Author's Note

Normally, I would wait until after editing to post, but I feel bad for missing Christmas, so, here ya go!

Awaken (unedited)

The bearers of the elements of harmony were currently discussing their daily lives. Normally, Twilight would find doing so quite frivolous, and possibly vapid. Lately, however, she found that being in their company made most topics interesting. For example; Rarity was just explaining how she got a free rose from Roseluck.

"Oh, yes, darling," Rarity tittered, "I'm sure I'd love it if the colts sniffed my roses all day!"

Twilight was enjoying herself; she had just heard an unexpectedly saucy pun from Rarity (as she seemed rather unlikely to engage in the "lowest form of humor") and got a good laugh from it. Unfortunately, life seemed to enjoy making her stress lately.

As the train hit a larger than normal bump, she felt a wave of power wash over her. The others seemed to notice as well, though none of them seemed more affected by it than a shiver. Twilight, however, knew better.

"Alright, girls. I didn't want to have to do this, but we can't wait on the train anymore," she said, standing from her seat.

"What was that?" Spike asked, seemingly more curious than worried.

"That," she said, "was an enormously powerful spell. I've never felt anything like it; it almost felt like a magic surge, but from a large distance. We need to get to Appleoosa now."

"But how?" Rainbow Dash asked, " I thought we were taking the train because you couldn't teleport us there?"

"We did, but we're close enough now that I can move us all. I'll have to teleport us above the ground to avoid obstacles, so be ready to catch us."

"No problem, egghead," she said with a cocky grin, "Just make sure that we're high enough that I can catch you all."

"Easily," Twilight said, with a matching grin, " I just need a moment to calculate the distance. Brace yourselves!"

The other girls stood and gathered around her, while Spike hopped onto her back. He gave her a comforting pat on the withers, which she returned with a smile.

Then, Twilight's horn ignited with a brilliant glow, before they all disappeared in a blinding flash.

Dinnertime had finally come, and I was famished. Thankfully, my meeting with Fancypants had ended right on time. Though, he always seemed to be strictly business with me, and ended our meetings exactly on time, or even earlier, if possible. He didn't seem to like me much, not that I necessarily blame him.

I put that aside, however, as our food had arrived. Tonight it was just Blueblood, my adopted nephew; Raven Inkwell, my assistant; and myself.

Normally, I'd eat dinner with all of my remaining family, but Luna seemed to be elsewhere. It saddened me to see her isolating herself, but I feared that forcing her to come would not go as I intended.

Cadenza, my adopted niece, seemed to just barely tolerate me, so she wasn't there either.

Blueblood was telling us about the interesting changes in Stalliongrad's philosophical environment as the servants placed food around us.

"I tell you, Auntie, this whole, "Communist manifesto," could spell disaster. It's bad enough that the Germans have been spreading their "Democracy and Liberty" nonsense for centuries. These satellites need to be brought back into the fold."

"You know we can't do that, Blooboo."

He let out a deep sigh, "I know, Auntie. I just fear that these new ideas will destabilize your already shaky grasp on the throne.

"The peasantry could get it into their heads that you're some tyrant. If they keep thinking like that, they might try to dethrone you, and I don't trust that they could find someone as benevolent as you."

It's been said that words of truth from the ignorant can cut deeper than a knife, and at times I believe them. I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes, so instead, I smiled and thanked him before busying myself with a salad.

Quiet briefly settled over the table before Raven decided to speak up. "Your Majesty, I would like to discuss your upcoming schedule."

I sighed inwardly before nodding my assent. She began to drone as I continued to eat, and try to pay attention. Though, the lazy evening was not to last, it seemed.

Suddenly, I could feel a strong pull on my magic from the one place that I didn't want to. A small portion of my power was taken before I could sever the connection. A drop in the bucket otherwise, but it could only mean one thing.

"Your Majesty?"

Oh shit. "Yes, Raven?"

"Do you feel well?" she asked, "You just took a bite out of your fork…"

I looked down to see that, indeed, my fork was now missing its prongs. "Cancel everything."

"Wha?"

"Now."

She started scrambling, "R-uh right!"

"And get Luna immediately. Tell her to meet me in the main council room."

"At once!" she shouted, already running toward the door.

Blueblood was to his hooves immediately, "Auntie? What happened?"

"Nothing good for us," I said, spitting out my fork's tines.

Everything felt like it was on fire. I could feel my bones breaking, and taste the unmistakable iron of blood. My eyes refused to open, though I could hear muffled voices.

I tried to open my mouth to scream, but my voice refused to obey. My throat felt like it was swollen shut, meaning I couldn't breathe, either. I tried to move toward the voices, but my limbs were sluggish, and restrained by some rock-solid barrier. I was trapped, and beginning to feel claustrophobic.

Whether my agony lasted for minutes, or hours, I couldn't say. Time seemed to blur and stretch as my torturous existence dragged on.

Eventually, the voices seemed to grow excited as I could feel my suffering ease. I began to regain control of my limbs, though I couldn't feel my fingers. My back also itched like mad, but that felt less important.

As the pain faded, feeling returned, though everything felt… wrong. My face, for one, felt… longer? My neck felt longer, too. Before I could think too deeply about it, though, I heard what sounded like shattering glass.

Light beat against my eyelids, and my throat opened. As I took my first desperate lungful of air, I tumbled to the cold marble floor.

"Gods' mercy!" I heard someone exclaim. Several other voices seemed to join, though I immediately recognized one of them.

"Leave now, my children! You may pray outside," Chrysalis shouted.

The sound of hooves scraping on marble could be heard, as the voices faded away, followed by the clack of the door's latch. Before I could find the strength to lift my head, I heard her speak again.

"... Steve?" she asked, hesitantly, "Is that you?"

The best I could give was a groan in reply as I slowly opened my eyes. I slowly lifted my head when I noticed the first change; apparently I now had long, shimmering, emerald green hair.

"What the hell?" I asked myself, and noticed the second change; my voice was now two-toned and buzzy, like Chrysalis's.

"... Steve?"

I turned my head toward her, "Yeah?"

"Gods' blood… it is you!" she said, rushing over.

"Who else would it be?" I jokingly asked, trying to stand. Before I could manage to steady myself, however, I saw a large portion of my body. I was so shocked, I fell back down.

"Well…" she said, levitating a mirror over, "I believe my shock was understandable."

I now looked like one of the Progenitors. My eyes were now blue, however, whereas the ones I've seen had green eyes. Interestingly, I also seemed to have 3 claws folded into the frog of my hoof.

I was more concerned, though, with the fact that I was an entirely different species! "What happened?"

"Your servant teleported directly into the throne room and frantically explained that you were encased in crystal at the temple. I arrived a while later to find she was right.

"Then, said crystal shattered and you fell where you're currently laying."

I could barely believe her, but the proof was right in front of me. "What do I do now?"

I looked back to Chrysalis and she explained, "I believe it's time to greet the people."

"What do you mean?" I asked, shakily standing on my new hooves.

"Whatever happened to you in there was obviously the work of the gods. Given your new form, it can only be a blessing. They will want to hear the good news!"

Before I could respond, I felt myself surrounded by a gentle warmth. I turned to see a bearded, emaciated old man, peacefully sitting in the lotus position on a small cushion. Chrysalis prostrated herself as he began to speak.

"Greetings, Chrysellia and Steven. You may call me Siddhartha. The council has decided that I will serve as your envoy."

"Buddha?"

He merely nodded with a small smile. "I have come to tell you two things; firstly, you are now the God of Liberty, Reason, and Compassion, for as long as you can uphold those ideals, at least.

"Lastly, anytime you need to speak with the council, merely pray to me. They have deemed you not yet worthy of a position on the council, but when your task is complete, you may yet be raised to the position, if you wish."

"Are you on the council?"

He smiled, "No. I have never desired to be, that is why they asked me to be a messenger. I agreed because I saw that you have the potential to do great things."

I thanked him, and he faded from reality with a gentle wave of his hand. I turned to Chrysalis, as she got up.

"Well," I said with a small sigh, "I guess I'll need a new name, then. Steve doesn't sound very god-like."

"What will you call yourself, then, mi'lord?" She said, bowing.

With a frown, I stood her back up. "None of that, now. I may be a god, whatever that means, but I won't have you bow to me."

"R-really?"

"Of course!" I said with a smile, "Friends don't bow and kowtow, now do they?"

She got misty-eyed, and said "Thank you. I have never even heard the gods speak to me, and here you are, calling me a friend."

"Don't worry about it," I said, draping my forelimb over her shoulders, "Now! What should my new god name be?"

"Well, I may have a suggestion."

"Oh? Do tell," I asked.

"Frelsi. It basically means freedom in Old Ponish. I think it suits you."

I smiled, "That sounds perfect! Ok," I said, turning to the door, "the people have waited long enough to see their new god."