Thread 68: Stories 46-60

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Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Rarity"
~~~~
>Welcome to Not Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content does matter, but some folks like things that are irreverent! Now for our main guest...Rarity!!!

"Why hello everypony."

>A trip into the Everfree forest. Doesn't that bring back memories?

"Indeed. I wonder how that sea serpent is doing."

>We never did check up on him didn't we?

"He seemed like a fine fellow for someone who lives in the Everfree forest."

>Is he still a sea serpent if he lives in a river?

"Wait a minute..."

>Thanks for joining us here. See everypony later!
Rarity wakes up.
"...what was a sea serpent doing in a river?"

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>Sombra
"Twilight"
'Pinkie'
[Dash]
{Fluttershy}
(Rarity)
~AJ~
~~~~~

>You know, I could just float up and see where the castle is.

"We know, Sombra, most of us could do that anyway.""

>...So why don't you? In fact, why don't we just fly to the castle~!... I do not know why I sang that last part in a high pitched voice, and am afraid.

"HRMSHMMHMM."

'No no, please, Twilight, tell him why?'

"...Don't make me do it."

'Go on!'

"Doooooon't."

'Twiliiiiiiiight?'

"...Pinkie makes the noises when she rides on me."

>...Come again?

[UGH! She does! She going NNNEGGGGHHHHHHHH]

~CHKK! BREKER' BREKAER' BRINGIN' HER IN HAWT!~

(We're going to bank hard to starboard!)

{Enemy sighted! NGHGHGGHGHGHGHGHHGTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKT}

"WE'RE HIT! WE'RE HIT! WE'RE GOING DOWN! GOING DOOOOWWWNNNNNN!"

[WOOOOOOO...PSHHHMMUMMMMMM!]

>......

"EVERY."
[SINGLE]
{Solitary}
~BUCKIN'~
(TIME!)

>......

'NO REGRETS!'

"So, MR SOMBRA, do you wish to give our dear friend a ride?"

>....Walking sounds good. Or hovering, in my case.

"THANK YOU."

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>Chrysalis
"Celestia"
'???'
~~~

>...Are we cruel for watching this?

"A little, yes."

'OH DEAR SWEET MERCY!'

*CRASH!*

>I mean, I get why I'm doing it, this is fucking hilarious, but you'd think you would be all sympathetic.

'NO NO NO NO NO NO-'

*SMASH!*

*SOB!*

"You'd think, but I admit to you, Chrysalis, that I have a dark side. A tiny, niggling little pettiness that I will not let go of, no matter how long has past. That part remains, and holds onto this moment in joy."

'HOW!? HOW AM I ON FIRE!? THIS MAKES NO SENSE!'

*SOBBING 2, SOB HARDER!*

>Soooo... this is about-

"Yes. It's still there."

>...Huh. I mean, I can't blame you, since if you weren't like that I wouldn't be here, but still.

'MEDIIIIIC!'

'WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP!'

'But i have a splinter!'

'...HOW!?'

*SOB HARDER 3, SOB HARD WITH A VENGEANCE!*

"....Oh yeah... that's momma's good bits..."

>...How you hanging in there, Spitfire?

*SOBBING 4, THE SOBBENING*

>Yeah, that's what I expected.

'LOOK OUT FOR THE CASTLE!'

'I BEG FOR DEATH!'

*...Sob.*

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>Jetset
“???”
‘???’
____

She’d left.

Gone off with some remnant of a tyrannical dictator turned… good?

Normally, this would have been cause enough for him to flicker to her side, but apparently she was with the other elements of harmony as well, and attempting to help this specter find another husk to inhabit.

>What a world we live in where you can be obliterated to nothing and come back whole….

He didn’t care to learn the specifics behind that. It didn’t concern neither of his Queens and so would be forgotten the next day regardless.

But he was slightly irked to learn that he wouldn’t be able to deliver his gift for some time.

>I suppose I’ll just have to leave it on her desk. But me and that… Sombra… will have a talk about this once they retu-

He paused, quite suddenly, upon opening the door to his second Queens office… to see his first Queen seated behind the second’s desk, a pen clutched in her magic, a pair of librarian-esque glasses adorning her face and with her hair done up in a tight bun.

>…

“Hm…? Oh! Jetset, dear, I… I didn’t expect to see you here. Did you need something?”

>…

“Are you okay? ...Jetset? Your face is turning cherry red… do you have a fever?”

>…You… y-you… why’re you dressed-I mean, working…?

“Well, as princess of the land, I should be working. But mostly because a few of my subjects, who shall remain anonymous, took it upon themselves to just up and leave on a journey of sorts… leaving me behind to foot all the paperwork from each of their prospective departments. You know, almost like how it used to be before they arrived, dear.”

>…

“Seriously, what’s wrong? You’re sweating, red-faced, stuttering-do we need to talk?”

>No… no, we… I’m fine, my Queen.

The door behind Jetset opened before Celestia could respond and a little purple dragon strode in, a scroll in one hand and a plate of steaming cinnamon rolls in the other.

‘Alright, ‘Tia! I got that form you needed along with a fresh plate of-oh… Jetset.’

>…

‘…’

>I see you’ve brought my Queen some… treats.

‘Yup. I sure have. Something different from cake, just to see if she likes it. They say variety is the spice of life after all.’

>Uh-huh….

For the life of her, as she glanced back and forth between two of her most loyal subjects, Celestia could not pinpoint the origin for this staggering amount of tension.

She could almost see lightning zipping between their eyes.

“Are you two, uh… okay?”

>’Perfectly fine.’

“…Okay. Well! I guess all three of us can work together!”

'Actually, I think Jet here has something he needs to d-'

>I would be most delighted to help, my Queen. Thank you, Spike, my friend.

'...Sure thing. Friend.'

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>Suckerpunch
"???"
'???'
~~~

He was on a mission.

A mission of valor, of strength!

He was going to march his pearly butt right to that portal, he was going to chase down the changeling that had left him behind, and he was going to...

BEAT THE BLACK RIGHT OFF HER SHAPELY, CHITINOUS ASS! Just a hailstorm of punches! He would be a punch demon, a punch machine! He would be as unto a raincloud, and the water shall be his HOOF!.... He should probably write that down, that sounded awesome. This was going to be amazing!

....But first he should probably deal with that vagrant on the park bench, still a guard after all.

"OW!"

>Move along, buddy. No sleeping on the- oh for fucks sake, Actarius.

The fool dared to glare at him, dared to stand in his way of his technically going AWOL mission that would likely get him fired if anyone actually knew about it! The fool!

"I was just trying to sleep, I've been up all night."

>Go back to wherever you were before!

"I can't, they all moved out of the ballroom, I'm not allowed in there anymore."

>....wait, WAITWAITWAITWAIT! You were sleeping in the BALLROOM?! With the changelings!? That's where you've been all this time?

"...yeah?"

>How!?

"Jugglejack had room and Chrysalis let me stay, it was fine."

>...Bullshit.

"What?"

>I call bullshit, you're probably under mind control or something.

"I'm not under mind control."

>You wouldn't know! That Queen is super fucking creepy!

"She's not bad."

>She totally fucking is!

"Isn't."

>IS!

"Isn't."

>IS!

"Prove it."

>SHE HELD DOWN 41 AND LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO CUT HER HEAD OFF!

"...Okay, gonna admit, that's pretty bad... did she? Cut her head off, I mean."

>No! That's the freaky part! She just looked at us, went 'Well that didn't work!' and poofed off!

"Us?"

>Me and like, six other guys!

"Oh, shit. They okay? She's kind of... rough."

>What? No, they're fine. Fuckers didn't even try to help.

"...Seriously? But... but she buys them pizza."

>I KNOW!


"So, she didn't actually kill 41."

>No! She was on the train when she left, following her and everything!

"Why was she trying to kill her anyway?"

>NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!

"Well, fuck you too."

>Fuck you!

"Fuck you!"

>FUCK YOU!

"FUCK! YOU!"

Now, his tensions and preparations for punches may have been a little high. Suckerpunch admitted that, he fully admitted he was in a 'gonna punch something' mode up to this point, and probably should not have been. He should not have taken a simple poke to the chest the way he did.

...He also made it rain.

Rain punches.

They didn't call him Suckerpunch because he randomly assaulted candy on a stick, after all.

>Oh, shit! I'm ssss...

No way.

"Ow! That hurt, kind of!"

>...Kind of!?

"You're not that-"

SUCKERPUNCH!

"OW! Cut it out you asshole!... HOLD STILL!"

He was shocked, Suckerpunch would admit that. He was totally shocked that this guy had just shrugged off a blow to the jaw like it was a raindrop, and not the raindrop of punches. That said, even as shocked as he was, dodging this guy was really easy.

>...SUCKERPUNCH!

"OW!"

>SUCKERPUNCH!

"OW!"

>SUCKERPU

'FACEPUNCH!'

Watching the poor stallion's eyes bug out as a black hoof and his own white hoof collided on either cheek and mushed it in like taffy should not have been funny.

It totally way.

"...Owsh..."

'Ha! Cool!'

>...YOU!

"Hey SP-"

>SUCKERPUNCH!

Should he feel happy? Should he feel relief? Should he feel the need to beat that buggy face right in?

Yes. Yes to all of that, especially the last part.

'OW! YOU DICK!'

>YOU'RE THE DICK!

'YOU ARE!'

>WHY YOU LITTLE BUG!

'BRING IT!'

Actarius, as he sat there, surprisingly still conscious despite being smacked by two crazyhooves, was probably getting a good show as he made it storm punches seeing as they were both on top of him as they lunged at each other, but Suckerpunch did not care. Target locked, and he was going to bring the drizzle.

That sounded more impressive in his head.

Only when the well of rain had run dry did he finally stop and catch his breath and nurse his many, many new bruises.

'...So, gonna talk now-'

>SUCKERPUNCH!

Okay, so he still had one more drop of water in the cloud.

'...Now?'

>Now. WHAT THE FUCK!?

'Okay, sooooo, as it turns out, I only saved you because I was under mind control. Apparently her Majesty wanted me to save you, run to the guards to hide me, buddy up with them and then test to see if you guys could come to accept us if we did something that drastic for you guys because she planned in doing stuff with the guard or something and she wanted to know if you could stop hating us under the right conditions, I didn't catch it before she got punched. Anywhoooo, she let me look terrified for like a month then swooped in and made it look like she was going to 'pass judgement' to see if you guys would save me. She uh... wasn't satisfied. So she took off the mind control and it kind of wiped my memories of up till that point and she said my mission was over.... now we're all in the Empire. It's pretty cool! You should come check it out, it's AWESOME with food!... For me.'

...He had been hit the exactly right amount, that all made perfect sense to him.

>...Oh. Well, I tried-

'No no! It's fine, not your fault. Sorry about being mind controlled? I apparently agreed to it.'

>You did! That's... interesting. Are you mind controlled now?

'Nope!... I don't think.'

>You don't think or you don't know?

'I don't know.'

>Wow, not encouraging.

'Meh, it's not like she can do that trick twice.'

>Less encouraging!

'Hey, I'm a changeling, that's how we are.'

>NONE encouraging! None! There is none in there!

'Fiiiine. I'll ask someone to check me out, it's fine.'

>SUCKERPUNCH!

Every time he thought he ran dry, he struck more water.

'HEY!'

>Don't hey me! You scared me to death! I was pissing myself in terror at the thought she was going to BEHEAD YOU!

'She didn't though.'

>NOT! FUCKING! BETTER!

'...will hitting me more make you feel better?'

>WOW! OH WOW! NO! NO THAT JUST SOUNDS BAD!

'....Egh, that does sound bad... want to yell at her Majesty?'

>...I do not! I do not want to do that! I want no part of yelling at the super bug queen!

'Smart move. Soooo... want to go get pizza?'

>...Are you fucking serious. You just... you scare me to death, make me think you're going to die, run off to another country without saying a word, let me stew in fear for a whole day, and just... just go get pizza!?

Huh. How odd. Turns out, you can make someone look like they were punched without actually punching them. Weird.

'Oh... oh... do... do you just not want to hang out anymore? Cause... I mean, I get it, I get that this whole thing probably made me look like you can't trust me anymore... no no! I get it, sorry, sorry for... just wanted you to know I was alive, didn't mean to imply it was all okay. I'll go, it's fine-'

He did not know the term for this move. Suckerhug? Surprisehug?

He hugged, is what should be taken away from this.

>...You fucking scared me.

'...Sorry, SP.'

>You should be you dick.

'Y-you're the dick.'

>You are.

'You are.'

>...I wanna go get pizza.

'My treat, her Majesty gave us all some walking around money.'

>...Then I wanna go hit those guys who almost let you get killed.

'Uh... considering recent events, don't feel betrayed if I don't jump in.'

>Yeah... yeah, you're right, can't blame them for being scared.

'Right? She's scary.'

>They'd have to be total idiots to try, and could you imagine what she'd do if one of them hit her?

'They're just not super dumb, is all.'

>...Still gonna hit them.

'Gotta stay in shape?'

>Thaaat's the spirit.

"A-hem."

>..
'..'

"Could you guys move? You're pinning my hind legs-"

>SUCKERPUNCH!
'FACEPUNCH!'

Their combined stregnth was enough to knock him clear of their sitting and over the bench, flipping it over him and giving him the worlds most ineffective and uncomfortable tent.

>WE WERE HAVING A MOMENT, DICK!

'HE'S THE DICK! I KNEW IT!'

>Totally!

'...Pizza?'

>Pizza then punches!

Huh, weird. He said that, but no longer felt like punching.

Funny how that turns out.

Finally, the world was back to as it should be!

"...they better not charge me for breaking this thing..."

He was totally gonna.

Teach him not to be unconscious after getting punched.

.......Show off.......

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 >MM
"Zecora"
'Trixie'
~~~~

>Did you find him?

"..."

'YES! Clearly, we located him, and he is right here the whole time! He's just fucking invisible!'

>TRIXIE!

'Well I'm sorry, I'm just a little testy right now!'

"I admit, I am also feeling quite off about all of this. It is simply not like him to be remiss."

>You don't think he joined them on that big exodus, do you?

"..."

'If he ran off to another fucking continent without telling us, TRIXIE WILL RUIN HIM WITH HER ANGER!'

>...Nah. He'd tell us, surely.

"Indeed, there is no reason for any of us to fear. Surely, he is still around here."

>Right! We just have to keep looking!

"Right!"

'Nope!'

"...Keep looking or no more hutt. I am not joking, out on your butt."

'...Looking it is!'

>Atta girl!

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>Sombra
"Twilight"
~~~

>...Are we lost?

"NO!"

>...

"...I mean, okay, we're taking a little longer than normal, but that doesn't mean we're LOST."

>...

"...You don't know, you've never been to the castle."

>Point?

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NCOmake because fuck it
>Pommel
"32"

>Welp.

"Yeeeeep."

>Tick tock, am I right?

"Tiiiiick tock. Oh I became an ambassador by the way."

>Cool, I'm guard captain. And kind of stupid it seems.

"What makes you say that as I notice the robots goose-stepping in front of us."

>Nope, not allowed to see those. No robots, no sirree.

"..."

>...am I bad at this?

"Nonsense, Pommel! In fact..."

The lights go out and a spotlight shines on Pommel and 32.

>Weren't we outside-?

"Shush, now..."

Out of nowhere an orchestra plays a jaunty tune.

"You are the very model of a guard captain Equestrian
"Although some find your frame of mind to be a bit pedestrian
"You fought a great big minotaur and stopped an evil gem creature
"Along with a bunch of off-screen shit the writer didn't deign to feature!

"You've sailed across the seven seas, a pirate lady on your cock-"

>She tops, actually...

"And you made the Titan throw you up, of which very few can talk!"
"You strode upon the streets of gold and beheld a city on a tortoise shell..."

>You trailed off there, pal.

"Tortoise shell, tortoise shell-aha! Got it!

"And you did all this while my poor black ass rotted in jail!"

>Ouch.

"Oh it's in the past."

>No I mean that rhyme.

"Ha! Well you have been across the Sarengallop, the Frozen North, and the Shetland Moors
"And even been a-knocking at what whatever dragons use for doors.
"In short while most would call you quite pedestrian
"you are the very model of a guard captain Equestrian."

>Well thanks, 32, that means a lot-

The music suddenly goes a bit softer.

"While in fact you may not have the time for a comedic interlude
"Or a personality that is either loud or crude.
"In truth there are those that find you dull as a board
"And writing for you is a waste of time they simply cannot afford."

>What!? C'mon! I'm funny...

"Tell me one good joke."

>Diamond Tiara's Power Creep.

"I said a GOOD joke!"

The music stops.

"Hey get back here you slackers! I got like five more Goatbert and Stallion songs lined up! I am called Thirty-Two, sweet little Thirty-Two though could never know whyyyy~!"

>I thought it was because-

"Shut it!"

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>Celestia
"???"
~~~~

If anyone were to look at her right now, they would likely think very little of her. The Princess of Equestria was no stranger to these crystal halls, obviously, she had probably spent more time in the Empire than any who did not know of her relationships would find acceptable. But, in an odd change, for once she was not here to see the secretly wild prince, nor the openly wild Queen, or even her dear adopted niece. No, she was here for another reason that, considering recent events, some might find quite strange.

The guards outside the door certainly found it strange, but they were never one to question her, not at all. They knew her, and liked her. So when she asked to be let into that room they disregarded the normal clearance and let her inside, and left her alone.

"What are you doing here?"

The voice of the one she sought was tellingly neutral, forcefully blank, painfully empty. There was more said in just his ambient sounds alone about how he felt than any description she would ever get. Not that she could focus on that all that well. No, her eyes were far too drawn to his current state, and the look of him took her breath away. She had known it had been bad... but never did she dare to dream it was this bad.

"Did you come to brag because Jetset won?"

She was hurt, truly hurt, that he would think that of her. That he would even entertain the idea she would come down here to mock him at his absolute lowest simply because her own agent remained standing, and the one before her could not even turn his head. But, she supposed, she could not blame him. Any would be upset in this state, any at all. Normally, she would not even consider seeking him out until he was well and they could speak on more even terms, but this simply could not wait. The moment Applejack had gone off on her adventure and she found a moment she could examine this without looking like she was taking a side, she had to take it.

>Seven...

She winced internally as she looked him over, every inch of him. The terrifying bruise on the side of his head nearly made her wretch. To think, even after all this, Chrysalis had still been forced to step in, lest he be struck with something even worse. It terrified her, right down to her core, that Applejack had done this, and did not seem bothered. She had to comfort herself with the knowledge she had likely simply not understood her own strength, and would never hurt another in a way such as this deliberately. She clung to that, knowing that if Applejack had been aware of what she was doing, it would never have gotten this far. Even still, she could not help but look on, feeling an odd depth in the pit of her stomach as he attempted to squirm.

“What do you want?”

He had never talked to her like that, not once. He had always been formal. This was nothing like the little spy who had attempted to gather information on her so long ago, whom had took it with stride when she easily rebuffed him. Very much, she wished to leave the room, her suspicions confirmed, but there was still something yet she had to ask, answers yet to be sought. She could not leave just yet.

>Seven... why did you do it?

He strained against his bonds, narrowing his eyes in a fierce glare.

“I have my duties regarding the one who would assist someone who would threaten my Queen. I would think you, of anything, would know that.”

>That's not what I meant. Seven... why did you stop?

He looked on, utterly baffled, as she expected. She did not expect him to understand right away, not immediately, but it would come.

“I did not stop. I was defeated by a surprise attack while I was distracted.”

>Seven, Jetset told me everything. How you unleashed that power, how you held him at your mercy... and then how you hesitated. Why did you stop?

She may as well have pressed tightly against the wound on his head for all the pain that struck his face at that moment.

“So that's it... you came to mock me.”

The hurt returned, stronger than before, at the words, the idea she would ever mock someone for valuing life... but she did not hold it against him. In his line of work, basic compassion could, at times, be a laughable concept.

“I'll have you know I was merely preparing to mentally break his mind. It simply takes more concentration than normal for ones with high willpower. Another minute, a mere forty seconds even, and I would have left him a gibbering idiot while I tracked where he sent my prey.”

It was all bluster, all show. She did not doubt that he had mental capabilities, of course, Spike had informed her he had essentially shut the dragon down in their scuffle.

She just did not believe it for a moment.

>Seven...

Slowly, she began to approach him.

“Enjoy your victory while you can. Enjoy the fact my Queen backed off while you can. We changelings have been defeated before, but we always come back, better than ever! I'll come back after this, and I'll have learned. Twice now, I've beaten him physically. Twice now, I've had him at my mercy. And do you want to know why he still breaths? Do you want to know why he hasn't had his mind turned to mush? It's because-”

>Because you're not a monster.

His breath was taken, stolen away as if she had pulled it free with one tug of her magic, and left him flopping his lips like a beached fish.

“N-no, it's because-”

>Seven...

“I-It's because my Queen ordered me not to kill him, that's all! That's... that's it...”

Gently, so very gently, she placed a hoof on his head, tenderly bringing it down around his dorsal fin-like protrusion. He grew still, wide eyed and shocked, shaking subtly with every brush.

>...I am sorry.

He did not respond, his breathing only growing ragged with every passing second.

>I am sorry... because I ordered Jetset not to take the life of any changeling... and twice now, he has attempted it. I am sorry, because he means well and truly believes in his heart that he is doing the right thing. He believes, truly, that the most direct route is the most efficient. He believes, truly, that any confrontation is one he must win for crown and country. I think, at some point... he lost the idea that an enemy combatant is a living being all the same.

Time passed, and with every second that ticked away she continued her gentle stroking. With every brush, he felt... something from her. Something coming through, subtly.

>...It surprised me, more than anything, when you saved me back on that floating island. It surprised me, because in all my years I had simply grown used to the idea that agents behaved a certain way, responded a certain way, acted a certain way... but you didn't. There was something to you, something odd, something I had only seen once before, just once. One time in my many... many... many years.

The tingle began to grow on the side of his face, itching, twitching, a hint of pain next to a pleasant numbness.

>I feared that you, as a changeling, would be more deadly, more destructive, more brutal... but I suppose even I sometimes have trouble remembering that nature is far more than skin deep. That there is something inside, in all beings, that is more than just our upbringing or where we came from. It's a shame to me, that even with all I learned with Chrysalis that I forgot that. You... are not a monster.

“S-shut up.”

>It is nothing to be ashamed of. Rather, that you kept this part of you alive in the face of all you've been through, all you were forced to do as you struggled to survive... is something of a wonder.

Tenderly, she looked into his denial-filled, shamed eyes, locking her gaze with his in an almost maternal glance.

>...Do you remember that day, Seven? When we spoke? Do you remember?... I do. I remember, quite clearly, the look on your face as I discovered you again and again. I remember the frustration, the anger, all of it... and yet, I also remember the wonder, the barely hidden awe in your face when I gave you that strand.

Her hoof slid down, tapping on one of his hooves, one which gave off a distinctly metallic sound as it connected with her golden shoes.

>...You never stopped carrying it. And I know why. Because despite what others see when they look at you... you have a sense of wonder, and beauty. You see things like others do not. There is more to you than just an agent...

She sighed, a breath of sadness and regret escaping her.

>...I fear for Jetset every day. I fear that he will one day finally breath his last, and his life will be unfulfilled. I fear for it because I fear that when that day comes, he will be like so many others, and not understand there is so much more to this world. I need someone like him, someone who will face the hidden threats when I cannot, ones who will hide from the world... but I do not wish to drain them like leeches, I do not wish to suck the very life from him until he is nothing but a shriveled corpse of a being. I fear for him... and I thank you, for not taking him from me. Even though you had every chance, some might argue every right considering his own attempts, you let him live. You showed him mercy... even when he refused to do the same. It is because of this, but not only this, that I speak to you. That I want so badly for you to understand what he cannot.

She looked back to him, right back into the depths of his confused, swirling eyes.

>There is so much more to life than the mission, Seven. There is so much life to be lived... do not waste it all away, before you know what it is worth.

Eyes that, like a pool being filled with tar, grew dark.

“You... you're just trying to get me to doubt my Queen! You're just using flowery words to get me to reconsider, and remove a vital agent from her power! I'll never do it! I'm not a flake! I serve her majesty, and only her! You will never sway me! I will serve her majesty until I die! That is the mission! That is what I am meant to do! THIS IS MY LIFE!”

She felt no sadness at his words, no remorse, no anger or despair. She knew, better than any, that a castle was not built in a day.

Slowly, tenderly, she lowed her snout, ignoring the frantic struggling beneath her, and placed a soft, gentle touch of her lips on his head.

He felt a rush of power unlike any before, greater than when he had drained every single harness of their considerable might. A taste unlike any other filled his mouth and a tingle of a heavens touch raced across his chitin. She held so much... a pure, motherly, love...

>You have a choice now, Seven. You may continue, seeking something you believe will give praise, seeking something that will give you personal satisfaction, or closure... or you could seek so much more. Seek the one you faced before. Seek the one who learned what I hope you will discover. Seek him, and perhaps, just maybe... you will understand.

With a flourish of her majestic hair, she began to depart, leaving behind a shellshocked, awestricken being in her wake.

>Seek the blank slate... who carved his mark in this world... and know that you have my thanks.

With those whispered, soft words, she was gone. Gone away from his sight, gone away from any calls or denials on his lips. Gone away, was the Princess of the Sun.

Slowly, cautiously, he raised his hoof to his neck. Just as slowly... he unfastened the first bolt. Then the next, then the next. Finally, it all fell away, and he could rise once more.

The mirror in the room showed a changeling he barely recognized anymore. The bruise had reduced, nearly gone away. The discoloration of his eye barely present. The pain... gone.

Gone like she was... and yet, in his head, he heard her, he swears he heard her, as plainly as if she was in the room.

>You are not a monster.

He looked down with no shortage of fear to his hoof, to the foreleg she had brushed against as she spoke to him. He had made no move towards her, tried nothing but to simply regard her... and yet, there it was.

A single, multicolored, strand of hair. Fresh as the morning dew.

At last... he had accomplished his mission.

>You are not a monster.

He was healed.

He was free.

And he had a mission.

Only one thing kept him in that bed, only one single, burning question.

...What mission?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >18
"??"
~~~

>Do do doooo, nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. No-... ehhhhh... yep. We're going with yep on that one. I like it!

"You know, I bet most ponies think you spend all day working."

The changeling smirked, setting down her magazine and looking over her shoulder at the other hidden in the corner.

>Most ponies think CADENCE is the one doing all of this, I'm... I don't know, the help? I don't know what everyone thinks I do up here.

"Get boned, I bet."

>HA! I wish. Everyone knows Shiny is... mmm...

"Starting to drool there."

>And momma loves it so.... did you get what I asked for?

A folder flopped down in front of her, and her smile grew wide.

>Eeeexxxellent. Very excellent.

"That it?"

>Hm? Oh, lord no, plenty more I need from you over there, especially now. Here.

Carelessly, she tossed a tiny little card behind her, which the figure easily caught.

>Show that to the guard and you'll have access o the portal whenever you want.

"...Won't she get suspicious that I'm gone?"

>If she does, I'll handle it.

"You really think you can handle her?"

>Yes. Yes I do.

"...Interesting."

>...Shouldn't you be off? I'm sure your friends are waiting.

"Hn. Guess they are... and the note?"

>You know who to deliver that too.

"...You know, you've got it pretty good up here, you don't need to scheme."

>What can I say... it's in my base nature. Off you go... say hi to your two little friends for me.

There was a whirr of metal, a click of something hitting the far wall, and a whoosh of air. Without even looking, 18 knew she was gone.

>...ppffft. Did I come off super schemy there?....Nahhhh... now! Where was I? Ohhhh yes... I think the pink lace is perfect for him...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chitty
"Prostimare"
'Sunset'
~Librarian~
~~~

>....She just keeps trying, doesn't she?

"Yeeeep."

'I would stop if you'd just stop... doing whatever it is you're doing that prevents me from scanning your biology.'

"Why don't ya' just call the guard on her?"

'I tried, they won't-'

"Not you."

>...Are you serious? Like they'd help me.

"Then ya' could sue 'em, couldn't you?"

>...Sue? What the fuck does-

'S-SHUT UP!'

~SSHHHH~

'You heard her!'

"She was talkin' ta' you... and ya' know, sue them! Take legal acti-ow!"

'HUSH!'

>Stop throwing those books, they're important.

"What, did ya' really never hear of- OW!"

'WILL YOU BE QUIET!'

~SHHHHH!~

'See!?'

>Stop throwing things, or I will... 'defend myself'.

'...You know what? I have business to attend to.'

*Leaves*

>...what the fuck was that all about?

"Owie."

>Are you still conscious?

"Y-yeah, I can take a hard one to the face."

>...

"...Aren't ya' gonna ask about what I was tryin' to say?"

>Meh, it's not important.

"Oh... sure..."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>32
"Spike"
'Primrose'

>...

"..."

'Heightened tension levels detected, can this unit offer the gentlemen a glass of fruit punch?'

>"No."

"32."

>Spike.

"Oh how nice, you actually learned my name since the last time we talked."

>It's in my best interests to engender civility considering I'm the ambassador now.

"Civility with the guy who threw a knife into my arm. Here is a fuck to use on yourself at your discretion."

>Oh come now, what's a little casual attempted maiming between friends? I figure you would have appreciated the cause it was for at the time, granted it's a cause I no longer support.

"Again. Knife. Shoulder. Fuck you."

>Apparently the casual route isn't working, oh well. Tell me, where is Princess Applejack? I was hoping to establish a rapport considering I'm to work as the ambassador for my kind in this city now.

"She and the other girls went off to the Everfree to help Sombra."

>Ah, the ethereal ex-king, I would have liked to have spoken with him, he seemed like such an erudite fellow when he arrested me.

"Maybe when he gets back, but look, she isn't here and probably won't be here for a while, so why don't you fuck off?"

>Temper temper...here.

Thunk.

"The hell is this supposed to be?"

'Sensors indicate an emerald with slight imperfections, estimated market value-'

"I know what it LITERALLY is, you stupid killer robot."

'This unit's weapons systems were removed and subsequently replaced by parts: Vacuum cleaner, feather duster, and drink dispenser.'

"Oh..."

'Query: Is this a simulation of what a neutered pet feels like?'

"Probably, but you, what's the deal here?"

>That is...

"Is a what?"

>Sorry, I'm am trying to make absolutely certain I don't sound like a damned melodrama villain. Ahem. This is an apology.

"An apology."

>Yes, I am horribly sorry for my behavior and while I'm certain any form of camaraderie between us is impossible, I assure you we need not be enemies.

"Says the guy who's serving Chrysalis."

>I prefer to think I'm serving the Hive, Chrysalis and I merely have a similar interest in its gain...though we appear to disagree as to where and how that gain should come.

"Starting to talk creepy again."

>I want us to make nice with you here, she wants to prance about the Crystal Empire and pretend that solves everything. Am I back to sounding earnest?

"A bit, yeah."

Thunk.

"...uh, what's the ruby for?"

>Payment for helping with my speech therapy. I hope you'll let the Princess know I'm keen to establish relations as soon as possible, until then I'll see to my...other business.

"Two things, one, if you're telling the truth, I might end up not wanting to punch you in the face after a long while. Two, pull it back, starting to sound creepy again."

>Oh, I'm just moving into my apartment, maybe see about getting some clothes that match my occupation, nothing untoward. Also if you can speak to Princess Twilight, see if we can pinpoint the cause of this speech impediment, I'd be very grateful.

'This unit will inform Princess Designate: Spark-'

"Oh no you don't, I didn't lose my position to that owl, I'm damn sure not losing it to you."

'Acknowledged.'

>Good day, Spike, and you...Primrose, was it?

'Affirmative.'

The changeling took his leave.

'Query, dragon designate: Spike.'

"Shoot."

'May this unit now dispense fruit punch?'

"Sure go ahead."

'This unit is pleased.'

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>???
"2"
'??'
~~~~

"...Huh... somethin' feels... off. Somethin's just a biiiitt... off. Is it... is my nightlight on?... Yep. Nightlight's on... is my blankie feelin' funny?... nope. Blankie is still snuggly. Somethin' ain't quite right. Somethin' ain't... quite... GASP! Nobody tucked me in! This means I gotta! I'm not ready fer' this level of responsibility! Help!"

>KKRRRRAKASLAMAWHAMMA! BOOM BABY!

"Not-mom!"

>HAH! Hey, kiddo, be quiet for a sec. Trying to hide out.

"Hidin' from what?"

>...Nothing. Hey, you know what time it is?

"GAAASP! YA' MEAN!?"

>STORY TIIIIIIIIME!

"YAYYYY!"

>SHHH! Not so loud! Or else-

SLAM!

'THERE YOU ARE!'

"Regular-mom!"

'Chrysalis! MY GOOD HAIRDRYER!? I swear to love's sake I AM ABOUT TO...'

"...Hi!"

'...Why are you in Two's bedroom?'

"STORY TIME!"

>That. All of that, and none of hiding. I am not hiding, is what you need to take away from this. I am here to beguile the child with tails of greatness, so please leave.

'...You tell her stories?'

"YEAH! But Ah'm not s'posed to tell ya' about it."

'...'

>Are you wibbling?

'...Little hurtful.'

>Oh, oh come on, Caddy no.

'I mean, I let you sleep over here, eat the food, pester my husband...'

>It was a special me and Two thing, even Shiny doesn't come in when I tell them!

'...Let you use the magic room, let you use my good conditioner...'

>It's just a... I mean it's a...

'...Let you bring the others over here...'

>OH FINE! FINE! You can stay and listen in.

'EEE! Schooch, Two!'

"YAYYY!"

>Alright... This is the tale of Momsie, and the Dragon's Eye!

'Wait, who's Momsie?'

"Only the best changelin' ever! She outsmarts pirates, dances a whole town slly, beats up sword wizards, she even beat Thuntainia!"

'I'm sure that would be impressive if I knew the context for any of that.'

>Will you hush! Now... our tale begins as Momsie traverses across the land or Nuhquestria, hidden from sight no matter where she goes. In order to avoid being spotted by gu.... er, bandits, horrible bandits... which I guess yes she is also avoiding too, so I don't know why I need to...

"..."
'...'

>...While avoiding the bandits, she comes across... a cave of woooondersssss...

"Oooooo~!"

'Ahhhhhh.'

>She sent ahead a scout to look within, to see if it was safe for the night, and then she heard a terrible noise!

"WHAT!?"

>CRUNCH!

'...WHAT!?'

"OH NO! HE DIED!?"

>...n-nooooo... of course not, the scout ran out a second later, because... his spyglass got broken.

'Wait, why was he bringing a spyglass into a cave?'

>Because he was a scout.

'Oh, that makes sense.'

"Duh."

>But! This meant there was something dark and sinister in that cave, waiting. So do you know what she did?

'...Left?'

"I'da left."

>No! She said "I'm going in anyway! Because nobody is going to stop me from doing what I want!... Which is stopping that thing in there that is obviously evil and breaks stuff."

'Really?'

"Yeah! Momsie's a hero, she wouldn't let no meanie spyglass breakers go free!"

>She traversed into the cave, and before her very eyes she saw it!

"WHAT!?"

>The cave was filled to the brim... WITH TREASURE!

'...Yay? I thought she was stopping the badguy.'

>And atop that pile of treasure, at the very peak, was a beautiful, stunning golden artifact, the Eye of the Dragon!

'...Can you accessorize it?'

>What?

'The eye, could you add stuff to it?'

>It already had a bunch of gems.

'Were any of them pink?'

>Yeah, middle one.

'...Eeeee...'

>BUT! Beneath it, at the foot of the treasure was none other than-

'A dragon?'

>WILL YOU LET ME TELL IT!

'Just guessing.'

"Ya' ain't supposed ta' guess, ya' just gotta wait for the reveal and go ooooooooh."

'I see...'

>But yes, it was a giant golden dragon! One... with only ONE EYE!

"DUH DUH DUUNNNN!"

'...'

"Gotta add the sound 'fects yer'self."

'Makes perfect sense.'

>The dragon reared back, roaring "WHO DARES ENTER INTO MY CAVE!?" And momsie looked up and him and said "Me, obviously, you stupid sack of shiiiiiinnny gold."

'Why'd she say it like that?'

>He was very pretty shiny.

'...Seems legit.'

>The dragon roared, angry at her! But Momsie was a brave one, yes she was! She said "I notice you have a very pretty item up there." The dragon looked down to her, and boomed "Yes! It, like myself, is the most beautiful in all the land! None are more beautiful than my treasure, just as none are more beautiful than I!" Momsie looked at him, and went "Really? Which is prettier, you or the item?" He laughed! Calling back "Did you not hear me? None can match my glorious scales! None at all! Not even my most coveted treasure, the Dragon's Eye!"

'Excellent voice acting.'

"Yeah, not-mom's got range."

>"What would you trade for that item up there, the Dragon's Eye?" She asked. He just laughed harder! Declaring "Trade? None could take away my Eye from me! Leave now, and maybe I won't eat you!" So Momsie thought, and thought, and thought. She thought and thought until at last, she had an idea! "Then I propose a contest! If I can show you a treasure more beautiful than the Eye, I win it! If I lose, you can eat all of us!"

'Wait what? Were they... okay with that? Kind of speaking for everyone there.'

>The dragon bellowed a laugh! "More beautiful than my treasure!? Such a thing does not exist!" She laughed right back, "I'll prove it!" she said, no matter how he disbelieved. "I don't believe it!" He said... which I technically didn't need to, because-nevermind. So she asked "Is the wager set?" He looked at her, thoughtful, considering, not believing. Finally, he replies. "I'll agree, but when you lose I will only eat your hive. You have to..."

'...Have to... what?'

>...Uh... "You have to... organize all my treasure, from biggest to smallest! By hoof, no magic! And you're going to work... and work... and work until you're drowning in my... treasure. You will be covered in... er, gold."

"That sounds like a LOT of work."

'Not as bad as getting eaten, though.'

>She would disagree... trust me.

'....Oh...kay?'

"Maybe he was gonna literally make her gold?"

'Oh yeah, that make sense.'

>Sure, let's go with that. Anyway, she agreed, and the wager was set! He brought his Dragon's Eye down, and said "Now! Show your treasure, and get ready to... er, handle my treasure." But Momsie did not pull out a treasure!

"WHAT!?"

'OH DEAR WHAT!?'

>You know what she pulled out instead?

"TELL US!"

'HURRY ALREADY!'

>She pulled out... A MIRROR!

'...Wait, what?'

>The dragon laughed, saying 'that's not a treasure! But then... she held it up to his good eye! She said "This is my treasure, the eye on your face!" The dragon huffed, and twitched, and it slowly started to sink in. "You said nothing is more beautiful than you, did you not? That you were more beautiful than your treasure? Well, this is my treasure! Either admit that you are less beautiful than the Eye, or admit defeat!"

"AND THEN WHAT!?"

'WHAT DID HE DO!?'

>...Uh.. a-admitted defeat and then Momsie found out the Dragon's eye was stolen, and he went to jail.

".."

'..oh.'

>What did NOT happen is that the dragon most certainly did NOT go into a berserker fury, roaring in anger that he had been tricked and then tearing the entire room apart while Momsie had to run like hellllo lady and her drones got caught up in the rampage while she blasted him and shot him but he wouldn't go down and then she had to trick him into hitting the wall enough it collapsed everything on his big dumb head and totally crushed the Eye making that whole trip pointless while he suffocated at the bottom of the cave he brought down on his big stupid head.

"..."

'...'

>That didn't happen.


"..."
'...'

>...Yep. The dragon was about to be mad, but then he noticed it looked like that reflection was the other side of his face, and could not stop looking at himself lost in the illusion he had both eyes once more! And was so lost in his beauty whole again he didn't even fight back as Momsie got the item, having won it fair and square, and when she discovered it had been stolen a whole bunch of ponies showed up, arrested the dragon for stealing, and they all lived happily ever after!

"YAYYYY!...Mmm.. that was a good story, not-mom."

'Kind of...*YAWWWNNN*... kind of anticlimactic at the end.'

"Y-yeah... *AWWWNNN*... but Momsie saved the day, didn't she? And she made sure he didn't break no more spyglasses. Ain't that important?"

'You know... I think... I think you're right. Momsie's pretty... cool.'

"She's the best... cept for real mommy. And... not...mumm..eee..zzzzz."

>...Alright, Caddy, she's down, and when she goes down she's o.u.t for a while, so you can stop pretending to... to...

'...zzzz....'

>Are... are you serious?

"Zzzzz..."
'Zzzzz...'

>...Heh.

Gently, she pulled the covers over both of them, and tucked it in.

She flicked off the light, and all was silent.

>...Damn straight not-mom is cooler... 'not-my-kid.'.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NCOMAKE!
>DT
"Pommel"
'Spike'
~~~

>...Psshhooooo....

"....Yep....."

'...mmmhmm...'

>...Got any sixes?

"...Go fish..."

'...Uh huh...'

>...I wish people would stop arguing about me and you.

"Right?"

'It's like, some people like loud mouthed and explosive characters, some like more down to earth been though the rain type, it's cool.'

"Yep. Some like ones who fight on a massive scale with giant monsters and super robots..."

>Some just like them to be regular guys who step up.

'Either way is cool.'

>...

"..."

'...'

"Don't turn into a supervillain."

>That's the entire fun of my character! It's early thread Chrysalis 'you don't know if something's going to cause her to snap and go crazy or not!'

'But we don't want you to go crazy.'

>Chrysalis didn't go crazy, we don't HAVE to make me go crazy! At least I'm comically fun!

"Am I really that boring?"

>Name ONE silly thing you've done that isn't referencing an off-screen event since you got home!

"...Huh. Maybe I need to get punched in the face a couple times."

>THANK YOU!

'...'

>WHAT!?

'You could stand a couple punches yourself.'

>DON'T MAKE ME USE TBDRLAITU ON YOUR SCALY ASS!

'You did. I won.'

>YEAH, WELL... well...

'...'

>...I'm so doing something next thread, and it's gonna be AWESOME! BOOM! EXPLOSIONS!

"Whatever you say, Marechel Bay."

>...Damn that's good...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NCOMUKEH

>Jetset
“007”
____

“Okay, look, I know how it looked, I know what happened, and because of these recent events, I have to know. You’re not planning some sort of revenge plan, are you?”

>I think that’d be more your species schtick, Seven.

“…Touché, soft skin.

>But no, I’ve no plans to seek ‘revenge’. Why would I? My Queen merely sought to make sure you were doing okay. I can understand how working under such a tyrannical bug, you might not be used to such pleasantries, such care, but my Queen’s heart pumps blood, not oil.

“Hm. You know, sometimes I wonder, Jet.”

>Wonder what?

“If our souls didn’t somehow get mixed up at birth.”

>And what would give you that deluded impression?

“Seriously. Think about it. Most of the time, you embody the spirit of the supposed Changeling better than I do. You’re cutthroat, you’re all about the mission, you’re far more somber and focused. Me, I think twice, I hesitate, I’m more relaxed and easy-going. I would swear I was meant to be the pony serving Celestia, and you the Changeling under my Queen.”

>...

"..."

>…You just want to be patted more on the head and told you’re a good boy.

“FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES! JUST A FEW PLEASURABLE MOMENTS! SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE GIVES THE BEST HEAD PATS!”

>You stay away from my Queen. Far away.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________