Thread 55: Stories 16-30

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>Chitania
"Librarian"
~~

>...

"Is there any reason you keep glancing out the window? It's bugging me."

>There is someone who has been watching me. A lot. It is bugging me more.

"The gryphon?"

>The fact you have spotted her says a lot about her abilities.

"She's... kind of noticeable."

>...

"Do I even want to know what you did to her?"

>Dunno, one of those gryphons I apparently crushed might've been a relative.

"...Apparently?"

>I mean that they all say I did.

"But you didn't... notice? You didn't feel yourself crushing someone."

>Not really, no. I think they tried to charge me or something? I don't know, I was looking at my horn the whole time.

"Wow. Okay... wow. I thought you were scary before, but that's just horrifying."

>What? It's not like I went after them.

"Not better. Not... not better at all. None of that is any better. That's worse, even, because instead of just being evil you have a total disregard for all life beneath you."

>...Accurate, I suppose?

"Wow."

>Am I legally allowed to hit her for stalking?

"Public place, so no."

>Are you lying to me?

"..."

>...Fair enough.

"...She has noticed us talking about you, and has drawn a picture."

>What, do you want me to compliment her skills?

"It's you on fire."

>Oh... because it is well drawn, I guess. Think she takes requests?

"...I need a new job..."

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~~~~~

The thought of waking them up was a nightmare.

She had been standing in this room for at least twenty minutes now, silent, unmoving and barely blinking. She was not alone, of course. There were three other changelings, all resting away, all just as silent and unmoving as she herself was, prone in their hospital beds as monitors ensured they still lived and breathed.

One, the loyal soldier who even now remained to her cause, no matter what torment had befell him at her unknowing command. His eyepatch had been replaced by medical gauze, as it had been severely agitated and infected due to mistreatment. She had kept his patch, of course, and it would be returned to him once it had been disinfected, but for now he had the illusion that he was merely wounded, not forever blinded in one eye.

Unlike the one next to him, who's scars had faded quite a bit during his extended rest. The one with no loyalty in his heart, no love for her or anything she stood for. The one who had tried to turn the world against her, the one who had tried to take her life. Why he stood with his brother now was a mystery.

But considering the changeling in between the two, mysteries seemed to be theme of the day. The changeling's eyes were bandaged, gauze wrapped tightly around her head. Twilight had informed her that the thing had blasted her own face in her desperate attempt to escape her confines beneath the rock and ash, backwash of magic on her horn burning her badly in the attempt. How fitting, Chrysalis thought, that she would be wearing something to disguise her face, just as her whole being was shrouded in mystery.

There was more than just changelings in the room, as well. The lavender alicorn herself had decided to grace the room with her presence, checking the three for any sign of the re-emergence of that which had plagued them all so.

Oh, and there were also the six guards waiting in the room. Three stationed around the bed of Thirty Two, spears at the ready should he awaken and try anything. Scrounging them up had been quite hard, but considering the events that followed last major catastrophe that left Canterlot in shambles, better to er on the side of caution, Twilight felt. The other three were every bit as poised, the uncertainty of the identity and mental state of the other changeling setting them on edge. They knew nothing of her, what she could do and what she would do, caution was key in this as well, regardless of if she could see or not.

Still, even with them there, she felt no shortage of trepidation as she glanced over at the exiled one of her hive. If he decided to try something now, it is very unlikely the less favoring of the guard would allow Twilight to save him in time. Seeing as Seventy Seven was right there, this could end badly if he decided to go out in a blaze of glory.

But her attention lasted on him for only a moment. In comparison, the one next to him was far, far more important. She had no idea who this female was, when she had been infected by the Cordyceps, why she had been the one with the highest concentration of the spores, and of course why she had been favored so well by that thing to be granted sanity when all others were naught but monsters. A great many questions needed to be answered...

But no matter how much those questions burned, she could not bring herself to awaken Seventy Seven.

He was sleeping so peacefully, far easier than she had ever seen him sleep before. He looked at ease in his bed, as if some great weight had lifted from his chest and let him breath at last. She didn't want to break him from that, to return him to a world where his brother would likely be going right back to prison for the rest of his life.

For despite the fact he had been present in the head of the mushroom, a careful examination of witnesses told both herself and Twilight that Thirty Two had been of no help in defeating the threat. He had saved no lives, he had not prevented the launching of the bomb, he had done nothing. There was no reason to even consider him for a pardon aside from the fact he tried to fight the mushroom head, and seeing as he had been every bit as threatened as the rest of the world, this was not a very sympathetic goal. Even if the fool had seen the light and suddenly decided he no longer wished for Chrysalis's death, there was no reason to let him be and forgive his crimes. She would have to break Seventy Seven's heart all over again...

A glance from the princess told her that her delays had run too long, though she would not speak it. She had waited far beyond what was acceptable, and needed to deal with this at last. With a slightly ill tempered nod, Twilight administered the magic, and Seventy Seven began to stir.

With a groan, his eyes fluttered open, his back creaking as he tilted his head enough to see. When the glaring light faded from his eyes at last, he could finally look upon the concerned face of the princess, and the stoic one of his Queen. Strangely, he could have sworn he saw a flash of green before the light had cleared.

“Majesty... your head...”

The Queen stifled the need to roll her eyes. Even when he was so beaten he had been asleep for days, he notices the bandage just under her horn, where she had bashed her head against that rock. She moved on quickly, trying to keep him from focusing too much on the matter.

“How are you feeling?”

His head rolled to the side, mouth feeling far drier than it ever had before. And yet, he felt no discomfort in the next moment. When he looked upon the other changeling's sleeping faces, his eyes suddenly became clouded with a mist of emotion.

“I feel... good.”

Good... that said it all, he felt. He felt good.

“Seventy Seven, we need to know what happened in there. Most importantly, who is she?”

His head rolled back to face his Queen, confusion marring his features.

“You don't know?”

The words had not come from him, surprisingly. No, the question that had more anger than inquiry came from the very center of the topic herself. The female changeling stirred, shakily trying to rise before pathetically plopping right back.

The Queen stood tall as she turned her attention to the other, stepping with long strides until she was at the foot of the bed.

“No, I do not. Who are you?”

Another hiss escaped her, low and bitter this time. The changeling's head rolled again, pointed enshrouded eyes from where the voice of the tallest changeling had come from.

“I served you for so many years...”

From the corner of her eye, she could see Seventy Seven attempt to speak, reaching out to the other without any hope of ever connecting. A stern, royal hoof silenced him. From his expression alone, she could find at least some pieces of this puzzle.

“Which one were you?”

The changeling on the bed glared hatefully at her through the gauze, hooves shaking as she tried to maintain her composure.

“What do you care, you don't even know who I am.”

“No, I do not. Mostly because I was under the impression everyone I sent down there was male.”

Her chitin, already pale, practically turned white as it hit her. She fumbled with the edge of the blanket, pulling it up over her chest as best she could before pathetically sliding back just a bit. Her magic sparked a bit in a feeble attempt to call upon her disguise magic, but nothing came. A single, incredulous eyebrow shot up, but the Queen said nothing else.

“W-why... why keep me alive just to kill me... why didn't you just...”

“And why would I kill you?”

Her head snapped up, shocked out of her mind, as if she had just been asked “is the sun hot” by some naive two year old.

“I'm... I'm... I'm a f-f-...”

“I don't care.”

It was so bluntly, casually stated that Eighty Eight could hardly believe her ears. As if centuries of changeling culture suddenly meant nothing at all...

“Now, which one are you?”

The fire inside her had not been quenched by her confusion, not in the least, but her curiosity got the better of her.

“Eighty Eight.”

After all she had been through, the horrors she had suffered this past year untold after a life of misery, she had felt nothing more in this would could have truly left her speechless.

Hearing the sharp breath of pain at her words changed that.

“The one who drowned...”

She had little time to register that, indeed, the Queen did remember her, and that she had even made note of how she died, before she heard hoofsteps as said Queen looked a bit closer to her, waving off the guards who had surrounded her while scanning over her chitin.

“What happened after you... let go?”

The phrase alone was enough to fill her lungs with lead, the thought that she had once decided death preferable to going on enough to shake her right down to her very core.

“Take it easy, we're not in a hurry.”

The pony had spoken at last, a voice Eighty Eight did not recognize in the least. She stood next to the Queen, her wings tucked tightly at her side and a notebook hovering magically behind her.

Her eyes cast away, distraught.

“Go on, sister.”

That familiar, unforgettable voice gently pushed her on. With that to motivate her, she at last let it all out.

“...It started after I drowned...”

She told it all. Of her rebirth, her disguising herself as another at the behest of that thing, of her travels across Equestria, of letting that thing do whatever it is It wished with her body, never once fighting back or challenging it as it forced the spread. She spoke of turning others, of her traveling to Canterlot...

That the creation of the bomb spawned from her, not It. That she had been the one to command Spike to attack the hive, that she had been the one to think of the drain, not It. That, in the end, she wanted everyone to be like her, and could do nothing as It described to her It's dreams to take to the stars, and spread to the worlds beyond. A neverending nightmare, for all the universe... and she had almost made it happen.

And finally, she said five simple words to close out her tale.

“I want to live now.”

She waited in silence as the others stared upon her, appalled faces all. Not a one among them knew what to speak of the matter, what to say after hearing such a horrifying and sickening tale.

Her brother motioned to his Queen, and ever so slowly his bed was shifted, sliding across the floor until it connected with that of his sisters. Gently, his hoof reached out, rubbing her on the shoulder encouragingly.

“Sister, you do not have to fear that anymore. We live here now, in Canterlot. We no longer need to hide our forms, or fear death by the ponies. Since I found my way out...”

He smiled over at Chrysalis, just briefly.

“We will help you, all of us, we can help you get your life back together, you can live again. No matter what you have done, we will be there for you.”

In shame, she looked away once again, hooves mashing into her face as her body shook under his touch.

“W-where is Thrity Two?”

Her confusion compounded when everyone suddenly went silent. The princess cast her eyes to the side, while the guards stationed over her brother's bed shared a look, but did not move from their spo

“Sister...”

His voice was full of sadness, of regret.

“You have missed much.”

Her heart seized when a chuckle filled the room, and all of the guards suddenly snapped to attention, spears pointed straight at her kin.

“Do not undersell it, Seventy Seven, there is no point in hiding it from her.”

The final of the changelings rose, uncaring to the spears pointed at him.

“So, I was wrong, you do learn on occasion. A rare bout of wisdom, considering how haggard you look. Why, I dare say even I would have a chance in a time like this.”

The Queen growled low, jerking her head towards the princess beside her.

“Have them take him back to the dungeon, he's fine.”

The pony seemed to war with herself briefly at the request, but eventually had to nod, and give the signal to the guards surrounding him.

“WAIT!”

Surprisingly, the guards did exactly that, taken back by the unhidden desperation in her voice.

“Y-you can't! You can't just... what could he have done!? He helped me! He kept trying to help me even when I... you can't just get rid of him!”

The Queen once again flinched, painfully at that.

“Sister, you don't understand, Thirty Two, he...”

“What!? What could he have done!? Why aren't you telling her to stop!? That's your brother! You can't just let her...”

“He tried to kill me.”

And just like that, Eighty Eight's world stopped spinning.

“Wh-... what?”

With an almost blasé flair, the scarred changeling shrugged.

“I'm afraid it's true, my sister. After I could take her incompetence no more, I hefted my weapon of choice and was off to end her reign before it dragged all of my hive to the very depths of destruction. Sadly, I failed, and now must live out my days in a cage as punishment.”

Her head throbbed, a migraine ringing in her ears like a bell gone wild.

“But... but you were out...”

“He escaped, sister. He escaped and then decided to... try to kill me.”

Impossibly, that bell rang ever louder.

“Actually... that's only half true. Though, sadly, not the part of my attempt on dear Seventy Seven's life, that happened.”

“WHAT!?”

The Queen whirled on him, snarling in an almost animalistic frenzy.

“You what!?”

“Attempted to kill him, do keep up... Oh, do not look at me like that, Twilight, I was quite emotional after seeing my sister again, and what had become of her. I dare say I was quite shaken by the whole ordeal, and lashing out blindly. It is a pity, but it happened, and I must live with it.”

Baffled, Twilight realized something.

“Wait, so you mean you didn't escape? How did you get out?”

“Why don't you ask dear old Chrysalis for that one?”

All eyes suddenly turned to the Queen.

“In fact, I would quite like to hear it myself. For the life of me, I cannot tell what your plan was, or how it involved me getting out. Did you place some kind of mind control spell in Q? Was Reggie really the key to some hairbrained scheme and you merely needed him out? Do tell.”

There was an elongated hush, no sounds but that of uncomfortable hooves shifting back and forth.

“... I didn't go down to your cell to check, I just sent you there. I suppose if it wasn't locked, they just didn't lock it after they removed you.”

It started with a twitch. Then a slight curl of the lip.

Then finally, it exploded. Laughter unrestrained bursting from the old infiltrator in bursts.

“Y-you're serious!?”

He just laughed harder, so much so his already aching ribs hurt worse. It was a long, long time before he calmed enough to stop.

“Oh... it's the simple things in life. A slight affirmation of prejudices does more than a thousand words of kindness sometimes. Well, I suppose you will be checking much more thoroughly in the future?”

Another quell followed, only broken by the mostly silent pony.

“Take him down for now, I'll talk with him later.”

The guards saluted, and Eighty Eight went numb as she heard him being wheeled away, still shockingly chipper despite what has come.

“Excellent work saving the world, dear princess! I look forward to hearing all about how you deduced the salvation of us all! Ta ta!”

She heard the door close, and in the quiet they all listened as he hummed away, growing quieter and quieter as he was taken back.

“...Majesty...”

Seventy Seven's words were low, uncertain.

“He did not have to assist me in trying to reach Eighty Eight, he could have left and fled this place. We worked together, we watched each other's backs up there, he... he's not the same.”

“He sounds the same.”

“Majesty...”

For reasons she couldn't fully put her hoof on, her brother being so reverent to the Queen made her blood positively boil.

“...I need a moment in private with her.”

She heard an uncomfortable shifting in the room, but was unable to see all of them giving each other curious, uncertain looks. Nonetheless, they assuaged to her request, and there was a subtle shuffling as several of them moved, in tune with her brother's hoof finally leaving her shoulder at last and leaving a coldness where it had been.

“Go easy on her, she's been through a lot.”

The concern in the pony's voice did little to sooth her worry in the face of the dead silence that followed them.

Soon, she could feel the room emptying, and it wasn't long before she knew she was alone with her former Queen.

The wait was maddening as the stillness grew thick, both parties unmoving and solid as statues as they waited for the other to make the first move.

“You hate me, don't you?”

It was flatly spoken, no emotion to be found within it's damning words. In contrast, there was far, far more emotion in the simple nod of the other's head.

“I don't blame you. If someone put me through all of that, I'd probably hate them too. I'd probably want them dead. I don't hold it against you.”

“So...”

“As such, regardless of how you feel against me, if you want, Eighty Eight... you can come home to your hive. The Ballroom is still quite in tact, and they would welcome you back.”

Her chest hurt, and not for any reason she could put together. Something about the thought of going back, of being with those under her command again...

“Or, if you want, I'll take you anywhere else you want to go.”

Again, her heart froze. But on this occasion, it had far more to do with the soft, almost sad tone in the Queen's voice.

“I tried to make Thirty Two come home and see that his hive would take him back, I thought maybe that would make him hurt less, like it did Seventy Seven... I was wrong. Wherever you want to go, wherever you think will help you, I'll see to it that you are taken there.”

She had known Queen Chrysalis most of her life. Served under her, lived under her, carried out many commands on her whims, some good, most useless and pointless. As such, she could not help but feel a tinge of suspicion at the words.

“Are you... banishing me?”

She nearly jumped when she felt a hoof tap her head, gently and softly as it could.

“You can come back anytime you want.”

At the discomfort on the smaller changeling's face, Chrysalis pulled away.

“I know you are angry at me, but do not do something foolish. I do not want you to be locked up again, no matter what form the cage takes. Regardless of my feelings or understanding of why you would do so, I will not tolerate you trying to kill me like he did.”

Her blood was boiling again, a million curses just barely held back on her tongue. It was only a lifetime of knowing exactly how Queen's reacted to such behavior that stilled her.

“Hate me if you want. Curse me. Call me stupid, call me a whore, call me whatever you like. Tell others of my stupidity, travel across the world and speak of my failure. I do not care. Whatever it is that gives you comfort, speak it. But I will not allow you to attempt to harm me, or any others in the hive in some need for revenge. The need to express your hatred is one I understand, but that is the one line I will not let you cross. I do not want you dead, and I will not make Forty Two kill her sister. Say whatever you want, but do not cross that line.”

Every word was spoken with a chilling finality, every breath cold and unmoving. The warmth with which she spoke earlier had frozen over, chilling her to the bone. It was only just barely that a thought pierced through that cold, unforgiving haze.

“...her?”

She could not see it, of course, but ever so slightly Chrysalis smirked.

“Yes, Forty Two is a her.”

“...Who the hell is Forty Two?”

Slowly, that smirk evolved into a low, barely restrained chuckle.

“I don't see what's so funny.”

“The hive has taken on names since you've been gone. Well, A name, and numbers.”

“...Oh?”

“Yes. For example, her full name is actually... Applejack Forty Two. And then there's Applejack Fifty Six, the tiny one, and of course dear, dear little Applejack Two... and then Applejack's Three through... I don't remember what the last one was.”

She couldn't see Eighty Eight's incredulous stare, of course, but she felt it.

“It's not my fault, they traded numbers at the start and I never got track of who was what. One of them picked Four Seventy One, just because she liked it. One of them picked a whole mess of names and just crammed them all together. I don't even know what it was.”

“Why Applejack?”

“She's the one who put us in the ballroom and demanded they all get names. They're not terribly creative. Most of them wanted my name.”

“...What happened with the invasion?”

Uncomfortably, Chrysalis cleared her throat, shrugging even though she knew the other could not see.

“I will leave it to Seventy Seven to bring you up to speed, he no doubt wishes to spend as much time with you as he can. I have separated you both enough as is.”

She heard hoofsteps began to leave, and something suddenly pulled at her with a force she had never felt before, inside. Something she needed to say more than anything she had ever spoken in her whole life.

“As said, tell Seventy Seven if you have somewhere else you wish to be, or I can have you brought over to the hive for your recovery, they're a bit loud but they will be happy to-”

“Are you sorry?”

Chrysalis could not have frozen in place faster if a Cockatrice had just divebombed before her and turned her to stone.

“Are you... are you sorry?”

Her disguise magic flickered, casting her in a warm glow again. She knew it foolish with Eighty Eight's inability to see, but it was subconscious at this point, instinctive.

“...I didn't want it to happen.”

Even with her magic working full force to turn her voice silky smooth, it still felt raw, breathless even.

“I just wanted to scare you. I was angry you ate my cake, and I was being petty. Just a little thing where you go into a scary hole that wasn't even supposed to have a tunnel, you freak out and then come running back. That's all... that's all. I didn't want the mouth of the cave to collapse. I didn't want you all to go so far in. I didn't know what was down there... I still can't believe it. This big peaceful city, and absolutely no records whatsoever of any of these things that are right down below it. Even when Seventy Seven said it, I couldn't believe it. I never thought that...”

She turned back to the changeling, trotting closer to the other so she could look upon her once more.

“I didn't want this. You didn't deserve this... none of them deserved that. So... yes. I am sorry. But I know words mean nothing, especially coming from a changeling.”

At last, she could look at her no more, and none-too-slowly began to make her way to the door.

“Wherever you want to go, you will. I will see to it you do not have to suffer anymore.”

“Am I allowed to... make a request instead?”

Twice in one day she found herself positively frozen. A rare occurrence.

“Speak it.”

“...What if I asked you to forgive Thirty Two?”

It happened in the blink of an eye, a transformation ever bit as fast as if her magic had cast it. Gone was the sad, morose changeling who had all but been hanging her head as she walked away. Gone she was.. and replaced by a Queen who held her head high, and looked upon her subject with a stern flare.

“That is not for you to ask. He made his choices and he must live with them. That you would ask in his place would show he is underserving of it at all.”

Inwardly, the other changeling curled away, unsure and still a touch fearful of that tone.

“Fine... then if you really want to make it up to me... give him a chance.”

Her chitinous head reeled back as if struck under the chin, lips curling into a snarl, one that was hidden away by the easy, casual tone with which she spoke next.

“That is a substantial request, are you sure that is what you want?”

She didn't need to say yes. Both knew, she didn't need to say it.

“I will speak to him, that is all I will promise. I have learned that my attempts to help him have been ineffectual, to put it mildly.”

“He never gave up on me... I can't give up on him.”

“...I will speak to him. But later, I have been through a lot, and there is still much more I need to do.”

Regally, she stood tall once more, her stance betraying her uncertain eyes. With a flourish, the door was opened, and Seventy Seven was wheeled back in.

However, a chitinous hoof shot out and blocked the guard.

“You will no longer be needed, go and get some nurses instead to make sure they are cared for.”

After a nod from the princess they actually took orders from, they left.

The beds of the two changelings were pushed together, and Chrysalis gave them one last look before she stepped beyond the threshold.

“Bring her up to speed, Seventy Seven. Take all of the time you need.”

“Thank you, my Queen.”

With one final nod, she quietly closed the door.

Beyond it, Seventy Seven's eyes nearly sparkled with mirth as he looked to his sister.

“So... what have I missed?”

He laughed. Honestly and truly, he laughed.

“Where do I even begin...”

Outside, in the hall, the head of black and that of lavender hung close to one another, whispering low on the off chance any of the occupants of the room they left could hear them.

“How badly was her face injured?”

“Bad... really bad. She's not going to be seeing for a while.”

“But she will heal?”

“I'm hopeful. She's recovering now, and you changelings are capable of some powerful regeneration. It's nothing near as bad as Seventy Seven's, so maybe...”

She nodded, understanding.

“See to it she's taken care of.”

“Of course... so, are you going to tell me why you look like you want to jump out the window?”

“Now don't you start, it's bad enough your brother has a weird sixth sense.”

“Chrysalis...”

“She merely made a request. A personal one, no offense.”

“I see...”

“If I think you'll be a help, I'll come to you for it first, before I do something stupid.”

Warmly, the pony smiled at her.

“You are learning!”

“I just said don't start.”

“Oh p'shaw. If Shiny can do it, I can do it.”

“HAH! I doubt that, unless you've got some WEIRD powers. Even we can't grow those!”

“CHRYSALIS! EW!”

“HAH!”

There was a strange lightness in their step as they continued on, a bit of a smile on either of their faces.

“So... what do you think she's going to do now?”

Chrysalis's head rolled back, looking in the direction if the door they had left behind.

“You heard her, Twilight...”

A smile, ever so slightly, creased the corner of her lips.

“She wants to live.”

Ever so slightly more, it grew.

“...And she's going to...”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Twilight
"???"
'???'
~~

*TELEPORT!*

>Mom? Dad? I came to see if you guys are okay! I didn't get a chance after the zombies and-OH SWEET CELESTIA SIZZLING ON THE SUN!

“S-SWEETIE! HI! Heeeeyyyy! How's my little girl? How are yoooouuuu-”

>MY EYES!

“Uh... mommy and me are just wrestling?”

>SHE IS WEARING LEATHER!

“...Wrestlers outfit?”

>SHE HAS A BALLGAG IN HER MOUTH!

'Mrph.'

“...Mouthguard?”

>SHE IS CLEARLY HANGING FROM SOMETHING!

“...Safety harness?”

>DAD!

“Oh, I suppose you've caught us. It's about that time we gave you the talk-”

>DAD! NO! NOOOO!

“Look, you're about at that age-”

>THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM HERE!

“Honey? Please no yelling in the house. Indoor voice.”

>WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?

“Listen, me and your mom-”

>JUST LET HER DOWN ALREADY FOR CELESTIA'S SAKE-

*WHIPCRACK!*

>Ow!

“NO! N! O! I beat more zombies so this is my win! I never win! Do not mess this up for me!”

>...Did you just whip my hoof!?

“Oh no, sweetie! I'd never whip my little baby girl... grazed would be the word I use.”

>...

“You might want to wash that hoof, though.”

>....................................I WILL NEVER BE CLEAN AGAAAAAAAIIIIIIINNNNNNNNN!

*TELEPORT*

“See you for Hearths Warming Eve dinner!... They grow up so fast.”

'Mrphmhm.'

“I agree, not fast enough to understand what a whip on the door means, but eh. Won't make that mistake twice!”

'Mrpmhmpmgm?'

“Are you kidding? Of course I'm still in the mood.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Applebloom
"Big Mac"
'Braeburn'
~~

>...So why ain't we ever, ya' know, asked AJ ta' use her special princess stuff fer' us?

"..."

>Ah'm just sayin'! We could probably build a barn with, ya' know... real nails. Probably wouldn't collapse every event or so.

"..."

>Ah' like doin' the singin' too, but come on. How many times we gonna rebuild that thing?

'Now Sugarcube, ya' know AJ ain't the sort ta' use her powers like that.'

>Duh, that's why she's got me!

"..."

>Ah' don't care how that sounded, Ah'm stickin' to it.

'She's too busy doin' good fer' all o' Canterot and Equestria ta' be worried bout buildin' materials for a barn, little honey.'

>Like what?

'Like... uh...'

"..."

'Mac, help me out here.'

"Eeeeyup."

'...cuz, yer' about as helpful as a changelin' in a swimmin' competition.'

>...What!?

'They can't swim.'

>That don't make no sense, they can fly!

'...Mac?'

"Eeeeyup."

'You cut that out and help me!'

"Cuz, Ah've explained his so many times Ah' hear this conversation in mah sleep. Princess Luna must think ah'm the most borin' so and so there ever was, cos every night it just keeps repeatin'. Iffin you think Ah'm wastin' one more breath reaffirmin' ta' Applebloom what Ah've done told her more times than she's done silly schemes tryin' ta' get her cutie mark, yer' as crazy as a badger in a hole and as thickheaded as the brick wall yer' currently hammerin' against, ya' get it?"

>...

'...Uh... point taken?... go back ta' never talkin'.'

"Eeeeyup."

>...So are we gonna-

"Nope."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Vekir
"Reggie"

>Twience Princess? Hallo? Vekir is needing repairs for the armors! Hallooooo...uhm...

"..."

>...

"..."

>Hallo skitterbug.

"*chitter*"

>Vekir is looking for the Twience Princess, she is not in her lab and Vekir was told she might be here in the Club of Guns...Vekir does not understand whyfor you would use a gun as a club but-

"*chitter*?"

>Hm? Oh the evil red of evil is gone now, all is safe for ponies and Morlocks and bugs both changey and skittery, yes? Yes.

"*chitter*?"

>What does 'Bum a ride' mean?

Vekir blinks as the cockroach seemingly disappears from the table it had been standing on.

>...has Vekir gone crazy?

"Probably."

>EEK!

"*skitter*"

>Oh! Hallo again, Skitterbug! You will ride in Vekir's mane! Hurrah!

"*skitter*!"

>Ooh! Brownie! *munch munch munch* Nowf, to fuh Twienf Pwinfef!

And so the taciturn pair of cannibal and cockroach begin their journey.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Pommel
"Daw"

>Ok, according to this newspaper we bummed off King Idris-

"Kitty Litter."

>-yeah, call him that to his face-according to this, Queen Chrysalis and Princess Twilight-

"Fucken weird."

>Huh?

"Well think about it, Sun Princess banishes Moon Princess, then along comes a Twilight that redeems th' Moon Princess and becomes a Princess herself. Ya think these prophecies just wait for th' right name to come up? I'd hardly suspect the fate of th' world to rest on someone named Jed."

>...

"Am I overthinkin' it?"

>Possibly, I'd love for you to explain how the Apple, Diamond, and Chaos princesses fit into this.

"I have th' weirdest inclination to blame th' Sun Princess."

>You're gonna fit in just fine in Canterlot.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Twilight
"Pinkie"
~~~~

>...
"..."
>...
"..."
>...Your parents too?

"R-repressing..."

>Yeah... me too...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Applejack
"AB"
______

"Ummm... sis?"

>Yeah, 'Blooms?

"Yer', uh... yer' eye, it just popped."

>Ah know.

"Well, didn't it hurt...?"

>Nah, anger precedes the pain, Ah'm guessin',

"Anger ovuh' what though?"

>Wish Ah knew, 'Blooms. Wish Ah knew.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Spike
"???"
~~~~~

He had been agonizing over this moment for days now.

The mere thought of walking in there and seeing all the pain he had caused the changeling, the fear he would no doubt cause with his mere presence, the regret and shame he would be forced to suffer through as the changeling, quite rightfully, laid into him for such brutality sent shivers down his spine.

But he could not put it off forever. He had to face this, be a dragon and accept what he had done and do what it took to give just a bit of atonement for the acts committed.

He had demanded Rarity stay outside, despite her fervent protests. He couldn't bare the thought of her seeing what was about to come, of what he would have to suffer through. He was a monster... now he would have to pay the toll.

Regretfully, he stepped inside of the room, head held low as he approached the bed like a prisoner taking the last walk.

Quietly, he sat down, and waited for the other to make the first move.

"Hey, Spike! How's it going?"

....

Nope. No matter how many times he repeated the phrase in his head, it made as much sense as Discord on a thursday.

"Listen, buddy? Next time, stick to warning shots. They work! Really!"

The ligaments in his neck practically creaked like an old door as the dragons head slowly tilted upwards, mouth gaping nearly as wide as his saucer-like eyes.

"By the way, totally keeping these. DIBS!"

The changeling on the bed almost joyfully jingled a jar in front of his face. Within, there were several noticeably large shards of metal, and even more tiny pieces.

"Took them forever to find all of these, by the way. HA! Had to run over me with a metal detector, even!"

The dragons cheek sank inwards when his eyes landed upon the bullets and fragments within. So many of them...

"I know, right? And I still kept fighting! I am using this in every bar story, by the way, you are now obligated to back me up if I say I've been shot a bunch of times."

The dragon didn't know what to say. What could he, really? How could he possibly respond to such nonchalance from Seven at the fact he had been SHOT so many times he could use the fragments for a rattle.

"So, anything interesting happen? Besides the obvious, I mean. I heard about the whole RAWWWRRRR! And then the BAMWHAMSHOOM! And then the mushroom thing."

>H-how-

"Papers! I get them!"

He proudly held up his copy of the Hive Gazette.

"So I am up to speed!... Well, except where Jetset is. Asshole."

>S-Seven...

He felt his chest practically cave in as he tried to force out the words, tried to steel himself long enough to speak.

"Yeah? What's up?"

>...I shot you.

"Yeah, you did. Please don't do it again, fucking ow. I know, everyone's like "Yeah, well, I've seen what's his face take rockets, you pussy", but we're not all goddamn lovebricks! I've got limits, dragon!"

>You were trying to help...

"Oh, neat, she brought you up to speed? Yeah, I was SUPPOSED to get you out of there if stuff got bad, but eh. S'pose you wouldn't have wanted to leave anyway."

Regretfully, he looked to the paper, and the picture of the Titanic changeling on the front.

>It's all my fault. If I had just listened to you...

"Yeah, that was pretty dumb. What the fuck were you thinking, dragon? I mean, okay, not trusting Chrysalis, sure, I get that, but it's me! Come on, we fought together on the airship!"

>...While you were disguised as Forty Two.

"Fine, point made, but still. Dick move."

He flinched, hurt.

>Understatement.

"Yep, little bit."

Finally he could take no more.

>How are you so fucking easygoing about this!? I SHOT YOU!

"Yeah, and it hurt. Don't do that."

>Why aren't you screaming at me!? Why aren't you chewing me out for being a dumbass!? Why aren't you mad I almost KILLED YOU!?

A single chitinous eyebrow rose up.

"...For fucks sake, it's part of the agent job. What, you think I'm not up to date with your 'missions' for Celestia and Applejack? Look, buddy, we're agents. We work for higher powers who may or may not want us to do some dirty stuff. You thought I was threatening your boss, you tried to kill me. Yeah, it was dumb of you considering, but do you really think this is the first time I've had to go up against other Infiltrators? Queens fought each other all the time in the last days. I've been on my fair share of Infiltrator on Infiltrator skirmishes before, you trying to kill me isn't a surprise... though admittedly we usually try to interrogate the others first. I mean, damn, I thought we Changelings were badasses, but Jetset went right to trying to snap my neck. No info, no attempts to deduce the situation, nothing. Eesh."

No words he could have ever spoke would have properly articulated the horror Spike felt right there.

>I was wrong.

"Oh, Queens beyond yes, that was fucking dumb. Don't do that."

>Seven... what I did, I don't know if you can forgive me for, but if there's anything you think would make this right-

"Yeah, don't shoot me anymore. Next time I fight with you I don't want to have to wear a bulletproof vest to prevent friendly fire."

>Next... next time? You can't still want to...

"Why not? You guys are great... for the most part, brief bouts of insanity and shootings aside."

The theme of "Sheer disbelief at what he was hearing" was becoming a common one today, it seemed.

"Hey, I checked, I'm still on the roster. Don't you kick me off now, you all murdered the hell out of each other in that funnyroom, I just take this as an initiation."

>...You're serious.

"You owe me one! My Queen didn't even order me specifically to guard you, I volunteered when she asked for someone to look out for you. Come on... but don't make me use that rocket launcher. That power goes to my head."

>...You're serious....

"Also, can you get me some of that ice cream? You know, the one with the mint. I have been hungry for that for so long and I have no idea why."

Eventually, Spike's brain decided to stop trying to think.

>Do you want regular or chocolate chips?

"Oh! Chocolate chips!... I have no idea why, but the green with the little pieces in it is making me STARVING. Right? Like, not even the flavor, I just see it and I want to eat it. It's weird."

>Yep. I would say that is weird as hell. So, do you want in the gunclub too?

"HAH! No, no thank you. No offense, but you let in some really undesirables."

>...

"I mean the potato eater."

>Dude.

"HEY! WHOA! This is not Flake related! It is solely based on the fact she is a loyalty free freeloader, that's all! I would consider anyone else like that just the same!"

>What about Jugglejack? He disobeyed your Queen too.

"....He made a mistake and is working past it."

>...

"IT'S NOT FLAKE RELATED!"

>Right... so, did you really volunteer?

"Yep! Hey, like I said, I liked hanging out with you guys that one time. Normally I'm all alone in my mission, so the thought of being on a team again was inciting. It was fun, you know. Need to do it more often."

>...Thanks, I guess, for trying to save me, even when I was shooting you.

"S'what I do. Dedicated to the mission and all that."

>Right...

"Still bummed I'm not taking Eighteen's place as third, though. Was THIS close. But eh, she's got a headstart on me."

>Headstart?

"Oh, right... so, you know Eighteen's an Infiltrator, right?"

>Yeah?

"Well, with Infiltrators, there's different types. You've got your standard seducers who get love for the hive, and then you've got scouts, bomb planters, info gatherers, you know. She was the latter, like I am now..."

>...

"...I didn't used to be."

>Ah.

"Yeah, so, she's a bit better than me... except in that way. Want to hear stories? I have stories."

>No thank you.

"You sure? I've got a bunch of them!"

>Please no.

"If you're worried about them featuring stallions, thankfully I never got assigned one of those!... Though if you are looking for those, 14 could probably fill you in, poor bastard always got assigned stallions... think the Queen was mad at him for something..."

>Stop talking.

"Come on! It'll probably give you some tips!"

>I will go get Charity.

"ACK! NO! FRIENDLY FIRE! I was lucky none went down there the first time, I am NOT taking another chance on that!"

This morning, he honestly thought he would never laugh again at that joke

Somehow... he did.

>So... we're cool?

"So long as you don't shoot me and let me fucking talk, you dumbass."

>Yeah... I promise.

"Good. Seriously, I'm getting stabby next time."

>Dragon scales.

"I WILL FIND A WAY!"

Once again, Spike found himself laughing, honestly laughing.

>Your Queen is still mad at me...

"...R-really? Like? Over me? Not because you messed up her plan?"

>...Yeah?

Spike had expected exactly none of the things that had happened in the last few minutes, he admitted.

Seeing the changeling smile like a loon and hug his blanket somehow took the cake.

>Right, well... take it easy, you've earned it.

"Oh, I intend to. I never get breaks, I'm milking this. In fact, I should be thanking you."

>...

"...I'm not, that still fucking hurt, and was dumb as fuck, but eh. What's done is done, no point fighting over it."

>I'll just accept the fact you don't hate me.

"It'll have to do, I'm not giving more."

As he rose up from the chair, Spike felt... light. Far lighter than he should, he admitted. For lighter than he thought he would...

"Hey, Spike?"

He paused, claws on the door.

>Yeah?

"...Did you mean everything you said back there?"

>What do you mean?

"You know what I mean. Back before you pulled out you know what. That little... talk. Was that just to get me to switch sides?"

>...No, Seven, I meant every word. You really would be a good help to us, and we would be happy to have you. Especially now that I know what you were really doing.

"And, not that I ever would take you up on it, but is that offer still valid? Like I said, I never would do it, I'm loyal to the core, just curious."

A single one of his fangs shown as his lip curled ever so slightly upwards.

>Yeah, Seven. If you ever want to find safety with someone who'll treat you like you actually matter... our door's open.

"...Not that I'll ever consider it, but thanks. Food for thought, after all."

At last, the dragon shut the door, and left the Changeling all alone.

"...food for thought..."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Haymaker
"Blueblood"
~~~~~~

>So I have a few questions. Nothing major, just a little need-to-know.

"Ask away."

>Cool. Guess I'll start with the obvious. You seem to be carrying a potato peeler.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

>Ah, good, so I'm seeing straight. For a second, I thought the spores had gotten my vision, but okay, now for the questiosn. WHY do you have the aforementioned peeler? What is it you plan on peeling and should I be worried?

"I have this peeler because reasons, and for those reasons I'll peel. Though should you be worried? I'd say not."

>Uh-huh.

"..."

>Tad bit annoyed?

"I'm going to peel every single spud in her bag, and make her watch."

>...Oooooka-

"Every. Single. Spud."

>Well, so long as I get the one between her thighs, we'll still be friends.

"..."

>Wrong time for jokes? Got it, wrong time for jokes. I'll just, uh... just save it for later.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Twilight
"Pinkie"
'???'
[???]
~~~~~

>By the way, Pinkie? How'd your sisters fair during the whole... you know.

"Oh, Limestone and Marble were fine. We punch rocks, Twilight, we can throw them at ponies too, and those are the lucky ones that made it through the badlands."

>Oh?... Wait, what about your other sister?

"Maud?... Huh... come to think of it, I don't remember seeing her..."

>Really?

"Yeahhhh..."

~~~~~

'...That was a very useful rest. I feel much more energized. So much I could practically bounce... but I won't. Guard, would you mind telling me if anything has happened when I rested? I am still waiting for Shining Armor to return.'

[...]

'Has he?'

[...]
'...'
[...]
'...'
[...]
'...'
[...]
'...'
[...]
'...'
~~~~

"...I'm sure she's fine."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Applejack
“Granny”

The elder matrons closed the bathroom door behind them, Applejack had missed this place, the room in Canterlot always felt a little imposing and forcibly regal, this felt a lot more homely.

“Alright gal, looks like yer gran is gonna have to sort yer hair out, take a seat will ya?”

>Ah think ah’ll be fine, Granny, it can just grow back, right?

“Hush now, lemme take a good look”

Applejack let herself be sat on the stool like a filly, while her Granny fidgeted and took long looks at the clumpy singed-golden mane, muttering and tsking, AJ didn’t feel like a princess at that moment, having Granny prodding at her tail with concern and disdain.

“Aaaalright, we’re gonna need the big guns fer this”

Rummaging in a cabinet, she produced several old, worn, and frankly odd bottles, many AJ didn’t recognise or remember.

“Be a gal and turn on the bath will you? This is gonna take a long soak”

>Okay, is it that bad?

A slightly derisive, but concerned “hmph” answered her

“It’s burnt bad, right to the core most places”

>But… ya can fix it, right?

“Oh I can, one way or another, now git in the tub, girl”

She complied, feeling the warmth of the water soak into her, she needed this, and hadn’t realised just how badly she did until now.

She almost didn’t notice Granny pouring the foreign bottles into the tub, turning the water a myriad of oily and pulpy colours.

In a way, she never fully understood her grand-mother, she always had something to pull out of nowhere, sometimes to make things better, other times just to confuse ponies.

“Now just tilt yer head back some”

Granny took hold of AJ’s head and tenderly tilted it so that the mane was fully submerged

>Now what?

“Jess’ relax dear, let the oils do their work”

She really didn't feel like a princess now, being bathed by her gran, being taken care of, it felt far too alien for her too comprehend, but the sensation of comfort was there, it was all she needed really.

“AJ?”

>Yeah?”

“Is there something you’re holdin’ on to?”

>…Whadda ya mean?

“Yer face looks like it’s holding something back, was it something ya said? or didn’t say?”

>Well…ah guess it was ‘bout something ah didn't tell y’all, but ah didn't want to scare ya

“That’s alright, iffin ya wanna, ya can tell me, Ah’ll understand”

>Alright…alright…

She didn’t feel scared, she didn’t feel hurt, but she was unsure, but she had to tell all the same

>Y’know when ah said that mushroom made me see “things”? it..It kinda

“What did it show you, dear?”

>It tried ta’ make me give up…it showed me mah friends….mah family… an’ you- they were all covered in that..stuff an’ they were tyna make me give up cos you- cos THEY said that they…they…

“Easy girl, take it easy, that fungus business ain;t funny, nuthin’ to be scared of now”

She stopped, just letting the immediate reality keep her, try to stop her running away with herself, the gentle touch of Granny’s hooves on her mane, the water surrounding her.

>..Anyway… it…it got into mah mind..almost, made me see…Ma and Pa-

“Damn mushroom, makin’ ya see things like that, making ya think wrong, not right, y’ should feel proud for burning that damn thing to ashes”

>Ah know…ah should an’ all, but…the thing is Granny…

“… Go on, ah’m not gonna judge what ya did then”

She closed her eyes, hopefully, she wouldn’t cry, she had no reason to, but just in case…

>Ah nearly gave in…ah-ah nearly believed them, ah nearly…joined them, they were nothing but liars an’ an’ an’….stupid mushroom boogies but…ah nearly gave up.

>Ah nearly gave in…ah-ah nearly believed them, ah nearly…joined them, they were nothing but liars an’ an’ an’….stupid mushroom boogies but…ah nearly gave up.

Morosely, Granny looked down the length of Applejack in the tub, noticing her shudder at the memory.

She gently placed a placating hoof on AJ’s cheek and turned her head to face the elder matron.

“But y’ didn’t, cos you were stronger than some mushroom, y’ stopped it…y’ saved us all Applejack”

>It…it wasn’t me that saved me… it was Spike…

“…Yep, his roar brought ya back, an’ that’s a good thing”

>But…but iffin he didn’t… ah woulda…it was him that saved me…an’… then…if it wasn’t fer Spike…. We’d… Ah’m just… Ah couldn’t haff… Ah-

“Applejack. Listen to me.”

Granny’s voice had changed, it became stern and commanding. Shaken, AJ looked into Granny’s face and saw…much

“Ah’m gonna tell y’ something about this family…about Big Mac and about you, y’hear?”

>Yes’m

“Good”

Granny sat back and thought, but soon she spoke.

“When yer Ma an’ Pa passed away, the Apples did everything…anything they could to help us with that loss. They all came to help, to heal, just to do something to ease our pain and carry our burdens.”

“But Big Macintosh, something happened to him, a few days after it happened, whilst members of the Apple clan where still here, he jess’ went to his room and laid in his bed. All he did, he didn’t talk, he didn’t eat much apart from what ya brought to his mouth. And he didn’t listen. No matter how many times we tried to talk to him, tried to comfort him, he didn’t respond, he was completely lost.”

Applejack stared with rapt attention, she had never heard this of her brother, and he was always a strong one. She kept her thoughts numbed as she listened.

“Ah tried to talk him out of his depression; that’s what they told me it was. Ah lost mah temper with ‘im sometimes too, yellin’ an’ hollerin’. But nothing changed in him, he just kept staring, with those sad, green eyes.”

“D’you know what made him stop? What made him get up and keep on living?”

AJ numbly shook her head to the negative

“It was you”

Granny let the room fall silent for a moment, before she pressed on

“When you an’ lil’ Bloom came by, cos you were frettin’ about him, ah know darn well Ah saw his eyes flicker when you talked to him, now Ah’m not sure if you remember it well, but I know well enough what happened after y’all left him cos Uncle Cox was tryna leave him to rest an’ had t’ shuffle y’all out.”

“Soon enough, he was out the bedroom and running for me, nearly knocked me ribs off with a hug, an’ he kept mumbling how sorry he was to me, an’ to you an’ Bloom”

AJ just let the image of Mac giving up on the world sat poorly in her mind, half in disbelief.

“An’ you know what happened?”

>…What?

“Big Mac changed, he realised that he had to keep going, for all of his family, not just his parents”

>…

“It wasn’t wrong for him to be weak, ah tried to make him change, but in the end he was the one who had to change, so he could keep going.”

>Granny? Ah don’t understand, what does it hafta do with me?

Granny held her answer for a bit, lifting AJ’s head out of the water, murmuring over her mane

“…Hrmph, isn’t getting any better, we’re gonna hafta get drastic”

>Granny?

“..Oh, well, you know how you said you only snapped out of that hokey mushroom shimmer sham cos of Spike, right?”

>Yeah…

“Well, Big Mac only snapped out of his fugue cos of you an’ Apple Bloom, come on dearie, don’t ya get it?”

>I…no-

“You did it for Spike, and you changed yourself, it wasn’t some bang and a clatter that woke you up, it was you, you realised what y’had to do, what you were Faustdamned fightin’ for! For all of us, y’ see, you’re not weak, you’re strong, yer the strongest mare ah think ah’ve ever known. Now come on, git outta the tub.”

On shaky legs, she stood up and out, being led by Granny to face the bathroom mirror, staring at herself, her slickened mane, made to look darker where it was burnt by how wet it was, it stood out to her, for the briefest split second, she didn’t recognise herself.

“It takes us some gal-danged time to know why we keep going, Big Mac briefly forgot it, you briefly forgot, it happens to the best of us, and it will happen one day. One day, it will happen to anyone of us”

Applejack stared at herself, not seeing the shears Granny took from under the bathtub.

“Now when it does happen to us, we learn, we don’t wallow innit like some pig, we all gonna grow from it. Now, how many mares do y’know who woulda binded some big giant stompin’ bug monster in a buncha red tape, huh?”

AJ couldn’t help but chuckle a little at that

>Ah know, ah had to think o’ something

“Now does that sound like somepony who’s unsure of herself? Who thinks she’s not able to help ponies?”

>…No… no she doesn’t

“Darn tootin’, jess caused you stumbled once, doesn’t mean ya can’t do great things, ah promise ya that much”

>…Thank you…thanks Granny

“An’ now..”

Schnip

AJ felt the shears cut into her mane, she jerked at the sudden realisation that her Gran was cutting her mane, before she could respond, Granny put a stead hoof on AJ’s back.

“..We gotta keep on truckin’…fer all our sakes”

Schnip schnip

Umber burnt clumbs of her mane fell softly down her sides, Granny expertly guiding the shears between the line of burnt mane and golden head.

“We may change…”

Scnhip

“An’ sometimes…that change means others can’t see us like what we really are…”

Schnip Schnip

Granny softly pulled the mane towards the shears, cutting the burnt and ragged pieces apart from Applejack, all around her.

Schnip

“But ah guess, that’s why we all grow, don’t we?”

Schnip

One final cut, and Applejacks mane was nothing but short golden tufts. The burnt remnants slowly coiling on the ground beneath her.

Once again, Applejacks heart stirred, and she found she couldn’t say much to Granny. Aside from a needed hug.

They embraced, and held that hug for a while, simply getting to feel each others comfort.

“Oh, ah better git that mane cut too, burnt tail feathers are th’ worst, ehh, metaphorically speakin’ anyhow.”

>Sure granny, they’ll….

She regarded her hair-do in the mirror, it was fairly crude, solely done to spare her head from having to hold withering brittle strands of mane, and not evenly spread, but she knew Rarity would help her with that, she always would be.

>….it’ll grow back…one day

The bathroom was left to a few more schnips of the shears as AJ’s burnt tail fell to the ground

She smiled, glad to have the weight of fear and failure lifted from her heart, happy to know that even with each mistake she made, she would always make up for it in kind, ten fold. Her hooves were still blackened, and impervious to the shears, but she felt small sparks of red arc and sputter around them, her magic, it seemed, would need tending to.

And Applejack, was happy.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chrysalis
"Celestia"
~~~

>...So, you look... interesting.

Walking into her room unannounced? That's rude. That smirk on her face and twinkle in her eyes? Just insulting. The amount of surprise Celestia felt that Chrysalis would do such?

Not a bit.

"Says the prune."

>Ooooh, going for the low shots?

"I'm feeling weak, I'm not up for the high blows."

>HAH! Oh, come on, it wasn't that bad! Everyone else got drained too, but you don't see them lounging around.

"..."

>What?

"No comment."

>Whatever. Soooo... how'd Shiny taste?

"Like whatever love-drained death tastes like. Because he was deadish. Because of the draining. Which is why I kissed him. He tasted like empty death."

>...Raisins and sad?

"...Oh sweet mother he did taste like raisins and sad..."

>That aside, you feeling any better?

"Like someone stuck a straw in my back and started draining."

>Yeah, that sounds about right. Sorry, can't give you a bump, low myself.

"That's fine. I would rather you didn't kiss me all the same."

>Why? Don't you want to know what chocolate and happy tastes like?

"..."

>...

"...Okay, fine, I'm a LITTLE curious, that's all I'll admit to."

>HAH! And somewhere, your sister's head has just exploded.

"Did you just come in here to bug me?"

>HAH! Bug.

"..."

>...But yes. I did specifically come in here for that. You looked bored.

"Oh... thank you?"

>Meh.

"...Are you avoiding something?"

>Nah. What gave you that idea?

"Right, right... thank you for saving us."

>Was Twibright's idea.

"Just take the compliment and save this 'I'm so cool' stuff for someone who could possibly care."

>...Fair enough.

"..."

>...

"...Fine, I'll race."

>AHAHAHAHAHHAH!

"...I missed this. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I honestly missed this."

>READYSETGO!

"NO HEAD STARTS!"

>AHAHAHAHAHAAHH!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Dash
"???"
~~

>Hey, Fluttershy? I was wondering if you wanted to go get something to eat with... oh.

"Yeah, oh."

>Chaos powers are back?

"WHAT DO YOU THINK!?"

Dash pondered this, tapping her chin softly with her hoof. Slowly, she once more looked to the giant wall of chocolate pudding that was currently attempting to tickle Fluttershy with it's feathers made of eyeballs, before trailing over to the giant squirrel made of machine parts constructed from ritz cracker and cheese.

After careful deliberation assisted by the visual aide of a four eyed scorpion forced out of steel and marshmallow, she came to a conclusion.

>I think your chaos powers are back.

"...I think so too."

>Glad we came to an agreement on that. I would have felt dumb otherwise.

"I can see why."

>...So, you want to go get something to eat?

"Maybe later."

>No, yeah, you look busy.

"I am a little bit."

>...See ya'.

"Bye... A-hem, DIEEEEEEEEEEE!... please?"

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>Cadence
"???"
~~~

>You shouldn't be out of bed.

Of course, he didn't so much as give anything but a simple smirk in response before turning his attention back. Up here, at the very top of their castle, the beam of power emitted by the Crystal Heart flowing around them, he could see every inch of the Empire and his people.

"I'm still getting recharged."

>You know that's not what I meant.

He just shrugged, still looking ahead.

"It feels like things are changing, aren't they?"

She paused in her stride, a mere few feet away from him now. Something held her in place, but she couldn't say what.

>The Empire is growing a bit, but it's not much yet.

"No, I don't mean that. It feels like things are getting... better."

She lost even more ground as she stumbled back, incredulous.

>Are you okay? You sure you don't want to sleep a bit more?

"I know how that sounds, but think about it. Bigger threats are coming, but we're coming together just as much. I feel like we're just... getting better. Things are getting better."

She hung there, uncertain, unsure what to say to him. Hesitant despite his assurance. For her, it certainly didn't seem to get any better. But still, she didn't know what to say.

"I'm glad I met you."

That, however, she had at the very least one response to.

>...Thanks?

After everything they've been through, how close it seemed sometimes, it was good to hear him chuckle again.

"I mean it."

>Oh, good, so you are happy you met your wife. I was worried there for a bit.

"No, come on. I mean... I used to just think I was going to be a guard for my whole life, never see any action like my commander and his commander did. Back in the day, I thought I would just settle down with a nice mare, have a decent sized home, couple kids, basic stuff. I thought my life would be... simple.... but look at this!"

He pointed outwards, to nothing in particular but the world beyond.

"I'm in a castle! I command my own army! I have servants, I have political power, I have responsibilities, I have so much... that I never wanted."

Slowly, his hoof lowered just a bit.

"When we started dating, I was scared out of my mind. I didn't know if I could handle it, if I could be someone who was worthy of a princess. You know how many nights I stayed awake wondering if I shouldn't just break it all off and tell you to go chase some big royal instead of just... a guard? Just a guy... do you know how many I stayed away wondering if I wouldn't lose my mind at the possibility of this? I kept asking myself if I could have a life outside of... this. I didn't think I could handle it. I'm going to be honest, I was scared of it. I was so scared... I almost just broke it all off."

Her heart had never hurt as much as it had right this very second. Barely, just barely, did she find the strength to speak.

>When?

"...The second date..."

She remembered that. She remembered it so vividly. How could she not? She remembered every date they had, every single one.

She remembered that one well. It was a nice, discreet restaurant on the west end of Canterlot. Celestia had pulled some strings so she wouldn't be bothered, they had the table all to themselves...

And he had looked like he was so nervous he was going to flip the table for a distraction and jump through the window at any moment.

She had thought it just pre-date jitters, of course. Nothing quite so... major.

>So... what stopped you?

His chin lifted, tilting his head back until he was looking straight up, right to the stars.

"You."

She waited, hoping he would elaborate. It took quite a long while before he finally continued.

"I just saw you sitting there, and I thought... I don't know if I can live this life... but can I live one without her? And then... I knew I couldn't."

A weight pressed against his back, and it wasn't long before he felt a certain bit of wetness upon it.

>Shining...

His smile grew as he continued to look up to the sky, to all that surrounded him and his Empire.

"I thought I wanted a life where it would be simple, easy, but fruitful. But now... I don't know how I could live without you, and this, and them, and everything. You made me the happiest stallion in the world, Cadence. I know it sounds crazy, but I love how insane my life is sometimes. Not all the times, but when it's special... nothing could ever replace it. It's totally worth this stuff I keep going through. Monsters, robots, plants... all worth it."

>I'm scared.

She shook upon him, grip growing even more impossibly tighter.

>I'm so scared of what else is going to come next. It just seems to get worse and worse, and you just get closer and closer every time.

He laughed again, leaning back into her embrace.

"I can't just leave it, Cadence. If something threatens you, or them, any of them... I have to fight it."

>Why do you have to scare me so much...

Her voice had gone raw with emotion, and her grip had tightened to almost painful levels.

>Why do you have to keep almost dying... why do you have to keep being hurt...

"...Because you're worth it."

At last, his foreleg hooked around her, and drew her in close.

"I love you, Cadence."

>I love you too, Shining...

And there, in that light, they sat. Together.

>Shiny?

"Hm?"

>I think... I think things are getting better too.

"Yeah, they're getting there... but it's not there yet."

>No, not yet. But maybe... we can get there.

"...Together."

>Together.

And in that bathing of light forged from the very power of love itself, they shared this moment with each other.

A moment where they looked to the future, and wondered what was yet to come.

A moment where regardless... they would not face it alone.

In that light, their own personal sun had crested.

A new day had risen.

And their uncertain future... looked just a bit brighter.

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