Emissary Anonby BastinatorChaptersChapter 1: NegotiationsChapter 2: Cool OffChapter 3: Filler CentralChapter 4: CeremonyChapter 5: One Chapter To Shit On Them AllChapter 6: A Changing BattlefieldChapter 7: The AssaultChapter 8: The ExitChapter 9: Misson's EndChapter 1: NegotiationsThe wagon comes to a complete stop. ”What is your business here?” The driver’s voice is harsh, the journey’s length wearing down upon him. “We come from the kingdom of Erreda, across the Erin Sea. We have business with your Queen.” Princess, you dumbass. Business with the Princess. ”There is no queen here, be on your way.” ”I don’t take orders from some guard.” You sigh and stand up, stepping out of the wagon’s rear. ”Leave now, I will not say so again.” You fasten your cloak and walk towards the front. ”We’re going forward with or-“ “Silence Acus! Not a word more.” He shuts his trap before he gets you in deeper shit. ”You lead this Caravan?” “Yes sir I do. I am Sir Anon of Glaemar, I apologize for my fellows behavior.” ”What is your business, Anon of Glaemar?” “I come at the behest of my lord, King John. I serve as his emissary to discuss relations between our two kingdoms.” You look back towards your driver who bows his head in shame. “I believe my comrade has something he’d like to say.” You stare him down; spite lies heavy on his words. ”Apologies sir.” ”Apology accepted,” the guard says pleased at his disdain. “I don’t mean to keep you, but could we continue on? “Yes sir, but I must ask that your friends wait outside.” You nod, flicking a platinum bit to Acus. “Don’t spend it all in one place.” The guard smiles and steps aside. ”Welcome to Canterlot.” You pass through the checkpoint and into the city. For the most part the ponies pay you no mind. They seem to be more concerned with their own affairs than a foreigner. A few scoff at you in disgust, but it never turns into anything more than that. These rich snobs are exactly the sort of people you wanted to avoid. Their lives revolve around wealth, nothing more. What things you would do to them… You’re stopped by an elderly couple who pass in front of you. “Excuse me.” ”Sorry sonny I didn’t see you there.” “It’s quite alright sir. Have a nice day.” ”You too,” he says walking off. Gotta love old people. They may smell weird, but they’re respectful. That’s more than you can say for everyone else. ”Watch where you’re going!” Speaking of which… You turn to the commotion, the couple and some noble in a confrontation. ”I’m very sorry sir.” ”Sorry? That’s all you have to say? This is worth more than you in blood you hear me!” They’re obviously scared of him, but they stand their ground nonetheless. A few guards notice the trio, but keep to themselves. Some guards they are. ”Please, we meant no harm. I’m sure-“ ”Don’t give me that hogwash. I’ll have you pay for every bit you’ve cost me.” Walking between them, you interject yourself into their conversation, “Is there a problem here?” The noble runs his eyes over you, his disapproval prevalent. ”What rock did you crawl from under?” You ignore his remark. “Is this man bothering you two?” ”Well, we’re partly to blame…” How modest. ”Can’t even own up the blame. Go back to the lower districts where you belong.” This guy just won’t shut up. “If you have a problem with them, you have a problem with me. Are we clear? ”You won’t intimidate me welp.” You visibly run your hand over your sword, maintaining eye contact. “Are we clear?” A small bead of sweat runs down his face. ”Crystal.” “Good.” You turn and look at the crowd that has gathered. “Nothing to see here folks. Go on with your business.” They disperse, the noble fleeing in the mess. ”Oh thank you. Thank you so much.” “No problem, just keep those eyes open okay?” ”Will do,” he laughs. You head up the street having done your good deed for the day. The streets grow barren the closer you get to the castle. Less civilians, but more guards. They watch you like a hawk. You’ll have to mind your manners. ”Business?” the gatekeeper asks. “Royal. I request audience with your Princess.” The guard looks at you questionably. You reach into your satchel, the guards preparing themselves to your amusement. You pull out a scroll with the Erreda insignia molded onto it. “Deliver this to your princess. That should grant me an audience.” The gatekeeper nods his head to a fellow guard who takes the scroll from you. ”Just following protocol.” “I understand.” The guard heads through the gate and into the grounds, leaving you with the rest of his unit. Awkward is an understatement for how you felt. The guards stare at you, and you just stare right back. Just a few more days and you’ll be headed back home. This place doesn’t sit right with you, it’s too nice. You can appreciate a certain degree of it, but it’s strangely overabundant in this land. It’s almost too good to be true. The gate creaks open, the messenger nodding towards the gatekeeper. ”You’re clear to proceed.” You take a step forward, the guard blocking your path. ”However, we must ask you to relinquish your weapons.” “Yeah yeah, protocol and all I get it.” You undo the straps binding your sword and hand it to the guard. Kneeling down, you withdraw both knives from your calves, tossing them in front of him. ”Anything else?” “Just give me a second alright,” you reply jokingly. You reach into your sleeves, untying the leather bonds inside. After a few more straps the gauntlet falls loosely off your arm, its blade secure within. You hand it over, the last of your weapons taken from you. “I expect those to be as good as I left them.” ”They’ll be safe with us.” Somehow you doubt that very much. You shouldn’t keep royalty waiting so you step through the gate and into the courtyard. You head straight for the door, the guards opening it for you. You thank them and go inside the castle. The walls stretch upwards making you feel small in comparison. It’s a bit too shiny for your taste. You enjoy a more rustic feel compared to the regal nature this one exudes. ”So you’re the foreigner we’ve been expecting?” You turn to look at the purple pony addressing you. “I believe I am. Pleasure to meet you Miss…” ”Sparkle, but call me Twilight.” “As you wish Twilight.” She leads you down the hallway. ”How was your trip if you don’t mind me asking?” “Uneventful.” ”I’m sorry to hear that.” “Peace is a luxury, not a burden. I welcome it with open arms.” ”Oh, I thought that your people… never mind.” She didn’t need to say it, you got the picture. Sad to say, but she’s actually correct. Your kind wouldn’t have gotten this far without their violent demeanor. The two of you enter a large circular chamber. A fire burns at each side of the room, a stone table lying in the middle. ”The princesses should be here shortly. Please take a seat.” You do so, Twilight sitting at the side. There you sit, twiddling your thumbs until they arrive. You go over your lines in your head, recalling the do’s and don’ts of diplomacy. The king was fairly vague about what action he wanted you to take. Who knows what goes on in that brain of his? ”I would guess many things.” You stand and bow. “Princess Celestia, it is an honor to meet you.” ”Please, sit. We have much to discuss.” You perform a quick survey, finding one princess less than you had expected, “I was led to believe that Princess Luna would be joining us.” ”She had a prior engagement to attend. You understand.” “Of course. So,” you say straightening up, “Shall we start?” ”Agreed, and for the record what is your name?” “Anon. I’ll be acting as King John’s emissary in his stead.” ”Anon. A curious name. What does it mean?” No one’s asked you that before. You didn’t even ask that. “I don’t know. Now onto the terms…” ”Why did he choose you?” Celestia interrupts you once again. Her questions… do not quite make sense. You had figured she would be well prepared for these diplomatic meeting, but it appears she would rather chat. If only that was your purpose. “Excuse me ma’am?” ”Why are you here? It’s a simple question.” This is seriously annoying. “I was asked to.” ”Why?” “Why do you care?” you snap at her. The room falls silent after your outburst. It’s not like you to go off the handle like that. “Apologies, I didn’t mean to lose my temper.” ”Accepted. Do you still care to know why?” You nod embarrassed at your lack of control. ”You interest me Sir Anon of Glaemar. More than the others of your kind.” “How did you know- I never spoke my title.” She smiles lightly, “You didn’t need to.” The gears in your head begin to turn before you realize what she means. “Tampering with a person’s mind is not an act I’d call friendly.” ”I had to be sure I could trust you, now I can.” “You hand out your trust too willingly princess. That’ll turn against you one day.” ”Perhaps,” she nods with a smile, “but you… I can trust you.” You lean back in your seat. “No. You really can’t.” You clear your head and focus on the present. “Can we please focus on the task at hand? Every second is precious.” ”You’re right,” she says pulling out the scroll from earlier. ”Did you get a chance to read this?” “No, it was strictly for your eyes only.” She nods and hands it over to Twilight. “‘Princess Celestia, I, King John, the ruler of the Erreda and its provinces, greet you. My forefathers were all rulers of Erreda and now I have taken the throne. Upon the excavation of my father’s archives, I learned of your dealings with both him and those before. I wish to continue this bond between our two nations.’ This is wonderful news princess. There’s so much we could learn.” ”Please continue Twilight…” ”As a symbol of our cooperation, I would like to propose a… Marriage?” Marriage? That is unheard of. Other cultures perhaps, but the people of Erreda are proud, even to a fault. What is that old man thinking? “Go on…” ”…between our two families. Anon will provide any information you require about our available bachelors. I hope for a speedy reply. ~King John.” You’re utterly speechless at this. The king has made some wacked out decisions before, but this? This is crossing the line. Celestia glances to the unicorn, “What do you think Twilight?” “I don’t know what to say. This wasn’t something I thought would happen.” ”And you?” she asks, her eyes trained on you. You clear your throat and straighten back up. “It’s my King’s wish, and I must help in whatever way I can.” Even if you don’t agree with him, that doesn’t give you the right to disobey him. ”I believe we can make this work,” Celestia states. ”Princess!” Twilight blurts out, her manners lost in her shock. “I have negotiated with his kind before besides, this could be better for us in the long run.” ”I understand that, but doesn’t this seem a bit ridiculous to you?” ”Yes it does, but it will help bring our two nations together. It’s for the best.” Seems you and Twilight are the only ones that find this fishy. ”I trust you princess.” You were hoping they would have rejected the idea, but alas there goes your weekend… “I offer my full cooperation. My knowledge is yours.” Celestia smiles, “I’ll hold you to that.” Three hours later and you’re beat. ”I think that should do it for tonight, don’t you agree?” “Whatever you say princess.” ”Twilight, could you lead Anon out?” ”Of course. Follow me.” The two of you leave the chamber, Celestia staying behind to look through the list you presented her. Hopefully she finds one of them to her liking, but who knows. ”Celestia has arranged a room for you to stay in the city.” “That was nice of her, but I’d like to stay with my men. They get a little rowdy without supervision.” ”I’ll have her know. May I ask you something?” “Anything.” ”Those people you listed… How are they really? I could tell you were focusing on their positive traits.” “I wouldn’t touch them with a ten foot stick if that’s what you’re asking, but they’re John’s heirs, so I have to make them sound upstanding.” ”That bad?” she sighs. “Things will get interesting once everything’s said and done.” The two of you reach the gate. ”Your equipment sir.” You thank him and begin stowing your weapons. ”You certainly came prepared,” Twilight says. “I’m just a soldier, this is nothing for me.” ”Wait… Why did your King send a soldier as his emissary?” “Maybe I’m just that charming ey?” you reply with a wink. She rolls her eyes playfully. ”Oh no, you hath swept me off my feet,” she jokes. “No such luck yet I’m afraid.” You finish tying your gauntlet and look back to Twilight. “I guess I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow?” ”Until then, Sir Anon of Glaemar.” “Please, just Anon will do.” Her grin almost finds its way upon you, ”Good night Anon.” You walk through the barren streets, the night’s breeze flowing through your hair. You tip your head to the city guard as you pass outside the city’s walls. ”Night sir.” You ask him where your friends disembarked. He points to an inn just outside, shadows thrashing about within. “I told him one thing, and he fucks that up too.” ”Need some help?” “No,” you reply with barely contained frustration, “I’ve got this.” You swing the door open, one of your men falling face first into the ground. You kick him in the gut and step over his bellowing form. Tables are thrown about and torn apart, some of your fellows engaged in a bar fight. Placing two fingers in your mouth, you release an ear piercing whistle, silencing the lot of them. “Form up!” you shout, the drunken buffoons lazily getting in line. You walk down the line taking count, all but one present. “Where the hell is Acus?” You hear some commotion on the second level and head upstairs. You bring your head up to one of the doors, muffled sobs coming from inside. Pulling your head back, you kick open the door, Acus holding down a mare on a bed. “I said form up!” He staggers over, towering above you, ale heavy on his breath. ”And what if I don’t?” You smile, kneeing him hard in the groin. “That.” You kick him down the stairs and look at the traumatized mare. “Did he… you know…” She shakes her head, tears rolling down her face. “Get somewhere safe now. This is no place for a young lady to be.” She jumps out the window and flies off, hopefully back home. You head downstairs yourself, making sure to stomp extra loud. “I don’t expect a lot from you, but this? This crosses every line I made.” Acus rolls into line, trying his best to stand up straight. “I asked for good ol’ soldiers, and what do I get? A bunch of inbred heathens trying to fuck anything that moves. Acus bows his head in shame. “I’ve dealt with insubordinate troops, but right now, I don’t want to deal with it.” There’s too much shit going on for this to be added on as well. “Pack up and head home, all of you. You’re not going to be my headache on this trip.” You already have one as it is. One of the soldiers breaks rank, “But sir…” “Shut it. Pack up. Leave… Now!” They stand there like a bunch of brain-dead manticores. “Did I fucking stutter? Git!” Finally they start moving, picking up their junk and fixing what they broke. One by one they head out the door, leaving the place devoid of life besides you and the barkeep. ”Thanks for that. They made quite a ruckus.” “If you want to pay me back you could offer me a room.” He’s happy to oblige, handing you a key. “Also, you may need a new door for room B. I may have broken it.” ”With what they paid me, I can renovate this whole darnn place.” “One platinum bit right?” ”Yeah, how did you know?” Their death will be slow and painful. “Lucky guess.” You walk back upstairs, avoiding the piles of vomit. The door you broke is almost completely off its hinges. You unlock the next door and head inside. You once again take off your multitude of weapons, stowing them next to your bed. You consider undressing, but find that your fucks given meter has reached zero. That’s an all-time low for you. You lie down and blow out the lantern. The bed itself is grainy and several lumps dig into your backside. It’s one of the most comfortable things you’ve ever slept on. You close your eyes and drift into a nice slumber. Morning comes a bit quicker than you’d like, but there’s no avoiding that. The barkeep brought up some towels and directed you to the washroom. It’s nice to talk to someone who’s not a total ass. Finishing your wash you dry off and gear back up. You thank the barkeep and walk outside, a construction crew approaching. He wasn’t shitting about renovating the whole place. You pass the guard on the way back inside. You wonder if that guy ever sleeps. The ponies keep their distance from you like before. It seems after your incident yesterday, they’ve taken more precautions to you. You don’t spot the old couple which dims your day already. They aren’t here to appeal to you, so you can’t hold it against them. The gatekeeper is still there with a cold face. “Geez don’t you guys take a break?” You quickly hand over your weapons and enter the grounds. Twilight meets you at the doors like before. ”Good morning Anon. How was your night?” “You don’t want to know.” She takes your word for it and both of you go back to the chamber. “Did Celestia come to a decision yet?” “She hasn’t finalized her choice, though she did say that she had eliminated some of the choices.” Thank the heavens, the sooner all of you can get this done, the sooner you can take the first ship back home. “Well that’s good to hear.” Celestia enters after a few minutes of waiting. ”Good morning you two, I hoped you had a pleasant rest.” ”He doesn’t want to talk about it.” “Not that I have to say anything.” ”I will respect your privacy.” A benevolent leader, say it ain’t so. “So shall we get down to brass tacks?” They look confused at the phrase. You really need to cut back on the phrases. “Down to business,” you clarify, “Where are we on the candidates?” Celestia brings out the list and sets it before you. “Alright let’s see here…” All the names are crossed out, well that was... unexpected. “These are the only available choices. You have to pick one.” ”No I don’t. They are not acceptable.” You can’t let this deal go under. King John doesn’t take too kindly to those who resist him. One of them has to go through. “Why not Roland? He’s a distinguished soldier with several commendations for valor. ”He has a short temper and drinks heavily as well.” Fair enough. His knack for getting into bar fights is well known. “Brock. He’s quiet and doesn’t drink. That’s something.” ”Yes, but his accounts of theft and burglary are many.” Right again. She isn’t making this easy on you. Your own personal loathing of them is probably what tipped her off. You go down the list, name per name, each one disqualified. “How about Kirk?” ”Do you really need to ask?” “Well I don’t know what else to say. That’s all of his heirs from top to bottom.” ”You know, you said before that I couldn’t trust you. At the time I didn’t know what you meant.” Twilight perks up at the change of direction. ”Now I can understand why. I reviewed that list, and sent my findings to your King. He wrote something particularly interesting in his reply. Do you know what that is?” You could take a guess. “The list wasn’t as complete as you made it out to be.” ”Who was missing?” Twilight asks. Does she really have to ask? I thought she was being pretty clear. ”The Prince of Glaemar, though we know him as Sir Anon. Isn’t that right?” You sigh, rubbing your temples. “Yeah… It is…” Chapter 2: Cool Off”You’re a prince?” ”Indeed he is Twilight Sparkle.” Not- If there’s one thing you don’t like doing, it’s having to explain the peculiarities of your situation. “Barely, most don’t see me as an heir at all.” ”Do explain,” Celestia says egging you on. You really don’t want to talk about this stuff, there’s a reason you kept your identity a secret. ”You’re safe to speak to us, we will not judge you.” Sure, that’s what they all say. “Have either of you seen humanoids before?” Twilight shakes her head. You expected that, she seems far too young to have met your kind before. ”I have, yes,” Celestia answers. Another successful guess, her dealings should make her familiar with others of your race. “Well, you should be able to tell the difference between me and the others.” ”What’s so different about him?” Twilight asks curiously. Celestia tries to hide her smile, but fails, horribly you might add. ”He’s shorter.” You furrow your brow in irritation. No judging your ass. “The Erredian people stand at a height of eight to nine feet tall. I on the other hand stand at a measly 6 feet, and the differences don’t stop there.” You stand up, displaying yourself like a puppet. “My bones and muscles are weaker than that of my brethren, but I’m also smarter. Not genius smart mind you, but more so than those bumbling buffoons.” ”So if it wasn’t for your royal blood…” “I’d be an outcast, a freak to my own people. My father saved me, but I was always his least favorite son.” All you wanted to do was impress him… “My brothers teased me of this, so I picked up the sword and became a soldier. I’m a damn good one at that, but no matter how I tried I could never earn my father’s favor.” ”But he asked you to act as his Emissary. He obviously cares for you.” You chuckle softly at Twilight’s naivety. “He sent me to get me out of the way. Besides, my even-temper made me the best choice for a negotiator. I’m the end slice of bread no one wants but uses when out of options.” You sit back down, finished with your little spiel. ”Is that what you think of yourself?” Celestia asks questionably. “Don’t make me add pretentious to my list of traits,” you joke, anger subsided. ”I like you Prince Anon,” Celestia states, “What do you think Twilight Sparkle?” ”I think that’s quite a story, but you already know what I think.” You swear to Tartarus if they’re going where you think they are… “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’d rather not-“ Celestia hushes you, “It’s your king’s wish, and you must help in whatever way you can. This is what you said.” “I know that, but-“ ”And I wish to see this deal through to the end. So I think I’ve come to my decision.” ‘Anon?’ Yes brain? ‘Why are you always right?’ Because the gods hate us brain. “You will be my lucky bachelor.” You sigh heavily in defeat. Shit always turns against you it seems. “Alright your majesty. I accept your offer.” Twilight can barely hold in her excitement as she begins rambling off wedding plans. Celestia smiles at her bumbling student before turning back to you. “So who am I going to marry? I’d like to get his all out now while I can.” ”Well, Cadence is already wed, and I am far too busy to deal with such things. Luna… Yes, you will marry my dear sister. Don’t worry, you’ll like her… probably…” Probably… You don’t like the sound of that. “And she would be okay with it?” ”Why wouldn’t she?” “Do uh- Do I really have to tell you?” ”This isn’t about species is it?” You give her the ‘no shit’ look. ”Please Anon, she is not a child anymore. She will understand.” Like that’s gonna happen. “So when are you going to tell her?” ”Soon. Whenever the occasion arises.” ”What are you going to wear?” Twilight cuts in. “That really isn’t my priority right now. I can bring something on my way back.” “You may not be headed back as soon as you thought.” “What happened now?” you ask with disdain. ”John asked that this take place as soon as possible, you won’t make it home and back in time.” There isn’t an apothecary in the land who could cure your headache right now. “Look princess,” you start, standing up. “This is a bit overwhelming for me. It’s more than I expected.” ”It’s not too bad.” Twilights says still bounding with joy. “For you, but not for me. I need some time to process all this okay?” Celestia looks at you understandably. ”We’ll finish the preparations, you may take this time to relax, you must be stressed. We can handle it.” You thank her and walk out the room to get some air. A cool breeze flows through the open door as you enter the courtyard. It certainly makes you feel better, but it merely dulled your senses. In your mind nothing makes sense. It’s like life took one big shit, and it happened to be on your life. You had a life back home, not much of one, but a life all the same. Here? What do you have? These ponies won’t accept you for who you are. They want a colt or stallion or whatever fucking term they call males. You’re just different. You feel like finding a cold hole to crawl into for a while, while you soak up all the excess crap you have to deal with. You grab your stuff from the gatekeeper and walk through the city. That noble said something about the lower districts, sounds like a good place to lose yourself for a while. You head down one of the more rundown looking alleys, hoping to find the districts you sought. A drunk stumbles from the balcony, puking all over himself. Yep, you found the place alright. The district is masked from the sun, giving it a nightly appearance. The inhabitants are mostly drunks and other miscreants, a few elderly stick to their homes for protection. This wouldn’t fly where you live, these people would be out on their asses breaking stone. You run a tight ship, but didn’t have to worry about whose piss you’d step in by accident. You spot what you think is a tavern and head inside. No one seems to notice you come in, or if they did they don’t care. If this is what bars are like then you should live in them. ”What’ll it be?” “Oh um I don’t drin-“ You know what? Fuck it, you’ll drink. It’ll take your mind off things. “The strongest thing you’ve got.” ”You sure? It’s not for the faint of heart.” “Just give me it.” You gulp down the silver fluid, your throat seizing up making you choke. He laughs, “I told ya. Let me get you something weaker.” You grab his shoulder as he turns. “Another.” He eyes you and smiles, “You’re alright you know that?” You down the next glass, your eyes tearing up from the pain. “No I ain’t.” You don’t know how long you’ve been here, and for once you don’t care. “Aand thuts’ how wi gut the beach.” ”Shouldn’t you be headed home, everyone else already has?” “Hum? O that. Otay. How much d I owe yu?” ”No charge, just get home safe.” “You,” you say pointing to him, “You’re a good guy.” He helps you out of the building before locking up and walking home himself. Now to find your own home. You stagger through the streets, holding onto the wall for support. ”Hey there cutie.” You stop and look around though everything’s blurry. ”Down her you big hunk.” You look down, two mares at the other side of the alley. ”Looking for a good time?” Amidst your aching head and the alcohol coursing through your veins you can’t figure what they mean by that, but you can’t leave them hanging. “Uv coursss.” They both giggle, making you laugh yourself though you don’t know why. You drape your arms around them as they lead you off somewhere. You drift in and out of sleep, a series of knocks finally waking you up for good. ”Here we are sugar, make yourself comfortable we’ll be right back.” They set you down on a large bed, both of them entering another room, shaking their tails oddly. Where the fuck are you? You struggle to sit up, but through concentrated effort you manage to make it there. The bed creaks as you try and get up making your ears throb in agony. “This is why I don’t drink…” You reach into your satchel and take out a red vial. You take in the sour liquid, gagging at its final drops. It’ll take a few minutes for it to kick in, but that shouldn’t be a problem.The pair of mares stand at the doorway, their eyes glued on you. You didn’t… Oh god dammit brain. ‘What? They wanted the d.’ ”Looks like the big boys ready to play.” “I think there’s been a misunderstanding here.” You stand up, only for them to push you back down. ”You’re not just going to walk away until we get what’s ours.” They pin you down, your muscles too weak to get them off. ”Over there. Grab it grab it!” You feel the potion starting to kick in, but it’s too late. You throw your wrists about, the rope binding them to the bed. It’s at this moment that you learn the most important lesson of your life. Karma is bullshit! The girls grind on your leg, “You just might enjoy this.” They rub at your groin, the leather armor absorbing most of their touch. ”That feel good hun?” It does, but it’ll be a cold day in Tartarus before they know it. “As good as sandpaper.” They ignore your statement, fumbling to untie your garments with no luck. Apparently the concept of lace is foreign to their whorish heads. “You’re pathetic.” ”Shhhh… Hush now. Only dreams.” What does that even mean? A boom echoes through the sky turning their attention away from you. This is exactly the opportunity you needed. You extend the blade from your arm and cut through your binds. You do the other before they figure out what you’re up to. Rejuvenated, you leap off the bed and head for the door which clangs as the lock slams against the handle. ”Where do you think you’re going?” They approach you like a pair of lions stalking their prey. You draw your sword, fear lighting up in their eyes. “Hey now, there’s no need to be like that!” You point it at one of the girls, motioning towards the door. “Open it.” She obliges and opens the door before retreating behind her partner. They’re nothing more than a couple of cowards. “Both of you make me sick.” With that you leave as quickly as you can. It’s almost pitch-black at this point, a few lanterns illuminating the scenery the dead streets of the district. You take a deep breathe. It’ll take weeks to get the smell of rotting mare crotch out of your leggings. You retrace your steps and step back into the upper districts, the familiar sight of guards are quite welcome. It’s getting late, and you don’t have a place to stay now that that inn is being renovated. The best choice would be to take Twilight up on her offer. Hopefully she’s still at the castle; if not… well you’re just shit out of luck. You begin loosening your sword once you reach the gate. ”That will not be necessary. You’re clear to proceed.” You point to the castle questionably, earning a nod from the guard. That’s one stop you don’t have to worry bout anymore. You’re about halfway through the courtyard when you begin having second thoughts. This’ll make you look incompetent. If you can’t find a place to stay, how are you going to be a good husband? Confound these ponies, they drive me to drink. “YOU!” A voice shouts from above. You turn back just in time to get knocked back onto your ass. Whoever it is, they’re strong, more so than you care for. A pair of hooves presses against your shoulders pinning you to the floor. ”WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?” The rush of blood to your blurs your vision. You can’t even see your attacker. A hoof strikes you in the ribs puffing the air out of your lungs. “WE ARE NOT A CHIP IN YOUR GAME!” Another strike against your bruised abdomen. “Who the hell are you?” ”DO NOT SPEAK YOU WORM!” As they prepare to strike you again you counter attack. Sweeping your legs you throw your attacker beneath you as you hold your blade against their throat. “Who… are…” Your vision finally clears up, revealing the attacker in form of a black alicorn with a starry mane. “Luna?” She throws you off of her with her magic, standing up valiantly. ”YOU WILL ADDRESS US AS PRINCESS LUNA.” So much for her taking the news well. She was about to beat you to death. “Don’t think you’re the only one who’s against this Luna.” ”WE SAID YOU-“ “Cut the crap. I’m just as mad as this as you are.” Your defiance does little more than enrage her further. ”DO NOT EXPECT TO UNDERSTAND US!” This is a waste of time, she’s not going to listen to you. You turn back and walk to the castle. ”WE ARE ADDRESSING YOU!” “Yeah good luck with that.” The door slams shut the second you open it. It’s going to be one of those fights? Fine. You turn around and stare her down, waltzing towards her. “Let’s get something straight, you’re not the only one pissed at this little arrangement. I had a life you know, and now I’m stuck here, with YOU!” She walks towards you, giving her own spiel. ”WE DID NOT ASK FOR THIS! IT IS WE WHO ARE STUCK WITH YOU!” “Don’t give me that. I was the last person who wanted to get involved, but I’ll do what’s best for my kingdom, whether YOU like it or not.” ”AS WILL I! YOU ARE LUCKY WE CARE FOR EQUESTRIA SO!” The two of you are inches apart, staring each other down. Neither of you are willing to back down, though you’re feeling the same anger. A few guards break rank and stare at the two of you. “Let’s take this somewhere else, away from prying eyes.” She notices the guards as well and both of you disappear in a burst of light. A few seconds later you find yourself in a chamber, not unlike an observatory. Constellations are graphed on the walls, a sliding glass door leading to a balcony. Most of it seems to deal with night cycles, few personal things lying around. Sounds like Luna’s chambers alright. “Look, I’m sorry about how I yelled at you back there. It was unprofessional.” Luna sighs, “Of course it was. That is no way to speak to a princess.” You hoped she would apologize as well, no such hope it seems, but at least she’s not yelling at you. “We’re both stuck in this so the least we should do is try to make this work, for both of our countries.” She can’t argue with that solid point. “Fair enough, where shall we begin?” “Introductions never hurt. I’m Prince Anon of Glaemar, but just call me Anon.” ”Princess Luna,” she extends her hoof which you meet. “It’s nice to meet you.” She humphs sticking her nose up at you. Well that went nowhere fast. “I guess we could say something about ourselves. You can start.” She just stares at you with scorn. This is going to be a long night. “If you don’t want to talk to me fine, but can I ask you one question?” ”You just did.” Why I oughta… “Fine then, three questions?” She nods, looking back outside. “Is Twilight still here?” ”She took the train back to Ponyville. Why do you need her?” “Well she had information regarding a place I could stay.” ”You can’t locate a resting place for the night? You would make a terrible husband.” That’s what you were saying. ”It is no matter, you will stay here tonight.” You’re awestruck at the offer. Is she committing an act of kindness? Did that magic take something out of her? ”Are you going to stand there like a scarecrow all night?” “Sorry, it’s just… Isn’t that a bit much?” ”It is customary for a couple to live together yes? I am not up to date on current traditions.” “It is, well uh… I accept your offer, thank you.” She humphs again, “It was not a request.” Nope, still old Luna. “So did Celestia tell you anymore about the wedding?” ”You already used your three questions.” “Oh, my bad,” you reply sarcastically. Your stomach growls angrily at you, frustrated at your lack of tribute. ”Food is downstairs and at the far end of the hall.” “Thanks,” you reply cheerfully to her kindness. ”Just go quickly, you’re breaking my concentration.” And you take it back instantly. You find the stairs and descend them, following Luna’s directions. Upon reaching the end of the hall you find nothing but wall. She didn’t even tell you the truth. You decide to search yourself and spend the next half hour scouring the castle for a kitchen. One of the guards was kind enough to lend you a hand, giving you far more reliable directions. You get there in no time at all, the chef being more than happy to serve you. He was more interested in learning foreign cuisine than anything, but he at least helped you feel welcome. You made sure to leave out the more carnivorous dishes, though he didn’t seem that appalled when you spoke of it. It was nice conversing with him, but fatigue was catching up to both of you so you said your goodbyes and left belly-full. You thank the guard who helped you and slipped him a sandwich as a reward. Before you know it you’re back at the stairs leading to Luna’s chambers. Just going up and down these is going to be a chore. ”It took you long enough,” Luna says as you enter the room. “Well if someone had given me proper directions I would have been back sooner.” She chuckles to herself and walks back into the chamber. She lies down on the bed, taking some of the covers with her. ”Are you coming to bed or not?” “You really want us to sleep together?” ”The best way to be a couple is to act as one, no matter how woeful the arrangement. You can either come, or you can find a lodging of your own.” She has a point there, whether it was by accident or not is unknown. You slip into the soft covers, the bed forming around you seamlessly. Her horn glows as she extinguishes the torches. Only the moonlight left for you. “Goodnight.” She rolls onto her side, taking most of the covers with her. You didn’t want them anyways. So you just lie there, watching the moon stare right back at you. Five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes go by. You try to fall asleep, but it’s just not comfortable. It’s too soft and malleable. It doesn’t feel natural how it morphs to your figure. You need something more solid to rest upon. You check on Luna to make sure she’s asleep which she is. Gently, you get out of bed, making sure not to wake her. Celestia help you if you accidently did. They’d be picking pieces of you off the walls. You walk onto the balcony and peer off into the city. Maybe this place won’t be as bad as you thought. No place is perfect, and here is no exception. There are always scumbags and creeps lined up with the goodies. It’s all just the same if you think about it. You’re still a freak to these people, no change from your own home. But at least here you don’t feel constantly put down because of it. And what do you know; Luna might turn out to be alright after she warms up to you. Sure you were never very good with women, but she’s kind of different. Twilight seems to trust you, so she’ll be the first real friend you’ve had in a long while. Now she is something, a true piece of work. She seemed to be the only one who didn’t care about how you looked. She liked who you were, which you find refreshing. Not many care about that these days. You yawn, inhaling the cold Equestrian air. You guess you might as well go to sleep after all. You lie down on the stone floor and close your eyes. The hard stone does wonders on your aching back. Now just to count ponies. One pony. Two pony. Three pony. Fou- Chapter 3: Filler CentralA light tapping stirs you awake. The blinding light catches you off-guard, but Luna’s annoyed figure is apparent. ”I thought you were trying to make this work.” “Well, I’m not entirely comfortable with this arrangement yet.” ”That makes two of us then.” You stand up, the sun high in the sky. “What time is it?” ”Early evening. Come, Twilight has returned and is anxious to meet you.” That makes you feel better about today already. Luna leads you downstairs and into the greeting hall where Celestia and Twilight are. “Ladies, nice to see you again.” ”You will address them properly!” Luna barks at you. ”It is quite alright sister, he’s basically family now.” Both you and Luna cringe at the thought, but stay composed nonetheless. Luna and Celestia argue about your manners giving you an opportunity to talk to Twilight. “Are they always like this?” ”Arguing? Not really. Luna tends to be civil, but this marriage has her in an uproar.” You decide to change the subject. “So how have you been? We haven’t gotten much of an opportunity to talk.” ”I’m doing well now that I calmed down. It was a tad overbearing when I heard about the wedding.” “Don’t worry about it. Someone has to be happy for me.” ”Aren’t your men happy for you?” Oh shit you forgot about them. “They don’t know. I may have sent them back home in irritation.” ”Why in Equestria would you do that?” “They pissed me off for the last time. In hindsight I should have kept them here. I need a best man after all.” ”I’ll have Spike send a letter to the dock telling them to head back.” You don’t know who this Spike is but you thank her anyways. Luna is still upset, but seems to be on the losing side of her argument. “So, Luna told me you were anxious to talk to me. Why?” Twilight lights up, a devilish gleam in her eye. You don’t like the look of her. ”Princess Celestia?” she asks getting her attention, “Is it alright if I take Anon off of your hooves?” She nods, “Just be back in time for dinner, we have much work to do.” Twilight grabs a hold of you and bolts down one of the halls. You’re not sure how she can run so fast using only three legs. “Where are we going?” She pulls out a notebook, places and times scribbled in it. ”We have a schedule to keep.” She leads you down a familiar set of corridors, passing the night guard you met. He laughs as you’re basically dragged down the hall behind her. “Evening Flash.” ”Evening Anon.” You give him a hurried salute before you’re dragged into another hall. ”No time for chitchat. Places to be, people to meet.” It isn’t long before you finally reach the kitchen. You step in at your own accord, still wondering why she even brought you here. ”Dang nab it, that’s the third time now. You’re testing my patience Caramel Munch.” You see an orange earth ponies talking to your chef buddy, apparently having discrepancies with their dishes. “Shouldn’t I be leaving this stuff up to you?” The orange one catches wind of you and saunters over. “Well howdy there partner. Name’s Applejack, pleasure ta meet ya.” ”Applejack, I’d like you to meet Prince Anon.” “The pleasure’s all mine Applejack. Her eye’s light up when you introduce yourself. ”So you’re dat Anon. Twilight’s told us all about you.” “Hopefully just the good stuff.” ”I did think you’d be taller though.” “I think I’m tall plenty.” ”True ‘nough, now come on. We’ve got food to test.” You look over to Twilight for help, but she just laughs as you’re once again dragged away. She sits you down at a table. ”You ready sugarcube?” “Is that a trick question?” You can tell that’s a yes as she sets down a tray. She reveals a couple pastries, most of which you recognize. ”This here’s an apple crisp, apple tart and apple strudel with some apple jam on the side.” You pick up the crisp, chewing it with a bit of jam. ”I may not be as fancy as these here Canterlot chefs, but no one makes apple treats like I do.” She’s not kidding either. This makes your favorite dessert taste like cat food in comparison. You go to take another bite, but Applejack smacks your hand. ”You ain’t filling up on no crisp on my watch. Ya still got more to go.” You don’t know what she means until she steps to the side, a dozen more platters lined up. ”So you get a bite of each, no more no less.” This is going to be a long session. You eat a chunk of pie with some apple ice cream on top. You might just have to make her your personal chef. ”Well?” “It’s good alright. It’s all been good, down to the individual morsel.” ”Aww shucks you’re just sayin that.” “I am not. This is some of the best food I’ve tasted in my life.” ”This one’s a keeper isn’t he Twilight?” “He sure is.” Twilight grins at you. You move the platter away from you along with the others and stand up, belly full. “If this is what I can expect from the ceremony, then I welcome it.” ”Thank ya kindly Anon.” “No, thank you Applejack.” You shake her hoof, and hurry behind Twilight who was growing impatient. ”She’s really nice, I like her. Reminds me of the farmers outside of my city.” ”Glad you do, she runs Sweet Apple Acres near Ponyville. I’m glad to call her my friend.” “And I’m glad to call her my chef.” Twilight barrels down the hallway, both of you passing Flash again. ”Busy day huh?” “Isn’t it always.” ”Good luck with that.” “I’ll try.” Twilight finally comes to a stop outside another room. She lets you catch your breath before you both enter. Whoever’s in there seems to be humming to herself. Mannequins and swabs of fabric scatter the walls and floor. At the end of the room, a white unicorn is tending to an ensemble, her purple mane in prime form. She’s one of those mares isn’t she? ”Cutting up the pattern snip by snip, making sure the fabric flows nicely…” She continues on oblivious to your arrival. ”Rarity?” She jumps up, startled at her suddenness. ”You really musn’t sneak up on me like that, what if the prince…” She’s speechless at the sight of you. ”Why hello there! You must be the prince I’ve heard sooo much about.” ”Anon this is Rarity. Rarity, Anon.” ”Charmed,” she says holding out her hoof delicately. You peck her hoof, yep she’s one of those mares. ”You are just handsome as can be,” she wraps her hooves around your arm. “So what uh… What’re we doing today?” ”We’re making your suit of course.” Fucking designers… ”So first, we need to get you out of that dreadful armor of yours,” She claps her hooves, “Chip chop.” “Is that really necessary?” She recognizes your hesitation, “Don’t be such a baby; we’re naked all the time aren’t we.” Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. You don’t argue, and begin stripping off your armor, the pieces resting on the floor. You keep on your boxers, she doesn’t need to take that precise of measurements. Rarity picks up your armor, stopping when she gets to your leggings. ”What is that awful smell?” She takes a closer sniff, her cheeks blushing and eyes widening. You don’t know what’s worse, that she thinks you’ve been getting busy, or how she recognizes the odor. Both aren’t very pleasant. “Didn’t happen.” You don’t say more to rouse Twilight’s suspicion, but Rarity got the message. She pulls out a measuring tape, the clod metal tingling against your skin. ”Let the fashion… begin!” Thankfully, it wasn’t as climactic as she made it sound. You’ve just spent the last hour standing in place while she looked between two different pieces of fabric. She asked your opinion occasionally, only to change the options when you chose incorrectly. Other than that all you did was stand there like a statue. She also expressed her irritation that you ate before coming to her, something about her numbers being off. The moment couldn’t come sooner when she said you were done. You wasted no time on getting the fuck out of there. Now Twilight’s the one following you. ”She’s-“ “You don’t need to say it.” ”A handful,” she laughs as she catches up to you. It’s only then that you don’t know where you’re going to next. She rolls her eyes, “Follow me.” Where would you be without her? She’s quite the mare alright. The two of you enter a large hall, decorations already displayed. “Looks like this place is already finished. What are we even-“ ”Fore!” You hear a bang accompanied by a thud as you hit the ground. ”Oops, sorry about that. I should have- *gasp* You’re Anon aren’t you?” The pink pony grabs you and twirls around making your head spin. She sure is strong for someone so small. Twilight finally comes to your aid, pulling you away from the deranged pony. You barely keep your balance, your body wanting to go in eight directions at once. “Now Pinkie Pie here is a handful.” A rush of pink clouds your view, her face inches from there. ”Hiya. You like your decorations? Do ya do ya do ya? Too… much… energy… “Love them,” you say unable to even open your eyes without vomiting from nausea. ”You didn’t even look, here let me help you.” Oh god no, don’t help me. Anything but that… ”He saw it when he walked in Pinkie. He’ll be okay in a minute.” You manage to open your eyes without purging, giving her a coy smile. “See? I’m okay.” ”Okie dokie lokie,” she says bouncing away. You turn to Twilight, who’s barely holding in her laughter. You can’t help but laugh either, though you don’t know why you’re laughing at your own expense. ”I should have told you about her before.” “You think?” Besides the abrupt introduction things turned out well with Ms.Pie. Her taste in music was astute and down-to-earth. She managed to convince you to demonstrate the ‘Pony Pokey’ which wasn’t one of your better choices. You looked like you were having a stroke. Twilight stepped in, and though she wasn’t any better than you she made you feel a good deal more comfortable. You might just have to ask her for a dance at the wedding. Before long you have to say your goodbyes to Pinkie much to her dismay. She keeps her chin up though, her spirit never waiving for a second. You both exit into the gardens where your next appointment lay. “So your friends are basically running this thing aren’t they?” ”Yeah, the last one they put on was a hit, the invasion excluded.” You heard about that, Chrysalis and the Changelings was big news in Glaemar. ”It makes sense for Celestia to ask for us to manage this one as well.” “I’m happy they got you too.” She smiles, leading you further into the gardens. The cooing of birds floats on the wind, lending their grace to that of the garden. Twilight holds a hoof up to her mouth, hushing you. The two of you quietly follow the music to its source, a small orchestra of birds, plus a yellow Pegasus down below. She appears to be giving them directions, but you didn’t know anyone could communicate with animals in such a way. Twilight whispers something you can’t even hear, but it seems to catch the attention of the Pegasus. Her voice is soft and inaudible to your ears, but you can tell it’s sweet. She comes closer to Twilight, yourself hidden by a large shrub. ”Oh, hi Twilight. I was just rehearsing for the wedding. It’s going to be wonderful.” ”It certainly sounds like it. Alright now, I don’t want you to freak out or anything.” ”Uhmm, okay.” Her voice is shaky, and she hasn’t even seen you yet. Poor girl. ”Fluttershy, I’d like you to meet Prince Anon.” You step out from behind the shrub, Fluttershy nowhere to be seen. “Did- Did I miss something?” ”Fluttershy come on, he’s not going to hurt you.” Twilight drags Fluttershy out from her hiding place, her legs trembling like they’re about to fall off. Twilight gives her a nudge. ”Uhm… I’m Flutter…” Her voice cuts out before she could finish. She tries again, letting out nothing more than a few squeaks. Twilight facehoofs, ready to just give up. You won’t surrender so easily. You kneel down to her level, brushing away the hair covering her face. “My name is Anon,” you whisper, “It’s nice to meet you.” Your gentle touch seems to do the trick. ”I’m Fluttershy.” Both of you smile as you stand back up with Twilight. “Would you care to give us another demonstration please Fluttershy?” ”Okay,” she says with more assertiveness, “Just give me one second.” She gathers up the birds again and whispers directions for them to take. “Well that wasn’t so hard now was it?” ”I don’t think I’ve ever seen Fluttershy that receptive before, what did you say to her?” “People like her don’t like to be approached, but if you do it’s better to be on their level. Act as they do, you won’t make progress by being too forward.” ”That’s- quite a sound response. How would you approach me?” “You? Hmm… I’d probably ask you if you had a copy of Starswirl the Bearded: A Biography, and then you’d ask…” ”Which volume?” “And presto, instant conversation starter.” ”You know me too well Anon.” “I’d like to know more when you have a chance.” The harmonic music fills the air once more, stealing your mind away. Its tranquility is only matched by its sheer elegance. It’s like nothing you ever listened to before. You and Twilight just sit there, moving with the music. You didn’t want to go through with this wedding, but after today, you’re feeling a bit better about it. If only Fluttershy can cut out that nasty whistling noise. ”Look out below!” Well fuck never mind. A blurry object comes hurling towards the ground directly at you. This shit’s not happening to you twice. You take a stance and ready yourself for the oncoming Pegasus projectile. The closer she gets the better you can see her, and her messed up mane. Who’s mane is rainbow colored anyways? She reaches you, and though she’s light her speed does a number on you. You’re forced backwards, your feet sliding across the ground as you grab the Pegasus. Pain shoots through your arm when you finally stop and drop her. “Nice catch there dude. You alright?” You clutch your arm and grit your teeth. The pain is fucking unbearable. “Just dandy,” you say with obvious sarcasm. ”Rainbow Dash you should really be more careful. Anon’s hurt thanks to you.” ”This guy? He’s just being a baby.” Is this mare serious? She’s lucky you were even able to catch her. You grimace and sit down on a bench. You run your hand over your shoulder, examining your injury. “I think it’s dislocated.” Fluttershy comes over and inspects you. She tries to be gentle, but it’s still painful for you. ”Hold still, this may hurt a bit.” She grabs hold of your arm, stretching it every which way she can. You tighten your grip on the bench in retaliation. ”I’m sorry Anon,” the Pegasus says. “Forget about it, you didn’t know.” A loud pop is followed by immediate relief. “Thanks Fluttershy. You’re a dear.” She blushes before returning to round up her birds that scattered during the scuffle. ”Are you going to be fine?” Twilight asks worriedly. “As fine as I’ll ever be. This is nothing in the grand scheme of things.” Twilight shoots a death glare at Rainbow Dash. ”What? I already said I’m sorry.” You chuckle to yourself. Another friend of Twilight it seems. She certainly has a variety of friends. You extend your uninjured hand to her. “The name’s Anon. Rainbow Dash correct?” ”The one and only,” She spits on her hoof and extends it as well. ”Really Dash? He’s not going to-“ You do the same, shaking her hoof spit and all. She smiles, “You’re not so bad for a prince now are ya?” “Not bad at all.” Twilight shakes her head playfully, “You never fail to surprise me.” “So what’re you in charge of for the wedding?” ”Don’t you know? Twilight, how doesn’t he know?” ”He wouldn’t believe me if I did.” “Tell me what exactly? Surprises aren’t exactly something I like.” Rainbow Dash stands proudly, flaring her wings for effect. “I’m going to perform a sonic rainboom at the ceremony. A sonic rainboom, like breaking the sound barrier and making a rainbow? “Bullshit.” ”Will too. I did one at Cadence’s wedding as well. They’ll never forget that.” “Let me explain how you’re wrong. First no living creature can break the sound barrier, and two you can’t just make a rainbow. There are conditions that have to be met.” ”You want to make a bet on it?” Betting on a scientific impossibility? “Ten silver bits says you’re full of it.” ”Deal, we’ll settle this at the wedding, for now I have to practice.” She darts upwards, continuing her exercises. “Just practice up those bits you owe me.” Twilight escorts you back inside the castle. The two of you reach her library where both of you rest. ”So are you sure your shoulder is okay?” “It’s fine, you worry too much.” ”I know. I just don’t like seeing my friends hurt.” You understand what she means. Seeing those you care for in pain is never a good feeling. ”Speaking of friends, what do you think of mine?” So many things you could say about her friends… “Applejack is my favorite, followed by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. They’re easier for me to connect with.” ”Pinkie and Rarity?” “Not so much. Rarity’s far too uptight, and Pinkie is well… Pinkie.” ”I see where you come from, but they’re my friends all the same.” “Keep them close. Stay with those you value.” She yawns, “Anyways, I think I’m forgetting something…” “You did say you were going to send a letter for me.” ”Ah yes of course, I’ll send it as soon as Spike gets back.” She looks from side to side nervously, before bringing her head closer. ”He has a crush on-“ ”Forever!” Pinkie Pie recedes back into the bookshelf, disappearing entirely. “Uh, did I miss something?” ”Nothing. Just Pinkie being Pinkie.” “I should have guessed as much.” She yawns again, this one more drawn out than the last. “You seem a bit tired. How late have you been up?” ”Just the last two days. I’ve been busy lately.” “Well now you’re not, so I want you to rest.” ”But-“ “No buts. Do it as a favor for me.” She reluctantly agrees, making her way to her bed. She slides underneath the covers, sleep rapidly approaching her. ”I really should *yawn* stay up.” “I’ll do enough for the both of us alright?” She closes her eyes and puts on a smile. ”Will you stay until Spike comes back?” “Of course I will Twilight, just take it easy.” She yawns, her breathing slowing down to a rhythmic pace. Poor thing, she should have taken a rest. You stroke her mane now that she’s fast asleep. “Didn’t I already tell you Twilight? Stay with those you care for.” Chapter 4: CeremonyTwo weeks later… ”You’re never going to get it on if you don’t stop fidgeting.” Luna smacks your hand away from your tie as she continues to fiddle with it. “I had it right the first time. You need to calm down.” ”I am calm. It is you who must behave. This day will not be ruined by little mistakes.” “It will if you don’t let me fix it myself.” You manage to escape her grasp and fix your tie. “See? Done.” ”If you just let me do it-“ “We’d have been here past the ceremony.” ”Don’t use that tone with me. You may be a prince, but not of this land.” “Boo hoo, cry about it later.” She scoffs at you and exits as Acus enters. ”Trouble with the bride?” “Women… How do they work?” ”So turns out the noble prince really did get himself hitched. What a thing.” “Thanks for coming back. I know we didn’t leave on the best of terms.” He rests his hand on your shoulder. ”Don’t worry about it. I was out of line.” “Really? You do? Did you turn over a new leaf when I wasn’t looking?” ”Something like that. This is your day, take it for what it is.” “Thanks Acus, truly.” ”Just don’t be pissed when shit hits the fan.” You wave off the seemingly drunk bastard. He’s like a completely different person now that he’s back. Not that you don’t like it, it’s just a bit odd for the great barbarian to show a human side. You shrug it off and continue prepping for the wedding. ”Well look at you all nice and fancy.” You turn to meet Twilight who was already in her dress. Stunning would be an understatement. You give her a tender hug, combing your hands through her mane. “I missed you.” ”Me too.” You reluctantly pull away from the embrace, returning to your own attire. ”You didn’t come to the library last night.” “I’m sorry about that. Luna had me in another pinch of hers going over last minute design choices. You understand.” ”Yeah… I do…” Not that tone again. You take a knee and look right at Twilight. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be the same man after that I am now. I’ll be here. Trust me.” Tears well up in her eyes anyways. She’s not so convinced. You lean in and kiss her ever so gently on the cheek. “I’ll be here.” She sniffs, smiling back at you. “Ok.” You give her one last hug before she leaves. “Everything’s set right?” ”Yes, we’re just waiting on you and… the bride.” It pains you to hear her speak that way. You have no idea what she must be going through. “I’ll see you there.” ”Don’t keep me waiting.” She exits the room, taking your joy along with her. You finish dressing yourself, tucking in your pants, and cleaning yourself up. The ceremony has a strict no weapons policy, so you make sure to take those out of the equation, but what they don’t know won’t hurt them. You sit down, and try to relax. You have no problem charging into a battlefield, but here? You’re as timid as Fluttershy. This isn’t exactly the type of situation you’re used to. The door swings open and Flash steps in. ”Anon, we’re ready for you.” You stand up and follow him, leaving everything behind. The two of you wade through the wave of ponies in the castle. ”Congratulations Anon. It’ll be an honor to call you my prince.” “Thanks Flash. I’m glad you’re here for me.” You step into the grand hall where Flash stays behind. ”To the Future,” he salutes. You return it and slowly walk down the aisle. You spot your men on one side, Acus at the front, being your best man and all. At the other side stand the mane 6, except Fluttershy who’s on the balcony with her birds. Luna and Celestia haven’t arrived yet. Celestia is to come in last, while Luna is to follow you shortly. You reach the end and stand before the altar, Twilight directly across from you. Fluttershy’s birds go on cue, signaling Luna’s entrance. All eyes turn to the doors as Luna begins her arrival. Three fillies burst from the entrance sprinkling an assortment of flowers on the ground. They hop around playfully, not even fully comprehending the events they’re attending. Behind them, Luna walks head held high toward you. She too looks remarkable as her dress sways from side to side. What her attitude lacks, her sheer elegance makes up for. A thousand ponies would kill for the opportunity to wed such a creature, but you’re the one who’s stuck with the task. All those niggling doubts creep upon you again. It’s for the greater good you continue telling yourself. You turn to Twilight, who has done the same. She’ll stand at your side through thick and thin. If she’s willing to see this through, then so are you. Both of you smile, Luna cutting the view between you. ”Quite the mare isn’t she?” You ignore her and face the altar. ”Not many have had the will to stick around with her for so long. She must be special.” Her voice is hushed to avoid suspicion. It’s becoming harder and harder to just ignore her while she calls you on the carpet. ”You love her don’t you?” “More than someone like you would know,” you whisper. ”I’m glad for you,” she says almost expressing sympathy. She might actually be able to feel such things after all. ”I’m glad for both of you.” “So am I Luna. So am I…” The music reaches its apex, and the there’s silence as Celestia stand before you both. You and Luna nod at Celestia, signaling your full commitment to the ceremony. She clears her throat and begins the ceremony. ”Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Princess Luna and Prince Anon of Glaemar.” This is it. The most important decision of your life and it’s not even of your own accord. Just stick it out Anon, it’s just words. It changes nothing. ”For many years we have lived at ease with the land of Erreda, but today will change all of that. Today we will join hands with those across the great sea, starting with the two before us. The strength of their commitment is clear. The power of their love, undeniable.” You contain your laughter at the irony of those two statements. ”Princess Luna, do you take Prince Anon to be your husband, to care for and cherish, in sickness and in health?” ”I do.” ”And do you, Prince Anon, take Princess Luna to be your wedded wife, to care for and cherish in sickness and in health?” You look back to Twilight, who nods her head. “I do.” Spike brings up the rings, Celestia hovering them accordingly. “I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. “ The two of you kiss, and the crowd goes into an uproar. A loud crack tears you two apart, a rainbow scorching across the sky. Damn, you just lost ten bits. Pinkie jumps in the air her voice booming over the others. ”Let’s get his party STARTED!” Suddenly boom boxes. So many boom boxes. The place becomes a mess of clattered ponies. Luna looks at you and smiles, “Go find your girlfriend.” You give her an unexpected hug before you dive into the crowd in search of Twilight. The other ponies don’t make things any easier on you. You sift through the crowd until you stumble upon Rarity and the rest of the mane 6, but no Twilight. ”Darling, shouldn’t you be with Luna?” “No. Do you know here Twilight is?” ”I’m afraid I don’t. Though I don’t blame her for going.” “Going where?” Rarity shuts up, realizing her slip of words. What the hell is wrong with her? “Pinkie? Fluttershy? Rainbow Dash?” None of them say a word. “Applejack, please, where’s Twilight?” ”She wants to be alone right now Anon.” “I know her. Just tell me please.” She looks away from you, avoiding your gaze. ”She’s outside in the courtyard.” You thank her and take off down the castle corridors. You’ve basically got the castle memorized by now so it doesn’t take long to reach it. You step into the courtyard, looking around for the missing Twilight. There doesn’t appear to be any sign of her, but Applejack isn’t a liar, so she’ll be here. This was too much for her to bear; you knew she shouldn’t have come. Especially at the kiss, that’s probably what threw her over the edge. You hear a sob coming from the hedges. The one thing you can’t stand… “Twilight!” You call out to her. The sobs stop, but only for the moment. She can run, but she can’t hide. You continue your search which has narrowed down to one section of the yard. “Twilight!” Another sob breaks through and you head for its source. You find a medium sized fountain closed off by the grove surrounding it. At its side sits Twilight. A few tears dripping into the water’s base. You don’t say anything as you move up behind her and embrace her. She doesn’t struggle, but you unleash the dam that has been building up within her. You hold her all the while as she releases her tears on you. “I’m here Twilight. I’m here.” So you sit there with her curled up in your arms. The tears start to subside and she seems to be a bit better. “You alright?” ”Now I am…” You nuzzle her neck and scratch behind her ears, Twilight emitting several coos. You rest your head against hers, her mane brushing against your skin. “Let’s skip the party. Just forget all about it.” Twilight looks interested at the proposal. “We can just sit in the library, drinking cocoa, and look at the stars.” You look in her beautiful violet eyes. “Would you like that?” She nods and brings her face into your shoulder, rubbing your neck affectionately. Everything turned out better than expected… You help Twilight up and both of you walk to the castle. On to warm chocolate delights and other nightly wonders. You pause at the entrance as your platoon of soldiers come marching out. One of them hands you a slip as you walk inside. “New orders sir.” You salute him and unravel it while you walk. By direct order from the king blahdy blahdy blah… The fuck is this? You stand there staring at the letter dumbstruck. ”Anon?” She nudges you, but you don’t respond. You can’t respond. ”Anon what’s wrong?” The letter falls from your hands, drifting towards the cold floor. He wouldn’t… That bastard! You run as fast as your feet can carry you, leaving Twilight behind. You just hope you’re not too late. The room where the ceremony took place is mostly empty. A few ponies chit chat, but you’re not concerned about that. You peer out of one of the windows into the grounds which seems to be where the party has moved to. You slip into the crowd who’s too far gone to even register you. This is just a prank right? There’s no way he’d do something like that. No… This is just something he would do. You spot Luna conversing with Celestia at the edge of the crowd. For once you’re relieved to see her. At least you don’t see… Acus… He stands a ways away from them, but he’s close enough for you to care. He notices you and tips his mug before he downs the entire thing. Setting it down, he begins to walk towards the princesses, a shimmer from his coat catching your eye. No, not today you mother fucker. Moving through the crowd you attempt to intercept him. “Excuse me. Pardon me.” The closer he gets, the further you are. Bull shit. You ignore subtly and push the ponies out of your way. A few yell at you for being rude, but you could care less right now. This is bigger than them, and you won’t let him off easy. Acus reaches the princesses you hot on his tail. ”King John sends his regards.” He reaches into his coat as you collide into him. “Not on my watch!” Both of you are thrown down the hill, still entwined as you fall. His punches are erratic but devastating, while yours are precise but weak. He rolls on top of you when you reach the bottom of the hill and proceeds to beat you down. You cover your face, but that leaves your stomach exposed. After a minute of beating he slows down still pinning you underneath him. ”Orders are orders. We have a job to finish.” You spit a wad of blood in his face. “Fuck you Acus.” He smiles, “As you wish.” You punch him in the balls once more, weakening his position. He falls to the side gripping his gonads as you get up. It doesn’t take long for him to follow, withdrawing a machete from his coat. How did he get that thing into the party at all? ”You’re going to pay for that. You don’t have your father to save you now.” “Screw him. I’m tired of you all looking down on me and making my life a living hell. I have a new life now, and I’d rather die than see you ruin it.” He charges and swings, missing by a mile. He’s used to brute strength instead of finesse. “Come on, just try to get me. I won’t even move this time.” He charges again bringing the machete down from above. You step to the side as his knife imbeds into the ground leaving him open. You grip his arm and stab him in the armpit with your blade, twisting it around for good measure. ”You said… won’t move.” “I lied,” you whisper to him as he falls backwards. You move in for the finishing blow, stabbing him at the back of his neck. He tenses up only to fall lifelessly to the side. “May Tartarus take you swiftly comrade.” You fish through his clothing taking out a letter of his own. It was the same as the other, the king’s seal imprinted on the corner. That bastard will pay for this. A few guards come by and drag Acus away. You thank them for the help to which they don’t respond. Were you being too sarcastic? You trudge back up the hill battered from your scuffle. Twilight helps you once you reach the top, allowing you to use her body to balance yourself. ”Did I read that letter right?” You point to yourself and laugh lightly. “It certainly seems that way.” ”ANON!” Oh god not that voice. “You have some explaining to do.” The party seems to have been dispersed after your little show. The mane 6 and the princesses take you back inside in the castle. You’re taken to the formal chambers where you first met with Celestia. You feel like a prisoner inside these walls, you just hope you aren’t treated as one. Celestia carries a letter of with her; probably the one Twilight gave her which you dropped. ”I’m going to have a few words with your King.” That doesn’t sound good; things are turning out a lot worse than expected…. ”Explain,” Luna says without her bout of anger. “I wish I could.” Twilight can’t believe it either, “Why would he do this? Didn’t he want to see this deal through?” “Peace isn’t a well known word where I’m from, but too much war leaves a stain on his record.” ”What’s that supposed to mean sugarcube?” “It means this isn’t something I’m surprised he’d do. He just needed another way to start a war without causing suspicion.” “But why try and make a wedding in the first place?” Pinkie chimes in. “I don’t know. It probably worked him I guess. If Acus hadn’t been my best man…” ”Then he wouldn’t have been able to reach the princess.” “That old coot’s smarter than I thought.” Luna’s still a bit on edge from the ordeal. ”How can we even trust you now, after this?” You give her the ‘really’ look and stare at her. ”If it wasn’t for him, you probably would have been lying on the bottom of the hill instead of Acus.” “Thanks Twilight.” ”Perhaps, but this is all a bit too convenient how he shows up at the last minute to rescue me.” “I only learned about it when my men found me and gave me a letter like this.” You toss it to Luna who inspects it herself. “You can just read my mind if you want; I had no idea what was going to happen. I’m sorry.” ”Do not be. I know you speak the truth.” “Thank you, it means a lot.” The door screeches open as Celestia walks through. ”Your king was less than receptive. He claimed to know nothing of the order.” “Sounds just like him.” ”He took the accusations as a personal blow to his person. Things didn’t turn out well…” He never was a good liar, he tends to cover his tracks with anger. “Him and his damned ego.” Celestia silently agrees with you and nods. ”I’m afraid we’ll have to cut your honeymoon short. We are now at war with Erreda.” “W-what?” ”Princess, you can’t be serious?” ”Isn’t that a bit much sister?” ”It was not my choice, if we had dropped the charges he would have been sated, but I would not do so.” “War… with Erreda. Have things gotten so bad?” Twilight comforts you, but that’s not what you need right now. What you need is justice. Rope. Where are you? ”I will arrange for you to be escorted to the docks. A boat has already been chartered to take you back home.” “No.” Celestia looks surprised, as does everyone else. “I’m not running back there now. My life is here now, not back in that piss pot.” Celestia nods, Luna smiles. The others still churning their mental wheels. ”Do you really wish to stay?” Twilight asks wholeheartedly. “Yes.” Three weeks later… You finish packing your things and stow them onto your back. ”Today’s the day huh?” “I’ll be back before you know it,” you reassure her. It’s been a couple months since the failed assassination of Princess Luna and Celestia. A couple months spent training for the coming war that rested on the horizon. And now, the time is finally upon you to pick up the sword to defend your home. Equestria, your new home. ”Why can’t I come with you? I could help; I’ve been practicing my magic everday. I-” You silence her with a kiss. “I could never forgive myself if something happened to you Twilight. I need you here.” She bows her head, “Okay,” she says depressingly. You lift her chin up and smile. “Give me something to look forward to alright?” She forces a smile of her own, “Okay.” You walk out of the castle joining your contingent of troops. Your personal unit is small, but they get the job done. They were hand picked and trained under you, so they’ll do you proud. Ponies watch solemnly from the streets as they see your force off. Sorrow fills the city’s streets, a few ponies hugging their husbands as they’re ushered off to war. This land is a land of peace and harmony, not of war and chaos. Your enemies will pay for their transgression. You pass outside the castle meeting the rest of your force. You recognize one of the unicorns as your second-in-command and approach him. He salutes you, “Shining Armor reporting for duty sir.” “At ease, are your men ready?” ”They are sir. We’ve been training hard everyday. Orders sir?” “Where have the Erredians disembarked at?” He pulls out a map outlining the current fields of war. ”Last I heard King John disembarked at the north east shore. Celestia is moving to meet them in three days time.” “Where’s the rest of his army?” ”They’ve taken hold of the shore and another unit has been sent west towards the castle.” “We will meet them then. Who’s in command?” ”One Ulsted sir.” “Ulsted? It’ll be nice to see him again.” ”Sir?” You sigh and look towards the open road. “Move out!” You and Shining Armor lead the march to war. ”Who’s Ulsted sir?” “He’s a hard-assed son of a bitch. Older brothers tend to be that way.” Shining Armor thinks you’re worried, how wrong he is. “Let’s go say hello.” Chapter 5: One Chapter To Shit On Them AllYou make camp for the night. It’s been two weeks since you left Canterlot, and there hasn’t been any sight Ulsted. Word from Canterlot is that the King broke through Celestia’s line. She wasn’t a match for his devastating force. He marched unopposed through the northern region, burning and pillaging away as he did in his youth. Celestia hasn’t given up yet, and now that she knows what to expect, she’s assembled a force four fold stronger. It might even be enough to make it an even fight. The men are itching for action; you can’t begin to explain how many men died for that itch. You miss Twilight. One promise you made to her and you couldn’t even keep that. It’s nights like this where you want nothing more than to turn back and hold her in your arms once more. You pull out a picture. It’s of you and her snuggled under a blanket, reading a book by the fire. Spike took that when he thought you weren’t looking. He’s sure he found it there by accident, but you know better. You wanted to have something to look back to in these times. And now you have it. ”What’s that?” You set down the picture and turn to Shining Armor who entered your tent. “Just a piece of the past.” ”Twiley?” You furrow an eyebrow, looking back to the picture. “You know her?” ”How wouldn’t I know my little sis? I could spot her anywhere.” So he’s her brother? She never talked about him before. ”Why do you have a picture of Twilight with you? Aren’t you married?” “Barely. We didn’t exactly want to get married. Forced marriage, that kind of thing.” ”That’s rough. I got lucky with Cadence, we both-“ “Cadence? Like Princess Cadence?” ”The one and only. You act surprised, didn’t she tell you anything about me?” No she didn’t, but if he’s Twilight’s brother. And if he’s married to Cadence, then by marriage, Twilight’s technically royalty as well! Luna’s the only choice she said. You’ll like her she said. Celestia’s a trolling bitch you say. Trollestia, you’ll have to coin that phrase. “Anyways, why are you here? I didn’t call you.” He salutes, “Sorry sir, permission to come in sir.” “Well since you’re already here…” He drops his salute, “A group of ponies would like to join forces with our own.” “More locals? We can’t burden ourselves with any more.” ”Not locals sir. They’re suited up and ready for battle. Permission to speak freely sir.” “Granted.” ”If you don’t sign them on you’re a bucking idiot.” “Good choice of words. What the hell, send them in, I’ll take a look at them myself.” ”Yes sir.” He steps out of the tent, a small group steps inside about 6 in total. He wasn’t lying about them being suited up; you haven’t seen so much metal since you broke into the local armory as a child. They never did find those tongs. A hundred things to take and you chose that, disappointing. “So, you six want to see some action huh?” ”We want to protect Equestria, whatever the duty.” Sensible enough answer, you like them already. “Quite the gear, compensating for something?” ”If you think we’re unqualified-“ “I do. Until you prove me otherwise.” They seem to think you mean combat. “Just one question, and you get only one answer. Who do you report to? Me, Celestia, or Luna?” ”None. We report to Equestria. The commander is irrelevant.” One of the soldiers turns to their leader, ”We really should think this-“ “Correct.” You salute them, “Welcome to the unit.” Most of them jump for joy, the other staring off. “Report to Shining Armor, he’ll give you further orders.” They make their way out, the last one still staring blankly. “See something you like?” You stow away the picture in your cloak. ”Friend of yours?” “Yeah, something like that. Dismissed solider.” He walks out, leaving you by your lonesome. You raise a mug to the stars, sipping deeply from the chocolaty mixture. “This ones for you Twi.” On the battlefield… ”Erredians! Twelve o’ clock!” You take out your spyglass, a large force emerging from the edge of the woods. ”Do you think they spotted us?” “They will in a minute. Shining Armor, with me.” ”What are you doing?” “Well we have to say hello. It’s common courtesy. Flash, keep these ponies under control until we get back.” ”Yes sir.” You and Armor walk out into the open field s well, two soldiers from their side meeting you in the center. From his unshaven beard and pompous grin you recognize one of them as you’re eldest brother Ulsted. The other… not so familiar. ”So you finally come to meet us in open battle huh? Tired of hiding in the shadows?” “I could say the same thing; we’ve been scouring these hills for you. About time you had the nerve to show yourself.” ”You may have picked us off, but you won’t get far in a straight fight, we both know that.” Pick them off? You didn’t see them until just now. “I do not understand, but that matters little. You’re passing through Equestrian lands on grounds of war, leave now or we will force you to do so.” ”Well then you’ll just have to make us.” Stubborn ass, at least it was worth a shot. “I’m sorry it ends this way brother.” ”You will be Anon. You will be…” The two of you move back to your armies, battle an assurance as of now. “Send the messenger back to Canterlot detailing our situation. Double time.” ”On it sir,” he shoots through your ranks, your soldiers ready for instruction. “My Equestrians! Hear me now. I am not your kin. I am not your blooded royal. I am not from your world. But here we stand for similar purpose, to protect the land that we hold dear. Some of you for your family, others for glory, but it makes no difference to me. Today we stand one and the same. You are the brothers and sisters at my side. We are together in the darkest of times. When one falls, they are not gone. They’re still among us, guiding us through their spirit. This is a bond not even Tartarus can break.” We will stand and fight to the last to protect our home. Are you with me!?” ”YES SIR!” a chant rings out from the crowd, pumping up the eager ponies. ”Peep Iniik and Jackal Pep, hold the front line at all cost, we can’t have them get through to our unicorns. Sultry Heft and Shadow Brain, take your Pegasus to the sky and rain hell down upon their ranks. Don’t attack them directly, their too strong for you to handle. Ira Try and Shining Armor, fortify the front line and bombard the Erredians with everything you’ve got.” ”What about me?” You look to the last soldier, the new unit’s leader. “Krawlis Pelightt, you and me are going for a walk.” You leave Shining Armor in command as you cut through the forest’s foliage around the battlefield. ”What’s our task here sir?” “Anon will do just fine.” ”Why are we deviating from the group Anon? We’re going to miss the battle.” “Battles are won as much from soldiers as they are from those who lead them. That is where we’re going.” ”Ulsted’s guard? Won’t he be expecting that?” “If he had half a brain he would, but thankfully he doesn’t.” Krawlis cuts through the foliage ahead using his magic. A horn sounds, the battle starting. You both look out, as the Erredian barbarians charge at the fortified Equestrians. Shining Armor’s shield seems to do the trick keeping them out of reach for now. ”How does it look?” “You’re a bright young pony; you figure it out smart stuff.” You continue on, keeping up the pace. There’s not a second to delay now that it has begun. “So tell me a little about yourself?” ”Excuse me?” “I’d like to know who I’m fighting with. So go on…” ”Not much to say sir.” “Anon, and we both know that that’s a load of crap.” ”I don’t follow.” You sigh, cutting down yet another bush. “Oh but I think you do don’t you Twilight?” She gasps, her cover blown. “Did you really making an anagram would disguise you? Even with the armor and voice over your little band was more than easy to spot.” She removes her helmet, her hair sticking up in ways you didn’t know they could. ”I just thought-” You kiss her forcefully cutting her off midsentence. “I missed you.” ”I can see that,” she says blushing. The sound of clashing steel brings you back to focus. “Come on. We can’t waste time dilly-dallying. There’s still a war to be fought.” ”You’re not mad at me?” You keep moving forward and talking at the same time. “I’m furious, but that can wait for later.” ”Ulsted first, Anger second.” “You go it alright.” The outskirts of their camp comes into view, both of you sneaking within. Ulsted’ll remain her until he’s sure victory is assured. For all his boast of strength, he’s nothing more than a coward. The first sign of defeat and he scoots away, generally leaving you to clean up his mess. This time he’s not getting away so easily. Once the troops learn their leader has fallen they’ll abandon the battle. He’s one big domino, and you’re the dick that pushes it over. “Two patrols inbound.” You see them, three man patrols keeping the perimeter clear. “Here’s the plan, you stow yourself away and wait for my signal. When signaled show me some of that magic you’ve been working on.” ”What’s the signal?” “You’ll know it when you see it. Now, get to it missy.” She gets inside one of the tents as the patrol inches closer. Maybe they don’t know who you are. You step out into plain sight, the guards arming themselves. “Hey now fellas what’s the big deal? Can’t spare a pint for a fellow brother?” ”Begone with you, the battle is forwards not behind.” “True that. I just need one last drink to get my blood going. Can you help me out?” They look at you skeptically unsure of how to proceed. Finally one of them gives in, handing you a canteen. You take a hit of the beverage, wanting to gag on it’s potency. There’s a reason you don’t like to drink. You belch, a few bubbles tickling up your throat. “That hit the spot, there you go.” The canteen fumbles out of your hand hitting the grassy floor. “I am so sorry; I can’t believe I just did that. Let me get that for you.” “I got it, no worries comrade.” He bends down to pick it up. “Still… Forgive me.” You draw your sword, cleaving his head off in one precise strike. You step into the second guardsman, thrusting forward with your hidden blade. You strike him just underneath the chin with the blade piercing his skull. The third guard barely has time to draw his mace as you finish your attack. You pin your sword under your arm and throw yourself backwards. There is some resistance at first, but you gradually slide back eventually hitting his belly. ”Y-ou…” “I said I’m sorry.” Withdrawing the blade from his gullet you wipe it off with their robes. This isn’t the first time you’ve spilt Erredian blood, but now no longer in the King’s name. You whistle soft enough for Twilight to hear you. She charges out of the tent ready to kick some flank with you. Her dreams are all but squashed as she sees you leaning over their corpses. You finish saying a few rites for them, before continuing through the camp. Twilight follows, a little upset you didn’t use her. ”I thought you said wait for the signal.” “I did, and you came out when I have it. Good job.” ”You know what I mean. I could have helped back there.” “Twilight please. I want you to be safe, the only reason you aren’t in the main battle is because I worry about you.” That seems to hit her where you wanted it. “With me I can make sure you’re safe, not that I don’t trust your brother.” A lone guard passes by, allowing you to slit his throat undetected. You lie him down, muttering a few words before continuing. “Whom you should have told me about. I don’t know why you didn’t.” ”He’s not a big part of my life anymore. I hadn’t talked to him in years before he got married.” “Yeah to Cadence. I wish Celestia would have told me about that.” You dart into another tent with Twilight as the patrol passes. ”Why would it matter?” “Just something I’d have liked to know is all.” You exit, spotting Ulsted’s personal fort. You bob your head towards Twilight as both of you head to a lonely section of wall. She clears out a small portion of the fence allowing you both to pass through. You take Twilight to a secluded section of the fort. “I need you to stay here.” ”I’ve stayed hidden long enough, let me help you.” You rub her behind the ears and smile. “Help me by staying safe.” She gives you a look of defeat, but agrees anyways. “Promise me you’ll stay hidden.” ”I promise.” “Pinkie Promise?” ”Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” You rub your nose with hers and give her a hug. “Be right back.” You step into the open ground, preparing yourself for Ulsted. Dirt picks up as you stride towards the center. Ulsted’s tent stands at the far end, him and his guards inside. “Ulsted! Guess who’s here!” Two soldiers and his bodyguard step out, Ulsted the last to show himself. ”Well well well, what have we here? Finally becoming a man I see. It took you long enough. “I could say the same to you, sitting all comfy in your tent while your troops fall in your stead.” “Valiantly of course. They die for me because they wish it.” He readies his massive warhammer, a spike protruding from its rear. ”You will die because of me.” He waves his guards away as you draw your own sword. The two of you circle the other forming a circular arena with your strides. He clangs his hammer against his armor violently, his show of force not a disheartening as he’d hoped. You’ve seen enough of that shit to last a life time. He mocks you as you continue to circle him. He’ll play this out as long as he can. You could do the same, but unlike him you care for your troops. You take a step forward, preparing to strike when the opportunity arises. He stands out of range awaiting the same scenario. He brings down his hammer into the earth. You were barely able to sidestep the attack. You lunge forward only for him to slap you aside with his club of an arm. ”What’s the matter? Out of practice?” You shake off the blow and go in for a second strike. He retrieves his hammer swinging wide for maximum range. You roll underneath it coming up inches from his torso. He brings his knee up knocking the air from your lungs, pushing you away with ease. You manage to stay on your feet, though your body wishes to stay down. He saunters towards you, carrying his hammer single-handed. Now he’s just toying with you. You bring up your sword in time to block his hammer, the ensuing force knocking you backwards. His next attack misses as continues into his third. You’re recovering faster than he can swing much to his irritation. He soon loses control of himself, using both hands to unleash a flurry of swipes. You duck down and slash at his knees, forcing him down. His massive figure only helps your cause as he falls. You kick away his hammer, planting your sword on his neck. “Do you yield?” ”May Tartarus take you traitor.” “So be it…” You pull back and swing, you’re arm caught on something. Your sword is taken from you as another hand smashes against your skull. Everything’s a mix of colors to you. A figure watches over you, joined by two others. ”I’m sorry it ends this way brother. May your spirit find peace in the afterlife.” A puff of smoke later, and only two stand. ”Leave Anon alone!” You look off to see Twilight flailing magic around like a wild woman. Bursts of flame, lightning bolts, ethereal swords, the whole shebang. Maybe you should’ve let her join the fight. One of the guards charges her, evaporating into the atmosphere when he overstayed his welcome. Ulsted backs off using his hammer as a shield from her power. ”FOREVER!” He stumbles over the sudden Pinkie who appears behind him. You need to learn how she does that. Twilight comes to your side, putting her horn on your head. A rush of clarity brings you to your senses, but also brings back your injuries. “I thought I told you to stay safe.” ”And you said you’d be right back.” She wraps her arms around you, a few tears rolling onto your chest. “That I did. That I did…” You manage to get back to your feet, Pinkie gone as if she’d never been there. Ulsted attempts to scramble away, though his injury seems to be catching up to him. “Ulsted!” you cry out, “We’re not finished here.” He pulls on his tent muttering something under his breath. Another person emerges from his tent bound in robes of black. Ulsted visibly begs for aid, pulling at his robes. ”Silence! You should have listened to me when you had the chance.” It doesn’t stop him from trying, angering the man further. He slams his foot against his neck, your brother’s voice fading to a whisper. ”So, the prince of Glaemar has arrived, how unfortunate.” ”Who are you?” Twilight’s eyes brighten, her inner rage evident. ”Unwise Twilight Sparkle, unless you wish for Anon to suffer.” “She asked you a question, who are you?” ”Me? I am everyone. I am everything. I…” he removes his hood, “am you.” You’re him, he’s you. The fuck? Jimmies at maximum rustle. Twilight reels back at the sight, concern washing over her. ”Your response is typical, no matter; your time is already at an end.” “I don’t know what the fuck you are, and I don’t care. You know something, and I’m going to find out what.” His eyes go wide as you stomp towards him. ”Wait, I haven’t finished my-“ You grab the impostor by the throat, squeezing him dry. “You’re going to tell me exactly what you mean, or I’m going to show you what an Erredian can really do.” He kicks at you, though clumsily. His cooperation may have to be forced. “I’ll be right back Twilight. For real this time.” You turn to take him inside, “Wait.” “Something wrong?” She gulps, her voice a bit shaky. ”I know what he is.” You throw him down, pinning him down under your feet. “I’m all ears.” She looks down at him, “It’s a changeling.” You stare at him as well, inspecting him closely. “A changeling? Like a changeling changeling?” ”The very same you’ve heard stories of.” You place your sword on his throat, piercing it slightly. “Is this true?” He doesn’t respond. Instead, he smiles as his body is covered in a black gunk. He starts getting bigger, morphing into a familiar face. ”Did you miss me?” Acus says. You thrust the sword into him, the blood spewing from his wound. “What are you doing?” Twilight asks hysterically, “We need him!” “No we don’t. That’s all I needed to see.” You wipe off the blade on his robes, the red liquid thickening into a bluish slime. “My father wasn’t lying after all. He had nothing to do with this.” ”Then why go to war?” “Because that’s what they knew he’d do. He’s predictable that way. My kind are prideful to a fault… How couldn’t I see the signs?” The changeling resorts back to its original form, his wounds resizing to fit him. “When I killed Acus a group of guards came and took him away. Five in total. The same number of men who came to Canterlot with Acus in the first place.” “They took him before he turned back to his normal form, and you clean your equipment all the time.” “There’s no way I would have known what he was. They probably swapped places after I sent him off. Poor bastard’s probably dead now.” You sit next to your brother, life completely drained from him. “This is all my fault. I should have seen this coming.” ”It’s not your fault, no one did. We’re all just pawns in Chrysalis’s game.” “Pawns… After this war is over, we’ll both be devastated. She could…” ”Ride in unopposed. There wouldn’t be a force great enough to stop her.” You close Ulsted’s eyes, bowing down your head. “Your death will be avenged.” You leave the scattered corpses around, heading back to the front. ”So, what’s the plan?” “The plan? Chrysalis will be dead before I let her destroy both of my worlds. We’re going to end this war.” Chapter 6: A Changing BattlefieldYou carry Ulsted’s medallion with you and you walk back to the battlefield. For the most part your plan has worked, though a few ponies didn’t make it. The Erredians themselves crushed themselves against your front line and the ensuing swarm of magic and Pegasi tore them apart. Their casualties are more numerous, but not plentiful. Fatigue seems to have drawn the combat down, neither side capable of lifting a hoof at the other. For all their training they still can’t keep up a fight. You stop behind their lines, Twilight amplifying your whistle. Fucking magic. You raise Ulsted’s medallion in the air proving his defeat. “Your leader has fallen my Erredian brothers. Submit or be Conquered.” A whisper runs through their ranks as the battle is brought to a halt. One by one, the barbaric soldiers get on their knees and submit to your rule. Whatever punishment you have in store, they will take. However, you have better plans for them. “Equestria is not the foe in this conflict, and neither is my home of Erreda. We have a foe more sinister then both.” You seem to have caught their interest, both forces looking at you with curiosity. “The changelings have returned. They instigated this war for their own gain, and we fell into their trap.” Twilight takes her place beside you, aiding you in your speech, “We cannot stand by while we fight over this fallacy of war. It is up to us to resolve this conflict.” “Together as one, we will march forth and join forces with the armies of John and Celestia. Gather up your supplies, you move at nightfall.” The weakened soldiers go to their respective camps and carry out your orders. The mane 6, whom were still disguised, revealed themselves to you and Shining Armor. ”Twiley, what are you doing here?” ”I’m here to help Equestria. You need all the help you can get.” ”You could get hurt, you need to head back.” You wrap your arm around Twilight, pulling her closer to you. “We both know nothing is going to stop her from doing as she wishes.” ”Aren’t ya surprise to see us sugarcube?” You look over the armored group, all of them wondering. “I knew it was you the minute you entered my tent. Jackal Pep, really?” ”I thought it was clever…” “Well so did everyone else, just not me.” ”So what now? We wait for nightfall and intervene the battle between John and Celestia?” “That’s the idea, but I’ll be moving when we’re done here. I can move faster on my own.” ”What if the changelings get you? You’ll be just another victim.” “It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” ”Well it’s a risk we will not stand for.” Rarity interjects. ”Yeah, we’re not going to have our newest super best friend go all alone.” “I’ll be fine alone Pinkie.” ”I’d like to go with you,” Twilight wraps her own arms around you. She looks at you with big puppy dog eyes making you d’awww. How can you resist a face like that? “Fine, but make sure to keep up. Stay here if you can’t.” Shining Armor steps forward, “I’d like to go as well sir.” “No, I need you here. The troops respect you, keep them in line.” ”And what about the Erredians?” You toss him the medallion. “As long as you carry this they’ll listen to your orders. You’re in charge now. See you there.” You and the mane 6 turn and enter the forest, heading north to the next battle. ”How long will it take to get there do you think?” “Hard to say, three days if we stick to my pace, a week if we don’t.” ”Well what are we waiting for? Last one to reach the field loses.” “This isn’t a game Rainbow Dash. Make sure everyone okay?” ”Fine, just don’t go too slow now.” You won’t, this is too important to take slowly. You just hope the others can keep up. Your feet ache the further you walk, miles upon miles of land you traverse, but you have to keep going. Someone has to stop this… ”Anon we have to slow down.” “No can do Twilight. I told you we’d have to keep pace.” ”Please. Rarity wasn’t ready for this.” Rarity? You make sure to walk even faster now that you know it’s her. ”Hey!” Twilight says irritated, “Slow down.” You finally stop and wait for everyone else. You knew this shit was going to happen. Rarity finally reaches you limping weakly. Even that’s enough for you to express concern. “You alright?” ”I can not believe I volunteered for this little expedition. My hooves are killing me.” “So you’re ankle isn’t broken or strained? Your feet just hurt?” ”Isn’t that enough?” You turn your back on her and continue walking. A hoofache? Really? You have more important things to worry about. ”Anon please. You have to help her.” “And what exactly do you want me to do? Carry her?” Rarity looks at you with pleading eyes. “No, Absolutely not. Just suck it up.” ”Sugarcube, it’s for tha best.” You look back to Rarity, still silently pleading for your assistance. ”Please Anon. I’ll be quiet…” You cut through the dense foliage holding on to Rarity with your free hand. ”Cut a bit higher dear, my mane is being ruined by all these branches.” And she said she’d be quiet. All the lies… You cut a high branch and proceed through, an uncanny stench emanating from further up. ”You really must learn to bathe more. Do you always smell this way?” “Quiet.” ”That is no way to-“ You grab her mouth shut, looking deeper into the forest towards the scent. Twilight hushes the rest of the ponies as you set Rarity down. She squeaks when her feet touch the floor much to your dismay. You shake your head and move further in, following your nose. You keep your sword at the ready, though in this terrain it’s almost useless. Another step and you’re peering down a small cliff where the smell is coming from. You take a knee, saying a few prayers as the mane 6 come up behind you. ”By Celestia…” You hold onto Twilight, “Who did this?” “War. Let’s keep moving.” You guide the ponies around the grave site and turn your back on those departed. They shouldn’t have seen that. The travesties of war are not for the faint of heart. The damage has been done however, nothing you can do about it now. It’s something they’ll have to live with now. Not an easy task for them. You set up camp for the night, building a small fire for the ponies. They head off to sleep giving you some alone time. You sit down on a rocky hill lying just above the treetops giving you a perfect view of the surrounding terrain. The moon reflects off the leaves, the land morphing into a shimmering ocean, waves rolling across its waters. You would have been there by now if you had left them behind. Three days later and all you have to show for it is that you’re making some progress. Perhaps you should just leave, right now while they’re asleep. You look down, the forms of their sleeping bodies cast against the wall. How could you leave them? It’s almost unthinkable. Wait there’s Rarity, guess you can think about it. Just a few more days and you’ll be there. Your father will be able to hang on; Celestia’s the one you’re worried about. If she’s routed, he’ll ravage this land plenty, exhausting himself as well. Chrysalis will strike then, devastating their wounded army from within. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that. You find no solace in your dreams, nightmares plaguing you. Your brother lies dead before you, Acus at his side. ”How would you like others added to this little display?” A voice speaks to you, feminine and demanding in tone, but also weak. Rarity, then Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy… Applejack… ”Is this what you want?” Your mind is clouded, the voice seemingly coming from all directions. “Show yourself demon?” A maniacal giggle surrounds you, “If you care for your friends you will abandon your quest…” A large changeling steps out from the void, her green eyes glowing in the darkness. “Chrysalis…” She’s different than you expected, almost withered as if she’d been drained. ”You wouldn’t want anything to happen to that dear Twilight now would you?” She hits you in your sweet spot, anger elevating. “You wouldn’t dare…” ”Oh but I do.” You charge at her, thrusting your hidden blade into her chest. A warm trickle rolls down your hand. ”A-Anon?” You look up, Twilight standing before you, your blade in her torso. “No. No no no no.” She falls limp, her blood spilt by your hands. ”Whatever happens to her will be your doing, not mine.” You fall to your knees, hugging her in her final moments. “I’ll always be here.” ”Anon?” You stop daydreaming and come to attention, Twilight speaking to you. ”Is everything alright? You’ve haven’t said much the past few days.” “Just thinking.” You put on a fake grin, “No need to worry.” You say that, but that’s all you’ve been doing lately. Ever since you had that dream you’ve second guessed every decision you make. It’ll be your doing. Twilight… ”I think I see them? There’s a ton of them down there!” Finally, you made it. Now to end this. Men and p0ny alike fight in the open plains below. The fallen are dragged away as not to litter the field with the dead. Neither side seems to be making any progress. You slide down the hill with the rest of the mane 6. A small circle is emptied in the middle of the battlefield except for its two combatants. One, Celestia. The other, your father King John. They’re caught in a duel, the winner likely to route the other. ”We’ll get the forces calmed down, you stop them.” That’s what you like to hear. “Just keep them away from each other however you can.” ”Roger that Anon.” The mane 6 takes off into the fray, using their strengths to pull the two forces apart. Rarity’s continued whining was sure to keep them occupied. You dash forwards, knocking two combatants on their ass and flank. No time for apologies. Gotta Go Fast! Carnage surrounds you as you advance forwards. Ponies are pummeled relentlessly by the Erredians, while the Erredians are mauled to pieces by the overwhelming ponies. Magic flies across the field, sending pieces of burned flesh and bone flying. A hammer passes by your head, striking a pony in the chest, blood trickling from his mouth. Fluttershy attends to him before glaring at the thrower, who backs the fuck down. Bitches don’t mess with Fluttershy. ”I don’t think this is working Anon, we need something a lot bigger to get their attention.” You pull Rainbow Dash down, escaping the oncoming axe. “Well then. We just might need that little something extra.” She smiles getting the idea. “Care to win another 10 bits?” She dashes, hehe dash, into the air giving you an accepting wink. You throw yourself into the circle, the two rulers awaiting. The king’s broadsword slashes through the air, Celestia blocking with her horn. She pushes into him, throwing him off balance temporarily and shooting a bolt from her horn. He barely dodges it, the soldier behind him fizzling into dust. For an old guy he certainly kept his edge. You move between them as he lunges forward. His blade clashes with yours, using your two hands to balance out the force. ”Do not interfere child.” He raises his sword to strike again, you meeting his own. “We’re not the enemy here, this is bigger than us.” ”He will not listen to reason.” “I’ve got this princess.” He strikes your nose with his shoulder, a line of blood running down it. ”This is between me and her. Do not make me hurt you.” You wipe away the blood, raising your sword against him. “I won’t stand by and watch you destroy both my homes.” Celestia stands behind you, “Listen to him.” He gazes over your sword and then to his own. ”We thrive on war Anon. You should know that better than anyone.” “Then shift your gaze from Equestria, they are not the enemy you seek.” ”What do you mean?” Celestia chimes in curiously. “Both of us have been played. This war is pointless.” ”Then the accusations?” “Falsely charged. The order did not come from my father.” ”Then who caused this? I want a name,” your father demands. “Chrysalis, queen of the changelings.” An explosion rings out in the sky, Rainbow Dash executing her Sonic Rainboom. The soldiers gaze is turned momentarily, but they soon continue their rampage. Welp, that didn’t work. ”The changelings you say?” “The same that attacked Equestria before. Who knows how long they’ve been planning this.” Your disheartened father shakes his head, pulling a warhorn from his belt. He blows into it, a roar cascading through the field of war bringing the Erredian troops to a complete halt. ”Stand down men.” He shouts to his troops, “This battle is over.” You give him an accepting nod, though he’s less than receptive. “A traitor’s blessing is as useless as the next’s.” Even now you’re little more than nuisance to him. You pick up your head, his second-in-command coming through the crowd. ”What is the meaning of this? Why have we halted the attack?” ”This war is over Tolwyn. Our enemy has shifted.” He looks at you angrily, drawing his sword and advancing on you. That motherfucker… ”What did this worm say? He will pay dearly for his lies.” ”At ease, I wish to speak to you.” He eyes you, turning back and walking next to the king. John wraps his hands around Tolwyn’s neck, twisting it with an audible snap, several soldiers flinching at the move. His body hits the cold earth, his foot twitching a bit. ”Death is only the beginning.” Tolwyn’s body morphs rapidly, his body contorting into that of a changeling. Your father hmphs curiously at the development, though in a way unsurprised. ”I thought he was acting strange lately. Turns out this is why.” “If he was a changeling who knows how many more are.” ”Their ilk could reside in both our armies.” “Is there any way we could weed them out?” Celestia speaks up, “After we encountered them before, Twilight made sure to research their kind. She developed a spell we could use to reveal their true forms.” “Perfect. Twilight!” You call her name, appearing a few moments later. ”Celestia, I am glad to see you safe.” ”Likewise. Twilight, do you remember that incantation you spoke to me of? The changeling spell.” ”Of course, I completely forgot about that.” “I think it’s time you put that spell to use.” Her excitement rivals that of Pinkie herself. She only ever got to show them to you before, but now Celestia got to see her as well. Her horn burns brightly, a fiery glow coming from it. A wave of light shoots upwards, layering the entire battlefield before disappearing in an instant. You look around, everyp0ny the same as before. They look about questionably, doubting her abilities entirely. ”I- I’m sorry. I thought that would work.” “Don’t worry Twilight, I’m sure it worked perfectly. Chrysalis wouldn’t be stupid enough to replace a large chunk of the army with her minions would she?” You look over to Celestia who’s nodding her head. “Right?” A wail screeches in your ears, accompanied by a series of continuous shrieks. Welp, look who’s wrong again. Soldiers from both sides begin writhing around in pain, their fellows backing away. Their forms twist and reshape, armor loosely falling off their bodies. Their blue beady eyes gawk at the others who are frightened by their appearance. It takes them a minute to realize they’ve turned back to normal, and when they do it isn’t pretty. They immediately leap at their fellows, sinking their sharp teeth into whatever they can latch onto. You cut down one particular one who decided to make Twilight his target. He should’ve known better. Your father blows his horn again, “TO BATTLE!” The four of you stand back to back, changelings scattered throughout the field. You slash at a few that come too close, Twilight blasting the ones who back away. Celestia and John prove to be an ample team as well, waving off a handful at a time. The rest of the army isn’t so lucky. The surprise attack left many of them off-guard. They’re being defeated from the inside-out, there’s no way they could’ve prepared for this. It won’t be long now until they’re completely overtaken. A second horn blows, this one from the hill you arrived on. Shining Armor stands at the peak, your army meeting at his back. He hollers and charges down the hill with the army, casting his famous shield around him. It grows until it encompasses the mass of your army. It slams into the changeling horde, the regular soldiers safe from its aura. They build up on its exterior until all of them are pushed outside of its center. Now separated, Shining lower the shield, both armies meeting face to face. Now there are a group of pissed off Equestrians and Erredians ready to beat the shit out of some Changeling scum. Oh boy do they have a fight ahead of them. Now it’s a just slaughter. The changelings had the element of surprise, but in a straight up fight… You’ve seen children put up a better fight. A blue mist sprays against your face, temporarily blinding you. Pinkie Pie steps in wiping away the blood and firing her party cannon. Applejack takes on a handful at one time, using her powerful hind legs to crack a few necks. With the forces divided, this battle is all but won. You pull your sword free, wiping away the blood with one of Rarity’s rags. Celestia comes up behind you, putting a hoof on your shoulder. “How many casualties?” ”Too many.” “I wish I got here sooner.” ”You would have only delayed the inevitable.” Her words are meant to reassure you, but they are tainted by the reality you face. “Perhaps, but it’d make me feel better.” At least Shining Armor showed up to the rescue, he’s the true hero of this battle. ”Twilight’s worried about you you know.” “She always is. Anything particular this time?” ”She thinks the war is getting to you. Apparently you haven’t been yourself lately.” Nightly visits from the changeling queen doesn’t exactly help. “I’m fine. I’ll be better once this is all over.” You walk away, back to camp as Celestia speaks again. ”Do not underestimate her Anon. She’s more devious than you think.” “You don’t need to tell me Princess. I figured that out already…” Twilight’s waiting for you in your tent when you finally enter. ”Hello Anon.” “Twilight, what did I tell you about worrying about me?” ”You talked to the princess I see.” “Yes I did, and I want you to calm down. I’m fine.” She sits down on your bed, looking over you. ”You say that, but you don’t appear to be so. What’s bothering you?” “Nothing. I just need some sleep.” On second thought that’s not such a good idea. You’re not exactly looking forward to tonight’s rendezvous with royalty. ”Right there. You look… different. What are you thinking about?” “I’m thinking that I’ve had a long day.” You sit beside her on the bed, leaning onto your back. ”Why won’t you tell me?” You sigh and shake your head. “It’s not something I want to talk about.” ”But it’s something you should talk about.” “Debatable at best.” ”Please, for me?” You can’t help but sigh. She knows just what to say, “Fine, but just let me talk, no feedback alright?” She nods, listening intently. “You’re important to me Twilight, you know that. The way things are going, that may not be a good thing.” She looks saddened by this development but continues listening. “This thing we have… It’s a burden on me. It’s an exploit others can take advantage of.” “A few days ago, I had a dream, more like a vision. I talked to Chrysalis, the queen, she showed me things. She said that whatever happens to you will be my doing. I watch you die every night. Whenever I close my eyes I don’t see my beautiful girl. I see death…” This is notably distressing to her, her arms tightening around your arm. “She’s going to use you against me, and it won’t be just a dream. It’ll be real.” ”When the time comes, you’ll make the right choice Anon.” “You don’t know that.” She rests her head on your chest, “Yes I do.” You rub her back with your hand, lulling her to sleep. It doesn’t take much to knock her out now that you know her tiny weak spots. She dozes on your chest, listening to your heartbeat. She has faith in you, which is more than you have for yourself. But she has it nonetheless, and you have to be strong for her. Chrysalis won’t use your love against you like a pawn. She can have Equestria. She can have Erreda. She can even have you, but there’s one thing she can’t have. And that’s Twilight… Chapter 7: The AssaultYou march, the beating of hooves and boots against the dirt drumming in your ears. Joined with you are the remnants of both the Erredian and Equestrian armies. After the surprise attack, both were left in shambles. Luckily, Shining Armor arrived in time to keep both armies intact. You stand between Princess Celestia and King John, your father. Forward you march, your destination? The Changeling hive, an uncharted series of tunnels and pitfalls within the Silver Streak Mountains. Those who returned were never quite themselves, the implications obvious. The three of you, Celestia, John and yourself, speak of the threat that awaits. ”The changelings are not to be underestimated. They’ll take advantage of any weakness they find.” ”Let them come.” King John boasts proudly, “There’s no protection from me.” “No foe is shunned by the Erredians. Everyone’s fair game.” You help explain. ”The klorfors had it coming. They tried to klorf me right out of my money.” “I’m sure they did.” The sun peaks through the tree tops as you proceed into the Everfree Forest. You’d heard tales of the Everfree forest, and you’re glad to see them falsified. The Gne is infinitely creepier than this place. Even still, a familiar chill runs down your spine. You can’t help but feel like you’re being watched. ”How much longer Princess?” Twilight pipes up from behind you. ”We will arrive soon enough.” Your hand runs across her back, putting her at ease, “We’ll make it.” ”I don’t doubt it.” You pull out your map, tracing your course along it. We should arrive in a couple hours at this rate. Though what we do from there is anyone’s guess. ”What’s our plan of attack Anon?” “I was hoping you had one already.” John, turns his head away. His disapproval just gets higher and higher. ”Strike hard and fast, cave them in and let them rot.” ”Unwise,” Celestia replies, “The solution is only temporary. We must strike at its heart.” “Chrysalis…” You can almost see her in your mind, laughing at your dismay. ”Indeed. Incapacitate her and bring her forth for judgement. She will pay for her crimes.” This doesn’t sit so well with you. ”Your justice is frail. A thousand years of exile will only infuriate her. Your plan is as temporary as mine.” “Then we do them both,” you reply coldly, your grip tightened upon your sword. “We keep them occupied outside with our main force, making sure to draw as much attention as possible.” Celestia nods but is still interested about the rest of the plan, “And what about Chrysalis?” “Another team will infiltrate the cave system, making sure to disable any vital systems around the way. Chrysalis is the main objective. Everything else is secondary.” ”And when we find her?” your father asks. “We kill her.” Your forced to release your grip, anger building within you. Your father has a hint of a smile, “I presume you wish to lead the second team.” “I will lead the second team.” ”Remember what I said…” “I’ll be fine; you just make sure to watch our backs.” The vines tighten their hold on the earth as the foliage grows thicker. Groans sound off from inside the forest, catching the troops off guard. You tell them it’s just jump-scares, made purely for shock value, but they don’t care. It’s real enough for them. Shining Armor does his best to settle them down, and he seems to be far more successful. He appears to be a natural leader, his demeanor invoking confidence all by itself. The mountain appears through the gaps of the leaves. A sigh of relief is released at its sight, many eager to end this endeavor. ”I’ll have a team of my men readied for you.” “Thanks, but no thanks. I already have one in mind.” ”Suit yourself; just don’t come crawling back for reinforcements.” “Not even in your dreams.” You part ways with the forest and move onto the rocky tundra. The terrain is unsuited to ponies, but your malleable feet are able to adapt to the rocks. You aid the ponies in their struggle to traverse the unfamiliar land. Those who can avoid the path, flying over them, but not all are as lucky. You catch Twilight as she stumbles who smiles back at you affectionately. At least she’s keeping in good spirits. “Where’s the entrance?” That’s a good question if you don’t say so yourself. As far as you can see there isn’t a main entrance into the hive. “I can’t see any.” ”They’re right here silly.” You look to Pinkie who’s peering into some sort of pit. ”What’s that?” You stand next to Pinkie with Twilight, joining her stares. ”How deep is it? ”It’s hard to tell, hang on.” Twilight whips out some measuring tape from her bag and goes to work on it. Silly Twilight and her calculations. She takes her time, getting the measurements just right, even as the army moves past her. Only Rarity matches her utmost precision. She frantically scribbles down a bunch of numerical jargon on her notepad. You sigh, picking up one of the many surrounding rocks. “Excuse me,” you say tossing the rock into the abyss. Twilight tries to stop you, fearing it might interfere with her projections, but she’s a bit slow on the draw. Darkness takes the rock as you wait for its signal. A pop rings our from below as the stone collides with the cavern. “Seven seconds? That’s about 250 meters give or take,” you answer keeping on the path. You fall down one of those don’t expect to come back up.” ”Where does it lead?” You observe more openings around you, making sure to avoid them. “Changelings don’t happen to be able to fly do they?” ”They can.” “These likely lead to their caverns then. They probably use these for speedy entrance and exits.” ”Then why are we still searching if the entrance is right there?” “Because not everyone can fly. If anyone else tried to go down there they’d be met with a swift demise. Who knows how many are already waiting down there?” ”You’d be torn limb from limb before you could even raise your sword,” your father adds. “We need to keep searching for the main entrance, that’s our ticket in.” ”And if there isn’t one?” “Well then I’ll be joining Tartarus sooner than I expected.” The pits narrow but become far more plentiful the higher you go. Pinkie hops merrily over them, either unaware or uncaring of the danger. You yank her out of the air when she gets close enough. “I need you to calm down, you’re giving away our position with all your hopping.” ”But it’s just a hop, skip and a ju-“ You press your fingers against lips, silencing her. “I don't care who you are back in the world, you give away our position one more time, I'll bleed ya, real quiet. Leave ya here. Got that?” She silently nods, her hair deflating. You might have been a bit harsh on the little p0ny. “Just keep it to a minimum okay.” She poofs up again, “Okie Dokie Lokie!” She walks along with the rest of the troops jumping around on occasion. You can’t help but like that p0ny, even with her wacky behavior. You rejoin John and Celestia at the forefront of the group. ”That girl is trouble. You’re too soft.” “Not everyone can be an ass at all times.” ”Pinkie is an odd one, it’s just her way.” John shakes his head knowingly. ”Her way is going to get us caught.” “Why does everyone worry so much? It’s seriously pissing me off.” ”You’d be right to worry boy. This isn’t a stroll in the park.” “What, are changelings going to erupt from the ground and swarm us when we least expect it? I’ve seen apes write better with their own dung.” The ground rumbles, the quake striking when you least expected it. Touché world. Touché… You stand your ground despite the disturbance, holding onto Twilight as well. The rocks tremble beneath you eager to introduce your face with its own. Then, silence… You look around inspecting the damage, finding everyp0ny safe and sound. “Well I’ll be damned. You see you guys…” A shimmer catches your eye from one of the pits, enticing you towards it. You tell Pinkie to be careful, and now you have to fish her out of trouble. Ponies really need to listen to you more often. You kneel by the pit’s edge gazing downwards. Any normal pony would have died from that fall, but Pinkie? She’s probably skipping down there without a care in the world. Hell, she probably jumped down there just to spite you. Oh the things you’ll do to her… “Whatcha looking at?” “Just listening for Pink- Pinkie?” ”Who else would I be?” If she’s here, then what did you see over here. You look back to the hole, a pair of blue eyes staring back at you. NOPE! You thrust your arm into the darkness, stabbing the hidden changeling with your hidden blade. It lets out a shriek as it collapses back down the chasm with an audible thud. You breathe heavily, content with your work. A drip of blood escapes the tip of your blade falling after its owner. ”Ooh more friends.” You look back down again, a dozen pairs of eyes splattered with changeling blood to meet you. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE! You pull Pinkie back as a torrent of changelings erupts from the pit. The battle horn sounds as more of them spew from their cavernous home. Twilight covers you as you stand up and draw your sword. Pinkie whips out her party cannon, firing a shot in the air for good measure. The rest of the mane 6 hole up with the Princess and King, knocking away the oncoming waves. No time like the present. You charge forward, colliding with a changeling and throwing him back down the hole. Swining upwards, you catch one by surprise, spilling his intestines before you. The adrenaline… Oh does it feel good. You’re pushed forward by a changeling latching onto your back, driving his teeth into your shoulder. You grunt and knee him in the stomach, tossing him over you. He squirms under your boot as you crush his windpipe with a quick thrust. You put pressure on the wound, a steady flow of blood seeping from it. A soothing sensation shoots through you as something touches the back of your shoulder. ”Don’t stop there, I’m with you.” You thank Twilight, kicking away the corpse at your feet. Pinkie blasts away into the crowd, knocking out a handful of changelings at a time. You pull out the knives from your calf, throwing them her direction. They fly towards either side of her and strike true. Two changelings falling beside her. ”Nice throw.” “Compliment me later,” you say pulling a changeling off of one of your Erredian comrades. You go to check his pulse only to find his throat ripped out. “No time for mourning Anon,” you say to yourself searching his pack. You pull out a pair of black orbs and move back to Twilight. “Spark please.” Her horn crackles to life, igniting the fuse on your device. “Firebomb out!” You chuck the orb down a hole exploding on the head of some poor soul. A rain of fire and molten rock spews from the opening, closing up the passage. “Use your FBs! Stop the flow!” You proceed to the next hole, slamming the bomb into one of the changeling’s mouths. “Give Chrysalis my regards.” You kick him inside, ducking at the ear-ringing explosion. A green blast gets your attention as an aerial assault is taken on you. Pulling out another knife from your free arm you throw it at your attacker, slicing straight through his fragile wing. He begins spiraling and picking up speed as he falls towards you at an alarming rate. You don’t have time to escape as he crashes into you and sends you both rolling down the hill. The two of you claw and bite at the other, all the while rolling helplessly around. He grabs you and brings a rear hoof to your face, knocking your head upwards. You glimpse your destination approaching fast, but are unable to escape. He keeps his grip tight on you as you’re both pulled into the dark abyss below. You fall, likely to your death. The changeling tries to slip away, but you won’t let him off that easy. You grind his head into the stone walls, a blue mist escaping from his mouth as his teeth are torn from it. The tunnel tightens, your grinding slowing your fall, though not enough to be thankful for. You come to a chokepoint, the two of you forced into the open room beneath it. You say your final prayers, colliding with the earth. Blackness… So much blackness… Air fills your lungs as you gasp for breath. Your eyes open to find nothing more than an eternal darkness. A tiny light shimmers from above, too far to reach. You roll off the changeling underneath you, him not so lucky to survive. Small aches throb across your body, but you think you’re okay otherwise. You push yourself up and try to stand, a sickening crack forcing you back down. Tears flow from your eyes as you grasp your ankle in agony. This can’t be happening. Not now and not here. Painkillers. That’s what you need, just get some painkillers and you’ll be fine. You reach into your satchel and feel around, a cool liquid drenching the compartment. Your fears are revealed when you begin feeling shards of glass sifting in the liquid. Another throb forces your submission, making you bare your teeth and groan miserably. You can’t fight like this. You need to find a medic or doctor, someone who can fix you up. You need to find Twilight. You reach back into your satchel hesitantly, avoiding the glass shards, hoping to find anything to help you out. The pain in your leg builds as the adrenaline wears off. You’re forced to double your search efforts. Scooping out the liquid and glass makes it easier, but the darkness cloaks the location of anything vital. Your fingers touch a small stone, giving you instant relief. You pull it out and move back over to the changeling. You mask your hand in its blood and caress the stone in an attempt to activate it. The blood stone does nothing, staying as cold as it was before. You had hoped you didn’t need to use your own, but you’re out of options. You pull out your sword slightly, running your hand along the edge, a sharp pain telling you to stop. You thrust the stone upon your wound and the effect is instantaneous. The stone rumbles and warms up, a red glow appearing within. The glow spreads throughout and soon encompasses the entire mass. In a flash, the glow intensifies ten fold, filling the room with its majesty. The illumination reveals the enclosed stone walls and passages that inhabit them. Markings are carved into the walls likely by the changeling’s themselves. Pictures and places are a few of them, likely a history of their kind. Wherever you are, it seems not many enter here, the thick layer of dust giving that away. The sounds of battle are mute on your ears, whether from the distance or the battle’s finish is unclear. Whatever the case, you need to find a way to regroup with your main force. Your plan has gone to shit, and it’s time to pick up the pieces. You drag yourself to a nearby wall and grab onto whatever you can as you pull yourself up. Gently using your good leg you apply weight onto it. The crack never comes, neither does the pain thankfully. Holding onto both the wall and the blood stone you hop forwards, keeping your broken ankle suspended. You leave your satchel behind, the combination of potions sure to poison you should you attempt to consume it. You keep moving forwards, advancing deeper into the hive. The tunnels twist and turn the further you go. You’ll die of dehydration before a changeling will get to you. A shuffling makes you spin around with your back to the wall. You didn’t think about how this light would actually draw attention to yourself. Something darts across the entrance, too fast for you to see who it is. You back up, keeping your front facing the source. You feel your balance shift, waving your arms in an attempt to stay up, but it’s not enough. You collapse onto your back, sliding down some tube, a cackle echoing from above. You skid down the hollow tube, the rough sides bouncing you up and down. Your ankle gets the worst of it, thrashing wildly up and down sending tendrils of pain up your body. You reach down to grab it, your head striking against the ceiling. The force is enough to darken your sight, each second more faded than the last. The pain subsides as you drift off, lulled to sleep by the twists of the tube. You awaken with a massive thud, your stone lying next to your head. The pain from your ankle has since doubled from your fall. You bring yourself up, your hand covered in some type of moss. Raising the stone above you reveals a massive chamber with an underground spring. Moss and other foliage cover much of the rocks that you find yourself upon. You crawl over to the water’s edge and submerge your head, drawing water into your eager stomach. You pull back satisfied, wiping the water out of your eyes. You move upwards back onto one leg and move around trying to find an exit. The walls curve around seamlessly, nothing helpful to you. There’s the tunnel you fell down, but there’s now way you’d be able to reach it or climb it. This is your tomb, an underground spring, rotting alone. Fuck you too world. You throw the blood stone in a bout of anger, skipping across the water until it finally sinks to the bottom. The lake glows a dull red, shadows cast upwards. The walls become lined with the crimson color, one section a bit darker though. You focus your eyes; the walls seem to… bend? Like there’s a hole… It’s the exit! Anger you’ve done good by me again. You’re about to dive right in when a shadow pulses through the deep recesses of the water. It seem to notice you, swimming closer to the waters edge, almost enough to touch It darts away before you can get it. It’s just toying with you. A dull tone sounds from the creature, several more departing from the exit. Their cries sound in unison, creating a sort of tantalizing music. It pisses you off is what it does. They move in turn to taunt you, darting away a second before they get in your range. Well two can play that game… You draw your sword, hiding it as another one swims towards you. You thrust forward, piercing the creature’s side and withdrawing it near you. The other’s shriek when they realize what happened, but you couldn’t care the least. You plant the creature on its side, its breathing erratic as your sword spears into its lungs. Withdrawing your sword leads to the creature wheezing, followed by silence. You press your fingers to its neck, confirming its death. The lack of light doesn’t help you identify it, but your fingers are still very much useful. You move your fingers around its body, memorizing the small details about it. It’s roughly a fourth your size, about that of a filly. It has wings but they feel weak and limp. Its canines protrude from its mouth. It’s a baby changeling? You suddenly feel revolted at your behavior. You just killed a child, a changeling one, but a child nonetheless. They were just playing… and you killed them. Why did you land here of all places? You didn’t want to hurt them, you just wanted to leave. And you still need to, but you shouldn’t harm them in the process. They’ve already lost enough. You say a few prayers for the child, placing your feet inside the water at its edge. The warm water soothes your aching leg, but movement causes you to reel in pain. You’ve never swam with one leg before, but you’re going to have to try. You lower yourself further, water soaking your torso. You remove your cloak and set it on the shore, submerging yourself fully underwater. You paddle with your arms and swing your leg as you move further in. The children keep their distance from you after what you did to their sibling. They’re likely scared shitless that you’re in the water with them. You’re about halfway there when you feel your chest start to burn, the need for air arising. You probably should have dived when you reached the end. Swimming back up you breach the surface and take a deep breathe. You stay there rebuilding your stamina before you continue on. A sharp pain rings from your ankle as you feel yourself brought downwards. You instinctively strike downwards with your foot, colliding with something as you’re brought back underwater. You look down to see one of the children’s teeth sunk deep into your ankle, two more dragging you down. You flail your legs until they leave you be and detach themselves from you. The second you turn away you know they’ll be right back on you, but you can’t bring yourself to kill another. You back paddle towards the exit, the changeling children closing back in. One hits you from the side, though you’re able to smack it away with your hand. Another dives at your good foot and locks around it, teeth in your calf. It manages to slow you down, and despite your efforts to kick it off it stays latched on. The other move in at your vulnerability making you have to think fast. You bring your knee to your chest, in turn brining the kid’s head within striking distance. You punch him square in the noggin, knocking him out and letting go. The others don’t stop though as they’re tired of waiting. Gotta Go Fast! You face the exit which is closer than ever and swim forward. You bear the pain as you paddle with both of your legs and arms, increasing your speed immensely. The distance between you and your pursuers widen as you keep moving, picking up the blood stone along the way. They stop following as you enter the tunnel which turns out longer than you imagined. The burning sensation returns, but there’s no way but forwards. Your vision dims as the overwhelming pain starts to get to you. Your muscles grow weaker, your momentum dropping. Another room, inches away… Just need to get there… You float to the top reaching your hand towards the surface. A hoof reaches down to meet you, pulling you free of the aquatic grave. The cool air chills your fiery chest as you inhale all you can. “T- t- Thank you…” You flop onto your back, keeping your leg suspended in the water. The rush of adrenaline blocked out the pain, but it’ll be back soon enough. You thank your rescuer again, a pony from the looks of it. A pair of green eyes flash at you, her giggle sending chills down your back. Your vision recovers, revealing what you feared. She giggles at your expression, licking her canines. ”Did you miss me?” Chapter 8: The ExitShe places a hoof on your ankle to prevent your escape, grinding your bones against the ground. ”I asked you a question.” The pain is unbearable as you writhe on the floor. “Fu-fuck you!” ”That isn’t a way to treat your Queen now is it?” She says putting more pressure on you. You turn away, a force holding you still. ”Look at me when I speak to you.” Her eyes issue dominance, but the bags under them show her weakness. She’s definitely seen better days. This is likely the utmost she can do in her current state. She giggles again as you squirm beneath her, the nostalgic feeling of power filling her again. ”What do we have here?” She picks up the blood stone, inspecting its form. ”A blood stone huh? I’d heard of their existence, but never thought to see one myself.” She drops it nonchalantly, more concerned with you than simple relics. ”It’s not very nice coming into a person’s home and wrecking the place.” “You didn’t seem to have a problem with it.” ”Touché Anon.” She grins wickedly, “Do you not wonder why I let you live?” “I’m *cough* more useful to you alive. Isn’t that right?” ”Oh you are a clever one.” “Cut the crap. Do what you’re going to do and leave me be.” ”Good things come to those who wait, and I’ve been waiting quite a while.” She lifts her hoof and steps back giving you some breathing room. ”We’ll meet again Anon, and next time won’t be quite so joyful.” She turns her back to you, turning her head sideways. ”Both for you and Twilight.” Anger boils within you, her pompous attitude beyond irritant. You lunge at her, finding nothing but emptiness. ”Do not think you can defeat me Anon. It will save you much time.” The voice circles you, coming from all directions at once. “When I find you…” ”We’ll see Anon. Until next time.” Silence falls upon you once more. The room empty for all but you. You get up; the pain in your ankle has doubled. You hop to the exit and make your way through. This place has an unnatural heat about it, making the air humid and moist. The plants grow wild, cracking through the stone. You must have fell into their actual home. This is a breeding ground for their kind. The changelings however are nowhere to be found, likely caught up with the battle above. You need to get back there and out of this forsaken hole. You find what looks like a staircase and climb them. You’re greeted at the top with a changeling’s toothy grin. He encloses his hoof around you tightly and tosses you into the next room. He follows you shortly, laughing a familiar tune. He wrestles on top of you, biting and clawing at your vulnerable form. You get a few good punches in, and it looks like you’re going to win. He swiftly turns ninety degrees and bites into your ankle, which is more than enough to turn you into a submissive bitch. Unfortunately, it was a bit too much for you, instead sending you into a frenzy. You pull his head back with one hand and fasten your hands around his teeth with your other. You rip them out of his mouth, stabbing out his eyes. You pull him underneath you and pound away with your fists. Streams of blood jet from his mouth with each strike. One after another you pummel him relentlessly. A pair of hooves tries to pull you off, but you’re too caught up to care. He doesn’t have the strength to lift his own head anymore so you lift it for him. You pull him and strike him back down, repeating the process with precision. No mercy… ”Anon!” The voice is merely a whisper to you as you focus on the changeling. You shrug off the hooves, keeping up your beating. ”Snap outa it!” The voice is a bit louder now and your pace seems to have slowed. Your punches and jabs grow weaker as your arms succumb to exhaustion. ”ANON!” Oh god the noise! You lean back on your knees and look up the orange pony staring right back at you. “H-Hi Applejack. Nice to s-see you.” You slump backwards, Applejack catching you. ”Whoa there sugarcube, just relax.” You let yourself go, straightening back up at a thought. “How do I know you’re really Applejack?” She rolls her eyes and helps you up. ”Ya don’t. You’re gonna have ta trust me.” Sounds like something Applejack would say. ”Looks like you got a little carried away there.” “He forced me down a tube, almost made me drown, and bit me. I think he deserved it.” ”Fair enough.” You lean on her as you keep moving. “How’d you get here anyways? Is the battle over?” ”Not yet. Twilight rounded us up after she couldn’t find you. We found the entrance and split up to search for ya.” “That’s a terrible idea, it leaves you guys open for attack.” ”Have some faith there sugarcube, we can handle ourselves just fine.” “How were you able to make it through the dark alone?” you ask questionably. “These here eyes don’t only work in the day. Apple bucking is a full-time job.” You keep moving through the damp corridors trying to regroup with the others. A ceaseless voice sounds off down the tunnel, instantly identifying two things. One they aren’t a changeling. And two, you hate how much Pinkie’s voice cheers you up. You turn to greet her, but are actually met by two ponies. Pinkie Pie and Applejack. You turn to Applejack who looks beyond pissed. Applejack charges Applejack, oh boy this is confusing, and bucks her as hard as she can. You hop over to the two combatants, the real Applejack whipping the impostor up. With a final buck the impostor is forced out of its disguise, cast down on the floor. “Ain’t nothing gonna copy me.” ”Oh boi! I didn’t even know you weren’t you, until you were like SUPER angry.” Oh god make it stop. Applejack reads your mind, managing to silence her before you shut her up… permanently. Oh you know you’d never do that. She’d kill you first. ”Eeep!” You recognize that adorable cry, Fluttershy! Applejack and Pinkie Pie rush to your side as your sword. They keep you steady as Fluttershy sprints past you, taking cover behind you. Three changelings come right at you as you ready your sword. You swing with what little strength you can, striking the first one in the torso. The second lunges straight at you, but instead is met with a pointblank party cannon. The last one calculates his odds for survival and flees down the corridor, a small light coming from down the hallway. ”And where in Equestria do you think you’re going?” The light surrounds the changeling as he tries in vain to escape. Rarity waltzes down the hall with the changeling in tow. ”You scruff up my hair, chase Fluttershy away and think you can get away with it?” She slams him against the wall, knocking him out instantly. She notices your band of ponies and smiles happily. ”Nice to see you all safe and sound. It’s absolutely dreadful down here.” God damn you hate her so much… ”What happened to you?” she says examining your ankle. “I fell down some stairs.” ”You really must be more careful, let me help you.” Not in this life time. “That’s okay, I can manage for now.” ”Don’t be silly I’ll just-“ ”I think he wants to be left alone Rarity,” Applejack clarifies. She pouts after she gets the message. Nothing personal… ”We should look for Twilight, she’ll want to know we found ya safe and sound.” ”I agree, the sooner we get out of these caves the better.” The pain in your ankle is almost unbearable, even with adrenaline pumping through you, “Well then, care to help me out?” They bolster you up to keep your leg off the ground as you walk further along. ”You sure are heavy Anon.” “Maybe you’re just weak.” Applejack didn’t take too kindly to that, doubling her efforts. ”…next time I tell you to split up, take me more seriously.” ”Oh, I’m sorry Twilight, we just thought it’d be best to stick together. I mean, if that’s okay with you.” You hear Twilight’s and Fluttershy’s voices at the opposite side of the room, coming closer. ”I got your back Fluttershy, nothing’ll get you on my watch.” ”Pinkie and I will be sure to protect you darling.” That’s a lot of people, and the confrontation could get a bit awkward. You stay with the others as Twilight’s group turns the corner. They stop and stare at you all, dumbfounded by your appearance. “Nice to see you Twilight.” She moves to hug you, but holds back when she sees everyone else. ”How are you here?” “These guys found me, good thing too. I couldn’t have gotten much farther without a little help.” ”Sounds a bit too convenient to me.” “They’re clean, trust me.” ”Forgive me if I have my doubts.” You nod your head in understanding; at least she’s the real Twilight. “If you don’t mind…” you say moving on your own towards the group, using your sword as a cane. ”Not at all, but I assure you they’re the real ones.” “Ahugh. We’ll see.” You walk over to the second Pinkie Pie, stopping just in front of her. “You. When’s your birthday?” “Twenty-second of February.” “What year?” ”Every year.” Smart ass huh? Doesn’t ring any Pinkie bells. “Get out.” You punch her in the face, KOing her. Twilight watches in horror as Pinkie drops, reverting back to her regular changeling form. You go to Rarity next, making your stance extra slow for dramatic effect. “When’s your birthday?” ”Eight of May… 1969?” “You’re 37?” ”Yeah.” Rarity is not nearly that old, and she’d never admit it if she was. “Get out,” you say giving her the same treatment. She falls down, also changing back to normal. You’re two for two. Don’t fail me now brain. You walk to Fluttershy. “When’s your birthday?” ”Uhhhh,” she replies with a high pitched squeal. Nope, far too loud to be the real one. “Out!” you say making your next punch extra strong. Three for three, let’s make it a spree. You move to Rainbow Dash, giving her a devilish grin. “When’s your birthday?” ”You’ll get your answer when I’m twenty bits heavier.” You can’t help but laugh at the answer. The pain returns to your leg shifting you back to your earlier demeanor. You extend your hand towards her, giving a firm handshake. “Nice to see you Dash.” ”Likewise.” Twilight intercedes, apologizing for doubting you. “We all make mistakes, but if you wanted to thank me…” You point to your ankle which has by now swollen vastly. ”Of course. Allow me.” She presses her horn against your ankle, your leg igniting in pain. Your bones realign, muscles recovering in mere seconds. One heart pounding snap later and the pain dissipates. You place it on the ground tenderly, slowly regaining full control once more. ”That should fix you up.” You kiss Twilight on the cheek as thanks, marching firmly once more. “You all ready to get the fuck out of here?” They’re more than ready it seems. “Alright then, let’s move it out.” You hold up the blood stone as you follow the flow of the cave, hoping to find the exit. You’re led to a ravine, the walls widening as you walk along the upper path. The path is narrow, only allowing two of you to fit comfortably side by side. ”How long does this thing go?” Rainbow Dash asks. “Judging by the depth and length, pretty fucking far.” ”No one has ever mapped these caverns before; it could last for miles for all we know.” “It’s just a matter of time before we find a way out.” ”How can you be so sure? We’ve been looking for hours and haven’t seen a single one.” “Don’t you feel it? Pinkie, come on now.” ”Of course I feel it. I thought everyone did.” ”Um, I feel it too.” ”What is it?” “That slight ting of cold. The gentle breeze that wafts through the air. Feel it now?” The others stop and take in their surrounding, eyes wide with surprise. ”I do.” “It’s been growing the further we go. We can make it if we hurry up.” ”Do you guys hear that?” A sort of shuffling noise reaches you, followed by the beating of hooves. ”Finally some backup.” No, the noise is coming from behind you all, and only one thing with hooves lives down here. “We’ve got to keep moving. Now!” They soon come to the same conclusion you did and bolt for the exit. Not today changeling scum. A green blob hurls over your shoulder, exploding deeper in the cavern. The soft buzzing of winds catches your attention, causing you to look back. A few changelings are running behind you on the path, hissing and bearing their fangs. Five more are flying on the side, catching up to you regardless of your speed. ”I’ve got these guys.” Rainbow says valiantly. You tug on her tail as she tries to fly off, tossing her further along the path. “Not today sister.” You let the other ponies pass you as you backpedal down the walkway. Drawing your sword you prepare for the coming attack. The first of them lunges high as another slides down low. You roll backwards, ending up on your knees. You thrust your sword parallel to the floor, skewering the first changeling. The second lands before you, laughing at your predicament. You simple give him a smile, stopping his laugh all together. You stab him below the chin with your hidden blade, his eye going cross-eyed. You kick off of his dazed form, shooting backwards and keeping on the track. They pursuers ignore their fallen brothers, though they seem to back off for now. The flyers lay into you with their magical blasts, keeping you on your toes. They sacrifice power of speed; their bolts doing little more than zap the floor. If you had been a bit slower this tactic may have worked, but you’re able to dance around them with a little work. ”Hurry up Anon!” Applejack yells at you. You look back to see the mane 6 outside the entrance, their silhouettes visible against the sun’s rays. The changelings don’t seem to care for that idea. Their horns grow a mellow green as they charge up their attack, a large orb flying at you. You fall backwards, just barely avoiding the attack, the orb crashing into the wall. The walls begin the shake, pieces of stone collapsing from the ceiling. Oh you didn’t just do that… You pick yourself up and sprint to the exit, ignoring the pursuers chase. A chunk of stone collapses on your head, throwing you off balance, but still moving forward. You stumble a few times as you see everything turn double, then triple. The more you try to focus the more your head begins to hurt. ”Anon, get out of there!” You’re trying god dammit. One of the changelings flies in front of you in an attempt to stop you. You keep moving towards it ready to give it a fight. A crash sounds out followed by a massive boulder pummeling the creature off the walkway. That’ll teach him to- whoa boy. The path shifts violently s another orb devastates the supporting rock. You’re close now, close enough to smell the fresh air beckoning you. You leap forward as the path collapses underneath you, the next section growing unsteady. Twilight attempts to hold the entrance open, but is barely hanging on. Another rush of shattered stone closes up more of the exit, leaving only a tiny portion left. ”Anon!” You fall as your legs buckle underneath you. Your weight causes you to slide down the incline. You manage to hold onto the edge, “I’m not giving up on you.” A brief feeling of weightlessness leaves you hanging in the air, Twilight and the mane 6 at the cliff beside you. “Get outside now.” ”We’re not going to leave you behind.” Another section collapses, leaving barely enough room to escape. “I’m not going to fit, go now while you can.” ”I won’t leave you again.” Her determination is going to get her in trouble, just not today. “I know.” You reach forward with your hand, flicking her on the horn, sending you spiraling back down into darkness. You guide yourself against the ravine walls as it begins to bottom out. You begin decelerating, eventually petering out to a brisk descent. Your descent reaches an anticlimactic end as you lay stomach to the floor. No new injuries, cuts, breaks or anything to speak of, just fatigue. Is it just you, or is the floor really comfortable? Yeah it’s just you. Shards of stone soon reach you, though none are big enough to do any damage. A grinding sound reaches you, two surfaces rubbing violently. You swear to god if it’s what you think it is… The sound slows the closer it gets. A gasp comes from behind you followed by the galloping of hooves. ”Anon?” You groan as she interrupts your little mini nap. Can’t a man just rest in the bowels of a hostile race’s lair anymore? Twilight runs over and inspects you, worried about how much you’re injured. ”Don’t move everything will be okay.” “I didn’t plan on it.” She prods you gently across your body, asking if anything hurt. Nope, nope, and, you guessed it, nope. ”We need to get out of here,” she says levitating your blood stone back over to you. The light has dulled substantially, incapable of clearing the room of its dark tone. “I know, it’s just… this floor feels so damn good.” ”Take this seriously. Who knows how many changelings are down here?” “Enough to know how to make a nice stone floor.” ”Anon…” “Alright alright, just give me a minute okay? She sighs and lies beside you. ”You weren’t lying, this feels so good.” “I know right?!” Both of you lie on the barren floor, enjoying each other’s company. ”Anon?” “Yeah Twilight?” ”If we make it out of here-“ “When. When we make it out.” ”What’s going to happen? “I haven’t really thought about it that much. Not much I think. They’ll send in another team to get Chrysalis. Upon their success our countries will try to pick up what’s left from the war.” ”I didn’t mean for them. I meant for us.” “Typical woman, concerned with the little things.” She scowls at you jokingly, and you return with a chuckle. “That I have had some thoughts about.” “The thing with me and Luna? Yeah, that’s no good. She can barely stand to be around me, though she has warmed up to me a little, and I cannot stress that last part enough.” ”Warmed up?” “Little.” She also laughs, but still fairly serious. “I don’t see it going anywhere. We’d both be better off without the marriage. I’m thinking of having it annulled.” ”Can you do that?” “In fact I can. We never consummated out marriage, which in my culture is grounds for annulment.” ”But, you’d have to leave. Equestria wouldn’t be your home anymore.” “Unless I got married to another member of royalty.” ”Celestia doesn’t want to be bogged down with marriage, she said as much.” “I never said it had to be Celestia.” ”But who else is there?” You close your eyes and shake your head waiting for her to figure it out. For all her smarts she overlooks the obvious. You wouldn’t have her any other way. Something stings into your back, another force pressed onto your spine. The wound grows hot as it pulls your mind from you. ”Anon,” she looks atop of you and gasps. You try to move, but are pinned down helplessly. “Get… off…” ”Such a meal. I haven’t had one quite so tasty before.” Twilight casts something at her, but is deflected with ease. She cackles maniacally driving slightly deeper into your back. Everything starts to go fuzzy, images blurring together, strength fading. ”Just a few more seconds my dear, then it’ll all be over.” Your heart begins to slow as you feel your very life drawn out of you. “You will not take Anon from me.” Twilight charges into Chrysalis, both disappearing in a bout of green and purple flame. There you lie, weakened and alone, only the blood stone’s soft glow to keep you company. Chapter 9: Misson's EndYou move to get up, the sting in your back making it a chore. You feel like shit, like everything you had was taken from you, leaving only a morsel of your life left. When you find Chrysalis you’ll make her- You fall back down, your arms buckling beneath you. You won’t do anything in this state. The soft buzzing of wings dampens your spirits as two changelings land beside you. Their heavy breathing leads you to believe they aren’t in the best shape either. Even still, you’re in no shape to take either of them on. They walk over to you, each step bringing you closer to your fate. They stop inches from you, snapping and speaking in their native tongue. One brings their head down to yours and bears its teeth. Well fuck you too world. The second fires a blast at your aggressor. He falls over, a hole now where his chest used to be. You crawl away, the changeling with you every step of the way. You grab your blood stone before he can kick it away, hiding it under your chest. He kicks you onto your back, grinning malevolently. His form cracks and fizzles as he takes a more suiting image. One of your father. ”Weak, just as I knew you were.” He kicks you again, using both physical and psychological torment. ”You never were a son of mine. Nothing more than a mistake.” He strikes against your skull, forcing you back on your stomach. ”How does it feel to be a disappointment?” He presses his knee into your spine, leaning his head next to yours. ”Well?” “Feels good.” He slams your head against the floor, though you block it with your arm. “What’s the matter? Can’t finish a wounded opponent?” Your words do well to anger him, making his attempts sloppy but strong. He places his fingers in your wound, extending and twisting against your fleshy walls. ”You’re swine! Nothing more!” “Swine huh?” you mutter, the pain making speech difficult, “Better than trash.” He raises his hands to hit you again, giving you the time you need. As he brings down his fists you forcefully roll to the side out from under his knee. He strikes the floor, the cracking of bones music to your ears. The impostor howls in pain, cursing and muttering profanities at his carelessness. ”Come back here you coward!” Her morphs again, reverting back to his regular form. Apparently he already forgot about his injury. He instantly falls onto his knees, his hooves shattered from his previous injury. The changeling nurses his hooves, completely ignoring you and allowing you to go on the offensive. You work onto your knees and lean back, withdrawing the blood stone. “Sorry about this old fella.” You smash the stone against the floor the sound ringing through the ravine. The stone stays whole, but in turn catches the changeling’s attention. He clicks violently. Even if you don’t know what he said, you know he’s pissed. You bring the stone down again and again in an effort to destroy it. The changeling scooting closer and closer, a waiting game for him. After another smash the stone seems to crack, a red mist seeping out of it. The cloud flows around your hand, penetrating your skin with a slight sting. It works its way up your arm, its essence invigorating all it embodies. Strength returns to you, if only slightly. Enough to give you a fighting chance. You pound away, more and more of the mist spilling out. His horn glows green as he finally reaches you, hand high for the final blow. The stone completely shatters as you bring it down, the flood of red bathing you in its glory. He rests his horn on your head, seconds from his devastating finisher. With renewed strength you thrust your fist upwards, hitting him in the jaw and casting his head to the ceiling. The orb flies out of his horn, travelling outwards away from you. “Now who’s the swine?” You stand up and wrap your arm around his neck, pinning him in your armpit. He bucks with his back legs, but only manages to hit air. You pull upwards and keep his head low, snapping his spine. He falls from your grasp completely paralyzed from the neck down. “Next time, just kill me outright.” You walk away with some of your strength restored, but still not at 100%. The defeated creature clicks a few times as your back is turned to it. He should have taken your advice. In a final act of defiance the changeling charges up another blast, the green glow giving him away. You draw your sword and turn to make short work of him. As you approach, you realize he’s not holding back, using every ounce of his energy to defeat you. It’s not a projectile he’s charging, it’s a bomb. You turn and sprint as fast as your feet can carry you dropping your sword in the mess. The light intensifies, a shockwave bellowing from his location as the bomb detonates. The blast accelerates faster than you do, catching up quickly. You take cover behind some rocks in a last ditch effort to escape the explosion. Flame engulfs you in your final moments, green the last thing you see. Or so you thought. You open your eyes seconds later, greeted by the looming darkness. The familiar stone walls do not invoke fear, merely curiosity. “Don’t think you’d get off that easily.” You back away from Chrysalis as she walks towards you. ”I thought I had left you for dead, I see I was wrong.” “You won’t get a chance to try again.” She laughs, “We’ll see about that.” A third voice follows, “No we won’t.” Twilight steps out from the shadows, slightly bruised and worn. “I won’t give you that chance.” “Twilight stay back. She wants you to attack her again.” ”Then she’ll get it.” Twilight lunges at Chrysalis who merely smiles and disappears in her murky flame. ”You might have stood against me evenly before, but now that I have taken Anon’s love, you stand no chance.” Her voice circles you teasingly, tearing down your will. “Your overconfidence is your weakness.” ”Your faith in your friends is yours.” Twilight returns next to you, glancing about the room, “We’ll stand strong, you won’t overtake us.” ”Then I might have to split you apart.” “What are you-“ Spirals of green flame overtake Twilight, closing in on her, “Twilight!” You reach towards her, the flames forcing you to back off. ”Don’t fall for her tricks, Anon. I’ll be back for you!” A portal appears beneath her, sucking her into the earth and away from view. You’re left alone once more, though you can’t help but feel watched. ”Alone at last. Oh Anon, how I missed you.” You stick to your stance, knowing she could strike at any moment. ”That isn’t very nice of you, here let’s just change that demeanor of yours.” A green bullet tears through the air striking you in the elbow. It seeps right through your armor, sending shivers up your arm. You begin to lose feeling in your arm, not control just feeling. ”Isn’t that relaxing, let it flow into you.” Another strikes your thigh and neck the chilling calm seeping into you. It feels so right… You just want to lie down and… “No!” you scream resisting the temptation, “You won’t will me down.” “Disappointing, but a bit premature. We’ll see if you can live up to that statement.” Silence follows with her seeming departure. “Chrysalis?” No response, just silence. “Anon?” Twilight’s voice calls from down the hall. ”I’m coming Anon.” You wait for ‘Twilight’, sticking to your stance. She enters the chamber, giving you a look of curiosity and relief. ”I thought I’d lost you.” “I’m sure you did.” She steps closer, only for you to step back. ”Anon it’s me, Twilight. I said I’d be back.” “You also said not to fall for her tricks, and I plan on doing that.” ”You don’t trust me…” “I can’t trust you, you should understand that.” She nods her head, “I do. I could be Chrysalis in disguise. You wouldn’t be able to know.” You stare at each other awkwardly, each unsure on how to act. “Where’d you end up?” ”After I was teleported, just down the hall strangely enough. Seems like a waste of magic to me.” “Yeah, Chrysalis would be pretty stupid to do that.” ”Indeed she would.” You ponder her answer, not swaying your opinion either way. You hoped this would be easier. ”How’re you here?” she asks, “I thought she drained you of your strength.” “Blood Stone. Use it for light, destroy it for life. Basics of course.” ”I’m sure it’s much more complex. I’d like to have studied it.” “It’s magic, doesn’t have to explain shit.” She laughs, “Sounds like Pinkie alright.” Yeah, Pinkie… You wonder how they’re doing… ”They’re safe Anon, they left before the cave collapsed.” “You know how I feel about you reading my mind.” She shakes her head, “It doesn’t take magic to know what you were thinking.” That sounds like the Twilight you know. Maybe she’s the real one after all. ”H-help me…” The soft voice turns your attention away from her and towards the other end of the room. A second Twilight enters, her wounds… it pains you to see. “Anon…” *cough* A dribble of blood rolls out of her mouth as she stumbles towards you. Not to Twilight… ”Anon, wait it’s a trick!” She’s not fooling you now. You rush over to her, catching her as she falls. She can barely lift her hooves they’re so weak. The changelings… No force in the world can protect them from you… ”You *cough cough* came.” “I said I would.” ”Anon listen to me that’s not me, Twilight.” She speaks from behind you, your arms reaching around the wounded mare. She flinches as you touch her wounds, reeling back from the pain. You feel her pain, every cut and scratch. You did this to her, just like Chrysalis said you would. Her death is on your hands. Only you had that kind of power. Tears form in her eyes as she hugs you, clinging onto you for dear life. You stroke her blood-splattered mane reassuringly. “It’s going to be alright, I’m here now.” ”Tha- nk you.” ”I’m telling you Anon, that’s Chrysalis! She’s trying to trick you,” she continues to rattle on, desperately trying to sway your judgment. You look back at her with scorn, still holding onto the wounded Twilight. How could she be so naïve? Your anger turns into a slight grin as you scratch Twilight behind the ear. “I know.” Your hidden blade pierces the back of her skull, driving straight into her head. Her eyes go wide as you twist it mercilessly. “Overconfidence is your weakness,” you say gripping onto her mane. She bucks wildly with enough strength to knock you away. Twilight helps you back up as Chrysalis’s form shifts uncontrollably. Her blood shifts from blue to green to red seamlessly as she tries to focus on one form. ”Im- poss…” She falls to the floor, her blood coating the cold stone. She spasms, losing full control of her bodily functions. “Have a little faith Twilight. I’m not as dumb as I look.” You watch as the light fades from her green luminescent eyes, leaving them barren and lifeless. “May you rot in the bowels of Tartarus for all eternity.” Twilight latches onto you, and you hug her all the same. You teased her with your mistrust. You made her think she’d lost you. ”If you ever do that again I’ll kill you.” You tighten your hold, keeping her as close as possible. “Never…” Back home… Your arm feels almost weightless without your gauntlet on, the extra weight something you grew used to. You tug on your folds and peer outwards once more, looking over the crowd. Luna sits on the balcony, everwatching for trouble, but you suspect she’s not just here on business. The mane 6 stand across from you, healthy as can be now that they’re back to civilized life. Flash stands beside you, being there for you through your ordeal. You find your father in the crowd with a dozen bodyguards surrounding him. He wasn’t willing to part ways with you after the war, but he accepted your wishes. You nod to him, who firmly nods back, maybe even happy for you. Who knows what goes on in that brain of his? “I would guess many things.” You laugh and turn to Celestia, standing above you. “Still the snoopy one I see.” She smiles kindly, “He’s proud of you.” “Somehow I think that’s a stretch.” ”He doesn’t agree, but he is. You’re doing what you wish to do, not what he wills.” “I only hope this works out better than last time.” ”I’m sure it will.” The chirping of birds signals the start, and you look down to the entrance. “Beautiful…” She walks down the aisle, her head flushed with embarrassment. You share her feelings, but stave off blushing, at least in front of your father. The fillies perform their flower display, skipping happily down the aisle. Shining Armor stands at her side, escorting her down to meet you. He shakes your hand, “Treat her good you hear?” “Always and forever.” He stands behind Flash, taking his place among your fellows. Twilight steps up beside you, smiling like a little school girl. “You ready?” She nods happily, barely containing her excitement. Celestia takes this as her cue, clearing her throat to gain everyp0nies attention. ”Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Twilight Sparkle and Prince Anon of Glaemar.” Finally the moment that you’ve been waiting for is here. The most important decision of your life, and you wouldn’t change it for the world. “Love is a special kind of magic, one that cannot simply be broken or torn. It is stronger than any armor, and will outlast the world itself. These two find themselves under its spell, and even the test of war was unable to shake its hold. The strength of their commitment is clear. The power of their love, undeniable. Twilight Sparkle, do you take Prince Anon to be your husband, to care for and cherish, in sickness and in health?” Her smile could brighten the cosmos itself, ”I do.” ”And do you, Prince Anon, take Twilight Sparkle to be your wedded wife, to care for and cherish in sickness and in health?” You only hesitate a second, the repercussions and what-ifs flying through your mind. Ehh, fuck it. “I do.” ”May we have the rings please?” Spike raises them, Celestia placing them on you and Twilight. “I hereby pronounce you husband and wife.” They cheer as you kiss Twilight, eyes cast away at Rainbow Dash’s sonic rainboom. ”I love you Anon.” You hug her, tears running onto your back. “I love you too Twilight.”And they lived happily ever after… The End. You toss down your quill in triumph, giving your hand a soothing rub from its throbbing agony. It’s about damn time you jotted all this down. ”Twilight! I finally finished it!” She butts into your room, looking over your shoulder. ”So you did, well let’s have a look.” She levitates the book away from you, reading it as you follow her. The two of you lie down on the couch, snuggling up next to the fireplace. ”Anon dear…” “Yes?” you reply expectantly. ”Stick to your day job.” You smile and rub her swollen belly. Today was a good day. ”Are you sure? We don’t have to if you don’t want.” “I’m sure Twilight. I’ve seen your home and you’ve always wanted to see mine. I promise this won’t be like my last surprise.” ”You know it won’t be good for… well…” You give her a hug and help her onto the boat. “I promise, I’ll do whatever I can to protect the two of you.” She smiles and leans into you, her legs having trouble standing for two. “All aboard!” You find your room, a nice sized cabin at the stern of the ship. She sits onto the bed, fatigued from her journey. “The journey is by far the best part.” You find the small balcony just outside your cabin and watch as you sail away from Equestria. ”How does it look?” “Beautiful.” You grip the railing as an ache forms in the center of your skull. “Is it just me or is everything really bright?” You lean on the rails and grab your sword tight, the pain getting worse. ”Are you alright Anon?” You try to respond but an agonizing rush catches your voice. All you can manage is a groan. ”Anon! I’m coming.” As you step forward you trip on the slippery floor, your vision fading into white. You await the hard wooden boards, instead met by damp grass and dirt. “T-Twilight?” You look around, the boat gone, instead you find yourself in what looks like the Everfree Forest. Twilight, where is she?! Voices come from nearby and you pick yourself up. You track them down, five men on an open field. They’re not Erredians, they’re not big enough, though the guy in the burnt shirt has the muscle. You eavesdrop on their conversation, mainly just bickering. They seem to be just about as confused as you are. They’re in the same boat as you, you don’t know how you know, but you do. These men look dangerous, but you don’t sense that they’d do you harm. ”Yeah, and it’s the same as every other guy here if I’m correct,” the big one barks. “Except for me,” the guy in the jacket replies. “Do what your brother said and shut up. I’m trying to figure this shit out.” You step out from hiding. “That’s something I’d like to hear.” Author's Note Once again, the very end of the story, preceded by the three space gap, leads to another story.
Chapter 1: NegotiationsThe wagon comes to a complete stop. ”What is your business here?” The driver’s voice is harsh, the journey’s length wearing down upon him. “We come from the kingdom of Erreda, across the Erin Sea. We have business with your Queen.” Princess, you dumbass. Business with the Princess. ”There is no queen here, be on your way.” ”I don’t take orders from some guard.” You sigh and stand up, stepping out of the wagon’s rear. ”Leave now, I will not say so again.” You fasten your cloak and walk towards the front. ”We’re going forward with or-“ “Silence Acus! Not a word more.” He shuts his trap before he gets you in deeper shit. ”You lead this Caravan?” “Yes sir I do. I am Sir Anon of Glaemar, I apologize for my fellows behavior.” ”What is your business, Anon of Glaemar?” “I come at the behest of my lord, King John. I serve as his emissary to discuss relations between our two kingdoms.” You look back towards your driver who bows his head in shame. “I believe my comrade has something he’d like to say.” You stare him down; spite lies heavy on his words. ”Apologies sir.” ”Apology accepted,” the guard says pleased at his disdain. “I don’t mean to keep you, but could we continue on? “Yes sir, but I must ask that your friends wait outside.” You nod, flicking a platinum bit to Acus. “Don’t spend it all in one place.” The guard smiles and steps aside. ”Welcome to Canterlot.” You pass through the checkpoint and into the city. For the most part the ponies pay you no mind. They seem to be more concerned with their own affairs than a foreigner. A few scoff at you in disgust, but it never turns into anything more than that. These rich snobs are exactly the sort of people you wanted to avoid. Their lives revolve around wealth, nothing more. What things you would do to them… You’re stopped by an elderly couple who pass in front of you. “Excuse me.” ”Sorry sonny I didn’t see you there.” “It’s quite alright sir. Have a nice day.” ”You too,” he says walking off. Gotta love old people. They may smell weird, but they’re respectful. That’s more than you can say for everyone else. ”Watch where you’re going!” Speaking of which… You turn to the commotion, the couple and some noble in a confrontation. ”I’m very sorry sir.” ”Sorry? That’s all you have to say? This is worth more than you in blood you hear me!” They’re obviously scared of him, but they stand their ground nonetheless. A few guards notice the trio, but keep to themselves. Some guards they are. ”Please, we meant no harm. I’m sure-“ ”Don’t give me that hogwash. I’ll have you pay for every bit you’ve cost me.” Walking between them, you interject yourself into their conversation, “Is there a problem here?” The noble runs his eyes over you, his disapproval prevalent. ”What rock did you crawl from under?” You ignore his remark. “Is this man bothering you two?” ”Well, we’re partly to blame…” How modest. ”Can’t even own up the blame. Go back to the lower districts where you belong.” This guy just won’t shut up. “If you have a problem with them, you have a problem with me. Are we clear? ”You won’t intimidate me welp.” You visibly run your hand over your sword, maintaining eye contact. “Are we clear?” A small bead of sweat runs down his face. ”Crystal.” “Good.” You turn and look at the crowd that has gathered. “Nothing to see here folks. Go on with your business.” They disperse, the noble fleeing in the mess. ”Oh thank you. Thank you so much.” “No problem, just keep those eyes open okay?” ”Will do,” he laughs. You head up the street having done your good deed for the day. The streets grow barren the closer you get to the castle. Less civilians, but more guards. They watch you like a hawk. You’ll have to mind your manners. ”Business?” the gatekeeper asks. “Royal. I request audience with your Princess.” The guard looks at you questionably. You reach into your satchel, the guards preparing themselves to your amusement. You pull out a scroll with the Erreda insignia molded onto it. “Deliver this to your princess. That should grant me an audience.” The gatekeeper nods his head to a fellow guard who takes the scroll from you. ”Just following protocol.” “I understand.” The guard heads through the gate and into the grounds, leaving you with the rest of his unit. Awkward is an understatement for how you felt. The guards stare at you, and you just stare right back. Just a few more days and you’ll be headed back home. This place doesn’t sit right with you, it’s too nice. You can appreciate a certain degree of it, but it’s strangely overabundant in this land. It’s almost too good to be true. The gate creaks open, the messenger nodding towards the gatekeeper. ”You’re clear to proceed.” You take a step forward, the guard blocking your path. ”However, we must ask you to relinquish your weapons.” “Yeah yeah, protocol and all I get it.” You undo the straps binding your sword and hand it to the guard. Kneeling down, you withdraw both knives from your calves, tossing them in front of him. ”Anything else?” “Just give me a second alright,” you reply jokingly. You reach into your sleeves, untying the leather bonds inside. After a few more straps the gauntlet falls loosely off your arm, its blade secure within. You hand it over, the last of your weapons taken from you. “I expect those to be as good as I left them.” ”They’ll be safe with us.” Somehow you doubt that very much. You shouldn’t keep royalty waiting so you step through the gate and into the courtyard. You head straight for the door, the guards opening it for you. You thank them and go inside the castle. The walls stretch upwards making you feel small in comparison. It’s a bit too shiny for your taste. You enjoy a more rustic feel compared to the regal nature this one exudes. ”So you’re the foreigner we’ve been expecting?” You turn to look at the purple pony addressing you. “I believe I am. Pleasure to meet you Miss…” ”Sparkle, but call me Twilight.” “As you wish Twilight.” She leads you down the hallway. ”How was your trip if you don’t mind me asking?” “Uneventful.” ”I’m sorry to hear that.” “Peace is a luxury, not a burden. I welcome it with open arms.” ”Oh, I thought that your people… never mind.” She didn’t need to say it, you got the picture. Sad to say, but she’s actually correct. Your kind wouldn’t have gotten this far without their violent demeanor. The two of you enter a large circular chamber. A fire burns at each side of the room, a stone table lying in the middle. ”The princesses should be here shortly. Please take a seat.” You do so, Twilight sitting at the side. There you sit, twiddling your thumbs until they arrive. You go over your lines in your head, recalling the do’s and don’ts of diplomacy. The king was fairly vague about what action he wanted you to take. Who knows what goes on in that brain of his? ”I would guess many things.” You stand and bow. “Princess Celestia, it is an honor to meet you.” ”Please, sit. We have much to discuss.” You perform a quick survey, finding one princess less than you had expected, “I was led to believe that Princess Luna would be joining us.” ”She had a prior engagement to attend. You understand.” “Of course. So,” you say straightening up, “Shall we start?” ”Agreed, and for the record what is your name?” “Anon. I’ll be acting as King John’s emissary in his stead.” ”Anon. A curious name. What does it mean?” No one’s asked you that before. You didn’t even ask that. “I don’t know. Now onto the terms…” ”Why did he choose you?” Celestia interrupts you once again. Her questions… do not quite make sense. You had figured she would be well prepared for these diplomatic meeting, but it appears she would rather chat. If only that was your purpose. “Excuse me ma’am?” ”Why are you here? It’s a simple question.” This is seriously annoying. “I was asked to.” ”Why?” “Why do you care?” you snap at her. The room falls silent after your outburst. It’s not like you to go off the handle like that. “Apologies, I didn’t mean to lose my temper.” ”Accepted. Do you still care to know why?” You nod embarrassed at your lack of control. ”You interest me Sir Anon of Glaemar. More than the others of your kind.” “How did you know- I never spoke my title.” She smiles lightly, “You didn’t need to.” The gears in your head begin to turn before you realize what she means. “Tampering with a person’s mind is not an act I’d call friendly.” ”I had to be sure I could trust you, now I can.” “You hand out your trust too willingly princess. That’ll turn against you one day.” ”Perhaps,” she nods with a smile, “but you… I can trust you.” You lean back in your seat. “No. You really can’t.” You clear your head and focus on the present. “Can we please focus on the task at hand? Every second is precious.” ”You’re right,” she says pulling out the scroll from earlier. ”Did you get a chance to read this?” “No, it was strictly for your eyes only.” She nods and hands it over to Twilight. “‘Princess Celestia, I, King John, the ruler of the Erreda and its provinces, greet you. My forefathers were all rulers of Erreda and now I have taken the throne. Upon the excavation of my father’s archives, I learned of your dealings with both him and those before. I wish to continue this bond between our two nations.’ This is wonderful news princess. There’s so much we could learn.” ”Please continue Twilight…” ”As a symbol of our cooperation, I would like to propose a… Marriage?” Marriage? That is unheard of. Other cultures perhaps, but the people of Erreda are proud, even to a fault. What is that old man thinking? “Go on…” ”…between our two families. Anon will provide any information you require about our available bachelors. I hope for a speedy reply. ~King John.” You’re utterly speechless at this. The king has made some wacked out decisions before, but this? This is crossing the line. Celestia glances to the unicorn, “What do you think Twilight?” “I don’t know what to say. This wasn’t something I thought would happen.” ”And you?” she asks, her eyes trained on you. You clear your throat and straighten back up. “It’s my King’s wish, and I must help in whatever way I can.” Even if you don’t agree with him, that doesn’t give you the right to disobey him. ”I believe we can make this work,” Celestia states. ”Princess!” Twilight blurts out, her manners lost in her shock. “I have negotiated with his kind before besides, this could be better for us in the long run.” ”I understand that, but doesn’t this seem a bit ridiculous to you?” ”Yes it does, but it will help bring our two nations together. It’s for the best.” Seems you and Twilight are the only ones that find this fishy. ”I trust you princess.” You were hoping they would have rejected the idea, but alas there goes your weekend… “I offer my full cooperation. My knowledge is yours.” Celestia smiles, “I’ll hold you to that.” Three hours later and you’re beat. ”I think that should do it for tonight, don’t you agree?” “Whatever you say princess.” ”Twilight, could you lead Anon out?” ”Of course. Follow me.” The two of you leave the chamber, Celestia staying behind to look through the list you presented her. Hopefully she finds one of them to her liking, but who knows. ”Celestia has arranged a room for you to stay in the city.” “That was nice of her, but I’d like to stay with my men. They get a little rowdy without supervision.” ”I’ll have her know. May I ask you something?” “Anything.” ”Those people you listed… How are they really? I could tell you were focusing on their positive traits.” “I wouldn’t touch them with a ten foot stick if that’s what you’re asking, but they’re John’s heirs, so I have to make them sound upstanding.” ”That bad?” she sighs. “Things will get interesting once everything’s said and done.” The two of you reach the gate. ”Your equipment sir.” You thank him and begin stowing your weapons. ”You certainly came prepared,” Twilight says. “I’m just a soldier, this is nothing for me.” ”Wait… Why did your King send a soldier as his emissary?” “Maybe I’m just that charming ey?” you reply with a wink. She rolls her eyes playfully. ”Oh no, you hath swept me off my feet,” she jokes. “No such luck yet I’m afraid.” You finish tying your gauntlet and look back to Twilight. “I guess I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow?” ”Until then, Sir Anon of Glaemar.” “Please, just Anon will do.” Her grin almost finds its way upon you, ”Good night Anon.” You walk through the barren streets, the night’s breeze flowing through your hair. You tip your head to the city guard as you pass outside the city’s walls. ”Night sir.” You ask him where your friends disembarked. He points to an inn just outside, shadows thrashing about within. “I told him one thing, and he fucks that up too.” ”Need some help?” “No,” you reply with barely contained frustration, “I’ve got this.” You swing the door open, one of your men falling face first into the ground. You kick him in the gut and step over his bellowing form. Tables are thrown about and torn apart, some of your fellows engaged in a bar fight. Placing two fingers in your mouth, you release an ear piercing whistle, silencing the lot of them. “Form up!” you shout, the drunken buffoons lazily getting in line. You walk down the line taking count, all but one present. “Where the hell is Acus?” You hear some commotion on the second level and head upstairs. You bring your head up to one of the doors, muffled sobs coming from inside. Pulling your head back, you kick open the door, Acus holding down a mare on a bed. “I said form up!” He staggers over, towering above you, ale heavy on his breath. ”And what if I don’t?” You smile, kneeing him hard in the groin. “That.” You kick him down the stairs and look at the traumatized mare. “Did he… you know…” She shakes her head, tears rolling down her face. “Get somewhere safe now. This is no place for a young lady to be.” She jumps out the window and flies off, hopefully back home. You head downstairs yourself, making sure to stomp extra loud. “I don’t expect a lot from you, but this? This crosses every line I made.” Acus rolls into line, trying his best to stand up straight. “I asked for good ol’ soldiers, and what do I get? A bunch of inbred heathens trying to fuck anything that moves. Acus bows his head in shame. “I’ve dealt with insubordinate troops, but right now, I don’t want to deal with it.” There’s too much shit going on for this to be added on as well. “Pack up and head home, all of you. You’re not going to be my headache on this trip.” You already have one as it is. One of the soldiers breaks rank, “But sir…” “Shut it. Pack up. Leave… Now!” They stand there like a bunch of brain-dead manticores. “Did I fucking stutter? Git!” Finally they start moving, picking up their junk and fixing what they broke. One by one they head out the door, leaving the place devoid of life besides you and the barkeep. ”Thanks for that. They made quite a ruckus.” “If you want to pay me back you could offer me a room.” He’s happy to oblige, handing you a key. “Also, you may need a new door for room B. I may have broken it.” ”With what they paid me, I can renovate this whole darnn place.” “One platinum bit right?” ”Yeah, how did you know?” Their death will be slow and painful. “Lucky guess.” You walk back upstairs, avoiding the piles of vomit. The door you broke is almost completely off its hinges. You unlock the next door and head inside. You once again take off your multitude of weapons, stowing them next to your bed. You consider undressing, but find that your fucks given meter has reached zero. That’s an all-time low for you. You lie down and blow out the lantern. The bed itself is grainy and several lumps dig into your backside. It’s one of the most comfortable things you’ve ever slept on. You close your eyes and drift into a nice slumber. Morning comes a bit quicker than you’d like, but there’s no avoiding that. The barkeep brought up some towels and directed you to the washroom. It’s nice to talk to someone who’s not a total ass. Finishing your wash you dry off and gear back up. You thank the barkeep and walk outside, a construction crew approaching. He wasn’t shitting about renovating the whole place. You pass the guard on the way back inside. You wonder if that guy ever sleeps. The ponies keep their distance from you like before. It seems after your incident yesterday, they’ve taken more precautions to you. You don’t spot the old couple which dims your day already. They aren’t here to appeal to you, so you can’t hold it against them. The gatekeeper is still there with a cold face. “Geez don’t you guys take a break?” You quickly hand over your weapons and enter the grounds. Twilight meets you at the doors like before. ”Good morning Anon. How was your night?” “You don’t want to know.” She takes your word for it and both of you go back to the chamber. “Did Celestia come to a decision yet?” “She hasn’t finalized her choice, though she did say that she had eliminated some of the choices.” Thank the heavens, the sooner all of you can get this done, the sooner you can take the first ship back home. “Well that’s good to hear.” Celestia enters after a few minutes of waiting. ”Good morning you two, I hoped you had a pleasant rest.” ”He doesn’t want to talk about it.” “Not that I have to say anything.” ”I will respect your privacy.” A benevolent leader, say it ain’t so. “So shall we get down to brass tacks?” They look confused at the phrase. You really need to cut back on the phrases. “Down to business,” you clarify, “Where are we on the candidates?” Celestia brings out the list and sets it before you. “Alright let’s see here…” All the names are crossed out, well that was... unexpected. “These are the only available choices. You have to pick one.” ”No I don’t. They are not acceptable.” You can’t let this deal go under. King John doesn’t take too kindly to those who resist him. One of them has to go through. “Why not Roland? He’s a distinguished soldier with several commendations for valor. ”He has a short temper and drinks heavily as well.” Fair enough. His knack for getting into bar fights is well known. “Brock. He’s quiet and doesn’t drink. That’s something.” ”Yes, but his accounts of theft and burglary are many.” Right again. She isn’t making this easy on you. Your own personal loathing of them is probably what tipped her off. You go down the list, name per name, each one disqualified. “How about Kirk?” ”Do you really need to ask?” “Well I don’t know what else to say. That’s all of his heirs from top to bottom.” ”You know, you said before that I couldn’t trust you. At the time I didn’t know what you meant.” Twilight perks up at the change of direction. ”Now I can understand why. I reviewed that list, and sent my findings to your King. He wrote something particularly interesting in his reply. Do you know what that is?” You could take a guess. “The list wasn’t as complete as you made it out to be.” ”Who was missing?” Twilight asks. Does she really have to ask? I thought she was being pretty clear. ”The Prince of Glaemar, though we know him as Sir Anon. Isn’t that right?” You sigh, rubbing your temples. “Yeah… It is…”
Chapter 2: Cool Off”You’re a prince?” ”Indeed he is Twilight Sparkle.” Not- If there’s one thing you don’t like doing, it’s having to explain the peculiarities of your situation. “Barely, most don’t see me as an heir at all.” ”Do explain,” Celestia says egging you on. You really don’t want to talk about this stuff, there’s a reason you kept your identity a secret. ”You’re safe to speak to us, we will not judge you.” Sure, that’s what they all say. “Have either of you seen humanoids before?” Twilight shakes her head. You expected that, she seems far too young to have met your kind before. ”I have, yes,” Celestia answers. Another successful guess, her dealings should make her familiar with others of your race. “Well, you should be able to tell the difference between me and the others.” ”What’s so different about him?” Twilight asks curiously. Celestia tries to hide her smile, but fails, horribly you might add. ”He’s shorter.” You furrow your brow in irritation. No judging your ass. “The Erredian people stand at a height of eight to nine feet tall. I on the other hand stand at a measly 6 feet, and the differences don’t stop there.” You stand up, displaying yourself like a puppet. “My bones and muscles are weaker than that of my brethren, but I’m also smarter. Not genius smart mind you, but more so than those bumbling buffoons.” ”So if it wasn’t for your royal blood…” “I’d be an outcast, a freak to my own people. My father saved me, but I was always his least favorite son.” All you wanted to do was impress him… “My brothers teased me of this, so I picked up the sword and became a soldier. I’m a damn good one at that, but no matter how I tried I could never earn my father’s favor.” ”But he asked you to act as his Emissary. He obviously cares for you.” You chuckle softly at Twilight’s naivety. “He sent me to get me out of the way. Besides, my even-temper made me the best choice for a negotiator. I’m the end slice of bread no one wants but uses when out of options.” You sit back down, finished with your little spiel. ”Is that what you think of yourself?” Celestia asks questionably. “Don’t make me add pretentious to my list of traits,” you joke, anger subsided. ”I like you Prince Anon,” Celestia states, “What do you think Twilight Sparkle?” ”I think that’s quite a story, but you already know what I think.” You swear to Tartarus if they’re going where you think they are… “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’d rather not-“ Celestia hushes you, “It’s your king’s wish, and you must help in whatever way you can. This is what you said.” “I know that, but-“ ”And I wish to see this deal through to the end. So I think I’ve come to my decision.” ‘Anon?’ Yes brain? ‘Why are you always right?’ Because the gods hate us brain. “You will be my lucky bachelor.” You sigh heavily in defeat. Shit always turns against you it seems. “Alright your majesty. I accept your offer.” Twilight can barely hold in her excitement as she begins rambling off wedding plans. Celestia smiles at her bumbling student before turning back to you. “So who am I going to marry? I’d like to get his all out now while I can.” ”Well, Cadence is already wed, and I am far too busy to deal with such things. Luna… Yes, you will marry my dear sister. Don’t worry, you’ll like her… probably…” Probably… You don’t like the sound of that. “And she would be okay with it?” ”Why wouldn’t she?” “Do uh- Do I really have to tell you?” ”This isn’t about species is it?” You give her the ‘no shit’ look. ”Please Anon, she is not a child anymore. She will understand.” Like that’s gonna happen. “So when are you going to tell her?” ”Soon. Whenever the occasion arises.” ”What are you going to wear?” Twilight cuts in. “That really isn’t my priority right now. I can bring something on my way back.” “You may not be headed back as soon as you thought.” “What happened now?” you ask with disdain. ”John asked that this take place as soon as possible, you won’t make it home and back in time.” There isn’t an apothecary in the land who could cure your headache right now. “Look princess,” you start, standing up. “This is a bit overwhelming for me. It’s more than I expected.” ”It’s not too bad.” Twilights says still bounding with joy. “For you, but not for me. I need some time to process all this okay?” Celestia looks at you understandably. ”We’ll finish the preparations, you may take this time to relax, you must be stressed. We can handle it.” You thank her and walk out the room to get some air. A cool breeze flows through the open door as you enter the courtyard. It certainly makes you feel better, but it merely dulled your senses. In your mind nothing makes sense. It’s like life took one big shit, and it happened to be on your life. You had a life back home, not much of one, but a life all the same. Here? What do you have? These ponies won’t accept you for who you are. They want a colt or stallion or whatever fucking term they call males. You’re just different. You feel like finding a cold hole to crawl into for a while, while you soak up all the excess crap you have to deal with. You grab your stuff from the gatekeeper and walk through the city. That noble said something about the lower districts, sounds like a good place to lose yourself for a while. You head down one of the more rundown looking alleys, hoping to find the districts you sought. A drunk stumbles from the balcony, puking all over himself. Yep, you found the place alright. The district is masked from the sun, giving it a nightly appearance. The inhabitants are mostly drunks and other miscreants, a few elderly stick to their homes for protection. This wouldn’t fly where you live, these people would be out on their asses breaking stone. You run a tight ship, but didn’t have to worry about whose piss you’d step in by accident. You spot what you think is a tavern and head inside. No one seems to notice you come in, or if they did they don’t care. If this is what bars are like then you should live in them. ”What’ll it be?” “Oh um I don’t drin-“ You know what? Fuck it, you’ll drink. It’ll take your mind off things. “The strongest thing you’ve got.” ”You sure? It’s not for the faint of heart.” “Just give me it.” You gulp down the silver fluid, your throat seizing up making you choke. He laughs, “I told ya. Let me get you something weaker.” You grab his shoulder as he turns. “Another.” He eyes you and smiles, “You’re alright you know that?” You down the next glass, your eyes tearing up from the pain. “No I ain’t.” You don’t know how long you’ve been here, and for once you don’t care. “Aand thuts’ how wi gut the beach.” ”Shouldn’t you be headed home, everyone else already has?” “Hum? O that. Otay. How much d I owe yu?” ”No charge, just get home safe.” “You,” you say pointing to him, “You’re a good guy.” He helps you out of the building before locking up and walking home himself. Now to find your own home. You stagger through the streets, holding onto the wall for support. ”Hey there cutie.” You stop and look around though everything’s blurry. ”Down her you big hunk.” You look down, two mares at the other side of the alley. ”Looking for a good time?” Amidst your aching head and the alcohol coursing through your veins you can’t figure what they mean by that, but you can’t leave them hanging. “Uv coursss.” They both giggle, making you laugh yourself though you don’t know why. You drape your arms around them as they lead you off somewhere. You drift in and out of sleep, a series of knocks finally waking you up for good. ”Here we are sugar, make yourself comfortable we’ll be right back.” They set you down on a large bed, both of them entering another room, shaking their tails oddly. Where the fuck are you? You struggle to sit up, but through concentrated effort you manage to make it there. The bed creaks as you try and get up making your ears throb in agony. “This is why I don’t drink…” You reach into your satchel and take out a red vial. You take in the sour liquid, gagging at its final drops. It’ll take a few minutes for it to kick in, but that shouldn’t be a problem.The pair of mares stand at the doorway, their eyes glued on you. You didn’t… Oh god dammit brain. ‘What? They wanted the d.’ ”Looks like the big boys ready to play.” “I think there’s been a misunderstanding here.” You stand up, only for them to push you back down. ”You’re not just going to walk away until we get what’s ours.” They pin you down, your muscles too weak to get them off. ”Over there. Grab it grab it!” You feel the potion starting to kick in, but it’s too late. You throw your wrists about, the rope binding them to the bed. It’s at this moment that you learn the most important lesson of your life. Karma is bullshit! The girls grind on your leg, “You just might enjoy this.” They rub at your groin, the leather armor absorbing most of their touch. ”That feel good hun?” It does, but it’ll be a cold day in Tartarus before they know it. “As good as sandpaper.” They ignore your statement, fumbling to untie your garments with no luck. Apparently the concept of lace is foreign to their whorish heads. “You’re pathetic.” ”Shhhh… Hush now. Only dreams.” What does that even mean? A boom echoes through the sky turning their attention away from you. This is exactly the opportunity you needed. You extend the blade from your arm and cut through your binds. You do the other before they figure out what you’re up to. Rejuvenated, you leap off the bed and head for the door which clangs as the lock slams against the handle. ”Where do you think you’re going?” They approach you like a pair of lions stalking their prey. You draw your sword, fear lighting up in their eyes. “Hey now, there’s no need to be like that!” You point it at one of the girls, motioning towards the door. “Open it.” She obliges and opens the door before retreating behind her partner. They’re nothing more than a couple of cowards. “Both of you make me sick.” With that you leave as quickly as you can. It’s almost pitch-black at this point, a few lanterns illuminating the scenery the dead streets of the district. You take a deep breathe. It’ll take weeks to get the smell of rotting mare crotch out of your leggings. You retrace your steps and step back into the upper districts, the familiar sight of guards are quite welcome. It’s getting late, and you don’t have a place to stay now that that inn is being renovated. The best choice would be to take Twilight up on her offer. Hopefully she’s still at the castle; if not… well you’re just shit out of luck. You begin loosening your sword once you reach the gate. ”That will not be necessary. You’re clear to proceed.” You point to the castle questionably, earning a nod from the guard. That’s one stop you don’t have to worry bout anymore. You’re about halfway through the courtyard when you begin having second thoughts. This’ll make you look incompetent. If you can’t find a place to stay, how are you going to be a good husband? Confound these ponies, they drive me to drink. “YOU!” A voice shouts from above. You turn back just in time to get knocked back onto your ass. Whoever it is, they’re strong, more so than you care for. A pair of hooves presses against your shoulders pinning you to the floor. ”WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?” The rush of blood to your blurs your vision. You can’t even see your attacker. A hoof strikes you in the ribs puffing the air out of your lungs. “WE ARE NOT A CHIP IN YOUR GAME!” Another strike against your bruised abdomen. “Who the hell are you?” ”DO NOT SPEAK YOU WORM!” As they prepare to strike you again you counter attack. Sweeping your legs you throw your attacker beneath you as you hold your blade against their throat. “Who… are…” Your vision finally clears up, revealing the attacker in form of a black alicorn with a starry mane. “Luna?” She throws you off of her with her magic, standing up valiantly. ”YOU WILL ADDRESS US AS PRINCESS LUNA.” So much for her taking the news well. She was about to beat you to death. “Don’t think you’re the only one who’s against this Luna.” ”WE SAID YOU-“ “Cut the crap. I’m just as mad as this as you are.” Your defiance does little more than enrage her further. ”DO NOT EXPECT TO UNDERSTAND US!” This is a waste of time, she’s not going to listen to you. You turn back and walk to the castle. ”WE ARE ADDRESSING YOU!” “Yeah good luck with that.” The door slams shut the second you open it. It’s going to be one of those fights? Fine. You turn around and stare her down, waltzing towards her. “Let’s get something straight, you’re not the only one pissed at this little arrangement. I had a life you know, and now I’m stuck here, with YOU!” She walks towards you, giving her own spiel. ”WE DID NOT ASK FOR THIS! IT IS WE WHO ARE STUCK WITH YOU!” “Don’t give me that. I was the last person who wanted to get involved, but I’ll do what’s best for my kingdom, whether YOU like it or not.” ”AS WILL I! YOU ARE LUCKY WE CARE FOR EQUESTRIA SO!” The two of you are inches apart, staring each other down. Neither of you are willing to back down, though you’re feeling the same anger. A few guards break rank and stare at the two of you. “Let’s take this somewhere else, away from prying eyes.” She notices the guards as well and both of you disappear in a burst of light. A few seconds later you find yourself in a chamber, not unlike an observatory. Constellations are graphed on the walls, a sliding glass door leading to a balcony. Most of it seems to deal with night cycles, few personal things lying around. Sounds like Luna’s chambers alright. “Look, I’m sorry about how I yelled at you back there. It was unprofessional.” Luna sighs, “Of course it was. That is no way to speak to a princess.” You hoped she would apologize as well, no such hope it seems, but at least she’s not yelling at you. “We’re both stuck in this so the least we should do is try to make this work, for both of our countries.” She can’t argue with that solid point. “Fair enough, where shall we begin?” “Introductions never hurt. I’m Prince Anon of Glaemar, but just call me Anon.” ”Princess Luna,” she extends her hoof which you meet. “It’s nice to meet you.” She humphs sticking her nose up at you. Well that went nowhere fast. “I guess we could say something about ourselves. You can start.” She just stares at you with scorn. This is going to be a long night. “If you don’t want to talk to me fine, but can I ask you one question?” ”You just did.” Why I oughta… “Fine then, three questions?” She nods, looking back outside. “Is Twilight still here?” ”She took the train back to Ponyville. Why do you need her?” “Well she had information regarding a place I could stay.” ”You can’t locate a resting place for the night? You would make a terrible husband.” That’s what you were saying. ”It is no matter, you will stay here tonight.” You’re awestruck at the offer. Is she committing an act of kindness? Did that magic take something out of her? ”Are you going to stand there like a scarecrow all night?” “Sorry, it’s just… Isn’t that a bit much?” ”It is customary for a couple to live together yes? I am not up to date on current traditions.” “It is, well uh… I accept your offer, thank you.” She humphs again, “It was not a request.” Nope, still old Luna. “So did Celestia tell you anymore about the wedding?” ”You already used your three questions.” “Oh, my bad,” you reply sarcastically. Your stomach growls angrily at you, frustrated at your lack of tribute. ”Food is downstairs and at the far end of the hall.” “Thanks,” you reply cheerfully to her kindness. ”Just go quickly, you’re breaking my concentration.” And you take it back instantly. You find the stairs and descend them, following Luna’s directions. Upon reaching the end of the hall you find nothing but wall. She didn’t even tell you the truth. You decide to search yourself and spend the next half hour scouring the castle for a kitchen. One of the guards was kind enough to lend you a hand, giving you far more reliable directions. You get there in no time at all, the chef being more than happy to serve you. He was more interested in learning foreign cuisine than anything, but he at least helped you feel welcome. You made sure to leave out the more carnivorous dishes, though he didn’t seem that appalled when you spoke of it. It was nice conversing with him, but fatigue was catching up to both of you so you said your goodbyes and left belly-full. You thank the guard who helped you and slipped him a sandwich as a reward. Before you know it you’re back at the stairs leading to Luna’s chambers. Just going up and down these is going to be a chore. ”It took you long enough,” Luna says as you enter the room. “Well if someone had given me proper directions I would have been back sooner.” She chuckles to herself and walks back into the chamber. She lies down on the bed, taking some of the covers with her. ”Are you coming to bed or not?” “You really want us to sleep together?” ”The best way to be a couple is to act as one, no matter how woeful the arrangement. You can either come, or you can find a lodging of your own.” She has a point there, whether it was by accident or not is unknown. You slip into the soft covers, the bed forming around you seamlessly. Her horn glows as she extinguishes the torches. Only the moonlight left for you. “Goodnight.” She rolls onto her side, taking most of the covers with her. You didn’t want them anyways. So you just lie there, watching the moon stare right back at you. Five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes go by. You try to fall asleep, but it’s just not comfortable. It’s too soft and malleable. It doesn’t feel natural how it morphs to your figure. You need something more solid to rest upon. You check on Luna to make sure she’s asleep which she is. Gently, you get out of bed, making sure not to wake her. Celestia help you if you accidently did. They’d be picking pieces of you off the walls. You walk onto the balcony and peer off into the city. Maybe this place won’t be as bad as you thought. No place is perfect, and here is no exception. There are always scumbags and creeps lined up with the goodies. It’s all just the same if you think about it. You’re still a freak to these people, no change from your own home. But at least here you don’t feel constantly put down because of it. And what do you know; Luna might turn out to be alright after she warms up to you. Sure you were never very good with women, but she’s kind of different. Twilight seems to trust you, so she’ll be the first real friend you’ve had in a long while. Now she is something, a true piece of work. She seemed to be the only one who didn’t care about how you looked. She liked who you were, which you find refreshing. Not many care about that these days. You yawn, inhaling the cold Equestrian air. You guess you might as well go to sleep after all. You lie down on the stone floor and close your eyes. The hard stone does wonders on your aching back. Now just to count ponies. One pony. Two pony. Three pony. Fou-
Chapter 3: Filler CentralA light tapping stirs you awake. The blinding light catches you off-guard, but Luna’s annoyed figure is apparent. ”I thought you were trying to make this work.” “Well, I’m not entirely comfortable with this arrangement yet.” ”That makes two of us then.” You stand up, the sun high in the sky. “What time is it?” ”Early evening. Come, Twilight has returned and is anxious to meet you.” That makes you feel better about today already. Luna leads you downstairs and into the greeting hall where Celestia and Twilight are. “Ladies, nice to see you again.” ”You will address them properly!” Luna barks at you. ”It is quite alright sister, he’s basically family now.” Both you and Luna cringe at the thought, but stay composed nonetheless. Luna and Celestia argue about your manners giving you an opportunity to talk to Twilight. “Are they always like this?” ”Arguing? Not really. Luna tends to be civil, but this marriage has her in an uproar.” You decide to change the subject. “So how have you been? We haven’t gotten much of an opportunity to talk.” ”I’m doing well now that I calmed down. It was a tad overbearing when I heard about the wedding.” “Don’t worry about it. Someone has to be happy for me.” ”Aren’t your men happy for you?” Oh shit you forgot about them. “They don’t know. I may have sent them back home in irritation.” ”Why in Equestria would you do that?” “They pissed me off for the last time. In hindsight I should have kept them here. I need a best man after all.” ”I’ll have Spike send a letter to the dock telling them to head back.” You don’t know who this Spike is but you thank her anyways. Luna is still upset, but seems to be on the losing side of her argument. “So, Luna told me you were anxious to talk to me. Why?” Twilight lights up, a devilish gleam in her eye. You don’t like the look of her. ”Princess Celestia?” she asks getting her attention, “Is it alright if I take Anon off of your hooves?” She nods, “Just be back in time for dinner, we have much work to do.” Twilight grabs a hold of you and bolts down one of the halls. You’re not sure how she can run so fast using only three legs. “Where are we going?” She pulls out a notebook, places and times scribbled in it. ”We have a schedule to keep.” She leads you down a familiar set of corridors, passing the night guard you met. He laughs as you’re basically dragged down the hall behind her. “Evening Flash.” ”Evening Anon.” You give him a hurried salute before you’re dragged into another hall. ”No time for chitchat. Places to be, people to meet.” It isn’t long before you finally reach the kitchen. You step in at your own accord, still wondering why she even brought you here. ”Dang nab it, that’s the third time now. You’re testing my patience Caramel Munch.” You see an orange earth ponies talking to your chef buddy, apparently having discrepancies with their dishes. “Shouldn’t I be leaving this stuff up to you?” The orange one catches wind of you and saunters over. “Well howdy there partner. Name’s Applejack, pleasure ta meet ya.” ”Applejack, I’d like you to meet Prince Anon.” “The pleasure’s all mine Applejack. Her eye’s light up when you introduce yourself. ”So you’re dat Anon. Twilight’s told us all about you.” “Hopefully just the good stuff.” ”I did think you’d be taller though.” “I think I’m tall plenty.” ”True ‘nough, now come on. We’ve got food to test.” You look over to Twilight for help, but she just laughs as you’re once again dragged away. She sits you down at a table. ”You ready sugarcube?” “Is that a trick question?” You can tell that’s a yes as she sets down a tray. She reveals a couple pastries, most of which you recognize. ”This here’s an apple crisp, apple tart and apple strudel with some apple jam on the side.” You pick up the crisp, chewing it with a bit of jam. ”I may not be as fancy as these here Canterlot chefs, but no one makes apple treats like I do.” She’s not kidding either. This makes your favorite dessert taste like cat food in comparison. You go to take another bite, but Applejack smacks your hand. ”You ain’t filling up on no crisp on my watch. Ya still got more to go.” You don’t know what she means until she steps to the side, a dozen more platters lined up. ”So you get a bite of each, no more no less.” This is going to be a long session. You eat a chunk of pie with some apple ice cream on top. You might just have to make her your personal chef. ”Well?” “It’s good alright. It’s all been good, down to the individual morsel.” ”Aww shucks you’re just sayin that.” “I am not. This is some of the best food I’ve tasted in my life.” ”This one’s a keeper isn’t he Twilight?” “He sure is.” Twilight grins at you. You move the platter away from you along with the others and stand up, belly full. “If this is what I can expect from the ceremony, then I welcome it.” ”Thank ya kindly Anon.” “No, thank you Applejack.” You shake her hoof, and hurry behind Twilight who was growing impatient. ”She’s really nice, I like her. Reminds me of the farmers outside of my city.” ”Glad you do, she runs Sweet Apple Acres near Ponyville. I’m glad to call her my friend.” “And I’m glad to call her my chef.” Twilight barrels down the hallway, both of you passing Flash again. ”Busy day huh?” “Isn’t it always.” ”Good luck with that.” “I’ll try.” Twilight finally comes to a stop outside another room. She lets you catch your breath before you both enter. Whoever’s in there seems to be humming to herself. Mannequins and swabs of fabric scatter the walls and floor. At the end of the room, a white unicorn is tending to an ensemble, her purple mane in prime form. She’s one of those mares isn’t she? ”Cutting up the pattern snip by snip, making sure the fabric flows nicely…” She continues on oblivious to your arrival. ”Rarity?” She jumps up, startled at her suddenness. ”You really musn’t sneak up on me like that, what if the prince…” She’s speechless at the sight of you. ”Why hello there! You must be the prince I’ve heard sooo much about.” ”Anon this is Rarity. Rarity, Anon.” ”Charmed,” she says holding out her hoof delicately. You peck her hoof, yep she’s one of those mares. ”You are just handsome as can be,” she wraps her hooves around your arm. “So what uh… What’re we doing today?” ”We’re making your suit of course.” Fucking designers… ”So first, we need to get you out of that dreadful armor of yours,” She claps her hooves, “Chip chop.” “Is that really necessary?” She recognizes your hesitation, “Don’t be such a baby; we’re naked all the time aren’t we.” Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. You don’t argue, and begin stripping off your armor, the pieces resting on the floor. You keep on your boxers, she doesn’t need to take that precise of measurements. Rarity picks up your armor, stopping when she gets to your leggings. ”What is that awful smell?” She takes a closer sniff, her cheeks blushing and eyes widening. You don’t know what’s worse, that she thinks you’ve been getting busy, or how she recognizes the odor. Both aren’t very pleasant. “Didn’t happen.” You don’t say more to rouse Twilight’s suspicion, but Rarity got the message. She pulls out a measuring tape, the clod metal tingling against your skin. ”Let the fashion… begin!” Thankfully, it wasn’t as climactic as she made it sound. You’ve just spent the last hour standing in place while she looked between two different pieces of fabric. She asked your opinion occasionally, only to change the options when you chose incorrectly. Other than that all you did was stand there like a statue. She also expressed her irritation that you ate before coming to her, something about her numbers being off. The moment couldn’t come sooner when she said you were done. You wasted no time on getting the fuck out of there. Now Twilight’s the one following you. ”She’s-“ “You don’t need to say it.” ”A handful,” she laughs as she catches up to you. It’s only then that you don’t know where you’re going to next. She rolls her eyes, “Follow me.” Where would you be without her? She’s quite the mare alright. The two of you enter a large hall, decorations already displayed. “Looks like this place is already finished. What are we even-“ ”Fore!” You hear a bang accompanied by a thud as you hit the ground. ”Oops, sorry about that. I should have- *gasp* You’re Anon aren’t you?” The pink pony grabs you and twirls around making your head spin. She sure is strong for someone so small. Twilight finally comes to your aid, pulling you away from the deranged pony. You barely keep your balance, your body wanting to go in eight directions at once. “Now Pinkie Pie here is a handful.” A rush of pink clouds your view, her face inches from there. ”Hiya. You like your decorations? Do ya do ya do ya? Too… much… energy… “Love them,” you say unable to even open your eyes without vomiting from nausea. ”You didn’t even look, here let me help you.” Oh god no, don’t help me. Anything but that… ”He saw it when he walked in Pinkie. He’ll be okay in a minute.” You manage to open your eyes without purging, giving her a coy smile. “See? I’m okay.” ”Okie dokie lokie,” she says bouncing away. You turn to Twilight, who’s barely holding in her laughter. You can’t help but laugh either, though you don’t know why you’re laughing at your own expense. ”I should have told you about her before.” “You think?” Besides the abrupt introduction things turned out well with Ms.Pie. Her taste in music was astute and down-to-earth. She managed to convince you to demonstrate the ‘Pony Pokey’ which wasn’t one of your better choices. You looked like you were having a stroke. Twilight stepped in, and though she wasn’t any better than you she made you feel a good deal more comfortable. You might just have to ask her for a dance at the wedding. Before long you have to say your goodbyes to Pinkie much to her dismay. She keeps her chin up though, her spirit never waiving for a second. You both exit into the gardens where your next appointment lay. “So your friends are basically running this thing aren’t they?” ”Yeah, the last one they put on was a hit, the invasion excluded.” You heard about that, Chrysalis and the Changelings was big news in Glaemar. ”It makes sense for Celestia to ask for us to manage this one as well.” “I’m happy they got you too.” She smiles, leading you further into the gardens. The cooing of birds floats on the wind, lending their grace to that of the garden. Twilight holds a hoof up to her mouth, hushing you. The two of you quietly follow the music to its source, a small orchestra of birds, plus a yellow Pegasus down below. She appears to be giving them directions, but you didn’t know anyone could communicate with animals in such a way. Twilight whispers something you can’t even hear, but it seems to catch the attention of the Pegasus. Her voice is soft and inaudible to your ears, but you can tell it’s sweet. She comes closer to Twilight, yourself hidden by a large shrub. ”Oh, hi Twilight. I was just rehearsing for the wedding. It’s going to be wonderful.” ”It certainly sounds like it. Alright now, I don’t want you to freak out or anything.” ”Uhmm, okay.” Her voice is shaky, and she hasn’t even seen you yet. Poor girl. ”Fluttershy, I’d like you to meet Prince Anon.” You step out from behind the shrub, Fluttershy nowhere to be seen. “Did- Did I miss something?” ”Fluttershy come on, he’s not going to hurt you.” Twilight drags Fluttershy out from her hiding place, her legs trembling like they’re about to fall off. Twilight gives her a nudge. ”Uhm… I’m Flutter…” Her voice cuts out before she could finish. She tries again, letting out nothing more than a few squeaks. Twilight facehoofs, ready to just give up. You won’t surrender so easily. You kneel down to her level, brushing away the hair covering her face. “My name is Anon,” you whisper, “It’s nice to meet you.” Your gentle touch seems to do the trick. ”I’m Fluttershy.” Both of you smile as you stand back up with Twilight. “Would you care to give us another demonstration please Fluttershy?” ”Okay,” she says with more assertiveness, “Just give me one second.” She gathers up the birds again and whispers directions for them to take. “Well that wasn’t so hard now was it?” ”I don’t think I’ve ever seen Fluttershy that receptive before, what did you say to her?” “People like her don’t like to be approached, but if you do it’s better to be on their level. Act as they do, you won’t make progress by being too forward.” ”That’s- quite a sound response. How would you approach me?” “You? Hmm… I’d probably ask you if you had a copy of Starswirl the Bearded: A Biography, and then you’d ask…” ”Which volume?” “And presto, instant conversation starter.” ”You know me too well Anon.” “I’d like to know more when you have a chance.” The harmonic music fills the air once more, stealing your mind away. Its tranquility is only matched by its sheer elegance. It’s like nothing you ever listened to before. You and Twilight just sit there, moving with the music. You didn’t want to go through with this wedding, but after today, you’re feeling a bit better about it. If only Fluttershy can cut out that nasty whistling noise. ”Look out below!” Well fuck never mind. A blurry object comes hurling towards the ground directly at you. This shit’s not happening to you twice. You take a stance and ready yourself for the oncoming Pegasus projectile. The closer she gets the better you can see her, and her messed up mane. Who’s mane is rainbow colored anyways? She reaches you, and though she’s light her speed does a number on you. You’re forced backwards, your feet sliding across the ground as you grab the Pegasus. Pain shoots through your arm when you finally stop and drop her. “Nice catch there dude. You alright?” You clutch your arm and grit your teeth. The pain is fucking unbearable. “Just dandy,” you say with obvious sarcasm. ”Rainbow Dash you should really be more careful. Anon’s hurt thanks to you.” ”This guy? He’s just being a baby.” Is this mare serious? She’s lucky you were even able to catch her. You grimace and sit down on a bench. You run your hand over your shoulder, examining your injury. “I think it’s dislocated.” Fluttershy comes over and inspects you. She tries to be gentle, but it’s still painful for you. ”Hold still, this may hurt a bit.” She grabs hold of your arm, stretching it every which way she can. You tighten your grip on the bench in retaliation. ”I’m sorry Anon,” the Pegasus says. “Forget about it, you didn’t know.” A loud pop is followed by immediate relief. “Thanks Fluttershy. You’re a dear.” She blushes before returning to round up her birds that scattered during the scuffle. ”Are you going to be fine?” Twilight asks worriedly. “As fine as I’ll ever be. This is nothing in the grand scheme of things.” Twilight shoots a death glare at Rainbow Dash. ”What? I already said I’m sorry.” You chuckle to yourself. Another friend of Twilight it seems. She certainly has a variety of friends. You extend your uninjured hand to her. “The name’s Anon. Rainbow Dash correct?” ”The one and only,” She spits on her hoof and extends it as well. ”Really Dash? He’s not going to-“ You do the same, shaking her hoof spit and all. She smiles, “You’re not so bad for a prince now are ya?” “Not bad at all.” Twilight shakes her head playfully, “You never fail to surprise me.” “So what’re you in charge of for the wedding?” ”Don’t you know? Twilight, how doesn’t he know?” ”He wouldn’t believe me if I did.” “Tell me what exactly? Surprises aren’t exactly something I like.” Rainbow Dash stands proudly, flaring her wings for effect. “I’m going to perform a sonic rainboom at the ceremony. A sonic rainboom, like breaking the sound barrier and making a rainbow? “Bullshit.” ”Will too. I did one at Cadence’s wedding as well. They’ll never forget that.” “Let me explain how you’re wrong. First no living creature can break the sound barrier, and two you can’t just make a rainbow. There are conditions that have to be met.” ”You want to make a bet on it?” Betting on a scientific impossibility? “Ten silver bits says you’re full of it.” ”Deal, we’ll settle this at the wedding, for now I have to practice.” She darts upwards, continuing her exercises. “Just practice up those bits you owe me.” Twilight escorts you back inside the castle. The two of you reach her library where both of you rest. ”So are you sure your shoulder is okay?” “It’s fine, you worry too much.” ”I know. I just don’t like seeing my friends hurt.” You understand what she means. Seeing those you care for in pain is never a good feeling. ”Speaking of friends, what do you think of mine?” So many things you could say about her friends… “Applejack is my favorite, followed by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. They’re easier for me to connect with.” ”Pinkie and Rarity?” “Not so much. Rarity’s far too uptight, and Pinkie is well… Pinkie.” ”I see where you come from, but they’re my friends all the same.” “Keep them close. Stay with those you value.” She yawns, “Anyways, I think I’m forgetting something…” “You did say you were going to send a letter for me.” ”Ah yes of course, I’ll send it as soon as Spike gets back.” She looks from side to side nervously, before bringing her head closer. ”He has a crush on-“ ”Forever!” Pinkie Pie recedes back into the bookshelf, disappearing entirely. “Uh, did I miss something?” ”Nothing. Just Pinkie being Pinkie.” “I should have guessed as much.” She yawns again, this one more drawn out than the last. “You seem a bit tired. How late have you been up?” ”Just the last two days. I’ve been busy lately.” “Well now you’re not, so I want you to rest.” ”But-“ “No buts. Do it as a favor for me.” She reluctantly agrees, making her way to her bed. She slides underneath the covers, sleep rapidly approaching her. ”I really should *yawn* stay up.” “I’ll do enough for the both of us alright?” She closes her eyes and puts on a smile. ”Will you stay until Spike comes back?” “Of course I will Twilight, just take it easy.” She yawns, her breathing slowing down to a rhythmic pace. Poor thing, she should have taken a rest. You stroke her mane now that she’s fast asleep. “Didn’t I already tell you Twilight? Stay with those you care for.”
Chapter 4: CeremonyTwo weeks later… ”You’re never going to get it on if you don’t stop fidgeting.” Luna smacks your hand away from your tie as she continues to fiddle with it. “I had it right the first time. You need to calm down.” ”I am calm. It is you who must behave. This day will not be ruined by little mistakes.” “It will if you don’t let me fix it myself.” You manage to escape her grasp and fix your tie. “See? Done.” ”If you just let me do it-“ “We’d have been here past the ceremony.” ”Don’t use that tone with me. You may be a prince, but not of this land.” “Boo hoo, cry about it later.” She scoffs at you and exits as Acus enters. ”Trouble with the bride?” “Women… How do they work?” ”So turns out the noble prince really did get himself hitched. What a thing.” “Thanks for coming back. I know we didn’t leave on the best of terms.” He rests his hand on your shoulder. ”Don’t worry about it. I was out of line.” “Really? You do? Did you turn over a new leaf when I wasn’t looking?” ”Something like that. This is your day, take it for what it is.” “Thanks Acus, truly.” ”Just don’t be pissed when shit hits the fan.” You wave off the seemingly drunk bastard. He’s like a completely different person now that he’s back. Not that you don’t like it, it’s just a bit odd for the great barbarian to show a human side. You shrug it off and continue prepping for the wedding. ”Well look at you all nice and fancy.” You turn to meet Twilight who was already in her dress. Stunning would be an understatement. You give her a tender hug, combing your hands through her mane. “I missed you.” ”Me too.” You reluctantly pull away from the embrace, returning to your own attire. ”You didn’t come to the library last night.” “I’m sorry about that. Luna had me in another pinch of hers going over last minute design choices. You understand.” ”Yeah… I do…” Not that tone again. You take a knee and look right at Twilight. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be the same man after that I am now. I’ll be here. Trust me.” Tears well up in her eyes anyways. She’s not so convinced. You lean in and kiss her ever so gently on the cheek. “I’ll be here.” She sniffs, smiling back at you. “Ok.” You give her one last hug before she leaves. “Everything’s set right?” ”Yes, we’re just waiting on you and… the bride.” It pains you to hear her speak that way. You have no idea what she must be going through. “I’ll see you there.” ”Don’t keep me waiting.” She exits the room, taking your joy along with her. You finish dressing yourself, tucking in your pants, and cleaning yourself up. The ceremony has a strict no weapons policy, so you make sure to take those out of the equation, but what they don’t know won’t hurt them. You sit down, and try to relax. You have no problem charging into a battlefield, but here? You’re as timid as Fluttershy. This isn’t exactly the type of situation you’re used to. The door swings open and Flash steps in. ”Anon, we’re ready for you.” You stand up and follow him, leaving everything behind. The two of you wade through the wave of ponies in the castle. ”Congratulations Anon. It’ll be an honor to call you my prince.” “Thanks Flash. I’m glad you’re here for me.” You step into the grand hall where Flash stays behind. ”To the Future,” he salutes. You return it and slowly walk down the aisle. You spot your men on one side, Acus at the front, being your best man and all. At the other side stand the mane 6, except Fluttershy who’s on the balcony with her birds. Luna and Celestia haven’t arrived yet. Celestia is to come in last, while Luna is to follow you shortly. You reach the end and stand before the altar, Twilight directly across from you. Fluttershy’s birds go on cue, signaling Luna’s entrance. All eyes turn to the doors as Luna begins her arrival. Three fillies burst from the entrance sprinkling an assortment of flowers on the ground. They hop around playfully, not even fully comprehending the events they’re attending. Behind them, Luna walks head held high toward you. She too looks remarkable as her dress sways from side to side. What her attitude lacks, her sheer elegance makes up for. A thousand ponies would kill for the opportunity to wed such a creature, but you’re the one who’s stuck with the task. All those niggling doubts creep upon you again. It’s for the greater good you continue telling yourself. You turn to Twilight, who has done the same. She’ll stand at your side through thick and thin. If she’s willing to see this through, then so are you. Both of you smile, Luna cutting the view between you. ”Quite the mare isn’t she?” You ignore her and face the altar. ”Not many have had the will to stick around with her for so long. She must be special.” Her voice is hushed to avoid suspicion. It’s becoming harder and harder to just ignore her while she calls you on the carpet. ”You love her don’t you?” “More than someone like you would know,” you whisper. ”I’m glad for you,” she says almost expressing sympathy. She might actually be able to feel such things after all. ”I’m glad for both of you.” “So am I Luna. So am I…” The music reaches its apex, and the there’s silence as Celestia stand before you both. You and Luna nod at Celestia, signaling your full commitment to the ceremony. She clears her throat and begins the ceremony. ”Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Princess Luna and Prince Anon of Glaemar.” This is it. The most important decision of your life and it’s not even of your own accord. Just stick it out Anon, it’s just words. It changes nothing. ”For many years we have lived at ease with the land of Erreda, but today will change all of that. Today we will join hands with those across the great sea, starting with the two before us. The strength of their commitment is clear. The power of their love, undeniable.” You contain your laughter at the irony of those two statements. ”Princess Luna, do you take Prince Anon to be your husband, to care for and cherish, in sickness and in health?” ”I do.” ”And do you, Prince Anon, take Princess Luna to be your wedded wife, to care for and cherish in sickness and in health?” You look back to Twilight, who nods her head. “I do.” Spike brings up the rings, Celestia hovering them accordingly. “I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. “ The two of you kiss, and the crowd goes into an uproar. A loud crack tears you two apart, a rainbow scorching across the sky. Damn, you just lost ten bits. Pinkie jumps in the air her voice booming over the others. ”Let’s get his party STARTED!” Suddenly boom boxes. So many boom boxes. The place becomes a mess of clattered ponies. Luna looks at you and smiles, “Go find your girlfriend.” You give her an unexpected hug before you dive into the crowd in search of Twilight. The other ponies don’t make things any easier on you. You sift through the crowd until you stumble upon Rarity and the rest of the mane 6, but no Twilight. ”Darling, shouldn’t you be with Luna?” “No. Do you know here Twilight is?” ”I’m afraid I don’t. Though I don’t blame her for going.” “Going where?” Rarity shuts up, realizing her slip of words. What the hell is wrong with her? “Pinkie? Fluttershy? Rainbow Dash?” None of them say a word. “Applejack, please, where’s Twilight?” ”She wants to be alone right now Anon.” “I know her. Just tell me please.” She looks away from you, avoiding your gaze. ”She’s outside in the courtyard.” You thank her and take off down the castle corridors. You’ve basically got the castle memorized by now so it doesn’t take long to reach it. You step into the courtyard, looking around for the missing Twilight. There doesn’t appear to be any sign of her, but Applejack isn’t a liar, so she’ll be here. This was too much for her to bear; you knew she shouldn’t have come. Especially at the kiss, that’s probably what threw her over the edge. You hear a sob coming from the hedges. The one thing you can’t stand… “Twilight!” You call out to her. The sobs stop, but only for the moment. She can run, but she can’t hide. You continue your search which has narrowed down to one section of the yard. “Twilight!” Another sob breaks through and you head for its source. You find a medium sized fountain closed off by the grove surrounding it. At its side sits Twilight. A few tears dripping into the water’s base. You don’t say anything as you move up behind her and embrace her. She doesn’t struggle, but you unleash the dam that has been building up within her. You hold her all the while as she releases her tears on you. “I’m here Twilight. I’m here.” So you sit there with her curled up in your arms. The tears start to subside and she seems to be a bit better. “You alright?” ”Now I am…” You nuzzle her neck and scratch behind her ears, Twilight emitting several coos. You rest your head against hers, her mane brushing against your skin. “Let’s skip the party. Just forget all about it.” Twilight looks interested at the proposal. “We can just sit in the library, drinking cocoa, and look at the stars.” You look in her beautiful violet eyes. “Would you like that?” She nods and brings her face into your shoulder, rubbing your neck affectionately. Everything turned out better than expected… You help Twilight up and both of you walk to the castle. On to warm chocolate delights and other nightly wonders. You pause at the entrance as your platoon of soldiers come marching out. One of them hands you a slip as you walk inside. “New orders sir.” You salute him and unravel it while you walk. By direct order from the king blahdy blahdy blah… The fuck is this? You stand there staring at the letter dumbstruck. ”Anon?” She nudges you, but you don’t respond. You can’t respond. ”Anon what’s wrong?” The letter falls from your hands, drifting towards the cold floor. He wouldn’t… That bastard! You run as fast as your feet can carry you, leaving Twilight behind. You just hope you’re not too late. The room where the ceremony took place is mostly empty. A few ponies chit chat, but you’re not concerned about that. You peer out of one of the windows into the grounds which seems to be where the party has moved to. You slip into the crowd who’s too far gone to even register you. This is just a prank right? There’s no way he’d do something like that. No… This is just something he would do. You spot Luna conversing with Celestia at the edge of the crowd. For once you’re relieved to see her. At least you don’t see… Acus… He stands a ways away from them, but he’s close enough for you to care. He notices you and tips his mug before he downs the entire thing. Setting it down, he begins to walk towards the princesses, a shimmer from his coat catching your eye. No, not today you mother fucker. Moving through the crowd you attempt to intercept him. “Excuse me. Pardon me.” The closer he gets, the further you are. Bull shit. You ignore subtly and push the ponies out of your way. A few yell at you for being rude, but you could care less right now. This is bigger than them, and you won’t let him off easy. Acus reaches the princesses you hot on his tail. ”King John sends his regards.” He reaches into his coat as you collide into him. “Not on my watch!” Both of you are thrown down the hill, still entwined as you fall. His punches are erratic but devastating, while yours are precise but weak. He rolls on top of you when you reach the bottom of the hill and proceeds to beat you down. You cover your face, but that leaves your stomach exposed. After a minute of beating he slows down still pinning you underneath him. ”Orders are orders. We have a job to finish.” You spit a wad of blood in his face. “Fuck you Acus.” He smiles, “As you wish.” You punch him in the balls once more, weakening his position. He falls to the side gripping his gonads as you get up. It doesn’t take long for him to follow, withdrawing a machete from his coat. How did he get that thing into the party at all? ”You’re going to pay for that. You don’t have your father to save you now.” “Screw him. I’m tired of you all looking down on me and making my life a living hell. I have a new life now, and I’d rather die than see you ruin it.” He charges and swings, missing by a mile. He’s used to brute strength instead of finesse. “Come on, just try to get me. I won’t even move this time.” He charges again bringing the machete down from above. You step to the side as his knife imbeds into the ground leaving him open. You grip his arm and stab him in the armpit with your blade, twisting it around for good measure. ”You said… won’t move.” “I lied,” you whisper to him as he falls backwards. You move in for the finishing blow, stabbing him at the back of his neck. He tenses up only to fall lifelessly to the side. “May Tartarus take you swiftly comrade.” You fish through his clothing taking out a letter of his own. It was the same as the other, the king’s seal imprinted on the corner. That bastard will pay for this. A few guards come by and drag Acus away. You thank them for the help to which they don’t respond. Were you being too sarcastic? You trudge back up the hill battered from your scuffle. Twilight helps you once you reach the top, allowing you to use her body to balance yourself. ”Did I read that letter right?” You point to yourself and laugh lightly. “It certainly seems that way.” ”ANON!” Oh god not that voice. “You have some explaining to do.” The party seems to have been dispersed after your little show. The mane 6 and the princesses take you back inside in the castle. You’re taken to the formal chambers where you first met with Celestia. You feel like a prisoner inside these walls, you just hope you aren’t treated as one. Celestia carries a letter of with her; probably the one Twilight gave her which you dropped. ”I’m going to have a few words with your King.” That doesn’t sound good; things are turning out a lot worse than expected…. ”Explain,” Luna says without her bout of anger. “I wish I could.” Twilight can’t believe it either, “Why would he do this? Didn’t he want to see this deal through?” “Peace isn’t a well known word where I’m from, but too much war leaves a stain on his record.” ”What’s that supposed to mean sugarcube?” “It means this isn’t something I’m surprised he’d do. He just needed another way to start a war without causing suspicion.” “But why try and make a wedding in the first place?” Pinkie chimes in. “I don’t know. It probably worked him I guess. If Acus hadn’t been my best man…” ”Then he wouldn’t have been able to reach the princess.” “That old coot’s smarter than I thought.” Luna’s still a bit on edge from the ordeal. ”How can we even trust you now, after this?” You give her the ‘really’ look and stare at her. ”If it wasn’t for him, you probably would have been lying on the bottom of the hill instead of Acus.” “Thanks Twilight.” ”Perhaps, but this is all a bit too convenient how he shows up at the last minute to rescue me.” “I only learned about it when my men found me and gave me a letter like this.” You toss it to Luna who inspects it herself. “You can just read my mind if you want; I had no idea what was going to happen. I’m sorry.” ”Do not be. I know you speak the truth.” “Thank you, it means a lot.” The door screeches open as Celestia walks through. ”Your king was less than receptive. He claimed to know nothing of the order.” “Sounds just like him.” ”He took the accusations as a personal blow to his person. Things didn’t turn out well…” He never was a good liar, he tends to cover his tracks with anger. “Him and his damned ego.” Celestia silently agrees with you and nods. ”I’m afraid we’ll have to cut your honeymoon short. We are now at war with Erreda.” “W-what?” ”Princess, you can’t be serious?” ”Isn’t that a bit much sister?” ”It was not my choice, if we had dropped the charges he would have been sated, but I would not do so.” “War… with Erreda. Have things gotten so bad?” Twilight comforts you, but that’s not what you need right now. What you need is justice. Rope. Where are you? ”I will arrange for you to be escorted to the docks. A boat has already been chartered to take you back home.” “No.” Celestia looks surprised, as does everyone else. “I’m not running back there now. My life is here now, not back in that piss pot.” Celestia nods, Luna smiles. The others still churning their mental wheels. ”Do you really wish to stay?” Twilight asks wholeheartedly. “Yes.” Three weeks later… You finish packing your things and stow them onto your back. ”Today’s the day huh?” “I’ll be back before you know it,” you reassure her. It’s been a couple months since the failed assassination of Princess Luna and Celestia. A couple months spent training for the coming war that rested on the horizon. And now, the time is finally upon you to pick up the sword to defend your home. Equestria, your new home. ”Why can’t I come with you? I could help; I’ve been practicing my magic everday. I-” You silence her with a kiss. “I could never forgive myself if something happened to you Twilight. I need you here.” She bows her head, “Okay,” she says depressingly. You lift her chin up and smile. “Give me something to look forward to alright?” She forces a smile of her own, “Okay.” You walk out of the castle joining your contingent of troops. Your personal unit is small, but they get the job done. They were hand picked and trained under you, so they’ll do you proud. Ponies watch solemnly from the streets as they see your force off. Sorrow fills the city’s streets, a few ponies hugging their husbands as they’re ushered off to war. This land is a land of peace and harmony, not of war and chaos. Your enemies will pay for their transgression. You pass outside the castle meeting the rest of your force. You recognize one of the unicorns as your second-in-command and approach him. He salutes you, “Shining Armor reporting for duty sir.” “At ease, are your men ready?” ”They are sir. We’ve been training hard everyday. Orders sir?” “Where have the Erredians disembarked at?” He pulls out a map outlining the current fields of war. ”Last I heard King John disembarked at the north east shore. Celestia is moving to meet them in three days time.” “Where’s the rest of his army?” ”They’ve taken hold of the shore and another unit has been sent west towards the castle.” “We will meet them then. Who’s in command?” ”One Ulsted sir.” “Ulsted? It’ll be nice to see him again.” ”Sir?” You sigh and look towards the open road. “Move out!” You and Shining Armor lead the march to war. ”Who’s Ulsted sir?” “He’s a hard-assed son of a bitch. Older brothers tend to be that way.” Shining Armor thinks you’re worried, how wrong he is. “Let’s go say hello.”
Chapter 5: One Chapter To Shit On Them AllYou make camp for the night. It’s been two weeks since you left Canterlot, and there hasn’t been any sight Ulsted. Word from Canterlot is that the King broke through Celestia’s line. She wasn’t a match for his devastating force. He marched unopposed through the northern region, burning and pillaging away as he did in his youth. Celestia hasn’t given up yet, and now that she knows what to expect, she’s assembled a force four fold stronger. It might even be enough to make it an even fight. The men are itching for action; you can’t begin to explain how many men died for that itch. You miss Twilight. One promise you made to her and you couldn’t even keep that. It’s nights like this where you want nothing more than to turn back and hold her in your arms once more. You pull out a picture. It’s of you and her snuggled under a blanket, reading a book by the fire. Spike took that when he thought you weren’t looking. He’s sure he found it there by accident, but you know better. You wanted to have something to look back to in these times. And now you have it. ”What’s that?” You set down the picture and turn to Shining Armor who entered your tent. “Just a piece of the past.” ”Twiley?” You furrow an eyebrow, looking back to the picture. “You know her?” ”How wouldn’t I know my little sis? I could spot her anywhere.” So he’s her brother? She never talked about him before. ”Why do you have a picture of Twilight with you? Aren’t you married?” “Barely. We didn’t exactly want to get married. Forced marriage, that kind of thing.” ”That’s rough. I got lucky with Cadence, we both-“ “Cadence? Like Princess Cadence?” ”The one and only. You act surprised, didn’t she tell you anything about me?” No she didn’t, but if he’s Twilight’s brother. And if he’s married to Cadence, then by marriage, Twilight’s technically royalty as well! Luna’s the only choice she said. You’ll like her she said. Celestia’s a trolling bitch you say. Trollestia, you’ll have to coin that phrase. “Anyways, why are you here? I didn’t call you.” He salutes, “Sorry sir, permission to come in sir.” “Well since you’re already here…” He drops his salute, “A group of ponies would like to join forces with our own.” “More locals? We can’t burden ourselves with any more.” ”Not locals sir. They’re suited up and ready for battle. Permission to speak freely sir.” “Granted.” ”If you don’t sign them on you’re a bucking idiot.” “Good choice of words. What the hell, send them in, I’ll take a look at them myself.” ”Yes sir.” He steps out of the tent, a small group steps inside about 6 in total. He wasn’t lying about them being suited up; you haven’t seen so much metal since you broke into the local armory as a child. They never did find those tongs. A hundred things to take and you chose that, disappointing. “So, you six want to see some action huh?” ”We want to protect Equestria, whatever the duty.” Sensible enough answer, you like them already. “Quite the gear, compensating for something?” ”If you think we’re unqualified-“ “I do. Until you prove me otherwise.” They seem to think you mean combat. “Just one question, and you get only one answer. Who do you report to? Me, Celestia, or Luna?” ”None. We report to Equestria. The commander is irrelevant.” One of the soldiers turns to their leader, ”We really should think this-“ “Correct.” You salute them, “Welcome to the unit.” Most of them jump for joy, the other staring off. “Report to Shining Armor, he’ll give you further orders.” They make their way out, the last one still staring blankly. “See something you like?” You stow away the picture in your cloak. ”Friend of yours?” “Yeah, something like that. Dismissed solider.” He walks out, leaving you by your lonesome. You raise a mug to the stars, sipping deeply from the chocolaty mixture. “This ones for you Twi.” On the battlefield… ”Erredians! Twelve o’ clock!” You take out your spyglass, a large force emerging from the edge of the woods. ”Do you think they spotted us?” “They will in a minute. Shining Armor, with me.” ”What are you doing?” “Well we have to say hello. It’s common courtesy. Flash, keep these ponies under control until we get back.” ”Yes sir.” You and Armor walk out into the open field s well, two soldiers from their side meeting you in the center. From his unshaven beard and pompous grin you recognize one of them as you’re eldest brother Ulsted. The other… not so familiar. ”So you finally come to meet us in open battle huh? Tired of hiding in the shadows?” “I could say the same thing; we’ve been scouring these hills for you. About time you had the nerve to show yourself.” ”You may have picked us off, but you won’t get far in a straight fight, we both know that.” Pick them off? You didn’t see them until just now. “I do not understand, but that matters little. You’re passing through Equestrian lands on grounds of war, leave now or we will force you to do so.” ”Well then you’ll just have to make us.” Stubborn ass, at least it was worth a shot. “I’m sorry it ends this way brother.” ”You will be Anon. You will be…” The two of you move back to your armies, battle an assurance as of now. “Send the messenger back to Canterlot detailing our situation. Double time.” ”On it sir,” he shoots through your ranks, your soldiers ready for instruction. “My Equestrians! Hear me now. I am not your kin. I am not your blooded royal. I am not from your world. But here we stand for similar purpose, to protect the land that we hold dear. Some of you for your family, others for glory, but it makes no difference to me. Today we stand one and the same. You are the brothers and sisters at my side. We are together in the darkest of times. When one falls, they are not gone. They’re still among us, guiding us through their spirit. This is a bond not even Tartarus can break.” We will stand and fight to the last to protect our home. Are you with me!?” ”YES SIR!” a chant rings out from the crowd, pumping up the eager ponies. ”Peep Iniik and Jackal Pep, hold the front line at all cost, we can’t have them get through to our unicorns. Sultry Heft and Shadow Brain, take your Pegasus to the sky and rain hell down upon their ranks. Don’t attack them directly, their too strong for you to handle. Ira Try and Shining Armor, fortify the front line and bombard the Erredians with everything you’ve got.” ”What about me?” You look to the last soldier, the new unit’s leader. “Krawlis Pelightt, you and me are going for a walk.” You leave Shining Armor in command as you cut through the forest’s foliage around the battlefield. ”What’s our task here sir?” “Anon will do just fine.” ”Why are we deviating from the group Anon? We’re going to miss the battle.” “Battles are won as much from soldiers as they are from those who lead them. That is where we’re going.” ”Ulsted’s guard? Won’t he be expecting that?” “If he had half a brain he would, but thankfully he doesn’t.” Krawlis cuts through the foliage ahead using his magic. A horn sounds, the battle starting. You both look out, as the Erredian barbarians charge at the fortified Equestrians. Shining Armor’s shield seems to do the trick keeping them out of reach for now. ”How does it look?” “You’re a bright young pony; you figure it out smart stuff.” You continue on, keeping up the pace. There’s not a second to delay now that it has begun. “So tell me a little about yourself?” ”Excuse me?” “I’d like to know who I’m fighting with. So go on…” ”Not much to say sir.” “Anon, and we both know that that’s a load of crap.” ”I don’t follow.” You sigh, cutting down yet another bush. “Oh but I think you do don’t you Twilight?” She gasps, her cover blown. “Did you really making an anagram would disguise you? Even with the armor and voice over your little band was more than easy to spot.” She removes her helmet, her hair sticking up in ways you didn’t know they could. ”I just thought-” You kiss her forcefully cutting her off midsentence. “I missed you.” ”I can see that,” she says blushing. The sound of clashing steel brings you back to focus. “Come on. We can’t waste time dilly-dallying. There’s still a war to be fought.” ”You’re not mad at me?” You keep moving forward and talking at the same time. “I’m furious, but that can wait for later.” ”Ulsted first, Anger second.” “You go it alright.” The outskirts of their camp comes into view, both of you sneaking within. Ulsted’ll remain her until he’s sure victory is assured. For all his boast of strength, he’s nothing more than a coward. The first sign of defeat and he scoots away, generally leaving you to clean up his mess. This time he’s not getting away so easily. Once the troops learn their leader has fallen they’ll abandon the battle. He’s one big domino, and you’re the dick that pushes it over. “Two patrols inbound.” You see them, three man patrols keeping the perimeter clear. “Here’s the plan, you stow yourself away and wait for my signal. When signaled show me some of that magic you’ve been working on.” ”What’s the signal?” “You’ll know it when you see it. Now, get to it missy.” She gets inside one of the tents as the patrol inches closer. Maybe they don’t know who you are. You step out into plain sight, the guards arming themselves. “Hey now fellas what’s the big deal? Can’t spare a pint for a fellow brother?” ”Begone with you, the battle is forwards not behind.” “True that. I just need one last drink to get my blood going. Can you help me out?” They look at you skeptically unsure of how to proceed. Finally one of them gives in, handing you a canteen. You take a hit of the beverage, wanting to gag on it’s potency. There’s a reason you don’t like to drink. You belch, a few bubbles tickling up your throat. “That hit the spot, there you go.” The canteen fumbles out of your hand hitting the grassy floor. “I am so sorry; I can’t believe I just did that. Let me get that for you.” “I got it, no worries comrade.” He bends down to pick it up. “Still… Forgive me.” You draw your sword, cleaving his head off in one precise strike. You step into the second guardsman, thrusting forward with your hidden blade. You strike him just underneath the chin with the blade piercing his skull. The third guard barely has time to draw his mace as you finish your attack. You pin your sword under your arm and throw yourself backwards. There is some resistance at first, but you gradually slide back eventually hitting his belly. ”Y-ou…” “I said I’m sorry.” Withdrawing the blade from his gullet you wipe it off with their robes. This isn’t the first time you’ve spilt Erredian blood, but now no longer in the King’s name. You whistle soft enough for Twilight to hear you. She charges out of the tent ready to kick some flank with you. Her dreams are all but squashed as she sees you leaning over their corpses. You finish saying a few rites for them, before continuing through the camp. Twilight follows, a little upset you didn’t use her. ”I thought you said wait for the signal.” “I did, and you came out when I have it. Good job.” ”You know what I mean. I could have helped back there.” “Twilight please. I want you to be safe, the only reason you aren’t in the main battle is because I worry about you.” That seems to hit her where you wanted it. “With me I can make sure you’re safe, not that I don’t trust your brother.” A lone guard passes by, allowing you to slit his throat undetected. You lie him down, muttering a few words before continuing. “Whom you should have told me about. I don’t know why you didn’t.” ”He’s not a big part of my life anymore. I hadn’t talked to him in years before he got married.” “Yeah to Cadence. I wish Celestia would have told me about that.” You dart into another tent with Twilight as the patrol passes. ”Why would it matter?” “Just something I’d have liked to know is all.” You exit, spotting Ulsted’s personal fort. You bob your head towards Twilight as both of you head to a lonely section of wall. She clears out a small portion of the fence allowing you both to pass through. You take Twilight to a secluded section of the fort. “I need you to stay here.” ”I’ve stayed hidden long enough, let me help you.” You rub her behind the ears and smile. “Help me by staying safe.” She gives you a look of defeat, but agrees anyways. “Promise me you’ll stay hidden.” ”I promise.” “Pinkie Promise?” ”Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” You rub your nose with hers and give her a hug. “Be right back.” You step into the open ground, preparing yourself for Ulsted. Dirt picks up as you stride towards the center. Ulsted’s tent stands at the far end, him and his guards inside. “Ulsted! Guess who’s here!” Two soldiers and his bodyguard step out, Ulsted the last to show himself. ”Well well well, what have we here? Finally becoming a man I see. It took you long enough. “I could say the same to you, sitting all comfy in your tent while your troops fall in your stead.” “Valiantly of course. They die for me because they wish it.” He readies his massive warhammer, a spike protruding from its rear. ”You will die because of me.” He waves his guards away as you draw your own sword. The two of you circle the other forming a circular arena with your strides. He clangs his hammer against his armor violently, his show of force not a disheartening as he’d hoped. You’ve seen enough of that shit to last a life time. He mocks you as you continue to circle him. He’ll play this out as long as he can. You could do the same, but unlike him you care for your troops. You take a step forward, preparing to strike when the opportunity arises. He stands out of range awaiting the same scenario. He brings down his hammer into the earth. You were barely able to sidestep the attack. You lunge forward only for him to slap you aside with his club of an arm. ”What’s the matter? Out of practice?” You shake off the blow and go in for a second strike. He retrieves his hammer swinging wide for maximum range. You roll underneath it coming up inches from his torso. He brings his knee up knocking the air from your lungs, pushing you away with ease. You manage to stay on your feet, though your body wishes to stay down. He saunters towards you, carrying his hammer single-handed. Now he’s just toying with you. You bring up your sword in time to block his hammer, the ensuing force knocking you backwards. His next attack misses as continues into his third. You’re recovering faster than he can swing much to his irritation. He soon loses control of himself, using both hands to unleash a flurry of swipes. You duck down and slash at his knees, forcing him down. His massive figure only helps your cause as he falls. You kick away his hammer, planting your sword on his neck. “Do you yield?” ”May Tartarus take you traitor.” “So be it…” You pull back and swing, you’re arm caught on something. Your sword is taken from you as another hand smashes against your skull. Everything’s a mix of colors to you. A figure watches over you, joined by two others. ”I’m sorry it ends this way brother. May your spirit find peace in the afterlife.” A puff of smoke later, and only two stand. ”Leave Anon alone!” You look off to see Twilight flailing magic around like a wild woman. Bursts of flame, lightning bolts, ethereal swords, the whole shebang. Maybe you should’ve let her join the fight. One of the guards charges her, evaporating into the atmosphere when he overstayed his welcome. Ulsted backs off using his hammer as a shield from her power. ”FOREVER!” He stumbles over the sudden Pinkie who appears behind him. You need to learn how she does that. Twilight comes to your side, putting her horn on your head. A rush of clarity brings you to your senses, but also brings back your injuries. “I thought I told you to stay safe.” ”And you said you’d be right back.” She wraps her arms around you, a few tears rolling onto your chest. “That I did. That I did…” You manage to get back to your feet, Pinkie gone as if she’d never been there. Ulsted attempts to scramble away, though his injury seems to be catching up to him. “Ulsted!” you cry out, “We’re not finished here.” He pulls on his tent muttering something under his breath. Another person emerges from his tent bound in robes of black. Ulsted visibly begs for aid, pulling at his robes. ”Silence! You should have listened to me when you had the chance.” It doesn’t stop him from trying, angering the man further. He slams his foot against his neck, your brother’s voice fading to a whisper. ”So, the prince of Glaemar has arrived, how unfortunate.” ”Who are you?” Twilight’s eyes brighten, her inner rage evident. ”Unwise Twilight Sparkle, unless you wish for Anon to suffer.” “She asked you a question, who are you?” ”Me? I am everyone. I am everything. I…” he removes his hood, “am you.” You’re him, he’s you. The fuck? Jimmies at maximum rustle. Twilight reels back at the sight, concern washing over her. ”Your response is typical, no matter; your time is already at an end.” “I don’t know what the fuck you are, and I don’t care. You know something, and I’m going to find out what.” His eyes go wide as you stomp towards him. ”Wait, I haven’t finished my-“ You grab the impostor by the throat, squeezing him dry. “You’re going to tell me exactly what you mean, or I’m going to show you what an Erredian can really do.” He kicks at you, though clumsily. His cooperation may have to be forced. “I’ll be right back Twilight. For real this time.” You turn to take him inside, “Wait.” “Something wrong?” She gulps, her voice a bit shaky. ”I know what he is.” You throw him down, pinning him down under your feet. “I’m all ears.” She looks down at him, “It’s a changeling.” You stare at him as well, inspecting him closely. “A changeling? Like a changeling changeling?” ”The very same you’ve heard stories of.” You place your sword on his throat, piercing it slightly. “Is this true?” He doesn’t respond. Instead, he smiles as his body is covered in a black gunk. He starts getting bigger, morphing into a familiar face. ”Did you miss me?” Acus says. You thrust the sword into him, the blood spewing from his wound. “What are you doing?” Twilight asks hysterically, “We need him!” “No we don’t. That’s all I needed to see.” You wipe off the blade on his robes, the red liquid thickening into a bluish slime. “My father wasn’t lying after all. He had nothing to do with this.” ”Then why go to war?” “Because that’s what they knew he’d do. He’s predictable that way. My kind are prideful to a fault… How couldn’t I see the signs?” The changeling resorts back to its original form, his wounds resizing to fit him. “When I killed Acus a group of guards came and took him away. Five in total. The same number of men who came to Canterlot with Acus in the first place.” “They took him before he turned back to his normal form, and you clean your equipment all the time.” “There’s no way I would have known what he was. They probably swapped places after I sent him off. Poor bastard’s probably dead now.” You sit next to your brother, life completely drained from him. “This is all my fault. I should have seen this coming.” ”It’s not your fault, no one did. We’re all just pawns in Chrysalis’s game.” “Pawns… After this war is over, we’ll both be devastated. She could…” ”Ride in unopposed. There wouldn’t be a force great enough to stop her.” You close Ulsted’s eyes, bowing down your head. “Your death will be avenged.” You leave the scattered corpses around, heading back to the front. ”So, what’s the plan?” “The plan? Chrysalis will be dead before I let her destroy both of my worlds. We’re going to end this war.”
Chapter 6: A Changing BattlefieldYou carry Ulsted’s medallion with you and you walk back to the battlefield. For the most part your plan has worked, though a few ponies didn’t make it. The Erredians themselves crushed themselves against your front line and the ensuing swarm of magic and Pegasi tore them apart. Their casualties are more numerous, but not plentiful. Fatigue seems to have drawn the combat down, neither side capable of lifting a hoof at the other. For all their training they still can’t keep up a fight. You stop behind their lines, Twilight amplifying your whistle. Fucking magic. You raise Ulsted’s medallion in the air proving his defeat. “Your leader has fallen my Erredian brothers. Submit or be Conquered.” A whisper runs through their ranks as the battle is brought to a halt. One by one, the barbaric soldiers get on their knees and submit to your rule. Whatever punishment you have in store, they will take. However, you have better plans for them. “Equestria is not the foe in this conflict, and neither is my home of Erreda. We have a foe more sinister then both.” You seem to have caught their interest, both forces looking at you with curiosity. “The changelings have returned. They instigated this war for their own gain, and we fell into their trap.” Twilight takes her place beside you, aiding you in your speech, “We cannot stand by while we fight over this fallacy of war. It is up to us to resolve this conflict.” “Together as one, we will march forth and join forces with the armies of John and Celestia. Gather up your supplies, you move at nightfall.” The weakened soldiers go to their respective camps and carry out your orders. The mane 6, whom were still disguised, revealed themselves to you and Shining Armor. ”Twiley, what are you doing here?” ”I’m here to help Equestria. You need all the help you can get.” ”You could get hurt, you need to head back.” You wrap your arm around Twilight, pulling her closer to you. “We both know nothing is going to stop her from doing as she wishes.” ”Aren’t ya surprise to see us sugarcube?” You look over the armored group, all of them wondering. “I knew it was you the minute you entered my tent. Jackal Pep, really?” ”I thought it was clever…” “Well so did everyone else, just not me.” ”So what now? We wait for nightfall and intervene the battle between John and Celestia?” “That’s the idea, but I’ll be moving when we’re done here. I can move faster on my own.” ”What if the changelings get you? You’ll be just another victim.” “It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” ”Well it’s a risk we will not stand for.” Rarity interjects. ”Yeah, we’re not going to have our newest super best friend go all alone.” “I’ll be fine alone Pinkie.” ”I’d like to go with you,” Twilight wraps her own arms around you. She looks at you with big puppy dog eyes making you d’awww. How can you resist a face like that? “Fine, but make sure to keep up. Stay here if you can’t.” Shining Armor steps forward, “I’d like to go as well sir.” “No, I need you here. The troops respect you, keep them in line.” ”And what about the Erredians?” You toss him the medallion. “As long as you carry this they’ll listen to your orders. You’re in charge now. See you there.” You and the mane 6 turn and enter the forest, heading north to the next battle. ”How long will it take to get there do you think?” “Hard to say, three days if we stick to my pace, a week if we don’t.” ”Well what are we waiting for? Last one to reach the field loses.” “This isn’t a game Rainbow Dash. Make sure everyone okay?” ”Fine, just don’t go too slow now.” You won’t, this is too important to take slowly. You just hope the others can keep up. Your feet ache the further you walk, miles upon miles of land you traverse, but you have to keep going. Someone has to stop this… ”Anon we have to slow down.” “No can do Twilight. I told you we’d have to keep pace.” ”Please. Rarity wasn’t ready for this.” Rarity? You make sure to walk even faster now that you know it’s her. ”Hey!” Twilight says irritated, “Slow down.” You finally stop and wait for everyone else. You knew this shit was going to happen. Rarity finally reaches you limping weakly. Even that’s enough for you to express concern. “You alright?” ”I can not believe I volunteered for this little expedition. My hooves are killing me.” “So you’re ankle isn’t broken or strained? Your feet just hurt?” ”Isn’t that enough?” You turn your back on her and continue walking. A hoofache? Really? You have more important things to worry about. ”Anon please. You have to help her.” “And what exactly do you want me to do? Carry her?” Rarity looks at you with pleading eyes. “No, Absolutely not. Just suck it up.” ”Sugarcube, it’s for tha best.” You look back to Rarity, still silently pleading for your assistance. ”Please Anon. I’ll be quiet…” You cut through the dense foliage holding on to Rarity with your free hand. ”Cut a bit higher dear, my mane is being ruined by all these branches.” And she said she’d be quiet. All the lies… You cut a high branch and proceed through, an uncanny stench emanating from further up. ”You really must learn to bathe more. Do you always smell this way?” “Quiet.” ”That is no way to-“ You grab her mouth shut, looking deeper into the forest towards the scent. Twilight hushes the rest of the ponies as you set Rarity down. She squeaks when her feet touch the floor much to your dismay. You shake your head and move further in, following your nose. You keep your sword at the ready, though in this terrain it’s almost useless. Another step and you’re peering down a small cliff where the smell is coming from. You take a knee, saying a few prayers as the mane 6 come up behind you. ”By Celestia…” You hold onto Twilight, “Who did this?” “War. Let’s keep moving.” You guide the ponies around the grave site and turn your back on those departed. They shouldn’t have seen that. The travesties of war are not for the faint of heart. The damage has been done however, nothing you can do about it now. It’s something they’ll have to live with now. Not an easy task for them. You set up camp for the night, building a small fire for the ponies. They head off to sleep giving you some alone time. You sit down on a rocky hill lying just above the treetops giving you a perfect view of the surrounding terrain. The moon reflects off the leaves, the land morphing into a shimmering ocean, waves rolling across its waters. You would have been there by now if you had left them behind. Three days later and all you have to show for it is that you’re making some progress. Perhaps you should just leave, right now while they’re asleep. You look down, the forms of their sleeping bodies cast against the wall. How could you leave them? It’s almost unthinkable. Wait there’s Rarity, guess you can think about it. Just a few more days and you’ll be there. Your father will be able to hang on; Celestia’s the one you’re worried about. If she’s routed, he’ll ravage this land plenty, exhausting himself as well. Chrysalis will strike then, devastating their wounded army from within. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that. You find no solace in your dreams, nightmares plaguing you. Your brother lies dead before you, Acus at his side. ”How would you like others added to this little display?” A voice speaks to you, feminine and demanding in tone, but also weak. Rarity, then Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy… Applejack… ”Is this what you want?” Your mind is clouded, the voice seemingly coming from all directions. “Show yourself demon?” A maniacal giggle surrounds you, “If you care for your friends you will abandon your quest…” A large changeling steps out from the void, her green eyes glowing in the darkness. “Chrysalis…” She’s different than you expected, almost withered as if she’d been drained. ”You wouldn’t want anything to happen to that dear Twilight now would you?” She hits you in your sweet spot, anger elevating. “You wouldn’t dare…” ”Oh but I do.” You charge at her, thrusting your hidden blade into her chest. A warm trickle rolls down your hand. ”A-Anon?” You look up, Twilight standing before you, your blade in her torso. “No. No no no no.” She falls limp, her blood spilt by your hands. ”Whatever happens to her will be your doing, not mine.” You fall to your knees, hugging her in her final moments. “I’ll always be here.” ”Anon?” You stop daydreaming and come to attention, Twilight speaking to you. ”Is everything alright? You’ve haven’t said much the past few days.” “Just thinking.” You put on a fake grin, “No need to worry.” You say that, but that’s all you’ve been doing lately. Ever since you had that dream you’ve second guessed every decision you make. It’ll be your doing. Twilight… ”I think I see them? There’s a ton of them down there!” Finally, you made it. Now to end this. Men and p0ny alike fight in the open plains below. The fallen are dragged away as not to litter the field with the dead. Neither side seems to be making any progress. You slide down the hill with the rest of the mane 6. A small circle is emptied in the middle of the battlefield except for its two combatants. One, Celestia. The other, your father King John. They’re caught in a duel, the winner likely to route the other. ”We’ll get the forces calmed down, you stop them.” That’s what you like to hear. “Just keep them away from each other however you can.” ”Roger that Anon.” The mane 6 takes off into the fray, using their strengths to pull the two forces apart. Rarity’s continued whining was sure to keep them occupied. You dash forwards, knocking two combatants on their ass and flank. No time for apologies. Gotta Go Fast! Carnage surrounds you as you advance forwards. Ponies are pummeled relentlessly by the Erredians, while the Erredians are mauled to pieces by the overwhelming ponies. Magic flies across the field, sending pieces of burned flesh and bone flying. A hammer passes by your head, striking a pony in the chest, blood trickling from his mouth. Fluttershy attends to him before glaring at the thrower, who backs the fuck down. Bitches don’t mess with Fluttershy. ”I don’t think this is working Anon, we need something a lot bigger to get their attention.” You pull Rainbow Dash down, escaping the oncoming axe. “Well then. We just might need that little something extra.” She smiles getting the idea. “Care to win another 10 bits?” She dashes, hehe dash, into the air giving you an accepting wink. You throw yourself into the circle, the two rulers awaiting. The king’s broadsword slashes through the air, Celestia blocking with her horn. She pushes into him, throwing him off balance temporarily and shooting a bolt from her horn. He barely dodges it, the soldier behind him fizzling into dust. For an old guy he certainly kept his edge. You move between them as he lunges forward. His blade clashes with yours, using your two hands to balance out the force. ”Do not interfere child.” He raises his sword to strike again, you meeting his own. “We’re not the enemy here, this is bigger than us.” ”He will not listen to reason.” “I’ve got this princess.” He strikes your nose with his shoulder, a line of blood running down it. ”This is between me and her. Do not make me hurt you.” You wipe away the blood, raising your sword against him. “I won’t stand by and watch you destroy both my homes.” Celestia stands behind you, “Listen to him.” He gazes over your sword and then to his own. ”We thrive on war Anon. You should know that better than anyone.” “Then shift your gaze from Equestria, they are not the enemy you seek.” ”What do you mean?” Celestia chimes in curiously. “Both of us have been played. This war is pointless.” ”Then the accusations?” “Falsely charged. The order did not come from my father.” ”Then who caused this? I want a name,” your father demands. “Chrysalis, queen of the changelings.” An explosion rings out in the sky, Rainbow Dash executing her Sonic Rainboom. The soldiers gaze is turned momentarily, but they soon continue their rampage. Welp, that didn’t work. ”The changelings you say?” “The same that attacked Equestria before. Who knows how long they’ve been planning this.” Your disheartened father shakes his head, pulling a warhorn from his belt. He blows into it, a roar cascading through the field of war bringing the Erredian troops to a complete halt. ”Stand down men.” He shouts to his troops, “This battle is over.” You give him an accepting nod, though he’s less than receptive. “A traitor’s blessing is as useless as the next’s.” Even now you’re little more than nuisance to him. You pick up your head, his second-in-command coming through the crowd. ”What is the meaning of this? Why have we halted the attack?” ”This war is over Tolwyn. Our enemy has shifted.” He looks at you angrily, drawing his sword and advancing on you. That motherfucker… ”What did this worm say? He will pay dearly for his lies.” ”At ease, I wish to speak to you.” He eyes you, turning back and walking next to the king. John wraps his hands around Tolwyn’s neck, twisting it with an audible snap, several soldiers flinching at the move. His body hits the cold earth, his foot twitching a bit. ”Death is only the beginning.” Tolwyn’s body morphs rapidly, his body contorting into that of a changeling. Your father hmphs curiously at the development, though in a way unsurprised. ”I thought he was acting strange lately. Turns out this is why.” “If he was a changeling who knows how many more are.” ”Their ilk could reside in both our armies.” “Is there any way we could weed them out?” Celestia speaks up, “After we encountered them before, Twilight made sure to research their kind. She developed a spell we could use to reveal their true forms.” “Perfect. Twilight!” You call her name, appearing a few moments later. ”Celestia, I am glad to see you safe.” ”Likewise. Twilight, do you remember that incantation you spoke to me of? The changeling spell.” ”Of course, I completely forgot about that.” “I think it’s time you put that spell to use.” Her excitement rivals that of Pinkie herself. She only ever got to show them to you before, but now Celestia got to see her as well. Her horn burns brightly, a fiery glow coming from it. A wave of light shoots upwards, layering the entire battlefield before disappearing in an instant. You look around, everyp0ny the same as before. They look about questionably, doubting her abilities entirely. ”I- I’m sorry. I thought that would work.” “Don’t worry Twilight, I’m sure it worked perfectly. Chrysalis wouldn’t be stupid enough to replace a large chunk of the army with her minions would she?” You look over to Celestia who’s nodding her head. “Right?” A wail screeches in your ears, accompanied by a series of continuous shrieks. Welp, look who’s wrong again. Soldiers from both sides begin writhing around in pain, their fellows backing away. Their forms twist and reshape, armor loosely falling off their bodies. Their blue beady eyes gawk at the others who are frightened by their appearance. It takes them a minute to realize they’ve turned back to normal, and when they do it isn’t pretty. They immediately leap at their fellows, sinking their sharp teeth into whatever they can latch onto. You cut down one particular one who decided to make Twilight his target. He should’ve known better. Your father blows his horn again, “TO BATTLE!” The four of you stand back to back, changelings scattered throughout the field. You slash at a few that come too close, Twilight blasting the ones who back away. Celestia and John prove to be an ample team as well, waving off a handful at a time. The rest of the army isn’t so lucky. The surprise attack left many of them off-guard. They’re being defeated from the inside-out, there’s no way they could’ve prepared for this. It won’t be long now until they’re completely overtaken. A second horn blows, this one from the hill you arrived on. Shining Armor stands at the peak, your army meeting at his back. He hollers and charges down the hill with the army, casting his famous shield around him. It grows until it encompasses the mass of your army. It slams into the changeling horde, the regular soldiers safe from its aura. They build up on its exterior until all of them are pushed outside of its center. Now separated, Shining lower the shield, both armies meeting face to face. Now there are a group of pissed off Equestrians and Erredians ready to beat the shit out of some Changeling scum. Oh boy do they have a fight ahead of them. Now it’s a just slaughter. The changelings had the element of surprise, but in a straight up fight… You’ve seen children put up a better fight. A blue mist sprays against your face, temporarily blinding you. Pinkie Pie steps in wiping away the blood and firing her party cannon. Applejack takes on a handful at one time, using her powerful hind legs to crack a few necks. With the forces divided, this battle is all but won. You pull your sword free, wiping away the blood with one of Rarity’s rags. Celestia comes up behind you, putting a hoof on your shoulder. “How many casualties?” ”Too many.” “I wish I got here sooner.” ”You would have only delayed the inevitable.” Her words are meant to reassure you, but they are tainted by the reality you face. “Perhaps, but it’d make me feel better.” At least Shining Armor showed up to the rescue, he’s the true hero of this battle. ”Twilight’s worried about you you know.” “She always is. Anything particular this time?” ”She thinks the war is getting to you. Apparently you haven’t been yourself lately.” Nightly visits from the changeling queen doesn’t exactly help. “I’m fine. I’ll be better once this is all over.” You walk away, back to camp as Celestia speaks again. ”Do not underestimate her Anon. She’s more devious than you think.” “You don’t need to tell me Princess. I figured that out already…” Twilight’s waiting for you in your tent when you finally enter. ”Hello Anon.” “Twilight, what did I tell you about worrying about me?” ”You talked to the princess I see.” “Yes I did, and I want you to calm down. I’m fine.” She sits down on your bed, looking over you. ”You say that, but you don’t appear to be so. What’s bothering you?” “Nothing. I just need some sleep.” On second thought that’s not such a good idea. You’re not exactly looking forward to tonight’s rendezvous with royalty. ”Right there. You look… different. What are you thinking about?” “I’m thinking that I’ve had a long day.” You sit beside her on the bed, leaning onto your back. ”Why won’t you tell me?” You sigh and shake your head. “It’s not something I want to talk about.” ”But it’s something you should talk about.” “Debatable at best.” ”Please, for me?” You can’t help but sigh. She knows just what to say, “Fine, but just let me talk, no feedback alright?” She nods, listening intently. “You’re important to me Twilight, you know that. The way things are going, that may not be a good thing.” She looks saddened by this development but continues listening. “This thing we have… It’s a burden on me. It’s an exploit others can take advantage of.” “A few days ago, I had a dream, more like a vision. I talked to Chrysalis, the queen, she showed me things. She said that whatever happens to you will be my doing. I watch you die every night. Whenever I close my eyes I don’t see my beautiful girl. I see death…” This is notably distressing to her, her arms tightening around your arm. “She’s going to use you against me, and it won’t be just a dream. It’ll be real.” ”When the time comes, you’ll make the right choice Anon.” “You don’t know that.” She rests her head on your chest, “Yes I do.” You rub her back with your hand, lulling her to sleep. It doesn’t take much to knock her out now that you know her tiny weak spots. She dozes on your chest, listening to your heartbeat. She has faith in you, which is more than you have for yourself. But she has it nonetheless, and you have to be strong for her. Chrysalis won’t use your love against you like a pawn. She can have Equestria. She can have Erreda. She can even have you, but there’s one thing she can’t have. And that’s Twilight…
Chapter 7: The AssaultYou march, the beating of hooves and boots against the dirt drumming in your ears. Joined with you are the remnants of both the Erredian and Equestrian armies. After the surprise attack, both were left in shambles. Luckily, Shining Armor arrived in time to keep both armies intact. You stand between Princess Celestia and King John, your father. Forward you march, your destination? The Changeling hive, an uncharted series of tunnels and pitfalls within the Silver Streak Mountains. Those who returned were never quite themselves, the implications obvious. The three of you, Celestia, John and yourself, speak of the threat that awaits. ”The changelings are not to be underestimated. They’ll take advantage of any weakness they find.” ”Let them come.” King John boasts proudly, “There’s no protection from me.” “No foe is shunned by the Erredians. Everyone’s fair game.” You help explain. ”The klorfors had it coming. They tried to klorf me right out of my money.” “I’m sure they did.” The sun peaks through the tree tops as you proceed into the Everfree Forest. You’d heard tales of the Everfree forest, and you’re glad to see them falsified. The Gne is infinitely creepier than this place. Even still, a familiar chill runs down your spine. You can’t help but feel like you’re being watched. ”How much longer Princess?” Twilight pipes up from behind you. ”We will arrive soon enough.” Your hand runs across her back, putting her at ease, “We’ll make it.” ”I don’t doubt it.” You pull out your map, tracing your course along it. We should arrive in a couple hours at this rate. Though what we do from there is anyone’s guess. ”What’s our plan of attack Anon?” “I was hoping you had one already.” John, turns his head away. His disapproval just gets higher and higher. ”Strike hard and fast, cave them in and let them rot.” ”Unwise,” Celestia replies, “The solution is only temporary. We must strike at its heart.” “Chrysalis…” You can almost see her in your mind, laughing at your dismay. ”Indeed. Incapacitate her and bring her forth for judgement. She will pay for her crimes.” This doesn’t sit so well with you. ”Your justice is frail. A thousand years of exile will only infuriate her. Your plan is as temporary as mine.” “Then we do them both,” you reply coldly, your grip tightened upon your sword. “We keep them occupied outside with our main force, making sure to draw as much attention as possible.” Celestia nods but is still interested about the rest of the plan, “And what about Chrysalis?” “Another team will infiltrate the cave system, making sure to disable any vital systems around the way. Chrysalis is the main objective. Everything else is secondary.” ”And when we find her?” your father asks. “We kill her.” Your forced to release your grip, anger building within you. Your father has a hint of a smile, “I presume you wish to lead the second team.” “I will lead the second team.” ”Remember what I said…” “I’ll be fine; you just make sure to watch our backs.” The vines tighten their hold on the earth as the foliage grows thicker. Groans sound off from inside the forest, catching the troops off guard. You tell them it’s just jump-scares, made purely for shock value, but they don’t care. It’s real enough for them. Shining Armor does his best to settle them down, and he seems to be far more successful. He appears to be a natural leader, his demeanor invoking confidence all by itself. The mountain appears through the gaps of the leaves. A sigh of relief is released at its sight, many eager to end this endeavor. ”I’ll have a team of my men readied for you.” “Thanks, but no thanks. I already have one in mind.” ”Suit yourself; just don’t come crawling back for reinforcements.” “Not even in your dreams.” You part ways with the forest and move onto the rocky tundra. The terrain is unsuited to ponies, but your malleable feet are able to adapt to the rocks. You aid the ponies in their struggle to traverse the unfamiliar land. Those who can avoid the path, flying over them, but not all are as lucky. You catch Twilight as she stumbles who smiles back at you affectionately. At least she’s keeping in good spirits. “Where’s the entrance?” That’s a good question if you don’t say so yourself. As far as you can see there isn’t a main entrance into the hive. “I can’t see any.” ”They’re right here silly.” You look to Pinkie who’s peering into some sort of pit. ”What’s that?” You stand next to Pinkie with Twilight, joining her stares. ”How deep is it? ”It’s hard to tell, hang on.” Twilight whips out some measuring tape from her bag and goes to work on it. Silly Twilight and her calculations. She takes her time, getting the measurements just right, even as the army moves past her. Only Rarity matches her utmost precision. She frantically scribbles down a bunch of numerical jargon on her notepad. You sigh, picking up one of the many surrounding rocks. “Excuse me,” you say tossing the rock into the abyss. Twilight tries to stop you, fearing it might interfere with her projections, but she’s a bit slow on the draw. Darkness takes the rock as you wait for its signal. A pop rings our from below as the stone collides with the cavern. “Seven seconds? That’s about 250 meters give or take,” you answer keeping on the path. You fall down one of those don’t expect to come back up.” ”Where does it lead?” You observe more openings around you, making sure to avoid them. “Changelings don’t happen to be able to fly do they?” ”They can.” “These likely lead to their caverns then. They probably use these for speedy entrance and exits.” ”Then why are we still searching if the entrance is right there?” “Because not everyone can fly. If anyone else tried to go down there they’d be met with a swift demise. Who knows how many are already waiting down there?” ”You’d be torn limb from limb before you could even raise your sword,” your father adds. “We need to keep searching for the main entrance, that’s our ticket in.” ”And if there isn’t one?” “Well then I’ll be joining Tartarus sooner than I expected.” The pits narrow but become far more plentiful the higher you go. Pinkie hops merrily over them, either unaware or uncaring of the danger. You yank her out of the air when she gets close enough. “I need you to calm down, you’re giving away our position with all your hopping.” ”But it’s just a hop, skip and a ju-“ You press your fingers against lips, silencing her. “I don't care who you are back in the world, you give away our position one more time, I'll bleed ya, real quiet. Leave ya here. Got that?” She silently nods, her hair deflating. You might have been a bit harsh on the little p0ny. “Just keep it to a minimum okay.” She poofs up again, “Okie Dokie Lokie!” She walks along with the rest of the troops jumping around on occasion. You can’t help but like that p0ny, even with her wacky behavior. You rejoin John and Celestia at the forefront of the group. ”That girl is trouble. You’re too soft.” “Not everyone can be an ass at all times.” ”Pinkie is an odd one, it’s just her way.” John shakes his head knowingly. ”Her way is going to get us caught.” “Why does everyone worry so much? It’s seriously pissing me off.” ”You’d be right to worry boy. This isn’t a stroll in the park.” “What, are changelings going to erupt from the ground and swarm us when we least expect it? I’ve seen apes write better with their own dung.” The ground rumbles, the quake striking when you least expected it. Touché world. Touché… You stand your ground despite the disturbance, holding onto Twilight as well. The rocks tremble beneath you eager to introduce your face with its own. Then, silence… You look around inspecting the damage, finding everyp0ny safe and sound. “Well I’ll be damned. You see you guys…” A shimmer catches your eye from one of the pits, enticing you towards it. You tell Pinkie to be careful, and now you have to fish her out of trouble. Ponies really need to listen to you more often. You kneel by the pit’s edge gazing downwards. Any normal pony would have died from that fall, but Pinkie? She’s probably skipping down there without a care in the world. Hell, she probably jumped down there just to spite you. Oh the things you’ll do to her… “Whatcha looking at?” “Just listening for Pink- Pinkie?” ”Who else would I be?” If she’s here, then what did you see over here. You look back to the hole, a pair of blue eyes staring back at you. NOPE! You thrust your arm into the darkness, stabbing the hidden changeling with your hidden blade. It lets out a shriek as it collapses back down the chasm with an audible thud. You breathe heavily, content with your work. A drip of blood escapes the tip of your blade falling after its owner. ”Ooh more friends.” You look back down again, a dozen pairs of eyes splattered with changeling blood to meet you. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE! You pull Pinkie back as a torrent of changelings erupts from the pit. The battle horn sounds as more of them spew from their cavernous home. Twilight covers you as you stand up and draw your sword. Pinkie whips out her party cannon, firing a shot in the air for good measure. The rest of the mane 6 hole up with the Princess and King, knocking away the oncoming waves. No time like the present. You charge forward, colliding with a changeling and throwing him back down the hole. Swining upwards, you catch one by surprise, spilling his intestines before you. The adrenaline… Oh does it feel good. You’re pushed forward by a changeling latching onto your back, driving his teeth into your shoulder. You grunt and knee him in the stomach, tossing him over you. He squirms under your boot as you crush his windpipe with a quick thrust. You put pressure on the wound, a steady flow of blood seeping from it. A soothing sensation shoots through you as something touches the back of your shoulder. ”Don’t stop there, I’m with you.” You thank Twilight, kicking away the corpse at your feet. Pinkie blasts away into the crowd, knocking out a handful of changelings at a time. You pull out the knives from your calf, throwing them her direction. They fly towards either side of her and strike true. Two changelings falling beside her. ”Nice throw.” “Compliment me later,” you say pulling a changeling off of one of your Erredian comrades. You go to check his pulse only to find his throat ripped out. “No time for mourning Anon,” you say to yourself searching his pack. You pull out a pair of black orbs and move back to Twilight. “Spark please.” Her horn crackles to life, igniting the fuse on your device. “Firebomb out!” You chuck the orb down a hole exploding on the head of some poor soul. A rain of fire and molten rock spews from the opening, closing up the passage. “Use your FBs! Stop the flow!” You proceed to the next hole, slamming the bomb into one of the changeling’s mouths. “Give Chrysalis my regards.” You kick him inside, ducking at the ear-ringing explosion. A green blast gets your attention as an aerial assault is taken on you. Pulling out another knife from your free arm you throw it at your attacker, slicing straight through his fragile wing. He begins spiraling and picking up speed as he falls towards you at an alarming rate. You don’t have time to escape as he crashes into you and sends you both rolling down the hill. The two of you claw and bite at the other, all the while rolling helplessly around. He grabs you and brings a rear hoof to your face, knocking your head upwards. You glimpse your destination approaching fast, but are unable to escape. He keeps his grip tight on you as you’re both pulled into the dark abyss below. You fall, likely to your death. The changeling tries to slip away, but you won’t let him off that easy. You grind his head into the stone walls, a blue mist escaping from his mouth as his teeth are torn from it. The tunnel tightens, your grinding slowing your fall, though not enough to be thankful for. You come to a chokepoint, the two of you forced into the open room beneath it. You say your final prayers, colliding with the earth. Blackness… So much blackness… Air fills your lungs as you gasp for breath. Your eyes open to find nothing more than an eternal darkness. A tiny light shimmers from above, too far to reach. You roll off the changeling underneath you, him not so lucky to survive. Small aches throb across your body, but you think you’re okay otherwise. You push yourself up and try to stand, a sickening crack forcing you back down. Tears flow from your eyes as you grasp your ankle in agony. This can’t be happening. Not now and not here. Painkillers. That’s what you need, just get some painkillers and you’ll be fine. You reach into your satchel and feel around, a cool liquid drenching the compartment. Your fears are revealed when you begin feeling shards of glass sifting in the liquid. Another throb forces your submission, making you bare your teeth and groan miserably. You can’t fight like this. You need to find a medic or doctor, someone who can fix you up. You need to find Twilight. You reach back into your satchel hesitantly, avoiding the glass shards, hoping to find anything to help you out. The pain in your leg builds as the adrenaline wears off. You’re forced to double your search efforts. Scooping out the liquid and glass makes it easier, but the darkness cloaks the location of anything vital. Your fingers touch a small stone, giving you instant relief. You pull it out and move back over to the changeling. You mask your hand in its blood and caress the stone in an attempt to activate it. The blood stone does nothing, staying as cold as it was before. You had hoped you didn’t need to use your own, but you’re out of options. You pull out your sword slightly, running your hand along the edge, a sharp pain telling you to stop. You thrust the stone upon your wound and the effect is instantaneous. The stone rumbles and warms up, a red glow appearing within. The glow spreads throughout and soon encompasses the entire mass. In a flash, the glow intensifies ten fold, filling the room with its majesty. The illumination reveals the enclosed stone walls and passages that inhabit them. Markings are carved into the walls likely by the changeling’s themselves. Pictures and places are a few of them, likely a history of their kind. Wherever you are, it seems not many enter here, the thick layer of dust giving that away. The sounds of battle are mute on your ears, whether from the distance or the battle’s finish is unclear. Whatever the case, you need to find a way to regroup with your main force. Your plan has gone to shit, and it’s time to pick up the pieces. You drag yourself to a nearby wall and grab onto whatever you can as you pull yourself up. Gently using your good leg you apply weight onto it. The crack never comes, neither does the pain thankfully. Holding onto both the wall and the blood stone you hop forwards, keeping your broken ankle suspended. You leave your satchel behind, the combination of potions sure to poison you should you attempt to consume it. You keep moving forwards, advancing deeper into the hive. The tunnels twist and turn the further you go. You’ll die of dehydration before a changeling will get to you. A shuffling makes you spin around with your back to the wall. You didn’t think about how this light would actually draw attention to yourself. Something darts across the entrance, too fast for you to see who it is. You back up, keeping your front facing the source. You feel your balance shift, waving your arms in an attempt to stay up, but it’s not enough. You collapse onto your back, sliding down some tube, a cackle echoing from above. You skid down the hollow tube, the rough sides bouncing you up and down. Your ankle gets the worst of it, thrashing wildly up and down sending tendrils of pain up your body. You reach down to grab it, your head striking against the ceiling. The force is enough to darken your sight, each second more faded than the last. The pain subsides as you drift off, lulled to sleep by the twists of the tube. You awaken with a massive thud, your stone lying next to your head. The pain from your ankle has since doubled from your fall. You bring yourself up, your hand covered in some type of moss. Raising the stone above you reveals a massive chamber with an underground spring. Moss and other foliage cover much of the rocks that you find yourself upon. You crawl over to the water’s edge and submerge your head, drawing water into your eager stomach. You pull back satisfied, wiping the water out of your eyes. You move upwards back onto one leg and move around trying to find an exit. The walls curve around seamlessly, nothing helpful to you. There’s the tunnel you fell down, but there’s now way you’d be able to reach it or climb it. This is your tomb, an underground spring, rotting alone. Fuck you too world. You throw the blood stone in a bout of anger, skipping across the water until it finally sinks to the bottom. The lake glows a dull red, shadows cast upwards. The walls become lined with the crimson color, one section a bit darker though. You focus your eyes; the walls seem to… bend? Like there’s a hole… It’s the exit! Anger you’ve done good by me again. You’re about to dive right in when a shadow pulses through the deep recesses of the water. It seem to notice you, swimming closer to the waters edge, almost enough to touch It darts away before you can get it. It’s just toying with you. A dull tone sounds from the creature, several more departing from the exit. Their cries sound in unison, creating a sort of tantalizing music. It pisses you off is what it does. They move in turn to taunt you, darting away a second before they get in your range. Well two can play that game… You draw your sword, hiding it as another one swims towards you. You thrust forward, piercing the creature’s side and withdrawing it near you. The other’s shriek when they realize what happened, but you couldn’t care the least. You plant the creature on its side, its breathing erratic as your sword spears into its lungs. Withdrawing your sword leads to the creature wheezing, followed by silence. You press your fingers to its neck, confirming its death. The lack of light doesn’t help you identify it, but your fingers are still very much useful. You move your fingers around its body, memorizing the small details about it. It’s roughly a fourth your size, about that of a filly. It has wings but they feel weak and limp. Its canines protrude from its mouth. It’s a baby changeling? You suddenly feel revolted at your behavior. You just killed a child, a changeling one, but a child nonetheless. They were just playing… and you killed them. Why did you land here of all places? You didn’t want to hurt them, you just wanted to leave. And you still need to, but you shouldn’t harm them in the process. They’ve already lost enough. You say a few prayers for the child, placing your feet inside the water at its edge. The warm water soothes your aching leg, but movement causes you to reel in pain. You’ve never swam with one leg before, but you’re going to have to try. You lower yourself further, water soaking your torso. You remove your cloak and set it on the shore, submerging yourself fully underwater. You paddle with your arms and swing your leg as you move further in. The children keep their distance from you after what you did to their sibling. They’re likely scared shitless that you’re in the water with them. You’re about halfway there when you feel your chest start to burn, the need for air arising. You probably should have dived when you reached the end. Swimming back up you breach the surface and take a deep breathe. You stay there rebuilding your stamina before you continue on. A sharp pain rings from your ankle as you feel yourself brought downwards. You instinctively strike downwards with your foot, colliding with something as you’re brought back underwater. You look down to see one of the children’s teeth sunk deep into your ankle, two more dragging you down. You flail your legs until they leave you be and detach themselves from you. The second you turn away you know they’ll be right back on you, but you can’t bring yourself to kill another. You back paddle towards the exit, the changeling children closing back in. One hits you from the side, though you’re able to smack it away with your hand. Another dives at your good foot and locks around it, teeth in your calf. It manages to slow you down, and despite your efforts to kick it off it stays latched on. The other move in at your vulnerability making you have to think fast. You bring your knee to your chest, in turn brining the kid’s head within striking distance. You punch him square in the noggin, knocking him out and letting go. The others don’t stop though as they’re tired of waiting. Gotta Go Fast! You face the exit which is closer than ever and swim forward. You bear the pain as you paddle with both of your legs and arms, increasing your speed immensely. The distance between you and your pursuers widen as you keep moving, picking up the blood stone along the way. They stop following as you enter the tunnel which turns out longer than you imagined. The burning sensation returns, but there’s no way but forwards. Your vision dims as the overwhelming pain starts to get to you. Your muscles grow weaker, your momentum dropping. Another room, inches away… Just need to get there… You float to the top reaching your hand towards the surface. A hoof reaches down to meet you, pulling you free of the aquatic grave. The cool air chills your fiery chest as you inhale all you can. “T- t- Thank you…” You flop onto your back, keeping your leg suspended in the water. The rush of adrenaline blocked out the pain, but it’ll be back soon enough. You thank your rescuer again, a pony from the looks of it. A pair of green eyes flash at you, her giggle sending chills down your back. Your vision recovers, revealing what you feared. She giggles at your expression, licking her canines. ”Did you miss me?”
Chapter 8: The ExitShe places a hoof on your ankle to prevent your escape, grinding your bones against the ground. ”I asked you a question.” The pain is unbearable as you writhe on the floor. “Fu-fuck you!” ”That isn’t a way to treat your Queen now is it?” She says putting more pressure on you. You turn away, a force holding you still. ”Look at me when I speak to you.” Her eyes issue dominance, but the bags under them show her weakness. She’s definitely seen better days. This is likely the utmost she can do in her current state. She giggles again as you squirm beneath her, the nostalgic feeling of power filling her again. ”What do we have here?” She picks up the blood stone, inspecting its form. ”A blood stone huh? I’d heard of their existence, but never thought to see one myself.” She drops it nonchalantly, more concerned with you than simple relics. ”It’s not very nice coming into a person’s home and wrecking the place.” “You didn’t seem to have a problem with it.” ”Touché Anon.” She grins wickedly, “Do you not wonder why I let you live?” “I’m *cough* more useful to you alive. Isn’t that right?” ”Oh you are a clever one.” “Cut the crap. Do what you’re going to do and leave me be.” ”Good things come to those who wait, and I’ve been waiting quite a while.” She lifts her hoof and steps back giving you some breathing room. ”We’ll meet again Anon, and next time won’t be quite so joyful.” She turns her back to you, turning her head sideways. ”Both for you and Twilight.” Anger boils within you, her pompous attitude beyond irritant. You lunge at her, finding nothing but emptiness. ”Do not think you can defeat me Anon. It will save you much time.” The voice circles you, coming from all directions at once. “When I find you…” ”We’ll see Anon. Until next time.” Silence falls upon you once more. The room empty for all but you. You get up; the pain in your ankle has doubled. You hop to the exit and make your way through. This place has an unnatural heat about it, making the air humid and moist. The plants grow wild, cracking through the stone. You must have fell into their actual home. This is a breeding ground for their kind. The changelings however are nowhere to be found, likely caught up with the battle above. You need to get back there and out of this forsaken hole. You find what looks like a staircase and climb them. You’re greeted at the top with a changeling’s toothy grin. He encloses his hoof around you tightly and tosses you into the next room. He follows you shortly, laughing a familiar tune. He wrestles on top of you, biting and clawing at your vulnerable form. You get a few good punches in, and it looks like you’re going to win. He swiftly turns ninety degrees and bites into your ankle, which is more than enough to turn you into a submissive bitch. Unfortunately, it was a bit too much for you, instead sending you into a frenzy. You pull his head back with one hand and fasten your hands around his teeth with your other. You rip them out of his mouth, stabbing out his eyes. You pull him underneath you and pound away with your fists. Streams of blood jet from his mouth with each strike. One after another you pummel him relentlessly. A pair of hooves tries to pull you off, but you’re too caught up to care. He doesn’t have the strength to lift his own head anymore so you lift it for him. You pull him and strike him back down, repeating the process with precision. No mercy… ”Anon!” The voice is merely a whisper to you as you focus on the changeling. You shrug off the hooves, keeping up your beating. ”Snap outa it!” The voice is a bit louder now and your pace seems to have slowed. Your punches and jabs grow weaker as your arms succumb to exhaustion. ”ANON!” Oh god the noise! You lean back on your knees and look up the orange pony staring right back at you. “H-Hi Applejack. Nice to s-see you.” You slump backwards, Applejack catching you. ”Whoa there sugarcube, just relax.” You let yourself go, straightening back up at a thought. “How do I know you’re really Applejack?” She rolls her eyes and helps you up. ”Ya don’t. You’re gonna have ta trust me.” Sounds like something Applejack would say. ”Looks like you got a little carried away there.” “He forced me down a tube, almost made me drown, and bit me. I think he deserved it.” ”Fair enough.” You lean on her as you keep moving. “How’d you get here anyways? Is the battle over?” ”Not yet. Twilight rounded us up after she couldn’t find you. We found the entrance and split up to search for ya.” “That’s a terrible idea, it leaves you guys open for attack.” ”Have some faith there sugarcube, we can handle ourselves just fine.” “How were you able to make it through the dark alone?” you ask questionably. “These here eyes don’t only work in the day. Apple bucking is a full-time job.” You keep moving through the damp corridors trying to regroup with the others. A ceaseless voice sounds off down the tunnel, instantly identifying two things. One they aren’t a changeling. And two, you hate how much Pinkie’s voice cheers you up. You turn to greet her, but are actually met by two ponies. Pinkie Pie and Applejack. You turn to Applejack who looks beyond pissed. Applejack charges Applejack, oh boy this is confusing, and bucks her as hard as she can. You hop over to the two combatants, the real Applejack whipping the impostor up. With a final buck the impostor is forced out of its disguise, cast down on the floor. “Ain’t nothing gonna copy me.” ”Oh boi! I didn’t even know you weren’t you, until you were like SUPER angry.” Oh god make it stop. Applejack reads your mind, managing to silence her before you shut her up… permanently. Oh you know you’d never do that. She’d kill you first. ”Eeep!” You recognize that adorable cry, Fluttershy! Applejack and Pinkie Pie rush to your side as your sword. They keep you steady as Fluttershy sprints past you, taking cover behind you. Three changelings come right at you as you ready your sword. You swing with what little strength you can, striking the first one in the torso. The second lunges straight at you, but instead is met with a pointblank party cannon. The last one calculates his odds for survival and flees down the corridor, a small light coming from down the hallway. ”And where in Equestria do you think you’re going?” The light surrounds the changeling as he tries in vain to escape. Rarity waltzes down the hall with the changeling in tow. ”You scruff up my hair, chase Fluttershy away and think you can get away with it?” She slams him against the wall, knocking him out instantly. She notices your band of ponies and smiles happily. ”Nice to see you all safe and sound. It’s absolutely dreadful down here.” God damn you hate her so much… ”What happened to you?” she says examining your ankle. “I fell down some stairs.” ”You really must be more careful, let me help you.” Not in this life time. “That’s okay, I can manage for now.” ”Don’t be silly I’ll just-“ ”I think he wants to be left alone Rarity,” Applejack clarifies. She pouts after she gets the message. Nothing personal… ”We should look for Twilight, she’ll want to know we found ya safe and sound.” ”I agree, the sooner we get out of these caves the better.” The pain in your ankle is almost unbearable, even with adrenaline pumping through you, “Well then, care to help me out?” They bolster you up to keep your leg off the ground as you walk further along. ”You sure are heavy Anon.” “Maybe you’re just weak.” Applejack didn’t take too kindly to that, doubling her efforts. ”…next time I tell you to split up, take me more seriously.” ”Oh, I’m sorry Twilight, we just thought it’d be best to stick together. I mean, if that’s okay with you.” You hear Twilight’s and Fluttershy’s voices at the opposite side of the room, coming closer. ”I got your back Fluttershy, nothing’ll get you on my watch.” ”Pinkie and I will be sure to protect you darling.” That’s a lot of people, and the confrontation could get a bit awkward. You stay with the others as Twilight’s group turns the corner. They stop and stare at you all, dumbfounded by your appearance. “Nice to see you Twilight.” She moves to hug you, but holds back when she sees everyone else. ”How are you here?” “These guys found me, good thing too. I couldn’t have gotten much farther without a little help.” ”Sounds a bit too convenient to me.” “They’re clean, trust me.” ”Forgive me if I have my doubts.” You nod your head in understanding; at least she’s the real Twilight. “If you don’t mind…” you say moving on your own towards the group, using your sword as a cane. ”Not at all, but I assure you they’re the real ones.” “Ahugh. We’ll see.” You walk over to the second Pinkie Pie, stopping just in front of her. “You. When’s your birthday?” “Twenty-second of February.” “What year?” ”Every year.” Smart ass huh? Doesn’t ring any Pinkie bells. “Get out.” You punch her in the face, KOing her. Twilight watches in horror as Pinkie drops, reverting back to her regular changeling form. You go to Rarity next, making your stance extra slow for dramatic effect. “When’s your birthday?” ”Eight of May… 1969?” “You’re 37?” ”Yeah.” Rarity is not nearly that old, and she’d never admit it if she was. “Get out,” you say giving her the same treatment. She falls down, also changing back to normal. You’re two for two. Don’t fail me now brain. You walk to Fluttershy. “When’s your birthday?” ”Uhhhh,” she replies with a high pitched squeal. Nope, far too loud to be the real one. “Out!” you say making your next punch extra strong. Three for three, let’s make it a spree. You move to Rainbow Dash, giving her a devilish grin. “When’s your birthday?” ”You’ll get your answer when I’m twenty bits heavier.” You can’t help but laugh at the answer. The pain returns to your leg shifting you back to your earlier demeanor. You extend your hand towards her, giving a firm handshake. “Nice to see you Dash.” ”Likewise.” Twilight intercedes, apologizing for doubting you. “We all make mistakes, but if you wanted to thank me…” You point to your ankle which has by now swollen vastly. ”Of course. Allow me.” She presses her horn against your ankle, your leg igniting in pain. Your bones realign, muscles recovering in mere seconds. One heart pounding snap later and the pain dissipates. You place it on the ground tenderly, slowly regaining full control once more. ”That should fix you up.” You kiss Twilight on the cheek as thanks, marching firmly once more. “You all ready to get the fuck out of here?” They’re more than ready it seems. “Alright then, let’s move it out.” You hold up the blood stone as you follow the flow of the cave, hoping to find the exit. You’re led to a ravine, the walls widening as you walk along the upper path. The path is narrow, only allowing two of you to fit comfortably side by side. ”How long does this thing go?” Rainbow Dash asks. “Judging by the depth and length, pretty fucking far.” ”No one has ever mapped these caverns before; it could last for miles for all we know.” “It’s just a matter of time before we find a way out.” ”How can you be so sure? We’ve been looking for hours and haven’t seen a single one.” “Don’t you feel it? Pinkie, come on now.” ”Of course I feel it. I thought everyone did.” ”Um, I feel it too.” ”What is it?” “That slight ting of cold. The gentle breeze that wafts through the air. Feel it now?” The others stop and take in their surrounding, eyes wide with surprise. ”I do.” “It’s been growing the further we go. We can make it if we hurry up.” ”Do you guys hear that?” A sort of shuffling noise reaches you, followed by the beating of hooves. ”Finally some backup.” No, the noise is coming from behind you all, and only one thing with hooves lives down here. “We’ve got to keep moving. Now!” They soon come to the same conclusion you did and bolt for the exit. Not today changeling scum. A green blob hurls over your shoulder, exploding deeper in the cavern. The soft buzzing of winds catches your attention, causing you to look back. A few changelings are running behind you on the path, hissing and bearing their fangs. Five more are flying on the side, catching up to you regardless of your speed. ”I’ve got these guys.” Rainbow says valiantly. You tug on her tail as she tries to fly off, tossing her further along the path. “Not today sister.” You let the other ponies pass you as you backpedal down the walkway. Drawing your sword you prepare for the coming attack. The first of them lunges high as another slides down low. You roll backwards, ending up on your knees. You thrust your sword parallel to the floor, skewering the first changeling. The second lands before you, laughing at your predicament. You simple give him a smile, stopping his laugh all together. You stab him below the chin with your hidden blade, his eye going cross-eyed. You kick off of his dazed form, shooting backwards and keeping on the track. They pursuers ignore their fallen brothers, though they seem to back off for now. The flyers lay into you with their magical blasts, keeping you on your toes. They sacrifice power of speed; their bolts doing little more than zap the floor. If you had been a bit slower this tactic may have worked, but you’re able to dance around them with a little work. ”Hurry up Anon!” Applejack yells at you. You look back to see the mane 6 outside the entrance, their silhouettes visible against the sun’s rays. The changelings don’t seem to care for that idea. Their horns grow a mellow green as they charge up their attack, a large orb flying at you. You fall backwards, just barely avoiding the attack, the orb crashing into the wall. The walls begin the shake, pieces of stone collapsing from the ceiling. Oh you didn’t just do that… You pick yourself up and sprint to the exit, ignoring the pursuers chase. A chunk of stone collapses on your head, throwing you off balance, but still moving forward. You stumble a few times as you see everything turn double, then triple. The more you try to focus the more your head begins to hurt. ”Anon, get out of there!” You’re trying god dammit. One of the changelings flies in front of you in an attempt to stop you. You keep moving towards it ready to give it a fight. A crash sounds out followed by a massive boulder pummeling the creature off the walkway. That’ll teach him to- whoa boy. The path shifts violently s another orb devastates the supporting rock. You’re close now, close enough to smell the fresh air beckoning you. You leap forward as the path collapses underneath you, the next section growing unsteady. Twilight attempts to hold the entrance open, but is barely hanging on. Another rush of shattered stone closes up more of the exit, leaving only a tiny portion left. ”Anon!” You fall as your legs buckle underneath you. Your weight causes you to slide down the incline. You manage to hold onto the edge, “I’m not giving up on you.” A brief feeling of weightlessness leaves you hanging in the air, Twilight and the mane 6 at the cliff beside you. “Get outside now.” ”We’re not going to leave you behind.” Another section collapses, leaving barely enough room to escape. “I’m not going to fit, go now while you can.” ”I won’t leave you again.” Her determination is going to get her in trouble, just not today. “I know.” You reach forward with your hand, flicking her on the horn, sending you spiraling back down into darkness. You guide yourself against the ravine walls as it begins to bottom out. You begin decelerating, eventually petering out to a brisk descent. Your descent reaches an anticlimactic end as you lay stomach to the floor. No new injuries, cuts, breaks or anything to speak of, just fatigue. Is it just you, or is the floor really comfortable? Yeah it’s just you. Shards of stone soon reach you, though none are big enough to do any damage. A grinding sound reaches you, two surfaces rubbing violently. You swear to god if it’s what you think it is… The sound slows the closer it gets. A gasp comes from behind you followed by the galloping of hooves. ”Anon?” You groan as she interrupts your little mini nap. Can’t a man just rest in the bowels of a hostile race’s lair anymore? Twilight runs over and inspects you, worried about how much you’re injured. ”Don’t move everything will be okay.” “I didn’t plan on it.” She prods you gently across your body, asking if anything hurt. Nope, nope, and, you guessed it, nope. ”We need to get out of here,” she says levitating your blood stone back over to you. The light has dulled substantially, incapable of clearing the room of its dark tone. “I know, it’s just… this floor feels so damn good.” ”Take this seriously. Who knows how many changelings are down here?” “Enough to know how to make a nice stone floor.” ”Anon…” “Alright alright, just give me a minute okay? She sighs and lies beside you. ”You weren’t lying, this feels so good.” “I know right?!” Both of you lie on the barren floor, enjoying each other’s company. ”Anon?” “Yeah Twilight?” ”If we make it out of here-“ “When. When we make it out.” ”What’s going to happen? “I haven’t really thought about it that much. Not much I think. They’ll send in another team to get Chrysalis. Upon their success our countries will try to pick up what’s left from the war.” ”I didn’t mean for them. I meant for us.” “Typical woman, concerned with the little things.” She scowls at you jokingly, and you return with a chuckle. “That I have had some thoughts about.” “The thing with me and Luna? Yeah, that’s no good. She can barely stand to be around me, though she has warmed up to me a little, and I cannot stress that last part enough.” ”Warmed up?” “Little.” She also laughs, but still fairly serious. “I don’t see it going anywhere. We’d both be better off without the marriage. I’m thinking of having it annulled.” ”Can you do that?” “In fact I can. We never consummated out marriage, which in my culture is grounds for annulment.” ”But, you’d have to leave. Equestria wouldn’t be your home anymore.” “Unless I got married to another member of royalty.” ”Celestia doesn’t want to be bogged down with marriage, she said as much.” “I never said it had to be Celestia.” ”But who else is there?” You close your eyes and shake your head waiting for her to figure it out. For all her smarts she overlooks the obvious. You wouldn’t have her any other way. Something stings into your back, another force pressed onto your spine. The wound grows hot as it pulls your mind from you. ”Anon,” she looks atop of you and gasps. You try to move, but are pinned down helplessly. “Get… off…” ”Such a meal. I haven’t had one quite so tasty before.” Twilight casts something at her, but is deflected with ease. She cackles maniacally driving slightly deeper into your back. Everything starts to go fuzzy, images blurring together, strength fading. ”Just a few more seconds my dear, then it’ll all be over.” Your heart begins to slow as you feel your very life drawn out of you. “You will not take Anon from me.” Twilight charges into Chrysalis, both disappearing in a bout of green and purple flame. There you lie, weakened and alone, only the blood stone’s soft glow to keep you company.
Chapter 9: Misson's EndYou move to get up, the sting in your back making it a chore. You feel like shit, like everything you had was taken from you, leaving only a morsel of your life left. When you find Chrysalis you’ll make her- You fall back down, your arms buckling beneath you. You won’t do anything in this state. The soft buzzing of wings dampens your spirits as two changelings land beside you. Their heavy breathing leads you to believe they aren’t in the best shape either. Even still, you’re in no shape to take either of them on. They walk over to you, each step bringing you closer to your fate. They stop inches from you, snapping and speaking in their native tongue. One brings their head down to yours and bears its teeth. Well fuck you too world. The second fires a blast at your aggressor. He falls over, a hole now where his chest used to be. You crawl away, the changeling with you every step of the way. You grab your blood stone before he can kick it away, hiding it under your chest. He kicks you onto your back, grinning malevolently. His form cracks and fizzles as he takes a more suiting image. One of your father. ”Weak, just as I knew you were.” He kicks you again, using both physical and psychological torment. ”You never were a son of mine. Nothing more than a mistake.” He strikes against your skull, forcing you back on your stomach. ”How does it feel to be a disappointment?” He presses his knee into your spine, leaning his head next to yours. ”Well?” “Feels good.” He slams your head against the floor, though you block it with your arm. “What’s the matter? Can’t finish a wounded opponent?” Your words do well to anger him, making his attempts sloppy but strong. He places his fingers in your wound, extending and twisting against your fleshy walls. ”You’re swine! Nothing more!” “Swine huh?” you mutter, the pain making speech difficult, “Better than trash.” He raises his hands to hit you again, giving you the time you need. As he brings down his fists you forcefully roll to the side out from under his knee. He strikes the floor, the cracking of bones music to your ears. The impostor howls in pain, cursing and muttering profanities at his carelessness. ”Come back here you coward!” Her morphs again, reverting back to his regular form. Apparently he already forgot about his injury. He instantly falls onto his knees, his hooves shattered from his previous injury. The changeling nurses his hooves, completely ignoring you and allowing you to go on the offensive. You work onto your knees and lean back, withdrawing the blood stone. “Sorry about this old fella.” You smash the stone against the floor the sound ringing through the ravine. The stone stays whole, but in turn catches the changeling’s attention. He clicks violently. Even if you don’t know what he said, you know he’s pissed. You bring the stone down again and again in an effort to destroy it. The changeling scooting closer and closer, a waiting game for him. After another smash the stone seems to crack, a red mist seeping out of it. The cloud flows around your hand, penetrating your skin with a slight sting. It works its way up your arm, its essence invigorating all it embodies. Strength returns to you, if only slightly. Enough to give you a fighting chance. You pound away, more and more of the mist spilling out. His horn glows green as he finally reaches you, hand high for the final blow. The stone completely shatters as you bring it down, the flood of red bathing you in its glory. He rests his horn on your head, seconds from his devastating finisher. With renewed strength you thrust your fist upwards, hitting him in the jaw and casting his head to the ceiling. The orb flies out of his horn, travelling outwards away from you. “Now who’s the swine?” You stand up and wrap your arm around his neck, pinning him in your armpit. He bucks with his back legs, but only manages to hit air. You pull upwards and keep his head low, snapping his spine. He falls from your grasp completely paralyzed from the neck down. “Next time, just kill me outright.” You walk away with some of your strength restored, but still not at 100%. The defeated creature clicks a few times as your back is turned to it. He should have taken your advice. In a final act of defiance the changeling charges up another blast, the green glow giving him away. You draw your sword and turn to make short work of him. As you approach, you realize he’s not holding back, using every ounce of his energy to defeat you. It’s not a projectile he’s charging, it’s a bomb. You turn and sprint as fast as your feet can carry you dropping your sword in the mess. The light intensifies, a shockwave bellowing from his location as the bomb detonates. The blast accelerates faster than you do, catching up quickly. You take cover behind some rocks in a last ditch effort to escape the explosion. Flame engulfs you in your final moments, green the last thing you see. Or so you thought. You open your eyes seconds later, greeted by the looming darkness. The familiar stone walls do not invoke fear, merely curiosity. “Don’t think you’d get off that easily.” You back away from Chrysalis as she walks towards you. ”I thought I had left you for dead, I see I was wrong.” “You won’t get a chance to try again.” She laughs, “We’ll see about that.” A third voice follows, “No we won’t.” Twilight steps out from the shadows, slightly bruised and worn. “I won’t give you that chance.” “Twilight stay back. She wants you to attack her again.” ”Then she’ll get it.” Twilight lunges at Chrysalis who merely smiles and disappears in her murky flame. ”You might have stood against me evenly before, but now that I have taken Anon’s love, you stand no chance.” Her voice circles you teasingly, tearing down your will. “Your overconfidence is your weakness.” ”Your faith in your friends is yours.” Twilight returns next to you, glancing about the room, “We’ll stand strong, you won’t overtake us.” ”Then I might have to split you apart.” “What are you-“ Spirals of green flame overtake Twilight, closing in on her, “Twilight!” You reach towards her, the flames forcing you to back off. ”Don’t fall for her tricks, Anon. I’ll be back for you!” A portal appears beneath her, sucking her into the earth and away from view. You’re left alone once more, though you can’t help but feel watched. ”Alone at last. Oh Anon, how I missed you.” You stick to your stance, knowing she could strike at any moment. ”That isn’t very nice of you, here let’s just change that demeanor of yours.” A green bullet tears through the air striking you in the elbow. It seeps right through your armor, sending shivers up your arm. You begin to lose feeling in your arm, not control just feeling. ”Isn’t that relaxing, let it flow into you.” Another strikes your thigh and neck the chilling calm seeping into you. It feels so right… You just want to lie down and… “No!” you scream resisting the temptation, “You won’t will me down.” “Disappointing, but a bit premature. We’ll see if you can live up to that statement.” Silence follows with her seeming departure. “Chrysalis?” No response, just silence. “Anon?” Twilight’s voice calls from down the hall. ”I’m coming Anon.” You wait for ‘Twilight’, sticking to your stance. She enters the chamber, giving you a look of curiosity and relief. ”I thought I’d lost you.” “I’m sure you did.” She steps closer, only for you to step back. ”Anon it’s me, Twilight. I said I’d be back.” “You also said not to fall for her tricks, and I plan on doing that.” ”You don’t trust me…” “I can’t trust you, you should understand that.” She nods her head, “I do. I could be Chrysalis in disguise. You wouldn’t be able to know.” You stare at each other awkwardly, each unsure on how to act. “Where’d you end up?” ”After I was teleported, just down the hall strangely enough. Seems like a waste of magic to me.” “Yeah, Chrysalis would be pretty stupid to do that.” ”Indeed she would.” You ponder her answer, not swaying your opinion either way. You hoped this would be easier. ”How’re you here?” she asks, “I thought she drained you of your strength.” “Blood Stone. Use it for light, destroy it for life. Basics of course.” ”I’m sure it’s much more complex. I’d like to have studied it.” “It’s magic, doesn’t have to explain shit.” She laughs, “Sounds like Pinkie alright.” Yeah, Pinkie… You wonder how they’re doing… ”They’re safe Anon, they left before the cave collapsed.” “You know how I feel about you reading my mind.” She shakes her head, “It doesn’t take magic to know what you were thinking.” That sounds like the Twilight you know. Maybe she’s the real one after all. ”H-help me…” The soft voice turns your attention away from her and towards the other end of the room. A second Twilight enters, her wounds… it pains you to see. “Anon…” *cough* A dribble of blood rolls out of her mouth as she stumbles towards you. Not to Twilight… ”Anon, wait it’s a trick!” She’s not fooling you now. You rush over to her, catching her as she falls. She can barely lift her hooves they’re so weak. The changelings… No force in the world can protect them from you… ”You *cough cough* came.” “I said I would.” ”Anon listen to me that’s not me, Twilight.” She speaks from behind you, your arms reaching around the wounded mare. She flinches as you touch her wounds, reeling back from the pain. You feel her pain, every cut and scratch. You did this to her, just like Chrysalis said you would. Her death is on your hands. Only you had that kind of power. Tears form in her eyes as she hugs you, clinging onto you for dear life. You stroke her blood-splattered mane reassuringly. “It’s going to be alright, I’m here now.” ”Tha- nk you.” ”I’m telling you Anon, that’s Chrysalis! She’s trying to trick you,” she continues to rattle on, desperately trying to sway your judgment. You look back at her with scorn, still holding onto the wounded Twilight. How could she be so naïve? Your anger turns into a slight grin as you scratch Twilight behind the ear. “I know.” Your hidden blade pierces the back of her skull, driving straight into her head. Her eyes go wide as you twist it mercilessly. “Overconfidence is your weakness,” you say gripping onto her mane. She bucks wildly with enough strength to knock you away. Twilight helps you back up as Chrysalis’s form shifts uncontrollably. Her blood shifts from blue to green to red seamlessly as she tries to focus on one form. ”Im- poss…” She falls to the floor, her blood coating the cold stone. She spasms, losing full control of her bodily functions. “Have a little faith Twilight. I’m not as dumb as I look.” You watch as the light fades from her green luminescent eyes, leaving them barren and lifeless. “May you rot in the bowels of Tartarus for all eternity.” Twilight latches onto you, and you hug her all the same. You teased her with your mistrust. You made her think she’d lost you. ”If you ever do that again I’ll kill you.” You tighten your hold, keeping her as close as possible. “Never…” Back home… Your arm feels almost weightless without your gauntlet on, the extra weight something you grew used to. You tug on your folds and peer outwards once more, looking over the crowd. Luna sits on the balcony, everwatching for trouble, but you suspect she’s not just here on business. The mane 6 stand across from you, healthy as can be now that they’re back to civilized life. Flash stands beside you, being there for you through your ordeal. You find your father in the crowd with a dozen bodyguards surrounding him. He wasn’t willing to part ways with you after the war, but he accepted your wishes. You nod to him, who firmly nods back, maybe even happy for you. Who knows what goes on in that brain of his? “I would guess many things.” You laugh and turn to Celestia, standing above you. “Still the snoopy one I see.” She smiles kindly, “He’s proud of you.” “Somehow I think that’s a stretch.” ”He doesn’t agree, but he is. You’re doing what you wish to do, not what he wills.” “I only hope this works out better than last time.” ”I’m sure it will.” The chirping of birds signals the start, and you look down to the entrance. “Beautiful…” She walks down the aisle, her head flushed with embarrassment. You share her feelings, but stave off blushing, at least in front of your father. The fillies perform their flower display, skipping happily down the aisle. Shining Armor stands at her side, escorting her down to meet you. He shakes your hand, “Treat her good you hear?” “Always and forever.” He stands behind Flash, taking his place among your fellows. Twilight steps up beside you, smiling like a little school girl. “You ready?” She nods happily, barely containing her excitement. Celestia takes this as her cue, clearing her throat to gain everyp0nies attention. ”Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Twilight Sparkle and Prince Anon of Glaemar.” Finally the moment that you’ve been waiting for is here. The most important decision of your life, and you wouldn’t change it for the world. “Love is a special kind of magic, one that cannot simply be broken or torn. It is stronger than any armor, and will outlast the world itself. These two find themselves under its spell, and even the test of war was unable to shake its hold. The strength of their commitment is clear. The power of their love, undeniable. Twilight Sparkle, do you take Prince Anon to be your husband, to care for and cherish, in sickness and in health?” Her smile could brighten the cosmos itself, ”I do.” ”And do you, Prince Anon, take Twilight Sparkle to be your wedded wife, to care for and cherish in sickness and in health?” You only hesitate a second, the repercussions and what-ifs flying through your mind. Ehh, fuck it. “I do.” ”May we have the rings please?” Spike raises them, Celestia placing them on you and Twilight. “I hereby pronounce you husband and wife.” They cheer as you kiss Twilight, eyes cast away at Rainbow Dash’s sonic rainboom. ”I love you Anon.” You hug her, tears running onto your back. “I love you too Twilight.”And they lived happily ever after… The End. You toss down your quill in triumph, giving your hand a soothing rub from its throbbing agony. It’s about damn time you jotted all this down. ”Twilight! I finally finished it!” She butts into your room, looking over your shoulder. ”So you did, well let’s have a look.” She levitates the book away from you, reading it as you follow her. The two of you lie down on the couch, snuggling up next to the fireplace. ”Anon dear…” “Yes?” you reply expectantly. ”Stick to your day job.” You smile and rub her swollen belly. Today was a good day. ”Are you sure? We don’t have to if you don’t want.” “I’m sure Twilight. I’ve seen your home and you’ve always wanted to see mine. I promise this won’t be like my last surprise.” ”You know it won’t be good for… well…” You give her a hug and help her onto the boat. “I promise, I’ll do whatever I can to protect the two of you.” She smiles and leans into you, her legs having trouble standing for two. “All aboard!” You find your room, a nice sized cabin at the stern of the ship. She sits onto the bed, fatigued from her journey. “The journey is by far the best part.” You find the small balcony just outside your cabin and watch as you sail away from Equestria. ”How does it look?” “Beautiful.” You grip the railing as an ache forms in the center of your skull. “Is it just me or is everything really bright?” You lean on the rails and grab your sword tight, the pain getting worse. ”Are you alright Anon?” You try to respond but an agonizing rush catches your voice. All you can manage is a groan. ”Anon! I’m coming.” As you step forward you trip on the slippery floor, your vision fading into white. You await the hard wooden boards, instead met by damp grass and dirt. “T-Twilight?” You look around, the boat gone, instead you find yourself in what looks like the Everfree Forest. Twilight, where is she?! Voices come from nearby and you pick yourself up. You track them down, five men on an open field. They’re not Erredians, they’re not big enough, though the guy in the burnt shirt has the muscle. You eavesdrop on their conversation, mainly just bickering. They seem to be just about as confused as you are. They’re in the same boat as you, you don’t know how you know, but you do. These men look dangerous, but you don’t sense that they’d do you harm. ”Yeah, and it’s the same as every other guy here if I’m correct,” the big one barks. “Except for me,” the guy in the jacket replies. “Do what your brother said and shut up. I’m trying to figure this shit out.” You step out from hiding. “That’s something I’d like to hear.” Author's Note Once again, the very end of the story, preceded by the three space gap, leads to another story.
