbing her cheek up and down a bit in his fur.

>I miss you...

"As do I. But Arana... you know I have to work off the debt I am owed. I'm sorry I can't play with you as you want, but I have to remain in the castle and do as I am asked."

Slowly, her head nodded again, a little sad.

>...You work hard all the time though... you don't ever really stop anymore.

He sighed, nodding once more.

"It's true, but I have a lot to make up for."

>Can't... can't you take a break sometimes? Are they gonna get mad if you just go get some candy with me? I won't even make you pay for it! Ms Rarity pays me for helping her!

"Arana, I..."

Sad, yet hopeful eyes looked up to him.

"...I...I suppose I am granted one day off a week... after all..."

A soft hoof touched her head, quite gentle.

"...I did promise I would help look after you, didn't I?"

Sad eyes flipped in a second, shaken up by a happy bob of her head.

>Can we go now!?

"Oh... weren't you carrying that somewhere?"

>Nope!

"..."

A magical web shot out, latching onto every single one of the pieces of clothing before sticking them to the ceiling.

>All better!

"..."

>PLLEEEEASE!

"I... I suppose-"

>YAY!

She had not let him go from that hug, even as she lifted herself off the ground by her long legs. She dragged him right along with her as she ran down the hall, towards the doors leading out into Catnerlot, a place she normally feared to go.

But right now? None of that mattered. Not the stares, not the whispers, not the fear. None if it mattered.
She had Blueblood.
And that was plenty.

"...Can we get ice cream?"

>YES!

That. Was. Plenty.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >42
"?"
~~

>... Huh.

She hadn't mean to break the wall when she punched it, really.

But there it had gone...

"There is a fox in the henhouse."

The warrior bug nearly jumped out of her chitin. She had been paying so little attention that even she had been taken off guard.

>...what?

"There is a snake in the nest."

Where the voice was coming from, she couldn't tell.

>...Come again?

"There is a rat in the cupboard."

>...huh?

"There is a wolf next to the sheep."

>....huh!?

"A vulture is flying with the pigeons."

>What!?

"One of those rice... is a lice."

>HUH!?

"There's a creeper in the blocks."

>WHAT THE FUCK!?

"I know, it's shocking, but I am working on it, and I will keep you updated. That foxy lice ridden rat wolf slithering vulture creeper is getting caught."

With a 'whoosh!' the other presence was goen.

>...WHAT!?

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>Dadling
"Batmom"
~~~

"No!"

>But it's so awesome!

"NO!"

>Come oooon!

"We are not, repeat, we are NOT buying a robot for a babysitter!"

>But why not?

"We can't afford robots!"

>Hrm... you're right... I know! I'll build one!

"...On second thought, it might be worth the investment to prevent long term property damage."

>...

"...Do you want honest or do you want nice?"

>...B-both.

"You can't get both."

>...I-if it's going to be the former, can we at least do the fun stuff to make it hurt less?

"Well... she did just go to sleep..."

>...

"...Fine. But I'm going to shout honest stuff the whole time."

>If you're coherent enough to think of it during, I just need to work harder. Motivation!

"...I love you..."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~~~~~

“So, what's the plan again?”

The stone beneath their hooves clopped with every step in their hurried pace, a pace they had kept up and not let up in the least since their arrival and departed from the train. They hadn't even slowed for a moment, rushing right to the dungeons without a second to breath.

“I need him to give me some advice. Look, I know he seems kind of crazy, but Thirty Two is really smart, most days. He's got to have a way I can turn this on her and make this work. Something to get into her head, something to back her into a corner and force it out of her.”

“Hate ta' be the bearer of the obvious, but most cornered superbeings don't tend ta' give in. They just fight back, and I don't know if you were paying attention or not but we're not exactly in her league.”

His eyes narrowed, only growing more determined as the memory of their confrontation sparked in his mind.

“I'm used to fighting out of my league.”

“And she's used to makin' ponies disappear and makin' it look like she wasn't even there.”

Just a bit of that determination wavered.

“...Point. Still, I've got to try.”

“Obviously, just thinkin' it might be better to...”

What little breath they had left in their lungs swiftly went away as a strange smell filled their nostrils, a distinct scent they had come to know all too well in their many battles and adventures. The smell of smoke...

“Pom, Pommel wait! We don't know-”

He was already gone before she could even register a movement, a galloping run with laser like precision right to the cell he had come to know, practically memorized after all this time.

What he found was nothing like he remembered.

“...She... she did it, didn't she?”

His heart stopped beating in his chest as he looked at the blackened, charred empty cell that had once housed his mentor, his friend. The cell that had contained a spark of revolution now had nothing but dead coals and long extinguished embers.

He collapsed against the bars, face pressing tightly against them to see if he could spy any sign of a body, anything at all to at least give him something to look upon, some remains to see and know of what had once been, but found nothing but ash. Nothing but emptiness, and ash.

A stern, steadying hoof hooked on his shoulder, trying to pull him away from the crushing reality he drank in slowly with every passing second.

“She wouldn'a been this open, everyone knew she was going to talk to- Pommel!”

He shoved her aside, perhaps more roughly than intended, and was back to running at a full gallop in moments, tearing off down the empty hall and towards the exit, fire burning in his eyes as hotly as the one that had consumed his friend and all his possessions.

Behind him, without the room available to take off in flight, Daw could only barely keep up.

“Pommel stop it! What're ya' gonna do, huh? Plannin' ta' fight the lass? Gonna just go up in front of everyone and take her out? Pommel? POMMEL! Stop!”

But he would not. Not until he had left that dark place, not until he had raced down every single hall like a lunatic, searching for something, anything.

He found it at last, a single guard patrolling the halls, one that it had taken him far too long to find.

He came to a stop before the poor shocked stallion, getting right in the cautious guard's face.

“Where is she?”

“W-who?”

The guard knew he should not be scared, he had faced robots, monsters, his own friends twisted and turned.

And yet, there was something else to the way the pony learned forwards, icy breath rolling off every word he spoke.

“Where. Is. Chrysalis.”

Shakily, the white hoof pointed to the side, gesturing down the hallway.

“O-over there, she's talking with- hey! Where are you going!?”

He was gone before he had even gotten the third word out. Two words and a direction, that's all he needed. That's all he needed.

He was going to do something. He didn't know what, how, or the ending and fallout that would no doubt come, but he was going to do something right now, and it was going to be bad. It was going to be so bad.

“Pommel wait! Wait ya' dang moron, at least let's figure out a means of attack or somethin'!”

He ignored her, ignored her calls and her begging for him to return to sense, ignored everything about her and everything she wanted to say. He only had one target, one mission, and one place to be.

“We could at least get the drop on her, try ta' make it look like she went at you, somethin'! We ain't gotta go full hog and get our heads blown off like this! POMMEL!”

Nothing. He gave her nothing, no acknowledgment at all. He gave himself no acknowledgment, even. Nothing but the understanding that the need inside of him to confront her face to face and make her answer for this, for the life she ruined, for the life of someone who wanted to do real good stripped away. He needed answers, and be they answers spoken with words or written in blood, he would have them.

When his eyes laid upon her at the end of the hall, chatting amicably with both the princess and Shining Armor as they went off to do something else foolish, no doubt, he felt nothing but disgust.

How dare she.

How dare she. How dare she laugh, and be treated so kindly after doing so wrong, how dare she be accepted like this. Thirty Two was not powerful, like them, but his life mattered damn it. Everyone's life mattered...

There was a rush of air as he sucked in a deep breath, one that filled them to the bursting point as he prepared to call out to her, to challenge her in front of everyone and make her give him those answers. No matter what she pulled, he was going to end this today. His words would be not just for her, but to help everyone who enabled her understand just what it was they were accepting. He was going to show the world what Chrysalis was really like.

“Pommel!”

That time, that one time someone called his name, finally reached his ears. It was not Daw's...

And it took the breath from his lungs like a punctured balloon, deflating is slowly as air hissed out of his wide, cavernous mouth.

He paid no attention to the trio as they walked out of his line of sight, all thoughts of stopping the royals gone as he slowly turned his head down the adjacent hall. The moment his eyes connected he found himself spinning in his mind, twirling around as thoughts of madness began to pervade his senses. But no matter how hard he blinked, or shook his head, the figure remained. Standing at the end of the hallway with an elated, happy smile on weathered and scarred lips.

“There you are! I've been searching this castle up and down for you, but nobody has seen you for a day! Come now, I thought you'd be the first too congratulate me!”

That voice, one he could recognize any day of the week and every day besides, rang in his ears as clear as the day, but even still, even with his eyes and ears telling him of the truth, he would not believe it.

“You... you're alive.”

The changeling smiled again, quite cocky looking at that, before tapping himself on the chest.

“Well, I should say so, either that or you are terribly hallucinating.”

“Am I?”

The question... no, the desperation in his tone truly took him off guard. There was no levity in those two words, nothing but an honest need to know.

“No, really, I've... it's happened before, when I was fighting that thing. I saw you in there, but it wasn't you. Is this... is this you, or am I just seeing you because... there's nothing left. Are you really there?”

A contemplative look overtook him as he wondered what this 'thing' he referred to could be, and the exact nature of what would cause him to question reality. But there was no time for that. This was a time for actions, not thoughts.

There was a resounding SMACK throughout the hall as with one ferocious blow he launched the stallion clear into the wall, nearly cracking it under his weight.

“Does that feel real?”

There was no sense of hurt as he nursed his jaw, no sense of pain or betrayal on his face. No, to the unicorn known as Bronze Pommel, there was only one single feeling coursing through every neuron in his brain.

Sheer, unrelenting, joy.

“...Thirty Two! You're... how!? How and why!? No, you know what, I don't even care!”

He tackled into the other, shaking him violently with his hooves with a mile long smile stretching out his face far and wide.

“You're free! You're free! Oh fuck when I saw your cell I was... but you're not! You're right here, somehow, and you're not on fire or crispy or even... I was worried! To put it fucking mildly! Do you have any idea what I was planning to do!? Do you!?”

A similar warm, joyful smile crossed the changeling's face as well, not a single hint that he was bothered by the treatment present on his face.

“Yes... she told me of your... suggestion.”

He froze mid shake, suddenly feeling a wash of guilt and shame coursing through him. That hadn't been what he meant, but he understood it all the same.

“...Ah, look, I would never-”

“Thank you.”

He didn't even try to hide his open, stupefied look.

“...Huh?”

A gentle hoof met Pommel's shoulder, steadying him enough that the changeling could look him right in the eye.

“Thank you. If it came down to me suffering, I would much rather prefer a friend who would see it through till the end, than one who just held on nothing but hope as the years went by. You were wise, Pommel. You've grown... very wise.”

A warmth spread through him at the praise. A childish, perhaps naive warmth of a child who has made their teacher proud, but one for which he was not ashamed.

“...I wouldn't have made it if you hadn't trained me.”

He chuckled, lightly tapping his chest.

“Not to put a point in it, but you would never have gone through it if I hadn't dragged you along to face a giant monster on a, frankly, ill advised plan.”

“If I could take it back... I don't think I would. Let's just say my journey didn't exactly end there.”

The changeling's vision trailed over his shoulder, to the mare still waiting in the wings.

“I can see that...”

With the changeling looking away, he could at last do the same, could at last see just what it was that time had done to the war-weary soul.

That's when he noticed a rather curious addition.

“... What the hell is that thing?”

A smirk crossed the changeling's face as he brough a hoof to his own neck, trailing along the new collar wrapped around it. Particularly the jewel attached to is.

“Why, an explosive collar, of course.”

Pommel's reaction was instant, to say the least.

“GAH! Holy shit! Oooooh, fuck fuck fuck! Fuck! Okay, okay! No worries, I've dealt with bombs before!... They've all gone really badly but probably not this time! We need to get that off you! Like! Now! Daw! Can you pick a magical lock!?”

He laughed, ignoring the almost insulted snort from the mare.

“No need...”

Just as playfully, he hooked the end on one of the curves in the holes of his legs, pulling it just a bit further away and letting Pommel see it was quite inactive.

“It's just for show.”

The stallion calmed down immensely, but in the place of that feeling came a new one. Deep, strong confusion.

“Wait, really? She's just letting you run around?”

He shrugged, the smirk long since faded away, and replaced with a more contemplative look.

“We came to an... understanding, I suppose you could say.”

“So... does this mean that you...”

He sighed, feeling quite odd about the situation. He did not blame Pommel's very visible disbelief and quite obvious suspicion on any but himself. He had dug this hole, and it was up to him to show that he was not mind controlled or anything of the sort. A reasonable fear, all things considered.

“...Yes. I've decided that the continued existence of my race far outweighs her crimes. I do not think I will ever care for her, but it is time I put my desire for revenge to rest... I have learned many things as well, Pommel. I do not know if you heard, but Eighty Eight is-”

“We met.”

“...Then you understand.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

With so many emotions running through him, the stallion suddenly realized he was coming up blank. He was just staring, feeling like there was so much to say, but nothing to be said.

“I'm sorry, I'm just... what does someone say at times like this? I feel like I should be saying something besides “I'm glad you're free”, I feel like I should give some big speech or something... but everything coming out is “I'm happy”, you know?”

“I do... thank you.”

With nothing left to be said, they moved forwards in a brotherly embrace, squeezing tightly as if simply to tell themselves 'he's alive, and he's right here'. What had nearly been lost forever was found, at long, long last.

When they finally separated, no matter how long they had been like that, it felt too soon.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

The changeling became thoughtful, tapping his chin and thinking.

“Now? I have so much left to do. I've been working on theories that may help with my species integration a little better, but I'd like to spend just a bit of time with my sister first. She has been away for such a long long time, lost to the whims of another. She needs my own and Seventy Seven's help adjusting to this world, and her new disability. I'd like to show her there is still something... more in this world. Yourself?”

Stunned, Pommel realized for the first time he hadn't really thought about the long term. Simply getting home, then getting Thirty Two out, had been his whole goal up till this point. Now, he wasn't sure what was to come next.

“I... I guess I'm going back to being a guard. I've missed this, weird as that sounds. I missed protecting my home, everyone down there. I missed them, all of them. It kind of hit me while I was away, but the little guys need someone looking out for them, and they shouldn't have to wait for some big hero to come along and save them from some unstoppable monster. The ponies down there aren't just fodder in some big villain's scheme, they're not just nameless faces in a crowd shot. They've got lives, all of them. They need someone to look after them... it's not always some world ending threat, you know? There's little guys in there too, and they need their own protection.”

The changeling nodded, pride welling up at his former protege's words.

“So, it seems we've both chosen the path of protecting our species when the... heh, 'higher beings' cannot.”

“Guess so. Will you still have time to talk?”

“For you, my friend... always.”

Playfully, Pommel struck out, lightly tapping the changeling in the chest.

“...Still got some training left in you?”

Thoughtful, the changeling looked him over, noticing right away that the stallion was in remarkable shape.

“It doesn't look like you require much more from me.”

“Trust me when I say, you could not be further from the truth.”

He laughed, unsure if he was telling the truth or merely sparing his feelings, but perhaps it didn't really matter, all things considered.

“I suppose I could make some time in my schedule to see how far you've really come.”

“I would like that... I would like that a lot.”


To Pommel's surprise, he found himself suddenly being pulled down the hall, locked in step with the moving changeling.

“In the meantime, I suppose I can spare a moment to hear of your tales.”

That same smile returned, cracking his face wide at the idea.

“Me? You need to tell me what happened here! You somehow convinced Chrysalis, of all creatures, to let you go? It sounds so unbelievable!”

“You have no idea... well, know of any good restaurants? I've been out of the loop for a while.”

“...And you're under the impression I haven't?”

“Point, point. Just wander until we find a nice looking one?”

“Sure.”

They both froze when the changeling stopped, and suddenly cast a look back over his shoulder.

“...Are you not coming?”

The mare beyond them shrugged, looking away with a disinterested air.

“Naw, figure you two probably need ta' catch up alone, I'll jus' wander around and make a nuisance of myself in the meantime.”

Magic grabbed her by the hoof, pulling her up between them.

“Nonsense, from what Pommel said you were his stalwart companion this whole time, it would be nothing but rude to leave you out as he recounts your adventures.”

“You sure?”

He laughed merrily, throwing a hoof over her shoulder.

“Of course I am! Come The three of us will probably be quite the sight. It will be hilarious to watch their reactions!”

“They really gonna freak out just by watchin' us?”

“If not, we'll start making out.”

“I ain't kissin' ya!”

He waggled his eyebrows, looking over her at a suddenly very stoic Pommel.

“Who said anything about you?”

It took a second, but after that Daw couldn't help herself.

“...HA! HAHA! So, ya' ain't that much of a snob, eh? Is he always like that?”

“Somewhat.... somewhat a lot.”

“I assure you, I've only gotten worse. Unbearably worse.”

“Pfft, he's been round pirates, doubt yer' gonna move 'em too much.”

“Challenge accepted!”

She found herself smirking as the three of them started off.

“...Ya' ain't all bad.”

“Heh... great to have you back, Thirty Two.”

The stallion took his place on the changeling's other side, following perfectly as they opened the castle doors, and found themselves in the daylight once more.

A day to share with friends thought lost... and look to what may come ahead.

“Same to you my friend... same to you.”

None of them were really sure what was to come next, none of them had really made a plan beyond getting out into Canterlot and back into life. Be it from catacombs of nightmares or high seas and monsters that would tear them apart, they had all gone through hell to make it here... and didn't know what was to come next.

But as they walked into the streets once more, they realized it didn't matter.

“The journey never really ends.”

No matter where their next steps took them...

They were home.

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>Fluttershy
"Chrysalis"
'???'
~~~~

>...I am not okay with this.

"Hey! You need to learn to control your mega mojo in battle situations, and this is a battle situation!"

>Why. Why would I possibly need to do this?

"In case you have to fight!"

>I don't fight! I hide and hope they trip over themselves or I stare them to quitting!

"...That's a terrible fighting strategy!"

>It's worked so far!

"HOW!?"

>...Um... you'd have to ask your changelings about that.

"...Are you fucking serious?"

>...

"Forty Two is going to kick some ass... but later! For now, you need to learn to be awesome!"

>But I could hurt you!

"...me? Who the fuck said anything about me?"

>That's not better!

"Because the opponent I've got- wait hold the fuck up, why is potentially hurting me better than hurting someone else?"

>...I technically just said it wasn't better, not that it was worse.

"Clever girl... but no! You opponent is one who is used to chaos, and very, very hard to hurt. They're quite the... fierce foe."

>... now, see, now I'm just worried they'll hurt ME.

"Meh."

>I do not like that meh, and I want this known.

"Meh. A-HEM! Now! It is time to face your greatest foe! AHAHHHAHAHHA!"

>Don't.

"I have to do that."

>Why? No, please, tell me why.

"It helps her get into character."

>Who- oh bunny kisses.

'AHHHHAHAHAHAHHA! FOOOOOOLISH SADDLE RAGER! YOU MAY HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE MIGHT OF CHAOOOOSSS, BUT THAT IS NO MATCH FOR THE MACHINATIONS OF THE MANIACAL MANIC MANNNNNNEE-IAAAACCCCCAHAHAHAHAHAH!'

>...Really?

"Look, she's damn near indestructible, she doesn't actually 'hurt' hurt anyone, and you literally cannot kill her. Even if, by some miracle, you nuked her or something she'd just return later. Comic books!"

>That sounds silly.

"Yeah, comics aren't as good as they used to be. But no matter! She will let you cut loose, and you don't have to worry about turning her into a frog or exploding her or whatever!"

>Well... that does sound nice. So, should I just-EEP!

*CRASH!*

'AHHHAHHAHAHAHA!'

"Fight back!"

*CRASH!*

"...Now!"

*BOOM!*

"...This was a bad idea."

>PAIN!

*SMASH!*

>CHRYSALIS HELP!

'AHHAHHAHAHA!'

*KA-CRUNCH!*

"At least she's having fun..."

>I'M NOT! I AM SO NOT!

*BA-ZAOW!*

"...Twilight is going to be mad at me."

>SHE CAN GET IN LINE!

*CRACKA-BOOM!*

'THIS IS AMAAAAZZZIIINNGGGGAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>DT
"Guard"
'SS'
[another guard]
{Lucky Strikes}
~~~~
A guard sit on DT's advice couch.
"They were everywhere, maaaare. They just kept screeching and screeching, mare. One moment I'm with my mare friends, and the next they're monsters, mare. It still plays in my mind over and over again. Am I the type of mare that would could point my weapon at my own friends? I know they're okay now, but it still haunts me that I shot them, mare."

>Geez, take a chill pill.

"You weren't there, mare. I did terrible things to them just, so I wouldn't become one of them, mare."

>Fuck you! I was there clearing the way for Applejack! I fought an infected dragon, who was my former teammate and friend! You regret shooting your friend? Boo fucking hoo! I did the same fucking thing and you don't see me crying over it. I have zero remorse about stopping him from infecting my best friend and my dad. I did what was necessary and never looked back. We were doing our part to defend Canterlot and I'd do it again...like YOU'RE suppose to.

"...Whoa little filly, you're a bigger mare than I am, mare."

>You damn right I am, mare!
She groans and facehoofs
>...Ugh, look just talk to your commanding officer about this. I'm sure he probably went through the same thing and can help you out. Get your mind off with some drills.

"Oh, we don't really have one of those, mare. Sure we have Lieutenant Lucky Strikes, but he's not exactly a commander when he doesn't do much commanding."

>...what?

"Actually, I don't remember seeing anybody higher than a captain. I wonder if we still have a chain of command."

>For crying out loud! You know what? Screw it. Gather up the guards and tell them we're going to do some special training. Silver Spoon, we're packing up.

'We're skipping the medicine part? I had the gummy bear cough syrup ready.'

>Not today. We're skipping class and going to the Danger room.
Smiles mischievously.

'You mean the Sub-Space Alternate Reality Simulator?'

>Shut up, Silver Spoon.

~In the simulator~
DT is wearing aviator sunglasses and looks down on the guards from a hilltop.
>Alright you worthless maggots! From now on I'm going to be instilling discipline in you! When I'm done with you, you'll stop being a laughing stock and become a respectable force that no monster is willing to mess with! Now for our first exercise, Canterlot has succumbed to Cordyceps. I want our pegasi to do a neighpalm run from the air while our unicorn and Earth pony troops keep them back with an artillery barrage.

[Uh sir, are we really doing what she says?]

{Aw, she's just a kid. What's the harm in humoring her a little?}
He gets drowned out by the sound of pegasi guards strafing and bombing entire blocks. DT sniffs the air.

>I love the smell of neighpalm in the afternoon...It smells like...progress.

'Did you really mean it about Spi-'

>Don't ruin the moment...Hey! Stop cowering and get to your position! It's like you never caught on fire before!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Applejack
"Twilight"
'Pinkie'
[Dash]
{Fluttershy}
(Rarity)
^Spike^
~Various~
~~~~

>NEXT!

~I set fire to my house!~

"That's horrible!"

~Because the things inside of it wanted to kill me!~

'Oh, that's good!'

~The things inside might've been sentient!~

[That's bad.]

~But then again, they probably weren't, with all the snarling and roaring!~

(That's good!)

~But I don't know, are giant mutant bunnies sentient? I'm asking you because they tried to kill me!~

{...}

~Uh-~

^That's... that's bad.^

~Should I-~

{ *STARE* }

~HER EYYYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS~

~~~~~~

>Whelp, that's another one done brought to insanity by ya' starin' at 'em hard.

{No regrets.}

"They were trying to kill him-"

{NONE}

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Flim
"Flam"
~~~

>...Well, I'll be!

"He pulled through, yes indeed!"

>We can stop working on our device!

"Huzzah!"

>Huzzah!

"...Thank Celestia."

>Literally?

"Just to be safe."

>Indeed... was this close to breaking out.

"Or blowing ourselves up."

>Either or would have been fine.

"...We got dark down there."

>We did.

"...BED!"

>By jove it's a real bed!

"A REAL BED!"

>HUZZAH!

"Wait, I only see one."

>...
"..."

*FLICK!*

>So, you too learned to make a shiv.

"We are similarly ingenuous, it seems."

>That we are.

"..."

>...

"...We could just play poker to decide instead."

>Isn't that what we were doing?... OH! Like, with the cards.

"With the cards."

>...It took a while to make the shiv, though.

"Yeah, me too..."

>...Screw it. Cards?

"Cards?"

>...

"...You haven't put down your shiv."

>You either..."

"..."

>...

>"HAVE AT THEE!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

'Guard'
~~~

'Alright, we've got the new beds, where are you-TAPDANCING LUNA ON THE MOON THERE IS SO MUCH BLOOD!'

>"HE DID IT!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>77
"88"
~~~

>NO NO NO NO NO NO!

"Screw you, this is awesome!"

>WHY!? WHO GAVE YOU A HOVERCRAFT!? WHO!? WHAT MONSTER WOULD EVER GIVE A BLIND CHANGELING A HOVERCRAFT!?

"Dunno, they had one of those faces, you know? Just a face that looks like every other face I've seen for the last few days."

>THIS IS NOT FUNNY!

"I disagree!"

>LOOK OUT!

"Not an option!"

>YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!

"WHEEE!"

>THIS IS THE WORST!

Somewhere, Discord smiled.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chitania
"???"
'???'
~~~~

Silence.

Silence save for the flip of the page. There was something quite amazing about it, really. Perhaps it was just that she was just not used to such serenity, used instead more to the rough and tumble ways of destruction. And yet, here she sat, even her mostly chatty and annoying hanger on silent. There was a peace to be had.

And she hated it.

Even still, she had made more progress in a mere week than she had in months. There were many alternate theorems about how to access another plain of existence, and several which implied that they had come tellingly close and might have succeeded had they the power. And power... was something she had in spades.

Sadly, just as her thoughts began to drift to the possibility of the next steps of her plans, her train of thought was broken by a loud gasp. Normally, she was all for trains being broken, but in this particular case it quite annoyed her.

'Y-you're... you're...'

Even in the presence of she, herself, the Titan Queen, never had she heard her 'alternate worker' companion sound so awestricken. That, alone, was enough for her to pry her attention away from the massive tome with which she looked into.

As expected, the mare was positively shaking, amazed beyond all measure. Some indescribable feelings were rocketing through her as she looked right ahead, eyes wide as saucers and mouth oval to match.

It was with more of a curiosity than any real interest that she followed her line of vision, over across the table at which she sat, to the figure that stood tall above even the stacks upon stacks lain about. It became quite clear quickly.

'Y-y-y-you're...'

Princess Celestia just smiled at her in that warm, motherly way.

“I am indeed. It is nice to meet you.”

The mare's hoof snapped up, rubbing at her mouth in a 'subtle' way, as if to brush off the lipstick on it. Giving up on that after mere seconds, she scrambled about on the table, hooves flying as she attempted to grab hold of a blank piece of paper.

And then, just as her eyes looked back to the princess, she froze. Slowly, her ears flicked back and her head lowered.

'Y-ya' wanna talk ta'...'

Unable to finish, she settled for waving meekly at the statuesque figure beside her.

“I do, thank you for asking. Would you mind leaving us for a brief moment? It will only take a second.”

She looked... hurt. Well, hurt was probably the wrong word, Chitania thought to herself. More like the look on a child's face when they are told they cannot go into a candy store because their parent does not have the money. Looking away and shuffling off with her head held low, she put her paper back down, and made her way to the door. Swiftly, Celestia made a gesture to the librarian, and after a quick nod to her princess she joined the mare in exiting, and locked the door on her way out.

>If you're hoping I'll be that impressed that you are here, please save yourself the embarrassment and just leave, Celestia.

There was something sharp about that, about simply being referred by her first name and nothing else, but she chose to brush it off.

“I am under no delusions you think of anything of my stature, Chitania.

>Good, then we both know you are wasting your time.

“Perhaps, but I feel it is time you and I finally had a discussion.”

>I'll save you the trouble. Blah blah blah don't hurt ponies blah blah blah repercussions blah blah blah you will break soon blah blah blah completely ineffectual and pathetic threat that I will laugh at after you have left and long since ceased to think about. Are we up to speed now? I hope so, I have things of importance to look back to.

Alabaster eyelids narrowed, but she did not turn to an angered look, not just yet.

“...To think, at one point, you were quite afraid of me.”

Chitania froze, chitin suddenly becoming unto marble as it locked in place, solid as a rock.

>...And what makes you think I ever feared someone as pathetic as you?

“A fascinating read, actually. Quite the story, filled with lots of action and adventure and horror.”

Her breath hitched as it crashed down on her, hard and fast like a meteor.

>So... she found my book.

“Indeed, she did.”

>Then you know that this was all a long, long time ago. The fear a grub has of an insect before they realize it is merely a bug they can easily crush... quite an apt metaphor, no?

“I never wanted you to fear me.”

>Then my recent stance on the matter should please you, I no longer do in any regard. I no longer fear something I now know to be pathetic.

“How strange, I was thinking the same thing.”

Rage was already building inside of her, but she saw no reason to let it out just yet.

>I'm guessing Chrysalis translated it for her.

“They've been working together quite a lot recently, if you were unaware.”

>I didn't particularly care.

“No, I suppose you wouldn't. Though I would hope some part of you would be happy changeling and pony are working together.”

She let out a barking laugh, far louder than she normally does.

>Like it will last.

The pearly mare turned thoughtful, contemplative to her dismissive tone.

“Yes... you would know about that, wouldn't you?”

She snorted, quite noisily and disgustingly.

>Experience is the finest teacher.

“That, at least, we can agree on.”

The thoughtful look did not leave. Rather, it grew more intense.

“What is your plan, Chitania?”

>And here I thought you knew so much about me.

“I am serious, what is it you hope to accomplish in this journey you are on? What is the planned end destination in your endless quest.”

>Endless? Quite presumptuous.

“Tell me, where do you see yourself when this is all said and done?”

For the first time since the day after the invasion, Celestia got to see Chitania smile. Honestly and truly smile.

>As the one standing over a pile of the greatest the universe has to offer, and upon their throne.

“And then what?”

This, surprisingly, took her off guard.

>What do you mean?

“What are you going to do after you win? After you have slain those above, after you have taken all that made them great, after you sit upon a throne carved from reality itself, what shall you do?”

There was a hollowness that followed. An emptiness where there should have been answers, a deathly silence where she should speak.

“Do you wish to rule us? Is that it? Are you planning to overthrow the gods and take their place as our Queen? Do you wish to control us, make us servants or slaves?”

Again, Chitania did not speak, did not react, did not even move a muscle.

“Or will you simply reach your goal and decide there is nothing left? Will you wait for another to come along and see if they can dethrone you, or shall you simply end all of creation with nothing left to do? Will you reach the top, and find nothing to fight above and nothing of interest below?”

Nothing. Nothing nothing nothing. Not a word, not a peep, not a sound. Nothing.

“What do you want, really? What is the final act, of Queen Chitania?”

>...Who knows?

That, more than any other answer, rocked the princess to her core.

The emptiness that followed only made it worse.

“I should hope you know.”

>Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Who knows?

Unexpectedly, the alicorn felt a sickening feeling welling up in her stomach, a churning in her belly that made her queezy with every thought of it.

“Are you doing this to destroy us...”

And yet, Chitania was nothing but uninterested as she looked away.

“...I will not let you hurt my little ponies.”

>Pfft, told you. Ineffectual threat, right on cue.

She looked back to her with a side glance, hardly focusing on her at all.

>As I said earlier, experience is the best teacher. We agreed on that, didn't we? A bit of advice? This whole 'protect the weaker' thing? It only works for a bit. Might work for centuries, maybe longer than that, but eventually you're going to fail, and it's all going to be pointless. One of these days, one of those ponies you are so determined to protect is going to want power, and they're going to do anything they can to take it. You might stop them, you might not. It won't matter... eventually someone's going to slip through.

Flashes passed through Celestia's mind, flashes of another time, centuries ago, when she had faced exactly that, when one she had wished to protect had turned on her and nearly bathed the world in darkness. She had succeeded then, but perhaps in another life...

>Who knows, it might even be me, it might not. Who knows?

A strange, haunting smile crossed the Titan's lips as she once more looked away.

“...What was your daughter like?”

That question, finally, gained her full attention. At last, five little words had done the impossible, and made her set her book aside.

>...So, that orange pony told you, did she?

Heat poured off of every word, flames practically licking out from her tongue like a dragon's breath. The searing syllables were matched only by the inferno of green going off behind her eyes, and the dull mossy glow upon her horn.

“Maybe she did, and maybe she didn't.”

The coy words did nothing to soothe her rage. If anything, they made it worse.

>If you're here to mock me for my failure, save it. I am wise to any tricks to rile me up so that I could play right into your hooves, you will be wasting your breath on a pathetic attempt that will only highlight how desperate you are for any advantage over me. Save your words, or I shall give my own of how nice it felt to feel your spine and wings break beneath my hooves.

No matter how she had tried to hide it with confrontational words, there was no doubt she had struck something.

“Disbelieve if you wish, but I would never be so cold as to use the memory of someone's child against them. Never would I be able to stomach something of that nature, from myself or anyone else. She is not at fault for your actions, and did not deserve her fate. I merely wished to know about someone whom I saw only a glimpse of, but seemed... strong, for what little I was granted to see.”

Insult wretched across the Titan's face, and she just barely held herself back from rising up on her hooves.

>As I said, your mockery of her is nothing to me, you will get no reaction.

“The fact you think my referring to her is in any way mockery shows just how misguided you are.”

>You saw enough of her to understand she was not strong. She could never be strong.

“In body, perhaps not.”

Matching her confrontational stance, Celestia herself rose up.

“But the will of one who would give away a chance at ultimate power, of their greatest magic, simply because they felt themselves incapable of helping others to the degree you once did weighs more than any one of your blows. For someone so sickly to deny you to your face, her mother and a beast in form, with the passion she did shows far more power than any magic you will ever wield, Chitania. That she fled rather than be molded by you is far braver than rampaging through any city. She was not weak, no matter how you looked at her. And she didn't need any 'titan' magic to prove it.”

There was a tenseness in the air as they regarded each other, two beings of power beyond most will ever dream, each one capable of amazing, and terrifying things. A single spark more, and it was entirely possible they would burn this whole city to the ground.

Thankfully, for Canterlot if nothing else, the fire fizzled away, and they loosened their hostile stance and returned more to a tense, but not explosive, regarding of one another.

>It does not matter. She is dead, that is the end of it.

“Is she? Is she truly? You never found a body, was there no chance she could have survived?”

Something flashed behind Chitania's eyes, something... dangerous.

>No.

There was another story there, she knew. One that no doubt held the answers to her certainty, but one Celestia knew all too well she would never hear from Chitania's lips willingly.

>The past is the past, and I have moved on.

There was nothing more to be said there. Nothing more she would discuss or reveal, the princess knew without a thought more. The conversation had become so toxic, so hostile, anything else might be the breaking point. She would only achieve one more question, at best.

She decided to make it count.

“Do you think we could have been friends?”

Like a right hook blindsiding her from beyond her vision, Chitania found her world suddenly whirring. It was only the disgust at the idea that she did not break into loud, explosive and likely very painful laughter.

>...You cannot be serious.

But she was. Not a hint of doubt or mockery upon her face.

“I am. If... if Variolus hadn't struck, if your friend had yet lived and the village you lived in remained, if in another life things had gone differently... in a time when you sought to protect those beneath you, in a time when you yet believed a union, all of that, could have truly worked, and we had stumbled upon your little corner of the world... do you think we could have been friends?”

She did not like thinking about that time. That time on the snowy mountain with her hive all around, that time when she did not fear starvation or discovery, that time when she had a roof over her head... and a friend to share it with. She hated remembering that time, she did her best to forget, and pretend it had never been, to forget everything that went so wrong, so quickly. She did not like remembering when she had feared the sun bringer, she did not like remembering how warm the cottage had felt, she did not like remembering giving her daughter her first scrap of love... She hated thinking of that time.

She hated thinking of the times she dreamt of giving her hive the sun.

She hated thinking of wondering if their past failures had merely been wrong place, wrong time, and not some divine plan.

She hated thinking of those times when she tried to work up the courage to ask her friend to take her to Canterlot, and yet never succeeded.

She hated wondering what could have been.

>...It does not matter.

And she would not.

Sadly, Celestia had to agree with the sentiment. What could have been, might have been or should have been were irrelevant, there was only what was and what would yet come. Dwelling on the past was never a wise choice, and only served to hold back rather than go forwards. It was regretful... but it was what it was.

“There is no time to change what could have been, Chitania... but there is still time to change what might yet be.”

Swiftly, Celestia rose to her hooves, laying sad eyes upon the once massive changeling.

“Thinking of what might had been if she survived is folly. But thinking of what she would do were she alive today... means that she is never truly gone. As one who has lost more than any being ever should, I can speak with certainty. So long as you remember them, and keep what you've learned from them... None of them are truly gone.”

Casually, Chitania sat back down, craning her head away from the mare.

>I've learned plenty from them, thank you. All that I need to know.

“...You could not be more wrong.”

Smoothly, regally, she started to move away.

Only to be stopped just before she passed the Titan by a massive outstretched foreleg.

Any thoughts of this being some kind of threat or challenge went away when a single slip of paper was slid across the table before coming to a stop just in front of her.

A single white eyebrow rose, growing ever higher when a pen was levitated in front of her.

“I thought you said you were over the hero worship?”

The dirty looks she shot her could have turn a pearl black.

Taking the hint, Celestia scrawled out a hasty standard autograph on the paper, pausing only to write something more at the last second before sliding the paper right back.

With that, the foreleg lowered, and she was allowed to continue on her way.

“You do not have to dwell on what they could have been, Chitania, but remember what they were, and what they meant to you. It's not too late.”

Pointedly, the Titan ignored her, and looked back to her book.

The doors to the library swung open, revealing two shocked mares waiting on the other side. One looked to her with a questioning, interested pair of eyes, and the other looked away, as if hiding her face and body, as if she felt shame just being in the same room as her. She gave each of them a warm, thankful smile and word before she hurried off, already having spent far too much time on her side mission.

Wordlessly, both the librarian and the other mare made their way back in, and took their respective seats once more.

The instant she sat down, a black chitinous hoof shoved a flap of white in her face, rough and powerful. She flailed around for a bit, until her eyes at last focused enough that she could look upon it. The instant it registered in her addled mind her jaw nearly hit the floor, and any air in her lungs may as well have been concrete.

Tears, honest tears, prickled the corners of her eyes as she read the tiny scrap of paper over and over, reading and re-reading and re-reading again.

~No matter what they tell you, or you tell yourself, the only thing that matters more than what you were, is what you can be.~
~And you can be amazing.~
~I'm happy to have met you~
~Signed, Princess Celestia.~

She had to hold it away to prevent the tear drops from reaching the paper. If she were to tell the truth, she didn't know if this was some stock phrase, written and re-written a thousand times over by the princess for any fan who saw her. She didn't know if this was unique, or copy pasted from a million other fans, just like her.

But it didn't matter. None of it mattered. Because she had it in her hooves, and it was real. And that's all that mattered.

She didn't hug the changeling. Every cell in her being wanted to, to grab hold of her hand bounce up and down and cheer and thank her and say they need to do stuff to celebrate and just make her whole world and feelings known.

But she didn't.

'Thanks...'

That's all she whispered, all she could get out really, and then she sat back down. Chitania grunted, dismissive to the emotion in the voice.

>Will you shut up about it now? Don't know why you cared, she's not that impressive.

She didn't say anything to that. She just looked at the Queen, her nose still buried in a book, and she smiled. She just smiled, and let herself feel really, truly, happy.

Chitania flipped the page in her book, and dreamt of what might yet be.

Further away, Celestia looked to her sun... and she did the same.

“It's not too late...”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Teacher
"2"
'Classmates'
~~~

>Alright children, today we're going to learn about pony biology!

'Yay.'

'Woo hoo.'

'Can't contain myself.'

"YAY!"

>See? She's excited, be like her.

"Does that mean we get ta' learn bout changelings to!?"

>...

"Or, wait, is that tomorrow?"

>...Er...

"What?"

>Actually, Two... we uh... we don't have anything on changeling biology.

"WHAT!? That's discimnn.. describle... that's racist!"

>It is not!

'...Isn't it?'

'You're asking me? I'm SIX, why would I know about that!? Ask Glitzer, she's seven!'

'Uh... it uh... it is?'

>...Wait, isn't it? You might be right. We're learning about crystal ponies, pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies, so that technically is racist for excluding one race.

"HOLY MARCHMALLEYS I USED THAT RIGHT!"

>I guess?... Should probably look into that before our freaking royalty sues us for discrimination-

"THAT WAS THE WORD!"

>... Yeah, okay, I'll go get some books and we'll learn about it later.

"Yay!... when we gonna learn bout zebras?"

>...Learn about WHAT? What the heck is a zebra?

"...Are... are ya' serious?"

>I'VE BEEN TRAPPED IN A LIVING NIGHTMARE FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, SUE ME!

"..."

>Please don't actually.

"Wasn't gonna..."

>You're good changeling, Two... you're good changeling.

'...That sounded racist-'

>ENOUGH!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Fluttershy"
~~~~
>Welcome to Not Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content actually does matter, but the show is going to go on anyway. Now for our main event...VISITING FLUTTERSHY!!!
Pinkie appears in a forest.

"Pinkie?"

>Hey, Fluttershy! Whatcha doing?

"I'm off to my grandmother's house to bring some goodies. I'm lost though."

>Well let Pinkie be your guide!

"Oh, if it's not too much trouble."

>Of course not! First let's cut through this beach.

Fluttershy blinks and is suddenly at the beach.
"Wha?"

>Next we have to get over this mountain.
They're now on a mountain.

"W-wha?"

>Oooh ooh and then we have to jump this canyon!
Fluttershy covers her eyes as they're flung over the canyon
"Gaaaah!!!"

>You can fly remember? Anyway, we're coming in for a landing!
They land outside the door of a cottage.

"...that was a scary trip."

>I have to give my viewers something! All my dream visits have been duds and I'm totally running out of characters, so I guess havetogogoodnightbye!
Pinkie disappears.

"Um bye."
She enters the cottage where Timber wolves have torn the place apart.
"Y-you're not grandma!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>32
"Pommel"
'Daw'
~~~~

>I'm deadly serious. Plushies. We were invaded by PLUSHIES.

'...The fuck's a plushie?'

"Stuffed animal."

'Still sounds pretty bad.'

"The fake TOY stuffed animal, remember that fair we went to?"

'The one ya' ate too much caramel on and ended up hucking in the bathroom for two hours?'

"...That one."

'Wait, the things hanging up?'

"Yep."

'...And ya' lost?'

>I think they eventually won, but they were on the ropes for a while. I think I heard a rumor a small child assisted them.

'...PFFFTTTTAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA! AHAAAAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!'

"Daw, that isn't funny! The guard were totally unprepared for-"

'AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!'

"It's a serious issue that needs-"

'AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH!'

"...Plushies? Really?"

>It's the truth.

"I just... plushies?"

>Tiny stuffed animals.

"...Okay, listen, I don't want to say this, I really don't, because Shining Armor is a great guy, okay? Let's get that out of the way right now, as a PONY, he is great, very nice and caring and dedicated... but holy FUCK did he suck at training us."

'AHAHHAHAHAHHA!'

>I'm inclined to agree. Still, with you returning to the ranks at least they will add another of somewhat competence to their clique.

"Aw, than-"

>THINK FAST!

*WHAM!*

"...Ow..."

>Pommel, you disappoint me.

'BLOODY HELL you're quick!'

>Thank you. And as for you, training never ends!

"...Ow-"

'THINKFAST!'

*WHAM!*

"HRK!"

>Ooooo~, going for there, really?

'Ain't got no regrets.'

>HA! Waiter! Another round of wine!... What a pity, now they're already freaked out, I was hoping we'd have to revert to making innuendos at each other.

'Save it for another time.'

>I suppose....

>'THINK FAST!'

"WHY!?"

*WHAMWHAM*

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>DT
"SS"
~~~

>Gentle... geeeentle...

One little shake, one little mishap, and this nitro glycerine was going to take them all out, utterly destroying not just herself, but all of this building and likely a good chunk of Canterlot as well. She had to be precise as she put it into the stabilized bullet, all the care of a-

"What are you doing?"

>GAHHHH!

To her everloving horror, the vial fell to the ground, and she prepared to be wiped out in a fiery blaze.

...

>A DUD!? IT WAS A DUD THE WHOLE TIME!? Are you KIDDING me!?

"The vial?"

>It was supposed to be a super concentrated blend of nitro! It would have wiped out a city block! But no! It's a fake! A fraud! I'll sue!

"...So that would have blown us up."

>But it didn't because it was a FAKE! A FAAAAKE!

"..."

>...

"..."

>...Did you need something?

"Yes, you need to get out of the room."

>I HAVE WORK TO DO!

"You can work on him later."

>Later might include something else stupid and invady! I need to be able to blow it up!

Her friend sighed, gently putting a hoof on both of her shoulders.

"DT..."

>Deny it! Deny that I need to blow things up because obviously I have to! Nobody else can manage it, apparently!

"DT..."

>And maybe I'd be able to if everyone wasn't so incompetent they'd give me something worth while instead of-

"DT!"

>...

"...For me? Come on, we never hang out anymore. We're still best friends, right?"

She did not let go of her grip on TBDRLIATU.

...But she did sign in defeat.

>Fine, let's go get something to eat or something. I could use some food... but I am taking TBDRLIATU!

It was something, Silver Spoon admitted. It was something.

"Come on, I know just the place."

>Who says you get to pick!?

"..."

>...Fine, but I'm paying for it! No arguments! And if they don't seat TBDRLIATU, I WILL END THEM!

"..."

>Or we'll go somewhere else... depends on my mood.

"...I missed this."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________