Ch 7: Nightmarish truth

Dark, cold, and damp were the only things the lone changeling felt. She laid on her cot quietly, not sleeping or napping - just laying there. It has been hours since she was brought into this cell with no clue why.

Her vision was blurry from the tears she held in. She was tired and sore from the lack of sleep, but the guards don't seem to care what condition she is in - nor how many times she has tried to ask why she was locked up. Their behaviour around her doesn't help either, calling her an abomination and a demon from tartarus.

Hearing the sound of wings flapping brought her attention towards the small window above her. With curiosity taking the best of her, She stood up from her cot and peeked out. What she was met with was ripped straight out of some fantasy book.

What she saw was only the courtyard of the large palace of Canterlot. Guards walked by, conversing with one another. A few stallions were walking in and out of the large open doors.

The sound of wings flapping snapped her out of her thoughts and looked up as much as she could. She was able to see a flying chariot, this got a wide eyed stare from the changeling.

The sound of a cell door opening gained her attention. Looking back, the lone changeling saw a lightly armored stallion holding a tray of food.

“I… uh… I brought you something to eat.” The stallion awkwardly said before placing the tray onto the floor. Rubbing the back of his head, the stallion spoke. “I didn't know what your kind eats so I brought you a daisy sandwich.”

The changeling didn't speak word, afraid that whatever she might say would only bring her more trouble. The stallion took the silence as his cue to leave. Turning around, the stallion walked out the cell door and closed it behind him. He locked the cell door and placed the keys on the far end of the room.

“Thank you.” The changeling said, stopping the stallion in his tracks.

“It's... Uh, it's not a problem.” With that he left, leaving the lone changeling by herself. Looking down at the tray, the changeling stared at the sandwich.

‘It's better than nothing, I guess.’ Were her thoughts as she sat down with her legs crossed. ‘Ponies like daisies right? Then what's to say a mutant bug pony won't either?’ And with that she took hold of the sandwich and took a bite out of it.

-Ω-

Dazed and confused, I found myself in the middle of a familiar battleground. Grand central station. I looked down at myself, seeing nothing but the suit before wincing from the massive headache. I got down on one knee after feeling pain from the chest down.

The pain lasted as quick as it came and the only thing that greeted once I got my bearings were the claws of a Ceph grunt grabbing me and pulling me up. Its other claw raised and ready, it tried to stab me in the throat but with quick reflexes, I had grabbed the incoming claw and stopped it. The claw that held me up soon tried to push me away but the firm grip I had on its other claw kept close.

I felt the floor under me crumble and looking down I could see nothing but a swarm of the deadly spores. I felt the Ceph jab the side of my helmet before readying the killing blow but like the claw I held away from me, I took hold of it and prevented it from getting any closer.

With a powerful pull, I managed to get myself up and at the same time, sending the ceph to its death or so I thought. What was once a chasm swarming with spores was now the floor of the main hall of the Grand Central station.

Not wanting to let the Ceph get back up, I walked over to it and grabbed the back of its metal head before smashing it against the marble floor over and over and over again before it was reduced to nothing but a slime puddle. I couldn't help but smirk.

My victory was cut short by an ear piercing screech. Covering the the sides of my helmet on instinct, I was once again forced onto the floor but unlike before I never felt the floor only air. I landed on something hard.

I opened my eyes and saw that I laid atop a glass ceiling. The cracks and snaps of the glass surface and frame brought me out of my daze just before it gave in and shattered, sending me farther down.

With a thud I landed on some debris next to a broken down taxi. Weakly standing up, I looked around my surroundings.

I stood in the middle of a deserted street somewhere in Manhattan. I felt extremely weak but chose to ignore it and walk down the street.

From the sky above me, a Ceph gunship flew passed and was soon followed by two C.E.L.L attack helicopters and the ship was shot down and crashed just around the block. It was a painfully uneventful walk towards the crash site.

Once I arrived, I was once again greeted by a deserted area. A familiar office building was to my left but to my right was nothing but white. Limping towards the office building, I could feel myself dreading my decision.

After walking up the emergency staircase, I had reached my destination and found then one thing I hopped to always forget. There on the wall was the body of James wearing the suit without the helmet. I limped towards him, tears blurring my vision.

Once I was close enough, I plopped down onto my knees and took off the helmet I wore but instead of seeing the Nanosuit V2 Helmet, I saw a marine helmet in urban camo.

I tossed the helmet away in anger before looking back at the unmoving form that is James. There were roses around him and an M12 on his lap.

“It should've been me that died out there.” I said, taking hold of the gun on his lap and checking if it had any ammo only to find that it had one bullet left. So cocking the gun, I looked back at James as I felt the cold metal end of the M12 on the side of my head. “I'm sorry, James.” With that, I pulled the trigger without hesitation and willingly. My vision went black before being assaulted by images of certain parts of my life.

“Prophet?”

“SEnTinEl.”

“Sam!”

I felt myself being shaken vigorously by someone beside me. Groaning loudly, I opened my eyes only to see the worried look of the purple mare, Twilight Sparkle.

“Stop shaking me.” I told her as I swatted her hands away from me. She frowned slightly but kept quiet.

“Good, you're awake.” I heard the voice of Celestia. Looking in front of me I saw the mare herself just sitting across from me. “Just in time too, we just arrived at Canterlot palace.” With a smile, the door beside me open and she was the first to step out of the carriage. Luna followed suit as well as Twilight before I finally exited the flying carriage.

Once I was out, I looked down at myself and saw that I still wore the suit. I looked back up, seeing the two sisters waiting for me.

“We mustn't waste time standing around.” Luna said. Giving a quick scan of the area, I nodded soon after.

“Remember our agreement, earn my respect and trust then I'll answer with complete truthfulness. Not before and certainly not now.” I said to them. The two sisters nodded in understanding while Twilight gave me a suspicious look.

“We'll take to the room you'll be staying in, you seem to be rather exhausted on the way.” Celestia said as both her and Luna turned towards the large doors and opened them with a wave of their hands. Once the doors fully opened, they walked through the open doorway with me in tow.

The walk through the large halls were confusing. It seemed to be built more like a maze than anything else but like always, I let the suit scan the area and created a map as it did. Through the trek down the halls, I caught the whispers and murmurs from the guards and staff. It seems I've made a sort of reputation the day I jumped off the mountain.

After a few more twists and turns, we stopped in front a medium-sized double door with a gold frame. Another wave of Celestia’s hand made the door open, and revealed the room inside to be a cozy guest room. Though, it was a bit larger than any other guest rooms I've seen.

“This is where you will be staying until further notice.” Luna said just as I walked in the room. “Your belongings will be kept in a secure room, if you wish to have them back just let us know and we'll send somepony to bring them to you.”

“You're being oddly kind to a person you barely know.” I said outloud as I walked over to the balcony door. This room looked more like a hotel penthouse than a guest room. Not only larger than normal rooms, it was also fitted with a fireplace that, strangely enough, doesn't connect with any chimney. Just in front of the fireplace was large love seat which I could only assume are for couples to enjoy a time near the fireplace.

“We have no reason to do the opposite. The only “crime” you committed was property damage but it was justifiable... in some way.” Celestia replied, adding the last bit in a quiet tone.

“It was of course our fault for wrongfully accusing you of being something you aren't and throwing you in the dungeons. We do still feel sorry for that.” Luna spoke afterwards. With a silent nod, I opened the balcony doors and stepped outside.

The first thing that greeted my ears was the simple sounds of the wind. I looked down at the city below and my eyes grew wide. It was quite the sight to behold, a city straight out of fiction was something I never thought I'd see but then again, I never thought of fighting a war against aliens while wearing the suit of Jam-

I winced at the sudden pain while the sight of the city below changed into a horrific version of it. These images were brief, showing burning buildings, dying Guards and the palace falling but what stood out the most was that each vision had something in common. The Ceph. Grunts, Stalkers, Devastators, the vision showed them and only them as they brought devastation. I looked up to the sky, hoping that the vision would stop but to my dismay it just made it worse.

The once blue sky was now yellow, make it appear to be the sunsetting but what stood out the most was the large gaping wormhole in the sky. I clutched onto my head as another jolt of pain was felt.

“Make it stop.” I gasped, out of breath. Focused on trying to deal with the pain, I was felt a hand on my right shoulder and was relieved of the horrific sight.

“Are you alright?” The voice of Celestia brought me out of daze. When I gathered my bearings, I was on my knees and holding the mask as if it was my own face.

I looked up at the royal sister and saw the look of worry on her face. Once I stood up and dusted myself off, I then looked at her and answered.

“I'm fine.” I told her with a single nod. “Just a simple headache.” I added to the lie. Celestia gave me a questioning look before nodding.

“Alright then, we'll leave you to relieve yourself. We'll send a servant to escort you to the dining hall in an hour.” Celestia said as she turned towards the door and walked passed her sister. “We hope you enjoy your stay.” With that they walked out the door and closed it behind them. I walked back inside the room soon after they left.

I let out a sigh as I raised my hand and began typing down something onto my wrist, deactivating the Heads up Display of the mask before removing it. I then placed the mask on the queen sized bed before walking back out to the balcony.

Scanning Nanosuit host; Complete

Alien pathogen located in bloodstream[b/]

Danger.
Infection percentage: 10%

Containing…
Infestation Contained

Alien tissue Vector Isolated
Contained in Deep layer

Nano-form Analysis Underway
Compatibility Register; Enabled.

Processing…

Compiling Profile
Nano-catalyst viability assessment underway

Processing…

~Ω~

‘Make it stop.’

The Lone changeling woke up with a jolt. The voice of her brother echoed through her mind. Standing up from her cot, she then proceeded to look out the small cell window before setting her gaze above, to a stallion leaning on the railing of a balcony.

She narrowed her eyes at the stallion, feeling a strong sense familiarity towards him. The sound of her cell door opening brought her attention back inside. There standing in the doorway was tall woman in white with both a pair of large folded wings and a long horn. Atop her her head laid a tiara with a magenta colored gem.

“I wish to speak to you in private.”

Author's Note

Chapter name may change.

Hope you enjoyed and please notify me of any errors.

Edited by CommanderWolffe