Once A Monster Always A Monster
Princess Celestia sipped her tea as she listened to the words of Fable Tale as she continued to tell her story. It had been a few weeks since Fable’s abusive ex coltfriend, Knock Out, tracked her down to Canterlot and attacked her. Her recovery had been great and Celestia wanted to talk to her.
“Why didn’t you tell anypony of this abuse?” she asked kindly
“Because who would believe me over Knock Out the village protector? He knew how to control me and how to hide the marks.” she said fighting back more tears.
Celestia placed her cup down and draped a wing over Fable’s shoulder.
“I am sorry you had to go through this, but Knock out will no longer be a problem.”
Fable sniffled “The worse part is I’m scared to do anything romantic with Eclipse without freaking out and I feel so bad. He’s good to me and I can’t do something as simple as kiss him.”
“I’m sure in time you will, he can hug you without you freaking out right?” she wondered as she brought her muzzle down to rub Fable’s cheek.
Fable nodded.
“See. I’m sure if you take it slow, you’ll move past this in no time, you’ll see.
Well this was great, but unfortunately it is now time for me to lower the sun. Please excuse me.”
Fable smiled and got up “Thank you Princess for everything.” she said and trotted off.
Turning to her guard she sighed, “You can stop tensing up Eclipse. Knock Out isn’t going to be a problem anymore.” said Celestia as they walked to her chambers.
He was glaring daggers and Celestia could tell he was ready for a fight.
“How could this happen Tia how could this happen to her. First Sombra now this low life unicorn coward. You sent her to that village to protect her.” he said angrily as Celestia grabbed the sun with her magic and began to lower it.
“I didn’t know Eclipse, I sent her to that village so she could have a normal life. I was hoping she would have the magical talent to be accepted to my school. That way I could protect her until she could be awoken.” Celestia said as she finished raising the moon. She folded her ears back and drooped her head as if being scolded for doing something wrong. “If I always turned her into the ponies you and I wanted what life would she have? She would be a prisoner to our magic. Unable to live the lives she did. I already intervened with her finding love in the other lives.”
Celestia pulled a book off the shelf, opening it and looking at the pictures she couldn’t help but let a tear fall. “You don’t even know what I go through every time I reset the spell. She turned towards him, the tears now flowing down her cheeks, “Yes she is safe inside a fake body, but I lost a friend because of it, as well as Luna.”
Eclipse tensed at the name of the lost princess and looked down staring at his hooves, “I lost them both too you know and my best friend. But you are right, at least she is safe. I apologize Tia, I was out of line. ”
Celestia held up a hoof “No. No you are right Eclipse, just for now continue to watch her and help her get through this trauma.” she said as Eclipse bowed and left the chamber. Celestia looked up at the moon. “I hope I am not making a mistake again Luna.”
Eclipse walked down the steps to the dungeons, walking through the heavy wooden doors as the guard inside saluted him. He returned it and motioned for him to leave. The younger guard saluted again and left, closing the doors behind him. He glared at the stallion inside who was facing the wall.
“HEY!” Eclipse shouted, his voice echoing off of the empty cells.
The stallion turned around and looked at him, bruises and cuts all over his sandy coat, his horn completely shattered with dry blood matting his forehead and the floor of his cell.
“What do you want guard? Here to torture me more? Well go ahead, it doesn’t effect me at all. Once my trial takes place, Fable will say it was all a misunderstanding and come home with me and then……..”
“DON’T YOU DARE SPEAK HER NAME!” Eclipse growled as he slammed the battered unicorn against the wall with a hoof strike. “She left you and doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
“She is mine. I clearly just need to remind her not to step out of line again. And when I take her home, I’ll make sure she doesn’t step out of line ever again.” he grinned a devilish smirk at Eclipse
Faster then Knock Out could blink, Eclipse was at his throat a sword pressed against it, “Say one more bucking word and I’ll gut you.” he hissed. The injured unicorn gasped and merely chuckled to himself as he brought his hooves in, punching Eclipse in the sides. He shifted from the impacts and headbutted Knock Out in return.
Merely stunned for a few seconds, Knock Out got his hind hooves up and bucked Eclipse through the doorway of the open cell and charged towards the downed guard and proceeded to body slam him, as he was getting up. But Eclipse dodged and grabbed Knock Out around the throat, tackling him to the floor. Holding him in a headlock, “Yield Knock Out.”
“Buck Off, you bastard!” Knock Out growled as he tried to get out of the hold. Slowly trying to shift his weight so he could throw Eclipse, but failed to as a dagger was placed at his throat.
“Yield now. Or. I. Will. Kill. You!” Eclipse shouted, venom dripping from the words as he slid the dagger against Knock Out’s throat slowly.
But before he could answer, Princess Celestia slammed the doors open with her magic and separated the both of them, “That is enough Eclipse!” Her tone stern as she held them in her magic, she placed Knock Out back into his cell and motioned for the Medic who came in behind her to get to work. He nodded and began to heal the injured prisoner.
“Your highness, what about his horn?” The medic asked, pointing at the shards on the ground.
“Gather them, unfortunately the damage to it, is to great and his horn will never heal completely.” She turned back to Eclipse, when Knock Out spoke up
“Hey Princess, how about this? Just give me back what’s mine, and you’ll never see me or the tramp ever again. Or maybe me and you go to your chambers and I’ll show you how a mare should act towards a stallion.” Knock Out smirked as he raised his eyebrows at her.
Celestia turned back to him as her horn lit up and her wings spread, “SHE IS NOT A TRAMP. AND YOU WILL NEVER CALL HER THAT AGAIN! SHE DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU, AND YOU WILL NOT BE TAKING HER ANYWHERE! HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME LIKE THAT. YOU. ARE. NOTHING!” The Royal Canterlot Voice echoed off the stone walls, as his smile faded and he cowered like a foal.
Eclipse snickered as Celestia glared at him.
“Return to your chambers Eclipse you and I will have a talk in the morning.”
Eclipse bowed and left the dungeon muttering to himself about how much that low life unicorn deserved to be hung for attacking him when I small sound caught his attention. His ear twitched in the direction of the sound. Looking toward the door he was standing by he realized the sound was coming from Fable’s room. He opened the door to see Fable lying on her bed thrashing around. She was crying and whimpering. “Fable!” Eclipse shouted as he rushed to her side taking her hoof in his. Touching his horn to hers he saw what she was dreaming about…..
Knock Out had her tail gripped in his aura, dragging her towards the bed as she kicked and screamed “I’m Sorry Knock Out please don’t……”
“SHUT UP! HOW DARE YOU DISOBEY ME! YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO GET IT NOW!” he throws her onto the bed “Now get that ass up.” he barked.
Eclipse couldn’t watch anymore, he pulled away from her and gently coaxed her awake. Fable shot up screaming “NO!” and panting heavily. Eclipse wrapped his hooves around her hugging her and stroking her mane.
“It’s ok, he can’t hurt you anymore.” he soothed as he continued to run his hoof through her mane.
Fable was sobbing as she hugged back, her hooves trembling. “I’m sorry.” she gasped in between sobs.
“This wasn’t your fault Fable, that low life took advantage of you.”
Fable looked at him then looked down at the blankets as tears continued to fall. Eclipse looked at her. “Why don’t I stay with you tonight?” he said Fable looked at him “ Aren’t you still on duty?” he shook his head “I was on my way back to my room when I heard you whimpering.” his horn lit up as he summoned a manikin as he began taking off his armor and placing it on the manikin. He then walked over to the bed and slid in next to Fable wrapping his hooves around her holding her close to him. With the warmth and comfort surrounding her Fable quickly fell asleep. Eclipse smiled and said “Sleep well my Princess I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
