The Broken One

I was startled awake by a shout of surprise from the doorway. I bolted up as far as the ponies sleeping on my arms would allow and found my mother staring at me in horror. I glanced down and saw that there was an unexpected side effect of a mare losing her virginity. I stared in shock at the dried pink fluids on the lower half of my body.

“I think I might be sick”, mom uttered as she rushed out into the hallway.

I squirmed out from under the startled and bleary eyed ponies and darted to the restroom to jump in the shower. I scrubbed myself as quickly as I could with the fragrant soaps I had and floated my clothing into the bathroom. I looked my outfit over as I dried off.

The fabric was light yet sturdy and as black as night. The trim around the collar, sleeves and the edges of the sash that draped across the chest were a burnt gold coloring. Rarity had really outdone herself. I realized this when I noticed the wing holes were gusseted.

I dressed quickly, pulling on my socks and black leather boots as I hopped back to the bed. I called for the mares to get up and get cleaned up but they refused to be roused. I grabbed them both with magic and lifted them from the bed. They jolted awake flapping their wings like crazy before they saw that they were safe. I set them down on the floor and urged them to get washed and dressed.

They hobbled to the bathroom and showered together, emerging squeaky clean less than fifteen minutes later. Shadow eyed the dark armor that had been forged for her and her eyes shone as she saw the gold inlay on the armor. She began strapping it on by herself and nodded as each piece was fitted into place. I eyed the razor sharp blades that lined the leading edge of her wing. She struck quite an image with her eyes and wings, but the way her helmet dipped between her eyes was mildly unnerving.

“Looking good”, I nodded as I circled her.

“So are you, Jackson”, she blushed.

We turned and appraised the outfit Rarity had designed for Cindra. It was a dress of some sort that made me think of the term “gothic”. It rode just off of her shoulders with a tightly laced bodice. The flowing skirt fell just above the back hooves and almost hugged her figure. The primary color was, again, black with burnt gold trim.

“Damn, Cindra that looks great”, I smiled.

“Miss Rarity really outdid herself”, the changeling blushed.

We exited my chambers and were greeted by disapproving glares from my mother and aunt. My bat pony and changeling stayed beside me as we turned and headed for the throne room. Aunt Luna kept sneaking glances at me and I had a bad feeling when her gaze focused on my neck.

“Prince Jackson”, she said amiably, “We beg thee a moment of thy time. Continue onward, sister. We shall be along post haste.”

I stood with my aunt and caught the concerned glance Shadow shot my way as she turned the corner. I turned to the dark ruler and folded my hands in front of me.

“Fold down thy collar”, my aunt demanded coolly.

I did as she asked and quirked an eyebrow. She studied my neck closely and her eyes went wide as her nostrils flared.

“Thou fools”, she hissed. “Doth thee know not what may now come to pass?!”

“What are you talking about”, I asked with narrowed eyes.

“Sanguinare Vamponis”, she hissed quietly. “How much time hath passed since the bite?”

“It was just last night”, I replied quietly. “Aunt Luna what are you talking about?”

“Jackson, Shadow is not what wouldst be called a ‘bat pony’ as thou like to believe”, she said as she stared at me intently. “Shadow Bloom is one of the undead. Jackson, she is a vampony.”

“A vampony”, I repeated quietly. The term rang true in my mind and I began to have a new reason for an ulcer. “This is fucked up. Guess this is my punishment for even being here.”

“We understand thy predicament but must request thou doth refrain from using such language”, she said, finishing with a sigh.

“You use a lot of words but don’t say much”, I grunted.

“Thou insolent…”, she began as she stepped toward me but stopped herself and closed her eyes tight, her lips moving slightly as she silently counted to ten before opening her eyes while visibly slightly calmer.

“Look”, I laughed, “I don’t give a hydra’s ass about all that fancy crap. My title is just for show anyways.”

“Thou art to be crowned Prince of Everfree”, she argued.

“What subjects am I going to rule”, I chuckled sardonically. “My only intelligent denizen is that funky ass zebra with that rhyming thing going on.”

“Jackson, that wild forest covers what once was a great city”, she sighed. “It is our hope that seating thee upon the throne shall reclaim that magnificent metropolis.”

“Whose idea was this”, I asked.

“By choosing adoption by a royal”, she explained, “Thy fate was sealed by thy own hand. Either way, the discussion hath gone astray.”

“Yeah, I don’t want vamponism”, I muttered.

“We shall watch thee when slumber takes thee this night”, she said nervously. “Come, it would be bad form to be late for thine own coronation.”

I took off at a jog and she cantered along beside me. We made it to the others just in time and my aunt trotted right past me to enter with my mom. They spoke to the gathered citizens for several minutes before I was called in. A kneeling pad was in place on the dais and after a procession of plentiful pomp, I stood behind the pad with Shadow at my side and Cindra just behind her.

I glanced into the crowd and saw all of my friends from Ponyville in the front row. All of them were smiling except Fluttershy. The timid pony stared at me wide eyed with her mouth hanging open. She looked me up and down before she turned her eyes to Cindra and Shadow.

I followed her line of sight and was met by the gaze of two proud and loving mares. I smiled slightly and nodded at the two mares before I turned my attention back to the crowd. The jovial aura to the room was rather calming. At least until Cindra had a shiver run through her body.

I turned in alarm to the changeling as her eyes darted around the room. I caught a flash of motion outside the window and looked up. A single changeling stared in through the window with an unreadable expression. Our eyes locked for a moment before the bug pony outside took off. The window darkened as several shapes zipped past.

I turned my gaze to the back of the room as Shining Armor led a squad of unicorns into the throne room. Without a word the armored unicorns took up positions around the room and stood as still as statues. I cocked my head slightly as Shining Armor made his way to my side.

“Forgive me, your Highness”, he whispered, “but the Princesses have requested extra security.”

“Does this have anything to do with the stray changeling you guys just ran off”, I whispered back.

“How did you-“

“I saw it staring through the window at me”, I whispered. “Dude, chill. I have faith in your guards and in your ability.”

“GUARDS”, Shining shouted as he enveloped me in magic.

“Dafuq”, I squeaked as I hung suspended in the air.

“It’s over, changeling”, he shouted, causing the assembled ponies to begin to panic.

“What is the meaning of this”, my mom shouted as she and my aunt charged toward us.

“This is not Prince Jackson”, he said as he turned a glare on me.

“What do you mean”, mom growled.

"Hast thou taken leave of thy senses", Aunt Luna shouted.

“The real Prince Jackson would object to me calling him ‘your Highness’ right away”, he said smugly. “The real Prince Jackson wouldn’t compliment me, either.”

“You’re a fucking idiot”, I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose.

“That’s the real Prince Jackson”, Shining muttered as his eyes went wide and his pupils shrank.

“Release him at once”, mom growled but nodded when the captain of the guard complied, straightening my wardrobe as he apologized profusely until I waved him away.

“Settle down, everypony”, I shouted, but was paid no attention. I took a deep breath and readied my Canterlot Voice. “Citizens of Equestria, BE STILL!”

All movement stopped at once as my voice bounced around the hall. The assembled ponies took their seats again with wide eyes as I continued speaking.

“There is nothing to fear”, I boomed. “There has been a misunderstanding but all is well!”

“Very nicely done”, mom whispered as she stood at my side.

The common ponies settled back in as the coronation began. I watched as a squadron of guards marched in and through coordinated marching movements performed some rather impressive maneuvers. At the end on the demonstration they lined the carpet running the length of the room.

Mom and Aunt Luna had disappeared during the marching performance, but now they were accompanied by the head unicorn from the magic academy as they strolled regally up the carpet. They reached the dais and motioned for me to kneel. I complied and folded my wings against my back.

“Beloved citizens”, mom’s Canterlot Voice boomed through the hall. “Today is a historical occurrence. For the first time in over two thousand years we lay the crown upon a Prince of Equestria!”

The crowd cheered for a few minutes before she silenced them.

“History is being made this day, my little ponies”, she smiled happily.

“Indeed”, Aunt Luna’s Voice boomed. “We ask thee all to rise.”

The crowd stood as mom stepped in front of me.

“Jackson, of Everfree Forest, a grand adventure falls before you this day”, my mom boomed happily. “In that adventure you shall never be alone.”

A single guard made his way up the aisle with a case balanced on his back and supported by magic. Everypony watched him march up to the dais and bow his head. At once the case was lifted from his back by magic and was floating in midair between my mother and aunt.

“You have shown great courage facing adversity”, my mom smiled at me. “You singlehoofedly defeated a rampaging bugbear and faced Nightmare Moon alone, providing the Elements of Harmony with the opportunity to defeat her and return my beloved sister to her rightful place at my side.”

“We thank thee for freeing us”, Aunt Luna smiled as she bowed.

“We present you with this sword, one modeled after your own design, in recognition of your valor and strength”, my mother boomed.

She opened the case with magic and lifted the sword and sheath from the case. She drew the blade from the sheath and extended it toward me. I looked over the piece of functional art and was surprised to see that the blade was indeed just like the one I had formed with magic except of higher craftsmanship. The gold inlaid into the blade glinted in the light as I accepted the offered weapon with a bowed head.

“This blade shall be a symbol of your rule”, the magnificent matriarch intoned. “As this blade is used for the protection of others, your fiefdom shall be a place of peace and safety for all who serve you. Just as this blade has the potential for harm, you must be willing to do what is necessary to protect your subjects.”

“Should it be needed, my life is theirs”, I replied on cue “As my subjects would lay their lives at my feet, so too would I for my subjects.”

At this point my family stepped back and allowed the aging unicorn to stand in front of me. He bowed slightly before he spoke.

“Jackson of Everfree Forest”, the unicorn began, “do you swear upon your very life to uphold the laws of the land with integrity and justice?”

“I swear it”, I intoned with honesty.

“Do you swear upon your life to rule over your subjects with equality, honesty and mercy?”

“I swear it.”

“Do you swear upon your life to defend Equestria should the need ever arise, and to answer the call of your allies in their hour of need?”

“I swear it.”

The elderly equine bowed and returned to his spot as my aunt and mother stepped forward again. The two smiled at me and I returned the gesture.

“We lay the crown on your head this day, but lay an even heavier responsibility on your shoulders and your heart”, mom said as she signaled a random servant. “On this day we crown you Prince Jackson of Everfree Forest."

I stared at the thin ebony crown as it was brought forth upon a crimson velvet pillow. The upper edge swooped down from a center point and flared back up around where my temples would be. As I stared at the crown I noticed it resembled an alicorn with open wings. In the center a single garnet shone in the sunlight.

The moment the crown touched my head the crowd erupted into cheering and applause. Confetti exploded out of nowhere and my mother and I turned wide eyes on Pinkie Pie. The party pony grinned and bounced away toward the banquet hall for the reception.

“Pinkie’s gonna Pinkie”, I grinned at mom and fastened my royal sword to my side before I turned to my only two servants. “Come on, girls, let’s mingle!”

I started down the steps from the dais and was enveloped by a buttery blur. I glanced behind me and was met by two glaring females.

“Get off of our stallion”, the two growled icily in unison.

“Well, fuck.”