Illuminating Aegis: Tales of the Changeling King

The Apple family home was filled with a very welcoming warmth, one that managed to create what seemed like an aura around the home. As soon as he had stepped onto the porch, no... once he had stepped onto the very farm itself, Namiro had tasted the very familial love that radiated from the farm. Each tree was such a beacon of love that it had surprised him no other changelings were in the area. It was none of his business, but it was a nice thought to have as he felt the sweet taste on his tongue. It managed to remind him of bacon, by The Force did he miss bacon... Ponies did use the reptile-like creatures as substitutes for many things... perhaps they allowed griffons to use the lizard-creatures as substitute bacon? He would have to ask later, right now though, he had more pressing concerns at the moment.

He would have to explain to three families that their daughters wanted to start on a path that required many years of training and discipline in order to complete.

As if someone had sensed the very big changeling King he shifted back into his Astral Aegis disguise and checked his robes when the door opened. "Howdy..." Was Applejack's curt greeting. Namiro simply nodded and entered the home.

|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|

Namiro was situated across from all three of the families that could attend; Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith and Applebloom as one group, Rarity and Sweetie Belle as another and the final group was a pegasus mare and earth pony stallion that appeared to be Scootaloo's parents. Needless to say, the ponies that weren't the Elements of Harmony were giving him fairly scrutinizing looks before he set down his cup of water.

"You are all here because the three fillies in this room requested to train in a very powerful force of the universe. I told them that I would speak with you all first regarding this decision since it is more than just an experiment to see what one is good at. The entrance into such a role requires a very special test as well, so even with your approval they may not all be able to join. Is there anything you would like to ask before I begin?" Namiro gave each of them a quick look as he let the question hang in the air for a few moments. "Alright, First off... This journey is one of discipline and understanding. The old Je'daii order was a group of peacemakers comprised of scholars, monks and diplomats. We see to negotiations as neutral, third-party witnesses or in-betweens. They'll learn everything they need to know about diplomacy, etiquette and combat for when a show of force is required."

"What sort of combat would be required?" The orange earth stallion asked as he reflexively wrapped an arm around Scootaloo.

"In the best case, none... but being trained in the art of using a lightsaber is a necessity as well as a tradition. A je'daii is only to draw their sword when they are ready to use it... and we should only use them when there is no other recourse available." Namiro explained. "The first part of training will be scholarly, so it will work alongside the local school so that the girls would still receive their education."

Namiro stood up with a small smile. "I don't require any of you to speak now, you are more than welcome to give the offer some time so that you can think about it and talk with each other, the Je'Daii temple that I am devoting resources to build within the hive will be open to any who wish to learn. Are there any questions that you have for me?"

Rarity seemed like she wanted to say something, though she hesitated when she tried to form the correct word choice. "Who... exactly... would be teaching them?"

"Should they have a connection to The Force, I will teach them directly..."

"Will we get to use those really cool swords that you have?" Sweetie Belle asked, garnering the curiosity of the other ponies in the room.

"You will be provided a training saber when your training in combat does begin, the worst it will do is cause bruising or minor burns... though once you are ready to be considered a padawan learner and even a Je'Daii knight yourselves, I will take you personally to the Crystal Empire so that you would be able to choose the crystals that would be used in the forging of your own sabers." He gave a gentle smile to each of the fillies. "I have little doubt that you three are Force Sensitive, it just requires refining that talent and giving it direction."

"Will we be able to visit them? Or them, us?" Scootaloo's mother asked.

"They would remain within the temple in most cases, although the temple will be open to visitors once it is complete so you will be able to visit them anytime you wish. Once their studies are complete and they are full-fledged apprentices they will join me on quests to seek knowledge so that it may be preserved."

Scootaloo's parents gave each other an unsure glance before her mother turned back to the disguised changeling. "We'll talk it over, how long will it be until this 'temple' is finished?"

"It should be done by the end of the week, though if I am not there when you arrive then the Queen of the hive, Patina, would be happy to take you on a tour of the grounds." Namiro stretched a bit as he tried to keep himself from falling asleep. "By the Force... why am I so tired?" he questioned mentally as he tried to come up with some idea about why he was suddenly feeling so drowsy. "Have them arrive all at once or when you reach a decision on the matter, I will be happy to train them as my apprentices. For now though I must bid you adieu, It is rather late in the day and I'm sure you are all excited to debate about such a momentous choice in the lives of these three fillies. I hope you all have a wonderful night and a safe walk to your homes for those who need to leave."

Namiro gave a respectful bow to each of the fillies' guardians before he made his way to the door and left, the cold night air did little to arouse his regular senses as he quickly began his walk towards the in-town entrance he had the drones make not long ago. "What in the world has come over me?" He muttered to himself as he picked up his pace down the well-trodden dirt road. With another yawn he leaned up against one of the town buildings using one of his arms to brace himself. His eyes threatened to close enough to leave him blind to the world as he tried to keep his legs from giving out in exhaustion.

As soft-furred arms wrapped gently around his chest from behind him he wanted to tense, to question why he hadn't sensed anyone come up behind him, to question why his body accepted this new presence so easily. His voice was lost though as the source of the delicate-looking arms cooed in his ear. "Don't worry my little buggy prince... I can't have you spoiling all the fun when my new apprentice comes to town... With how much you desire love though, I think you could use some yourself... don't you think?" His head nodded of its own accord, now that he thought about it, he did feel like he hadn't fed in a while. "How about you get some rest, I'm sure you're just so... exhausted..." He could taste the lust that this woman was giving off as his eyes tried to close again. The taste of fruit punch with just an extra hint of lemon made his mouth water as he slowly began to consume the emotion as if he had spent a week starving. A kind of wide, flat tongue brushed along the edge of his equine-like left ear, causing it to twitch as she reached the top, and sent a shiver of pleasure down his spine as he realized that no matter how much lust he was consuming, he wasn't feeling anywhere near as full as he was supposed to be.

A silver-furred hand rubbed against his muzzle and cheek as he felt all of his muscles relax, slowly sliding down the building due to the woman easing him down. "That's a good boy... we had to move our schedule up... but without you there to interrupt, we'll have everything back on track soon enough... Don't worry, you'll have the time you need for your temple, just relax..." The voice cooed as Namiro felt his eyes close and he lost feeling in the conscious world.

|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|

Namiro awoke with a start, though he almost didn't realize that he had awoken when he thought he opened his eyes. He was in an expanse of nothing but darkness and shadows. He could see himself just fine, but anything further than a foot away... it was possible that there was an entire landscape he couldn't see in the dark.

As he stood he could feel the slight gnaw of hunger that kept him from his full height. As the pain of hunger began to grow though, a foul taste made itself known on his tongue... fear... the one emotion that he had tasted even with the slop enclosed in an airtight jar. Something wasn't right about it though.

He wouldn't feel hungry if he was eating something's fear...

...The feeling of fear was growing, the hunger increased...

Something was out there, just beyond what he could see...

Something he could tell was after him...

He couldn't let it catch him...

So he ran, the Changeling King began to run as fast as his legs could carry him in the opposite direction he was feeding from, he tried to cut off the feeding but it wouldn't let him. He tried to look back, to have his senses pierce the thick, oppressive darkness... he couldn't turn his head to see what felt like it was breathing down his neck. He tried to scream, to shout... to do something that required having a voice...

His voice wouldn't come though, he couldn't even hear the strangled gargle of pain that he knew his throat had made as he could feel the noise try to escape his throat. He was in a vacuum... there was nothing for the sound to reflect from. He couldn't even hear himself breathing as he felt his chest expand and contract faster and faster, the fear and hunger began to actually hurt as his entire body felt like it was burning with the exertion.

Just as he collapsed to his knees the shadows gave way to a sight he wished that he could trade to have the darkness back. As he was forced to watch the scene unfold before him though, the pain was given a new refreshing pal of ice cold dread.

Standing before a battered and bleeding changeling Queen, the Changeling King that Namiro saw made whatever he had for blood run cold as four emerald tendrils sprouted from it's back and pierced the monochrome form of Patina so that a spray of bodily fluids splashed onto the ground behind her before she slumped over. Forcing himself to tear his gaze away only made it worse as he could see little more than the ruins of a city and the corpses of changelings, griffons and ponies alike.