Chapter 1: There's no place like home.
There’s no place like home.
In the dark dungeons under Canterlot’s castle, the echo of two arguing voices were breaking the silence of the countless dirty halls and empty cells. Such an echo isn’t heard by any other being in the castle except for the two royal guards, both white coated pegasi and equipped with their regular golden armor, helmet and spear, standing guard at the dungeon’s entrance quiet and resolute.
They have one simple task: not letting anypony enter, except for certain ...authorized people through the dungeon’s entrance.
And right now, one of them was talking with the only prisoner on this level of the dungeons. He started being smooth and easy, but the prisoner ended getting on his nerves….
“I don’t care what you say, what you did to Canterlot is excuseless! I saw how your army of mindless bugs attacked every stallion, mare or foal on their way, what I saw was the personification of darkness trying to conquer MY HOME, destroying my cousin’s wedding and if all that wasn’t enough……you cocooned……MY MOTHER!”
The sound of bars vibrating by the angry grabbing of two hands was what came before this person stopped his speech too breath and finish his rant.
“All this time wondering myself what happened to you and how different would our lives be if we were still together….” He released his hands slowly from the bars and backed away. He looked at the prisoner with no hate and anger in his expression but with concern.
The prisoner looked up to meet with her visitor; she locked her big emerald eyes with his green ones. The metallic sound of the chains tied to her body came as the prisoner moved her four holed legs to get up.
Who are these two? They are a story.
This story is about a kid that always ignored the luxurious environment of royalty with his playful attitude and his kind heart.
And a little mare, with a very different view of the world as well as the rest of her race, whose heart was full of innocence and love.
But this story ended……twelve years ago, and it taught them a hard lesson that both kept on their heads since then.
Lies hurt more…..when they came from those you love.
And that lie was reason of for these two lost souls, once united, now on the opposite sides of a coin.
But as any other story, they have names.Their names are Heynriik and Chrysalis.Heynriik a human born of the far north that was brought to Equestria when he was still a baby to have a better future…..and to flee from an evil force. And she is the Changeling queen, inheriting her mother’s place in an age where changelings needed a quick solution to stop their extinction. They loved each other back then. Now, they hate.
“…and I found that you’d become…..a monster” rage was drawn on Chrysalis face as she tried to charge Heynriik, only she was stopped by the chains and the bars. She hissed while opening her mouth to show her long tongue and sharp teeth pouring saliva.
“How dare you call me that when you are responsible of the imprisonment and loss of thousands of changelings the only thing they wanted, the only thing I WANTED, was A BETTER FUTURE!” Chrysalis growled and tried to free herself from the chains. Made by an exotic mineral from the Crystal Mountains named “trynium”, which had the amazing property to “turn off” the magic of whoever touched it.
Heynriik watched quietly as the changeling queen shook violently to break the chains; she hit them on the ground, tried to cut them with her twisted horn and even bit the trynium made chains with her teeth.
But nothing worked, without her magic, Chrysalis’s weak body was useless. She wasn't strong enough to break the chains attached to her four legs.
The changeling sat exhausted on the dark floor panting, sweating and with her tongue out. The imprisoned queen moved her face slowly and steady to look her childhood’s ex-love.
Heynriik and Chrysalis meet their gazes. The human was calm while the changeling frowned and hissed with the little strength she had.
Chrysalis got up again and trotted weakly whilst her mouth ejected hard breaths and sharp grunts. She stopped when her muzzle was inches from the bars and the chains were at its limit.
“There’s something about our...meeting on your return that doesn't fit.” The changeling gazed the floor trying to avoid eye contact with the human.
“I was defeated, on the floor, with my entire body wounded while you were upon me, looking at me with the scariest face I ever saw…..” Heynriik blinked and remained in silent.
Chrysalis raised her head to look at the human with certain…..sadness. Her mouth was shivering as her emerald eyes began to cast tears.
“Then I saw how you grabbed that…..odd weapon of yours with both hands…..to finish my life”
Chrysalis dropped her face again and began to make small sobs. Heynriik’s blanked expression disappeared when he realized that the proud, arrogant and evil queen before him was starting to have a breakdown
The changeling finally put enough courage to look Heynriik directly In the eyes. The tears fell freely from her face as the sobs turned louder.
“But you didn’t……you didn’t kill me, even after all the things I did….” Heynriik said nothing; he looked away for a second just to return the attention to his former loved one. Chrysalis gazed to the human with more and more tears, praying him to look at her face.
“Heynriik…..I.….must…..know…..” Chrysalis said in a thin tone.
“Know what?” The human asked. Chrysalis tried to clean up the tears with one of her chained hoofs and stared Heynriik with a more confident face.
“Do you still……love me?” The changeling waited expectant his answer.
She waited and waited…..
But silence was the only thing she received.
“Heynriik……” Chrysalis calls to him smoothly, trying to make him give an answer. She stared at him with patience. Only to get more silence from the human.
“Please….Rikie…..I need to know…..I beg you…” Heynriik sighed and was finally ready to open his mouth.
“I have to go.” Hearing this made the changeling’s mouth go wide in grief. Heynriik turned ready to leave Chrysalis.
“Bu- but……you didn’t….” Chrysalis was shocked by his reaction. She looked at the human’s back with sobs and pleading eyes.
“We’ll see each other another day.” He said before leaving. The changeling stopped her crying and sobbing to replace it with screams.
“WHERE THE BUCK ARE YOU GOING……YOU DIDN’T….YOU….” Heynriik kept walking, ignoring her cries.
“SAY IT! SAY THAT YOU STILL LOVE ME, YOU BASTARD!” Chrysalis cried louder trying to make him return, but it was worthless. The human stopped after he turned a corner.
Even when she couldn’t see him anymore, Chrysalis was still crying and screaming with all her might.
“ANSWER ME! GIVE ME AN ANSWER, HEYNRIIK, YOU COWARD!” Heynriik throw a glance to the floor while his ears received Chrysalis’s cries of anguish. He didn’t move to make a response to her, he just stared down.
“HEYNRIIK!”
“HEYNRIIK!”
“HEYNRIIK!”
“He….yn…riik”
“Rikie….”
Chrysalis ended her wave of cries, just to be exchanged by suffering sobs. Heynriik sighed sadly, lifted his head and moved to the dungeons exit.
“Changes……everything changes….”
Three months ago…..
“So…..that’s Canterlot?”
“Aye…..it is”
Four years…..Four years since I left the city before me.Four years wandering through a world unknown for me.
Four years facing all kind of dangers, adventuring too places only existent in dreams and fighting every powerful enemy that tried to take my head.
All that…is over.
Because I’m…..at home.
“My home….” I crawled down my horse and stepped forward until I was on the edge of the hill. My eyes focused to…..everything, Canterlot, the green fields, the Everfree forest….
My mind was in a bliss state right now, I may have saw a lot of wonderful and beautiful places in my journey, but….None of them is like Equestria, like my home.
“Heynriik?” A voice calls me, but I ignore it.
Then I heard something falling to the ground and footsteps of someone getting closer to me.
“Are you okay, friend?” The same voice as before, with a more concerned tone, reaches my ears again.
The sounds of footsteps were turning louder, but it vanished when the one who I was ignoring was now beside me. I turn my head to see a large figure smiling me, showing me a familiar dirty mouth with two missing teeth.
Anvulstain Zubiaurre is the name of this heavy human with large curly black hair and a thick beard.
But I just call him Anvil.
Obviously, it’s easier than his full name.Also known as “The black bear” due his clothing added to his size makes him look like a bear, coat, pants and boots made with a black furry material.
If all that wasn’t enough, he has a big two-handed hammer. Don’t worry, appearances can fool, he’s a nice guy.
We keep looking at the landscape for a while, in silence and without gazing at each other. We were enjoying the marvelous sight that the equestrian dusk was giving us.
In this kind of moments, words aren’t needed. But Anvil wanted to break the silence.
“I guess you’re happy” He said in an amused tone whilst patting my shoulder with one of his hands.
“Gods, of course I am Anvil…” My eyes started to twitch. The inevitable was going to occur.
I covered my face with my hands to avoid Anvil seeing my tears. This was a dream made real for me, every time I was thirsty or hungry when travelling only with Volcano by my side, every time I was hurt or nearly death in a fight, every night and day that I looked to the sky…..
….I was hoping to return here. Alive, healthy and with the…..answer to a simple question which I waited and waited to be replied.
Who I am?
Now, I have the answer.
And it’s a….odd one, believe me.
I cleared all the tears with my shirt’s sleeve and sighed in amusement. Then I turned to Anvil who looked at me with a
huge smile.
“If I was you, I would be happy and jumping to be back home…..not crying” He chuckled in a grave tone, I followed him trying both to contain our laughs.
That was one thing I liked of Anvil, no matter the situation or place, he could always make you smile or laugh.
He cheered me up when I felt sad or unhappy; he was always trying to see the good side of things even in the worst
possible situations.
But that isn’t surprising, both owed each other something.
He owes me his life, the way we met was quite…..bloody.
I’m just going to say that certain foreigner fools from the east should have thought twice before they bothered him by trying to take his family’s quarry.
As I said before, he has a big hammer and he knows how to use it besides chopping stones.
In return, I owe him his…..friendship. It was a weird, yet good friendship. After our chuckles disappeared, I looked back to where our mounts were and waved a hand at Anvil to return towards our place.
“Let’s return to the camp Anvil, We deserve a rest after the journey we had”
“Aye, also I’m-“Before he could finish his words, a strong sound came from Anvil’s stomach.
He was hungry, like most of the time.
“Hungry” I was going to chuckle but suddenly another stomach growled claiming something to eat... But this time, it was my stomach.
Trust me, long journeys makes you hungry like a wolf.
We stared at each other and laughed hardly. After mounting our horses, we went hill down to our makeshift camp.
“Well, let’s eat those two rabbits I hunted yesterday." I said amusedly.
“I hope they’re not rotten….” Anvil replied while another growl came from his stomach.
This mirror...shows the face of mare.
A beautiful and lucky mare, whose tomorrow was going to be…..a perfect day.
Was…..
Because that mare, who has a gorgeous life in the fancy city of Canterlot, with a handsome and caring stallionfriend.
The mare that everypony knows for her indubitable beauty and kind heart.
The mare straight related with royalty, not only by status but in blood too.
That mare….named Princess Mi Amore Cadenza….or just Cadence.
Is the one who this mirror shows……
….But not the one who’s looking it.
Then, who I am, If not the beloved Princess Cadence?
My name…..is Queen Chrysalis.
And this mirror is not showing who I really am, but who I want them to think I am.
Citizens, relatives, friends……
The maids of the castle, the always attentive guards….even those fool princesses, with all their powerful magic and millenary knowledge didn’t detected my disguise!
No, none of them looked to stop my massive plan for this damn city! I don’t know how I could like this place when I was young…..
The only reason of why I always will remember those summer holidays on Canterlot….
It’s for….him.
A…..”colt” with an….exotic appearance.
But his shape wasn’t the only strange thing of him. He befriended me when I was alone. He cared for me when any other didn’t, And he….loved me. Oh, how I miss you Heyn-
NO!
My mind suddenly….cooled.
What I was doing? Why were all these memories running through my head now?
I….i can’t….he is…..is.
IT’S WRONG!
But he….he is my…..lov-
FORGET HIM! YOU HAVE A DUTY!
Mo- mother….please…
NO! YOU’RE A QUEEN NOW, NOT A WEAKLING!
Queen….yes…I’m a queen.
I’m the powerful and fearful Queen Chrysalis of the changelings.
I have…a plan….a mission…duty….it’s my duty.
Conquer….get their love….feed my subjects…..
There’s no time for doubts neither for memories…..bad memories.
He’s not here anymore; he’s……somewhere else.
The past….my past….our past….can’t distract me….from my duty.
I looked at the mirror again, and smirked at “my” reflection. Cadance had turned into a really good looking mare with the passing of the years.
Tomorrow will be so perfect.
And…he….that stallion sleeping in the queen sized bed. The Captain of the Royal Guard, the brave Shining Armor, the one under my spell… will help me to make tomorrow a perfect day.
Tomorrow…..everything.
Will change.
“And that’s how I lost these two little ones” Anvil pointed with a finger at his two lost teeth, a canine of the top and an incisor of the lower.
I chuckled thinking on the anecdote, it was necessary to use that pork leg like a weapon, when he could easily smash those Lusitanian mercenaries with his fists?
Anyway, we were having a good time talking about “old times”, awkward situations and many other things of our past lives. And with “past lives” I mean before we met.
Anvil’s childhood wasn’t different of anyone raised in Iberii, playing with other kids on the woods, pranking the elderly druid of the village, watching the weekly fight between the smithy and the butcher. The only exception may be his helping hand to his family when they needed it.
Also, he hunted when they didn’t have money to buy food or fur clothes for winter, and he didn’t hunt with a bow or traps like normal people do, oh no.
He used his bare hands instead.
They call him “Black Bear” for something….
It was really funny and interesting to know how different Anvil’s childhood in a humble place within the eastern mountains of Janrelan, the central plains. I always saw myself as someone with great luck for being “Celestia’s little colt”.
But with the course of the years I realized that my life in Canterlot was lacking something that, not only Anvil, but most of people I have known in my journey had.
Freedom….
I wasn’t free….
I NEVER been free, until the day I escaped that prison with a castle shape.
I don’t know if it was my “status” or because Celestia wanted to “protect” me, but I only got out of Canterlot a few times after… THAT happened.
And leaving a city full of dammed nobles, for going to a meeting with other dammed nobles because there is a theatre that’s going to open, an ambassador from another country or DRINKING TEA…..it wasn’t very motivating.
By the five, I hate tea…..
Anyway…..when I first arrived to Iberii... I knew nothing. I didn’t know where I was, how to interact with the rest of humans, where to go….
In a few words, I was lost.
Four years later, I can say with my chest full of pride….
That was worth those four years.
Why?
Why do I say that after ending up busted for wandering a hard, strange and sometimes violent place where I starved, suffered multiple mental breakdowns, had to forget EVERYTHING I ever learned to start a new life, getting my body hurt and scarred with every battle or fight…..
Why I say this?
Because unlike in Equestria… I was free.
I hadn’t a “status” or “position” to take care; I could do anything I wanted.
There wasn’t any Princess Celestia to protect or worry for me; I was on my own way, and I hadn’t a certain destiny, so I traveled where I wanted.
It wasn’t an easy path of course. I lost…. many important things there.
Loved things…
“Oi! Rikie!” Anvil’s amused voice snapped my mind back to reality, I looked at him sitting on the opposite side of the now weak fire.
“There’s something I don’t understand about that Canterlot of yours” He said looking where I suppose Canterlot was while stroking his beard, a common habit of most of humans with beard when thinking or “The Greek philosopher deduction technique” as Anvil likes to name.
“What is it?” I said in a mocking tone, waiting for his typical fool question.
“Well, you didn’t say that Canterlot had a purple gauzy big shield above the whole city” Anvil answered pointing with his hand at something. I turned and gasped at the something he was pointing.
I was too worried in remembering old times and going nostalgic to notice, as Anvil said, a big transparent bubble like thing in purple color covering Canterlot.
“Do you know what it is, Heynriik?” Anvil asked in an innocent way, no care that was the first time of his life to see anything related to pony magic.
“Yes I do, I think it’s…” I turned my head to him with a gulp.
“It’s a spell that’s rarely used to protect the city from a….big menace.”
“Big menace? You mean….someone is going to attack Canterlot?” Anvil said looking a bit worried, knowing already that there could be problems soon.
“Maybe…I have no idea, I never saw it for real, I know the spell thanks to a book and from Celestia’s classes.“ I shrugged whilst shaking my head, right now I was confused as Anvil. But it can’t be a coincidence, someone, maybe Celestia, has the assurance that Canterlot will be in danger soon.
“So….people up there in that city have a reason to fear something or someone that can harm them?” My brother in arms said stroking his beard again.
“Yes, and by the size of the magic shield, it’s not for one individual or a few people….” As Celestia told me, this was a spell only used as last action against a big army or a siege.
“You mean an army?!” My former stone chopper partner jumped with a wide smile on his face. I wasn’t sure if this was something to be happy about.
“I don’t know….it was along time ago since anyone attacked Equestria on a big scale…” I scratched my head, trying to find the correct words to stop my friend’s excitement for the possibility of being in the middle of a clash again.
Anvil was a good and likeable guy, but the only thing which he can’t say no, is a fight.
No matter if it’s between armies in a wide place or inside a inn, when the battle horns are played, he becomes the big bear that he looks like.
“Hahahahaha, and you said ponies were pacifist?! We just have arrived yesterday and there’s going to be a battle already!” Anvil said laughing loudly.
“Anvil, as I told you yesterday, there hasn’t been any war or battle in Equestria for centuries! Seeing a fight, no matter if it’s within two ponies or versus a foreign nation, it’s unusual as a roman drinking beer!” My words made his laugh stop; he cleared his tears of laughter and sighed.
“So…there’s no fight?” Anvil said pouting.
“I don’t know, but……we can only see that big magic shield over there….” I stated pointing towards it.
“If it’s true that something big is going to happen, fight or not fight, the only thing we can do for now is wait” A silence came after my words, finally Anvil smiled.
“Aye, I think it’s getting pretty late, we should rest for the big day that tomorrow is going to be!” He said looking at the benighted sky.
“Agreed, wait here Anvil, I’ll bring the sleeping bags” I left the fire for where our equipment was. While reaching our bags and the couple of sleeping horses, I took a look to my decked home city for last time.
I opened one of the bags and picked up our two leathery sleeping bags to put them over my shoulders. Before going back with Anvil, I opened one specific bag on my horse’s saddle to grab…..two things that have been with me every time the gods wanted to test my strength or will.
My beloved helmet with his two horns and red crest unpolluted, keeping his gold looking alloy too.
And….Ciolhaemor, “Skies terror” in my native tongue, in his “sheathed” form.
But even if now its size it’s much little than the real one, I still can feel his…..power. Long asleep power that I awaked with my blood…
“It’s seems that I have to delay my retirement of the battles, old friend”
Is this really happening?
Is the view in front of me…..real?
Or is this a dream?
Our dream…..our goal…..the reason of why I’ve worked so hard on these last years…
The moment that she…..was hoping to come one day….
My mother….her dream….her last will before taking her place as monarch of all changeling kind.....It’s not a dream anymore.
It’s happening right now!
The famine and weakening of our race ends here!
All the suffering, all the lost hopes, all the doubts and tears from every mother seeing her nymphs dying on birth will disappear on this day!
The day of change, the dawn for a new era….
THE DAY OF OUR VICTORY!
It’s REAL!
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” I couldn't contain the burst of laughter that was locked in my lungs, there’s too many good things going so far this morning!
First my successful plan to remove the magic shield which that poor excuse for a stallion Shining Armor made, then the prompt attack of my changelings over Canterlot and for last the best cherry this cake could have on the top….
Celestia, the solar monarch, the beloved and respected princess of Equestria…
It’s DEFEATED!
Defeated by ME!
Remembering that alicorn whore falling to the floor almost unconscious, leaving all the little hope left to her annoying student and her friends, makes me laugh even harder to the sky over this marvelous chaos below me.
I put my hooves on the edge of this balcony aside the throne room where that unfortunate pink alicorn mare it’s trying to wake up his beloved “knight” from my spell, while her aunt it’s sleeping on a swinging cocoon upon their heads.
My head looms to see the magnificent show my powerful and loyal army is doing to this city. They are hungry, hungry for love, for power and for glory!
And I compromised to satisfy their hunger at any cost…
“Go my children! Today will dawn a great new age for our race!” I flapped my wings to suspend my body in the air while laughing harder and harder manically. The sight of stallions, mares and foals running with despair from my changelings was just precious.
My hooves landed on the balcony and, before turning back to the throne room, I took a last look to the madness made by my changelings. I walked with grace at the same time my throat intones a cheerful hum.
There she is, tearing a sea of tears, bleak and with all her body dirty. Little Cadance was hugging her stallionfriend’s fore hooves while lying hopeless on the floor.
Isn’t it a touching scene?
“Don’t worry my dear Cadance, Shining can’t hear you. He’s unaware of everything its happening” The pink mare turned her head without hurry to look me with those watery eyes.
“You shouldn’t waste more tears, it’s worthless, and he’s now mine…..forever” I could see her pupils getting red at the moment my words were said.
She got up quickly and stared with clear hate towards me. I did nothing more than return the stare while waiting for whatever she was going to say, I knew that in her condition it was a folly thing to try to fight me.
She stuttered her mouth silently, collecting all the little strength and saliva left on her mouth to say something. Cadance breathed deeply and finally talked.
“Wha- what happen-“She coughed before finishing her words, it was proof of how weak she was right now. Her purple eyes locked on mine again after clearing her throat again.
“What happened to you, Chrysalis?” I lifted an eyebrow at that question; it wasn’t what I expected to hear. What did she mean with that question?
“What happened to me? HAHAHAHA…….I suppose nothing changed me……” I shorted the distance between us moving my muzzle just a few inches from hers.
“I always been the same…” She snarled while shaking her head, denying my words.
“No…..you weren’t like this….” She stated in a nervous tone. Her eyes were redder than before and the tears returned.
“Do you remember….when you came here? When we were….friends?” A big grin appeared on my muzzle, opposite to her, I was enjoying seeing everything working as I wanted.
So, she is trying use nostalgia on me? Not a smart strategy.
“You think I’m going to change all at once, just for the past?” I turned and cleared my throat. It doesn’t matter the past or former friendships when you’re accomplishing the dream of generations of changelings.
“When that happened, I was a foolish filly…..” For a moment, I had the feeling of something…..missing, something I had on those summer days.
And is not with me anymore…..
Suddenly I felt….empty; I was hesitating, with a blank expression on my face. I didn’t know how but it was like…..I forgot something….something very important.
Maybe it wa-
NO! Don’t you dare even to name him!
A echoing bounced in my mind.
You’re a QUEEN! You have a mission more important to do than being with that hairless ugly ape!
Hairless ape? Was she talking about-?
SHUT UP! HE’S GONE FOREVER IN YOUR LIFE!
An unbearable pain crushed my thoughts, I cried loudly in pain. I was going to fall on the floor but I reacted quickly to keep my body standing.
I breathed violently; the sweat was falling in every part of my body. My eyes closed for a second and finally my mouth threw a relieving sigh.
“Chrysalis….are you-“An unexpected wave of rage ran across myself. I turned to Cadence with eyes full of rage and showing my sharp teeth whilst hissing.
“You….how dare you to talk me in that way!?” Cadence backed confused. I came closer to her in a predatory way.
“Why are you-“
“SHUT UP, SLUT!” I raised my right hoof and punched her on the face with all my might. The pink whore fell to the floor groaning in pain.
I downed my hoof and smirked at the poor “princess of love” lying with the mark of my hoof under her left eye. She looked at me with askance while mixing weak breaths with whimpers.
Surprisingly, the mare still had enough will to move her trembling hooves to get up. She was breathing exhausted and her hooves were shaking, trying to fight her own fatigue.
“You’re not….going to win” Her mouth may say that, but I don’t see anything, less her, going to stop our victory.
Cadance gulped her dry mouth and stared to me with those lying eyes. I can tell what she’s feeling right now, and is not what she’s trying to prove with her insistence.
“I- I’m sure Twilight and her friends will-“Before she could finish, the sound of the large double door opening slowly cut her speech. Entering the throne room was….what I exactly wanted when that obtrusive group of friends ran away heading to the Elements of Harmony.
That annoying ,Celestia’s student and her friends moved towards us while being surrounded by some of my changelings. Their friendship may be strong, but it needs more than that to defeat an entire army.
“You were saying what, Cadance?”
My sleeping bag shook suddenly, someone was in a hurry to wake me up. I lazily opened my eyes and moved my head up to meet with the very worried face of my partner.
“What’s wrong, Anvil?” I said in a bored tone. He stopped shaking me when my upper half got out the sleeping bag.
“He- Heynriik the….the big purple magical shield it’s….it’s…” Anvil stuttered, and that’s not a good thing. I know him too well to understand that something really terrible must of happen to make him stutter.
“Yeah, the magic shield, what’s the deal with-“
“IT’S GONE!” He yelled to my face, I cleaned the dirty saliva that Anvil just spit at me and got up. When I turned to see the big purple bubble over Canterlot, I saw that Anvil’s worrying wasn’t a joke.
There wasn’t any magic shield anymore; instead some black points were flying around Canterlot.
Furthermore, in the distance I could hear something like…..shouting, shouting of ponies having a very bad time.
“Heynriik, what are those……flying things.” Anvil asked me with an unknown emotion to him as is sadness; I stroked my beard thinking of what’s going on.
“At this distance, I can’t see what exactly those things are……” I said thoughtfully. My comrade steeped in front of me blocking my sight.
“But they’re attacking Canterlot, right?” He cried nervously to me. I didn’t remember the last time he was this worried.
“Do you have fear, Anvil? That’s very uncommon for you” I chuckled as Anvil’s concern was changed by a serious look.
“Why you’re laughing with something like this? IT’S YOUR HOME! We have to go NOW!” He yelled again but with more force.
I passed him and walked to the highest spot of the hill to take a closer look at those black flying things. My palm covered the first sunlight of the day from my eyes, until I finally united all the pieces of my mind to find out what those creatures were.
“Changelings.” I stated turning to Anvil, who obviously never had heard of them.
“They’re not ponies?” He asked innocently.
“No, they are more like….big bugs with transparent wings and sharp teeth that feed on….love.”
“Feed….on love? That’s weird…..”
“Everything here is weird, Anvil” I stared at Canterlot silently. The way everything went was very strange.
“Heynriik?” Anvil moved to my side while looking at me miffed, I returned the look and then my eyes go back to point Canterlot.
“It’s impossible for those changelings to have destroyed the shield….” I turned to Anvil, who was looking me with his wide and blue eyes.
“Anvil.” He focused on me, vanishing all the worrying and questioning.
“Grab your hammer, we’re going to stop them” Anvil’s mouth shouted a very loud laugh that reached the sky. We nodded simultaneously and moved to where our equipment and horses were resting.
We opened bags and ordered everything for our appearance in Canterlot. I grabbed my helmet, Ciolhaemor and put on my waist an extra belt with a “falkat”, the typical sword in Iberii with steel handle and convex top.
“Why did you grab it?” Anvil asked while he removed the strings of his hammer that hung on his horse’s side.
“Just in case “Ciol” is not enough…”
“Ha! I don’t think those bug things will be a challenge for us!” He said removing the last string and examining his hammer.
“Anvil, do you know that they are an army and we are JUST TWO!?” I spitted before putting on my helmet.
“Yes, but they never had faced two like US yet!” Anvil kissed his hammer and placed it on the big sheath on his back.
“That I can’t argue….we have the advantage of being unknown to them.” Like Kior told me once, “Ignorance of how your enemy is, it’s always a bad thing”.
“Even so, we need a plan” I said as I mounted Juka, my mare and Anvil got on Dygi, his horse.
“It’s easy, we enter the city, kill all the bugs, rescue the ponies and we have saved the day like old times!”
“I see two bad things on that: first that I doubt dealing with all the changeling army will be that easy, and second…” I hesitated for a moment in saying it, but it was something we had to do, even if Anvil wasn’t going to like it.
“Anvil, don’t kill anyone” I finally said before our horses started to trot towards Canterlot.
“WHAT?! WHY!?”
“Because it only will increase the fear and madness in Canterlot. Imagine how ponies will react, two tall apes appearing out of nowhere making a blood bath, even if our intentions were good they’ll see us in no better light than changelings, we have to make them know that we are on their side”
“So….we knock them out…..and then what? Ponies will see us like good people?” Anvil asked as Juka and Dygi hurried their rate.
“We can’t win without help…..if all the things I know about changelings are true, then we have to save everypony we can, so they can join us in the fight”
“I see…but it will be quite difficult to fight changelings and help the ponies at the same time.” Anvil said worried. I looked at him and smirked.
“Don’t worry; we’ve faced worst things…”
“WHAT DID YOU SAY!?” I yelled at a deep blue armored changeling, the captain that had reported me a…….interference in my plans.
“It- it’s true m- my que- queen, there is a pair of…..tall demon-like apes that are fighting against o- our forces and a- are helping th- the ponies…” The captain ended his stuttering. He stayed in front of me shaking his hooves and sweating a sea while rage ran through my body at this information.
“Who are they!?” I asked furious, he ducked and his own hooves to cover in clearly fear of the consequences I could bring.
“W- we do- don’t know, m- my queen” My hoof stamped on the floor in rage, echoing it around the throne room.
I turned my head to see the six annoying ponies looking at me and the shame of my changeling with confusion, Cadance didn’t move from Armor’s side and Celestia was still inside the cocoon hanging on the ceiling.
This was something really unexpected, yet ridiculous. Now there are two creatures, just TWO, who are defeating every horde of changelings that try to fight them and they’re sideing with ponies.
“So, captain…” I turned to him. My subordinate got up keeping his shy pose.
“You’re saying that an unknown pony ally, formed by a duo of “apes” are crushing AN ENTIRE ARMY!? HOW’S THAT POSSIBLE!?” I cried furiously at him, he muttered something that I couldn’t hear. At once, I lifted him with my magic and put my muzzle on his while tightening my teeth.
“Listen, you’re going to get out of here, forget that dumb excuses of yours and get rid of whoever are “they” are right now, UNDERSTOOD!?” The changeling shook his head, how did he dare…..!?
“NO MY QUEEN, I BEG YOU! THOSE MONSTERS ARE….ARE….THEY’RE NOT LIKE ANYTHING WE'VE SAW BEFORE!” I launched him to the floor, stopping all his worthless nagging.
“GO NOW, YOU FOOL!” Finally that excuse of a soldier flied away of the throne room.
But just to come back with a group of more fearful changelings. I jumped in surprise and walked to them with another wave of rage.
“WHAT IN THE BADLANDS ARE ALL OF YOU DOING!? GO GET THEM IN THIS INSTANT!” I ordered, but the fear among them seemed stronger than their loyalty.
“So- sorry my queen but they…..the demons….” One changeling tried to talk, but other cut his words landing in front of me.
“THEY’RE HERE! THEY’RE GOING TO ENTER AT ANY MOMENT!” My eyes turned red like blood, I couldn’t believe those weaklings were soldiers of mine!
Then they surrounded me, showing fear and lost hope on their faces. I grunted in annoyance while I saw more changelings fleeing of the battle to enter the throne room.
“HOW DO YOU DARE TO DISOBEY MY ORDERS!? WHAT MAKES OUR VICTORY DELAYED!? WHO DARES TO DESTROY EVERYTHING I’VE BEEN WORKING FOR THESE YEARS, TO SAVE OUR RACE!?” I cried in pure anger, and then I saw a captain walking to me. He saluted and cleared his throat to talk.
“My queen we-“Before he could say anything, I grabbed him with my hooves and shouted angrily.
“DON’T TELL ME EXCUSES, CAPTAIN; I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU’RE HERE, AND NOT OUT THERE!”
“My queen, I’m sorry but we’re been outnumbered and-“
“OUTNUMBERED BY TWO APES!?”
“Oh no! Please my queen, listen to me….” I whimpered and released the armored changeling. He sighed and reset his sentence.
“Those two “apes” that you may already know, have freed all the royal guards who were tied by goo, and helped a big amount of ponies that we were trying to capture”
“So, those two turned the course of the attack? Did the ponies join them?” I asked irritated.
“Yes, also it’s hard to believe, but they……at least one of them seemed to…..be know by the ponies” The captain said unsure, were they some kind of “last resource” that I passed over?
“Tell me, what exactly do they look like?”
“There is one that’s like a bear covered in black fur and is armed with a…..hammer, a big one” I rolled my eyes at the statement, since when are bears smart enough to fight with weapons?
“Alright….and the other?” The captain gulped and stroked his left hoof with the right one. I downed my face to stare at his all blue eyes.
“TALK!” I yelled, immediately he nodded nervously.
“He’s like….”
*CLONCK*
Unexpectedly, the large door opened with great force. I looked at the entrance and I saw….
….a human.
It’s long time ago since I saw one, since I was with…..him.
But this human was different; he seemed strong and much taller. His appearance was really exotic, a grey armor with a rare triangle with spiral points in the center and the rest plated in rectangular forms over a winter like blue clothing.
A pair of black furry pants covering his “hooves” with brown boots and on the top of his head was a…..weird golden helmet with two horns and a red crest curved in vertical in the middle.
Besides, in his right claw like thing, he possessed a…..golden fork with three sharp spearheads and another one in the other extreme.
But the most frightening thing about this human was…..his eyes.
Green steady eyes…..that stared to mine.
He was quiet, firm and walking very slowly to me, ignoring all the changelings and ponies staring at him. The blood in my veins flowed faster with every step the human took.
There is the reason why I didn’t reach my goal, the one that dared to stop our attack and the creature who will pay for challenging me!
“WHO ARE YOU?!” I demanded, but he ignored my voice.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!? WHAT’S YOUR REASON FOR DESTROYING MY CHILDREN’S FUTURE!?” He didn’t say anything. Sick of his attitude, I trotted to place myself in front of my afraid children.
He halted at once and stared me coldly. I replied with a hiss while, shamefully, looking at him up. I didn’t care that he was taller than me, either if he had defeated all my army. I promised my kingdom an end for the famine, a new age for my entire race and making of my mother’s dream ALL at once!
“Tell me…..who is the one that dares to-" His mouth opened before I finished my words. He sighed heavily and said.
“Chrysalis” What? How’s does he know my name!?
“How do you-“
“Don’t you remember me?” I lifted an eyebrow and tried to say something, but I was too confused to say anything. Then he inserted his left claw on the upper side of his clothing and brought out an…..amulet.
An amulet that I hadn’t seen……in twelve years.
An amulet that belonged to….him.
But….it was impossible!
This human…..the one that crushed everything….
No…it can’t…..it’s not HIM!
He pulled the amulet back to his neck and then…..he removed his helmet.
When his left claw took the helmet off. I could finally see his entire face.
There was a messy clear brown hair above his head and a beard of the same color, also in his left eye was a scar with dry blood still on it.
His face…..his hair….his eyes, those unforgettable green eyes….
The human I loved once was a kind and happy kid…..
…..And the one in front of me is a mighty warrior that looked at me with the coldest eyes I ever seen.
But I knew that was still him.
The years changed me, and to him as well.
“Heynriik….is it you?”
“Yes…..I’m back to home”
Author's Note
Here it is after four months, the continuation of Unknown Innocence.
Before you ask, the italic parts are there because Heynriik and Anvil are talking "his tongue" instead of English.
Well, hope you like it ;)
