It was nighttime, in the desert.
In a place like this it's hard to believe that life exist. Without water nor plant it's not a very likely scenario, but there is life in the desert. Birds with feathers that can transport water for their offspring, insect and reptiles that had learned to live with little, cactus that catch till the last drop of water in order to survive.
And of course, the subterranean Changeling Hive Castle.
Away from any possible view, under a giant rock of magnetite in the middle of the desert, inhabit the most dangerous beings alive on the planet. Or what used to be the most dangerous. These days they are more like the saddest beings alive. It's been a long time since the failed Canterlot invasion, since then they had to recluse themselves underground, in the only place they could call home. Burning out any fragment of magic they had since that fateful day and hunting anything that wasn't smart enough to live. Those who once were feared where now reduced to a sad existence than can't be called life.
They would have been taken out of their misery months ago if not for an incredible coincidence, one that made the few who could still afford to think, to believe in miracles. They would compose complex myths and legends around the event, telling stories about gods and spirits that saw their sorrow and forgave them from their sins, sending the being that saved their very existence. A being that, until that moment only existed in the darkest legends from the forgotten past, had found its way to the castle. A human.
Now, most of the sentient species the had meet required massive quantities of individuals to feed from their emotions. Hundreds, if not thousands, were needed that time to save what was left of the sad kind. But that the same emotional charge was carried by a single human. When they first encountered, his fear shined in their minds as a golden shine that lasted for days. When they decided to keep him alive and offer help, his gratitude was almost palpable. And finally, when they told him their sad history, the indigo glow of his compassion flooded the hive till there was no changeling hungry. The agreement lasted for months, they would provide him protection and shelter and in exchange he would give then his heart. Not stolen, as it happened too many times in the past, but offered.
But this being that held so many enigmas, even for an entire race of empaths, decided that he didn't wanted to spend his days in the desert forever. He had thought about it a lot of times. Sure they seemed to be relying on him to survive but at the same time he couldn't help but feel traped inside those dark caverns that composed the castle. After weeks of debating over it, he decided that if they were there before then that meant they were able to find another way to make it. And he already returned the favor to them by now. There were no real bonds and he really wanted to get out, living in a cavern was getting suffocating for a person who has live all of his life in a city with a way warmer weather. He needed to get out.
One morning, before anyone else, he awoke, left his room and walked to the door of the only tunnel that went to the surface. If the indications of the few talking changelings were something to follow, he just needed to walk in the direction of the dawn for two hours or more before encountering with a town of apple farming ponies (he thought how that very concept was preposterous) and from then it would be only civilization.
That was the plan, or at least it would have been if it wasn't for a lonely figure standing right in front of the door. The very queen of the dammed race was waiting for it.
"James." She greeted him. "I see that you're trying to leave." With a total deadpan voice.
"Not trying, I'm leaving." An emerald shine that only she could see was surrounding the human.
They had talked about this before. She warned him how the ponies could be fearful of a creature they've never saw and how there wasn't any guaranty about how they could react to his presence. And even if he managed to fit in, if the ponies discovered the connection between him and the hive it was very likely that they would force him to guide them back. The princesses were a force to be reckoned with and she din't wanted to know what kind or retaliation they wanted for the attack on their capital. Also, he was a too valuable resource to let him go.
"Can't I convince you by reason to stay?" She tried, one last time.
"I'm sorry but it's not my problem anymore." He replied. "Don't misunderstand me, I really thank you for saving me, but." Keeping its gaze on the changeling queen. "I want to have a life too."
She stood firmly on front of him, four hooves on the solid stone. "If you want to go, you will have to face me." Her horn started to glow. Slightly at first but gradually illuminating them both and the wide cavern with a greenish light. "If after this you are left unable to even move it will be enough with you being alive to feel. Even if you can only feel hate towards me it will have to be enough for us." Hate wasn't as nutritive as love or compassion but desperate times call for desperate acts.
"Go ahead." This wasn't the first time this threat was brought into. "I just had it. If you want to kill me, do it! But there's no way in hell I'm staying here another day." Red, orange and green composed the emotional spectrum of his mind and heart, there was no more the indigo of compassion but there was still a slight sparkle of yellow. That fear was all that she needed to press him.
"Then so be it. By reason or force you will stay." Her horn's light pulsated. "You will be well cared, all of your needs monitored and attended. But you body will be beyond any repair; your limbs useless and unable to communicate with the world around you but you won't die. You will desire for it, and that desire will be so strong that it will feed generations of my changelings and I will make sure you live to do it. To hate me and fear me. Forever." As he spoke her horn glowed stronger. The few creatures lurking in the darkest corners of the cave were now gone, blinded by a light that had nothing to envy the one from the sun. "Last warning. Do you stay?" Chrysalis could see how every color was leaving his aura, every one but yellow. Fear. She had him.
"No." He replied, ready to die if it needed to but he wasn't going to stay by his decision. He was going to be free one way or another. Suddenly, a small spark of emerald cracked trough the yellow of his silhouette and, out of nowhere, the fear that surrounded him was replaced by an unbreakable will, accompanied of orange sparks of his desire to be free.
Chrysalis saw this and couldn't hold it anymore.She was sweating and her hooves shaking for the effort. Her horn lost its light at the same time that a small drop of water ran down over the insect queen's cheek. Lowering her head and falling over her knees in exhaustion, the once powerful and feared governor of an entire specie lay down defenseless in front of the only hope of salvation for her kind. A hope that was getting away more and more.
"I can't hold it anymore." She said shutting her eyes. "There's nothing left on me, not even enough magic to fight for my own." She barely managed to say those words between sobs. All this time since the fight in Canterlot and still her body hadn't fully recovered from the trauma suffered there. Being about to die of starving didn't helped matters neither. She was now a shadow of what she has been. No more a queen but now an illusion of one.
He was perplexed before this vision but didn't said anything. I wasn't necessary, she started again.
"Go ahead, leave if that's what you want." Without moving from her place. "But please, as a last act of kindness, kill me before leaving. I don't want to be here to see how my children starve again, I can't." She lowered her voice with each word. "I'm not that strong."
"I--" But she interrupted him, screaming.
"I'll give you everything!" There were no more menaces nor sobs. Desperation itself was coming from her and materialized into words of pleading. "My crown! my kingdom! You will be king and your word will be law and creed for them. Whatever you want, it will be accomplished with absolute obedience. Even I will bow freedom and will to your command. Just stay!" Here eyes were red but without tears. She had spent them all.
He advanced a few steps, avoiding the pit of tears that once was the Changeling Queen, and put his hand over the door but stopped himself to gave one last look to the first place that had offered him kindness since he appeared in this strange and aggressive new world.
She raised her head too and, for a second, both looked steadily at each other. Time seemed to froze in that exact second till the soft sound of very small hooves over the cavern's stone floor. Both looked in the direction of the castle to see a small black silhouette coming to them. She was like a miniature version of Chrysalis, the difference being her sky blue eyes and electric blue chitin and mane. Her father colors.
"Mommy, what's going on?"
"Monarch!" Chrysalis rose as fast as she could and hugged the young changeling. "What are you doing up so early?"
"I had a nightmare." The small insect-filly answered. "But I can't remember it now." She looked at James with his hand over the still closed door. "Is Jimmy leaving?" Nobody could answer the small changeling. The mother hugged her child even stronger than before, as if that could be the last time she could. If Chrysalis was paying attention, she could have seen how the entire emotional spectrum was storming inside James, changing suddenly from avarice to will to fear and backwards, till all was left was one single one. Compassion.
"Don't worry Monarch, i'm just going out on a short trip for the day. You can come with me if your mother doesn't mind."
Author's Note
Wow, I think I'm getting better at one-shots. What do you think?
Concept and story by Giz.
Story writing and publishing by Wave blaster.
All right reserved to whoever owns them.
And for those who don't read Green Lantern:
Red: Rage.
Orange: Avarice.
Yellow: Fear.
Green: Will.
Blue: Hope
Indigo: Compassion.
Violet: Love.
Special thanks and dedicated to: Frazone, Giz, zaku666 and Diamond dust.
Co created by Giz.
Thank you guys.
Monarch's diary. October 12th, 1985.
Dear diary, today was a very fun day.
Remember that creature that mommy called 'human'? And how after that it spoke and said that his name was James?
Well, now Jimmy has become my friend too! It's like having a big brother. Don't misunderstand me, I love my brothers and sisters around the hive but he's way closer. He's like, I don't know, but he cares about me like mommy. In fact, he's like a second mommy to me, how do they call it?
A daddy!
Well, some days ago I asked mommy if Jimmy could be my daddy, but she said that I didn't need one. I asked her about my daddy, the real one, and she only said that he should never be mentioned again. She didn't speak to me the rest of the day, until nighttime when she visited me in my room. I was sad because I thought I did something wrong, but she said it wasn't my fault, but that my daddy father wasn't good for us. I've never asked again since.
See ya.
October 13th, 1985.
This day was really weird, starting with this morning.
It was very early in the morning, like, before the roof crystal started to glow. I had that nightmare about running in a hallway and ponies chasing me. As always when I have that one I went to mommy's room but she wasn't there. I thought she could be in her study, like most of the time when she's not sleeping, so I went there but she wasn't.
I started to worry, mommy's usually a sleep by that early in the morning. It's only when something bad is happening that she's awake before. So I searched around the home to look for her when I saw it through the window.
It was beautiful. A light even brighter than the roof crystal, and shining with a great emerald light. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. When I followed its glow, outside the castle, I heard mommy and Jimmy arguing.
Not really the first time. They would usually argue because of Jimmy wanted to leave, but mommy says we would die if he does so. I don't want my brothers and sisters to die, I like them. I don't wanna die either, I got a lot of things to do. Someday, I will be a detective and solve mysteries.
When the glow stopped, I looked back and saw how mommy began to cry. I couldn't catch what were they saying but she told Jimmy he would be king. I didn't understand that but it seemed like mommy wanted to marry Jimmy, because that would be the only way for him to become a king. Then he just looked away and mommy was whispering something very very low, but he just ignored her and went to the big door that goes to the surface. I still don't know what was happening.
I was so worried. When they argue I usually hide in my room till it's over but now it seemed far worse. I just went there and asked mommy what was all of it. She asked me back what I was doing awake so early, at first I thought she was mad at me but she only hugged me. I asked if Jimmy was leaving, but he said that he was only going for a short walk. He offered me to come with him and mommy let us go. Tomorrow I'll tell you how it went.
October 14th, 1985.
Mommy doesn't know, but away from the main exit, in the morning sun's direction, there's an oasis. I found it this time when she was too busy in her study with government stuff or something, and since then I go there when nobody is watching me. It's a secret spot and it's mine. Princess Monarch's Kingdom.
Jimmy never went outside since the scouts found him near the cave's entrance. At first I thought he was like a desert bug, and couldn't survive being under the sun. But when we finally reached the exit, he seemed very very very veeery happy. I think he went a little crazy when he also found Monarch's Kingdom, because he almost felt face first trying to get inside Monarch's not-so-big lake.
At first I only watched, I don't like taking baths and water makes my wings heavy. Not that I figured out how to fly yet (soon diary, soon) but still. I also can't swim, although Jimmy offered to teach me how to float. I have to admit that at first I was scared, every time I tried to float I sank. But it wasn't that bad either since Jimmy was by my side and never let me go down the surface. Then, there was this moment when Jimmy told me he wasn't holding me anymore and I realized I was floating. Then I sank again.
Before that, I felt like I couldn't fall, it was amazing. I wonder if flying will feel like that.
***
A young Changeling Queen closed the small tome. Fifteen years have passed since that time.
The old Queen was enjoying her retirement in the lowest chambers of the hive. The tradition stated that, when a young princess was ready to become a queen, the previous one was free to do one of two things. The first one was the long walk, to taste real freedom outside the hive and away from the swarm. The second was to rest in life, away from the society's problems to stay in peace and served in every possible way by a personal escort of maids and butlers to repay her for protecting and guiding the swarm during her younger days. The tired ruler decided she has walked enough for her lifetime and only wanted to rest. Still she decided to break the tradition and visit the rest of the hive to stay at contact with her kind, not bounded to them, but willingly part of their lives.
It's been a while since her father departed too. Being locked inside the Hive Castle for years had made him more and more thirsty of freedom. Since that day, when he could finally let them by they own without risking their lives, he took what he needed and parted his own path to walk the earth. Every once in a while, he would visit but only with years in between. The changelings still would receive a letter or a package from him at least once every month. That and the stories of an odd creature traveling from town to town with only curiosity driving him.
The Hive changed too. It wasn't hidden under the endless sands of the Badlands anymore. The time of fear has ended and now they weren't outcasts anymore. In her foalhood, the Queen remembered how they were always apart from the world. Visiting it from time to time and only for an emergency. Now they were part of the world too. A spectacular vision of carved stone and obsidian dominated the desert. Not an inscrutable fortress, but a whole citadel that server now as shelter for its inhabitants and travelers as well.
"Your Majesty." A call from closed door of her mother's study pulled her back to reality. She never though she would end herself sitting at the same desk, reading and ordering those same papers that seemed so boring (and they actually were even more boring) as her mother did. Although she always loved her mother, and she knew that her mother loved her back, they never managed to really coincide since she grew up. And she never expected to become the same as her mother. A Queen.
"In a moment." She put her old diary back in the highest shelve of the room, next to the storybook her father wrote for her, and went to open the door. A changeling wearing a navy blue light armor was waiting for her. "Walk with me and tell me."
"At your command." He replied as holding a quill and a parchment in his magic while both went down the hallway to the throne's room. "First is the Saddle Arabia situation, Prince Faith n' Glory himself wants to negotiate the desert's trade routes with you."
"*sigh* Already told to his dumb Vizier that there's no way I'm going to give personal escort to their merchants." A black hoof reached for her temple in annoyance. "The Citadel is a shelter for travelers, we're not mercenaries."
"So, before or after lunch?"
"After, definitely after." She said. "If he is like that bad comedian of Vizier, I will need all the wine I can drink before dealing with it." He scribbled the hour in the parchment.
"Then, we have the Roani." He continued. "They are willing to pay for your hospitality as they do every year."
"The problem then?" She already knew that Roani were coming these days. Only a problem would be worth of addressing her.
"Not a real problem. Just a formal invitation to the party. Music and celebration to honor your good disposal."
"Tonight, I suppose." He nodded. "Tell them I'll be there by nine. If I'm not back in two hours send a praetorian to call an emergency that requires me." Although she used to love the music and general happiness in a Roani celebration, she knew that more than two hours would likely end with her awakening with a migraine that only being around such an amount of hope and good feelings could cause a changeling to get drunk in way too many good emotions.
"Most of the day is the usual routine. Attend the court, read the Parliament's last debate, read and approve a couple of urban projects." His voice monotone as they turned around a corner. "Oh, and King Armor is coming to visit this week." She stopped dead in her tracks, just as he expected.
"Again?" There was one thing she never managed to handle as Queen; a visit from the Crystal Empire's rulers. The very pony that crippled her mother (in self-defense, but still), her biological father. As usually, she asked her personal praetorian about it. "What do you think Shrapnel? Tell him to stay away or pretend we aren't home." The praetorian seemed to ignore the bad joke and think about it, but not for too long before answering.
"If you allow me to speak freely." He waited and interpreted her silence as permission. "I think he means good. After all, he didn't know of your existence for years, so he wants to be present now he can."
"Mother knows he's coming?" She closed her eyes, wishing for the answer to be 'no'.
"Naturally. Our Spy Corps are steel loyal to every queen, in charge or retired, above anything else. She probably knew even before the letter arrived."
"Then arrange the encounter, prepare some kind of welcoming and warn the praetorian's to keep those two away from each other. I don't want to deal with another 'who attacked who' discussion again." This time she had both forelegs in her temples. "Anything else?" He finished taking notes of her instructions before talking.
"Officially, nothing else. Extra officially, a letter." Putting the quill and parchment back in his saddle, the praetorian produced a simple envelope and hoofed it to his queen. Said queen lost any trace of nobility and professionalism when her magic reached for the letter and shredded the envelopment around it with the same glee that a foal in Heart's Warming would open his gift.
Dear Monarch and Chrysalis:
How are my two favorite’s changelings doing? Is old grumpy Chrysalis still fighting with every visitor? And how is my big grown up Queen? Hope you're fine and dandy.
I'm cool by the way. I finally reached the Austral Ice Fields and the fresh air and weather are wonderful. It's not that I don't miss the dessert with you, it's just I had enough sand and sun for the rest of my life.
Or maybe not.
I just met a lovely group of thestrals nomads and they don't mind me traveling with them. And it results that they heard about the Badlands are quite nice around this time of the year, so I will go to visit you guys. I'm not sure of the date right now and I can't tell how long it will take for this letter to reach you. But the thestrals say that there shouldn't be more than one or two days of difference. So, if nothing stupid happens (like that 'situation' with the griffins that I told you in my last letter) I'll be there in two or three days. Eager to see you again since the last time.
James 'Jimmy' Olsen
Monarch just stayed still for a solid minute after finishing the letter. She read it again and a third time to be sure. Her praetorian, getting worried, decided to look at her emotions to see what was happening. Although the pony-changeling was way more complex than the rest of her race and thus her emotional spectrum way larger than the average changeling, he knew her since she was a foal and didn't expect any surprises.
When he saw her, he was surprised out of his mind.
In the years of being a ruler, Monarch had managed to keep her emotions under control and stay calm and collected at unexpected news. Now, Shrapnel wasn't seeing any of that in her. Instead, she was glowing with almost every possible color. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet and everything in between. A full rainbow, ready to explode at any second. And he was right next to ground zero.
"Shrapnel." Monarch barely moved her lips as her hooves started to shake. "Please tell Prince Faith I can't meet him, the same with the Roani's and to every pony, griffon dragon or anything else that I won't be available for a couple of days."
"My Queen?" He asked very carefully. "You are aware that the Citadel, being in the middle of a really transited trade route, needs an administration working every day to avoid any disaster."
"My dear Shrapnel, I'm aware of that. But the very man responsible of that happening in first place is coming to visit for the first time in years." Slowly but constantly, Monarch's features started to change. A very creepy smile that inspired fear in her praetorian's heart was now adorning her face. "In fact. Declare a full week holiday to everybody in the Citadel and start arranging for a party."
"You can't be serious, right?" Ever since the changelings were able to feel emotions for their own, Shrapnel never hoped something as much as now. In response, she took his parchment with the day's agenda and burned it. Then tossed the ashes out of the window. And then, she took a clean parchment, scribbled something and hoofed it to the praetorian. It said 'Yes, I'm very serious. PARTY! NOW!!'.
"Oh, and to any spy hearing this. I'm going to tell mother first. If she isn't surprised, I will severely injure you three, starting with the one in the other side of the wall, then the one in the roof and I'm going to take my sweet time with the invisible one behind Shrapnel." Hidden in those exact spots, than nobody should be able to guess, three changelings stayed still as their current Queen, and recent nightmare fuel bringer, started to gallop down the hallway with filly like hops while shouting.
"DADDY'S COMING BACK HOME!"
Author's Note
I have no idea of how to write a slice of life!
Also, I really don't like sad fictions. On general principle, I like my characters (canon and originals) to end better that they started, or at least to have a happy ending. So, I just did that. As John Lennon said “Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.” Well, this is the end, I'll let to you what happened in between.
Oh, and I officially declare that any story set in this universe ans using these characters will have my full permission as long as I'm asked about it first and both me and Giz get recognition for the original creation. In other words; if you think that this could be expanded I actually agree with you but now you are responsible of making that happen too.
If I'm disappointing someone here with all of this, I'm deeply sorry but this is the actual extent of my skill. You can make a Rage Review if you feel the need of calling me for my crap, just avoid calling this a 'Gainax ending' because that would be just plain rude.
Now I command you to comment.
