Just Another Rogue: of Shadowsby Tattered RibbonChaptersA Royal Job OfferHeart AttackA Punch in the GutBlackoutSudden Change in HightWeaponcraftA Royal Job OfferIt was a nice day today. The seasonal Apple Family job was done, Time Turner got his cogs from Manehattan this time, and Ditzy failed to break Ribbons mailbox this week, that meant I didn’t have work to do. Yes today was a good day to be productive. She would finally get some work done on her side project: A hoof mounted Mini-cross bow. It wasn’t really meant for range, it was meant to be lightweight and small and much more complex than just ‘wooden stick and string’, so for starters it would be firable with one hoof. *Knock Knock Knock* But the pull sting would have to wait. She got up from her workbench out of her basement, that’s where she keep the things she don’t want ponies to see. like her very much illegal poisons, armor set -built for a changeling of coase-, and the--- *Knock Knock Knock* “I’m coming!” Can’t somepony even try to be patient? When she opened the door a Royal guard was standing there. Now it’s not that she dislikes the guards or anything, but she really disliked the guards, they stood as a reminder of what would happen to her. But this guy just stood there steely eyed and stone-faced as ever, he didn’t even say anything. Just hoofed her a scroll and left. When she closed the door she was glad the guard didn’t say anything, the local guards all know she disliked them and don’t bother. To her surprise, the scroll turned out to be a summons, requesting her skills as a blacksmith to help reverse engineer some kind of new alloy. She knew Rarity would be in Canterlot this week, did she do this? She’d have to really thank her for this. She pack up what she thought she would need: lots of bits to buy some fancy new tools, and a knife. Simple. Today was not going to be very productive for Ribbon, she wouldn’t be able to make any more Joke poison or its remedy -as she sometimes got it on her- nor would she finally build her Mini-cross bow like she wanted, but it was still a nice day. If she was careful with her love supply she’d be able to go month without eating. It’s not as if she would be there alone though, since Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy are already there. So with nothing to do for the week Ribbon decided to take the job, what’s the worst thing that can happen, she had her friends there, and chances are she wasn’t even going to talk to the Princess, just a proxy, so she knew she would be safe. With little left to do and a now stuffed saddlebag she left for the train station. For the last hour Ribbon just sat and listened to the sound of the rails and the gossip of passengers. Ribbon so far had heard about some noble proposing to a ‘commoner’, an upcoming fashion show, and rumors Nightmare Moon still being alive, All worthless. Ribbon didn’t care about the nobles, didn’t have a reason to wear clothes, and the new princess use to be Nightmare Moon and apparently has a temper. Ribbon didn’t blame her, dealing with the snobbish nobility must be taxing after being on the moon for so long. As she listened to little bits of gossip she could on the train she leaned over to look out the window to see the city of white approaching. Equestrias capital city of purity was, for Ribbon, a blinding city of white that stung her eyes and the castle was no different. She eagerly wished to get whatever it was she was needed for done so she can leave, after all rejecting this job may have seemed suspicious and if this new metal alloy was useful she maybe able to figure out how it was made and make it herself or figure out how they got it. As she let her mind drift from what it could be used for to what she’d do with it, she failed to see a white Unicorn rounding a corner as she bump into him. She would have told him off but he seemed in a real hurry to get somewhere real fast, and before she was even standing again he was gone. In need of venting and no one to talk to she simply muttered quietly to herself along the lines of “The nerve of that stallion”, and in her quiet seething anger rounded and bumped into another white Unicorn. “Oh I’m terr- Oh Ribbon darling!” “Rarity? hey. Why do you look so happy?” “That ruffian Blueblood finally got his comeuppance!” “I don’t think I know what that is, but you make it sound like a good thing.” “That it is dear, and I’m so glad you made it, I was hoping the Princess would take my recommendation.” “I was wondering if that was you, now I know it was.” Now I need to think a gift and how to give it to her. “Do you know what the job entails?” “I don’t really know myself, I only know that Twilight is in the Barracks waiting for you, and visiting somepony” “I don’t suppose you know where the Barracks are then?” “Next to Donut Joe’s.” “That means I already passed it! Bye Rarity.” “Good bye, darling!” Racing back down the halls to where she saw Donut Joe’s, she overhead the sound of laughter. As she got closer she heard Twilight talking. “At first I was a little disgusted by her outburst, but looking back at it now, it was hilarious!” Said Twilight as she finished sentence. “Anypony with the gall to do that is ok in my book, most ponies don’t know that he doesn’t hold any real power” Said the stallion she was talking to. Ribbon thought this was a good enough time as any to grab Twi’s attention. “Hey Twi, how are ya?” “Hello, Ribbon, I was just talking to my brother.” “And you must be the blacksmith we called to have a look at the armor? Name’s Shining Armor it’s good to meet you.” “Good to meet you too, I’ll have one of my guards escort you to the forge, the armor is already there.” As Ribbon was lead by a guard to the forge she tried to remember where it was. Once there the guard left to her own and return to his post. The room with the forge was sweltering, as one would expect, with an Anvil in the center of the room, however what lay on the anvil, seemed to suck all the heat from the room, Ribbon could tell there was enchantments on it. As she touched it, it felt frozen as if made of ice. Expecting this to be a hard metal to work with she decided to start with testing it, to see if it had limits. The first test she’d give this metal plate is a stress test, see how much force it takes to bend it. She just balanced so it hung off the side of the anvil and clamped it down to hold, and started hammering away. Heart AttackAs Ribbon worked away on the strange metal she couldn’t help but wonder where the Princess had got it. The plate metal the Princess had given her had a teal moon engraved on it, she half wondered if this was a remnant of Nightmare Moon, she could have asked, but she felt it would be rude, What if it belonged to Princess Luna. As she worked and let her mind drift "Hey, you’re that blacksmith I heard they called in to study my armor!" The loud sound startled her and made her jump, Tattered turned around and froze, wide-eyed in awe and fear. Its the bucking Nightmare… The Nightmare stared at her and said "Something wrong?" tilting her head, as if in confusion. In her shook she accidentally dropped the guise by instinct for her more protective and agile form. Which only made the matter worse. The Nightmare look as though she was trying to hold a poker face but Ribbon knew better "A shapeshifter? Fascinating..." Despite her words Ribbon could feel the rising panic and interest the Nightmare was holding. Dropping the Hammer she held in her mouth she panicked and tried to run for the door, "Don't eat me! I don't taste good!" but in her eager hurry to work on the new metal or laziness, she had left tools on the ground and had now tripped on one as soon she rounded the Anvil and landed face down and hooves out in front of her. The Nightmare just continued stare at her now with a face a disbelief and disgust "Ew, why would I eat something capable of rational thought?" As Nightmare spoke she moved and now blocked the door to the windowless room. Tattered backed away until her back touched the cold Anvil "Please don't kill me-he-heee!" Nightmare facehoofed and said "Wow. Just wow. Even the foreigners think I'm some kind of monster." Nightmare sighed and sat down, "Can we please talk about this like rational beings?" "I-I am, that's why I'm b-begging for my l-life!" said with tears now forming in her eyes. *Wham!* Tattered could only look on as the Nightmare hit her own head and the floor. With force, yet seemed unfazed. "For the love of god. I do not indent to hurt you in any way." "Y-you're not?" "Correct." "But, why?" "I'm not that so called Nightmare Moon, I may look like her, but that was because she turned me into a 'Perfect host'” "S-so, you gave me that metal plate?" Just starting to calm down from her newest panic attack and near life experience. Who knew your heart could beat faster the blood can move. "Yes, that was me. I actually condensed my, miasma, for lack of a better term, to form it" "Miasma?" She cocked her head to the side in confusion. "I would show you, but you need to promise me you won't freak out, because even to me it's kinda creepy" "I've seen a lot of creepy." And true she has. She even once saw the last Queen, Queen Mantis, eat one of her mates. "Very well" The temperature -Which was very warm before because of the forge- dropped and a purple-ish mist left ‘Nightmares’ body and coiled around her foreleg to her hoof where something started growing. It was black and seemed to absorb the light from the room before a ‘shink’ sound was made, and the shadow orb broke leaving behind an azure metal ball that she then placed on the floor. During the ordeal Ribbon had dove behind the Anvil to put something, anything between her and the eerie feeling "That was very creepy. Please don't do that again." ‘Nightmare’ just smiled at her "I told you so." A few awkward moments of silence passed before she felt it was her that needed to break the silence "If you're not going to kill me, can you not tell anypony about me? I don't want to have to start over again." ‘Nightmare’ noded "Certainly. Why would I throw my only friend here out to the hounds?" Did she not know? how could she not know? "Most ponies think of Changelings as... parasites." Ribbon suddenly found the floor behind the Anvil very interesting. The dark mare gave a huff of annoyance "Most ponies are racist bigots. they fear anything different from themselves" "It's not JUST the ponies. Griffins and dragons try to... to eat us" "Thats disgusting! Eating a fellow sapient is unforgivable!" Ribbon look up and smelled the rampant disgust as ‘Nightmare’ muttered under her breath. The only words Ribbon picked up on are 'glorified pigeons' and 'when I get my hooves on those'… something. "How did you not know any of that? I mean, I know Changelings are a rare myth for ponies but..." she trailed off not wanting to continue. ‘Nightmare’ seemed to think about what to say next "Tell me... What do you know about the Multiverse theory?" “Multi-what?” "there are an infinite number of universe, every one ever so slightly different from the next" She paused, probable to make sure Ribbon was listening, there wasn’t much else to do "I was from one of those alternate universes until the Nightmare decided to drag me across the space between them, to here, where she warped my body into what you see now." "... I've heard crackpot theories before, but that's pretty hard to believe." Ribbon fixed ‘Nightmare’ with a blank look, "It would be easier to say you have Amnesia." "That wouldn't explain how I can't figure out how to use my wings, I don't believe that’s something you can just forget." "If you're an Alien, and not really an Alicorn, you shouldn’t be able to use magic either right?" With firm Logic and a slightly smug look. Clearly the mood from before now forgotten. "Magic doesn't require extra limbs, and so far i've only been able to use telekinesis. and anyway..." After a long winded spiral about this thing called the ‘internet’ Ribbon realized she was either beyond bucking insane, and filled with delusions, or telling the truth. "OKAY! You’re either insane like the Queen or you really are telling the truth. I'll believe you for now." "Queen?" "Kind of like Celestia for Changelings. I've, kind ah turned rogue and ran. That's why I don't want to start over." ‘Nightmare’ just looked and blinked at her like she was dumb struck by some thought "shes a power hungry maniac bent on world domination isn't she?" "The Queens before her were better. Much better." "That sounds about right." Then ‘Nightmare’ did something Ribbon never thought she would hear, she giggled. "Say, I never did introduce myself, did I? my names Chitsuki." "Drone scout number 2-27," With a flash Ribbon donned her normal disguise. A pegasus with a tan coat and a now messy two-tone light and dark gray mane and tail, her hair pin long since fallen off "also know as Tattered Ribbon." Before anything else could be said both her and Chitsuki’s ears flicked to the door, the sound of hoofsteps echoed from down the hall. "You should go, I have work to do." Chitsuki paused before opening the door "Hope to see you again sometime Ribbon!" The sphere of azure metal bumped into Ribbons hoof, thinking Chitsuki knocked it into her on the way out. "I wonder if I'll have some left over? I could use it." “Use it for what?” “AHHHHH!” Whoever just snuck up on Ribbon managed to scare the Changeling turned Pegasus into the air. Looking down she saw Twilight with an apologetic look “Couldn’t you clear your throat or something?” “Sorry, but the Princess and I wanted to know if you found anything?” “Hello my little pony, have you managed to find anything about Chitsuki’s Armor?” Ribbon had to make sure to focus on keeping her disguise this time. “S-sure thing Princess” A Punch in the GutRibbon awoke from a restless sleep. One of her Chitin plates was starting to itch and she knew it would only get worse, she needed to nip it in the bud before it really started to itch and waiting for it to shed would be murder. No she needed to break it off. After asking one of the maids if she can eat in her room and taking a shower, she grabbed the knife she brought with her, and she slowly and carefully etched a line in the lower plate. After a few minutes of agony she heard a knock on her door. If she put on a disguise it would itch more and she couldn’t let anypony see her like this. “Don’t come in!” ’Please don’t be the Princess’ “Ribbon, calm down. it’s me Chitsuki!” a brief moment of silence to decide if she could trust Chitsuki, but then she already knew about Ribbon didn’t she. With a quite. “Ok, come in quick.” she move to the side so anypony in the hall could see her. Chitsuki in the doorway it only just now dawned on her that she had a knife in her hoof and clearly Chitsuki saw it because the first words she spoke was “The buck are you doing?!” Ribbon pointed at the large scratch on her body. “I need you hit me right here.” “Whhhhhy?” “I need you to break my plate so it will grow.” Ribbon said with growing urgency to get the itching to stop. She complied, winding up and giving Ribbon a solid hit. the plate moved, finally getting jarred loose, except the hit left Ribbon wheezing. “CRUD! That was a bit too hard, wasn’t it?” Ribbon coughed a couple times before replying. “Maybe, not that hard.” With the plate of Chitin now loose, she grabbed it with her magic and carefully set it on fire to get rid of it. Chi seemed confused by the act. “Why are you doing that?” “I can’t just leave it here.” If some guard were to find it, well, she’d rather not think about it. Knowing what she going to say next. “And don’t worry about the fire.” Knowing she was going to ask. “B-but you, SET. IT. ON. FIRE.” "Changeling fire only burns us. we use it for transformations, attacks and getting rid of evidence." Chitsuki throws her forehooves into the air, clearly aggravated by the lack of sense this apparently made to her. "Changeling fire only burns us... Did you mean to say it like that, because it seems to make little sense.” "No I said that right 'It burns us' but it doesn't hurt us, try going hoof to hoof with somepony who can set themselves on fire." "Okay, now it sounds awesome. but wouldn't that much light make you a sniper magnet?" "What's a sniper?" "Someone who attacks from extremely long ranges, usually aiming at targets of strategic importance, like commanding officers or enemy snipers" That didn’t sound too familiar to Ribbon, most Changelings resort to espionage. "Whoever manages to do that must be very lucky or has especially good accuracy with a bow" She stares at Ribbon "A bow... Snipers don't use a bow, they take you out from over a mile away with a sniper rifle!" "Again what's a Sniper rifle. The most I've ever seen a pony use is a cross-bow and those are illegal." "Basically they use gunpowder, you know what gunpowder is right?" Now Ribbon knew what she was trying to say, A griffon firearm. Those are beyond illegal, more so than any cross-bow. Perhaps she should play dumb. “Yea good for making small bombs, not real useful through." “Basically they use gunpowder to propel small bits of metal at ludicrous speeds, ripping a hole in the other guy, usually through the head." ’How, Violent.’ "That sounds... very messy. wouldn't it be easier to teleport a vial of poison into his chest?" "That sounds pretty energy intensive though, all you need to do is point and pull the trigger and BOOM, other guy’s dead with his brains all over the place." How can a Pony say that so easily. Then again, she already found out this mare is insane. "And what if he's wearing a helmet?" "I dont think that would protect him from a pointy object traveling faster than the speed of sound, and beside, why teleport poison if you can teleport explosives and turn the guys ribcage into shrapnel, potentially getting multiple enemies. Can you think of the mass amount of panic it would cause in their ranks if their comrades started randomly exploding?” Ribbon took moment before replying, wondering if she should tell the guards how violent Chitsuki is. "That maybe so, but getting attention is the last thing I want. I have to be careful, low profile, out of the way. I did tell you before we're eaten by some and starved by the rest." If she did tell the guards, would Chitsuki tell them about her? One mistake, and she has the worst possible dirt on me "Stealth was never my strong point, I always focused on taking the other guy out in fastest most efficient way possible." She paused, as if having a thought "Although psychological warfare, that I had some brilliant ideas about." Ribbon tilted her head. "I don't know really anything about psychological warfare, I was just a scout, whistle blower and if need be? the one to get caught." Guilt trip her! "I'm guessing the queen decides that you've gone rogue if you get caught, giving her plausible deniability?" "Normally we don't, but Scouts are mostly used as cannon fodder, we die so others don't have too" Ribbon stares at the ground, depressed. "I didn't like being hatched as a scout. though, it pays to be as fast as you can be if you’re a Changeling, and scouts are the fastest." She seemed conflicted with herself. Chitsuki suddenly got up, walked over and Hugged her. "Confound you Ribbon, why must you be so adorable!?" Ribbon blushed green "Adorable!? I'm not adorable I'm a love sucker!" Too Much guilt trip! Ribbon struggled a little before giving up, she couldn't escape the hug. When she stopped she heard a rustling sound, like feathers and took a peek around Chitsuki’s back but couldn’t see the door. A moment later Ribbon snickers realizing why. “You, uh, having a little trouble?” Chitsuki put Ribbon back down. “What do you mean?” Ribbon points behind her. She took a second to look behind her. “Quite. Now how the nuggets do I get these back down?!” Ribbon speaks with slight disbelief in her voice, curious if this ever happened to her before. "You never had this happen before? Uh just calm down." She takes deep breaths, as her wings slowly return to their folded position… “Let us never speak of this again.” "That would be best. You probably don't want others to know you have jolly's for Changelings" She seemed to freeze at that. Ribbon couldn’t resist poking fun at the Alicorn for making her Blush. Putting on a poker face worthy of royalty, but emitting a lot of mirth, She voiced her opinion. “I am neither pleased, nor displeased, by this occurrence.” They stare at each other, before laughing at the awkwardness of this insanity. Upon recovering from her laughing fit, Ribbon voiced her curiosity. “So, what did you come to see me for?” "I wanted to get to know you better." Ribbon was slightly surprised. What more did she want to know? “What did you want to know?” “When we first met, why did you flip out like I was Death itself?” “Stories of Nightmare Moon being a cannibal.” stated matter of factly. She nods. “Yeah, that would makes sense. Although, I’m curious, what is it like being a Changeling?” "Not much different then you really. Hated by all, looks terrifying, except we’re also hunted." She seemed to stop and think. before deciding on what to say. “So how badly would you want to overthrow this Chrysalis, and bring the empire ‘under new management.’” "None. Chrysalis still needs to have a princess to pass the crown." It was about this time Ribbon seemed to notice something, and hesitantly asked, “Hey, have uh… you been feeling extra tired today?” “Not at all, why?” “Oh, uh. No reason.” Chitsuki however, had other ideas. Ribbon was suddenly blindsided by wave of suspicion come from Chitsuki, and Ribbon couldn’t help but flinched at the foul smell. "I thought so... it explains why ponies would fear you, and why you are so skittish all the time... and why you would infiltrate a pony society, unless they have something that you can’t acquire normally. But it makes no difference to me." Ribbon ignored Chitsuki and started panicking. "NO, WAIT! Its not like I snuck into your room to feed on you, I don't do that like the others!" "Huh? No! I didn't mean it like that, I'm saying that I don't mind if you feed on my emotions! I know that you don't really want to, but you need to do it to survive, don't you? I can't blame you for that." The suspicion from earlier was replaced with compassion. Ribbons eyes widened and confused, why wouldn’t she be? An Alicorn freely showing her emotions and doesn’t care if their taken. “Y-you don't care that I'm f-feeding off your love?" “And besides, do you really like ‘feeding’ on ‘love’?” Chitsuki implied, even do air quotes with her forehooves. Ribbon grins. “It tastes different from pony to pony.” ’Her friendship tastes like frozen blueberries.’ Despite her thoughts Ribbon know what she was implying. Chitsuki seems to smile “Finally someone who understands my sense of humor!” "Changelings aren't really hatched with a sense of innocence." “So anyway, i’m curious, Is that transformation thing a spell, or an inherent ability of your race?” "I think it's both, since I haven't seen a unicorn do anything close to it. But I can't be sure, I don't have access to that knowledge anymore." "Can you try to explain to me how you do it? Because I REALLY want to see if I can do it." "Build up some power, the bigger or smaller I need to be the more power I need, picture what I want to look like and release." Chitsuki closed her eyes with a look of concentration. As she seemed to dissolve into a cloud of Miasma before it began taking the form of something else. What emerged from the Miasma was a horrible mockery of a changeling, it was bipedal, standing even taller than Chrysalis. Its forelimbs looked like some kind of amalgamation of mantis claws instead of forelegs. Its wings seemed to be a fusion of a Pegasi’s and a Changeling’s. Ribbon simply stood there, trying to move as little as possible. It opened its eyes. “Wha- holy feathers my voice is bucked up!” its multi toned voice seemed to echo off the walls. It took a moment to take in its surroundings, before looking at its forelimbs, a look of shock appearing on its face near immediately after. “Okay, exactly how badly did I Buck up?” “A lot?” Ribbon honestly couldn't think of any other way to describe it. It immediately runs into Ribbon bathroom and stares at its reflection in the mirror. "Holy feathers, I look awesome! I am sooo gonna reuse this at some point." As it admires its reflection it realize something. "Now how the heck do I undo this?" Ribbon pipes up. "Remember what you looked like before." it closed it’s eyes, and seemed to dissolve much more rapidly this time, reforming back into Chitsuki’s body. She opened her eyes and shook her head. "Darn, now I know how a rubber band feels." "I've never felt like that before just uh, warm. That also looked a lot different too, doing it my way -which I'm surprised worked- may not be everything you have to do." There was a flash of bright light followed by apparently nothing. Chitsuki and Ribbon talk and practiced her transformation before something finally occurred to Chitsuki. “Ribbon, why are we standing on the ceiling? and why is everything colored purple and blue?” Author's Note So here's the next chapter, point out any mistakes. And as always(yes there's an 'always' now) please feed the hungry authors by leaving a comment. BlackoutWas it too much to ask for a normal day? This thought and others like it ran through Ribbon mind. She was now stuck to the ceiling as if gravity no longer applied, as was Chitsuki. Now a guard burst into the room, who was not stuck to the ceiling, yelling. “Everypony get to safety, Discord has broken lo- Well, buck… I see I was a bit too late…” Ribbon could only shush Chitsuki, but she seemed to have plans of her own. She mouthed ‘I got this’ before jumping from the ceiling and landing on the floor in front of the guard. “Name and rank soldier!” He salutes. “Captain Shining Armor ma’am!” Ribbon took this chance to Change into her pegasus form. the guard must have seen the flash, because he started readying a spell at Ribbon. “STAND DOWN SOLDIER, SHE’S A FRIENDLY! NOW GIVE ME A SITREP ON THIS!” ’Holy buck that was loud!’ The ringing in Ribbons ears took its time to dissipate and Ribbon had missed what Chi said to the guard, but heard his response "I'll teleport us there." His horn glowed before a flash pink light overtook Ribbon vision. What she was presented to afterwords was mess, the ground was checkered, the clouds were pink, and she had to duck to avoid one that was aimed at her head. “Well this just made number seven on my list of ‘weirdest stuff I’ve ever seen.” "Why did I have to come? I was safe in my room!" Ribbon couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the modified landscape for fear that something may plow into her when she’s not looking. "But wheres the fun in that? All tucked away like a cuddle bug waiting for Moonie to come back." Ribbon was startled that something had teleported beside her, an arm around her side and It was caressing her cheek with the other. "Leave my friend out of this, your fight is with me..." Discord makes a sarcastic scream of fright, before laughing. Now that it let go, she finally got a good look at it. Ribbon wished she didn’t. The creature was as big a mess as the landscape, a miss mash of different animal parts. This was Discord. "Little Moony thinks she's all tough now!" He snaps his… talons? and suddenly the imposing, almost demanding form that was Chitsuki was turned into a foal. "No, I think I'll bring her into this all the same, Don't want to leave anypony out now do I?" Every word out of his muzzle just seemed to drip laughter. And just to get his point across he picked Ribbon up, making her squirm and wiggle to get free. As she struggled, Discord just kept laughing. “Wha- Why, thank you, now I’m just harder to hit.” Discord just seems to smile. "Finally somepony who understands! Now what to do to your friend?" Chitsuki oozed miasma, before returning to her original form, and leveled a glare at him that looked like a rabid Diamond Dog eye balling a steak. "Bucking. Hurt. Her. And. You. DIE." Chitsuki begin closing the distance between the three of them. Ribbon still in Discords grip. "My, my, how violent. No I'm not going to hurt her" he snapped his talons, causing Ribbon to revert to her Changeling form. Which shocked her into a stupor. "She looks MUCH better without a mask on, don't you think?" he held Ribbon out in front of himself as if taunting a child with candy. “Let her go, NOW!” He frowns. "Oh fine, Be that way. Ruin all my fun way don't you." He prepares to snap his talons. "But before I go, one last thing." He snaps them. Immediately, Ribbon felt a sucking sensation in her mind, before Chitsuki begin to gravitate towards Ribbon. "If you're going to be so violent, I can't just let you roam around, so you can stay in her head till I'm done. Tah tah." As Chitsuki get closer to Ribbon. Ribbon felt as if she would pass out as Chitsuki sank into her body. Ribbons chitin felt as if she was on fire, and not changeling fire, normal fire that burns. It felt as if an unfathomable amount of power was flowing through her veins. In what little vision she had, she saw a black fire licking her hooves, it was unnatural how the flames absorbed the light instead of producing it. As the flames covered her whole body, Ribbon could only wait, as the pain threatened to blackout her vision. ‘Ribbon, are you there, Ribbon, please answer me, I d-d-don’t want to be alone agaaain’ ‘C-Chi? is that you?’ ‘Oh thank God, you’re alright, I thought Discord had effectively replaced your mind with mine!’ ‘Th-the magic… It hurts…’ ‘What? Chitsuki went silent momentarily, until the flow of power coursing through Ribbons body stopped burning, and was replaced with a dull throb ‘I think our only option is to take down discord, because I have no clue how to undo this, and I don't think your body can take this much energy for very long before side effects begin cropping up. ‘B-b-but how do we fight him like this? ’Look, it is taking too much of my focus keeping my power down to levels that won't irreversibly damage your body, to control anything. At the most I can give you suggestions on what to do, but you have to carry them out.’ ’Bu-but I don’t know how to use it!’ ‘I don’t know! use it like you would use any other magic!’ I-i can’t! ’I can only think of one way then, repeat after me “We are many, but we are One”’ ‘We are many, but we are One’ ‘We are many, but we are One’ ‘We are many, but we are One!’ … They opened their eyes, and saw the chaos Discord had wrought. They decided that they could not let it continue. Shifting their form to that of a sky dwelling pegasus, they took to the air in search of him. They followed the foul stench of his magic, only to be greeted by a sight that horrified them. Discord had corrupted the Elements, leaving himself unopposed. We would not be able to maintain Our disguise. Direct intervention was necessary. They touched down, looking him in the eyes, unwavering. Before speaking. “You shouldn't have done that…” He blinked. "Shouldn't have done what my dear?” "You forced the Blood Moons very being, into the Rogues body, hoping to remove a threat. Instead you created Us, and incited Our wrath." They shed their disguise, allowing it to burn up in the roiling field of energy surrounding their being. At the sight of this, Discords eyebrow rose off his face. “For We are neither Chitsuki, nor are We Tattered Ribbon. We are, Concordia.” Their name seemed to strike something buried deep within Discords mind, as for the most fleeting of moments, true fear appeared on his features. They capitalized on this fact by releasing a surge of undirected power, driving our point home. “And we will teach you the meaning of FEAR!” Discord didn't even take the time to laugh, and instead rushed them, intent on delivering a flaming uppercut. "Our power... moves worlds..." channeling large amount of miasma and magic, Concordia struck the ground in front of them, creating a shockwave of dark power, and launching Discord high into the air, shocking him. With a flap of their wings, They pursued him. Before they could connect, Discord teleported behind Us, and axe kicked Us into the ground. Emerging from the crater coated in dust. "Concordia voiced Their rage. "Our wrath… rends time itself..." Discord gave them a confused stare. They rushed up to him, focusing every ounce of rage into an aura of darkness around their hoof. "Dāku..." Concordia’s hoof met his gut. "Shōryū..." They launched their other hoof into his jaw. "KEN!" The impact sent him even higher into the air, before he plummeted back down to earth, while We landed in front of him. Discord got up, wavering slightly before sighing. “It appears I made a mistake, joining your consciences.” He tightened his paw into a fist. “But that can be easily fixed.” Concordia blinked, and he was right in front of them. He delivered a punch to their mid section. * CRUNCH! * … … ... upon regaining consciousness, Ribbon was consumed by pain, and realized that she was trapped under pile rubble, barely able to see out of it. The only thing she could see, was Twilight and her friends, staring at where she was trapped, but she was in too much pain to worry about that. Secondly, she noticed Chitsuki looking at the pile of rubble as well, her body trembling in worry and anger. The air seemed to grow cold, as Chitsukis eyes sharpened and took on a look that not even a dragon fully consumed by its greed could match. It promised absolute murder, after being subjected to pain beyond pain. She looked back at Twilight, pure fear having since broken her free of whatever Discord had done to her mind, and said a single word. “Run…” and run they did. Turning her glare to Discord, she walked up to him, radiating unrestrained bloodlust. Ribbon didn’t hear what occurred next, as she had finally passed out from blood loss and an overload of pain. Sudden Change in HightRibbon opened her eyes, only to close them again. The room was bright, far too bright. Her eyes are meant for darker settings, not the hospital room she found herself in. Her body felt heavy, and her legs felt odd. Letting her eyes adjust to the light, she glanced down to see if she was bound. She wasn’t, but she was undisguised. She began panicking when she realized that her body had changed and was left exposed. Her legs were longer and had more holes, her barrel was wider, and her horn, usually a smooth curve was now notched with a hook, her body as a whole was now nearly three fourth the size of Chitsuki. “To quote you. WHAT THE BUCK IS GOING ON HERE!” “OH GOD I’M U-” *Thump* “Owwwwch…” Chitsuki sprang up so fast, her momentum flipped her onto her back. Ribbon would have laughed at the sight if it weren’t for her panic. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!!!" Ribbon felt a sudden wave of shock emanating from Chitsuki, whose eyes slowly widened. "Uhhhhh... Ribbon, I think you evolved..." "YOU THINK!!" Saying that a Scout, one of the smallest and weakest changelings just ‘evolved’ was an understatement. If Ribbon had to guess, she would say she looked like a small soldier now. "Calm down before someone calls a guard!" ’Nopony’s seen me yet?‘ And then, as if just to prove Faust hates her, a doctor DID walk into the room. "Do you mind, oth-!" He slowly backed out of the room with a 'what the buck' look frozen on his face, and the smell of uncertainty drifting from him. He either didn’t want, or didn’t know how to deal with either creature in the room. Ribbon could help but feel embarrassed. Two ponies have seen her natural form in less than a half a week. "I should... probably put on a disguise, huh?" "Well, crap. Might as well brace for the inevitable storm, and yes, yes you should." This was all the prompting Ribbon needed from her… Friend? Is that the right label she should use? As soon as Ribbons flames went out, Celestia popped into the room with a flash before glancing around the room. Chitsuki was the first to speak "Why exactly, did you take the time to visit us personally?" She looked Chitsuki right in the eyes. Ribbon could tell what she was doing, Celestia was scanning her magic, and if she scanned Ribbon, would Celestia sense the difference? "I sensed a new power growing." It was hopeless, Celestia already sensed her, and to top it off Celestia looked Ribbon in the eyes next. Maybe if she just denied it, Celestia think she’s unaware of her new found power. "And I wanted to see it myself. A being coming to power." Chitsuki turns to Ribbon, a look of resignation in her eyes. "Well shit, I guess the jig is up..." Ribbon begins to look around frantically "what jig? I thought I was recovering from a broken rib?" "She KNOWS Ribbon... I can tell by how calm she is... shouldn't she be worried about her ponies well being? See where I'm going with this?" Chitsuki turns her eyes to Celestia, with a fire in them like a dragon ready to protect its hoard. "If you so much as harm her, then by Asura, I will smite you where you stand..." Ribbon turns to look at Chitsuki. "I blame you for this..." Celestia smirks, ready to defuse any hostilities. "Now, now. I don't intend to do anything, I am merely curious as to the power that spiked in my castle." Chitsuki pulls Ribbon into a protective hug. "You're just wasting energy cuddle bug, she knows for certain." Ribbon blushes and stares at her. "...did you just call me cuddle bug?" She sat there held in Chitsuki hooves, as her face formed a grin that belonged on Pinkie. "Problem?" Ribbon blush continued as she glared. "You did that on purpose." "Your point is?" Ribbon points to Celestia. "Screw subtly!" Chitsuki had pulled Ribbon into a passionate kiss. The sudden and unexpected contact mixed with her fright caused a reflex, as if attacked. After a moment of shock struggling wore off she started to relax, the influx of love calming her down. Chitsuki broke the kiss to see Ribbon with the biggest green blush on her natural face. "I umm... ah... wow." Both herself and Chitsuki turn to face Celestia at the same time. She was standing there, blushing, with a massive wingboner. "I blame estrust!" Celestia just snickers. "That won't happen until later in fall." She glared at her "Not another word. Sunbutt..." She simply brushes it aside. "Very well. Now about you." "Yesss? Abou-" "I'msorryIdidn'tmeantofeedonyourponiesIwasjustsohungryandIcouldn’t-" Ribbons freakout was intturupted by Celestia placeing her hoof on her muzzle. "I've already said I would not do anything to harm you, so there is no need for fear." When Celestia removed her hoof, Ribbon stayed quite. "So what did you really come here to talk about?" "I had thought Discord was behind this, I see I was wrong. as long as you remain out of sight and don't cause trouble I see little reason to intervene here." "Discord? You mean that bucker that I delivered the mother of all nut busters to?" Celestia nodded. "Yes, I believe so, now if you'll excuse me..." she teleported out. Once the Princess of the Sun was gone, Ribbon could breath a sigh of relief. "Hey Ribbon, I'm bored, what do you want to do?" "We're not going to talk about what just happened!?" "Talk about what?" "About Celestia, she knows and she doesn't care, and she KNOWS! And what was the kiss for?!" Chitsuki mumbled something she couldn’t hear. "What was that?" Chitsuki mumbled again but she caught it this time. "I'm in love with you." Ribbon could only stare, dumbfounded. how could this pony be in love with her? And she even knew what Ribbon was! "I've known you for all of two days." "And you've been more caring than most people that i've know for the last twelve years..." "Twelve years? what type of ponies of you been-" she paused, realizing her mistake. She’d realized this alicorn was insane, why not add to the madness? "Nevermind, I wouldn't understand anyway" "You know what we need? A commemorative item to celebrate this event!" Ribbon whispered under her breath. "You sure move along quick." "I heard that!" "So what did you what to celebrate with!" She said, a little too quickly. "A particular weapon I've been hoping to make. Did you know it's possible for an iron blade to cut a steel one?" "Steel? that's some pretty hard to get stuff, the minotaurs that make it refuse to let the secret of how they make it get out. And of course it's possible for iron to cut steel but That's a also a pretty expensive enchantment." "Lucky for you, I know how to make steel, and a way to cut it with an UNENCHANTED iron blade..." Ribbon ignored that info, preferring . "And that's not even counting the new stuff that you make. I've yet to fully test it's abilities or have the enchantments tested." "Good point... TO THE FORGE!!!" Chitsuki grabbed Ribbon in an awkward position on her back. Feeling like she was about to leave what safety the room gave her from prying eyes, She shifted her form back to that of her favored pegasus, before Chitsuki galloped off in the direction of the blacksmiths workplace. Ribbon felt the heat in her cheeks rising. "Hey hey hey, I can walk you know!" Setting Ribbon down Chitsuki proceed to chastise herself. "Bad Chitsuki, you're not a five year old in a candy store!" "Did somepony mention candy!?" "AHHH! Pinkie, don't do that!” Pinkie had appeared out of thin air and right behind Ribbon, as usual. And as usual, scared her. Ribbon pulled Pinkie in close and whispered quietly. “Pinkie, you know how you promised not to tell anypony about me?” “Uh, huh.” “Well, Chitsuki knows now too.” Before she got a chance to tell Pinkie much more, Chitsuki spoke up. "Hey Pinkie, DON'T go prank Celestia, okay?" Pinkie immediately stops whispering with Ribbon and puts a hoof to her chin in thought. "I have the strangest urge to prank Celestia... Gotta go bye!" "You're going to get Pinkie in a lot of trouble, aren't you?" Ribbon could see it now. Pinkie holding a giant cake addressed to the Princess, and when she goes for a bite, it explodes. covering the princess, the guards, and the rest of the room in cake, leaving Pinkie spotless and laughing. Before being put in a dungeon cell. "Celestia will know it was my revenge for making that incredibly awkward moment." "That was you, not Celestia." Chitsuki started laughing maniacally. "And thus, the storm begins..." Ribbon felt the need to take a few steps back. This might not be Nightmare Moon, but she was still crazy. "I'm going to be dragged into this aren't I?" "Along with everyone else in the castle..." They had reached the forge. Ribbons temporary work place in the castle. "Now, we make art... sweet, deadly, art..." "So what did you want me to make again?" "A katana... in essence the blade is two pieces of metal, one hard, composing the cutting edge, and one soft composing the rest of the blade, folded together, creating an absurdly sharp blade." "Ok, I think I can do a katana. any specific design style?" "Simple, no fancy adornments and as a matter of fact, I can supply the 'hard' metal." Chitsuki focused on a spot in front of her and with a ‘shink’ type sound, a big block of teal colored metal had formed. "Well then, let's begin." *FIVE HOURS LATER* With a satisfying hiss of steam, the blade reached room temperature for the last time. "Finally, she is complete! All that is left now is a name..." "It looks like its made of shadows..." "That's it! I shall dub thee Kage no Akumu, Shadow of the Nightmare!" Author's Note I know the sister story for this is WAY ahead of me, and I AM sorry for this. I'll try and catch up, but between YouTube and Steam, well, it's hard to concentrate. Also, if you could feed me some comments. I am very hungry. Weaponcraft"Now, what else shall we make?" Ribbon could smell the excitement coming off Chitsuki. But what she said made her frown. In favor of time and ease she just packed what she thought she needed. Bits. lots of ‘um. "I don't have any of my stuff, so I'm a little limited." "You know what you need? Claws..." Claws? She had heard that only the night guard, the thestrals used thats type of weapon. "Claws?" "Yeah, ya know spring loaded so they pop out and let you slash stuff." "Like the ones used by the Night guard?" "Yeah, except longer and sharper." "They have a twin claw attached to their shoes, I'm not so sure I can make it spring loaded though" Let alone how complicated it sounded just to make it spring loaded, Ribbon had a bigger issue. Two left hooves. And right hooves. "And I have a bigger problem I didn't have before. I have two different hoof sizes now." One set in pony form, one set in her natural form. "So why don't you make them out of something stretchy?" "They'd be a tight fit fit for sure." Segmented bottom shoe, Rubber base, metal supports. Sounds flimsy. "Better then nothing." "Alright, I'll ask for a pair from the barracks and have a look at them." "Now then, I've got an uber-cool blade, but from what I've heard from Pinkies tales, hydras are real here, and bladed weapons do not mix with hydras..." "No, no they do not. It'll work on everything else though." Well unless you get it to grow so many heads that it's heart gives out, and chances are it’d eat you before that happens. Ribbon wouldn’t say that out loud though. "True, true." Chitsuki slowly nods her head... "Still, the last few days have been insane, haven't they?" "Yea, I'd sure like to relax. Maybe I'll go shopping." "Meh, why the hell not?" "I'm only going to go buy some new tools." A new set of shiny hammers to replace her worn out junk. "You can do that, I'll go troll bluebutt..." Ribbon chuckles at that. "Have fun!" She couldn't seem to help herself as she began laughing to herself. "Oh, I will..." she put her forehooves together, and continued to laugh maniacally. Ribbon was slowly inching towards the door, as she didn’t want to get dragged into a prank war. Not after last time. "Sure, uh. I heard from Rarity he has a thing about being covered in cake." "Like maybe, Celestias cake?" Ribbon simply decided to go, before this got any weirder for her tastes. Finally Ribbon get to relax in this city, or she would have. If it wasn’t for some posh lady on every street turning her nose up at Ribbon, it was the smell of disgust. Ribbon bought her things and was on her way back to her temporary workplace to admire her new toys. On her way there, her mind drifted to the alicorn. She said she loved her, But Ribbon couldn’t let her get so close so quickly. If she was as insane as she thought, Chitsuki could get her killed. If not, she could be missing out on something. Before she had time to contemplate this further, she was interrupted by a flash of light and something heavy landing on top of her. "Well at least I wasn't upside down this time..." "Yes that's great and all but, uh. One question. Why are you mounting me?" *flump!* "oh, crap! Why must these things keep happening to me?!" Chitsuki got off her, Ribbon kept her back to her though. She wouldn’t be able to look her in the eyes after that embarrassment. "Happening to you? seems to be happening to me just as much." Keeping her back to Chitsuki, Ribbon picked up her tools and pieces that fell out of her bag. "True, true... But anyway, I know what I'm going to make next, a giant, electrified, hammer!" Ribbon sighs. "Which means more work for me. Do you want it made of the same stuff?" "Okay, but I want to help, I don't feel like being useless." Now Ribbon felt she could look her in the eyes. "But you're not trained, you are useless. Unless don't want it made quickly, you just want it made?" "Exactly. I want to learn your trade." "Well, it'll take more than one build you know." "I know. But I actually want to be a productive member of society." "And you can't do that now? You already generate alloy's from your body" "Supply and demand, make too much and it becomes worthless." "Then only make so much. you can start by asking for compensation for the stuff you've given to the Princess." "Now why didn't I think of that..." Ribbon gave one of her sarcastic smirks. "As I said, You're useless." Chitsuki’s eyes went big and sad, like a puppy that got kicked. "But then I get to spend more time with you..." She couldn't resist, and had to look away from the big sad eyes. "You said you wanted an electrified hammer?" "Yes..." "This means I have to break off more plates, huh?" Chituski smirked. "Why, do you need a hand with that?" "Unlike you, my chitin plates are limited so I can't just keep breaking them off. I need them." "I know, that doesn't mean we can't make the other parts though." "Wait, you meant 'hoof' right?" "Derp, that's what I ment to say." "Okay. We'll make the fill for the hammers core, it's soft, rectangular and doesn't need to be perfect, a good place to get used to a weighted hammer. Though I'd rather start you on something else." She Imagined Chituski wouldn’t be too gentle with her tools. As a second thought, she added. "and you're not using my new ones." "Well, what are we waiting for! Let do this!" And so we began. *two days, one montage and an interrupted song later...* "Now all that's left is waiting for you to shed..." "Could be awhile, it's not like I need to do it every week, month, or year. Only when I'm hurt and need a new one or if I grow." Chitsuki, who has been full of energy these last few days, was now a little sad. "Poo, and you're probably going to have to return to Ponyville soon..." "And the princess wouldn't just let you out either, the public would freak." Chitsuki smacked herself in the face with hoof. "Forgot I could shapeshift as well..." "Do you really think the Princess would just let somepony as powerful as you go unchecked?... then again the elements live in Ponyville so you wouldn't be completely unchecked. Talk to her." "Shouldn't we come up with a disguise for me first?" "Shouldn't we know you can leave before we commit?" "Hey, even if I can't, it would be useful so I didn't have to sneak around the castle." "Alright Well, we know you can only turn into a dark or twisted version of whatever it is sooo, don't change anything." Chitsuki showed her confusion with a tilt of the head. "I mean stay as you are and just shrink down and loss the wings, or the horn." Chitsuki closed her eyes as the miasma came down from her mane. it swirled around her as it shrunk, before dissipating. When she emerged, she was slightly smaller than Ribbon as a pegasus, and Ribbon was already short. Chitsuki looked a lot like Pinkie, but with wings. Her coat was dark purple, topped off with a bouncy fluffy blue mane and tail. Chitsuki hits Ribbon with lidded eyes. "Gentlemares." Said with a thick, clearly faked, Prance accent. Ribbon chuckles before trying her best to copying the accent. "You look good madam, just like a thestral." "Now then, to Sunbutts lair!... which way is that again?" "I dunno, I think it's the tower." All those stories about a princess in a tower have to come from somewhere. "To the tower!" "You go to the tower. I'm not going near her." Princess Celestia may not kill her, but she was sure going to avoid her anyway. "Please, if you get to nervous, we can always make out in front of her again..." Said Chitsuki, with an added eyebrow wiggle. Ribbons cheeks felt warm at the thought of making out with an audience. Why was she letting this alicorn get to her. "... I think I'll stay here..." Her ears picked up the sound of hoofsteps. Ribbon promptly transforms into her pegasus disguise, just before Celestia and Luna walk into the room. She audibly gulped. "Hello princess Celestia, Luna..." Luna looks at alicorn in disguise with curiosity. "And who, pray tell, is this?" "This is, uh. she's..." ’Think think think.’ "Its me, Chitsuki how do you not recognize me? Or do me and Ribbon have to embarrass you again Celestia?" ’Forget it’ She whispered, "please don't." at Chitsuki Celestia goes wide eyed at her remark. "So it is you, well that simplifies things greatly." Luna continues. "We were planning on relocating you to Ponyville, where the Elements could keep an eye on you, but we couldn't figure out how to get you there unseen." "yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes! I get to stay with Ribby!" Chitsuki had started bouncing about the room. "What!?" Ribbon gaped at the princesses. They were really letting such a powerful being roam about their land? Celestia giggled. "Well it was either her, Derpy Whooves, or Pinkie Pie." "What about Twilight?" "Do you WANT me to be turned into a science experiment!?!" Come to think of it, she wouldn't put it past her to do just that. "It's better than Ponyville being turned into a battle field if you move in with Pinkie." "As opposed to me getting Twilight drunk, and causing her to somehow make the magical equivalent of a thermonuclear warhead and completely level it?" "I don't think I know what that is so, no?" Chi gives very determined look. It was very clear that Chitsuki would be staying with her. "Fine, you can stay with me." "Yaaaay!" And without warning, Chi tackle hugged her. Ribbon yelps in surprise, before blushing intensely. *Pomph* "Sister, I didn't know you were into that kind of thing?!" Ribbon couldn’t see with a face full of mane, but she could almost hear how smug she was at finding something potentially embarrassing about her sister. And Celestia apparently would have none of it. She levitated a pair of tickets and drops them at their hooves, before speaking quickly in an incredibly flustered voice. "Tickets. Train. Ponyville. Five o'clock. Goodbye." And in a flash of light was gone, presumably to her chambers. Luna gave us a grin. “You should probably get going, it's already four o'clock." Before she too teleports away. "Uhh..." The fake thestral finally let go so Ribbon could stand back up. "Well, let's go, we don't want to miss the train now do we?" "I'll pack up my new tools.” Author's Note Sorry if this seemed a little off. I'm not super happy with the way this chapter turned out. Also, I'm putting this 'on hiatus' until I'm done helping my friend write New Moon Rising. Sorry.
A Royal Job OfferIt was a nice day today. The seasonal Apple Family job was done, Time Turner got his cogs from Manehattan this time, and Ditzy failed to break Ribbons mailbox this week, that meant I didn’t have work to do. Yes today was a good day to be productive. She would finally get some work done on her side project: A hoof mounted Mini-cross bow. It wasn’t really meant for range, it was meant to be lightweight and small and much more complex than just ‘wooden stick and string’, so for starters it would be firable with one hoof. *Knock Knock Knock* But the pull sting would have to wait. She got up from her workbench out of her basement, that’s where she keep the things she don’t want ponies to see. like her very much illegal poisons, armor set -built for a changeling of coase-, and the--- *Knock Knock Knock* “I’m coming!” Can’t somepony even try to be patient? When she opened the door a Royal guard was standing there. Now it’s not that she dislikes the guards or anything, but she really disliked the guards, they stood as a reminder of what would happen to her. But this guy just stood there steely eyed and stone-faced as ever, he didn’t even say anything. Just hoofed her a scroll and left. When she closed the door she was glad the guard didn’t say anything, the local guards all know she disliked them and don’t bother. To her surprise, the scroll turned out to be a summons, requesting her skills as a blacksmith to help reverse engineer some kind of new alloy. She knew Rarity would be in Canterlot this week, did she do this? She’d have to really thank her for this. She pack up what she thought she would need: lots of bits to buy some fancy new tools, and a knife. Simple. Today was not going to be very productive for Ribbon, she wouldn’t be able to make any more Joke poison or its remedy -as she sometimes got it on her- nor would she finally build her Mini-cross bow like she wanted, but it was still a nice day. If she was careful with her love supply she’d be able to go month without eating. It’s not as if she would be there alone though, since Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy are already there. So with nothing to do for the week Ribbon decided to take the job, what’s the worst thing that can happen, she had her friends there, and chances are she wasn’t even going to talk to the Princess, just a proxy, so she knew she would be safe. With little left to do and a now stuffed saddlebag she left for the train station. For the last hour Ribbon just sat and listened to the sound of the rails and the gossip of passengers. Ribbon so far had heard about some noble proposing to a ‘commoner’, an upcoming fashion show, and rumors Nightmare Moon still being alive, All worthless. Ribbon didn’t care about the nobles, didn’t have a reason to wear clothes, and the new princess use to be Nightmare Moon and apparently has a temper. Ribbon didn’t blame her, dealing with the snobbish nobility must be taxing after being on the moon for so long. As she listened to little bits of gossip she could on the train she leaned over to look out the window to see the city of white approaching. Equestrias capital city of purity was, for Ribbon, a blinding city of white that stung her eyes and the castle was no different. She eagerly wished to get whatever it was she was needed for done so she can leave, after all rejecting this job may have seemed suspicious and if this new metal alloy was useful she maybe able to figure out how it was made and make it herself or figure out how they got it. As she let her mind drift from what it could be used for to what she’d do with it, she failed to see a white Unicorn rounding a corner as she bump into him. She would have told him off but he seemed in a real hurry to get somewhere real fast, and before she was even standing again he was gone. In need of venting and no one to talk to she simply muttered quietly to herself along the lines of “The nerve of that stallion”, and in her quiet seething anger rounded and bumped into another white Unicorn. “Oh I’m terr- Oh Ribbon darling!” “Rarity? hey. Why do you look so happy?” “That ruffian Blueblood finally got his comeuppance!” “I don’t think I know what that is, but you make it sound like a good thing.” “That it is dear, and I’m so glad you made it, I was hoping the Princess would take my recommendation.” “I was wondering if that was you, now I know it was.” Now I need to think a gift and how to give it to her. “Do you know what the job entails?” “I don’t really know myself, I only know that Twilight is in the Barracks waiting for you, and visiting somepony” “I don’t suppose you know where the Barracks are then?” “Next to Donut Joe’s.” “That means I already passed it! Bye Rarity.” “Good bye, darling!” Racing back down the halls to where she saw Donut Joe’s, she overhead the sound of laughter. As she got closer she heard Twilight talking. “At first I was a little disgusted by her outburst, but looking back at it now, it was hilarious!” Said Twilight as she finished sentence. “Anypony with the gall to do that is ok in my book, most ponies don’t know that he doesn’t hold any real power” Said the stallion she was talking to. Ribbon thought this was a good enough time as any to grab Twi’s attention. “Hey Twi, how are ya?” “Hello, Ribbon, I was just talking to my brother.” “And you must be the blacksmith we called to have a look at the armor? Name’s Shining Armor it’s good to meet you.” “Good to meet you too, I’ll have one of my guards escort you to the forge, the armor is already there.” As Ribbon was lead by a guard to the forge she tried to remember where it was. Once there the guard left to her own and return to his post. The room with the forge was sweltering, as one would expect, with an Anvil in the center of the room, however what lay on the anvil, seemed to suck all the heat from the room, Ribbon could tell there was enchantments on it. As she touched it, it felt frozen as if made of ice. Expecting this to be a hard metal to work with she decided to start with testing it, to see if it had limits. The first test she’d give this metal plate is a stress test, see how much force it takes to bend it. She just balanced so it hung off the side of the anvil and clamped it down to hold, and started hammering away.
Heart AttackAs Ribbon worked away on the strange metal she couldn’t help but wonder where the Princess had got it. The plate metal the Princess had given her had a teal moon engraved on it, she half wondered if this was a remnant of Nightmare Moon, she could have asked, but she felt it would be rude, What if it belonged to Princess Luna. As she worked and let her mind drift "Hey, you’re that blacksmith I heard they called in to study my armor!" The loud sound startled her and made her jump, Tattered turned around and froze, wide-eyed in awe and fear. Its the bucking Nightmare… The Nightmare stared at her and said "Something wrong?" tilting her head, as if in confusion. In her shook she accidentally dropped the guise by instinct for her more protective and agile form. Which only made the matter worse. The Nightmare look as though she was trying to hold a poker face but Ribbon knew better "A shapeshifter? Fascinating..." Despite her words Ribbon could feel the rising panic and interest the Nightmare was holding. Dropping the Hammer she held in her mouth she panicked and tried to run for the door, "Don't eat me! I don't taste good!" but in her eager hurry to work on the new metal or laziness, she had left tools on the ground and had now tripped on one as soon she rounded the Anvil and landed face down and hooves out in front of her. The Nightmare just continued stare at her now with a face a disbelief and disgust "Ew, why would I eat something capable of rational thought?" As Nightmare spoke she moved and now blocked the door to the windowless room. Tattered backed away until her back touched the cold Anvil "Please don't kill me-he-heee!" Nightmare facehoofed and said "Wow. Just wow. Even the foreigners think I'm some kind of monster." Nightmare sighed and sat down, "Can we please talk about this like rational beings?" "I-I am, that's why I'm b-begging for my l-life!" said with tears now forming in her eyes. *Wham!* Tattered could only look on as the Nightmare hit her own head and the floor. With force, yet seemed unfazed. "For the love of god. I do not indent to hurt you in any way." "Y-you're not?" "Correct." "But, why?" "I'm not that so called Nightmare Moon, I may look like her, but that was because she turned me into a 'Perfect host'” "S-so, you gave me that metal plate?" Just starting to calm down from her newest panic attack and near life experience. Who knew your heart could beat faster the blood can move. "Yes, that was me. I actually condensed my, miasma, for lack of a better term, to form it" "Miasma?" She cocked her head to the side in confusion. "I would show you, but you need to promise me you won't freak out, because even to me it's kinda creepy" "I've seen a lot of creepy." And true she has. She even once saw the last Queen, Queen Mantis, eat one of her mates. "Very well" The temperature -Which was very warm before because of the forge- dropped and a purple-ish mist left ‘Nightmares’ body and coiled around her foreleg to her hoof where something started growing. It was black and seemed to absorb the light from the room before a ‘shink’ sound was made, and the shadow orb broke leaving behind an azure metal ball that she then placed on the floor. During the ordeal Ribbon had dove behind the Anvil to put something, anything between her and the eerie feeling "That was very creepy. Please don't do that again." ‘Nightmare’ just smiled at her "I told you so." A few awkward moments of silence passed before she felt it was her that needed to break the silence "If you're not going to kill me, can you not tell anypony about me? I don't want to have to start over again." ‘Nightmare’ noded "Certainly. Why would I throw my only friend here out to the hounds?" Did she not know? how could she not know? "Most ponies think of Changelings as... parasites." Ribbon suddenly found the floor behind the Anvil very interesting. The dark mare gave a huff of annoyance "Most ponies are racist bigots. they fear anything different from themselves" "It's not JUST the ponies. Griffins and dragons try to... to eat us" "Thats disgusting! Eating a fellow sapient is unforgivable!" Ribbon look up and smelled the rampant disgust as ‘Nightmare’ muttered under her breath. The only words Ribbon picked up on are 'glorified pigeons' and 'when I get my hooves on those'… something. "How did you not know any of that? I mean, I know Changelings are a rare myth for ponies but..." she trailed off not wanting to continue. ‘Nightmare’ seemed to think about what to say next "Tell me... What do you know about the Multiverse theory?" “Multi-what?” "there are an infinite number of universe, every one ever so slightly different from the next" She paused, probable to make sure Ribbon was listening, there wasn’t much else to do "I was from one of those alternate universes until the Nightmare decided to drag me across the space between them, to here, where she warped my body into what you see now." "... I've heard crackpot theories before, but that's pretty hard to believe." Ribbon fixed ‘Nightmare’ with a blank look, "It would be easier to say you have Amnesia." "That wouldn't explain how I can't figure out how to use my wings, I don't believe that’s something you can just forget." "If you're an Alien, and not really an Alicorn, you shouldn’t be able to use magic either right?" With firm Logic and a slightly smug look. Clearly the mood from before now forgotten. "Magic doesn't require extra limbs, and so far i've only been able to use telekinesis. and anyway..." After a long winded spiral about this thing called the ‘internet’ Ribbon realized she was either beyond bucking insane, and filled with delusions, or telling the truth. "OKAY! You’re either insane like the Queen or you really are telling the truth. I'll believe you for now." "Queen?" "Kind of like Celestia for Changelings. I've, kind ah turned rogue and ran. That's why I don't want to start over." ‘Nightmare’ just looked and blinked at her like she was dumb struck by some thought "shes a power hungry maniac bent on world domination isn't she?" "The Queens before her were better. Much better." "That sounds about right." Then ‘Nightmare’ did something Ribbon never thought she would hear, she giggled. "Say, I never did introduce myself, did I? my names Chitsuki." "Drone scout number 2-27," With a flash Ribbon donned her normal disguise. A pegasus with a tan coat and a now messy two-tone light and dark gray mane and tail, her hair pin long since fallen off "also know as Tattered Ribbon." Before anything else could be said both her and Chitsuki’s ears flicked to the door, the sound of hoofsteps echoed from down the hall. "You should go, I have work to do." Chitsuki paused before opening the door "Hope to see you again sometime Ribbon!" The sphere of azure metal bumped into Ribbons hoof, thinking Chitsuki knocked it into her on the way out. "I wonder if I'll have some left over? I could use it." “Use it for what?” “AHHHHH!” Whoever just snuck up on Ribbon managed to scare the Changeling turned Pegasus into the air. Looking down she saw Twilight with an apologetic look “Couldn’t you clear your throat or something?” “Sorry, but the Princess and I wanted to know if you found anything?” “Hello my little pony, have you managed to find anything about Chitsuki’s Armor?” Ribbon had to make sure to focus on keeping her disguise this time. “S-sure thing Princess”
A Punch in the GutRibbon awoke from a restless sleep. One of her Chitin plates was starting to itch and she knew it would only get worse, she needed to nip it in the bud before it really started to itch and waiting for it to shed would be murder. No she needed to break it off. After asking one of the maids if she can eat in her room and taking a shower, she grabbed the knife she brought with her, and she slowly and carefully etched a line in the lower plate. After a few minutes of agony she heard a knock on her door. If she put on a disguise it would itch more and she couldn’t let anypony see her like this. “Don’t come in!” ’Please don’t be the Princess’ “Ribbon, calm down. it’s me Chitsuki!” a brief moment of silence to decide if she could trust Chitsuki, but then she already knew about Ribbon didn’t she. With a quite. “Ok, come in quick.” she move to the side so anypony in the hall could see her. Chitsuki in the doorway it only just now dawned on her that she had a knife in her hoof and clearly Chitsuki saw it because the first words she spoke was “The buck are you doing?!” Ribbon pointed at the large scratch on her body. “I need you hit me right here.” “Whhhhhy?” “I need you to break my plate so it will grow.” Ribbon said with growing urgency to get the itching to stop. She complied, winding up and giving Ribbon a solid hit. the plate moved, finally getting jarred loose, except the hit left Ribbon wheezing. “CRUD! That was a bit too hard, wasn’t it?” Ribbon coughed a couple times before replying. “Maybe, not that hard.” With the plate of Chitin now loose, she grabbed it with her magic and carefully set it on fire to get rid of it. Chi seemed confused by the act. “Why are you doing that?” “I can’t just leave it here.” If some guard were to find it, well, she’d rather not think about it. Knowing what she going to say next. “And don’t worry about the fire.” Knowing she was going to ask. “B-but you, SET. IT. ON. FIRE.” "Changeling fire only burns us. we use it for transformations, attacks and getting rid of evidence." Chitsuki throws her forehooves into the air, clearly aggravated by the lack of sense this apparently made to her. "Changeling fire only burns us... Did you mean to say it like that, because it seems to make little sense.” "No I said that right 'It burns us' but it doesn't hurt us, try going hoof to hoof with somepony who can set themselves on fire." "Okay, now it sounds awesome. but wouldn't that much light make you a sniper magnet?" "What's a sniper?" "Someone who attacks from extremely long ranges, usually aiming at targets of strategic importance, like commanding officers or enemy snipers" That didn’t sound too familiar to Ribbon, most Changelings resort to espionage. "Whoever manages to do that must be very lucky or has especially good accuracy with a bow" She stares at Ribbon "A bow... Snipers don't use a bow, they take you out from over a mile away with a sniper rifle!" "Again what's a Sniper rifle. The most I've ever seen a pony use is a cross-bow and those are illegal." "Basically they use gunpowder, you know what gunpowder is right?" Now Ribbon knew what she was trying to say, A griffon firearm. Those are beyond illegal, more so than any cross-bow. Perhaps she should play dumb. “Yea good for making small bombs, not real useful through." “Basically they use gunpowder to propel small bits of metal at ludicrous speeds, ripping a hole in the other guy, usually through the head." ’How, Violent.’ "That sounds... very messy. wouldn't it be easier to teleport a vial of poison into his chest?" "That sounds pretty energy intensive though, all you need to do is point and pull the trigger and BOOM, other guy’s dead with his brains all over the place." How can a Pony say that so easily. Then again, she already found out this mare is insane. "And what if he's wearing a helmet?" "I dont think that would protect him from a pointy object traveling faster than the speed of sound, and beside, why teleport poison if you can teleport explosives and turn the guys ribcage into shrapnel, potentially getting multiple enemies. Can you think of the mass amount of panic it would cause in their ranks if their comrades started randomly exploding?” Ribbon took moment before replying, wondering if she should tell the guards how violent Chitsuki is. "That maybe so, but getting attention is the last thing I want. I have to be careful, low profile, out of the way. I did tell you before we're eaten by some and starved by the rest." If she did tell the guards, would Chitsuki tell them about her? One mistake, and she has the worst possible dirt on me "Stealth was never my strong point, I always focused on taking the other guy out in fastest most efficient way possible." She paused, as if having a thought "Although psychological warfare, that I had some brilliant ideas about." Ribbon tilted her head. "I don't know really anything about psychological warfare, I was just a scout, whistle blower and if need be? the one to get caught." Guilt trip her! "I'm guessing the queen decides that you've gone rogue if you get caught, giving her plausible deniability?" "Normally we don't, but Scouts are mostly used as cannon fodder, we die so others don't have too" Ribbon stares at the ground, depressed. "I didn't like being hatched as a scout. though, it pays to be as fast as you can be if you’re a Changeling, and scouts are the fastest." She seemed conflicted with herself. Chitsuki suddenly got up, walked over and Hugged her. "Confound you Ribbon, why must you be so adorable!?" Ribbon blushed green "Adorable!? I'm not adorable I'm a love sucker!" Too Much guilt trip! Ribbon struggled a little before giving up, she couldn't escape the hug. When she stopped she heard a rustling sound, like feathers and took a peek around Chitsuki’s back but couldn’t see the door. A moment later Ribbon snickers realizing why. “You, uh, having a little trouble?” Chitsuki put Ribbon back down. “What do you mean?” Ribbon points behind her. She took a second to look behind her. “Quite. Now how the nuggets do I get these back down?!” Ribbon speaks with slight disbelief in her voice, curious if this ever happened to her before. "You never had this happen before? Uh just calm down." She takes deep breaths, as her wings slowly return to their folded position… “Let us never speak of this again.” "That would be best. You probably don't want others to know you have jolly's for Changelings" She seemed to freeze at that. Ribbon couldn’t resist poking fun at the Alicorn for making her Blush. Putting on a poker face worthy of royalty, but emitting a lot of mirth, She voiced her opinion. “I am neither pleased, nor displeased, by this occurrence.” They stare at each other, before laughing at the awkwardness of this insanity. Upon recovering from her laughing fit, Ribbon voiced her curiosity. “So, what did you come to see me for?” "I wanted to get to know you better." Ribbon was slightly surprised. What more did she want to know? “What did you want to know?” “When we first met, why did you flip out like I was Death itself?” “Stories of Nightmare Moon being a cannibal.” stated matter of factly. She nods. “Yeah, that would makes sense. Although, I’m curious, what is it like being a Changeling?” "Not much different then you really. Hated by all, looks terrifying, except we’re also hunted." She seemed to stop and think. before deciding on what to say. “So how badly would you want to overthrow this Chrysalis, and bring the empire ‘under new management.’” "None. Chrysalis still needs to have a princess to pass the crown." It was about this time Ribbon seemed to notice something, and hesitantly asked, “Hey, have uh… you been feeling extra tired today?” “Not at all, why?” “Oh, uh. No reason.” Chitsuki however, had other ideas. Ribbon was suddenly blindsided by wave of suspicion come from Chitsuki, and Ribbon couldn’t help but flinched at the foul smell. "I thought so... it explains why ponies would fear you, and why you are so skittish all the time... and why you would infiltrate a pony society, unless they have something that you can’t acquire normally. But it makes no difference to me." Ribbon ignored Chitsuki and started panicking. "NO, WAIT! Its not like I snuck into your room to feed on you, I don't do that like the others!" "Huh? No! I didn't mean it like that, I'm saying that I don't mind if you feed on my emotions! I know that you don't really want to, but you need to do it to survive, don't you? I can't blame you for that." The suspicion from earlier was replaced with compassion. Ribbons eyes widened and confused, why wouldn’t she be? An Alicorn freely showing her emotions and doesn’t care if their taken. “Y-you don't care that I'm f-feeding off your love?" “And besides, do you really like ‘feeding’ on ‘love’?” Chitsuki implied, even do air quotes with her forehooves. Ribbon grins. “It tastes different from pony to pony.” ’Her friendship tastes like frozen blueberries.’ Despite her thoughts Ribbon know what she was implying. Chitsuki seems to smile “Finally someone who understands my sense of humor!” "Changelings aren't really hatched with a sense of innocence." “So anyway, i’m curious, Is that transformation thing a spell, or an inherent ability of your race?” "I think it's both, since I haven't seen a unicorn do anything close to it. But I can't be sure, I don't have access to that knowledge anymore." "Can you try to explain to me how you do it? Because I REALLY want to see if I can do it." "Build up some power, the bigger or smaller I need to be the more power I need, picture what I want to look like and release." Chitsuki closed her eyes with a look of concentration. As she seemed to dissolve into a cloud of Miasma before it began taking the form of something else. What emerged from the Miasma was a horrible mockery of a changeling, it was bipedal, standing even taller than Chrysalis. Its forelimbs looked like some kind of amalgamation of mantis claws instead of forelegs. Its wings seemed to be a fusion of a Pegasi’s and a Changeling’s. Ribbon simply stood there, trying to move as little as possible. It opened its eyes. “Wha- holy feathers my voice is bucked up!” its multi toned voice seemed to echo off the walls. It took a moment to take in its surroundings, before looking at its forelimbs, a look of shock appearing on its face near immediately after. “Okay, exactly how badly did I Buck up?” “A lot?” Ribbon honestly couldn't think of any other way to describe it. It immediately runs into Ribbon bathroom and stares at its reflection in the mirror. "Holy feathers, I look awesome! I am sooo gonna reuse this at some point." As it admires its reflection it realize something. "Now how the heck do I undo this?" Ribbon pipes up. "Remember what you looked like before." it closed it’s eyes, and seemed to dissolve much more rapidly this time, reforming back into Chitsuki’s body. She opened her eyes and shook her head. "Darn, now I know how a rubber band feels." "I've never felt like that before just uh, warm. That also looked a lot different too, doing it my way -which I'm surprised worked- may not be everything you have to do." There was a flash of bright light followed by apparently nothing. Chitsuki and Ribbon talk and practiced her transformation before something finally occurred to Chitsuki. “Ribbon, why are we standing on the ceiling? and why is everything colored purple and blue?” Author's Note So here's the next chapter, point out any mistakes. And as always(yes there's an 'always' now) please feed the hungry authors by leaving a comment.
BlackoutWas it too much to ask for a normal day? This thought and others like it ran through Ribbon mind. She was now stuck to the ceiling as if gravity no longer applied, as was Chitsuki. Now a guard burst into the room, who was not stuck to the ceiling, yelling. “Everypony get to safety, Discord has broken lo- Well, buck… I see I was a bit too late…” Ribbon could only shush Chitsuki, but she seemed to have plans of her own. She mouthed ‘I got this’ before jumping from the ceiling and landing on the floor in front of the guard. “Name and rank soldier!” He salutes. “Captain Shining Armor ma’am!” Ribbon took this chance to Change into her pegasus form. the guard must have seen the flash, because he started readying a spell at Ribbon. “STAND DOWN SOLDIER, SHE’S A FRIENDLY! NOW GIVE ME A SITREP ON THIS!” ’Holy buck that was loud!’ The ringing in Ribbons ears took its time to dissipate and Ribbon had missed what Chi said to the guard, but heard his response "I'll teleport us there." His horn glowed before a flash pink light overtook Ribbon vision. What she was presented to afterwords was mess, the ground was checkered, the clouds were pink, and she had to duck to avoid one that was aimed at her head. “Well this just made number seven on my list of ‘weirdest stuff I’ve ever seen.” "Why did I have to come? I was safe in my room!" Ribbon couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the modified landscape for fear that something may plow into her when she’s not looking. "But wheres the fun in that? All tucked away like a cuddle bug waiting for Moonie to come back." Ribbon was startled that something had teleported beside her, an arm around her side and It was caressing her cheek with the other. "Leave my friend out of this, your fight is with me..." Discord makes a sarcastic scream of fright, before laughing. Now that it let go, she finally got a good look at it. Ribbon wished she didn’t. The creature was as big a mess as the landscape, a miss mash of different animal parts. This was Discord. "Little Moony thinks she's all tough now!" He snaps his… talons? and suddenly the imposing, almost demanding form that was Chitsuki was turned into a foal. "No, I think I'll bring her into this all the same, Don't want to leave anypony out now do I?" Every word out of his muzzle just seemed to drip laughter. And just to get his point across he picked Ribbon up, making her squirm and wiggle to get free. As she struggled, Discord just kept laughing. “Wha- Why, thank you, now I’m just harder to hit.” Discord just seems to smile. "Finally somepony who understands! Now what to do to your friend?" Chitsuki oozed miasma, before returning to her original form, and leveled a glare at him that looked like a rabid Diamond Dog eye balling a steak. "Bucking. Hurt. Her. And. You. DIE." Chitsuki begin closing the distance between the three of them. Ribbon still in Discords grip. "My, my, how violent. No I'm not going to hurt her" he snapped his talons, causing Ribbon to revert to her Changeling form. Which shocked her into a stupor. "She looks MUCH better without a mask on, don't you think?" he held Ribbon out in front of himself as if taunting a child with candy. “Let her go, NOW!” He frowns. "Oh fine, Be that way. Ruin all my fun way don't you." He prepares to snap his talons. "But before I go, one last thing." He snaps them. Immediately, Ribbon felt a sucking sensation in her mind, before Chitsuki begin to gravitate towards Ribbon. "If you're going to be so violent, I can't just let you roam around, so you can stay in her head till I'm done. Tah tah." As Chitsuki get closer to Ribbon. Ribbon felt as if she would pass out as Chitsuki sank into her body. Ribbons chitin felt as if she was on fire, and not changeling fire, normal fire that burns. It felt as if an unfathomable amount of power was flowing through her veins. In what little vision she had, she saw a black fire licking her hooves, it was unnatural how the flames absorbed the light instead of producing it. As the flames covered her whole body, Ribbon could only wait, as the pain threatened to blackout her vision. ‘Ribbon, are you there, Ribbon, please answer me, I d-d-don’t want to be alone agaaain’ ‘C-Chi? is that you?’ ‘Oh thank God, you’re alright, I thought Discord had effectively replaced your mind with mine!’ ‘Th-the magic… It hurts…’ ‘What? Chitsuki went silent momentarily, until the flow of power coursing through Ribbons body stopped burning, and was replaced with a dull throb ‘I think our only option is to take down discord, because I have no clue how to undo this, and I don't think your body can take this much energy for very long before side effects begin cropping up. ‘B-b-but how do we fight him like this? ’Look, it is taking too much of my focus keeping my power down to levels that won't irreversibly damage your body, to control anything. At the most I can give you suggestions on what to do, but you have to carry them out.’ ’Bu-but I don’t know how to use it!’ ‘I don’t know! use it like you would use any other magic!’ I-i can’t! ’I can only think of one way then, repeat after me “We are many, but we are One”’ ‘We are many, but we are One’ ‘We are many, but we are One’ ‘We are many, but we are One!’ … They opened their eyes, and saw the chaos Discord had wrought. They decided that they could not let it continue. Shifting their form to that of a sky dwelling pegasus, they took to the air in search of him. They followed the foul stench of his magic, only to be greeted by a sight that horrified them. Discord had corrupted the Elements, leaving himself unopposed. We would not be able to maintain Our disguise. Direct intervention was necessary. They touched down, looking him in the eyes, unwavering. Before speaking. “You shouldn't have done that…” He blinked. "Shouldn't have done what my dear?” "You forced the Blood Moons very being, into the Rogues body, hoping to remove a threat. Instead you created Us, and incited Our wrath." They shed their disguise, allowing it to burn up in the roiling field of energy surrounding their being. At the sight of this, Discords eyebrow rose off his face. “For We are neither Chitsuki, nor are We Tattered Ribbon. We are, Concordia.” Their name seemed to strike something buried deep within Discords mind, as for the most fleeting of moments, true fear appeared on his features. They capitalized on this fact by releasing a surge of undirected power, driving our point home. “And we will teach you the meaning of FEAR!” Discord didn't even take the time to laugh, and instead rushed them, intent on delivering a flaming uppercut. "Our power... moves worlds..." channeling large amount of miasma and magic, Concordia struck the ground in front of them, creating a shockwave of dark power, and launching Discord high into the air, shocking him. With a flap of their wings, They pursued him. Before they could connect, Discord teleported behind Us, and axe kicked Us into the ground. Emerging from the crater coated in dust. "Concordia voiced Their rage. "Our wrath… rends time itself..." Discord gave them a confused stare. They rushed up to him, focusing every ounce of rage into an aura of darkness around their hoof. "Dāku..." Concordia’s hoof met his gut. "Shōryū..." They launched their other hoof into his jaw. "KEN!" The impact sent him even higher into the air, before he plummeted back down to earth, while We landed in front of him. Discord got up, wavering slightly before sighing. “It appears I made a mistake, joining your consciences.” He tightened his paw into a fist. “But that can be easily fixed.” Concordia blinked, and he was right in front of them. He delivered a punch to their mid section. * CRUNCH! * … … ... upon regaining consciousness, Ribbon was consumed by pain, and realized that she was trapped under pile rubble, barely able to see out of it. The only thing she could see, was Twilight and her friends, staring at where she was trapped, but she was in too much pain to worry about that. Secondly, she noticed Chitsuki looking at the pile of rubble as well, her body trembling in worry and anger. The air seemed to grow cold, as Chitsukis eyes sharpened and took on a look that not even a dragon fully consumed by its greed could match. It promised absolute murder, after being subjected to pain beyond pain. She looked back at Twilight, pure fear having since broken her free of whatever Discord had done to her mind, and said a single word. “Run…” and run they did. Turning her glare to Discord, she walked up to him, radiating unrestrained bloodlust. Ribbon didn’t hear what occurred next, as she had finally passed out from blood loss and an overload of pain.
Sudden Change in HightRibbon opened her eyes, only to close them again. The room was bright, far too bright. Her eyes are meant for darker settings, not the hospital room she found herself in. Her body felt heavy, and her legs felt odd. Letting her eyes adjust to the light, she glanced down to see if she was bound. She wasn’t, but she was undisguised. She began panicking when she realized that her body had changed and was left exposed. Her legs were longer and had more holes, her barrel was wider, and her horn, usually a smooth curve was now notched with a hook, her body as a whole was now nearly three fourth the size of Chitsuki. “To quote you. WHAT THE BUCK IS GOING ON HERE!” “OH GOD I’M U-” *Thump* “Owwwwch…” Chitsuki sprang up so fast, her momentum flipped her onto her back. Ribbon would have laughed at the sight if it weren’t for her panic. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!!!" Ribbon felt a sudden wave of shock emanating from Chitsuki, whose eyes slowly widened. "Uhhhhh... Ribbon, I think you evolved..." "YOU THINK!!" Saying that a Scout, one of the smallest and weakest changelings just ‘evolved’ was an understatement. If Ribbon had to guess, she would say she looked like a small soldier now. "Calm down before someone calls a guard!" ’Nopony’s seen me yet?‘ And then, as if just to prove Faust hates her, a doctor DID walk into the room. "Do you mind, oth-!" He slowly backed out of the room with a 'what the buck' look frozen on his face, and the smell of uncertainty drifting from him. He either didn’t want, or didn’t know how to deal with either creature in the room. Ribbon could help but feel embarrassed. Two ponies have seen her natural form in less than a half a week. "I should... probably put on a disguise, huh?" "Well, crap. Might as well brace for the inevitable storm, and yes, yes you should." This was all the prompting Ribbon needed from her… Friend? Is that the right label she should use? As soon as Ribbons flames went out, Celestia popped into the room with a flash before glancing around the room. Chitsuki was the first to speak "Why exactly, did you take the time to visit us personally?" She looked Chitsuki right in the eyes. Ribbon could tell what she was doing, Celestia was scanning her magic, and if she scanned Ribbon, would Celestia sense the difference? "I sensed a new power growing." It was hopeless, Celestia already sensed her, and to top it off Celestia looked Ribbon in the eyes next. Maybe if she just denied it, Celestia think she’s unaware of her new found power. "And I wanted to see it myself. A being coming to power." Chitsuki turns to Ribbon, a look of resignation in her eyes. "Well shit, I guess the jig is up..." Ribbon begins to look around frantically "what jig? I thought I was recovering from a broken rib?" "She KNOWS Ribbon... I can tell by how calm she is... shouldn't she be worried about her ponies well being? See where I'm going with this?" Chitsuki turns her eyes to Celestia, with a fire in them like a dragon ready to protect its hoard. "If you so much as harm her, then by Asura, I will smite you where you stand..." Ribbon turns to look at Chitsuki. "I blame you for this..." Celestia smirks, ready to defuse any hostilities. "Now, now. I don't intend to do anything, I am merely curious as to the power that spiked in my castle." Chitsuki pulls Ribbon into a protective hug. "You're just wasting energy cuddle bug, she knows for certain." Ribbon blushes and stares at her. "...did you just call me cuddle bug?" She sat there held in Chitsuki hooves, as her face formed a grin that belonged on Pinkie. "Problem?" Ribbon blush continued as she glared. "You did that on purpose." "Your point is?" Ribbon points to Celestia. "Screw subtly!" Chitsuki had pulled Ribbon into a passionate kiss. The sudden and unexpected contact mixed with her fright caused a reflex, as if attacked. After a moment of shock struggling wore off she started to relax, the influx of love calming her down. Chitsuki broke the kiss to see Ribbon with the biggest green blush on her natural face. "I umm... ah... wow." Both herself and Chitsuki turn to face Celestia at the same time. She was standing there, blushing, with a massive wingboner. "I blame estrust!" Celestia just snickers. "That won't happen until later in fall." She glared at her "Not another word. Sunbutt..." She simply brushes it aside. "Very well. Now about you." "Yesss? Abou-" "I'msorryIdidn'tmeantofeedonyourponiesIwasjustsohungryandIcouldn’t-" Ribbons freakout was intturupted by Celestia placeing her hoof on her muzzle. "I've already said I would not do anything to harm you, so there is no need for fear." When Celestia removed her hoof, Ribbon stayed quite. "So what did you really come here to talk about?" "I had thought Discord was behind this, I see I was wrong. as long as you remain out of sight and don't cause trouble I see little reason to intervene here." "Discord? You mean that bucker that I delivered the mother of all nut busters to?" Celestia nodded. "Yes, I believe so, now if you'll excuse me..." she teleported out. Once the Princess of the Sun was gone, Ribbon could breath a sigh of relief. "Hey Ribbon, I'm bored, what do you want to do?" "We're not going to talk about what just happened!?" "Talk about what?" "About Celestia, she knows and she doesn't care, and she KNOWS! And what was the kiss for?!" Chitsuki mumbled something she couldn’t hear. "What was that?" Chitsuki mumbled again but she caught it this time. "I'm in love with you." Ribbon could only stare, dumbfounded. how could this pony be in love with her? And she even knew what Ribbon was! "I've known you for all of two days." "And you've been more caring than most people that i've know for the last twelve years..." "Twelve years? what type of ponies of you been-" she paused, realizing her mistake. She’d realized this alicorn was insane, why not add to the madness? "Nevermind, I wouldn't understand anyway" "You know what we need? A commemorative item to celebrate this event!" Ribbon whispered under her breath. "You sure move along quick." "I heard that!" "So what did you what to celebrate with!" She said, a little too quickly. "A particular weapon I've been hoping to make. Did you know it's possible for an iron blade to cut a steel one?" "Steel? that's some pretty hard to get stuff, the minotaurs that make it refuse to let the secret of how they make it get out. And of course it's possible for iron to cut steel but That's a also a pretty expensive enchantment." "Lucky for you, I know how to make steel, and a way to cut it with an UNENCHANTED iron blade..." Ribbon ignored that info, preferring . "And that's not even counting the new stuff that you make. I've yet to fully test it's abilities or have the enchantments tested." "Good point... TO THE FORGE!!!" Chitsuki grabbed Ribbon in an awkward position on her back. Feeling like she was about to leave what safety the room gave her from prying eyes, She shifted her form back to that of her favored pegasus, before Chitsuki galloped off in the direction of the blacksmiths workplace. Ribbon felt the heat in her cheeks rising. "Hey hey hey, I can walk you know!" Setting Ribbon down Chitsuki proceed to chastise herself. "Bad Chitsuki, you're not a five year old in a candy store!" "Did somepony mention candy!?" "AHHH! Pinkie, don't do that!” Pinkie had appeared out of thin air and right behind Ribbon, as usual. And as usual, scared her. Ribbon pulled Pinkie in close and whispered quietly. “Pinkie, you know how you promised not to tell anypony about me?” “Uh, huh.” “Well, Chitsuki knows now too.” Before she got a chance to tell Pinkie much more, Chitsuki spoke up. "Hey Pinkie, DON'T go prank Celestia, okay?" Pinkie immediately stops whispering with Ribbon and puts a hoof to her chin in thought. "I have the strangest urge to prank Celestia... Gotta go bye!" "You're going to get Pinkie in a lot of trouble, aren't you?" Ribbon could see it now. Pinkie holding a giant cake addressed to the Princess, and when she goes for a bite, it explodes. covering the princess, the guards, and the rest of the room in cake, leaving Pinkie spotless and laughing. Before being put in a dungeon cell. "Celestia will know it was my revenge for making that incredibly awkward moment." "That was you, not Celestia." Chitsuki started laughing maniacally. "And thus, the storm begins..." Ribbon felt the need to take a few steps back. This might not be Nightmare Moon, but she was still crazy. "I'm going to be dragged into this aren't I?" "Along with everyone else in the castle..." They had reached the forge. Ribbons temporary work place in the castle. "Now, we make art... sweet, deadly, art..." "So what did you want me to make again?" "A katana... in essence the blade is two pieces of metal, one hard, composing the cutting edge, and one soft composing the rest of the blade, folded together, creating an absurdly sharp blade." "Ok, I think I can do a katana. any specific design style?" "Simple, no fancy adornments and as a matter of fact, I can supply the 'hard' metal." Chitsuki focused on a spot in front of her and with a ‘shink’ type sound, a big block of teal colored metal had formed. "Well then, let's begin." *FIVE HOURS LATER* With a satisfying hiss of steam, the blade reached room temperature for the last time. "Finally, she is complete! All that is left now is a name..." "It looks like its made of shadows..." "That's it! I shall dub thee Kage no Akumu, Shadow of the Nightmare!" Author's Note I know the sister story for this is WAY ahead of me, and I AM sorry for this. I'll try and catch up, but between YouTube and Steam, well, it's hard to concentrate. Also, if you could feed me some comments. I am very hungry.
Weaponcraft"Now, what else shall we make?" Ribbon could smell the excitement coming off Chitsuki. But what she said made her frown. In favor of time and ease she just packed what she thought she needed. Bits. lots of ‘um. "I don't have any of my stuff, so I'm a little limited." "You know what you need? Claws..." Claws? She had heard that only the night guard, the thestrals used thats type of weapon. "Claws?" "Yeah, ya know spring loaded so they pop out and let you slash stuff." "Like the ones used by the Night guard?" "Yeah, except longer and sharper." "They have a twin claw attached to their shoes, I'm not so sure I can make it spring loaded though" Let alone how complicated it sounded just to make it spring loaded, Ribbon had a bigger issue. Two left hooves. And right hooves. "And I have a bigger problem I didn't have before. I have two different hoof sizes now." One set in pony form, one set in her natural form. "So why don't you make them out of something stretchy?" "They'd be a tight fit fit for sure." Segmented bottom shoe, Rubber base, metal supports. Sounds flimsy. "Better then nothing." "Alright, I'll ask for a pair from the barracks and have a look at them." "Now then, I've got an uber-cool blade, but from what I've heard from Pinkies tales, hydras are real here, and bladed weapons do not mix with hydras..." "No, no they do not. It'll work on everything else though." Well unless you get it to grow so many heads that it's heart gives out, and chances are it’d eat you before that happens. Ribbon wouldn’t say that out loud though. "True, true." Chitsuki slowly nods her head... "Still, the last few days have been insane, haven't they?" "Yea, I'd sure like to relax. Maybe I'll go shopping." "Meh, why the hell not?" "I'm only going to go buy some new tools." A new set of shiny hammers to replace her worn out junk. "You can do that, I'll go troll bluebutt..." Ribbon chuckles at that. "Have fun!" She couldn't seem to help herself as she began laughing to herself. "Oh, I will..." she put her forehooves together, and continued to laugh maniacally. Ribbon was slowly inching towards the door, as she didn’t want to get dragged into a prank war. Not after last time. "Sure, uh. I heard from Rarity he has a thing about being covered in cake." "Like maybe, Celestias cake?" Ribbon simply decided to go, before this got any weirder for her tastes. Finally Ribbon get to relax in this city, or she would have. If it wasn’t for some posh lady on every street turning her nose up at Ribbon, it was the smell of disgust. Ribbon bought her things and was on her way back to her temporary workplace to admire her new toys. On her way there, her mind drifted to the alicorn. She said she loved her, But Ribbon couldn’t let her get so close so quickly. If she was as insane as she thought, Chitsuki could get her killed. If not, she could be missing out on something. Before she had time to contemplate this further, she was interrupted by a flash of light and something heavy landing on top of her. "Well at least I wasn't upside down this time..." "Yes that's great and all but, uh. One question. Why are you mounting me?" *flump!* "oh, crap! Why must these things keep happening to me?!" Chitsuki got off her, Ribbon kept her back to her though. She wouldn’t be able to look her in the eyes after that embarrassment. "Happening to you? seems to be happening to me just as much." Keeping her back to Chitsuki, Ribbon picked up her tools and pieces that fell out of her bag. "True, true... But anyway, I know what I'm going to make next, a giant, electrified, hammer!" Ribbon sighs. "Which means more work for me. Do you want it made of the same stuff?" "Okay, but I want to help, I don't feel like being useless." Now Ribbon felt she could look her in the eyes. "But you're not trained, you are useless. Unless don't want it made quickly, you just want it made?" "Exactly. I want to learn your trade." "Well, it'll take more than one build you know." "I know. But I actually want to be a productive member of society." "And you can't do that now? You already generate alloy's from your body" "Supply and demand, make too much and it becomes worthless." "Then only make so much. you can start by asking for compensation for the stuff you've given to the Princess." "Now why didn't I think of that..." Ribbon gave one of her sarcastic smirks. "As I said, You're useless." Chitsuki’s eyes went big and sad, like a puppy that got kicked. "But then I get to spend more time with you..." She couldn't resist, and had to look away from the big sad eyes. "You said you wanted an electrified hammer?" "Yes..." "This means I have to break off more plates, huh?" Chituski smirked. "Why, do you need a hand with that?" "Unlike you, my chitin plates are limited so I can't just keep breaking them off. I need them." "I know, that doesn't mean we can't make the other parts though." "Wait, you meant 'hoof' right?" "Derp, that's what I ment to say." "Okay. We'll make the fill for the hammers core, it's soft, rectangular and doesn't need to be perfect, a good place to get used to a weighted hammer. Though I'd rather start you on something else." She Imagined Chituski wouldn’t be too gentle with her tools. As a second thought, she added. "and you're not using my new ones." "Well, what are we waiting for! Let do this!" And so we began. *two days, one montage and an interrupted song later...* "Now all that's left is waiting for you to shed..." "Could be awhile, it's not like I need to do it every week, month, or year. Only when I'm hurt and need a new one or if I grow." Chitsuki, who has been full of energy these last few days, was now a little sad. "Poo, and you're probably going to have to return to Ponyville soon..." "And the princess wouldn't just let you out either, the public would freak." Chitsuki smacked herself in the face with hoof. "Forgot I could shapeshift as well..." "Do you really think the Princess would just let somepony as powerful as you go unchecked?... then again the elements live in Ponyville so you wouldn't be completely unchecked. Talk to her." "Shouldn't we come up with a disguise for me first?" "Shouldn't we know you can leave before we commit?" "Hey, even if I can't, it would be useful so I didn't have to sneak around the castle." "Alright Well, we know you can only turn into a dark or twisted version of whatever it is sooo, don't change anything." Chitsuki showed her confusion with a tilt of the head. "I mean stay as you are and just shrink down and loss the wings, or the horn." Chitsuki closed her eyes as the miasma came down from her mane. it swirled around her as it shrunk, before dissipating. When she emerged, she was slightly smaller than Ribbon as a pegasus, and Ribbon was already short. Chitsuki looked a lot like Pinkie, but with wings. Her coat was dark purple, topped off with a bouncy fluffy blue mane and tail. Chitsuki hits Ribbon with lidded eyes. "Gentlemares." Said with a thick, clearly faked, Prance accent. Ribbon chuckles before trying her best to copying the accent. "You look good madam, just like a thestral." "Now then, to Sunbutts lair!... which way is that again?" "I dunno, I think it's the tower." All those stories about a princess in a tower have to come from somewhere. "To the tower!" "You go to the tower. I'm not going near her." Princess Celestia may not kill her, but she was sure going to avoid her anyway. "Please, if you get to nervous, we can always make out in front of her again..." Said Chitsuki, with an added eyebrow wiggle. Ribbons cheeks felt warm at the thought of making out with an audience. Why was she letting this alicorn get to her. "... I think I'll stay here..." Her ears picked up the sound of hoofsteps. Ribbon promptly transforms into her pegasus disguise, just before Celestia and Luna walk into the room. She audibly gulped. "Hello princess Celestia, Luna..." Luna looks at alicorn in disguise with curiosity. "And who, pray tell, is this?" "This is, uh. she's..." ’Think think think.’ "Its me, Chitsuki how do you not recognize me? Or do me and Ribbon have to embarrass you again Celestia?" ’Forget it’ She whispered, "please don't." at Chitsuki Celestia goes wide eyed at her remark. "So it is you, well that simplifies things greatly." Luna continues. "We were planning on relocating you to Ponyville, where the Elements could keep an eye on you, but we couldn't figure out how to get you there unseen." "yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes! I get to stay with Ribby!" Chitsuki had started bouncing about the room. "What!?" Ribbon gaped at the princesses. They were really letting such a powerful being roam about their land? Celestia giggled. "Well it was either her, Derpy Whooves, or Pinkie Pie." "What about Twilight?" "Do you WANT me to be turned into a science experiment!?!" Come to think of it, she wouldn't put it past her to do just that. "It's better than Ponyville being turned into a battle field if you move in with Pinkie." "As opposed to me getting Twilight drunk, and causing her to somehow make the magical equivalent of a thermonuclear warhead and completely level it?" "I don't think I know what that is so, no?" Chi gives very determined look. It was very clear that Chitsuki would be staying with her. "Fine, you can stay with me." "Yaaaay!" And without warning, Chi tackle hugged her. Ribbon yelps in surprise, before blushing intensely. *Pomph* "Sister, I didn't know you were into that kind of thing?!" Ribbon couldn’t see with a face full of mane, but she could almost hear how smug she was at finding something potentially embarrassing about her sister. And Celestia apparently would have none of it. She levitated a pair of tickets and drops them at their hooves, before speaking quickly in an incredibly flustered voice. "Tickets. Train. Ponyville. Five o'clock. Goodbye." And in a flash of light was gone, presumably to her chambers. Luna gave us a grin. “You should probably get going, it's already four o'clock." Before she too teleports away. "Uhh..." The fake thestral finally let go so Ribbon could stand back up. "Well, let's go, we don't want to miss the train now do we?" "I'll pack up my new tools.” Author's Note Sorry if this seemed a little off. I'm not super happy with the way this chapter turned out. Also, I'm putting this 'on hiatus' until I'm done helping my friend write New Moon Rising. Sorry.
