The Broken One

AUTHOR’S NOTE: SOME SEXUAL REFERENCES IN THIS CHAPTER. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

I shook my head in amazement at just how often it was in the past month since my memories returned that the three of us had been walked in on while engaged in some manner of carnal activity. Every single day triggered a buried memory, but not all of them were happy. I felt the guilt all over again every time I saw Cindra’s shining leg. Our reunion on the balcony still hurt my heart.

“Let’s get cleaned up”, I muttered.

“You might have to carry Dash, master”, came a chuckling reply.

I turned back to the bed and jumped in shock when I saw the rainbow wonder trying to stand and failing. I rushed to her side and told her to stay still. I used the x-ray spell I learned from Twilight and checked her spine for damage.

“She’s okay”, Shadow assured me. “She just has to get feeling back into her legs.”

I shrugged and picked the protesting pony up and carried her into the bathroom while the others followed me. I put Dash down on the floor and started the shower. When I was satisfied with the water temperature I turned around and groaned at what I saw.

“Cindra, Dash, stop it”, I ordered as I untangled the two. “We just got busted so it’s time to be civilized.”

The four of us showered in pairs ensuring Cindra showered with somepony responsible, meaning I wound up helping Dash stand so that she could get clean. While Cindra and Shadow were busy scrubbing themselves I surrounded mine and Dash’s body with a small cyclone of heated air. When I let the wind die down I burst out laughing at the sight of Dash’s poofy mane and tail.

“You look like a rainbow version of Pinkie Pie”, I guffawed.

“Funny”, she growled as she took a few shaky steps toward me. “Jackson, I want to ask you something.”

“Go ahead”, I replied as I pulled on one of my comfortable flowing outfits.

“Does this… change things”, she blushed lightly. “Between us, I mean.”

“Of course”, I smiled. “But you’re still my best and coolest friend.”

“You two are just a lot closer now”, Shadow grinned as she trotted up, still dripping water from her ear tufts and planted a kiss on the two of us.

Dash returned the kiss with a smile and turned her eyes to me. I saw something shining there but I wasn’t quite sure what it was. Cindra came trotting out of the bathroom and I wrapped the same heated air around the two of them. I laughed yet again as I caught sight of Shadow’s mane standing on end.

“Get me a brush please, Cindra”, Shadow growled playfully as she eyed me. “Remember, Jackson. Payback’s a bitch.”

“Yes mistress”, Cindra chirped happily and trotted off.

After Shadow had tamed her mane we set off to find my mother. I led the way into the hallway and stopped in front of the guards right outside the door. They tried their best to keep blank expressions on their faces but as I stared at the guards they began to shift uncomfortably.

“What part of ‘do not disturb’ is incomprehensible”, I asked as I crossed my arms.

“I’m sorry”, one of the guards asked nervously.

“You two are supposed to keep everypony out”, I growled. “So how did my mother barge in on us?”

“It’s Princess Celestia”, one of them said nervously.

“You don’t defy Princess Celestia”, the other added.

“I do”, I replied. “Sometimes.”

“Liebsche”, Shadow said as she nudged me. “Time to go.”

“You two are going to stay at this spot until I get back”, I said darkly.

“Y-yes Prince Jackson”, the first guard stuttered.

We turned and walked away leaving the two guards shaking. Just as we turned the corner I heard one guard whisper to the other about getting spanked and laughed. Shadow smiled as well but Cindra and Dash looked at us as if we had lost our minds until I explained.

“Really”, Dash sighed as she eyed the light bruise that was forming on her flank from my ministrations earlier.

In no time we made it to the throne room and to my surprise mom greeted us with a smile. I noticed another alicorn with her and turned my attention to her. Her fur was a delicate pink and her mane was pink with yellow highlights. A small tiara sat upon her head designating her as a princess.

“His eyes are rather unnerving”, the princess said as she turned her attention from me to my companions. Her eyes grew wide when she caught sight of Cindra. “IS THAT A CHANGELING?!”

“Yes”, I sighed. “Her name is Cindra and she’s my servant.”

“I prefer the term ‘personal assistant’ myself”, Shadow grinned.

“A night guard too?!”

“Not anymore”, Shadow replied with a bow. “Hello, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”

“Shade”, the pink princess asked in disbelief.

“Shadow”, the vampony corrected with a smile.

“Cadence”, mom interrupted, “this is my son Prince Jackson of Everfree.”

“So this is the Prince of Chaos”, Cadence murmured as she circled around me inspecting me before turning to Shadow. “I see why you two fell in love with him.”

“Beg pardon”, I asked.

“You may act standoffish and aloof”, Cadence cooed as she pressed against my side, “but I can sense the love hiding inside your heart.”

“Oh”, I replied. “I thought you were talking about my d-“

“JACKSON”, my mother shouted.

“It’s quite alright”, Cadence laughed.

At that moment I heard hooves barreling down the hallway and summoned my sword from my room. I drew the blade from the sheath and charged the door when I heard the hoof steps get close. I swung just as the door was opening and the dull edge of my blade stopped right in front of a messenger’s throat.

“P-prince Jackson”, the gasping pony said. “Ponyville needs you right away!”

“What’s happening”, I demanded as I strapped my sword to my side.

“Timberwolves are threatening the town!”

I shouted for the two females to stay as Dash and I raced out of the castle. We took to the air and I filled our wings with magic. With one mighty flap we launched ourselves toward the small village just barely visible in the distance. I drained the magic back into my body when we got close and we lost speed quickly.

“That was amazing”, Dash cackled.

“Hang on, everypony”, I muttered to myself, ignoring the geekfest happening right behind me.

We landed just outside of town and I drew my sword as I stepped out of the crater I made when I hit the ground. It was quiet in the town. Almost too quiet. We strolled through the main square in town keeping an eye out for wolves.

“Dafuq”, I muttered.

Not a soul was visible and the only door open was the door to Sugar Cube Corner. I began to get nervous as I eased my way across the street to the bakery. The lights were off and I couldn’t see anything inside the shop. I opened the door as quietly as I could and stepped inside.

“Surpri-“, a voice shouted as the lights came on but was silenced when my sword smashed into their throat.

Confused shouting erupted as I felt my sword ripped from my hands by magic. Fire swirled around my now bare hands as I turned to the source of the shouting but it died out instantly when my eyes fell on the citizens of Ponyville. All of them.

“Oh shit”, I muttered and glanced down to see who I had struck.

Pinkie lay on the floor clutching her throat and gasping. I knelt down and shoved her hooves away as I flooded her throat with healing energy. Almost instantly she could breathe again and she scrambled away from me to hide behind Twilight.

“Surprise”, the party pony whimpered.

“I am so sorry”, I blurted as I summoned my sword to me and sheathed it. “I thought you were a timberwolf.”

“Pinkie”, Twilight groaned. “What did you have that messenger say?”

“That Ponyville was under attack by timberwolves”, I growled.

“Pinkie”, Twilight gasped.

“Well it’s no wonder ya got walloped”, Applejack drawled from the back of the room.

“What the heck is all this”, I asked as I eyed the brightly decorated restaurant.

“It’s a castlewarming party”, Twilight smiled.

“Huh?”

“Well, Princess Celestia sent me a letter telling me you would be moving into Castle Everfree this weekend”, Twilight explained as she continued smiling.

“So we figured we would throw you a party”, Rarity continued seamlessly. “Sort of a ‘thank you’ for protecting the town, darling.”

“Did you make the decorations yourself”, I asked the prissy pony.

“Y-yes”, she replied nervously.

“You did a fantastic job”, I smiled and lay a hand on her shoulder.

“Th-thank you, your Highness”, Rarity bowed.

I heard a chuckle from behind me and saw Dash standing there expectantly. I barely shook my head and got a slight nod from the cyan cutie. I knelt beside Pinkie to apologize but she cut me off by planting a big kiss on my cheek and telling me she forgives me.

“In fact, I’m surprised you didn’t whack me sooner”, she smiled quietly.

“Why”, I asked.

“Because I’m annoying”, she whispered as her hair somehow drooped a little.

“Annoying or not”, I said as I lifted her chin, “you are still the funniest most random pony in Equestria. Don’t change a thing, cutie.”

Her hair popped out with a “sproing” noise and the party kicked off right away. I felt a heavy beat thumping from the speakers and turned my eyes to the dj booth. It was the same pony from the train station! I just had to go say hello.

“Hey”, I shouted over the music.

“How’s it hangin’, your Highness”, the dj pony shouted back.

“Just call me Jackson”, I replied.

“I’m Vinyl”, came the answering shout. “You like dubtrot?”

“I’ve never heard anything like it!”

“Oh shit, the drop is coming up”, she shouted. “We’ll talk later!”

The pounding beneath my feet rose in intensity and frequency as I felt my heart start racing. Vinyl’s horn glowed with a magenta light as she lifted into the air mimicking the crescendo of the music and the energy building in the room. There was a brief pause but it lasted only a second before Vinyl dropped to the floor right when the bass hit hard. Magenta light flooded the room drawing a cheer from everypony in attendance. The energy stayed at a fevered pitch for the rest of the song and before I knew it I found myself dancing with Pinkie Pie. Several more songs blared from the sound system before the energy died off.

“Guh, th-thank you”, she murmured as smoke drifted up from her horn. “You’ve been a wonderful audience!”

The ponies cheered and stomped the floor as Vinyl made her way off the stage. I mingled for a moment before I felt a tug on my shirt sleeve. I looked down into the staring face of Dash.

“Should I get the girls”, Dash asked as I led her somewhere quieter to talk.

“No need”, I replied and motioned for her to follow me outside.

When we were standing in the street I closed my eyes and reached out with my mind. I brushed the minds I was searching for and with a loud pop the two mares were standing dizzily in front of me. They looked around in confusion before Shadow’s eyes locked on mine.

“You killed them all that quickly”, Shadow asked impressed.

“There were no wolves”, Dash answered. “That was Pinkie’s idea and she got smashed in the throat for it.”

“Jackson”, Shadow gasped.

“Hey, it was her fault for popping up out of nowhere”, Dash said defensively causing Shadow to raise her eyebrow.

“So why did they need you in Ponyville”, Cindra asked.

“Castlewarming party”, I replied as Shadow shook her head.

“This is gonna be interesting”, she said as she turned to Cindra.

The four of us made our way back inside and had to stop everypony from panicking when Cindra stepped through the door. I shouted for everypony to calm down and explained that Cindra was bound to me and wouldn’t hurt anypony. It took a few minutes but when they saw her happily playing with the Cutie Mark Crusaders they all warmed up to her.

“Smooth”, Dash grinned as she nudged me. “That was great having her play with the fillies.”

“That wasn’t me”, I grinned back.

“It wasn’t me either”, Shadow smiled as she returned with three cups of punch.

“How did you balance those”, I asked as I accepted my cup.

“Practice”, she replied.

“This tastes kinda funny”, Dash said.

“Oh, that’s the foalflower extract I added”, Shadow grinned.

“Foalflower”, I murmured as a hint of recognition mixed with fear shot through me. “Is it dangerous?”

“I’ve never heard of it killing anypony”, Dash grinned. “I usually just smoke it with Vinyl or Gilda.”

“Really”, I asked.

“Yeah, it grows near the Castle of- I mean Castle Everfree”, she replied. “I’ll show you where.”

“No need”, I smiled. “Shadow, Cindra and I will be moving in this weekend, remember?"

“Sweet”, Dash shouted. “Now I don’t have to go all the way to Canterlot to hang out!”

“We will be busy for the next couple of weeks”, Shadow interrupted. “The fiefdom isn’t going to organize itself.”

“What’s there to organize”, I laughed. “My only sentient subject is a freaking zebra hermit!”

“Master”, Cindra interrupted as she held up a scroll to me. “Miss Twilight just received this for you.”

I opened the green wax seal and read the letter.

Prince Jackson of Everfree,
Word has reached my throne of your imprisonment of one of my changelings by the name of Cindra. I suggest the immediate release of said changeling to avoid further action on my part. You have twenty four hours to return my loyal subject. Failure to do so will result in a declaration of war. Be a good colt and do the right thing.
Queen Chrysalis of the changelings.

I turned my gaze to the changeling before me and struggled to find the right words.

“What is it”, Shadow asked as she took the letter from my hands and read it. “What the fuck?!”

“What”, Cindra asked when Shadow turned her eyes on the changeling in question.

Shadow glanced at me before she held the note out to Cindra who read it quickly. Her brow furrowed as she reached the end of the letter and looked up at me. She heaved a sigh and hung her head as I rubbed my temple.

“Well, fuck.”