Chapters Prologue - The new princess
A long time ago in the prosperous changeling kingdom there lived the king and queen who was loved by all and which made this kingdom great. One day the queen had given birth to a new princess of the changelings. From the news of a new heir to the thrown the entire kingdom was filled with joy. The king and queen had thrown a party in the castle that day for all the changelings to celebrate the birth of the princess. Everyone in the kingdom came to the castle to see and shower the new princess with gifts.
Some gave her gifts of toys, others gave her jewels and gold and all sworn to be loyal to her when she eventually becomes the queen. Then five changelings covered in black cloaks came in through the large door of the castle as everyone inside goes silent and moved out of the way for them.
They walked in with one in front and the other four behind him in a square form. Each of them with their hoods on and shrouding their faces in darkness.
"Your majesties, what a glorious day," said the one in front as he bows to her. "We celebrate the birth of the new princess and the hopes of a bright new future when it is her time to rule."
"So you finally came, Hydrus," said the queen. "What have you brought for the birth of our new daughter?"
"We, the royal mages swear to serve and protect the new princess no matter what happens," exclaimed Hydrus as he bows to the queen once more.
"We are glad to hear it." The king stands from his thrown. "We expect that you keep this promise and keep her happy as well, do you understand?"
The royal mages then nodded their heads in unison and slowly left the castle and once they did, the party continued.
As the party went on, the royal messenger galloped to the king and queen.
Out of breath he told them, "your majesties a new kingdom has been discovered known as the United Kingdom. It consists of earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns. As far as we know the kingdom had just been recently created."
"How wonderful, we should go and meet this new kingdom," said the queen looking at the king. "What do you think?"
"I agree; we should visit them as soon as possible in order to discuss peace or offer help if needed." The king then stood and looked at the guard beside him. "Get the carriage ready for tomorrow. we will be heading to the United Kingdom"
"yes, your highness." The guard bowed and quickly left the room.
The party eventually ends and as everyone disperses, the king and queen goes to tuck the princess in and give her one last kiss goodnight.
"goodnight my baby." The queen comes in to give her one more kiss.
"we will be gone tomorrow but when we come back we will spend the entire day with you." The king rubs his hoof against her mane which makes her smile and laugh.
Eventually when the princess went to sleep the king and queen walk down a long corridor to their own bedroom then eventually went to sleep themselves.
Early the next morning the king queen had left to go to this distant kingdom to meet and hopefully befriend the leader of it. The entire changeling kingdom was rejoicing and wishing them the best of luck on their trip.
Who would have ever thought that on the same day the entire kingdom would be in ruins and everyone would be in shock just by hearing six words, six simple words. "The king and queen are DEAD." On their way to the United Kingdom something stopped them and killed them for an unknown reason.
The kingdom was in chaos, some thought that it might have been caused by this new kingdom, others thought that maybe it could have been a dragon. Whatever it was everyone was scared and worried about the princess, with the king and queen gone she will have to lead them. Everyone also worried about what if this happens again how could they possibly protect her if they don't know what it is they need to protect her from.
It was at that point that the royal mages realized that they needed to do something to make sure she is protected from any possible threat even it costs a great sacrifice. They came together and talked and came up with ideas such as have her surrounded by a magic bubble for the rest of her life, another suggested that they stay by her side everywhere like personal guards. All of these plans were tossed away for flaws within them.
It wasn't long before Hydrus came up with a plan that was soon to become the answer to their problem. However, it wasn't accepted right away because it required dark magic to cast it but not only that the spell that is being used is greatly frowned upon. After some time, the royal mages came to the agreement of using Hydrus' plan, even if it used a shameful spell they all agreed that this was the best and maybe only option.
Inside a dark room with only a few candles to light it the royal mages stand in a circle, each of their horns glow black and each of them with the look of struggle on their face as each them cast the spell. Then a stream of black light shoots out from their horns into the middle of the circle that they have formed connecting with the others. Once all of the streams of light were in the middle several unknown symbols had appeared, appearing to be made out of magic. Then eventually there was a burst of power from the middle that made all the candles blow out.
In the pitch black room where no-one can see what was in front of them there was only one thing seen by all of the mages that had created both relief and fear.
A pair of pure red eyes had opened in the middle the room.
Author's Note
Okay, I will admit it my writing isn't that good due to the fact that this is my first fanfiction. So if you have any suggestions about my story I would greatly appreciate it if you think it is needed.
'Where am I? Who am I?' I thought as my mind was shrouded by darkness. I then opened my eyes. The room was pitch black but I could see the room so clearly as if all the lights were on. In this room I see five changelings in cloaks each with some fear in their eyes, so I spoke to them, "Who am I?"
One of them stood and used a spell to relight the candles in the room.
"My name is Hydrus, and we are the changeling royal mages," said Hydrus as he looks up at me. "You are a shadow pony"
"A shadow pony?" I exclaimed as I looked down at my hoof to see nothing but a cloud of darkness.
"Yes," said Hydrus. "you are a pony made entirely out of dark magic therefor you can take the form of anypony much like us changelings. You can also cast any dark spell if needed with ease."
I then cleared my mind and came up with a form, but instead of using another ponies form I just used a part of the dark magic I was made out of to create a cloak of my own to cover the stallion alicorn form I have created. Then I lowered to the ground where all of the royal mages looked at me somewhat astonished at the body I had created.
"Now that you are settled in this body, we should let you know why you are here," said Hydrus. "Your job is to protect royalty from any danger that may arise in the future even if it costs you your life. You are also to do whatever they say and ask of you as long as it is within reason of course."
"Okay, I understand," I stated as I started to leave the room
"Wait!" Hydrus said as he jumped in front of me. "The only royalty we have left is the princess who was born yesterday so you are to raise her and help her grow up. Not only that we wish that you keep your existence a secret so no-one could ever be prepared to fight someone as powerful as you."
At first I was confused by this request but it made some sense so I nodded and created a portal to the princess's chamber. I left the room into the portal which led to the bed where the princess laid asleep and I watched as she slept confused as to why she is the only one left but I just ignored it and stood guarding her.
During that night I felt something in my cloak so I dug my hooves into it and found a strange book called "Book of SeRaKay". I was confused as to how that book got in there but then I decided to read it. Inside it contained dark magic spells and information about each spell. Not only were there spells in the book, there was something very strange on the first page. There were a set of rules, five rules exactly. I was confused when I saw them at first, but as I looked they seemed as if they were for me.
The rules in the book were:
-This rule overrides rules 1 and 2
-This rule overrides rules 1, 2, and 3
-This rule overrides rules 1, 2, and 3
-This rule overrides rules 1, 2, 3, and 4
Once I finished reading them, I thought that maybe these rules are what is needed in order to protect them and help me do it correctly.
I then spent the entire night reading this mysterious book and checking on her. Then I realized something that made me a bit worried. Tomorrow I am to raise her as if I was her father and I have to make sure that no-one knows that I am doing it.
That worry soon disappeared when I looked down at her sleeping in her crib with a big smile on her face. She looks so calm and peaceful.
Chapter 2: Raising a princess
Me and the princess were in the main dining hall, she had turned 1 years old a few days' prier. she had just finished her dinner I had made for her. I remember the look on her face it was dirty with the food but I could see her smile right through all of the mess she made. I cast a spell to clean up the mess she had made as I walked to her.
"Looks like it is time for you to take a bath," I said as I levitated her out of her high chair.
No one was around because it was getting late the only ponies left were the royal guards but they mostly stayed outside of the castle and guard it from there. So I had no trouble walking around the castle with her, but if by any chance a guard were to come inside I learned to easily transform into Hydrus or any of the other mages. So I continued walked down the hall until I got into the bathroom, I filled the bathtub with water while making sure the water isn't too hot or too cold, I also put some of the bubble soap and toys she like to play with in the tub.
I grabbed her and slowly put her in the bathtub. As she splashed around and played with her toys I would get the washcloths and soap and made sure she was nice and clean from her main to cleaning the holes on her legs and hooves. Once I was done cleaning her I let her play in the tub a bit longer before taking her out and drying her with the towel. I then brushed her mane and took her to her room because the night sky was approaching.
When we got to her room she looked at me and I could instantly tell that she wanted to play a little longer before she goes to sleep. I didn't see much harm in it, in fact it could help her with her motor skills.
"Okay," I said as I headed to the toy box. "let's see what we got he... Ah here we go"
I pulled out one of her favorite toys to play with, especially when I was around. It was a small crown and little rattle that looked exactly like a scepter. She played with it like a game of follow the leader, she would sit down and point at me which meant I was supposed to sit down and when I did she would smile and laugh and sometimes she would clap, but if I didn't listen she would just keep pointing at me but with a sad face until a did what she did.
I don't know who found it more entertaining me or her. I liked hearing her cute little laugh, so I did as she did without any second thought at all.
Soon the sun was gone and the moon started to rise into the sky. I looked at her and she looked so tired, she would try to keep her head up but it would keep on trying to fall. Her eyes were barely open anymore, so I took off her crown and her scepter and put them back in the toy box. I picked her up and brought her to her bed and tucked her in.
She was about to go to sleep, but before she did she let out one word.
"Daddy," She said faintly as she went straight into slumber with a smile on her face.
I couldn't believe what I had heard from her.
'She called me ... Daddy?' I thought as I stood beside her.
I looked at her with a smile on my face and tears running down my cheeks. I walked to the window and looked at the night sky and was in my thoughts for a moment.
I then fell on the floor crying tears of joy and sadness.
'What am I to do?' I thought. 'I am not her father; I am her guardian. I am raising her as if I am, so what is the problem? What would happen if she found out about her real father?'
Many questions and thoughts would race through my head all that night. Without any information on what to do I laid there with tears in my eyes, just waiting until something came to me.
Nothing did.
I then soon accepted it and had her call me daddy and father until the day when she is old enough to understand what had happened to her real father.
A few days later she started to talk more, of course not much was said but she made a way to make it clear on what she is trying to say.
"Wawa," She would say as she pointed to a sippy-cup on the table.
Of course I would levitate the cup get some fresh clean water and give her the cup.
Soon she started to learn levitation magic just by watching me and would get her own stuff. That then was the time at which I would have to watch her even closer to make sure she doesn't harm herself.
I then started to teach her what she needed to know, much like magic, speech, reading, writing, and many other things.
By the age of 12 She was taught more about how to be a ruler and what it is expected of her on the day of the coronation. I then realized how old she was then thought that maybe it was time for her to know the truth.
as we were walking down the large corridor I stopped and she soon did the same.
"I need to tell you something," I struggled to said as I looked down at her.
"Yes, what is it?" she said looking at me confused.
She looked at me and saw my eyes filled with tears as I struggle to speak to her.
She came close to me and asked, "Dad, what's wrong?"
"I am not your father!" I tearfully stated.
"What?" She gasped while stepping back in surprise
"Your father had died many years ago," I explained. "The day after your very birth your father and mother had left to visit a far off kingdom. Everything was fine until something unknown had killed them."
She stood there crying as she heard this story, not wanting to believe a word a said.
She looked up at me and cried "This can't be true. Please tell me this isn't true."
I looked away not wanting to see her cry.
"I'm sorry but that is what happened," I explained.
She then ran into her room and spent the next half hour crying about what had transpired.
When she finally came out of her room, her eyes red and covered with tears.
"Are you okay?" I asked with concern in my voice.
She sniffed "Yeah I think I am better now."
After some time, we sat down and discussed what had happened and it made her feel a little bit better, but I could still see a sad look on her face. Then she started to ask questions about me, like who I am and why I never pull down my hood.
One question she eventually asked even left me confused.
"Who are you?" she asked
"I am your guardian, you already asked that," I answered.
"No, what is your name?" she said
I thought for a while and eventually replied, "I don't have one."
"Why?" She asked with a confused look on her face
"I guess I was never given one," I replied now also as confused as her.
"Can I give you one?" She looked at me with her head tilted a bit
"Sure, if it makes you feel better." I said with a little smile
"yay!" She said as she jumped with joy.
Lost in her thoughts she tried to think of a name for me. She had been thinking for so long and I waiting that we lost track of time. It had been an hour and a half by the time she spoke again spitting out two words to be used as my name.
Shadow Jumper.
So many days have passed, and within that time she has grown so much. She even calls me father even though she knows the truth. It is now her 18th birthday and as law tomorrow will be her coronation. The castle is filled with so many changelings decorating the halls and setting up the tables for tomorrow, so I can't easily walk around the castle anymore.
Luckily I am now completely experienced with the spells in the book so I can travel around the castle with ease.
I started to look for the princess to give her a very special gift, but as I looked I noticed that she wasn't around so I started searching for her.
Once I realized that she wasn't in the castle I could only think of one other place she might be. I went into the castle gardens knowing that that was her favorite spot to be outside the castle.
As I walked in my cloaked form around I found her by the tree once planted by her mother when she was a filly. When I walked towards her I could tell that something was off.
"my princess, is everything alright?" I asked.
She then looked at me then at the ground.
"Dad, I have a question," she said as she continued looking down.
"Yes, what is it?" I sit down next to her on the ground.
"Do you think I am ready to become a queen?" She asked as she looked at me
I was taken back by that statement, then looked at her face to see she was worried and uncertain.
I told her, "Trust me, there is no-one better to be the queen then you. I made sure of that."
"But I haven't ever made a major decision in my life. What if I make a mistake?" she asked
I thought for a few seconds then patted her back and replied, "It's okay, no-one is perfect. We all will eventually make a mistake at what point. The only thing you need to know is if you make a mistake, all that you need to do is try and fix it. Even if you fail, at least you tried your best and that is the only thing they care about."
"I feel much better now," she said. "Thank you, Dad."
We both stood up and she surprised me with a hug. It lasted for about a min before I felt tears on my back and heard her crying. I believed that she just needed to let the tears run for a while.
Once the tears have ceased she let go and rubbed her eye's.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah everything is fine," she replied.
"Well the day is almost over, I think you should head back and get ready for tomorrow." I said. "oh wait, I almost forgot I got you a present for your birthday today."
I pull out two boxes from my cloak. One of them was a long rectangular black box with a green ribbon across it tied up into a bow. The other one is a cubed dark green box with a black ribbon much like the other one.
"Here, these are for you." I handed the presents over to her. "Happy birthday!"
"Thank you!" she said a little surprised by the presents. "I wonder what they are."
She opened both of the boxes to see two things a shiny black scepter with jewels on the top and a small black crown that spreads into sharp ends that spread out and have blue jewels on the tips.
"What are these?" she asks taken back by the sight of them.
"I remembered how much you used to love the crown and scepter toys when you were a filly so I had created these for your 18th birthday to use when you become the queen." I said. "They are made out of black gold that I have mined and forged myself to create the base of them. The jewels on them are rare jewels I found in the mountains near the castle. The jewels are enchanted to change colors based on who possess them."
As she grabs the scepter and crown the jewels glow the same green color of her mane.
Her face grew a big smile and then she gave me one more hug. This time it was short hug and she said only, "Thank you."
The next thing I know she starts to head into the castle. As she went into the castle I stayed there and thought for a moment about her coronation.
I eventually thought of something and created a portal to the chamber of the mages.
As I walked in all of the mages got startled as I walked in.
Hydrus looked at me then asks, "Shadow Jumper, what are you doing here?"
"Hydrus, I have a question about the coronation," I said.
"Yes, Shadow Jumper?" he asked. "What is your question?"
"Who is usually the one that does the coronation of the princess?" I asked.
He then replied, "Well, usually the king is the one who does it. The reason why is to give the princess authority in the possibility of their death signaling the princess to step in as their replacement. But because of what happened the role is given to me as the head royal mage being the second in command. Why do you ask?"
I then replied, "Hydrus, can I ask you for a favor?"
The next day the entire kingdom has come to the castle for the princess coronation. While all of this was happening I was in the princess's chamber helping her get ready by brushing her mane and tail in the changeling ceremonial style for royalty.
As I was getting her ready for the big day she was still a little worried, but I generally calmed her down by telling her she will be great no matter what happens.
"My princess," I said.
"Yes, dad?" she said.
"I have a surprise for you!" I exclaimed.
"What is it?" she asked.
"You know how the king was supposed to be the one to lead the coronation," I said. "But Hydrus is the one who is actually leading it due to the incident."
"Yeah," she said.
"Well I have talked to Hydrus and he let me take his place as the leader of the coronation," I explained. "He also will let me give you the scepter and crown that I gave you for your birthday yesterday as replacement of the scepter and crown that you should have been given today.
"Really!" she exclaimed in excitement.
Later that day at the main chamber of the castle where the coronation will take place. Everyone was settled in the room and was quiet as the organist played music to signal the princess to walk down the aisle. As she walked down I stood there transformed as Hydrus so no-pony could tell who I actually was.
She finally got down the aisle and the organist stopped playing signaling It's time for me to start the coronation.
I then spoke, "We all are together for this great celebration of the coronation of our fair princess to become the queen of the changeling kingdom. With this growth may she rule both mighty and gentle to protect all of her citizens from any threat or danger that lies ahead. May she help the kingdom prosper and grow within her rule. Here I bestow upon you this scepter to be the symbol that we your citizens will be loyal to you from any threat that may come our way. Here I bestow upon you this crown to be the symbol of your authority, making your voice heard across the kingdom. Now with both scepter and crown you are no longer the princess of the changeling kingdom instead you are now the queen with rule over all."
"I pronounce you Queen Thorax."
