Bittersweet Legacy

Celestia let out a bored sigh, it was the end of the day and all her subjects had been taken care of in a fair amount of timely order. She had an hour of nothing left to do but paperwork and lowering the sun before Luna would arrive and raise the moon.

She was glad her sister had been returned to her, with the help of Twilight Sparkle, but she was still weak, only just recently with enough rest and some help and encouragement from her, Luna was able to start raising the moon once again.

Though truth be told it still exhausted her enough to where she could not perform her duties of night court, nor lowering the moon. Rather, by Celestias insistence she rested and used her more natural gifted ability to wander the realm of dreams and check on the ponies.

Celestia smiled, her sister had grown, when she first returned and tried to return to her job with just wandering the dream realm there were a few nightmares which caused her to banish the sleepers’ nightmares but left her awake and frightened Nightmare Moon would return.

During these first few nights she had allowed Luna to sneak into her room and snuggle under the covers with her, their bond as sisters finally breaking through as they relaxed in each other’s company.

Celestia worked to draw back the tears that threatened to let loose.

‘Not right now Tia, more work to do.’ She chastised herself.

Though she did miss her sister dearly and it had briefly reminded her of their times before Nightmare Moons ascension when fears plagued pony minds at nights, and she heralded the darkest recesses of those afraid of the spirits returning to wreak havoc over their lives once again.

There was a bang at the door to the throne room, a guard answered, and turned to approach Celestia bringing her from her thoughts.

“I’ve seen enough ponies for today, Silver Spade, it’s time to retire. They are free to return first thing in the morning.”

“Princess, I am sorry but apparently these two are claiming to be refugees and are asking for your help.” The guard responded, having stopped midstep to explain the interruption.

“What? We are at peace, where could they have come from to claim to be refugees?”

“They could not say, or at least refused to say, princess.”

“Who are they?”

“A rather small Minotaur, and a pony.”

“That is a rather odd company.” Celestia thought for a moment before looking around at the present guards. She nodded and all at once hooves grasped, horns glowed, and wings were spread.

“Very well, Princess.” Silver Spade said knowing they were now on high alert in case of trouble, and deception.

Celestia closed her eyes and smiled her best welcoming smile, her eyes barely lidded as they reflected warmth and comfort, she also flexed her wings out, a spell ready but she did not light her horn just yet.

“Princess Celestia, I present the Minotaur, and the pony Aloe.” Silver Spade called out seconds later as the door opened and indeed a six foot rather thin almost sickly-looking minotaur entered followed by a light green pony with dark green mane and tail.

Celestia raised an eyebrow at the pony, she was not one of hers, and thus she felt more ready for something to happen.

“Curtesy, first my lady.” The minotaur said in a low voice.

With that announcement he knelt to one knee and bowed his head in respect, and the pony next to him bowed as well.

This was now a game of who would strike first.

“Welcome my little pony, and to the Minotaur’s. How unusual to find you so far inland. What has happened that you seek my aid.” She was speaking as carefully and methodically as she could but knew it might throw things off to have pointed out the obvious strangeness to their appearance and company.

“Princess Celestia,” the minotaur said slowly as if working the name over in his mind and mouth. “We have come from a southern island and request aid, or rather sanctuary if you would extend your kindness and curtesy.”

Celestia felt a strange sensation in her chest as she looked over the minotaur and the pony. Quickly her horn flared, and the motion of the throne room came to life as the guards rushed forward, the image of the minotaur and pony falling to reveal, “A human? And a changeling!?” Celestia said out loud in shock.

“Get the changeling,” came a voice, a leader taking charge immediately to take on the largest threat first.

“No, wait, please.” The man begged as he stood and went to the changeling’s side. “She is of no threat to you.”

“Changelings have been a threat to this kingdom for a long time, I fear. As for you, a human I have no idea how you got here, but I might be able to help you if you are not dangerous.” Celestia raised a hoof keeping the guards back, but their weapons still pointed at the duo.

“Please, don’t push us to fight, we are here seeking your help and aide, that is no lie.”

“Yet, you were both under a guise, you had an illusion,”

“Yes,” Jason admitted, “we are fleeing a changeling hive to the South on a small island from here.”

“That is rather unusual, the changelings I know of are only from the badlands.”

“That is Queen Nepidaes sister, Queen Chrysalis.” The changeling said, trying her best to press herself against the human, their bodies seeming strange together, and yet there was something odd about the two of them. What was it, were they lying, or was it something else?”

At that moment as the changeling turned to speak a guard moved in quickly to tackle her and the human. Who turned surprisingly fast as the changeling ducked and the pony guard was sent flying.

“Please, we don’t want to fight, but if you push us, we will defend ourselves.”

“So, you would threaten my ponies?”

“No,” Jason said quickly, “I speak the truth. We do not want to fight, we may end up hurting too many of your guards, or worse.” he said, ending his sentence with a definitive silence.

“Seize them for the protection of the Princess and all free ponies!” Silver Spade yelled, he wasn’t even a leader, and he was uttering commands.

“No, wait” Celestia started but it was too late, guards rushed forward at the two and in a flurry of movements guards were being tossed, hit, thrown, stomped, and blasted with weak magic beams.

It did seem they were trying their best not to hurt her ponies, but this was a mistake on her end. Many of the guards and ponies still held long grudges against changelings.

Celstia stomped, cracking the marble flooring, spread her wings high into the air, stretching them completely out to bring herself to her full height and bellowed using some magic. There was a brief glare of light as if for an instant the sun had pierced the throne room.

“Enough!” The fighting stopped, the guard ponies backing away, or trying to carry away their downed brethren.

The human, stood ready to continue, as the changeling stayed at his back.

Celestia had to admit, her guards were good, but these two were on a whole other capable level. The only way a changeling could fight like that was if they were preparing for an all out attack.

And what of the human, why was he with her? How did he even get to Equestria. Celestia suddenly felt there was more important things than a fight. She needed information, knowledge, that would be the only way to prevent whatever was coming.

As she looked at the two unusual beings before her, she suddenly felt there was something between them. The way they fought together was as if they had always fought together in sync.

Celestia admitted to herself, this was a worrisome situation before her, and she needed to get things settled quickly.

“Are the changelings of this Queen Nepidae looking to attack us?”

“I cannot fully say, but I was stationed at another continent as a spy and for research of pony culture.” The changeling responded settling herself down onto all four of her hooves.

The human seemed to turn and lower his arms, though Celestia could tell he was still tense from the fight as he eyed the ponies around him.

Celestia thought, just as Chrysalis had done once before, when she taken in a whole town of ponies and replaced them with changelings. They must be seeking to infiltrate as ponies no different than others present and spread out from there.

“How long do we have?”

The human and changeling exchanged glances before the human shrugged. “I have no idea, she brainwashed me for a bit and had me doing some stuff and learning to fight. It might be soon; it might be a while from now.”

“Well, that certainly doesn’t help, but the information you have given me does work in our favor at least and we can work to be on guard. But now the question is what to do with the two of you.”

“Look,” Jason said, we don’t want to be a part of the hive. Or well, I don’t want to be forced to kill anymore, and Skitter here has been cut off from the hive, which means she is to die either on her own or killed by another changeling if found. We are capable, and willing to work for a living and stay someplace safe. At least as safe as possible. We didn’t come here to start anything, or to cause trouble.”

Celestia watched them and felt there was truth in their words. Finally, after a long silence she nodded.

“Very well, with the information you have given me, I believe it would be beneficial and help us. Therefore I am willing to trust you enough to give you solace and sanctuary.”

“Thank you, Princess Celestia.”

“Soverign Blade,” She called a pony guard forward. “Take these two under your custody and see to it they are put into a room in a tower near mine, and ensure they are treated respectfully and assist them with whatever they need, including basic amenities.”

“Yes Princess.” The guard saluted before turning to the other two and motioning for them to follow. As they left Celestia sat back on her haunches, raising a hoof to her forehead as if fighting back a headache.

“Silver Spade.”

“Y, yes Princess?”

“It gives me no joy to say this, but you are to be punished for disobeying an order and inciting this incident.”

“Yes, Princess.” He said sounding resigned and defeated. He turned and left.

As the door closed there was a small burst of magical blue smoke as Luna appeared.

“Sister, have you tried this, it is called popcorn, and ponies eat it while watching movies…”

Luna stopped, a leg around a bucket of popcorn as she looked around her to the injured ponies and a frustrated Celestia.

“Pray thee sister, what has happened?”

Celestia shook her head, eyes cast down, this was going to be a long night.