Author's Note

Lily
Queen Chrysalis
Saboru

The Journey

It took three days to get everything setup but we had no delays and I managed to get the barrier in place to prevent anything from getting into the Hive without me or Chrysalis. She was still skeptical about the getting help from Princess Celestia but she agreed that it was the best thing to do if things were going to change. Worst case scenario will have me fighting on two fronts, alone, while she and the others got the hell away from everything but I'm not going to let that happen. We've actually been on this trip for four days now but according to scouts we still had a week long journey ahead of us. I just hope that things stay as calm as they have been so far so that I can continue to work on my armor and weapons. Since I seem to have to magic transference down it wasn't that much of a problem for me. The thing that was taking forever was crafting everything, especially the armor.

"Daddy, daddy, Chryssi wants you." Lily said as she flew up behind me.

"Alright Lily, go tell her I'll be there in a minute I need to put everything away first." She flew off after I was finished and I set about putting all of the materials I had out into their proper places. Can't have anything unexpected happen if I'm going to be able to use this equipment.

After everything was put away I walked out the wagon and set out to find Chrysalis. Me and her have been spending a lot of time together since her family left and she's been happier since. I'm not sure what it is but I can't complain seeing how we get along so well but if this turns into something more, well, that is where things will get complicated but I don't think I'll have anything to worry about. I'm freak in any world and am reckless beyond rational thought, who in the world would love anything like me as anything as more than just a friend. Sure Lily loves me as her father but that probably won't last long as she gets older, smarter, and loses that childhood innocence, she'll see the truth. I know at this point I sound like a broken record but if the mess I've gotten the Hive into is any indication everything I've always said about myself still reigns true. Hell if I'm going to let anything stop me from enjoying the live I have now though. I'll protect them all with every last breath I have and then some to make sure that no one else pays for my mistakes.

"There you are David! I was wondering if you were going to bother showing up." Chrysalis said cheerfully as I failed to notice that I managed to find her while I was lost in thought. "Hello, Equis to David, you there or do I need to zap you?" She said as she knocked on my forehead with an ear pressed up against the top of my head.

"Sorry Chrysi I kinda got lost in my head again." I came out of my daze and batted her hoof away.

"Yeah so I noticed.......you know you've been doing that a lot lately?" She was concerned about my well-being more than usual lately but I can't really blame her considering everything I put myself through. I've given sleep for the last few nights to keep watch over the camp and it was beginning to show when I looked in the mirror this morning.

"Yeah I know but I can't help it. I want everything to go smoothly in Equestria if we're going to make it out of this okay. I've already you and the Hive into enough trouble as it is and I'm doing it again with this stunt." I replied tiredly as I plopped my ass down and the roof of the wagon we were top of and laid back.

"I know you feel bad about all of this but I couldn't be more glad that all this is coming up." Chrysalis said as she laid down beside me and nuzzled my cheek.

"And why is that?" I looked at her curiously as I couldn't fathom why she would want this for herself or her changelings.

"Because I would have kept stalling telling off my mother or attempt to make peace with Princess Celestia and her subjects. I'm going to have to apologize to young Twilight, Shining Armor, and Cadence and I imagine that that won't be an easy task to accomplish." She heaved a sigh at the thought of what that particular situation will be like.

"I would say that it'll be alright because I'll be right there beside but I can't. They probably all hate me more than they do you though I think anything can happen once they learn that this whole thing was my idea. Not sure that they'll agree to help me but I don't really care all that much. I know old Sunbutt will fight the hordes and protect Equestria and if that is the case then I'm facing your sisters and mother by myself."

"You know you don't have to do this alone? I'm with you through this all the way plus they're my family anyway I should be the one to face them more than anypony."

"Maybe but I'm the one who challenged them so it should be me that has to fight them. not you, Celestia, not a damn but me should have to fight them, but if I lose then you go right ahead but that is a big IF so you can sit there and watch me show off." I said in joking manner which resulted in Chrysalis pushing me off the edge and falling face first into the dirt.

"How can you hope to beat my family if you can't even save yourself from being pushed off a wagon." She called from atop the wagon.

"Well mostly because I won't be tired and exhausted from a lack of sleep." I nasally responded as I held my nose to keep blood from escaping.

"If you're that tired then why don't you get some rest. Last thing we need is for you to pass out in the middle of a fight should we get attacked."

"That's precisely why I haven't slept. If we get attacked then I won't be able to respond right away and prevent anything from happening." I say defiantly as I knew she was planning on pressing the issue.

"Well then I guess you'll have to miss that response time because you're joining me for a little nap because I'm not sure if you've noticed but I haven't exactly slept either." I knew she had been staying up as well to keep me company but I figured that the love energy I was providing would have been enough to stave off sleep deprivation but now that she mentions it there are subtle signs of bags under her eyes. "Because I've blatantly refused to allow you to stay up all alone I've lost beauty sleep because of you and am starting to get a little cranky so I'm not accepting no as an answer and I swear to Faust that if you try I will chain you to my bed and use you as an oversized teddybear." She threatened with half serious glare.

"Yeah, use me like a teddy bear my ass. I know you're into that BDSM crap but sorry to break to you out I don't like the idea of being tied up. It triggers a very aggressive response that makes sure that I'll be able to escape but if you're really that serious about me getting some rest then I guess I can act your teddy bear for a nap. Going to make sure that somepony wakes me up if there's trouble, no if, ands, or buts about it." I say as I cross my arms in further defiance.

"Well of course we'll be woken up. I'm not going down in history as the queen who got killed because she ordered her changelings to not disturb for a much needed rest." She says with a roll of her eyes before trotting past me into the my wagon. I know it seems unfair to have a whole wagon to myself and Lily but I only really use it to craft my equipment. I haven't told any of them that they couldn't just walk in and res if they needed to though even if I did it didn't stop her from going in there just to literally hover over my shoulder.

I walked in to see her getting all nice and comfy while she waited for me. "I didn't know that you slept with someone without going out a date. I gotta say that this is moving a little fast for me Chrysi." I rubbed the back of my head in mock shyness and embarrassment.

"Just stop with the jokes and get over here. I want to sleep but I don't want to do so without my cuddlebug." She chuckled as she saw my deadpan expression.

"Really? And you say my jokes are bad sometimes."

"*Sigh* Just get over here already I about ready to pass out and I always to know what it felt like to lay with you. I've seen all the others do it and they looked so comfortable that my curiosity is sufficiently peaked."

"Alright but let me just go get Lily I know that she'll freak out when she can't find either of us and throw a fit after she's been denied her own nap." She only nodded at that as I went to find Lily. Once I did I picked her up and took her to the wagon without saying a world. She struggles while I make myself comfy but stops once she realizes what's going on and snuggles up beside Chrysalis.

16 hours later

I woke up with Lily gone but Chrysalis still asleep with her head resting on my chest. I wasn't to worried about Lily seeing how I could hear her laughing outside. I didn't want to get up because I didn't want to disturb the cute sight before me as Chrysalis laid peacefully on my chest with the biggest smile I've seen from her yet. Most of her was actually on top of me except for her hind legs as she really was using me like an oversized teddy bear. I just held her there and stroked her back as ,y thoughts went back to the best way I could help to form an alliance between all of us without it blowing up in our faces should we not be able to convince Celestia and Luna to agree to it. I laid here for so long that I was about to go back to sleep but before I could the wagon lurched up and caused Chrysalis to wake up. She was looking around frantically but calmed down when she spotted my smiling face and felt her back being stroked. She placed her head back down on my chest and relaxed.

"Well good morning my queen." I said to which she responded by lightly booping my nose.

"Quiet you I don't you ruining this moment, it's way too relaxing and I don't want to get up yet. Though I must ask what time it is." She said without even cracking an eye open.

I pulled out my phone, which was still working even after all this time, and turned it on. It read 6:13 a.m. and considering it was a little past 2 in the afternoon we slept for a good sixteen hours. "It's six thirteen in the morning Chrysi. It seems that we slept through the rest of yesterday."

"Well then I guess I know why my changelings love snuggling with you so much. Despite your supposedly cold heart you still make them feel safe, at least that's how I feel right now."

"Thanks Chrysi, but I think we should get up soon before they start thinking we're dead or something."

"But I want lay here and snuggle with you. Please just ten more minutes?" She begged with those big puppy dog eyes to which I couldn't help but laugh at.

"Sorry Chrysi but those don't work on me though I will give you ten more minutes if you're really that comfortable." Probably just being an enabler letting her do this but she just looks so damn adorable right now and that smile is doing things to my heart that I thought that would never be felt again.

So we laid there peacefully for the next ten minutes and wordlessly enjoy each others company. She finally had her fill as she got up and went outside to get some fresh air. I just walk over to my work table and continued to work on getting my equipment made. Though things seemed odd for the next six days after that. Nothing really happened, no attacks, no issues with weather, nothing and that had me concerned. I went to bed every night with Lily and Chrysalis but left the door open to make sure that I was able to catch wind of anything as soon as it got into camp. Needless to say that that resulted in me waking up surrounded by changelings but I didn't mind seeing as Chrysalis was right about me making them feel safer. Whenever I would pet one of them they would let out these cute chirruping noises that would lead me to doing it to the others though none of them compared to the foals as they're just so fucking cute when they're all huddled together around one my limbs, even saw a few of them sucking on my fingers whenever they managed to get a hold of my hands.

The week did go by rather quick for any of our taste and now we just outside Equestria's borders near Celestia and Luna's old castle that seemed different when I scouted it out for signs of anything dangerous inside. There were parts of the castle that seemed cleaner and I think that I ate some bad berries or something because when I looked towards Ponyville, and I shit you not, I saw what looked like a giant crystal tree-like castle sitting at the opposite end of Ponyville. "Judging by your expression I take it that that wasn't there when you left?" Chrysalis asked from beside me and all I could was shake me head. "Well you haven't been here in a little over two years so I can't say I'm all that surprised. I've seen what that pink one can do and was defeated by the very thing we need to survive so I'm game to any kind of explanation when it involves those six mares."

I shook my head to regain my senses before looking to her. "Yeah I can say the thing plus there is all of the bullshit I've already been through but still I was not expecting to see that when I thought of coming back here. Though it leaves the question of whose castle that is exactly and who the princess that owns it. I can go for Twilight considering her magical prowess and that's her friendship castle but at the same time I hope it's not because I think I might end up slamming my head into a wall at something that cliche, repeatedly too." I say as we continue to stare at the crystal structure that has risen up in Ponyville though I couldn't help but feel as though something bad is going to happen when I step into Ponyville. It's not anything to pertains to why we're here but just me personally like something from my past is there and it's not something I never wanted to see again.

"So you're getting that feeling too? It's strange isn't it but the thing is.......this feels similar to when I came into existence you don't think........." He cut himself because I was getting the same vibe as I froze up.

"No, no it can't be. There's no way that she is here, i- i- it's impossible." I mutter as I froze in place. This didn't go unnoticed to Chrysalis as she turned to me, worried about what I was muttering.

"David what's wrong? Why are you muttering to yourself? Is there something that you didn't tell me?" She just kept asking question after question but I gave no answer as I was running through the chances of 'Her' being here in this world. Sure I had no proof but provided my luck I'm going to be right whether I liked it or not.

I was snapped out of my stupor as I felt my head jerk to the side. I looked for the perpetrator to see Chrysalis, already poised to deliver another slap to my face. "Huh...... wha......what happened?"

"That's what I was hoping that you would tell me."

"Sorry about that. It's just that......that-"

"That what? Come on David you can tell me if there something wrong. I care about you and I want to help you any way I can." Chrysalis said as she brought us face to face with each other.

"Yeah, I know Chrysi. It's just that I feel that there's something else in Ponyville that also wasn't there when I left, something from my world, from my past, and it's something I didn't ever want to see again." I solemnly.

"What do you think it might be?"

"The person who turned me into the monster I am today. It feels as though the very person who created this darkness in me may be I Ponyville and that if I with you I will see her but I don't want to because I don't know how I'll respond to seeing her once again."

"Her, you mean you think that the girl that broke your heart and betrayed your trust may be down there right now. I thought you said that you would be okay if the two of you ever met again." Chrysalis was the only one who I told about 'Her' and the past that we shared. I don't know how but instead of getting angry like I usually do whenever I tell anyone of my past with her, I managed to remain, she managed to keep me calm. I think I must be falling for Chrysalis if she kept me from raging as usual with that story because no one has been able accomplish such a feat in the past and a lot of those people I had known for years.

"Yeah, I did, but you have to remember that I haven't seen her since we were twelve, like.....ever. There's no telling how this will actually go if she is there but I am still going with you. I won't any of those ponies hurt you if they decide to get hostile and if you're with me I won't be tempted to do anything rash if I do see her." I say as I tried to take my mind off of those memories to the task at hand, or hoof in Chrysalis' case.

"Well I'll trust your judgement then if you say that you'll be able to control yourself but if you feel that you need to leave don't hesitate to tell me and we'll leave. You're the only one that can stand up to Celestia even though you don't have magic and I'm not risking anything more than what we have to to try and make peace." She said with a gentle sternness that let me know that she was serious about this but she was going to remain a friend first and a diplomat later. I only nod to her and we make our way down the decriped, but clean throne room so that she could address the rest of the Hive before we left.

*Ahem* Chrysalis cleared her throat loudly to harbor all of the changelings' attention. "My changelings, David and I are going into Ponyville to see about getting an audience with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to ask for their help with the upcoming with my sisters and mother's hives in a little under five months. I will return safely to deliver whatever news there may be but none of you are to come into town or attack any ponies that may wander in here. If a pony does come here do your best to conceal yourselves so as not to have that pony cause a panic before our my talk with the princesses are over do you understand?" They all stamped their hooves to show they understood but amongst the crowd I saw Lily racing up to us.

"Daddy can I come with you and Chrysi I want to see what real ponies are like and all of their sweets that you told me about." Lily asked as soon as she cleared the crowd. I was contemplating it as I don't really see anypony just outright attacking even if it is me and Chrysalis strolling into town. Lily may actually be able to come in handy in the talks seeing how she would be able to turn a tense situation into a pleasant one. Just because she is a changeling too doesn't mean that anypony will actually be that cruel to try and go after her out of spite for what the others have done.....right?

"Sure, you can come Lily, but make sure that you stick very close to me and Chrysi. We don't know yet if these ponies will give us a chance to talk before they try to attack us and I don't want you getting hurt." I agree to let her come and Chrysalis just accepted it showing that she trusted that I knew what I was doing. We headed to Ponyville with nothing except for the gauntlets I managed to make that had enough magic in them to create a very powerful shield should I need it which would be enough for now as I wasn't to worried about actually fighting anypony if it came to that.

We exited the forest and went into defensive mode as we all kept a wary eye for signs of danger. It didn't take long to get into Ponyville proper and the reactions were just as the two of us expected. As soon as they spotted me of Chrysalis they bolted into their homes which left it a ghost down by the time we got into town square. The feeling never left as I kept looking for 'Her' but then I felt something else as well. I felt that there was another familiar presence nearby and it was someone who I was going to be happy to see. The feeling was telling me to turn to left but by the time I had actually decided to listen to it I was tackled by a cream colored blur.

I looked down to see that it was Bonbon and wrapped her up into a tight hug. I heard her sobbing and felt tears on shirt as we held each other, me not making a move to pick myself up off of the ground.

"Anypony I should David?" Chrysalis asked with a smile as her and Lily watched to exchange.

"This is my friend Bonbon, Chrysalis. I told you that she would still be friend when I came back for a visit."

"You're darn right mister but I didn't expect you to keep me waiting for two whole years before hearing anything from you. I was hoping you would befriend anything that could fly and have it deliver letters to me. I was worried sick about you and it didn't help when I became friends with one of your old friends from your world and she keeps coming by to see your notebook." I had started laughing when she started scolding me but stopped instantly when I heard her say that she met an old friend of mine.

"You mean to tell me that she really is here, oh no, oh no nonononononono, this can't be happening now. The last thing I need right now is her around. Do you know where she is right now Bonbon?" I asked as I got close to her face with me having a panic attack. All I got was a scared Bonbon for all my worrying as she was now shaking uncontrollably in my grasp and saw the fear in her eyes. I calmed down upon seeing this and pulled her back into a hug. "I'm sorry Bonbon, I didn't mean to freak out on you like that." I apologized as I stroked her mane and felt her trembling lessen.

She wrapped shaky hooves around my neck as she buried her face into my shoulder trying to calm herself down. "It's okay David, I forgive you. But could you tell me why you were freaking out like that. The girl I met said that she was an old friend of yours and that she knew about your notebook so I thought that it would be okay to let her look at your drawings. Did she lie to me and she's someone who's trying to hurt you?" Bonbon asked as she pulled away from the hug.

"No Bonbon she didn't lie to you it's just that I think when she told you that we were old she meant as in we used to be friends but not anymore but I know that she wouldn't do anything to that notebook of mine. She knows how important and what I would do to those who think about harming them." I said in a downtrodden tone.

"So why did you want to you want to know where she was then if you don't think that she wasn't going to do anything to your notebook?" Bonbon asked. I opened my mouth to give her an answer but was beat to the punch.

"It's so that he knows where not to go and make sure that he is able to avoid me. Isn't that right David, even after these years you can't stand to be around because of what happened all those years ago, can you?" A familiar voice said from behind.

"Not necessarily, it's not that I can't stand being around you it's that I have no idea how I would have reacted seeing you again though can you really blame me. After all you were the one person I thought could always be there for me when I no one else would. It would seem I was wrong seeing how I had been alone ever since that day and have never been able to just live happily anywhere. Now though, I am happy and have not one, not two, but three people, or a pony and two changelings to stick by through thick and thin and even accept that monster that you two unleashed almost eight years ago." I say in an emotionless tone before I begin walking towards the tree castle.

"Well things just got immensely tense didn't they?"

"Saboru, you have no idea."