The Broken One

As soon as I popped into my room I noticed a few changes. The first was that the bed, normally the perfect size for a pony, had been replaced with a larger, slightly nicer bed. Deep red linens and comforter complimented the cream colored pillowcases.

“Well, that’s pretty”, I said, actually liking the way the bed looked.

My gaze continued around the room, falling at once on the dark wood dresser. It had three drawers which I immediately opened, pleased to find more clothes. I lifted the top article of clothing up and sighed when I realized it was a flowing pair of pants. The longer I stared at them the louder a question rang in my mind.

“How does she know what size my waist is?”

I folded the pants back up and put them away, continuing my inspection of the room yet again. I noticed a door in the corner that hadn’t been there before, as well as in the middle of the wall across from the bed. I opened the corner door first and actually laughed in relief as I rushed into the small bathroom to take care of business.

Several minutes later I exited the bathroom and glanced at the mirror to my left. It was a simple body length mirror with gilded frame and diamond accents. Somehow the diamond accents were simple. Weird, right? I crossed to the last remaining door and tugged on the handle. Nothing happened.

The loud pop behind me startled me and I jumped as I spun. The smile I had on my face fell when I saw the anger in Celestia’s eyes.

“Hi”, I said as I cringed.

“What were you thinking”, she hissed. “How could you put me in that position?!”

“I thought you were okay with it”, I replied quietly.

“Denying this request in front of my subjects would ruin me”, she growled. “I get the feeling you knew that, though."

“Dafuq”, I shouted. “I don’t know shit about politics!”

She shouted at me about my language and paced around the room again, mumbling to herself as she walked. Eventually she nodded to herself and stopped pacing.

“I can’t open that door”, I said as I pointed at the persistent portal.

“It’s a magical lock”, Celestia absentmindedly answered while looking through several materialized books at once. “Use true magic on it.”

I turned my attention on the lock, picturing a key slipping in and turning. An audible click told me I had managed to unlock it, but as I tried to open the door a large white wing slammed into the door keeping it shut. I looked over my shoulder and found myself face to muzzle with the Great White Mare herself.

“Where are you going, son”, she asked sternly. “We have matters to discuss.”

I looked from her wing to her face several times before I released the door handle and made my way over to the bed and sat down. She took a deep breath and followed me, somehow managing to sit on the bed beside me. Neither of us spoke for several minutes until she cleared her throat.

“Jackson, why did you want to list me as your mother”, she asked slowly.

“I guess because I didn’t want people to know I’m a golem”, I lied, cocking my head to the side when her horn lit up.

“The truth, please, Jackson”, she said quietly.

“I didn’t want to be associated with Discord.”

That damned horn lit up again.

“I don’t know, okay”, I shouted. “When I first suggested it I was joking but for some reason it just felt right, you know?”

“I think it was because you subconsciously realized you need a mother”, she said quietly as she used a wing to pull me close with a sigh. “I always wanted a son. Perhaps deep down we need each other.”

“I just feel so lost”, I whispered as the first tears slid down my cheeks. “I know what I am but not who I am.”

“You are my son and your own pony… I mean…”, she hesitated and sighed. “You are my son and that is what you are. Do you know what that means?”

“Ummm… no?”

“That means you are Prince Jackson of Equestria”, she smiled.

“Huh”, I squeaked. “I’m a prince now?!”

“Your mother is Princess Celestia”, she smiled.

“My mother”, I whispered, tears forming in my eyes. “Mother… why… why does it have to be this way?”

“It’s okay”, she cooed tearfully as she pulled me closer with her forelegs. “We’ll be okay.”

“Help me”, I cried, curling in on myself. “Help me find my place.”

“Your place is here, with me”, she whispered while stroking my hair. “Just relax, my little human. Let your fears and worries fall away and rest.”

She held me tightly, gently rocking me as she stroked my hair and hummed a calming song. It seemed like an eternity before my heart quit racing, but it just felt good to be held. Slowly I felt my eyes closing, and I didn’t fight it.

I woke up several hours later, somehow cradled in Celestia’s embrace as she dozed as well. I noticed streaks in the fur at the corners of her eyes telling me she had wept freely, whether for me or herself I didn’t know. I didn’t want to wake her so I stayed still, studying her face closely.

At the right corner of her mouth there was a tiny scar that angled down and back. Beneath her left eye was a small cluster of faded scars as well. Yet another very faint scar ran from one side of her neck to the other. I could barely see a slightly shorter patch of fur on her right shoulder. Being unable to move to see more I just relaxed and enjoyed her warmth.

“Luna, close the window”, she mumbled, pulling me closer.

“Who’s Luna”, I asked, poking her in the nostril. I burst into laughter when she let out a small whinny and jerked her head up.

“What”, she asked groggily as she blinked.

“You told Luna to close the window”, I replied.

Her eyes jolted open before a cloud seemed to drift behind them. She untangled herself from around me and sat up. I thought she was about to answer me but when I glanced at her I saw tears in her eyes. When I reached out for her she vanished with a pop.

Before I could ponder that turn of events I heard a light knock on the door. I stood, stretched and shuffled over to the door. I opened it with a yawn but didn’t see anyone.

“Down here”, one of my new favorite voices said.

I glanced down and sure enough there stood Fluttershy with a basket balanced on her back. I stepped back and invited her in, taking the basket off of her back as she trotted by.

“Thank you, Jackson”, she said in her whispery little voice.

“No problem”, I replied as I closed the door and sat the basket down. “What brings you here?”

“Oh, I just wanted to check on you”, she smiled.

“Thank you”, I smiled back.

She smiled even wider as she opened the basket and began pulling items from the basket. I saw what looked to be a wine bottle, a small tray of chocolate cupcakes and much to my surprise a platter of cooked fish.

“The bottle of apple cider is from Sweet Apple Acres”, she explained. “Applejack says hi.”

“Tell her I said hey when you get back.”

“The cupcakes were made by my friend Pinkie Pie”, she smiled. “She works at Sugar Cube Corner. I can’t tell you how excited she is to meet you.”

“She sounds really sweet”, I joked, getting a giggle from the buttery pony. “Where’d the fish come from?”

“That would be me”, she whispered with a blush. “I noticed you had predator teeth too, so I figured protein was part of your diet.”

“That sounds good”, I said with a grin.

“Dig in”, Fluttershy smiled.

Nobody had to tell me twice. I started with the fish, enjoying the smoky flavor as I washed it down with the sweet, crisp delicious cider. After I left nothing but bones on the platter I eyed the cupcakes warily before shrugging and taking a bite out of one.

“Wow”, I sighed.

The chocolate blended perfectly with the vanilla in the cupcakes, not too sweet but nowhere near bland. I hummed happily as I crammed the rest of the cupcake in my mouth and grabbed another. As I was taking the last bite a loud pop spooked me, causing me to choke. I felt a wing slam into my back, dislodging the piece of pastry.

“Thanks”, I coughed.

“Think nothing of it”, my mother smiled.

“Rise, Fluttershy.”

“Thank you, your Highness”, she squeaked.

“You know you only need to bow in public, right”, Celestia chuckled.

“But that’s how royalty is supposed to be greeted”, she whispered before she gasped loudly and turned impossibly round eyes to me. “Oh my goodness, I forgot that you’re Prince Jackson instead of just Jackson! I’m so s-sorry!”

I blinked several times as she dove face first at my feet. I glanced at the princess with a confused expression which she met with one of amusement and motioned to the prostrate Pegasus.

“Uh, rise, I guess”, I mumbled.

“Thank you, your Highness”, she said quietly.

“It’s just Jackson”, I chuckled.

“Oh no, I couldn’t address you so commonly”, she whimpered with a blush, giving me an idea.

“If you call me ‘your Highness’ one more time”, I threatened, “I’ll kiss you.”

“Okay”, she whispered, blushing when she realized what she said. “I mean… It’s… I’m sorry, your Highness.”

Without another word I titled her head up and kissed her lightly on the lips before she could react. She froze in place, lips still puckered slightly, eyes wide with pinprick pupils. After several seconds I waved my hand in front of her face but got no reaction.

“I think I broke her”, I said quietly as I turned to a very shocked Celestia.

“It would seem so”, she replied.

I turned back to Fluttershy, my eyes going wide as I found her forelegs around my shoulders and her lips pressed to mine again. She held the kiss for several seconds before pulling away from me and trying to fly out the door. I flinched when she ran into the door frame but she got back up and flew away.

“This makes things interesting”, Celestia said slowly.

“What things”, I asked.

“Well, you just kissed your new housemate”, she laughed.

“Housemate?”

“Yes, dear”, she said with a smile. “You see, I’m sending my student Twilight Sparkle to Ponyville to study friendship and I plan on sending you with her.”

“Study friendship”, I asked doubtfully.

“Absolutely”, Celestia replied. “Her magical skill is astounding, but she doesn’t have a single friend aside from me. I worry about her mental wellness.”

“Why?”

“She seems convinced that Nightmare Moon is returning”, she said evenly.

“Who is that”, I asked.

“A powerful, evil alicorn that tried to thrust the world into eternal night”, she replied darkly.

“Uh huh”, I hummed.

“She nearly killed me before I banished her to the moon”, Celestia whispered.

“Okay”, I huffed, “if that bitch does come back, I’m gonna kill her.”

“You can’t”, Celestia gasped.

“Why not”, I growled. “I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let anyone hurt my family!”

“Because Nightmare Moon is Luna, my sister”, she cried out.

“Well, fuck.”