Son of the Sun

Day passed.

I guess.

My head, thoughts swirling...

The guards grew tired of assaulting him after a couple hours. Nick didn’t even have the strength to cry out or even wince after hours of repeated beatings.

He slept...for what it was worth. Bound by his bindings, unable to lie down.

…

Eyes and ears becoming aware of their bleak surroundings soon as a commotion started.

Princess Celestia was in a conversation with her guards, to which she replied with a laugh once they said something in unison. Too hard to focus, really.

She was walking over to him, magically opening the cage that just seemed unnecessarily secure.

Nick’s heart rate accelerated as she trespassed into his ponysal space, muzzle nearing on his.

She asked with a coo, “Hello, my child. Have you been having fun?”

Nick’s expression of casual pain was soon surpassed by a quizzical look, demanding, “N-no. I’ve been getting attacked by your guards. And...you.”

She seemed to be caught off-guard by his words, declaring to the guards, "Release him, please."

Nick saw the look of sorrow she displayed, thinking this torture would be over.

She's coming to her senses.

He was unrestrained by the stallions, unlocking his chains that kept him aloft an inch off the ground.

Princess Celestia, in turn, magically set Nick down on the ground like he was a priceless treasure.

Strong Back asked of her with uncertainty, "We...uh, get some licks in again? Can we kick him while he's down?"

Direct Break chimed in as well, adding fuel to the fire, "Yeah. Yeah! He should be a lot more lively today. We had to stop yesterday because he just went quiet after awhile. Got too boring."

Nick saw Princess Celestia walk forward until she was nearly standing on top of them. Then, she reared back, not saying a word.

Like yesterday.

Nick closed his eyes, waiting for his back to be stomped or something equally excruciating.

The guards, for their parts, were grinning down at him, patiently anticipating to get their second wind of beatings in after their princess. They had manners, after all.

Then, she slammed her hooves down.

Crack. Crack.

...

Nick didn't open his eyes. He didn't feel anything. Honestly, he couldn't feel his hooves before with the suspension and constant barrage of punches inflicted yesterday on him.

But, he expected collapsing lungs, spine being splintered into dust, probably rolling on the ground as his brain tried to comprehend the immeasurable damage that'd been done to his body.

But...

...

Eyes pulling from the darkness, he saw Princess Celestia only stare down at him.

A gaze of Magenta onto her student, delivering upon him a calm, soothing response, "Nicholas. Sweetheart, you can stand."

Nick blinked back at her, doubtful as to whether or not what she said was true. His hooves and most everywhere else, besides his face, was covered in bruises and scraps.

But, she encouraged him once more, leaning back as she advised him, "Come now, time to get up."

Nick did as he was told, shakily gripping the floor. He forced his body to summon its strength...finding it did so without effort.

A moment after, Nick was standing up, completely fine.

Mark-less. Unrestrained.

Normal?

He was still a child, unfortunately.

Nick asked of her, staring up at the mare who raised the sun, "I'm...a kid still."

Princess Celestia dropped to his level, laughing as if he had said something silly, "Oh? I hadn't noticed. But, you did, my little pony."

"Y-yeah..."

"What's wrong with being yourself, Nicholas?"

"I...I'm not a kid."

"Child, you already told me that."

"But, I...I'm not! I swear-"

"Swear? You never swear, Nicholas. Are you alright?"

"I'm not ten!"

"Hm? What age should you be, little pony?"

"I should be..."

Nick thought on what age he should be.

My birthday was months ago. And, I turned...

I turned...

Nick opened his mouth, upset by the number that poured from his lips, "Ten?"

Princess Celestia nodded to his answer, pleased by the small smile gracing her face, "Okay, then."

Nick's bewilderment grew at noticing the two figures laying on the ground to his left and right.

He prodded each once, never getting a groan or semblance that they were still unconscious.

His mind didn't know how to check for a pulse or anything.

Nick jumped to a logical conclusion, "Are they...dead?"

Princess Celestia shook her head, grin remaining on her face, "No, my little one. They are alive."

But, as a light sprang from behind Nick's shoulder, his fixation on the two out-cold soldiers waned like the Moon being outshone by the Sun.

Before him, in Celestia's grasp, was a spear.

An old spear, bloodied and unwashed for who knows how long.

She pushed the lengthy object into the colt's hooves, asking of him in her warm, welcoming voice, "But, we can fix that."

She grinned, not letting her bright magic dissipate. Her face was not one of shock, of discomfort, or sadness.

Most definitely not mercy.

Her hoof pat Nick's spiky white hair as he began to shake like a leaf, ending in her physically moving his face to the defenseless ponies fallen before them.

Her muzzle drifted up his back, slightly resting on his shoulder.

Her breathe was toasty, not unbearable. He didn't sweat like yesterday.

If he could think through his thoughts gaining speed, he might be worried on why that was.

Her voice tickled his cheek, daring him, "Go on. They hurt you. They openly desired to torture you."

Tears stung at his vision, Nick quietly whimpering as he felt her magic seep onto his hooves, helping to draw back the heavy weapon.

I wanna be a hero when I grow up.

I wanna be a hero when I grow up.

I promised him that. I promised.

Growling, Nick wrestled whilst in her hold, thrashing wildly in every direction.

Princess Celestia let out a sigh, roughly pluckering him off the spear to place him by her side.

She clutched the child with both hooves, allowing the spear to remain at its previous angle via magic.

Princess Celestia pushed her muzzle past Nick's lengthy hair, addressing the child by speaking into his ear directly, "Sometimes, all you need is a little push, my child."

She proceeded to jab Strong Back through the neck, forceful enough to crack his windpipe into bits. He died with only a little wheeze of blood as his final words.

Picking up the spear as a fine spray of red dispersed into the atmosphere, she launched it onto Direct Break, who had unfortunately woken up enough to groan.

They heard a scream as he was brought back into the conscious world, having been struck in the side. The sharp, bladed stick was plunged right into his heart.

But, he had a few precious moments of flailing about, eyes flicking to identify his murderer.

They landed on Celestia as she narrowed a stare at him.

Whatever he planned to say as his mouth prattled on noiselessly was lost once the color left him.

Eyes stayed locked on his betrayer.

Princess Celestia paid the corpse no mind.

She simply tugged the child who sobbed openly at the savage display into a hug, whether he wanted it or not.

Celestia thought on how much effort she'd have to put into this one, sighing on the inside.

They never said motherhood would be easy.