Chapters Gasping and coughing I jolt up and immediately have to turn to my side to empty my stomach. The wet splattering of liquids on a hard surface barely registering to me however over my own choked and ragged breaths. By the time I finally stop my vision is swimming with the blurry outline of my bile as I struggle to hold myself steady enough to not fall face first into the damn thing.
An eternity could have passed without my knowledge as I stared down at the foggy image of my own vomit. Waiting for the turbulent storm in my stomach to settle I let out a pained groan. Slowly easing myself onto my haunches rather than hunching over my own mess. The movement made my stomach churn for a moment but ultimately calmed again after I steadied myself. Bringing a wing up to wipe at my dripping mouth and nose I sigh. Waiting in a blurry and miserable silence until my vision slowly starts to clear and I can see my surroundings.
Rather than the hollowed out stone of the Hidden Valley I expected, I am instead greeted by polished walls of marble and granite that are lit up by decoratively carved crystals. The room itself is no less lavishly decorated with the various white wooden shelves and tables fighting for space in the room being covered in gold and silver trimmings. Ironically the only thing about this room that doesn't scream ‘I’m rich’ are the countless old and broken things thrown about the room.
“Hello?” Raising onto all fours I’m careful not to upset my stomach any further. With slow movements I’m eventually able to stand without issue but pull my front paw back after hearing a muffled crunching sound. Lifting my paw up I see a thoroughly crushed chunk of amber and after twisting my neck around notice there are many more pieces all around me.
“Mom?” A loud echoing bang causes me to jump. Turning towards what looks like a door on the far side of the room I carefully take a few steps back until something touches my flank. Yelping in surprise I whip my tail around only to have to cover my head as a horrendously loud crash shakes the room. Slowly uncovering my head I looked to see that in my panic I had flipped over one of the tables and dumped all of the contents it held.
Heart pounding I fall to my haunches again and grip at my chest. Running my paw over the thick armored scales on my breast I pause as I reach my collar. Looking down at myself in confusion I'm met with a shiny and healthy scaled hide. Twisting myself around I search over my entire body, but I can't find a single blemish or imperfection. Breathing even deeper now I gently rub at the spot on my shoulder that should have a horrible scar or at least be bare of any scales.
I was just horribly wounded in battle. I’d been fighting for days on end and had been hurt numerous times. I should still be covered in wounds or at the very least have something still healing. Mom had only used her mana to heal my chest and shoulder but even then my scales wouldn’t have grown back so quick.
“Mom!” Something is wrong. Something is horribly wrong. Mom was lying when she said she was out of mana. She had to be lying, I saw her eyes flashing. She cast another spell and… Then I woke up.
Another loud noise had me jumping back to my paws and turning back to the door. Walking into the room and completely oblivious to me as they talked in a language I didn’t recognize were two ponies. Growling and baring my teeth I took on a proper fighting stance. Stopping mid stride one of the ponies nearly fell over while the other froze solid. Shaking and now staring at me both ponies again started to talk in the same language. Though now with obvious fear in their voices.
Ducking down and stepping into the room a third pony stopped next to the others with a concerned look on their face. Well over twice their size and with pure white fur they seemed more shocked at my presence than frightened. Clearing their throat the tall pony began trying to speak to me, however all I got was a jumbled mess of sounds. When they finished speaking they smiled, seemingly pleased with themselves. Snarling, I scraped my claws against the floor and cut long divots into the stone. I knew that voice.
“Celestia.” Mana flames dripped from my lips as I spat out their disgusting name. Frost and ice began to form around me as I slowly started to make my way towards the door. Eyes widening and sputtering more nonsense in whatever language they were speaking I took my time crossing the room. For whatever reason they never moved from the door and only kept talking as the other ponies ran away screaming. Stopping just in front of her I ignored her continued attempts at talking.
“No!” Spoken in draconic I look to the door just in time to see a purple blur rush through and hurl itself at me.
Thrown off to the side we both crash hard into tables that buckle under our combined weight. Sliding along the floor a deep growling hiss rumbles from my attacker as claws and teeth begin scraping against my scales. Snarling back I blindly claw and bite at whatever I can but find it hard to get a proper grip. Rolling around the floor in a tangle of limbs I eventually manage to toss off the offending creature.
Baring my teeth and raising my spines I turn to fully face my new opponent. However as they scramble to their paws I hesitate. Glaring back at me and standing between Celestia and I is another dragon. Only standing at about half my size he stood in what I assume was supposed to be an aggressive stance. However there was something very wrong with them. I can't see any marks anywhere on their body. How could such a young drake be in such good health while in the middle of a war?
Shouting something in the same language as the ponies they charge me. Sloppy and uncoordinated it would take little effort to counter them. Unsure of what to do I let my wings fall to my sides and step back. Not caring or not seeing my stance the young drake continues to charge me before hitting a patch of ice just in front of me and sliding head first into my chest. Hitting me hard I stumble back slightly but am otherwise fine.
Guilt settles into my chest as I look down at the poor drake. Eyes screwed shut in obvious pain they seemed to try and hold in a cry as I faintly heard them whimper. Cradling their bloodied muzzle tightly I could see them struggling to hold back tears.
“Stop!” Spoken with almost the same horrible accent I remember, Celestia rushes from the door and to my surprise wraps her wings around the drake. Without armor on she looks shockingly different.
“Mom -” Mom, why did he just call Celestia mom? Growling I start to back away from them only to have to whip around and slash at something trying to get behind me. A deafening crash of metal and pottery rings in my ears and makes me howl in pain as I hit a table rather than an enemy. Everything that was on the table is thrown in multiple directions, splinters of metal and wood mixing with ancient pottery flying through the air and making me howl in pain. Falling to the ground I grip my head tightly between my paws and clench my eyes shut.
Horn smoking from the raw amount of power that was just pushed through it Luna sighs in relief as the spell takes effect. The room shakes slightly as Gaia slumps to the floor unconscious. In turn Luna leans roughly against the doorframe next to her and glares at her sister between heavy breaths. Her ragged fur slick with frothing sweat and her chest heaving after having run through the castle charging her spell. The ragged appearance mixed with the menacing glare on her sister's face was easily enough to make Celestia flinch.
"What did you do?" Celestia splays her ears flat against her head and grimaces. Luna's voice clearly laced with equal parts agitation and exhaustion. Yet her hard stare quickly softens when she notices her nephew nestled between her sister's forehooves. Any pretense of anger leaves the night princess' body as the young drake presses closer to his mother . Wilting Luna drops to the floor and gently nudges the drakes shoulder with her snout but only makes him push farther into Celestia's fluff.
"I caught a spike of magical energy and was worried that the stasis crystal was failing so I came to check. As soon as I teleported however, two of the ponies helping me research the Crystal rushed to greet me claiming to have made a breakthrough." Shaking her head at Celestia's words Luna sighs.
"Of course you would appoint somepony to help you after I turned you down. What did they do?" Luna asks calmly as she sits back up onto her haunches.
"I never had the chance to find out. All they managed to get out was a greeting and how excited they were to show me something. Then as soon as they went through the doors they both froze. The rest is a little self explanatory." Bringing her hooves up to her muzzle Luna roughly tubes her tired eyes.
"I warned you what would happen sister. I told you how unstable her mind was and how she saw you, but did you listen? No." Celestia flares her wings and frowns.
"Don't turn this on me Luna, I didn't release her on purpose!" Luna simply raises her brow at her sister's statement.
"No, you only assigned ponies to poke and prod at the crystal. What did you think would happen Tia?" Shifting around in his mother's grip Spike turns to face his aunt. Wiping what little blood remained on his muzzle off with a scaled arm.
"I get that you are upset with me Luna, but can we please not do this right now." Eyeing her nephew as he gives her an awkward smile Luna groans in defeat.
"Fine. I'll let it go for now Tia, but you need to at least promise me you will try and fix things. Seeing as their Crystal is shattered you don't really have a choice anyways. Don't expect me to help you again sister." Celestia gives a strained laugh that makes Luna's frown deepen.
"I'll take care of all of your duties for the next two weeks." Silence holds between the sisters for almost a full minute before Luna's posture sags.
"Make it a full month and we have a deal."
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Rubbing at the faded bronze and tracing the markings on the bell with my claws I feel nothing. Yes I feel the weight of the soft metal in my palm and the smooth surface brushing against my silver scales, but that is normal. What isn’t normal is the senseless hollow abyss that is growing inside of me the longer I hold this damned thing. In my paws I am holding the last piece of my mother, yet I do not feel sorrow or anger. I feel nothing. I am nothing but an empty shell covered in scales.
“Gaia…” Glancing briefly up from the bell to my side I see Celestia sitting in the grass next to me with a small smile on her muzzle. How did she get so close without me seeing or hearing her?
“What do you want?” My words scratch painfully at my throat. What does it matter that she managed to sneak up on me. I wouldn’t have done anything had I seen her coming anyways.
“I know the pain of losing somepony close to you.” I snort a cloud of frost in the Æsir’s face, but like when I faked a bite she doesn’t flinch. Celestia must have grown a spine since I last saw her on the battlefield.
“Am I supposed to care?” The corner of her lip twitches and for the smallest moment her smile falters.
“When I lost my parents I still had my sister to lean on. Yet even with her I still felt as though I was alone and helpless to the dangers of the world that wanted to harm me.” Closing my paw around the bell I bring it to my chest as Celestia moves in front of me. Sitting on her flank she reaches out and tries to wrap her hooves and wings around me but pulls back once I snarl. Fear finally flashes across her face as she scoots back on her flank to make a small amount of distance between us.
“I am alone. You and yours made sure of that.” For a moment my head feels fuzzy. As if a warhammer had just struck me violently in the back of the skull.
“You are not alone Gaia.” Celestia tightens her hug around me. Her furred hooves and soft wings draped over my silver scales in a warm and tight embrace. Holding her hug for a moment longer she pulled back just enough to take my chin in her hoof and guide me until I met her eyes.
“For as long as I draw breath I promise you are not alone.” Pulling away from her embrace I snarl.
“Why do you even pretend to care?” Sighing loudly in my ear Celestia rests her chin on my shoulder as a dense fog clouds my mind a second time. Blinking my eyes rapidly I have to shake my head so as to not fall asleep on top of the white furred Æsir.
“I care because she cared. For over 400 years she never once stopped talking about you. She told me stories from when you hatched, stories of your youth, training and teaching you. Even told me about the disaster that was your first heat cycle. I in turn told her about my sister Luna and our parents, about our childhood. We told each other our life stories. All of the good and all of the bad.” Feeling one of her hooves leave my side I peer back over her shoulder and watch her wipe at her eyes.
“My heat cycle?” When was my last cycle? What happened on my first that- A heavy yawn splits my focus. When was the last time I slept?
“Artemisia may have moved on, but that does not mean she is gone Gaia. She lives in the stories that we tell, in the hearts of all those she touched. Most of all Gaia, she lives on through you.” Trying to blink away the foggy blur settling in my vision I let my head drop roughly onto Celestia’s shoulder. Tears begin to slowly drip from my tired eyes as I pull the mare tightly against my own scales.
“I don’t feel that way. I don’t feel anything really.” Pulling back from me I lift my head from her shoulder only for her to cup my face with both of her hooves. Opening my eyes tears fall down my cheeks in cold rivers before white feathers stop them. Wiping at my eyes with her wings I’m caught in her gaze. Locking her eyes with mine I start to choke. In an instant my vision blurs completely from my tears I start to shake.
“Oh Fen…” Pulling me back into her own hug I sob. Like a hatchling I cry into her fur, clinging to her as if she were my own mother.
I do not know how long I have been crying for, but at some point I fell asleep. The bright sunlit gardens I had been in have been replaced by a dark room. Scrambling to get up I’m blinded by a blanket of white feathers. Pulling me down and wrapping me in a warm embrace I freeze as I catch the scent of my attacker.
“Celestia?” Hearing the shimmer of magic a soft yellow glow lights up Celestia's face before something soft is pushed under my head. Pulling back I see a large pillow shimmering with yellow magic before fading.
“It’s alright Gaia. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Looking around the dark room I slowly settle myself back down into the soft fabrics.
“Where are we?” Pulling me back to her chest I can’t help but sink into her fur.
“After you fell asleep I brought us back to my chambers. I didn’t want to wake you, but after I raised the moon I figured it would be a good idea.” Not saying anything in reply, a momentary silence settled between us. Celestia continued to hold me to her chest, my spines and scales seeming to be of no issue to her.
“How long was I in that crystal?” Even before the words finished leaving my mouth I regretted them.
“A very long time. I don’t remember the exact date anymore, the fighting between your mother and I has unfortunately been lost to history thanks to a being known as Discord.” Twisting myself around I look at Celestia. Her magenta eyes boring into my own icy blue ones.
“How long?” Breathing a heavy sigh Celestia’s horn lights up with her magic.
“You have been away for nearly 1,400 years.” Following the glow of her magic I watch as a small bell is floated over to me from a side table. Watching the bell I flinch back as Celestia takes my paw and opens it before setting the bell down on my palm. Staring at the bell in my palm my breath catches in my throat.
Gone was the faded and scratched bronze that once showed the great age of this bell. The dull green metal now shined brightly as if it had just been cast that morning. Indents and markings that had nearly disappeared under the harsh passing of time now demanded my attention. Even the ribbon that had all but wasted away looked as if it had just been spun from fresh silk. My eyes again filled with tears as I closed my paw around the bell and hugged it to my chest.
Sniffling like a hatchling in Celestia’s arms I reach out with my mana to the bell. Brushing against its sides I again feel the warmth within, the fire inside briefly flaring at my touch. Taking a moment to steady my breathing I ground myself before pushing my mana into the bell again. Just like before the mana inside rushed to meet me, its fire blazing into a small inferno with my presence. Holding my mana steady inside of the bell the fire began to dance around me.
In my third eye I saw myself inside of the bell and surrounded by tall emerald flames that reached high up into the top of the bell. Shaking my head I look back to Celestia only to be blinded by a bright flash of green. Yelping in surprise I rubbed my eyes again only to find that I am now truly inside of the bell and in the circle of green flames. Reaching for my mana I try to cut myself off but something stops me. Falling to my flank I twirl about in a steadily rising panic.
“It’s alright Gaia.” Turning quickly I just catch the outline of a black figure moving towards me from the otherside of the flames. Standing opposite the figure I ready myself into a proper fighting stance as the fire parts to let them through.
“Mom!” As quickly as possible I lunge at her. The beautiful sound of her laughter filling my ears as I cling to her and nuzzle into her neck as hard as I can.
“There's my little wildflower.” Sitting down on their flank I feel her wrap her arms around me and hug me back tightly. Pulling back I wipe at my snout and rub my eyes.
“I thought you were dead.” Gently resting their paw on my shoulder she shakes her head.
“I am dead Gaia. My body is no more, only my spirit remains. I have done everything I could to hold on long enough to see you one more time. I have called in many favors to be able to do this, but I do not have long.” Tears well in my eyes again as I grip her wooden form tightly again.
“No! Please don’t go, I can’t lose you!” Wrapping me in another hug I can’t stop myself from crying. Words fail me as my breaths get caught in my throat.
“I know Gaia, I don’t want to lose you either. I wish I could stay, even if only bound to this bell, but I can’t. I love you more than anything in this world Gaia. I wanted to watch you grow, I wanted to watch you live your life. I wanted so much for us to be a family. I’m so sorry.” Hitting mom with a fist I growled at her.
“No! Don’t say that, we still can! We can still be a family, you don’t have to go!” Breaking the hug mom cups my head in her paws and presses her snout to mine.
“I wish I could, you have no idea how much I wish I could… I know this is not easy, that I am asking a lot of you, but I need you to be strong Gaia. I know you may not trust her, but Celestia does care for you. I may not have been able to see much from this bell but I saw enough to know that she truly does care.” Without any warning mom starts to fade. As if her bark had been set upon by an invisible fire she started to turn to smoke.
“Please stop!” Pressing her head against mine fully I pushed back as hard as I could.
“I love you Gaia. I cannot wait to see you again, no matter how long it might take.” As her head turned to smoke I lurched forward and nearly fell onto my face. Slowly the fire around me started to die and before long I was covered in darkness. Only the sound of my own sorrowful cries to keep me company.
Author's Note
As you may have noticed the old chapters have been 'deleted'. This is just to make things easier for me to do more edits. As I have stated in the past the large majority of the chapters will remain mostly unchanged in at least the plot / layout. However the wording and a lot of the actions might differ.
I also noticed that by simply 'updating' the old works the original comments stayed in place and in almost every case no longer made sense with the rewritten material. As such I will just be moving on and treating the rewritten chapters as 'new' chapters. I will also be taking the story off hiatus and will begin to post the updated chapters and half chapters on a far more regular basis.
Other than that I hope you continue to enjoy!
Chapter 3.5 (Rewrite)
Celestia's ears flicked to attention as the door to her chambers opened and closed. Her eyes never leaving the parchment held aloft in her magic as her guest stopped just shy of her desk. Finishing up reading the last paragraph Celestia dips her quilt in ink and quickly signs her name at the bottom before setting the parchment aside on her desk. Taking a deep breath Celestia smiles and finally turns to greet her guest.
"Thank you for waiting for me to finish even after I was the one who called you here Chrysalis." Returning Celestia's smile earnestly Chrysalis gives a short bow as her wings buzz in excitement.
"Of course! I understand the struggle of paperwork just as much." Standing up and stretching Celestia makes her away around her desk before pulling the young changeling royal into a quick hug. The changeling in question just as quickly melting into the white alicorns embrace.
"Now I know I was quite vague in the letter I sent you, but I need your help Chrysalis." Celestia lets her wings fall back to her sides to end the hug and then motions for Chrysalis to follow her to the nearby cushions. Once they are both seated Celestia lights her horn and summons a full tea set between them.
"I guess I didn't notice. Your letters have always been fairly vague. I've just gotten used to seeing something from you and skimming it until it says for me to come see you." A small blush darkens Celestia's muzzle as she finishes preparing her tea.
"Are my letters still that bad?" Chrysalis giggles as she adds multiple cubes of sugar to her small cup.
"They've definitely gotten better, but I'm sorry to say that it isn't by much. Though to be fair you've only been working on that for a few months now." Celestia sights and sips her tea in defeat.
"I'll have to see if we can work more on that again in the near future. For now though I have a very serious topic I wish to discuss with you." Sipping her own tea Chrysalis nods her head.
"What do you need Celestia?" Setting her cup down Celestia folds her hooves together.
"There is no need to pretend like you don’t know what I need from you Chrysalis, you are a changeling afterall." A small blush darkens the changeling's muzzle as she smiles sheepishly.
“I am guessing that whatever you need my help with has to do with the silver scaled dragoness that popped out of a crystal the other day?” Nodding her head Celestia starts to refill her teacup but stops halfway. Staring at the half full teacup she sighs and sets both the cup and pot back onto the table and lights her horn. In a bright flash a large and decorative bottle of liquor appears above her cup and is poured until the cup is full.
“Right as always Chrysalis. Now if you can tell me who she is I’ll make it worth your while.” Wide eyed and mouth agape Chrysalis stares at Celestia.
“What?” Snickering behind her hoof Celestia picks up her ‘spiked’ tea and drowns the whole cup in one motion.
“Not like that! I thought you were already happily in a relationship with Shining and Cadence. I meant I was going to approve your request to go on vacation with them.” Chrysalis’s mortified face manages to make Celestia lose her own composure and throw her head back in a loud laugh.
“I… Oh…” As Celestia slowly quiets down Chrysalis reaches across the table with her own magic and takes a large swig directly from the liquor bottle.
“All jokes aside. How have your medical studies been goin?”
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Knocking on the door to Chrysalis’s exam room Celestia can’t keep the smile from growing on her muzzle. A loud gasp, the sound of papers flying, and the tell-tale buzz of large wings signaled to the Alicorn that the changeling had once again fallen asleep at her desk.
“W-wait! I’m not decent!” Rolling her eyes Celestia waits patiently until the door flies open and a frazzled Chrysalis greets her.
“Well good morning! Catching up on some sleep are we?” Looking over Celestia's shoulder I to the hallway Chrysalis frowns.
"You’re early… Wait where’s Gaia?" Celestia waves a hoof dismissively before motioning for the changeling to follow her. Looking back at the clock in her room Chrysalis shrugs at seeing it will be a few more hours before her scheduled examination and follows Celestia fully out into the hall.
"She is still sleeping with Luna watching over her. I just wanted to come ahead to offer you a warm meal as I had a feeling you’d be stressing out over what we have planned today." Though a small blush works its way onto her muzzle Chrysalis can’t help but smile all the same.
"I still think it is strange that you know me so well, especially considering what I am. As for your question though I have been unable to figure out if I should be terrified by the fact that I will be giving a medical examination to a mentally unstable dragoness or if I should start preparing my last will and testament." Celestia laughs and by the time they reach the small kitchen ment for the castle's medical staff both mares are laughing and leaning on one another for support.
"Fenrir is not going to hurt you. I won't let her." As Chrysalis begins making herself a strong cup of coffee Celestia takes a seat at the nearest table.
"Not to be rude Princess but as things are, you should really refer to her as Gaia even if she cannot hear you. As that is the name she currently identifies as it will do you no favors if you slip up and call her the wrong thing. Note that I say that from a medical position. On the other hoof however I would like to know how in the many levels of Tartarus do you plan on stopping her? If only half of what you told me about her is true there is not a thing you can do to stop her." Finishing up her coffee Chrysalis turns and joins Celestia at the table.
“Normally I would have to agree with you Chrysalis. In a fair fight I could never beat Fenrir, even as she is now I do not think I could honestly stop her without great harm to myself. I promise you however I have taken steps to ensure no harm comes to any being, be it pony, changeling, or dragon.” When Celestia didn’t explain further Chrysalis couldn’t help but feel a pit forming in her stomach.
Author's Note
Same as before any text that is bold "Like this for example" is meant to represent a different language being spoken. This will only really come into play when it is Gaia speaking however. So it will hopefully not be too hard to notice when she switches between Draconic and Common in later chapters.
Other than that I hop you all are doing well and have a fantastic day!
Chapter 5 (Rewrite)
Tranquil whirled about quickly and before Celestia could do anything, grabbed the alicorn roughly and started to shove her out of the room. Celestia just squawked in surprise but otherwise let the much smaller pony force her out of the room with Tranquil close behind.
"I'll be right back Gaia. I just remembered something important that I needed to ask the Princess about." Without waiting for my reply the door slams shut and I am left alone in the room.
"What the fuck?" Curiosity getting the better of me I carefully try to sneak over to the door to hear their conversation but after only a few steps the door flashes gold with Celestia's magic. Reaching for the door regardless of what I'm sure she did I only click my tongue when it doesn't budge.
"Of course she'd lock me in here."
Letting out a tired sigh I turn back around and start for my cushion again but stop when I notice my reflection in a mirror. Swallowing a lump that quickly managed to form in my throat I looked over my shoulder back to the door. Unsurprisingly nothing changed in the few seconds since I turned around. Maybe I could…
"This is dumb Gaia, stop it. You are a warrior. You do not need… Just no." Hissing at my own reflection I slink back into the farthest corner away from the mirror.
.
.
.
.
"Gods damn it…" Standing back up I make my way over to the mirror in only a few short strides. Only briefly checking to see if the door was still closed I turn around so that my flanks are prominently displayed in the mirror. Craning my neck around to look into the mirror I frown. Sure my butt is a little bigger but it is not fat! I am toned. My form is sleek and alluring, nothing more.
Flicking my tail to the side to see more I shift my weight around so that I am only standing on three legs. Alternating between my hind legs I lift and stretch them until my muscles are taught. All the while my scales ripple like waves of silver rolling across the ocean's surface. Satisfied with my findings my muzzle splits into a wide smile.
"Sorry about the wait Gaia I -" Crying out in terror I slam my tail down onto the mirror on accident as I whirl around and snarl. My muzzle no doubt is the most red thing in the room as I shuffle my back against the wall.
"Is everything alright I heard glass br-" same as before Tranquil blocks Celestia and with more force than I thought possible for one so small shoves the alicorn away.
"Go do what I said 'Princess' ! This is now a private session." Slamming the door in Celestia's muzzle I can only just barely make out a muffled shout of pain before the door flashes green.
"What the fuck is going on?" Tranquil lets out a deep sigh that makes her shoulders slump and wings drop to the floor.
“Hmm? Oh! Ah… Princess Celestia ended up forgetting about something very important and had to go early. You and I will just be finishing up the exam without her.” My eyes linger on the green glow still coming from the door. Tranquil doesn’t have a horn and Celestia’s magic is as gold as the sun that hangs in the sky.
“You are not a pony are you?” Tranquil’s posture straightens immediately and she pulls herself back into a more defensive stance. Why?
“I am not no. If I tell you what I am, will you promise not to attack me?” Slowly the tension leaves my body. Letting my tail and wings relax I approach Tranquil and start to circle her. For her part she does not move, simply following me with her eyes as I complete a full circle. Snorting a cloud of frost I break away and head back to my cushion.
“I don’t care what you are. I don’t care about a lot of things anymore. Gods only know why I decided to come here even when I don’t see the fucking point. Go ahead and do what you want.” Pulling over the cushion that Celestia was using I pile it on top of my own and then throw myself down onto them both.
“I still do need to finish your examination, but as soon as I am done you can go.” Lazily flipping to my side I groan. While the cushions are far softer than anything I’m used to lounging on, they were almost too soft.
“Like I just said, do what you want but…” Reaching up I take off both the golden bands given to me by Celestia. Instantly a shiver passes through my body and my wings twitch. Shaking uncomfortably I set the two bands down on the edge of the cushions and turn back to Tranquil.
“Since she isn’t here I will not be wearing these.”
Thankfully Tranquil seemed to respect my choice and after a small shrug went back to her desk to grab her board. Watching the pony for only a few more minutes I eventually just close my eyes with a sigh. Ever since taking off the gold bands neither of us spoke and the room became eerily silent. Then again I guess that is to be expected if she knew that I couldn’t understand her with them off.
"Gaia." Startled, I opened my eyes to see Celestia standing in front of me.
"Are you ready to go?" Looking around quickly I'm surprised to see Tranquil is gone. Shrugging I nod to Celestia and carefully put the golden earring back on but give the necklace to Celestia. Smiling, she takes the necklace in her magic and turns to leave. Following her we leave the so-called 'medical wing' and enter back into the castle's halls.
The halls of this castle unnerve me. Long and relatively empty spaces that break off at random with more halls and countless dead ends. They remind me of an ants nest or even a beehive. Every step I take is marked by a loud clicking from my claws striking the stone. Even with Celestia as my guide I still feel like I'm walking through a fae's labyrinth from the stories mom told me.
"Dr. Tranquil seemed to like you." Looking over her shoulder at me Celestia smirks.
"She said you were the easiest dragon she's ever worked with. Including my son."
"Your son? Do you mean the young drake who hurt himself is your son?" Moving to walk beside her she laughs.
"Yes, that young drake is indeed my son. Spike, as well mannered as he is, hates going to the doctors. I can’t blame him though, his first experience with them was far from a good one.” Humming to herself Celestia turns down another hall without warning. Scrambling to not be left behind I end up sliding on the stone a short ways before hitting one of the walls. Grunting in annoyance and flexing my now sore wing I move back to Celestia’s side as she laughs.
“Is he still hurt?” Clearing her throat Celestia stops in front of a set of large doors. Turning back to me, she pulls me to her side with one of her wings. Looking at her in confusion she smiles.
“Spike is doing much better now. You however, are underweight. Dr. Tranquil said that you need more protein and a lot of natural vitamins. She recommended that we get you started on it right away. That being said I’ll let the cooks know to prepare you some fish once we get inside. When I’m doing that, Spike should be eating his breakfast along with my sister and Niece. If you feel comfortable enough, why don’t you join them?” Looking to the door we stopped at I can faintly hear voices that I missed earlier. When was the last time I ate anything?
“What kind of fish?” Letting go of me with her wing Celestia opens the doors and motions for me to follow. The voices I could barely hear before now became clear as laughter echoed from the room.
“More than a dozen different types, I’ll go and have the cooks get a menu for you.” Walking into the room I immediately spot the drake along with three other ponies all sitting at a large table. Turning to Celestia she only nods to me before heading towards a different door in the room. Shifting my wings nervously I start to move towards the table.
“I can’t believe you actually slipped! While I’m really proud of you little bro, that is amazing! I honestly didn’t think things like that could happen outside of a game of O&O. You didn’t get hurt too badly though did you?” Sighing, the drake lifted his head out of his paws only to freeze as he saw me.
“Leave him be Shining, I seem to remember a very similar thing happening to you too you know.” Reacting as if struck, the white pony laughed nervously.
“Right, sorry Cadence. Sorry Spike I’m not trying to be mean I just… Hey are you alright bro?” Sitting down on one of the larger cushions everyone at the table turned to me. Sitting up straight and holding my head high I give a short bow as mother had once taught me.
“Hello.” All of them look at me strangely before the white pony starts laughing again. Looking at the other ponies the pink one also starts to laugh while the dark blue pony tries to hide behind their cup. Turning to the drake he suddenly goes red in the face and as his wings flare out behind him in a clearly instinctual intimidation display.
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Wheezing and gasping for breath the two ponies that had been laughing finally start to quiet. Leaning against one another they seem completely immune to the deadly glare the drake was giving them.
"It's not funny." Baring his teeth and growling at the two he doesn't see Celestia sitting down next to him until she puts her wing over his back.
"It's fine Spike. Clearly their misunderstanding of your actions are due to a lack of information on their part. Seeing as Gaia will be staying with us for a while I think that the two of them should get a refresher course on dragon mannerisms.” Both ponies stop laughing instantly.” Looking at me Celestia lights up her horn and I feel something settle around my neck. Glancing down I see the same necklace from earlier.
"Tranquil told me you accidentally broke the last one when you crushed it during the exam so I had a different one made quickly. Unlike the last one this only changes your speech into Common so we can understand you.” Isn’t that all the last one did?
“Wait isn’t Tranquil the name Chrysalis uses when she- ow!” Celestia continues to smile as the pink alicorn giggles.
“The kitchen did say it may take a little longer than normal to get your meal ready as I asked them to prepare a little of everything we have in our store rooms for you. While we wait for our food I wanted to introduce you to some of my family” Celestia motioned to the two ponies sitting together as she spoke.
"The two ponies that have been teasing Spike are my niece Cadence and her fiance Shining Armor. Cadence is the princess of love and Shining is the captain of the royal guard." Sitting up straight the pink pony reached across the table and held up her hoof towards me.
"Hello Gaia, it's very nice to finally meet you. Aunt Celestia has told me a lot about you over the years." Meeting her hoof with the palm of my wing I hold her for a moment before gently pushing my mana against her own.
As expected I'm met with a powerful wall of her energy that pushes mine back. Closing my eyes to better focus my mana I pull myself back into a druidic trance. Just as I've done countless times before, I open myself to the natural energies of the world around me. Seeing through my third eye I move my mana around myself and carefully pull from the natural flow surrounding me to push against Cadence again. Hitting the same barrier as before my mana is stopped, but is not pushed away like before. Smiling, I run my mana across hers.
Warm to the touch her mana is oddly calming. Filling me with a familiar pleasure I want to press myself deeper against her energies. Yet I can't. Keeping my mana pressed to hers for just a moment longer I force myself to pull back. Just as quickly as it started the warmth from her mana fades away. Opening my eyes again I push Cadence's hoof back to her chest and then fold my wing back to my side.
"Many blessings upon you young goddess." Laughing strangely Cadence pulled back slightly and looked to Celestia. Confused, I turned to Celestia as well. Before I can fully turn however, the white pony next to Cadence clears their throat loudly.
"So Gaia, I heard you were a soldier like me. Maybe you and I can get together and swap war stories over a drink some time." While he didn't hold up his hoof like Cadence he smiled widely. Looking him up and down I notice he is quite large for a unicorn. Overall taller and stronger looking than many of the earth ponies I used to kill.
“No.” His smile quickly fell into a stunned expression of shock. Rolling my eyes I turn my attention back to Celestia.
"Umm… Over here is my little sister Luna. She is the princess of the night and mistress of the moon. Luna has also only recently returned to Equestria after being cleansed by the elements of harmony. Though it is not my story to tell at this moment, I believe you two may have a lot in common." Looking at the last pony at the table I watch them freeze with a cup to their lips. Apart from her size and the color of her fur she looked remarkably similar to Celestia. Setting down their cup she gave a small smile.
"Greetings Gaia. It's nice to meet you." Pulling back slightly Luna picks her cup back up and looks away as she drinks. I bow my head to her in return.
"And lastly the dragon who has been trying to escape since I sat down is my son Spike. If I remember correctly he should only be a few years younger than you." Turning my attention to Spike he seems to flinch. Looking him over the best I can, I am confused with what I see.
"I forgot how small you are." Spike's muzzle turns a bright red and he pushes himself out from under Celestia's wing with a low growl.
"Hey I am not small!" Grabbing Spike with her hooves and pulling him back to her Celestia sighs.
“Spike stop, she did not mean that as an insult. Though I guess I can understand why that is the only thing that stands out to you. While by all accounts Spike is perfectly healthy he still has yet to go through his first molt” Their face still a bright red Spike tries and fails to hide behind Celestia’s wing.
“Mooooom!" Standing up I move around the end of the table and sit back down next to Celestia. Still trying to hide behind Celestia’s wing I grab him with my paws and pull him into my lap. Struggling against my grip I growl and bite at his neck until he stops moving.
“Gaia what are you doing?” Glancing briefly to Celestia I can see she is using her wing to cover her muzzle but only so she can hide her massive grin. Moving my wings down to help hold Spike in place I let go of his neck to speak.
“If he has been raised by you it is no surprise that he is like this.” Growling Spike struggled in my grasp until I loosed my hold enough for him to turn around and face me. Somehow his muzzle was more red than before.
“Leave my mom alone! I am perfectly healthy, you ancient bitch!” Squirming again to try and get free, one of his paws kicks my groin. My breath catches in my throat as a pained wheeze and only the patience I’ve gained through many battles stops me from ripping his body apart with my claws. No doubt encouraged by my lack of resistance Spike tries to squirm free but freezes at the last moment. Scrunching my own muzzle at the suddenly strong scent that assaulted my senses I opened my wings and pushed him away. Spike only yelps as I push him back from me but I catch the worried look on Celestia’s muzzle all the same.
Standing back to my paws I silently move to the farthest side of the table away from the drake. I say nothing though I know from the twitches of my wings and tail that my body betrays me. As I make it to my new and isolated position a large set of doors I failed to notice earlier open up and a pony pushing a large cart approaches me. Without saying a word they light up their horn and lift a large metal domed plate onto the table in front of me. Before I can say anything they bow and then sprint back through the doors they came from.
“Um.. Auntie what just happened?” Ignoring the delicious aroma of fish pouring from the metal I instead drop my head and hide my muzzle in my paws and wings.
“Well other than the fact I need to have another meeting with the staff. I am not sure. Gaia are you alright?” Lifting one of my claws I peer at Celestia through my paws. Everyone at the table minus the young drake is looking at me with mixed expressions but thankfully none of them are disgusted. Spike however is covering his body tightly with his wings. His nostrils flaring and even though it looks to physically pain him he is forcing himself to not look at me.
“I am fine.” The room falls silent for a moment before Cadence clears her throat.
“So Gaia tell us a bit about yourself.” I lift my paws to stare at Cadence.
“What?” Cadence just smiles brightly and nods her head.
“Tell us about yourself. You know, your likes and dislikes, hobbies, past love interests. Things like that!” Poking the metal dome with my snout I am pleasantly surprised when it falls to the side to reveal a mountain of fish. A low growl escapes my throat involuntarily and I quickly grab a mouth full of fish.
“Let her eat Cadence. This is the first meal she has had since she was put in that crystal.” The others at the table start to talk again but I do not pay attention to them. Focusing solely on the fish in front of me I savor the rich flavor that drips from their perfectly charred flesh.
“That is horrifying.” Leaning back slightly, I struggle not to purr.
“Is she even chewing?” Someone at the table gags as I feel the loud crunch of one of my fangs piercing the skull of a rather large fish I can’t identify.
“If Gaia were to chew it would do her no real good because she’s a carnivore. She doesn’t have molars to chew her food with, only sharp dagger like teeth.” Slowing my eating I chanced a glance at the rest of the table again. Shining and Cadence both look as though they are ready to lose whatever meal they had just eaten and actually turn away when I look at them. Celestia tries to give me a strained smile and Luna for some reason looks on intently at my fish. Spike however looks ready to attack. Spines and scales standing on end and his eyes focused on me.
“That's horrifying… Why exactly did you give her fish and not gems? I thought dragons eat gems…” Confused enough by his words to drop my fish I cock my head to the side and stare at Armor.
“We eat meat. All dragons eat meat. Not that I’d expect a grass grazer to care.” Luna coughed violently and dropped her cup as she pounds on her chest with a hoof.
“GAIA!” Celestia flares her wings and frowns but the others do nothing. Only the two alicorns seem to take offense to my words.
“What?” Celestia's face goes red.
“You can’t just say that! Your mother ga-” Narrowing my eyes I stand up from the table and flare my own wings. The action caused Celestia’s stance to falter slightly much to my joy.
“The only reason I do not cross this table and rend your flesh is because you were smart enough not to say her name. Just because she trusted you does not mean I will give myself entirely to your command Æsir. I am the daughter of Artemisia and just because she is dead I -”
“No you're not. Mom said that you are Artemisia. That you used to call yourself that before she got you back into the crystal.” What?
“SPIKE SOLARIS!”
Author's Note
As I mentioned a little bit ago some of the chapters will be slightly changed. Mostly in terms of the what is said, who says it, and why. At the same time most of the changes will be relatively minor as they are not going to affect the overall arch in any major way.
Other than that I hope you enjoy!
Spike hissed softly as Celestia gently dabbed at his bloody snout with a wet cloth. Pulling the cloth back Celestia tries to smile at her son but when he refuses to meet her gaze she sighs. Reaching out with her hooves Celestia gently drags Spike across her bed into her forearms and kisses the top of his head.
“What's on your mind?” Pushing himself deeper into his mother's embrace Spike keeps silent. For Celestia however he may as well have burst into tears.
"You couldn't have stopped her no matter what you did, my little flame."
“She wanted to kill you…” Celestia squeezes Spike gently.
"Yes she did." Celestia’s overly calm demeanor makes Spike flick his tail nervously.
"Why?” When Celestia doesn’t answer Spike pushes back against his mothers chest until he can look her in the eyes. When Celestia chooses to turn her head away as well Spike growls and nips at the air in front of her muzzle. The loud snapping sound is enough to make her flinch but also relent and finally look at him.
“I wish I knew for sure. A very long time ago we were friends, family even… When tensions started to rise between the different races with the war we still managed to stay close.” Letting his forelegs collapse Spike relaxes back into his mother's embrace. Celestia squeezes her son tightly the second he falls back into her. A heavy sigh of relief escapes her muzzle as she shifts her position around so that she can see her son's face as they speak.
“The war? Is that when you and aunt Luna fought?” Celestia shakes her head slowly, a pained expression obscuring her usually cheerful face.
“No, this was a different war. Easily the most destructive and costly war in all of unrecorded history." Spike frowns.
"Unrecorded? Why wouldn't you want pony's to know about such a war? Why wouldn't you want anyone to know? I thought you said history should always be recorded, no matter how dark." Celeatia turns her head away from Spike. Unsure whether to be proud or annoyed at his memory of her own words, especially with how hypocritical they now seem.
"It wasn't a decision I had a hoof in. All the surviving leaders came together after the war and voted unanimously to strike both the war and all that happened before it off of all records." Ruffling her wings anxiously Celestia is forced to look at her son again as he starts to poke into her ribs with a claw.
"How long ago was this war?" Sighing deeply Celestia leans down and kisses Spike on the forehead.
"What I am about to say will never leave this room. Do you understand Spike?" Pouring magic into her horn Celestia closes her eyes to concentrate on her spell.
"I do but wh-"
"Promise me Spike." Without looking back down to her son Celestia releases her magic and following a loud snap the two are encased in a solid sphere of her golden energy that cuts them off from the rest of the world. Suddenly uncomfortable Spike tries to shift about but is held firmly in place by his mother's wing.
"I promise."
Snarling, I turn to the young drake. Blue flames slipping from my maw and freezing the table and what little was left of my meal. Standing up from her cushion Celestia lights her horn and thanks to the similar glow of her magic around my neck I know her target is the golden band. In as quick of a motion as I can I rip the thin metal from my neck and toss the broken shards across the table. I can only briefly enjoy the panicked look on her face before the young drake jumps onto the table and stands between her and I.
"Stop it! You're supposed to be friends!" Spitting a gout of blue flames at Spike he yelps and dives out of the way. Leaving a trail of frost in its wake as it continues over the table it bursts into a large cloud of frost and snow when it hits a golden shield.
"I don't know who filled your head with such lies but I will not let them corrupt me as they have you!" Jumping onto the table it groans loudly in protest but otherwise holds my weight as I stalk towards Celestia and her 'son'.
"Choose your next actions carefully Gaia ." Daring the dark alicorn to stop me she merely shakes her head. Luna sighs and pushes herself away from the table.
"Is that a threat Æsir?" Glancing to the others in the room all have recovered and moved into a defensive stance. All except for Celestia ironically.
"Though my memory of draconic is spotty at best I believe you asked if that was a threat? No, It isn't a threat Gaia. I am merely being observant to all aspects of the situation and unlike my sister I have no reservations about kicking your flank." Hissing, I take a single step back. Shining will be the easiest to take out as he is the only normal pony here. I don't want to hurt Spike but he shouldn't be a problem either.
"Gaia please calm down. Nopony is here to hurt or trick you. Spike just remembered a story wrong that I last told him when he was just a hatchling. Everything is alright, just relax." Another flash of golden magic and something tugs on my horn. Screaming I throw myself in the same direction as the pull in Hope's of knocking whoever's tried to grab me off but I only end up smashing into the table and shattering it. Scrambling quickly to my paws I whip around looking for who grabbed me while using my wings to keep my head covered.
"Oh no..." Shaking and in a panic I turn and run. Barreling into the nearest door and blowing it off the wall in a shower of splinters. I can hear yelling and someone giving chase so I pick up my pace as much as possible. Soon enough however only the deafening drum of my heart beating in my chest is all that's left. All other sounds drowned out by the volume of my fear.
Though running blind I somehow stumble upon faint trails of mana as I run and quickly correct my course to follow. At almost every turn I slip on the smooth stone and either slide into a wall or fall onto my flank, but I don't care. Ponies unfortunate enough to be in my way often scream and run, but others cower on the floor and force me to jump over them.
I never stop running through the seemingly endless halls until I finally and smashing through doors lead outside. Faintly I can still hear many of the ponies I passed panicking behind me, their cries of alarm surprisingly familiar. I growl, shake my head roughly and then throw myself into the air. Flapping my wings with enough power to knock things over near me I keep following the trail of mana until I reach some sort of walled off garden.
Landing in the middle of a small clearing surrounded by trees I immediately start to dig. Throwing dirt behind me at random it takes almost no time before the hole becomes a small burrow that I can squeeze the front half of my body inside. I love the smell of the earth. It's deep and inviting scent is so similar to ?̶̨̫̭̩̲̿̋?̸̢͕̟͛̅̇̈̌̈́̓̕?̶̪̥̳̼̯̦̟͊̉̓̆̂͝?̶̣͍̲̺͆͐̉̐̾͆͝?̷̡͎̬̯͈̘̞̊̉͛̐͘?̸̣͂͛͂̈. Each swipe of my claws through the rich dark brown soil fills my snout with its powerful and calming scent. Turning around to dig at another spot I rub my scales roughly against the dirt walls.
W̶e̷'̸r̷e̸ l̵͕̀͛y̶̠͓͂ḯ̴̮͊n̸̡̰͐͝g̷̝̟̅̉ ̵͖̀t̴o̵ ̷o̵u̶r̴s̴e̸l̷v̸e̵s̶.̴
Moving mana into my claws to help me dig lets me feel more connected to the world around me. Small pulses of mana from the garden above flash with each move I make, reaching out to me in clear curiosity. Pushing back gently with my mana many of the plants flash again in excitement.
̸W̶e̸ ̵f̸a̸i̶l̶e̶d̵ ̸t̴h̶e̷m̷.̴ ̵ ̸T̴h̴e̵y̴'̴r̵e̸ ̶a̶l̵l̶ ̸ D̵̡̫̟͕̈́̓̏͠Ę̶̡͋A̵͍̗͂͒͝͝D̸̲̼̬̘̾̾͊ b̶e̸c̶a̵u̴s̶e̴ ̵o̴f̷ ̴u̸s̷.̷ ̵ ̷
Stop.
Shaking my head I turn again and start to push a pile of loose dirt to the surface. Dumping the dirt onto an already large pile something shines in my eye. Flinching I look through the trees and see a pair of ponies wearing golden armor.
A̴̹̔t̷̝̿ẗ̴̜́ä̵̧́c̴̨͂k̷̥͒ ̴͇̿ť̴̲h̶͔̽e̵̜̎m̵̳͒.̴̯̚ ̴̝́ ̶̮͌P̵̛̙ǘ̷̼t̴̠̀ ̶̜̉u̶̟̅p̵͎̌ ̸̘͝j̸͉̈́u̷̫͠s̴̭̆ṯ̶͒ ̷͎͋ẻ̸̮n̴̨͗ò̷̮u̴̬̚g̵̬̽h̷̺̋ ̶͎̿o̷̬̓f̶̫̔ ̵͎́ȧ̷̮ ̸͙͐f̴͉̓ỉ̷̻g̷͗ͅh̵̯̾t̸͚̚ ̸̥̚t̸͙̏ó̵̰ ̴̧́b̶͈̅e̵̿͜ ̴̠̓b̵̹́e̶̪̓l̸̩̑ḯ̷̮ḛ̶̔v̴̥͝e̷̲̕d̴͕̊.̸̬̀ L̴͈͊̆̑ẻ̴̟ť̷̠̦͙́̄ ̷̰̗̺̂ț̷̉̈̀h̸̲͝ͅe̴̺͝m̶͖̣͂̒ ̶̫̫̻͒̔͗k̴͕̗̿͑̑ì̸̱͒͠l̸̻͂̚ĺ̴̗ ̵̫̠̻͌͠u̸̧͊s̸̡̤͚̽̀͗!̶̗́͘ ̷͔͚̇ ̸̪̺̓ͅW̸̻̟̓͛E̷̲̐̉ ̸̡̜͌̍͘ͅD̴̯̉̍E̶͉̒S̶̥̲̓E̵͉̪̖͝R̶̦̝̉V̴̤͂̚E̵̛̞̫̓ ̶̛̯T̸̜̚Ó̶̳̩̅͝ ̷̪̳̬̑̒D̵̩͈̮̂̓͝Ȋ̴̪̣͚͆̈E̸̞̠̲̾͝!̸͈̱̗̌
Stop it.
Hitting my head hard with a closed paw everything blurs and my ears ring. Panting and shaking I crawl back into my burrow and collapse just by the entrance.
Maybe I should?
I̸t̵ ̴w̵i̴l̴l̸ ̷b̴e̷ ̸s̶o̶ ̶e̶a̸s̶y̸ ̴t̷o̵ ̸d̶o̶.̵ ̵ ̴P̸o̴n̴i̶e̴s̷ ̷h̵a̴v̶e̷ ̴a̸l̶w̷a̸y̶s̶ ̴f̸e̷a̶r̶e̴d̶ ̴u̶s̵.̴ ̷ ̷T̶h̶e̸y̴ ̷a̴r̸e̸ ̶j̸u̶s̸t̶ ̶p̸r̵e̷t̷e̸n̵d̴i̷n̸g̷ ̵t̷o̷ ̵b̵e̷ ̷n̸i̸c̵e̴ ̶f̶o̶r̷ ̵t̸h̵e̴i̵r̶ ̵p̴r̷i̸n̸c̷e̴s̸s̵.̴ ̸ ̴
Mom said Celestia cares, she wouldn't lie about that.
̷O̵u̷r̸ ̸m̷o̵t̶h̴e̵r̸ ̷w̷o̶u̵l̷d̴ ̵n̷e̴v̶e̷r̵ ̷t̷e̷l̴l̵ ̶u̸s̸ ̵t̵o̵ ̶t̵r̵u̷s̵t̷ ̸h̷e̵r̶.̵ ̸ ̷̢͗̚ͅS̵̪̰̎h̴̢͑e̵̟͒ ̸̡̇Į̵̯́̽s̵̗̕ ̸͓̔̅L̶̞̋Y̸͈͈͠Ī̶̻̙͝Ñ̶̩̩G̶͎̟͝ ̴ ̴C̶e̵l̸e̶s̵t̸i̷a̷ ̴h̸a̶s̸ ̷o̴b̷v̶i̵o̸u̷s̸l̸y̵ ̴m̸a̸d̴e̵ ̴t̴h̵i̷s̷ ̶a̸l̵l̸ ̴u̴p̶ ̷t̷o̶ ̸h̵u̷r̷t̴ ̸u̷s̴.̷ ̸ ̸S̵h̵e̷ ̷h̴a̴s̴ ̷a̶l̶r̴e̸a̷d̶y̸ ̷k̷i̴l̵l̵e̷d̴ ̸o̷u̴r̸ ̴m̵o̶t̸h̷e̶r̶ ̴a̶n̵d̸ ̴h̵a̶s̴ ̵a̶l̷r̴e̸a̴d̸y̸ ̷t̷r̵i̷e̸d̵ ̵t̶o̷ ̷k̴i̴l̵l̶ ̸u̴s̷ ̷i̴n̴ ̴t̸h̸e̴ ̶p̶a̷s̴t̷.̷ ̷ ̶T̷h̶e̵y̴ ̵j̶u̵s̸t̴ ̵w̷a̶n̷t̸ ̷t̴o̶ ̸w̵a̵t̵c̴h̷ ̴u̷s̵ ̶s̷u̵f̵f̷e̴r̸.̶ ̶ ̸
She knew so much about mom, how could she be pretending?
̸̭̌T̸̤̚o̷̞͛r̷̠̉t̷̬͂ǘ̶͔ṛ̷̈́ḙ̵̒.̵̟̄ ̶̥̾ Maybe her magic. Celestia had well over 1000 years to learn about us. ̷ ̸I̷t̷ ̵i̵s̴n̴’̸t̴ ̷t̵o̴o̶ ̸h̸a̷r̴d̶ ̷t̶o̶ ̷t̶h̴i̶n̶k̴ ̷s̸h̴e̵ ̷w̵o̴u̸l̸d̷ ̵c̵o̵m̴e̵ ̴u̸p̷ ̵w̸i̵t̴h̵ ̶s̴o̶m̸e̷t̴h̵i̶n̴g̶.̵
No. Celestia wouldn't do that.
How do we know? Her precious ponies certainly didn't think anything was too far. ̷ ̴H̵o̸w̷ ̶m̴a̵n̸y̸ ̶t̶i̵m̷e̵s̵ ̸d̵i̵d̸ ̶w̵e̷ ̷f̴i̴n̴d̴ ̷t̷h̴e̶ ̷m̶a̴n̸g̶l̶e̶d̷ ̵a̵n̷d̷ ̵d̵e̷s̶i̶c̷c̶a̶t̸e̷d̵ ̴c̵o̷r̷p̸s̵e̷s̷ ̸o̷f̷ ̸o̸u̴r̵ ̶c̷l̴a̵n̸?̷ ̴ ̴
Too many.
If it wasn't below her ponies how can we be so sure it isn't below her.
Stop it!
She is just going to slaughter us! Pull us apart with her magic! Not like we wouldn't deserve it! It's for the best to let her torture us! We deserve to die a horrible death!
I said stop it!
Growling, I hit myself again. Yelping loudly my vision dims and my ears ring. The ground turns on its side and swirls in a waving motion as if I were on the sea. Something warm and wet drips from my muzzle and smears into the dirt as it rolls up to meet me. I feel sick.
.
.
.
.
"You shouldn't hit yourself like that. Whatever it is you're going through, hurting yourself more won't help." I don't recognize their voice. Pushing my legs under me I try to get up. I need to get up. Turning towards the voice on shaking legs I fall after the first step. The ground again rushed to meet my muzzle in a twisted blur.
Pathetic. No wonder they all died.You’ll see I’m right soon enough Gaia.
Squeezing my eyes shut and breathing heavily I hear the voice sigh. Dirt crunches in a steady rhythm before a dull thump sounds from my side. Their breathing is soft. Calm and relaxed breaths that barely manage to touch my ears.
"I can see why you came out here. It's really nice, peaceful even." Lifting my snout out of the dirt I open the eye closest to the stranger next to me. Laying on their stomach and resting their head on their hooves was a fae. Surprisingly she was only a little smaller than Celestia.
"You're a Fae…"
"I can't speak Draconic but by your shocked expression I can figure it out. Yes, I am a changeling but don't worry I'm not here to trick you. I learned my lesson last time I tried to trick a dragon." Pulling myself up from the ground and onto my haunches twisted my stomach. Taking slow and deep breaths to steady myself the fae also sat up on her flank.
"Take it easy. You hit yourself pretty hard."
"Do not touch me." Giving me a smile the fae rests a hoof on my shoulder.
"Still have no idea what you're saying but It doesn't take an expert to see you're hurting." Shifting my wings in discomfort, the fae takes her hoof back.
"You aren't very bright for a fae are you?" I shouldn't be surprised that they just smile as I speak and nod along dumbly. I sigh.
"Why do you even care? Helping me doesn't gain you any favors."
"Look it doesn't take a genius to see you don't want me here. I may not understand you but I'm no idiot. At the same time though being what I am I can literally feel the turmoil inside of you." Snorting, I turn slightly and crawl back into the hole that I started. Running my hooked claws through the soft dirt calming me far more than the fae. Said fae however decides to follow in besides me and gets a clawfull of dirt flung in her face for her effort.
Continuing to throw clumps of dirt into their face I finally hear the fae chatter and buzz their wings. A small smile spits my face as I toss another clump of dirt at them until a green light fills the small space. Twisting my neck around I see the dirt I had been throwing at her covered by the green glow of her magic and watch as it's thrown out of the burrow. After throwing the dirt out the fae gives me a wide grin. Her smug look didn't last long though as I threw another clump of dirt into their face.
"Why are you still here?" Whipping the dirt from their face the fae laughs.
"Going off of the irritation I feel building up you just asked why I'm still here right? You really aren't going to make this easy for me are you." Growling, I keep digging deeper. The fae finally shutting up after another dozen or so clumps of dirt flung into her face. Before long though I dig deep enough to sink my full body into the quickly growing burrow and lay down to rest. A heavy sigh escapes my lips and throws a small cloud of dirt into the air. Something that apparently is considered an invitation as the fae settles in next to me.
"Considering you can't understand me, I don't know why you even bother staying.” Looking up at me the fae just smiles and buzzes her wings. Groaning, I let my head fall to my paws and close my eyes. What the fuck is happening?
Only after the sun sank and the moon rose to take its place did the fae finally stop talking. Their meaningless ramblings slowly lost their bite as their voice began to waver and drop until her yawns were replaced by soft snores. Nature was just as quick to notice her silence as I was and in short order the chorus of the night started to take hold over the garden above. Crawling through my burrow and raising my head to look around the garden I chuff softly when I don't see anyone. Pulling myself the rest of the way out of my burrow I take a moment to stretch before spreading my wings and launching myself into the air.
Climbing straight up to a small cluster of clouds that seem to be unable to move past the edge of the mountain I flare my wings in a panic to stop when my chest starts to burn. Twisting in the air I try to turn around but my right wing slams into something solid and is quickly engulfed in arcing bolts of mana. Howling in pain I flare my own mana and force it into the invisible barrier holding me. Lighting up in a large and chaotic discharge I’m thrown away from the small explosion as a massive dome starts to shimmer into existence before me.
Smoke trailed off of my scales as I righted myself in the air. Glancing over my body I’m relieved to see no visible injuries, though the painful throbbing in my right wing does not fill me with much confidence. Snorting a cloud of frost I close my eyes and reach out cautiously towards the barrier with my mana. Thanks to accidentally running into it I knew what to look for and was able to easily find and connect to my target. Ironically enough I found the sigils keeping the barrier active were not even hidden but just brazenly etched into the main body of the barrier at equal intervals.
“What idiots…” Holding up my paw I pour mana into my claws and with a quick twist of my wrist grab the nearest sigil and shred it. Opening my eyes I see the barrier reappear in front of me and start to collapse in on itself where I ripped apart the sigil. Flapping my wings I shoot forwards through the new opening just as it starts to correct itself and slowly reform into a solid wall again. Looking over my shoulder as I pass I’m actually surprised by how quickly it closes fully behind me.
I hum softly as the heavy winds of the mountain pick up under my wings and carry me into their currents. Twisting around in the air once more I angle myself north and begin to scour the inky black between the stars only for a frown to grow on my muzzle. None of the stars are the same.
Growling and shaking my head I refocus on the night sky and swivel my head around until I can find something I recognize. No matter how much time has passed the Hǫrgr star will still lead me home. A pale blue sphere of light that shines brightly in contrast to its yellow and white brethren. A star so easy to spot any hatchling worth their spines can spot it after only a few tries.
“You know I should have expected something like this would happen.” Snarling I whip around in the air and slash at the fool that managed to sneak behind me. Instead of my claws rending flesh however I hit a solid wall of emerald green and am thrown back by a powerful gust of wind. Hissing in pain I pull my arm back and cradle my aching paw against my chest.
“Leave me alone fae!” The fae I thought I had left in my burrow sighs and shakes their head.
“I can’t do that Gaia. I need you to come back to the castle with me though. I will only be asking you this once.” My spines bristle as my anger boils in my stomach.
“Don’t make me kill you bug!” They only frown and light up their crooked horn a second time with their magic.
“I know you are just confused and angry so I won’t hold that against you. I am sorry for having to do this to you Gaia.” Before I can react the golden band still on my horn is engulfed in her magic. I scream as a horrid pain erupts from the back of my head and clutch at my horns.
“GAIA!? Chrysalis what happened!?” Looking around with teary eyes I’m back in the gardens and cornered. Besides the fae that forced me back all three of the Æsir from earlier today are now surrounding me. Letting my dominant paw drop back to the ground I hold myself up on three legs and snarl at my attackers.
“Gaia calm down. Everything is going to be al-” Luna screams and narrowly jumps out of the way of my flames. A long trail of ice coating the ground and spreading out from beneath the path of my attack. Surprisingly everyone then rushes to the downed Æsir and I waste no time in turning and hobbling away as quickly as my three legs can carry me. I unfortunately do not get far.
“Gaia stop!” Celestia lands in front of me and flares her wings.
“Leave me alone Æsir!” Flashing their horn I flinch as their magic washes over me. Instead of an attack however the pain radiating from the back of my head starts to subside.
“Gaia relax. Everything is alright, we all just want to help.” Letting my left paw drop back to the ground I lower myself into a proper fighting stance.
“I don’t care what my mother said. I do not trust you Celestia and I never should have been fooled. If it wasn’t for the poor drake you claim to be your son I might have actually been tricked.” Celestia opens her mouth to speak but stops when her sister holds her wing in front of her.
“If you do not trust my sister will you at least listen to what it is I have to say Gaia?” Admittedly curious and with little chance of escape considering the capabilities of the four equines surrounding me I loosen my stance.
“Do I have a choice?” Luna snorts and folds her wings back to her sides.
“I suppose not. I will make this simple Gaia, you are unwell. Not physically but mentally.” Luna takes a step towards me making me take a single step back in response. Humming softly Luna nods her head and steps back to where she was before she moved.
“I know that I don’t speak draconic so I can’t understand you Gaia, but Princess Luna is right. Being what I am, it's easy for me to literally feel what you are feeling and I’ve never met someone in my entire life who switches through so many emotions so quickly.” Craning my neck over my shoulder I peer at the fae as she starts to move around me to stand next to Luna.
“I do not say this as an insult or out of malice, Gaia. I say it out of personal experience. I suffered for a long time in silence because I not only thought that I could take care of myself but also because I refused to be a burden to those I cared for. In the end I only hurt myself far worse.” Taking another step back I snort a puff of frost.
“We only want to help you. I get that you don’t trust us, mind you I’d actually be more surprised if you did considering your past.” I narrow my gaze at the fae and growl.
“No, I don't trust any of you. I fucking hate all of you for keeping me here against my will.” Luna steps forward again.
“Truly? Do you hate Chrysalis too? She has had nothing to do with anything that has happened to you over the course of your stay other than being your doctor.” Luna advances on me again making me stumble back and hiss.
“Stop talking. I don’t want to hear anymore of-” The fae named Chrysalis buzzes her wings and steps up besides Luna again.
“Hate me if you must Gaia but I couldn’t have left you by yourself after I saw you hurting yourself in the gardens.” Celestia and Cadence start to trail behind Luna and Chrysalis as I’m quickly being backed into a corner. Flaring my wings and whipping my tail I snarl.
“Stop!” Luna shakes her head as she takes the lead of the group.
“We can’t do that Gaia. For your own safety we can not leave you unsupervised. In your current state you are not only a danger to others but also a grave danger to yourself.” Blasting a quick burst of mana fire at the ground before their hooves the ground freezes. This ultimately does me no good however as Luna lights up her horn and in a flash we are transported to a very familiar part of the castle.
“Princess is everything alright!?” Blinking away the spots in my vision I see a few ponies and even a griffon running up to us. Whirling around in a panic I try to run from the new group but am held firm by a golden glow.
“Ancestors damn it Fenrir stop! I never intended for you to come back like this but you need help that I can no longer give you.” Celestia barely manages to hold back tears as she collapses to her knees making Cadence rush to her side. Luna however marches directly up to me and rests her hoof on my shoulder.
“Forgive us Gaia but this is for your own good. Until further notice you are going to be placed under medical watch and held here in the castle.” Luna sighs.
“I know you don’t care for a single thing that I have to say so sleep.”
Author's Note
A bit of a more drastic change to this chapter than some of the others but I felt it was necessary with a lot of the other changes that I have planned. I do however plan to keep most of the story and plot the same as stated in prior notes and blogs.
As a side note I am going on a business trip for a few days so the next update will be slightly delayed.
Hǫrgr - An Old Norse word that means sanctuary or grove.
Nestled snugly between his mothers hooves Spike stares blankly at the mug of coco sitting before him. The heavy steam billowing up in front of his snout in a silent dance that flirted with his dulled senses. Shapes in the steam tickling the back of his mind, tugging and pulling at his consciousness and begging for his attention. Dragons, ponies, griffons and more all intertwined in the steam while dipping and swirling to an unheard tune. In the center of every dance however is the familiar form of a dragoness that refuses to leave his thoughts.
“Is everything alright Spike? You haven’t even touched your coco.” Letting out a deep sigh Spike shakes his head and closes his eyes. Letting his chin gently rest on his paws he opens his eyes again to see that the dancers are gone and the steam has once again returned to its previous innocence.
“I’m really not sure anymore mom.” Concerned by the hollowness in her son's voice Celestia squeezes him tighter into her embrace. Dipping her own head down to rest on his scaled shoulder she nuzzles softly into his neck.
“Do you want to talk about it? You know I will never judge you Spike, no matter what you will always be my little gemstone.” Spike can’t help but crack a small smile and nuzzle back against his mother.
“Even though I’m still growing and am sure to be bigger than you soon?” Celestia snorts and laughs loudly while hugging her son tighter.
“As if your actual size would ever stop you from being my little gemstone!” Smiling wider Spike reaches for the mug of coco and takes a large drink from it only for his smile to falter when the steam again catches his eyes. Setting the mug back down Spike leans roughly into Celestia's chest. Again he watches as the steam rises and shapes start to flicker into existence. Yet rather than the delicate and rather provocative dances of before they now tear and claw at one another.
“Fenrir, I think that's how you say it anyways… If she did all of the things you said she did, why do you want to bring her back?” The smile on Celestia’s muzzle disappears.
“What do you mean Spike?” Picking up his mug again Spike blows a small flame over the top to dissipate the steam before finishing the rest of the coco.
“It just seems kind of pointless after what you told me about her before. You said that she did horrible things in that war, that she was more of a monster than anything else. Sure she lost all of her memories and more or less is a new person now as Gaia but… Why not let her be that new person rather than bring back the monster she was?” Celestia sighs.
“Given what little I have told you that would make sense but things are a lot more complicated than that Spike.” Spike sets the mug back down on the table and huffs. A small cloud of smoke billowing up as he does thanks to his own frustration steadily growing.
“It didn’t sound that complicated to me.” Celestia snorts back a laugh prompting her son to look back at her.
“Considering I glossed over a lot of the more bloody details it makes sense you would think that. What I told you about the war was just an oversimplification so that you could have the most basic of understanding of what was going on. I wanted to focus on Fenrir and what she did so that you could understand the difference between who she was and who she currently is.” Spike tilts his head in confusion.
“Didn’t Fenrir and the others that started rager rocks or whatever you called it nearly destroy the whole world?” Celestia’s ears fall to her skull and she bites her lip.
“Well yes but -”
“That sounds pretty monstrous to me. I can only imagine the things they’d have to do to literally destroy the whole world.” Anger bubbles in Celestia’s chest before it is violently stomped out.
“It's not that simple Spike. Fenrir is… Fenrir was a lot of things but… Everything she was, the monster she became, only happened because of what was done to her. The truth is there was no good or bad in that war, no right or wrong side to be on. When the dust finally settled we were all monsters in our own right, it was just a matter of what made you into one. No one creature is born evil Spike. What and who we are is shaped just as much by our own actions as they are by others.” Lighting her horn Celestia concentrates on her magic and feeds it into the many wards and sigils that line the walls of her room to boost their powers. For nearly a full minute Celestia focuses on her work in silence as her son waits patiently in her lap. When she finally finishes she wipes a small bead of sweat from her brow before focusing back on Spike.
“At least she came to her senses and sided with you in the end.” Celestia shakes her head, making Spike stop. Her lips trembling slightly and her wings suddenly limp at her sides.
“Mom?”
“Fenrir never changed sides in that war Spike, I did.” Turning to fully face his mother Spike growls.
“What?! They started the war! They killed everyone mom! Foals, hatchlings, eggs! You said they slaughtered everyone and often ate what was left! Like fucking Wendigos! Why would you want to help them!?” Snarling Celetia flares her wings and yells back.
“WE DIDN’T GIVE THEM A CHOICE! IT WASN’T THEIR FAULT! IT WASN’T OUR FAULT! ” Spike pulls away completely from his mother and jumps to the other side of the table in fear. His spines bristling and raising up along the entire length of his body as he instinctively takes a defensive stance against her.
Celestia closes her eyes as tears threaten to blur her vision. The image of her own son fleeing her in fear burning brightly beneath her eyelids. As Spike takes a single step back the sound of his claws striking the floor is enough for Celetia’s eyes to shoot back open. Instead of the soft and caring magenta eyes he has known since hatching a deep fiery orange the likes of which he has never seen stares back at him. The slitted eyes of a predator lock with his own making him freeze.
“Please don’t Spike. Don’t look at me like that… I can’t lose you too.” Shifting to fully face her son Spike can’t help but notice the fire in the hearth behind his mother start to burn a brighter and more vibrant orange. The contrast in lighting made her back glow while the rest of her was shrouded in a deep shadow with only her eyes truly visible.
“Ma…” Spike's voice cracks as he falls to his flank in terror. Tears now stream down his ‘mothers’ face as her form flickers and is soon overtaken by crackling arches of magic stemming from her horn. In seconds her entire body is obscured from view and shortly after a fire bursts to life around her.
Doing this will destroy everything we have ever done since that war. We can’t hide the truth again if we do this but… He has to understand. I can’t lose my gemstone. He has to understand.
Unable to move Spike watches as the fire around Celestia grows rapidly. The stones she had been sitting on moments before melting into a lava like slag as the temperature in the room quickly rises to something only found in the mouth of an active volcano. Wood and cloth alike start to smoke and then catch fire while moving out in a circle from the alicorn until the entire room is engulfed in flame. For what feels like an eternity Spike is transfixed on the molten sphere of fire that had been his mother.
“MOM!” Spike's scream rips at Celetia’s heart but she knows she can’t stop now. Crying out in pain she can no longer hear Spike's cries over her own. Instead she focuses solely on pushing her magic into undoing the runes and sigils that had held her illusion up for untold millennia. First her fur starts to slowly burn away until her scarred flesh is bare, but that too is quick to catch aflame. Before long the fire starts to eat away at her flesh, muscle and sinew slothing off of her bones only to turn to ash before it can even reach the ground.
Sobbing on the floor Spike can do nothing but watch helplessly as the fire spreads and his mothers screams eventrually fall silent. The roar of flames is the only sound to accompany his own cries of anguish until a single loud and sickening snap is heard. Slowly he looks back up from his paws to the ball of fire as it starts to twist and contort with a loud snap each time. The sphere slowly loses its shape and instead grows and shifts into a new shape all together before it retreats back into another blob of fire just as quickly. Too terrified to do much of anything Spike watches on as the sphere deforms and reforms at random before suddenly it just stops. With no real warning the fire dies and in its place a thick black smoke blankets the room and leaves the young drake blind.
“Mama?” Spikes trembling voice cuts through the black smoke and stabs into Celetia’s heart. Even though she is blinded by the smoke the second she hears her hatchlings terrified voice Celestia rushes through the smoke blindly and scoops Spike up into her arms. On instinct Spike clings to her, unable to see anything he relies on his sense of smell to tell him everything he needs to know from the familiar scent of his mother holding him tightly.
“I’m here Spike. I am here and I am never leaving you again. No more lies, no more secrets.” Focusing her magic into her horns Celetia creates a small opening in her wards and flapping her larger wings forces the smoke to clear out of her room. Lifting up from his mothers chest Spike freezes again as he is finally able to see clearly. Holding him is not a pony. Not the white furred and fluffy alicorn he has known his entire life. Instead he is cradled in the scaled arms of a massive dragoness.
Deep purple and black scales glisten in the light from the hearth fire nearby making the creamy white plates that trail along her belly pop in beautiful contrast. Running a paw gently over his mothers scales Celestia giggles and flares the magic back into her massive crown of horns. Each of the six shining brightly with the familiar comforting golden glow of her magic. Spike watches the destruction of the room shift, everything that had been destroyed from wooden tables to the marble floors reforming quickly until all was back into its previous pristine condition.
“Mom?” Celestia lowers her head down and gently brushes her snout against Spike's own. Her piercing orange eyes gazed into his even as tears streamed down her muzzle and blurred her vision.
“This is why I fought Spike… Ragnarök was not a simple war. It wasn’t just one side facing the other, there were countless sides. I originally fought alongside the Æsir and my father against Tiamat and the other Jötunn but… I found out my adoptive father planned to completely eradicate all Jötunn after the war. Including me.” Finally letting the magic fall from her horns Celestia turns and waddles on her two hindlegs over to her bed where she gently sets Spike down. Circling her bed a few times first Celestia steps up onto the soft mattress and curls around Spike. All the while Spike fumbles with his words and is unable to tear his eyes off of his mothers new form.
“I… Wha… But your… Are… What the fuck…” A small blush works its way onto the dragonesses muzzle.
“I can understand you may be a little confused.” Spikes eye twitches.
“A LITTLE FUCKING CONFUSED?!” Flinching slightly at his volume Celestia paws gently at one of her ears.
“I forgot how sensitive my hearing was… I was adopted by the Æsir king well before I even hatched from an egg. When I did hatch however I was raised alongside his other children like one of his own. I was never treated differently, never harassed or bullied for being different. I only realized I wasn't a Æsir until I was about your age actually. Luna and I got into an argument and I guess she didn’t like that I was winning so sh-”
“Are you my real mom?” Celestia stops and looks back to Spike. His lips quivering and his eyes barely holding back an ocean of tears. Smiling wide, Celestia leans forwards and gently kisses Spike's forehead.
“Yes.” Rather than rushing and hugging her like she hoped Spike actually pulled away from her.
“Why… If you’re my mother why didn’t you hatch me? Why was I some… Some test to get into your stupid school!? Why have you lied to me my entire life!?” Shaking in rage Spike slashes Celestia with his claws. While certainly sharp enough to have tore deep into her flesh had she still been an alicorn his claws now only scrape off her scales. Closing her eyes Celestia turns away from Spike as he falls to the bed and sobs.
“Spike I never wanted to-”
“Did you not want me?” Celestia shoots back up and tries to reach out to Spike but gets slashed across the snout a second time. Unlike the previous time his claws manage to cut her and blood staines her scales.
“Of course I wanted you Spike. I love you with all of my heart but… I switched sides during the war and unfortunately ended up on one of the losing sides. I fought against my family, the ponies who raised me and who I had thought loved me. No I can't say that. I know my mother and Luna loved me, maybe even my father at one point but certainly not after I turned against him." Settling back on the bed Spike turns his back to Celestia.
“Why change sides then?” Ripping off a sheet with her claws Celestia wipes at the blood on her muzzle before gently applying pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding completely.
"Like I said I found out my father planned to kill off all of the Jötunn including me. At that point I'd already gotten into an extremely complicated relationship with your father and figured I might as well seek asylum with them. It didn't do me any good though. The fighting stopped less than a month later and I was bound in chains and brought before the stallion who raised me to be executed. Surprisingly for everyone I was carrying you. Ironically enough that was enough to temporarily save us both as killing a pregnant female was where my father finally drew the line. Though I think it was really my mother and Luna who forced his hoof." Peering over his shoulder to glare at his mother Spike snorts a large cloud of smoke before turning around again.
"What happened to my father?" Celestia drops her head and rests her chin on her paws.
"I wish I knew. As part of my punishment for defying my father I was held captive until I finally laid your egg and was then forcefully turned into an alicorn through a polymorph spell carved into my flesh. He technically kept his word every last Jötunn was hunted down and gotten rid of. I was apparently lucky enough to be 'saved' and instead turned into his 'true daughter'. At least that's what Luna said. I don't actually remember anything after laying your egg. Luna went into my mind and severed the memories of the transformation, unfortunately she had to take a lot of the closely linked ones with it. Don't ask why though, mind magic is far beyond my understanding. In the end I lost my memory of what happened to your father. I don't know if he died in battle, was killed by my father, or even alive now somewhere." Spike growls and flicks his tail roughly side to side.
"If you've been a dragon this whole time why haven't you changed back sooner?" With a hiss Celestia pulls the bloodied sheet away from her muzzle and tosses it to the side.
"For a long time I couldn't. Even when the runes and sigils started to fail and I could force the change back I didn't see the point. Too many needed me to be the alicorn of the sun, a god-like figure to the fledgling race of ponies." Standing back to his paws Spike turns and snarls.
"What about when I needed a mother?" Celestia shifts uncomfortably.
"That's not fair Spike. I couldn't just-"
"Couldn't what? Put me first for once?" Smoke spilling out from his maw Spike jumps from the bed.
"No that's not…" Growling Celestia grabs Spike and pulls him roughly into her chest before he can get too far.
"Damn it Spike, it's not that simple! Nothing about this is simple! If I'd have changed before Luna came back the nobles would have taken control. Do you have any idea how many times those worms tried to blackmail me into getting rid of you? I had at least ten nobles petition me in day court to reinstate slavery of 'lesser races' because they wanted to follow in my hoofsteps. It only got worse as you got older so I officially adopted you into the royal family. The same day as that announcement I had to start warding my personal chambers again for the first time in over 1,000 years because ponies were breaking in to try and kill you!" Squirming in her grasp Spike only settles after she loosens her grip enough to let him shift around.
"Who cares what the nobles think. They can't do anything anyways."
"It's not just the nobles Spike. Sure most ponies don't think the same as those that live on this mountain but enough do. The problem is that the ones who do agree almost all manage to hold positions of power both inside and outside the government." Spike rolls his eyes and snorts.
"Alright so ponies are racist big deal. So is every other race on this planet. Just get rid of the ones that are an issue." Celestia sighs and pinches the bridge of her snout.
"Spike I can't just kill ponies for being racist." Spike shrugs his wings and growls in annoyance.
"I never said kill them! Just throw them out of office or nationalize their businesses. Do whatever you want, even as a dragon you're still their princess. It's easy to see your magic hasn't changed at all so it wouldn't be hard to prove you're still the princess either." Giving another deep and exaggerated sigh Celestia releases a large cloud of smoke that momentarily startles her. Waving a paw in front of her muzzle to clear out the smoke Celestia nearly chokes on the now unfamiliar smell of her own internal fire.
"I can't just do that Spike. I've spent hundreds of years and who knows how many generations slowly chipping away at the inherent hatred burning inside Equestria. Ponies have always been xenophobic and slow to change, in another time it's what allowed them to survive. I can't fault them for that, and I refuse to be my father and just get rid of those I disagree with. I'm a lot of things Spike. A shoddy fighter, a slimy politician, a horrible mother… I won't be a tyrant." Unsure what to say, Spike curls up and tucks his head under his wing.
.
.
.
.
"You know when I dreamed of this moment in the past I never thought it would be this… Dramatic." Lifting his wing slightly Spike looks to his mother with a raised brow.
"You got mad at me in the middle of an argument and set yourself on fire and exploded to prove your point." Celestia grins sheepishly and taps two of her claws together.
"Well… Did it work?" Spikes snorts and coughs before snorting a second time only to fall into a fit of laughter. A smile finally working its way back onto her muzzle Celestia can't help but join in and laugh along with him.
"Our family is so screwed up." Fully uncoiling from himself Spike turns and willingly lets himself be wrapped up in his mothers arms.
"Oh it's a complete disaster." Still laughing, Spike grins.
"I'm going to need therapy aren't I?" Trying to hold back her laughter Celestia only ends up snorting and giggling like an idiot.
"Oh yeah, we both do." Slowly settling down Celestia lowers her head down and gently licks along the spines on Spike's head.
"You know you never actually told me why you want Fenrir back. Who was she to you that made her so special?" Pulling back slightly Celestia hums and flicks her tail.
"Oh she is technically your aunt. We got to know each other pretty well during the war but we actually have more history after the war ended. It's complicated but… Spike?” Spike shoves his head into the nearest pillow and screams a constant torrent of obscenities. His twitching tail and flared wings are enough to clue Celestia in on his plight.
“I’m going to guess you may need a little more therapy than I will.”
Author's Note
Ironically enough yes this was planned to be in the last version of the story as well. However due to the lovely nature of that chaotic story I couldn't find the right place to add it in.
The next chapter will be a follow up to this Interlude and will focus more on Ragnarök itself. Additionally I will be touching on what the Æsir and Jötunn are/represent in this world. In other words . . . WORLD BUILDING! Yes everyone's favorite thing in a story that may or may not have been almost completely forgotten about in the original iteration of this story!
Jokes aside I hope you all enjoy this chapter and can't wait to see what you think of it. I'd also like to add that if anyone notices any glaring spelling mistakes please let me know. I write these chapters on google docs and then copy paste them to FimFiction and a lot of the times things can get muddled in the transition.
“I see you finally decided to go ahead and break the sigils holding your polymorph together." Celestia yelps and jumps up from her spot on the remains of her shredded mattress to stand protectively above Spike. Seeing it was only her sister however Celestia lets out a shaky breath and sits back down while holding a paw over her chest. Luna's ability to break through her defensive wards and teleport directly into her room having been more than enough to scare the newly reformed dragoness. Taking just an extra moment to calm her fluttering heart Celestia carefully lowers herself back down to rewrap her body around Spike's sleeping form and then pulls him snuggly against her. Even as he sleeps Spike is quick to react and nestles himself closer into his mothers scales.
"I'm sorry Luna I -" Luna’s poorly stifled giggles make Celestia pause and look back to her sister. The dark alicorn's muzzle spilt into a wide grin, her shoulders heaving as she continued to try and keep her laughter quiet enough not to wake her nephew. Though more confused than angry with her sister Celestia still glared at Luna until the mare finally quieted down.
“I honestly forgot how much your scales puff up when you get scared Celestia… It’s good to see the real you again sister.” A small blush darkens the dragoness muzzle even as she frowns.
“To a point I agree Lulu, I just wish Spike felt the same way.” Unsure of what to really say to such a statement Luna ruffles her wings to try and expel some of her rising anxiety. After a few moments of contemplation Luna smiles softly and raises a hoof towards Spike.
“Seeing how he is currently clinging to you I’d say he took it well enough.” Celestia sighs and tilts her head to the side to better expose the deep cuts that still weeped and shimmered in the light from the hearth.
“He struck you with open claws!?” Celestia hisses a warning making Luna cringe. Splaying her ears back she clears her throat before speaking again in a much quieter voice. Unknown to either of the two sisters Spike cracked an eye open to look for the loud noise that woke him but quickly shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep when he saw his aunt approaching.
“Did he really?”
“He did…” Celestia rests her head back down next to Spikes and gently licks his cheek.
“Are you alright?” Luna moves to the edge of the bedding and sits. Reaching out with her hooves she lifts Celestia’s chin up to force her into looking at her and then delicately traces a hoof around the swollen area.
“It looks as though he only cut you deep enough to make you bleed. The swelling is a little concerning though." Celestia pulls her head away.
“I don't care, I deserve his hate." Luna quickly wraps her hooves around Celestia's head and pulls her into her chest. Celestia just closes her eyes as tears start to slowly drip down her cheeks.
"How can you say such a thing Tia? Why would you think that?" Shifting her weight around Celestia's turns enough to free her right arm from Spike and then uses it to pull Luna back to her. Knowing immediately what her sister was doing Luna didn't stop her sister from grabbing her and then shoving her into the now growing cuddle pile. Though not as soft as a pile of ponies, a dragon or Jötuun pile was much warmer, a fact that always made the Moon Goddess smile.
"He doesn't think that I wanted him, part of me is scared he's right. I was practically nonexistent in the beginning of his life, I only really showed up after his tenth winter. I just… he's so much like his father Luna. I look at him, the way he acts, his laugh, even the way he smirks and puffs out his chest when he thinks he's accomplished something. He has never even met his father and yet all I can see when I look at him is my Jörm…" The small smile that had grown on Luna's muzzle died a violent death as Celestia spoke.
"Tia…" Whipping at her tears Celestia tears another chunk of her once priceless sheets apart and uses it to blow her nose. After tossing the now extra ruined silk sheet into the hearth Celestia lays her head back down and sniffles.
"How can I claim to be his mother if I've been so distant his entire life until closer to your return. I tried to convince myself it would be easier if he only saw me as a guardian until I could reveal the truth. I thought there was no way he'd want to see me as his mother if I wasn't even the same species. I… I didn't want him to think I wouldn't love him the same way I would if he was a pony. I'm still scared he thinks that I resent him in some way because he believed he wasn't mine by blood." It was Luna's turn to sigh as she rested the side of her head against Celestia's.
"Blood means nothing and you know it Tia. You and I both know that OUR FATHER loved us, he was not just mine because of our shared blood. Before he changed he loved you more than life itself, granted there were times we went too far with our bickering and pranks and he would say hurtful things to us both. Yet that never stopped him from gifting you his namesake just as mother gifted her moon to me." Spike shifted slightly to try and get a better position to hear the sisters hushed words. Believing the young drake was still asleep both females quieted and waited for Spike to settle in again before resuming the conversation that Spike was now very much invested in.
"Blood only thickens when it is boiled." Luna clicks her tongue.
"I can't say I've heard that one before." Celestia shrugs softly and peers down at her son.
"It's something Fenrir said once. On nights I couldn't sleep I'd stay and watch your moon, a lot of the time even talking in the hopes that you'd somehow hear me. One night Fenrir decided to join me and after hearing me speak just said that. No prompts, no context to why, just said that blood only thickens when it boils. When I tried to ask what she meant she only bowed her head and muttered some prayer before leaving. I only understood what she meant much later during the hunts." Luna hums softly and finds her eyes drawn to the fire burning in the hearth.
"The so called 'Great Hunt' . I remember that well even though out of everything I wish that I could forget that the most." Celestia just nods slowly before continuing.
"I ended up fleeing with Jorm and his sisters. For good reason they didnt want me with them, but Jorm refused to listen to them. It was actually in an argument started after Hel and Fenrir tried to force me to leave that he first called me his mate. I was already crying before but I'm sure if I wasn't I would have burst into tears when he openly proclaimed his love for me to the only family he had left. Hel eventually came around but Fenrir… She only seemed to hate me more for it." Luna's ears perk and the devious grin she now sported did not go unnoticed by either Celestia or Spike as he chanced a quick peek.
"Let me guess Fenrir was vying for Jorm's affection too until the shameless whore that you are just swooped in and stole him away hmm?" Celestia snorted and coughed as she laughed. Her squeals of mirth finally allowed a true smile to grace her scaled lips for the first time in hours. Smiling just as wide Luna roughly smacked her sister's shoulder with her wing. Celestia shakes her head and after calming down enough roughly nuzzles her sister. Luckily enough for Spike both females seemed to temporarily forget about his presence and his shocked reaction to his mother being called a whore by his aunt went unnoticed.
"Considering how Jörm and I met you'd think that wouldn't you… No Luna, Fenrir ironically enough did not have her eye on any creature. In fact the idea of falling for another creature or even the most basic showings of affection terrified her. She was the only one of us to realize how dangerous it was to travel and flee with your loved ones." Luna flinches as memories of her forced participation in the hunt resurfaced. Bile bubbled up in her stomach, scorching her throat and leaving behind a horrid taste in her mouth.
"I remember when those orders were passed out. Many were against the orders but none spoke up until examples were brought forth for us to see how to properly draw out a Jötuun. Prisons were brought into the throne room first. Each maimed and tortured before being put on some display that would not only continue to harm them but had a kill ward on the back that would literally explode and send a shaft of wood through the spine and into their heart if their restraints were tampered with." Black wisps of smoke began to spill from Luna's eyes as she bared her now sharp teeth.
“Luna.” Barely a whisper, the dragoness' words are only heard by her son as Luna's rage continues to grow.
"Yet when hatchlings were brought out he laughed. Like it was the funniest joke in the damned world as those too young to understand such concepts as right or wrong had their scales stripped from their body and barbed pikes shoved through their rectum and out their breasts! That monster placed runes and wards so they could move the pike around organs and not kill the hatchlings. He wanted the hatchlings to scream so that others would come. He wanted mothers and fathers to come and see his -"
"Luna. " Celestia's voice shook as much as her body did. In a volume that would typically only be heard spoken by the element of Kindness the Goddess of the sun cried. In her mind all she could see was her own hatching placed mercilessly on those pikes left for her to find. All the same Celestia's voice was loud enough the second time for the alicorn to hear and made her snap her mouth shut. Black smoke is blinked away and replaced by tears as Luna lights her horn and replenishes her illusion spell. Gently Celestia runs her snout against her sister's cheek.
"It's alright Luna." Luna lets out a deep breath and shudders. Slowly letting her boiling rage settle as she uses a breathing technique perfected by the only other alicorn she knew.
"How can it be alright Tia? If you had laid Spikes egg any earlier than -"
"I know… but I'm begging you to stop talking about it." Looking down at her nephew Luna gently strokes his spines with a hoof.
"I wish Spike could have met him as he was before he changed. He was such a kind and loving stallion." Celestia watched as Spike pushed up into Luna’s hoof as she stroked his scales. Leaning her head down to rest next to him she sighs.
"Tiamat often wondered what caused his change as well. She did have a rather convincing theory though." Luna brings her hood back and tucks it beneath her.
"You met Tiamat in your time with the Jötuun?" Humming Celestia nods her head.
"Well seeing how Jörm was not only one of her top generals but also an adopted son I would hope I'd meet her. Jörm did admit to me later on that he only introduced us to show me off to her. Apparently he wanted his mothers permission to court me." Luna giggles.
"Hadn't you both been violently sleeping together by then?" Celestia’s head shoots up to glare at her sister. Had she waited just a moment more however she would have locked eyes with her son as he started to silently choke and gasp for air.
"Jörm and I were not violent." Grinning coyly, Luna brings a wing out in front of her to examine her feathers.
"You literally slept with him the same day you were sent to kill him." Snarling Celestia lowered herself down to glare directly into her sister's eyes. Seeing that her attempts to make her sister laugh failed this time Luna sighs and concedes defeat by averting her eyes. Snorting a large puff of smoke into Luna’s face Celestia holds her glare for a moment longer before talking again.
"As I was saying Luna… Tiamat believed that when our father gifted the sun to me it left him vulnerable. It is the solar deities duty to not only host the power of the sun, but to use it to combat the ever encroaching darkness of the void. Solvictus may have been the most powerful being to ever hold the mantle of the sun, but he also held it for the longest.” Luna glares at her sister enough to make the much larger dragoness pull her head back before lowering her gaze in understanding.
“Do not say that name Celestia. We agreed to never speak his name again.” Celestia nods quickly.
“Right… I try not to speak on such topics because of slip ups like this. I’m sorry Luna.” Groaning Luna pushes herself over to her sister and nuzzles roughly into her scales.
“It does make me curious though. Why would Tiamat care about what happened to our father? He himself is responsible for the brutal murder of her young after she questioned his authority.” Celestia snorts a cloud of black smoke.
“It's almost funny how quickly that whole war started isn’t it?” Luna waves her hoof infront of her muzzle as her sister once again didn’t turn away before blasting her face with smog.
“What do you mean Tia?” Completely ignorant of her sister's plight Celestia continues.
“Of the countless races that lived together, the grand council, each and every god and goddess. Never once had there been even an inkling to the rising tensions between everyone. Without warning our father goes mad in the midst of a council meeting and massacres a young child tearing out their entrails and binding their mother to a stone with them.” Luna’s ears snap to her skull. Looking down she hisses slightly as various overly detailed memories flash in her head.
“I’m very familiar with what happened that day, Tia. We were both there.” Nodding her head Celestia turns to nuzzle into her sister. Luna in turn graciously accepts the affection.
“I know Luna, but that's just my point. We went to every council meeting since the day we could walk and not once had we seen even the smallest amount of anger or hostility between anyone until that day.” Pulling back from Celestia Luna sighs deeply and rubs at her eyes with a wing. Unsure if the topic of conversation or Celestia’s smoke is to blame for the heavy sting that now threatens her with tears.
“We were foals Tia. Besides, we spent most of the time playing with the other children that were dragged along by their parents.” Shifting his head even closer so he won’t miss anything Spike accidentally pushes his snout into his aunt's chest fluff. Looking down at her nephew Luna smiles and gently brushes her own snout against his.
“Luna. Do you even remember what Tiamat had said to our father that made him go mad? Because I do. It haunted my dreams throughout the war, first as lies spun by the enemy and then as the grim truth I never wanted to hear.” A frown quickly dominates Luna’s muzzle as she looks back to Celestia.
“I… No actually… I can’t remember. I swear I can recall everything that happened in horrid detail… I can’t seem to remember what happened before it though.” Celestia shifts her wings anxiously but manages to stop herself from flicking her tail after a moment of concentration.
“Tiamat came to the council that day after being gone for nearly four months. I think I only really remember because of how ecstatic I was. Every time she came she brought almost half a dozen hatchlings with her and after so long of not getting to play with another Jötuun I was beyond excited. I could play with them without holding back.” Luna lets a dry and humorless laugh leave her.
“That I can at least remember. You never did seem to keep your claws to yourself when we played.” Spike can’t help but wonder if that is the reason why he himself had so many issues making friends when younger. Had he been too rough and hurt the other foals?
“When Tiamat came to the council this time she brought with her two youngest hatchlings and a large sack that smelled of death.” Luna flinches. Vivid images of a young drake and her sharing a first kiss flooding her mind.
“Narvi and Vali…”
“Tiamat threw the sack onto the table to let dozens of severed heads roll across the table. One of each race and each still wearing scraps of armor that aligned them to various parties around the room. Then she just asked why. Tiamat, Jötuun Goddess of the first realm, leader of the oldest race to have ever walked the plains, asked why.” Tears start to fall down Luna’s muzzle.
Narvi didn’t deserve what they did… No one even knows what happened to Vali do they?
“The eggs…” Celestia nods once.
“Almost every single communal hatchery in her domain was attacked and all of the eggs smashed. Jörm told me that there were so many lost it was impossible to count the dead, but it was estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.” A sudden gasp below makes Celestia sigh. Bringing her head down she looks to Spike as he tries desperately to pretend he is still sleeping.
“Spike.” Ignoring his mother, Spike tries to bury his muzzle in the sheets but isn’t quick enough to avoid her tongue as she licks at his brow. A startled squeak is all the confirmation that Celestia needs to know that her son is very much awake. Letting out a tired and defeated sigh the dragoness shifts her body more to the side and snakes her arms out to grasp Spike and pull him into her chest.
“How much of our talk did you hear Spike?” Embarrassed at being caught Spike sighs.
“All of it I think… I woke up when you yelled at each other.” Turning to glare at her sister, Luna looks away to the closest window and clicks her tongue.
“I’m not sure whether or not your wards are meant to let us see out of the windows or not sister, but either way I do believe it’s time for me to go.” Celestia snorts.
“Changing the subject will not save you sister…” Turning her head to look at the clock above the hearth Celestia Sighs.
“But you are correct.”
Rising from the bed she carefully maneuvers herself around her son and walks a few paces away before dipping into a low stretch. Her back pops in many places as she flexes and weakly flaps her wings a few times as Luna gets off of the mattress and does much the same.
“My wards are designed so that I can see out but others cannot look in. Either way you are right, we’ve spent the entire day here now. There isn’t a chance I can pawn my mantle off to you for one night, is there Lulu?” Rather than instantly denying the request like usual Luna turns back and looks to her nephew. Sighing she nods her head.
“I will lower your sun this night sister, but please do not ask this of me again in the near future. I do not like to lower your sun… It reminds me of things I’d rather forget.” Finishing up her stretches Luna trots to the door and tries to open it. Unsurprisingly it is locked thanks to Celestia’s wards and while rolling her eyes Luna lights her horn before vanishing. As soon as Luna is gone Celestia drops her head in exhaustion and slowly turns back towards her bed.
“I’m not in any trouble am I?” Celestia shakes her head as she steps back onto the bed and curls around Spike.
“No Spike, you are not in trouble. I don’t know why you would think that anyways. If anyone was to be at fault it would be Luna and I, even then what we talked about is not anything you aren’t allowed to know. I already told you some things, the rest that we talked about I would have had to tell you sooner or later regardless.” Spike frowns as he looks up at his mother and eventually turns away.
“I’m sorry I clawed you.” Leaning forward Celestia nuzzles into Spike's neck.
“It hurt, but I still feel like I deserved it. I should have been a better mother to you Spike. Rather than hide behind the illusion and let Twilight care for you I should have been there the moment your egg hatched and never left.” Spike leans into Celestia as she nuzzles him. Pushing back against her and forcing her scales to rub roughly against his own.
“I don’t know how to feel about it honestly. Somehow knowing that you are my real mom hurts… I used to dream about being an alicorn or even just a pony so that you could be my real mom. It's funny how now that I got what I’ve always wanted I’m just lost and angry. I don’t even know if I should be happy or mad.” Pulling back Celestia lets her head drop down to her paws. Spike however follows her and is quick to press his snout into the nape of her neck.
“What do we do now?” Smiling Celestia picks up her head and drapes it gently over Spike's shoulders.
“There is a lot to do. Between you and I, the throne, politics, Fenrir… For now though I think I’d like to just sit with you and try and right as many wrongs as I can. We can worry about the future later.”
Author's Note
A little bit darker with the references to the past in this chapter, however a lot of it was taken directly from the Norse Edda Lokasenna This Edda in particular is a bit strange however as it is actually believed by many to have been changed/edited by early Christianity to fit better into their own views.
Disclaimer
*Coughs*
Anyways. As a criminally brief and over simplified version it is stated in the Edda that Loki goes around the mead hall and, for a lack of better words, calls out the other gods on their shit behavior. May it be their excessive sex, the drinking, fighting and violence... Long and short of it Loki pissed off the gods and after being chased around the hall a punishment was put forth.
This punishment was to have Váli (One of Loki's sons) be turned into a wolf and then kill and eat Nari (another of Loki's sons). At the end Nari's intestines are taken and used to tie Loki to a boulder as a venomous snake is held above him to drip is poision into his eyes. To the surprise of no one this upset Loki a bit and when he was free lead an army to Asgard shortly after to kick of Ragnarök.
That being said I can't wait to see you all in the next one. Until then
Two months have passed since I awoke from that damned Crystal. Two months of being corralled by ponies and their precious Æsir. I want to hate them, I really do, but the ponies actually believe they are helping me. Everyday they greet me with the same smiles that barely hide their pity for me. They look at me and see nothing but a broken thing, something delicate that must be handled with care.
I’m starting to think they are right.
“Good morning Miss Fenrir!” Jerking back ever so slightly I try to play off the fact I was startled and caught off guard. Cracking an eye open I can see an energetic foal smiling up at me. Strangely it is a genuine smile, one of the few untainted by a belief I need to be fixed. With my chin resting on my paws I shift my head slightly so that I am looking directly at the foal and blow a small cloud of frost into their face. Rather than backing away in fear or gagging the filly instead laughs loudly and climbs up my paws and onto my muzzle. Thankfully their small frame is light and causes me no discomfort as they fully climb my head and perch themselves on my horns.
I humm softly and lift my head up much to the fillies delight. Slowly the rest of my body follows as I rise up from the patch of earth I'd been resting on and stretch all while she plays on my horns. It's almost funny how I don't mind her touching or even playing on my horns. Climbing me and then swinging from them like some playset that ponies build in their park things. Considering the last time someone touched them… Why does it not bother me when she out right plays on them?
"Mellow Marshes!" I hear the filly on my head yelp.
"Yes mama?" Turning to face the approaching mare I sigh. Shade Scale, my so-called teacher . I've known her for over a month and yet I still can't tell if I like her or not.
"How many times have I told you not to climb other ponies?" Two small hooves press down on my brow and inadvertently force me to close that eye.
"But Fenrir isn't a pony! She's a dragon like the princess!" The thestral mare slaps her muzzle with a hoof and seems to be holding back the urge to scream. I wonder how often I caused my own mother such frustration when I was that young? Wait, did she say dragon princess?
"Mellow no she's a… How many times have I told you?" Mellow shifts about on my head in what I assume is discomfort.
"Um… A lot…" The mare sighs.
“I’m sorry Fenrir I -”
“My name is Gaia.” Shade clears her throat and jumps into the air. Flying up to my head she picks up Mellow and brings her back to the ground. Thankfully she was careful enough to not touch my horns.
“Sorry Gaia… Come on, let's get going to your appointment. The sooner you get to it the sooner it will be over. Though I must warn you Princess Celestia will be there today. I know you have strong feelings about that but…” I growl quietly making Shade stop talking but still begrudgingly follow behind her as she walks. Every attempt to escape or even just avoid an appointment has led to nothing thanks to the bands I'm now forced to wear on my wrists and ankles. One of the only good things these damned things do is let me understand their language. The least that bitch can do after forcing this on me is to leave me alone.
Why is she going to be there, hasn't she done enough?
“I should also let you know that we may run into a few new faces you don’t know on our way to the appointment. We’re taking a different route this time because of what happened last week but all those you haven’t met have been briefed on what happened. They know to stand still and let you do what you need to do.” I shiver as I walk. My tail lashing out violently behind me and snapping a sapling in two.
“I will not spare any lives this time, I will shred any who attack me.” Shade flicks her tail and shuffles her wings in obvious discomfort, but nods nonetheless.
"Nopony was there to attack you, but I guess I can't really argue with you. Considering the history of the ponies you caught I wouldn't put it past them to try. A lot of ponies heard the news of your stay here at the castle and all they heard was the jingle of gold coins." I snort and shake myself making Mellow giggle. The sun bleeding through the trees reflecting off of my silver scales as I shake and according to Mellow makes me look like a giant disco ball. Whatever that is.
"The only thing the next intruder will gain for entering my territory will be a swift death. The idea that Jötuun hoard massive wealth is stupid. Where do they think I'd keep the damned treasures, up my vent?" Shade nearly trips and has to flare out her wings to catch herself.
“What did she say mama? I don’t know dragon yet like you.” Though she doesn’t look back, Shades' ears twitch and flick towards me.
“Umm… Well honey, Gaia just reminded me that she doesn't want to go by Fenrir anymore. She wants to be called Gaia. It just caught me off guard because she's told me before and I feel bad.” Mellow makes a quiet ‘oh’ sound before settling into the fluff on Shades' back. As I don’t feel the need to comment that Shade didn’t tell Mellow everything I said, the next few minutes go by in silence. Walking through the thickest parts of the expanded gardens we travel up the mountain side until we reach the visitors section. For whatever reason Celestia had an entire area of the mountaintop carved out solely for her massive gardens, baring it off from any expansions from the city proper. Considering how much space is actually available in this city of theirs it seems a bit strange, but I absolutely love it.
Crossing over the physical barrier that separates my area from the rest of the gardens it's only another minute before we are at the castle itself. I stop however as I see a massive hole in the walls that was not there previously and is currently swarmed by ponies. The scales along my spine bristle and I lower myself closer to the ground with a soft growl.
“It’s fine Gaia relax, this is what I was talking about. The entire castle is going through major renovations. This door in particular will lead us to a new area that has just been set up for you and any other creature that may match your size.” Shade whistles loudly making the ponies turn to us. Looking over the group carefully I’m able to identify all but one of the ponies. Swishing my tail I keep my eyes glued to this guard I don’t know as we approach.
“Good Morning Ma’am” The unfamiliar guard standing to the left of the ‘door’ slaps their hoof to their chest plate in a salute while the other guard, I think their name was Sterile, ushers the various ponies away. Shade however freezes and slowly turns her head to glare at the guard that saluted her.
“Corporal Sterling Shield.” The guard with the other ponies stops and turns sharply to face Shade. Hmm, not Sterile then.
“Yes Sergeant?” For the first time since I met the young foal her survival instincts kicked in and she carefully jumped down from her mothers back and trotted over to Sterling.
“Please bring my daughter ahead to the meeting room.” Sterling stomps his right hoof loudly on the tiled floor and grins.
“Come on Mellow, let's go and say hello to the Princess. I’ll even race you and if you win I’ll make sure you get a treat.” Grinning wide and nodding her head, Mellow squeals in delight as she takes off fast down the hall with Sterling on her heels. Turning my attention back to Shade and the other guard they are now nose to nose with Shade baring her fangs.
“Specialist Stone! If I wasn’t on my way to a meeting with the Princess herself it’d take me days to finish ripping you a new asshole! Instead you can consider this your lucky day as I am only giving you KP for the rest of the week! As soon as you finish your posting at this door I better find your pathetic flank in my office! Do you understand me Specialist!?” The idiot named Stone takes a moment to find his voice as the other ponies shamelessly laugh at his predicament.
“Y-yes Sergeant!” Snarling, Shade flicks her tail and shakes out her wings as she stomps off down the hall. Rather than follow Shade however I stop just before the guard and lower my head down to his level. Instantly he stiffened again at my glare and rather than look into my eyes he looked away. Growling and lashing my tail behind me the guard only shakes more.
“By the Gods you are dense aren’t you specialist!? First you forget who I am and now you can’t even remember the most basic thing from the briefing I gave only an hour ago!? Show her respect and look her in the eye’s you damned fool!” Breathing in deeply I don’t bother waiting for the pony to look back at me. Instead I take in his scent and do my best to burn it into my memory. When he finally does look back at me I give him the same respect he showed me and purposely chill my breath before blowing a large cloud of freezing frost into his face in disgust. Though I was sure not to hurt the stallion, it was more than enough to scare him as he fell to his flank and scrambled to get away from me.
“I’ll remember you Stone.” I stand back to my full height and pass through the door. Ignoring his panicked cries I take my place behind Shade. The mare only gave the downed stallion a passing glance and shook her head before starting down the hall again.
"I know you didn't really hurt him, but you have to be careful with that breath of yours Gaia. While I'm more than happy to let you take care of things as you see fit I better not ever hear of my ponies getting hurt because of it." Chilling my breath again so that frost leaves my mouth as I speak I snarl and glare at Shade.
"I'm more than capable of controlling my breath Shade. If they get hurt it is their own fault." Shade just shakes her head and stops beside two large doors.
"Yeah well it's because of comments like that I don't trust you around my daughter." Throwing the door open, Shade marches into the room without me. Muttering something under her breath I'm unable to catch what she says before Mellow pounces on her. Shade must have been expecting the attack however as she effortlessly caught her daughter with her wings and spun her around in a wide circle before throwing her back into the air only to catch her again in her hooves and wrap her into a tight hug.
"Mama I beat Sterling! Can I have ice cream now!?" Shade gasps in fake shock.
"What! You beat Sterling in a race? Well it looks like I'm going to have to drill him extra hard on his PT runs now. Come on let's go and get you that treat he promised you." Shifting around Shade places Mellow onto her back.
"It most certainly seems that way, Sergeant. Thank you again for going out and getting Fenrir, I greatly appreciate it." Shade dips down into a low bow to where Celestia must be sitting just out of my sight.
"Absolutely Princess. Come on Corporal, I think it's in our best interest to get out of here before the sparks fly." Standing back up and smiling, Shade motions to Sterling with a wing as she walks past him.
"Right behind you Sergeant." After bowing to Celestia Sterling falls into step behind Shade. Both ponies pay me no mind as they walk out of the room and pass me, only Mellow turning to acknowledge me with a wave as they pass.
"Bye Miss Gaia!" Flicking my tail I weakly wave back to the foal.
"Ah… Bye."
Author's Note
Hello again everyone! I just want to say the next chapter might be a little delayed as I am going in for a medical procedure in a few days. I do however plan on using the extra time off work to get more writing done so when the chapters are up again I'm planning on them being longer.
Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter and hope that you continue to enjoy the journey as we go.
Author's Note
A shorter half chapter this time but as I'm only really now getting over my medical procedure wanted to start a lil smaller. That won't stop me from posting a full chapter in the next few days however!
Until then thank you for reading, and hopefully see you tomorrow or Sunday for the next chapter.
Chapter 9.5 (Rewrite)
"This is a bad idea." Unable to sit in place Spike paces around in front of his mother anxiously. His tail flicking back and forth rapidly with every turn and his wings twitching and shuffling on his back.
"Bad idea or not we need to do this Spike. Fenrir is the last one we need to talk to before we go to the public about my change." Just as anxious as Spike Celestia can't help but fidget with her paws. The dull drumming of her razor sharp claws clicking against the stone doing little to alleviate her stress.
"Did you have to do the adoption thing though? I mean how does that even work if she's my aunt?" The tapping stops as Celestia looks up with a furrowed brow.
"I already told you Fenrir is only technically your aunt, you and her aren't actually related. Tiamat just adopted both her and your father around the same time when they were still hatchlings. Actually, Tiamat adopted all of those who were orphaned before Ragnarök." Spike nearly trips over his own paws with how quickly he turns to look at his mother.
"So I'm not related to Fenrir?" With a barley hidden smirk Celestia shakes her head.
“No Spike you’re not, though I am curious why you seem so excited to hear that.” Spike hisses softly through his teeth. A sound not too dissimilar to one he would make when still a hatchling and caught in the midst of a lie.
“What? No I just -” Celestia lifts a wing up to hide her smirk, but it does nothing to stop Spike from hearing her giggle. Flaring his wings in anger Spike spits fire as he speaks again.
Dropping her wing, Celestia frowns. Shaking her head and opening her arms in an inviting motion for Spike it takes only a moment before he walks into her arms. Both dragons let out heavy sighs as Celestia wraps her arms around her son into a tight hug.
“I only meant to tease you Spike. Can you really blame me for wanting to poke fun at you for finally taking an interest in another creature?” Spike blushes and buries his snout more into his mothers chest.
“Yes.” Through sheer force of will Celestia manages to not crack up a second time.
“Alright I won’t tease you anymore… No, that's a lie. I won’t tease you for at least another few days.” Spike groans in protest, but thanks to his hidden muzzle no one can see the small smile he cracks.
“Mooooom…” Grinning evilly, Celestia leans her head down to whisper directly into Spike's ear.
“Though do be careful with Fenrir, I expect a lot of grandhatchlings for you.” Spike shrieks in terror.
“MOM! ”
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Holding her head in her hooves Chrysalis was at a loss for words. Before her sat not only her mentor but also possibly her closest friend. Normally this would fill the changeling monarch with joy as she freely fed off of the mirth and happiness from the alicorn. Unfortunately for both, Celestia was no longer an alicorn, she was now not only a Jötuun but also the largest source of stress currently plaguing the changeling.
“So… let's just do a little recap in case I missed anything.” Celestia smiles.
“Of course Chry-”
“Zip it scalie!” Celestia closes her jaw with an audible snap as the changeling scolds her making Luna laugh. The blue alicorn is quick to stop however as Chrysalis turns on her and hisses.
“Sorry…” Glaring at the offending alicorn Chrysalis buzzes her wings fiercely to try and bleed off some of her extra stress.
“As I was saying, let's all do a little recap. You transformed back into a Jötuun, something that is not only a distant ancestor of the modern dragons but also what you originally were before being forcefully polymorphed by your adoptive father. Then after telling your family and most of your staff about your change you decided to switch out Fenrir’s weekly appointed physiatrist and doctor's appointment with your own mock intervention?!” Celestia rubs the back of her neck sheepishly.
“Well when you word it like that of course it sounds bad.” Before Chrysalis has a chance to blow up a second time Luna smacks her sister with a wing. While not having anywhere near the same effect it would have if Celestia was still an alicorn it did manage to still get the point across.
“That's because it is bad Tia. You smashed her head into the wall so hard that it nearly collapsed.” Celestia grimaces and looks towards the wall in question. Besides the small divot left from Fenrir’s skull countless stress fractures spread out like a child's drawing of a spiderweb.
“It was an accident… I didn’t mean to throw her so hard. I never wanted to hurt her at all but when she bit me I just kind of… Reacted.” Chrysalis’s shoulders slump as she sighs.
“While I can’t fault you for being caught off guard by such a bite, I can be pissed off that you put yourself in the position to get bit in the first place. What were you thinking trying to hug her like that? Even if a small glimmer of her past self started to come out, you of all creatures should know better than to corner a scared and confused dragon.” Luna raises her hoof to correct Chrysalis.
“Jötuun.” Chrysalis rolls her eye’s.
“Basically the same thing but whatever.” Celestia snorts a large cloud of smoke and flicks her tail.
“I’m not getting into another argument about this, but no, we are not the same.” Hissing, Chrysalis throws her hooves into the air.
“Whatever! We’re getting off topic and I just want to get this over with. As of right now Fenrir is off limits. I do not want either of you interacting with her in any capacity until I and her psychiatrist can clear her. We have her in a medically induced coma at the moment due to hemorrhaging in the brain. Thanks to her having a healing factor on par with or even better than that of an alicorn she should be fine in a few days. Once she is discharged and gone through all follow up screenings I will consider reinstating your visiting rights.” Celestia flares her wings and snarls.
“WHAT!?” Jumping to her hooves Chrysalis snarls and hisses right back into Celestia’s face as the Jötuun smashes her snout against the changelings' own.
“You heard me! Until further notice both you and your sister are forbidden from seeing or interacting with Fenrir. Only your son is allowed to continue with visitation at the moment due to her own wishes.” Blinking repeatedly Celestia pulls back and eye’s the changeling with a heavy dose of skepticism.
“She what?” Chrysalis shakes out her legs and buzzes her wings before looking back up at Celestia.
“Fenrir wants Spike to continue to come and visit her.” The royal sisters look at one another in confusion before Luna starts to giggle. Her giggle however grows into full blown laughter as a look of absolute terror starts to take over Celesita’s face.
“Oh ancestors no! I was only joking!” Chrysalis’s eye twitches as she again loses control of the conversation.
Author's Note
Just a reminder that the next chapter will feature another time skip. Everything not explained in the initial chapter will be covered in the following ones.
Chapter 11 Part. 1 (Rewrite)
Taking another long drag from my ‘medicine’ I cringe and struggle to not give in to another coughing fit. Even after months of being prescribed this CBD thing I still can’t stand the taste. Spike however seems to have no issue as he takes the piece from my paw and finishes off the entire stick in one drag. Smiling wide as he does and casually letting the smoke billow out from his jaws and nostrils.
Somehow even after knowing me for a full year he still comes to visit me. Almost always against his mothers wishes he sneaks out of the castle or flees from Ponyville to climb the mountain to hide in my burrow. Why he keeps putting himself through all of the trouble of coming to see me I can’t understand, but I absolutely love it. Both Cadence and Chrysalis say it is because he likes to spend time with me but I really doubt that. I’m starting to think he is only coming here because I let him smoke my pot. How the Fae call’s this ‘medicine’ still confuses me.
“What’s the matter? Still having a problem with your medicine~ I can always get you a spoon of peanut butter if that will help you.” Growling between small coughs I try to shout back at him.
“Show -” But I falter and fall into a violent coughing fit. The rancid tasting smoke spilling out from my lungs and lingering in my sinuses making me gag. Clutching at my chest my claws scrap uselessly against my scales and I end up doubling over trying to catch my breath. Were it not for the nest I'd made out of various pillows and cushions I'd stolen from Celestia I'm sure I'd have hurt myself again.
“Jeez… Carefully Fengai, you don't have to show off. Though I can understand you wanting to try and impress a pro like me.” Hissing through acidic puffs of smoke Spike laughs at me before accidentally choking on his own ego and falling into his own coughing fit. Only through the grace of the ancestors do I catch my breath and recover before him. Wasting no time I threw my wing out and smacked him. Unable to dodge Spike is thrown off balance and falls onto his back into the pillows and cushions of my ‘nest' where he continues to choke and giggle. Snarling as his laughter continues I jump and pin him beneath me.
“That isn't my name and you know it Spike! Gah! Stupid hatchling! ” I continue to growl until Spike goes quiet. As always his purple scales turn a deep crimson and his eyes look anywhere but my own. Snorting a puff of pot-tainted frost into his face he starts to cough a second time. Screwing his eyes shut and turning to the side he hacks and gags. Stupid drake.
“Ew… Gaia, that's gross. Ugh what did you eat?” It is now my turn to blush and look away. Is my breath really that bad? Maybe I should start doing more than just chewing on bones like the Fae suggested.
“Salmon. I go to the arctic sea every other week to go fishing. I’ve invited you before.” Spike shifts beneath me but makes no attempt to free himself. Idly I have to flick my tail before I accidentally try to coil and entwine mine with his.
“You know I would if I could Gaia, but mom is… She’s already concerned that we spend too much time together. Even if you can't remember your past I’m sure by now you know how much it stresses her out when she isn’t in control of a situation.” Snorting in amusement I shift my weight around and settle myself into a more comfortable position on top of Spike. Again he does nothing to stop me.
“She claims I’m too old for you now. Chrysalis says she rants about me stealing you from her.” Spike laughs.
“Are they both seriously keeping mom from talking to you? It’s been over a year at this point, are you ever going to call off your guard dogs?” Shifting beneath me again I can feel Spike's paws shift about. One moment they are on my sides and the next they are ripped away and tucked under his back. So long as he does not grope me I would not mind his paws caressing my scales…
No. Stop it Gaia. Do not ruin the only good relationship you have because you are horny. Stupid ‘medicine’.
“They are not my guards, they are my strange and overly sexual friends. You know that I found them in my bath once? It was terrifying. I never knew ponies could be so… flexible.” Though he blushes again Spike sticks his tongue out and mimics gagging.
“Eww… How did you get them to -”
“I used my mana to freeze the water’s surface into solid Ice. They are still mad at me about it, apparently the water wasn’t the only thing I froze.” I have to suppress my laughter as his face twists in confusion.
“Ouch? That's an ouch right?” I snort and giggle like an idiot while slapping him with my wing again.
“Yes Spike it would hurt.” Rolling off of his stomach I smack his flank with my tail while shooting him a wide grin.
“How would you like it if your cock became solid ice mid stroke?”
A small squeak of fear is his only response to my question. After laughing I settle again and briefly nuzzle his cheek.
“Oh relax I’d never…” I have to stop myself and clear my throat before continuing.
“To answer your question I never told either of those two to keep Celestia away from me. They chose to do so on their own.”
“They um… They started after mom threw your head into the wall right? About the same time she ‘adopted’ you into our family?” Growling I stand up from my nest and flick my tail rapidly.
“Yes, around that time.” Tearing my attention away from Spike and the overly pleasing position he has yet to move out of I stalk around my room and rub my side roughly against the stone walls. Shaking my head and breathing heavily my eyes dart towards the chest that I keep my medicine in. Should I light another to help calm down?
“You know she didn’t do that to upset you right Gaia?” I snort another large puff of frost as I give up and make my way over to the chest and pull out another two sticks. Without thinking much of it, stick one into my mouth right away and toss the other blindly over my shoulder to Spike.
“I’m aware. Shit! Where are the matches? ” Vaguely I hear the cushions and pillows from my nest shift before the soft clicking of claws on stone approach me from behind. By the time Spike is beside me I’ve already given up on finding my matches and turn to him in defeat. Rather than the smirk I expected he gives me a small frown before blowing a quick flame into my face to ignite my stick. Inhaling immediately so that the smoke is funneled through properly I let out a small cough.
“You slipped into Draconic again. You doing alright Gaia?” Why do you have to be so caring? Why out of everyone and everything in my new life are you the best thing to happen to me?
“I’m fine Spike… Just have had a lot on my mind lately. Ever since I started this new round of treatment and therapy I’ve been remembering things. I get a little confused sometimes, but I’m alright.” Spike still looks at me in concern but shakes his head. Clearly not wanting to start another argument over the same topic again… For the fifth time.
“Is this about the name thing again? You know I have no problem calling you either Fenrir or Gaia. I remember you said it helps you sometimes when you can’t figure out which one you are.” Inhaling my medicine as deeply as I can I hold it in my chest even as my lungs burn. By the time I’m forced to cough and let the smoke out my eyes are blurry with tears. Hopefully he thinks the tears are just from my coughing.
“It’s never been the names little pup. I just don’t know who I am anymore. Some days I am Gaia, a druidic warrior and guardian of the tree of life. Other days I am Fenrir, daughter of Tiamat and bringer of chaos. A Jötuun warrior and holder of the mantle of war. Then there are days like today…” Pulling away from Spike I try to move back to my nest but am stopped as he steps in front of me and places a paw gently against my chest.
“Who are you today then?” Sighing I push against Spike to try and get past him but he doesn’t budge. Unable to move, but unwilling to harm Spike I flick my tail and sigh again. Why do you have to be so stubborn?
“I am lost Spike. I am neither Fenrir nor Gaia. I hold memories from both ‘lives’ yet can claim neither as my own. So I am lost. I am the bastard child of two monsters.”
Author's Note
In case it was missed roughly one full year has passed since the last chapter. Additionally Chapter 11 will be in more than one part. The first part, (this one) will be from Fenrir/Gaia's POV, while the other parts will differ in POV.
There will still be a chapter 11.5.
Other than that please enjoy!
Chapter 11 Part. 2 (Rewrite)
Author's Note
Chapter 11 Part 2! Brought to you by Spikes POV.
Small warning of more 'drug' use. Marijuana is legal both recreationally but also medically where I live but I understand that is not the case everywhere. In this regard I will give a small warning.
Other than that I hope you all enjoy and will see you in Part 3!!!!
Chapter 11 Part. 2 (Rewrite)
“I’m heading out Twi! I don’t think I’ll be back before dinner so don’t worry about me!” Before I can fully close the door behind me it lights up in a lavender glow. Cursing under my breath I begrudgingly let go and wait for Twilight to show up and glare up at me with a frown I’m starting to see a lot more often.
“And just where do you think you are going this time Spike? You better not be going up to see Fen -” Twilight screams as a rubber snake falls onto her muzzle. Her horn flashing brightly with a powerful defensive spell that gave me only a second to dive out of the way. Instead of the loud explosion I expected however I am instead greeted by the squeaking honk of a rubber chicken and the mad cackling of Discord and Pinkie.
“Oh the look on your face!” Seething with rage I’ve seen only a clawful of times I decided to slink away as Twilight starts ripping into the two for their prank. Inching my way farther from the tree and out of Twilight's line of sight Discord gives me a small wink and even a thumbs up before snapping his fingers and making a second snake fall on Twilight's withers. Not wanting to think too much on why Discord is helping me I quickly spread my wings and shoot into the air as the screaming starts anew.
“That was close…” Taking a moment to catch my breath and steady my heart I angle my wings and bank to the north until I am on a straight shot with Fenrir’s half of Mount Canterhorn. Thankfully nothing else happens on my way and in no time at all my paws sink into the soft snow just outside of her burrow. Then again can I really call it a burrow anymore?
Twilight says a burrow is a tunnel or hole dug by a small animal to use as a dwelling. I guess on a technicality it could be a burrow since Gaia lives in it, but it's also by no means small. Both of us can stand at our full height without scraping the ceiling with our horns, not to mention the fact I can turn around without worrying about my tail or wing hitting someone or something. It would probably be better to call it a cave, a very, very detailed and expertly crafted cave.
Shaking my head I let out a long sigh. Doesn't matter right now… Moving up the last few steps before the entrance to Gaia’s cave I notice a bundle of warped guard armor hanging from the ceiling. Curious, I swat the metal hanging from the entrance with a wing as I pass underneath. Chiming loudly the metal tubes of gold sang an oldy soothing tune as they swung.
“You're here!?” Before I can so much as turn my head I'm enveloped by Gaia's arms and wings and pulled roughly into her home. With seemingly little effort she is able to maneuver us around her home and drag me into the far back before throwing me into the large pile of pillows and cushions she jokingly calls her ‘nest’.
“Ow! Gaia what was that for? I could have gotten here by myself just fine you know.” Glaring at me and flicking her tail rapidly Gaia turns sharply and stomps over to the chest she keeps her pot in. Throwing it open and nearly breaking the lid she blindly grabs a fist full of joints and sticks one haphazardly into her maw before dropping the rest back into the chest.
“I can’t believe you ??????? Why would ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?” As always when she gets worked up, Gaia starts to slip back into speaking Draconic. I’m starting to think it might be a good idea to take up those lessons mom offered again.
“Is everything alright Gaia? I can call you Fenrir today if that is what’s bothering you.” Whether or not it is on purpose Gaia ignores me and continues to dig into her chest until she pulls out a matchbox that is comically small in her paws. Even so with the dexterity and precision only an expert could mimic she pulls out what looks to be the last match and strikes it against the box until the stick bursts into flame. Feeling it would do me no good to keep trying to talk when she isn’t listening, I decided to just sit patiently and wait for her to finish.
Almost instantly she starts to cough and spew smoke out of her mouth and nose. Turning around with watery eyes she stumbles back over towards me and blindly plops down in front of me while taking another long drag from the joint. Rolling my eyes and smirking, I wait for her to finish her next drag and start to cough before reaching out and grabbing it from her. When she makes no moves to stop me I bring the joint to my lips and inhale deeply until the entire stick is gone. Thanks to many years of practice I manage to just barely hold back from coughing when giving Gaia a shit eating grin.
“What's the matter? Still having a problem with your medicine~ I can always get you a spoon of peanut butter if that will help you.” With tears building up in her eyes Gaia growls.
“Show -” Without even being able to finish her first word Gaia starts to hack and cough violently. Scraping and beating at her chest with her claws I can’t help but start to laugh as she doubles over.
“Jeez… Careful Fengaia, you don’t have to show off. Though I can understand you wanting to impress a pro like me.” Gaia hisses and glares up at me. Unfortunately her blood red eyes do her no favors as she has her snout half buried in pillows and cushions. In the end while I’m sure she tried to be threatening, I can only see her as being absolutely adorable. However, laughing in her face a second time may not have been in my best interest as I started to cough and found it hard to catch my breath. Unable to defend myself between aggressively coughing and laughing, I do not see Gaia’s wing until it hits me square in the chest and sends me sprawling into the cushions.
Unfortunately I often forget that karma is a bitch, and before I can do anything Gaia jumps on my chest and uses her weight to pin me beneath her. Her muzzle almost touching my own, she starts to yell in my face. How easy would it be to just a little bit and kiss her? Would she even let me? I mean I’m not the brightest when it comes to flirting with others of my kind but… Oh gods above what is that smell?
“Ew… Gaia, that's gross. Ugh, what did you eat?” No you idiot! Why did you say that! Shit! Fuck! Your sister is literally a walking dictionary and your sister in law is the literal princess of love and that is what you say!?
“Salmon. I go to the arctic sea every other week to go fishing. I’ve invited you before.” Shifting about I reach for the closest pillow I can and smash it in between my legs before I cause a major problem. No matter how forgiving Gaia usually is I doubt she would be happy if I touched her with That. Now with a very prominent growing issue between my legs that I need to not think about I fake a cough.
“You know I would if I could Gaia, but mom is… She’s already concerned that we spend too much time together. Even if you can’t remember your past I’m sure by now you know how much it stresses her out when she isn’t in control of a situation.” Then again with everything going on now in the capital I’m surprised she still has time to fret over my nonexistent love life. Hearing Gaia snort I look back up to her in time for her to shift her weight around on top of me. Had I not already put a small pillow over my groin I’m sure she would have just accidentally felt my still rising indecency.
“She claims I’m too old for you now. Chrysalis says she rants about me stealing you from her.” I laugh. Mom was the one who told me she was only a little older than I was!
“Are they both seriously keeping mom from talking to you? It’s been over a year at this point, are you ever going to call off your guard dogs?” Ripping my paws off of Gaia’s side I quickly tuck them under my back. Gods damn it Chrysalis! Why did you have to put Lovers Leaf into her pot? How in the hell is an aphrodisiac supposed to help Gaia keep calm? Let alone the fact that both her and Cadence know that she shares it with me an -
Are they trying to get us to sleep together!?
“They are not my guards, they are my strange and overly sexual friends. -” Holy shit they totally put that leaf in her pot on purpose.
“You know that I found them in my bath once? It was terrifying. I never knew ponies could be so… flexible.” Shuddering at the thought I try to stop myself from puking as vivid memories from walking in on a similar situation when I was younger resurface in my mind.
“Eww… How did you get them to -”
“I used my mana to freeze the water’s surface into solid ice. They are still mad about it, apparently the water isn’t the only thing I froze.” Looking up at Gaia in confusion she just laughs. Does she mean she froze their…
“Ouch? That's an ouch right?” Giggling like an idiot Gaia smacks me lightly with her wing.
“Yes Spike it would hurt.” Rolling off of me and to the side I’m quick to reposition the pillow over my crotch just in time as she smacks me roughly with her tail against my flank. No. Bad Spike. Think with your other head… Even if it would be totally worth it.
“Oh relax I’d never…” Gaia stops and clears her throat. “To answer your question I never told either of those two to keep Celestia away from me. They choose to do so on their own.” I can’t help but frown.
“They um… They started after mom threw your head into the wall right? About the same time she ‘adopted’ you into our family?” Gaia growls and quickly stands up while flicking her tail. Not that I can blame her for being angry, it was by no means a nice or easy transition. Between both the nobles and the general public there was genuine outrage and confusion when mom not only announced Gaia as part of the family but that she was also a dragon all along. To say things have been tense since that announcement would be an understatement too.
“Yes, around that time.” Eyeing me a bit longer than usual Gaia turns sharply just as a blush starts to work its way onto her muzzle again and instead roughly rubs her side against the stone walls. Frowning as she does this I flip onto my stomach and can only watch helplessly from her nest as she continues to ‘stim’. I don’t entirely remember what it is, but Chrysalis had told me early on that ‘stimming’ was both normal and relatively healthy for Gaia. Something about the rough repetitive motions or rubbing and scraping her scales leading to calming her.
“You know she didn’t do that to upset you Gaia? It was an accident.” Gaia snorts a large puff of frost and snarls before I even finish talking. Easily in the most irritated state I’ve ever seen her in she roughly grinds her side along the wall all of the way over to her chest before flinging the poor thing open and pulling out another two joints. Surprisingly she throws one haphazardly over her shoulder while snapping the other up into her jaw.
“I’m aware. Shit! Where are the ?????? ” Standing up from the cushions and looking between my legs I whine at seeing pink flesh still half sticking out from my slit. Groaning and shaking my head even with a heavy blush I fold my wings down in a vain attempt to hide myself before I start slowly walking up to Gaia. As soon as I am right next to her she turns to me with a deep frown. Her lip slightly quivering I can only guess that she is on the verge of tears as I blow a small flame to light up the joint in her maw.
“You slipped into Draconic again. You doing alright Gaia?” Gaia just looks at me with an expressionless muzzle. No smile, no grin, and no more frown. Only a blank look, one that makes her look broken.
“I’m fine Spike… Just have a lot on my mind lately. Ever since I started this new round of treatment and therapy I’ve been remembering things. I get a little confused sometimes, but I’m alright.” Even though she is blatantly lying again, I just shake my head. If she didn’t want to tell me the truth the last ten times this would be no different. It just begs the question if she even realizes how obvious it is to me that she is hurting.
“Is this about the name thing again? You know I have no problem calling you either Fenrir or Gaia. I remember you said it helps you sometimes when you can’t figure out which one you are.” Gaia starts to cry as she takes a long inhale of the joint. Oh what a wizard with words you are Spike. You want to dig your hole any deeper dumb ass?
“It’s never been the names little pup, I just don’t know who I am anymore. Some days I am Gaia, a druidic warrior and guardian of the tree of life. Other days I am Fenrir, daughter of Tiamat and bringer of chaos. A Jötuun warrior and holder of the mantle of war. Then there are days like today…” Trying to move past me I step in front of her and place my paw on her chest.
“Who are you today?” Gaia tries to push past me again, but after I do not move she just sighs and flicks her tail. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this upset before…
“I am lost Spike. I am neither Fenrir nor Gaia. I hold memories from both of their ‘lives’ yet can claim neither as my own. So I am lost. I am the bastard child of two monsters.” Glaring at Gaia I have to fight the rising urge to yell. Instead the most I can do is frown and snort a black cloud of smoke into her face making her cough.
“The only thing that you are is a fucking idiot.” Coughing loudly Gaia takes a few steps back in surprise.
“What?” Advancing back towards her Gaia manages to slip past me once and starts to retreat again before I corner her and ironically force her into her own nest. Equal amounts of confusion and surprisingly enough fear bleeding through her facade as I do so.
“I said you are a fucking idiot. How the fuck can you stand here and say that you are a monster! Gaia is not a monster and neither is Fenrir, but since you are both of those people that makes you doubly NOT A MONSTER!” Poking her roughly in the chest Gaia falls onto her back and I stand above her growling and glaring. How dare she say such horrible things about herself.
“But I -” Blowing a quick bout of fire into her muzzle she stops.
“Stop! Why in the world would you think that you are a monster? How in tartarus can you be a monster? Gaia for all intents and purposes was never a real person. Any and all actions you supposedly ‘did’ as her never happened. No matter how bad or fucked you think they were they never happened. As for your life prior to the crystal as Fenrir, last I checked you were a fucking child soldier! Conscripted at the age of 12 by your so-called ‘mother’ to fight in a genocidal war!” Gaia growls and tries to push me off of her so I nip her neck to try and pin her. Unfortunately for me I was not the aforementioned child soldier and with a speed that left my world spinning the tables were turned and now I am the one being pinned as Gaia snarls.
“How dare you -”
“No! Just shut up and fucking listen! Do you have any freaking idea how much you matter to me? To my mother? To everyone!? If you were the monster you say you are, why in the world would anyone go through so much to try and help you!? Gaia, Fenrir, it doesn't matter who or what you were. What matters is what you are…” Gaia stares down at me with a terrifyingly neutral face.
“Why?” Knowing what I want to say I blush and look away, but the second I do a silver scaled paw pushes my muzzle back so that I am looking at her. Glacier blue eyes locking with my own emerald ones and holding me steady.
“Why what…” My attempt at stalling was futile as Gaia just snorts a puff of frost into my face and leans down until her snout is pressed against my own.
“Why do you care?” Trying to squirm free does me no good as the second I make any progress she fully lays down on top of me. A small wheeze is all I manage in retaliation as the air is forced from my chest.
“Why Spike? What makes you think that a Jötuun like me deserves even a fraction of the kindness that you show me.”
“Because everyone deserves kindness… Especially those who think they don’t deserve any, those are the ones who deserve it the most…” I want to say more. I want to say it is because you are such a kind and amazing person and treating you any other way would be criminal. Most of all I want to tell you I love you… I want to say that I love you but… I’m too scared to say it…
Chapter 11 Part. 3 (Rewrite)
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. I know for a fact thanks to my muzzle feeling hotter than an open flame that I am blushing. Curse this stupid drake. I mean, yeah I love that he feels that I deserve kindness but… Is that really all it is? Sure it has always been a long shot that he felt anything for me but… Is it wrong to wish for him to desire me?
“Everyone deserves kindness… That's it?” Spike sputters but reluctantly nods his head. Given the way he is currently reacting I must not be keeping my emotions very well hidden. Damn it Gaia don’t make things worse…
“Well… I mean that is… That oversimplifies it a bit but -” Shaking my head I slide off of Spike and bury myself into my nest in defeat. The faint feeling of something hot and wet hitting my belly followed by Spike's gasp is the only thing stopping me from submerging entirely beneath the cushions to disappear into my own shame. This is what you get for fantasizing Gaia. You hurt yourself. It’s not his fault for not feeling anything towards you…
“Sorry if whatever I just did hurt you… But I’d very much like to be left alone now Spike.” Spike curses something under his breath and only a few moments later I feel him crawling over the cushions towards me. Why is he still here? He doesn’t see me as a potential mate or even a friend, just someone who deserves kindness… For some reason that hurts more than if he just outright didn’t feel anything for me. I’d rather him hate me than see me as someone who he should pity.
“No wait I didn’t mean it like that Gaia. I just um… Well look it's complicated but I -” Snarling, I rip my head free of the cushions and snap at the air just in front of his muzzle. Freezing instantly his eyes widen and even his wings flare out behind him.
“I said GO! I don’t want your pity! I don’t want your honeyed words to poison my ears anymore! No matter what those two sex crazed idiots and Shining like to say, I know you don’t want me, who in their right mind would… I don’t know why you even come anymore. Do you feel some sort of shame? An obligation to me because of your mothers actions? ” Breathing heavily I wipe at the tears staining my face. Once my vision clears I can see Spike shaking. From the twitches of his body I know he is ready to bolt at a moment's notice.
“I um… I know only a little bit of Draconic, remember? I’m still learning but I understood at least some of what you said other than -” Growling I lash out with my tail in frustration and anger. A small wave of cushions and pillows flying away in my wake.
“In that case I will say the rest in my own tongue. I know I am overreacting in some sense, but I don’t care anymore. Over the past year I’ve fallen for you. Like a stupid lovestruck hatchling I’ve fantasized of having you as my own but… I only want to say this so that it will not fester in my heart like an untreated wound. Maybe it's actually worse for me to say it like this, a cowardice act since I know you can’t understand me? Whatever… I love you Spike Sól Vǫrðr… I just wish you felt the same for me.” Turning my back to Spike I again bury myself back into my nest until I cannot be seen, though now with a lot more shame and self disgust.
“Love … Mom would always say that to me when I was little before bed. She sang some sort of song in Draconic and though I know it wasn’t part of the song would say that at the end anyways… Wait. Love is draconic for love! You love me!?” I squeak in fear. Out of all the words, why does he know that one!?
When I don’t say anything Spike inches closer to me and actually pushes his head below the cushions with me and forces me to look at him. His stupid shining emeralds catching me better than any trap I’ve ever laid myself. No matter how much I want to turn away I can’t and only shiver and shake more. God’s above do not cry again. Do not make things worse and cry like some stupid hormonal hatchling! Fuck! Who am I kidding? I am a stupid hormonal hatchling!
“Gaia do you… Do you really love me?” I hiss softly.
“Yes.” Through some miracle I manage to squeeze my eyes shut and look away.
“You do?!” Squirming uncomfortably I nod.
“Yes…” I never get the chance to say more as all the air in my lungs is forced out when Spike buries himself under the cushions with me and squeezes me into a hug.
“YES!” What?
“What?” My voice quakes as Spike roughly shoves his snout into the nape of my neck and purrs. He fucking purrs just from holding me and being close and… No, do not purr. This is a trick. He can’t seriously -
“I LOVE YOU TOO! I've wanted to say that to you for months but… I was scared you didn't feel the same.” Keeping my eyes open is beginning to become a struggle as now I have to fight back tears of a different nature. Spike, oblivious to the fact I have to keep fighting the urge to cry, deftly maneuvers and wraps himself around me in possibly the most wonderful hug of my entire life. A year ago any attempt would be laughable but with him being only a little smaller than me now… By the ancestors he is holding me… He said he loved me and is actually holding me…
“But… Why?” Why!? You dumb bitch did you just ask why!? Just shut up and take the win!
“Why? I… Seriously? Well besides you being extremely attractive um… Well actually I hope I can say that and you won’t get mad. I mean both mom and Twilight have always said you shouldn’t talk to a female about their looks or their weight. I’ve always thought that you could completely crush my skull if I put my head between your thighs but that's technically nothing to do with your weight and… I’m shutting up now.” My heart is hammering harder than I’ve ever felt before. That's a compliment right? God’s I hope that's a compliment because I really like the idea of him between my thighs now.
“Keep talking.” Spike somehow goes pale and yet still keeps the deepest blush I’ve ever seen on a living creature at the same time.
“What?” Slowly and carefully I move my arms up and hug Spike back while I worm my tail around his lower back and pull him snuggly against me. Just as when I slid off of his chest not too long ago I feel the same hot and wet thing I did then. Only now it is squished between us and long enough to reach from his groin all the way across my stomach.
“Keep. Talking.” To emphasize my point I lick his snout in a mock kiss before pressing my snout firmly against his now wet one. At the same time I let myself purr. The deep guttural reverberations in my chest and throat are impossible to miss as anything other than my approval. Then again Spike hasn’t been exposed to Draconic customs all that long…
“P-promise you won’t get mad?” I lick Spike's snout a second time and lock my eyes with his.
“No.” Spike Squeaks softly making me giggle. In turn I purr louder and lick his snout a third time.
“Well umm… I ah, umm…” Nipping at his chin as gently as I can, Spike stops. Letting out a small sigh in defeat I nuzzle my way under his chin and curiously glance down between us to finally see what has been poking me. Oh wow…
“You win, I promise I won’t get mad. Just please… Keep talking. How and why would you want something as broken as me?” Tearing my eyes away from his very erect member before I do something stupid I manage to catch a little bit of color return to his muzzle.
“We’re all broken a little bit. Tartarus Gaia, I didn’t even know Celestia was actually my mom until a year ago when she changed form in the middle of an argument to prove a point. Not to mention the fact my egg was hatched by Twilight and the subsequent first ten years of my life was like that of a child split between divorced parents. To this day Twilight still thinks it was perfectly normal for her, a four year old filly at the time, to be my ‘mother’ during the day and then ship me back to the castle every night to Celestia for bed. Looking back at it I was in some sort of fucked up visitation enfocred by the courts.” Snorting a small puff of frost I move my head back up and rest it against the side of his.
“You're dodging the question.” Spike snorts his own puff of smoke and leans his head against my own in an identical fashion.
“And you have a startlingly good grasp on Common after only speaking it a year.” Leaning forward ever so slightly I run my tongue gently over the fins on his cheek making him shudder.
“Thanks to your mother I've been forced to learn fast. Besides… Luna did some fucked up mind magic shit to unlock memories, it kind of worked but now I'm super messed up in the head. After that I guess putting some common language in with it was a good idea they had… I've no intention of talking to her again anytime soon. Though I guess you already know that story.” Pulling back slightly I manage to get Spike to look at me long enough to press my snout against his again.
“Aunt Luna put knowledge of the Common language into your head? No wonder you swear so much.” If Spike didn’t start laughing at his own strange idea of a joke I wouldn’t have felt the need to snort a puff of frost directly into his face. Though considering my snout is literally touching him it wasn’t a good idea. Instantly he yelps and pulls away to start rubbing at the near frozen scales not covered in frost and snow.
“Shit! I’m sorry! Please don’t go!” Instead of yelling at me… He keeps laughing. Spike laughs and hugs me tighter before gently pressing his snout back against my own.
“Can I kiss you?” I can not stop the tip of my tail from Flicking. The rapid movement was actually loud enough to hear thanks to the abundance of cushions being smacked.
“Y-yes.” With little effort Spike pushes me onto my back and gently nips at my lips. Carefully I open my jaws and slowly tilt my head to the side while he tilts his the other way and then leans in to lock his jaw with mine. The feeling of his tongue actually brushing against my own is so… Strang. A taste I do not know how to describe other than ‘his’ somehow just starts to invade my senses. His scent outright enveloping my entire being and igniting a blazing fire in my chest and almost making me moan in pleasure.
At some point Spike tries to pull away but I follow him greedily and growl into his throat as he does so. Returning a growl in kind he pushes me back roughly into my nest and pins me below him. Now wrestling my tongue with him I let myself moan. A new fire now burns between my legs and begging to be quenched. It's just a kiss, calm down Gaia. DO NOT ruin this! Keep it together girl!
Without warning however Spike squeaks and starts to roughly pull away from me. Not wanting to accidentally hurt him I let go of our kiss with an admittedly pitiful whine while he struggles to untangle himself from me and instead flails around like a fish stuck on land. When he finally does get free though he looks back to me with pure terror and starts to sutter apology after apology to me all while piling as many cushions over his groin as he can.
“What? What's wrong? Did I hurt you? I'm sorry I -” Spike shakes his head frantically.
“NO! No! You're fine Gaia you didn't, well I mean you did but it wasn't really your fault and… look it's just best if I stay away until I can calm myself down.” Rolling over I move to stand up to go to him but stop when I accidentally brush against something hot sticking to my stomach. Whipping at the spot with a paw I bring it up to look at.
“What is -”
“Please don’t hurt me. I’m so sorry.” Opening and closing my mouth uselessly I try to speak but I can’t.
“I ah… Is this?” Without looking at me Spike just nods his head before hiding behind his wings. Well… At least I don’t have to feel bad about the fact I left a wet spot now.
“Hey Candi?” Cadence looks up from her magazine to her husband and smiles.
“Yes, Shining?” Walking up to Cadence he kisses her quickly on the lips before joining her on the couch.
“Spike smokes pot right?” Cadence giggles and nods before kissing Shining back properly.
“Well yes. It was kind of our fault, thanks to us forgetting he was playing Ogres & Oubliettes with us when we broke out our stash that one time. Thankfully it wasn’t laced with lovers' leaves like normal or that would have been a very traumatizing first experience for Spike.” Both Shining and Cadence shudder at the thought.
“Right um, so I think Chrysalis has been giving Fenrir the same laced stuff we use.” Cadence nods and smiles wider while putting her magazine down.
“Yep! We figured that a little extra special alone time would be a good way to go. It’s been medically proven that -”
“You know that Spike goes to visit her almost everyday right?” Cadence sighs and scooches over the rest of the way until she can drape her head onto Things withers.
“Even so Chrysalis and I made sure to talk to Fenrir about not sharing any of her stuff. Sure it's an actual prescription and all but at the same time it is laced with something that is not so legal.” Shining hums and lights his horn to pick up and take a sip of his wifes tea. Offering only a small grimace at the overly sweet taste he sets it back on the table where he found it and rests his head against Cadence.
“Does Fenrir know it's laced?” Cadence just rolls her eyes.
“She figured it out before we had a chance to say anything. Took one puff and in broken Common claimed that she knew what it was and knew what the other leaf did too.” Shining hums again.
“So she definitely knows what it does then? She was fine with your idea about it putting her into an almost artificial heat?” Pulling her head back Cadence nuzzles into Shining before getting up from the couch and stretching.
“More or less. Believe it or not but Jötuuns are apparently very nonchalant about things when it comes to sex. Though that may have also been because of the whole war thing and the need to put more bodies on the frontline. She basically smoked three sticks then went to town on herself with us still in the room.” Shining looks to Cadence in concern.
“Seriously?” Cadence just nods again, entirely unbothered by it.
“Oh yeah.” Shining turns to Chrysalis as she enters the room wearing a big and fluffy pink robe and holding a large mug of coffee.
“It was terrifying. I never knew something so large and imposing could still be so… Flexible.” The changeling shudders and her muzzle turns green from a deep blush.
“It was horrifying. I think I could fit my whole head in there and still have room.”
“So did this happen before or after you two got frisky in her hot tub bath thing?” Both mares turn to each other before speaking in unison.
“Before. ” Chrysalis buzzes her wings in agitation before continuing.
“We had sex in her tub in retaliation to her cumming all over my drug den!” Shining sighs and lets his muzzle fall into his hooves.
“First of all ouch, I would have liked to try the big tub thing. Though admittedly that is not how you settle an argument. Second, please stop calling it a drug den Chrysi, you only use legal things.” Still blushing Chrysalis looks away with a huff and crosses her arms.
“Yeah but it's fun.” Cadence giggles.
“Either way, Shining it’s out of our hooves now. They are both responsible adults and if a sex drug is what they need to realize they both desperately love the other so be it.”
Author's Note
Another short half chapter to give a tiny bit of background to the whole laced pot thing.
THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING
I plan on putting smutt in the next chapter. That's right, the dirty dancing chapter. Please be prepared for paw holding and long romantic walks on the beach. Oh and two inexperienced idiots trying to figure it out.
Author's Note
Happy Holidays! I bring to you a sex chapter!!!
So yeah, literally this chapter is smutt / clop. This is the last warning I'm giving to you. so if you don't want to read that turn away now. Other than that I got this chapter out quicker than I thought and am fairly happy with it. However please keep in mind this is literally the first time I've written this subject material and shared it.
So please at least be gentle in that regard.
Have a wonderful holiday season and see you in the next chapter!
Chapter 13 (Rewrite)
I'm not sure if I should be insulted or flattered. Sure on one paw I wasn't helping the situation by pulling him to me and assaulting his tongue with my own even after I knew he was fully erect. At the same time though I didn't leave a wet spot on his stomach and even if I did it would probably be much easier to clean. On a third and much more controversial paw though, I'm weirdly into it. He didn't mark me by any means, but the fact that I've literally pleasured myself to the thought of him taking me in the past… Ok calm down Fenrir. You're going to turn out like your brother if you don't get a hold of yourself.
Did I have siblings as Gaia?
“I'm just gonna go.” Blinking in confusion I refocus my vision on Spike in time to catch him hastily getting up and using his wings to cover himself.
“No!” Spike flinches from my shout, but that is more than enough for me to jump up and tackle him. Thankfully the cushions and pillows of my nest are more than up to the task of softening our landing. Unfortunately for us both they do not stop us from tumbling and rolling. When we finally come to a stop I am lucky enough to be on top and quickly move my arms to pin Spike in place below me.
“Gaia…” In a panic I hug him as tightly as I can.
“Please stay. I'm not mad I really kind of like it. Wait please don't think that's weird!” With a face no doubt just as red as my own Spike tries multiple times to look away from me, but I meet him each time. When he looks to the left I lick at his snout and when he tries to turn away again I instead nip at his chin. I just want him to kiss me again, maybe then he will stay… I am less than successful. After the fourth failed attempt to get him to kiss or lick me back I turn away in embarrassment.
Does he not want me now? I didn’t say anything to offend him, right? No, I didn’t say anything at all really. Silence can be just as insulting… What did Hel say that she did back when she first found a partner? Why can't my mind work for once? Just once I'd like to be able to remember something for sure and not second guess myself! I can't believe I forgot how to court a drake…
Wait, who's Hel? I thought I only had a brother?
Stop it Gaia you’re getting off track… No, I’m Fenrir. Gaia never lived.
But isn't Fenrir dead?
“Gaia.” Reluctantly I look back to Spike and receive a wet tongue licking my snout and a paw wiping away tears from my cheek. When did I start crying again? “I'll stay… If that's what you want.” Flicking my tail I lay back down on top of Spike and nuzzling into him with a deep purr.
“Please stay… I want you to stay with me. Don't leave after I just…” Moving his arms to wrap around me Spike pulls me tight to his chest and then gently rests his head against mine. His cheek burns with a warmth that my own no doubt radiates with equal measure.
“Soooooo… What do we do now?” I growl softly and tighten my grip on Spike.
“I don't know… I… I want to court you. I wish to be yours… Gods above that sounded so stupid. I'm sorry forget I sai-” Spike takes my chin in his paw and moves my muzzle over enough for him to kiss me. In seconds I am purring and melting like clay as he pushes his tongue into my maw. A deep and guttural moan joins my purrs as I can feel a more adventurous paw move down to my flank and start to trace my scales.
Much to my own dismay I'm forced to pull away and break the kiss when I start to get too worked up. Panting and breathing heavily Spike eagerly follows my muzzle every step of the way and continues to nip and lick me until I return another quick kiss. Only then does he relent and rumble below me.
“Don't take this the wrong way Gaia but -” Blushing deeply I shake my head.
“Fen…” Spike just smiles and kisses my snout.
“Fuck tradition Fenrir. Not to sound harsh but if I never knew it, and you forgot it, why don't we make our own traditions?” A little confused, I tilt my head to the side. I still have no idea why I do that…
“What do you mean?” Two wings wrap around my body and cocoon me right before Spike shifts his weight and twists to the side. Rolling over towards the middle of the nest Spike is now on top with me snuggly below him.
“I mean lets just do what we want. We have no one to please other than each other. I definitely don’t care what my mother thinks about who I want to be with and though I’m sure you love your mom she isn’t around anymore.” I tap at Spike's chest with one of my claws and hum. Looking down between his legs he is still very much erect and even dripping small amounts of fluid onto me.
“I think I’d like that…” Shifting slightly I bring both of my paws up and cup Spikes cheeks before locking my eyes with his. Gently he rests his snout down against mine and purrs. I don’t know why I love it so much, but when he purrs more I love it more than anything else. I somehow remember what my brother sounded like when he purred, and Spike is nothing like his. Spike sounds like the earth shifting in a burning volcano. A deep reverberation that echoes within my own chest and drags a purr of my own in response each time.
Offering one more brief kiss to his snout I let go of his cheek with my paw and gently trace his scales with my claw down to his jaw. From there I trace a slow yet intercite pattern down the length of his neck and do the same for his chest. It isn’t until my claw crosses over to his stomach that he seems to catch on to what I am doing and I can see a small panic start to rise in him. I stop my claw just shy of touching his tip.
“I will not continue without your permission.” Spike pulls his wings back out from under me and steps off of me entirely. Rolling over onto my stomach I follow close behind him as he moves to the corner of my nest that is flush against the wall and plops down. No longer bothering to hide his cock he actually keeps his legs slightly splayed as he rests against the wall and sighs.
“I really want you too but… I’ve never actually…” I sit down next to him in a similar fashion and rest my head on his shoulder. Almost instantly his head moves to rest against my own rather than the wall.
“I know.” Spike says nothing for almost a full minute.
“Have you ever had -” I snort a large puff of frost and flick my tail roughly.
“No… No matter how much of my past is lost to me I know I have never laid with another. As much of my mind may be a patchwork of hazy half memories I know that I was terrified of the thought. I didn’t want to find love just to lose them moments later…” Reaching my paw over his lap I gently rub his tip with the back of one of my claws. Spike lets out a shuddering moan in response before pulling his head back.
I always thought that Jötunns, and I guess dragons by extension, have such uniquely shaped penises. Sure this is the first time I’ve ever touched one, but just like any other I’ve seen his is slightly curved with a tapered tip and two rows of soft yet flexible spines running along the bottom. Supposedly the tip is supposed to be able to pass into my womb, but I kind of doubt that being possible. I may not be a mammal like the ponies but I’m thinking from what I’ve seen of Cadence and Shining it shouldn’t be possible.
Turning my paw slightly I let my palm scrape over his little spines and giggle. Each little spine seemingly just as sensitive as anything else on his length as given how Spike starts to moan loudly. I move my paw back up the other way and his spines now flick like a tree branch pulled too far before vibrating back into place. In fact the more I play with them the more firm they get. Spike moans again and nips at the spines on my cheek making me giggle again.
Taking my free paw I reach over and grab one of Spike's paws and lead him down to my slit. Having long ago swollen from excitement and exposed my flesh I should have been more prepared for one of his claws accidentally dipping inside of me right away. All I can offer is a sharp gasp while I involuntarily tighten my grip on both his claw that kept sinking deeper and his cock. Thankfully he only moans louder rather than shouts in pain.
“Fen I -” Breathing through gritted teeth I struggle not to moan again. Spike had shifted his head to rest against my own again after having initially turned to watch himself play with my lower lips. However as soon as I squeezed him he turned his attention back to his cock caught between my palm. His hot breath rings in my ear with each of my movements, no matter how subtle they may be. From the quietest grunt or moan, to the heavy whispers that carry my name I hear every sound he makes. Without warning Spike gasps and starts to buck his hips roughly. As he does his muscles tense up and very quickly I my paw is getting covered in a burning hot liquid that sticks to my scales.
“Oops…” Panting and wheezing slightly it takes a minute or two for Spike to calm and his penis to finally relent. Sure he only sprayed fucking everywhere, but I cant be mad. I probably should be, some conscious part of me certainly is too. I know I'll have to clean this and potentially need to burn my nest to get rid of the smell. At the same time I'm excited, I desperately want the same volume of an explosion to happen inside of me. I want to roll around in my cushion covered in his cum and never lose his scent…
“I'm sorry Fen… I didn't mean to… I didn't want to cum but I just… Wow.” Purring louder than I think I ever have, I stand and quickly place myself into Spike's lap. He only offers a small yelp in response to my actions and actually flares his wings out and grabs my hips with his paws when I almost fall. At first looking at me in confusion he quickly figures out my plan when I line myself up with his tip.
“I love you Spike. I do not say this as Fenrir, nor do I say it as Gaia. In truth I don’t know who I say this as anymore, but the one and only thing that I know without a shadow of a doubt is that I love you. Creatures nowadays think that only knowing one another for a year is too short… From what I remember, knowing a partner for more than a week was too long… I don’t care who is right or wrong.” Spike licks my cheek making me stop.
“I said we should make our own traditions Fenrir… If I’m honest I don’t think it matters how long we’ve known each other, it only matters if we connect. Cadence likes to say that the most important thing is if two lovers are compatible. That is the biggest thing that is needed to have a functioning relationship.” I hiss softly and lean forward to kiss his snout.
“You know what I am though right? What your mother says I am anyways… I’ve… Spike I’m not a good person. Yes they are past lives, but even as a new being they are still just as much a part of me…” Spike just smiles as he wraps his wings around my back to cradle me so he can safely move his paws up to cup my face.
“I don’t care. I know you hold a mantle for chaos, and I know from my mother that you hold one more that you despise.” I now know why he is holding my face as I can’t look away. Instead I close my eyes.
“So you know what I’ve done… What I’ve caused.” His lips press against mine while one of his thumbs gently rubs my cheek. When he breaks the kiss I open my eyes again to see the same sweet and loving smile that he is so eager to give me whenever I am feeling down.
“If you ask me, you do not cause wars. Fenrir never started a war and neither did Gaia, instead they both finished wars. You hold the mantle of war and of a smaller type of natural chaos. You don’t make wars happen, you end them and restore the balance that the chaos of that war caused.” Squeezing me tightly with his wings I feel myself start to slip down onto him and gasp as he quickly pushes past my entrance whether voluntarily or not he cucks his hips until I slide all of the way down his length. Each of us moan, twitch, and spasm until I finally come to a stop with his scales flush against my own. I feel full. Content. As if a piece of me that has been missing since my hatching has finally been filled as he holds me close and my insides actually pulse in response to his own heartbeat emanating from his twitching cock. I feel as though our hearts sync as this happens. That we truly became one.
Panting and shaking I do not trust myself to speak. Rather than use my words I lean my head against his and in seconds I feel him start to gently push with me. Our foreheads carefully pressed together in a way to not harm one another from our horns and spines and our eyes locked. His shining emeralds staring longingly into my own glaciers.
“I am yours…” He takes a moment to steady his breathing before talking again.
Hissing softly I try to shift myself around or even lift myself slightly so that I can show him what his words mean to me. In the end I can do little more than moan and gasp as he bucks into me again and my walls clench down with an iron grip while my eyes flutter. The same little spines I had played with earlier are once again firm and rather surprisingly they do not hurt me. It is the exact opposite as the slightest of movements is enough to cause my muscles to lock up and send me plummeting back down to his base with a loud slapping of fluids. A horrid heat roaring in my very core screams out in pleasure that I match with my own voice as fluids rush past where we are joined together and noisily stane our laps. Suddenly lightheaded a strange mix of a purr and garbled moan escapes my throat as Spike starts to softly buck his hips again. Only now instead of my palm he is now thrusting inside of me.
In a beautiful haze I moan and cling to Spike with all my might as his breaths become louder and more frantic. His movements and thrusts grow in intensity and aggression and before long we are both panting and screaming out in bliss. Another wave of spasming and twitching muscles contract and squeeze my walls in a death grip around Spike. Each and every barbed spine is enveloped by me and pokes and prods me in the most wondrous of ways and his tip actually pushes deeper inside of me to unleash his inner fire. Burning, sweltering heat fills my walls only seconds before a sharp pain deep inside me makes me gasp and I feel his tip actually push into my womb. Had I been in season I doubt it would have hurt, but all the same Spike is now tied to me.
Panting, shuddering, shaking and shivering I am exhausted. Too weak from such overwhelming feelings I can do little more than moan and weakly grind against his hips as his cock twitches and spasms with each spurt of lava being pumped into me. I am Spikes mate. Spike is mine and I am his...
I'm not alone anymore...
Wrapped up in the coils of his serpentine body Twilight can do nothing more than glare menacingly at Discord. His mismatched eyes filled with joyous mirth were completely unaffected by her however. Instead he cackles and squeezes her tighter making the mare squeak like a dog toy.
“Discord! Celestia help me when I get out you are -” Discord bops the unicorn's nose with his claw forcing her to go cross eyed and scrunch up her muzzle.
“You, my precious little grape soda, are not going anywhere until you say it.” Twilight grinds her teeth and struggles harder in his grasp.
“Never! Let me go right now!” Rarity casually sips her tea and turns to both Pinkie and Fluttershy.
“So do either of you know what's going on? I know he is living with you right now darling, but Pinkie, you also have a knack for knowing things.” Pinkie shakes her head rapidly.
“Nope! Not a clue Rares! All I got was an invitation to a party and as soon as I fed Gummy ran straight here.” Rather than saying anything Fluttershy just shrugs her wings.
“Hey! Why didn't you ask me if I know anything!?” All three ponies turn to Rainbow Dash as she floats above the table in a huff.
“Well… Do you?” Fluttershy raises her eyebrow as she questions her friend.
“Well no… But -”
“That's what I thought.” Rainbow sputters uselessly trying to think of a response as Fluttershy pours some tea into her cup and drinks it.
“Fine! Just… Can you at least put me down first?” Discord rolls his eyes, literally, and then snaps his claws making a T-Shirt appear on Twilight. The white shit proudly displaying the message ‘I can't reed’ in bold black letters with lights flashing around them. Cackling like the madman he is, Discord finally sets Twilight down after she attempts to stab him with her horn since she knew her magic was ineffective.
“That's not how you spell read silly! It's R-E-A-D. There's only one E in read Twilight!” Twilight turns her withering glare from the draconequus to her pink friend. Pinkie has at least the decency to blush as she smiles.
“I got a letter from the princess today that -”
“But you can't read!” Rainbow falls to the ground laughing as Twilight's shirt is flung at her and gets tangled in her wings. Snorting in frustration, Twilight continues.
“As I was saying, I got a letter from the princess this morning. At first I thought it was a joke but… Princess Celestia has asked all of us, including Spike and Discord, to go to their old Castle in the Everfree and start getting it ready for immediate habitation. She said that something big is coming and that we all need to be ready for it because... She wanted us to go there thanks to us all now having more ‘unique’ abilities thanks to the Elements of Harmony.” Applejack, who until this point was emotionally detaching herself from the conversation with a rousing game of solitaire, groans and loudly pushes her chair out from the table.
“Nope. Not going back there again this time of year. Them Timberwolves been gettin frisky with mah apples. Ain't got the heart to explain to AppleBloom why I got to cover up mahself at home again either.” Discord scoffs.
“Oh please, you six have been nothing but sticks in the mud ever since the Elements of Harmony changed you! Apart from dear Pinkie Pie you've all hid behind magic and makeup to try and ignore who and what you really are. I may be the spirit of Chaos but I for once do not take my words lightly when I say embrace the chaos! Embrace your change and accept your new selves!” All six mares look at each other uncertainly.
“While we appreciate what you're saying darling, it's just… well it's just not that easy.” Discord snaps his claws making Rarity disappear in a flash and a tall snow white Kirin with soft blue diamond scales takes her place once the light fades. Rarity, with as much dignity as she could muster, flashed her horn and fell back onto her 'fainting couch’ with a dramatic sigh.
“Oh please.” Snapping his claws another five times in quick succession the other mares are all enveloped by a similar flash of light before reappearing in a different form.
“Not cool man.” Rainbow Dash rips the shirt that had tangled her wings apart with her talons and snorts. The once pegasus and now prismatic griffon stretches and flaps her wings before settling them back at her sides.
“Yer lucky mah hat's fine.” Applejack takes a wood covered paw to carefully readjust her father's stetson between her ears.
“Wait, you got bigger!?” Applejack shrugs her shoulders before sitting down on her haunches and using her hindleg to scratch at the back of her head. As she does, small flakes of dry wood fly off to reveal more healthy and sturdy wood beneath that better forms to her soft mossy coat.
“Accordin to Twi I'm a timberwolf matriarch or somethin, like Discord but a timberwolf I guess. Should be done growin though… Sorry I ain't kept up with y'all about it but I been ignorin it fer a bit Dash, not like you doin any different with being a Dire Griff. Yer using that spell Twi made like the rest of us to look like our old selves.” Rainbow clicks her beak and turns away with a blush.
“That's fair I guess.” Rainbow ruffles her wings as she moves to the table with Fluttershy, who is now a Fae Faun, and sits in the spot Rarity left open after ‘fainting’. Fluttershy meanwhile just sighs at seeing her illusion falter. Muttering softly under her breath she reaches out with her now cloven hooves to pick up her cup and drink more tea, though now wishing it was heavily spiked.
“I still don't get why the elements only changed you guys! Why couldn't I have been changed into something fun like you Fluttershy? You get to be a doe and got to keep your wings! Plus you got a really neat antler crown thingy that ALWAYS has birdies on it.” Fluttershy's eye twitches slightly as a crow smacks into the nearest window and then slides down the glass slowly.
I may be a little bigger than Spike but I cannot be more happy that this does not bother him. Even with my size he still wraps himself around me and holds me all the same. Claws and scales gently brushing and cradling my own all while he keeps me held tightly against his chest.
I want to wake up like this for the rest of my days. Held tightly in his arms as he nuzzles and nips at my scales. The firm pressure of his snout pushing into my neck and chin when he mindlessly inhales my scent and bites at my flesh. With each breath he takes a heavy and warm feeling radiates from my chest making me almost feel drunk. I guess that's why I am talking to myself as I am, isn't it? Trying desperately to decipher the actions of my own body thanks to the overwhelming sense of happiness filling me. How strange is it that being happy is a foreign feeling to me. Was I ever truly happy in either of my past ‘lives’?
Sighing softly I shift my position so that I can comfortably look down at Spike's sleeping face. Soft purple scales reflect the gentle light of the torches in a calm and hypnotic fashion that only serves to make his small smile pop. A smile I can't help but mimic as I bring up a paw and gently run my thumb up the bridge of his snout.
“I love you Spike Solaris…” Leaning forward I kiss the top of Spikes snout. A shallow grumble is all I get out of him in response.
“You know I think that is the first time I've ever heard you say that.” My breath catches in my chest as Sólestia speaks.
How did she get into my home without me sensing her?! In a panic I reach out with my mana and am instantly blinded by how close her own mana is. Shifting my gaze carefully I let out a low hiss.
“Relax Fenrir, I just want to talk, not fight.” Celestia Logi is curled up on a mix of my cushions and some she had to have brought with her. Lounging in a very defenseless and relaxed way that screamed ‘you can’t touch me’. I sigh and pull Spike closer to me. She isn’t wrong, there is nothing I can do that wouldn’t wake up Spike or make me out to be the aggressor.
“What do you want?” Sifting around to lay on her side, Celestia flicks her tail.
“If I’m being honest with you Fenrir I want to find the nearest drake and have him fuck my brains out. The last time I laid with another being was with Spike's father and that was around the time I conceived him. Pair with that the fact that his scent is similar to Jorm’s and I’ve been left a dripping mess for two days now because of you two.” As she talked Celestia never stopped flicking her tail. An obvious sign of agitation when mixed with her twitching wings raised scales along her spine.
“Why are you telling me this exactly?” Celestia blinks and tilts her head in confusion. A deep blush suddenly taking hold of her features as her tail stops mid flick.
“Two reasons. First you asked, and second… Actually we can talk about that one later. There is something a lot more important than that at the moment that I need your help with.” I hiss softly and use my wings to pull Spike tighter against me.
“I'm not leaving him. We are mates now.” Celestia looks away and blows a large spout of orange flame as she sighs.
“That is not why I'm here. Believe it or not I've got over my own insecurities a while ago and am actually happy for both of you. Not that that matters right now though… Look, I need your help Fenrir. Something has come up that I can no longer ignore, and thanks to the actions of Luna unlocking more of your memories I have no choice but to get you involved.” I close my eyes and rest my chin on top of Spike's head.
“My mind is a jumbled mess Sól la- er, Celestia” I growl and snort. “I can't even get your name right, what good could I possibly do you even if I did want to help you?”
“A missive from the Dragon lands arrived the other day practically begging to-”
“Wait. Dragon lands? Didn't you say dragons are some sort of half breed of Jötunns?” Celestia shuffles her wings uneasily when I turn my attention back to her.
“Technically. It would be more accurate to say they are our species' direct descendants rather than a half breed. Dragons are to us what the common dog is to wolves. Over the countless years the Jötunn that were left here had to adapt. It was simply a matter of evolution.” As if sensing my discomfort Spike tightens his grip on me and even crawls the short distance over my body so that his head is once again level with mine. No matter how deeply I blush from embarrassment I cannot stop my traitorous body from purring when Spike finally settles again after nuzzling into me.
“I have no idea what any of that means… Just go back to telling me why you want my help.” Celestia flicks her tail and groans. Mumbling something under her breath that I can't quite make out she shifts again in what is turning out to be a vain attempt at getting comfortable.
“To make a long story short, the dragons view us as their gods. It's bad enough that Jötunns are revered like a god, but being both a Jotuun and holder of a mantle like the two of us…” Celestia stops and after a few moments I start to realize the gravity of her words.
“They think you are their goddess?” Celestia gives a dry laugh and smiles.
“Worse, they think me, you, your siblings, Tiamat, and even Spike are their GODS. I don't have the slightest clue how, but from what I could gather from what was written not only do they know all of us, our true names, our past, but they even have accurate depictions of what happened before, during, and even after Ragnarok!” I roll my eyes, unimpressed by Celestia's rising excitement.
“I don't see why any of this makes it so I have to be involved.”
“Fenrir they knew about the stasis crystals! How we had to hide away and bide our time as our enemies withered away. They know about MY son, YOUR mate. No one knew I was with eggs until I was put on trial by my father and the asir council. A trial Jorm had to have been at.” I grunt softly as Spike moves again and squeezes me. After letting him settle for a moment I lick his snout before finally replying to Celestia.
“Had to? You don't know for sure?” Celestia visibly deflates into the cushions.
“Well… No, not for sure. But he -”
“When do we leave?” It takes her a moment to realize what I said and look up at me.
“What?” I use my tail to swat a pillow and throw it at Celestia.
“When do we leave Sól logi? When do we go and find your mate?” She does not react as the pillow, blessed by the ancestors to give it accuracy, pelts her in the face.
“You're just going to help? Just like that?” I shrug.
“Pretty much.” Celestia flops her mouth like a dying fish. Now that I think of it, I should make Spike come fishing with me. Then once he's cold I can warm him up… Mmmm I like the thought of that.
“What? I mean… I came here knowing this was a long shot and all, but I fully expected to leave here with nothing but a few new bruises to show for my efforts.” I snort a puff of frost and sigh.
“Congratulations, you want a fucking sticker? You're offering me a chance to leave the country you forced me into helping you rule. Something that I've yet to be told how to do, mind you.” Celestia flicks her tail.
“Oh… You're still upset about that?” I bare my teeth and growl.
“If I wasn't fucking your son I'd hurt you.” Celestia gives a nervous laugh as her wings start to twitch again.
“That sounds like a yes… Right, um… Once we come back how about you and I work and figuring that all out yes? I only intended for you to get a title to shut the nobles up but seeing how we are now talking we can really get things squared away! Oh I'm going to need to get Twilights help to -”
“NO!” Spike jumps up from my chest in a panic and stands over me.
“Oh, good morning my love.” I use my paw to guide his muzzle back down to me and lick Spike's muzzle making him turn red. “Did you sleep well?”
“This is starting to become a bit of a habit for you Spike.”
“In front of my mom? Really? Wait, you're not surprised I was awake?” I raise my brow and flick my tail. Turning to look Celestia in the eyes I reach a paw back and roughly smack Spikes' flank making him yelp. In the next second I rush my head forward and twist so that I can lock my jaws with him and properly kiss him. Unsurprisingly he doesn't fight back and even starts to moan in purr. Celestia seems to find this quite distracting as she coughs nervously.
“Ok I think you made your point Fenrir can we…” Spike suddenly pushes me back forcefully and flares his wings out. I can't help but moan as his paws start to trace my sides. Sadly my enjoyment is cut short when he breaks off our kiss and unlocks his jaw from mine. Surprisingly I'm the only one left panting as he just growls and lightly nips at my chin.
“That wasn't very nice of you Feny~.” Celestia lets out a breath I didn't know she was holding and smiles.
“Thank you Spike. I -” Spike ignores Celestia.
“You know Cadence always said she had to punish Shining for being naughty. Maybe I should punish you~” Even with me laying on my back my wings flare with such strength that they shoot out from beneath me. Oh sweet mother of all things holy…
“I'm going to kill my niece.”
“I'm going to fuck your son~”
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Author's Note
Another small interlude to help fill in the gap between bigger chapters and writers block.
Also its in the title but minor smut warning
Inter-LEWD 4
“Wow, I can't believe that worked! I was a little worried you wouldn't get my plan, but your acting really sold it! I haven't seen mom run that fast in my whole life.” I grin as I turn away from the entrance that mom ran out of and look back down to Fenrir beneath me. Though instead of her also grinning like I thought she would, she instead looks up at me with a strange mix of confusion and disappointment.
“Act?” I chuckle and rub the back of my head in embarrassment while sitting up on my haunches.
“Yeah I know my acting was pretty bad, I mean who actually talks like that! If you hadn't been so convincing I don't think mom would have bought it.” A frown quickly starts to form on Fenrir's muzzle.
“I wasn't acting Sól Vǫrðr .” A deep guttural growl escapes Fenrir's throat and is the only real warning I get before I am on my back and pinned beneath her. Fenrir's wings flared aggressively behind her and obscured my view of anything other than her. Then again there isn't anything I'd like to look at more than her.
Beautiful blue orbs that put the greatest of glaciers to shame and seem to glow thanks to the ebony black stripes around her eyes. Powerful muscles that cause her silver scales to shimmer and flash in the torch light with even the slightest of movements. Curves that could make a mountain blush… In any other instance or with any other creature I'd surely fear for my life. Tartarus I'd have at least fought back or struggled against their grip. Yet I know I am perfectly safe with Fenrir even when she looks ready to claw out my throat. Which is a little surprising considering her body count.
“Beautiful …” Fenrir snarls and snaps her jaws just inches from my face. Frost gently settling on my scales as blue flames licked at her lips.
“What did you just say?” Pressing her snout to mine Fenrir puffs her chest up and whips her tail behind her. The chill of her flames is enough to make me shiver before I use my inner flames to warm my scales. As a result a soft sizzle can be heard where our snouts meet.
“I said you're beautiful.” Immediately she falters. The fierce snarl that had been glaring down at me is rapidly replaced with a dumbfounded expression before a deep blush explodes across her scales. I don't bother giving her any time to recover either as I lean forward just enough to slowly lick from the bottom of her chin all of the way up and over her snout. Ironically enough this makes her shiver, and I can safely say it isn't because she is cold.
“I… I'm not…” I purr softly, an act I've learned recently is actually not voluntary at all for our kind. No bad Spike, geek out later, deal with the beautiful ice dragoness first. Or is it ice Jötunn? Meh, they're kind of the same if you think about it.
“As of last night you are my mate, just as I am yours. So if I want to tell you the truth about how beautiful you are I will.” Very slowly Fenrir lowered herself down onto me and buried her snout into my neck. Her muscles gradually relax and her grip on me loosens greatly while she settles herself in and purrs loudly. Gently I move my chin to rest on her head and wrap my arms and wings around her.
“I'm sorry… I didn't hurt you did I?” I snort a puff of smoke and laugh.
“No Feny, you didn't hurt me.” A sudden sharp pain in the side of my neck makes me yelp. Did she just bite me!?
“Don't call me that…” Fenrir's words are muffled by her growls as she speaks but that unfortunately does not stop her from nipping at my paw when I try to rub at my now sore neck. Reluctantly I let my paw fall back down before I feel her start licking at where she just bit me.
“I won't so long as you don't bite me again.” She only hums and continues to lick at my neck not even bothering to give me an actual response. I growl loudly. Fine, let's see how you like it then! Moving quickly I lurch forward and sink my teeth into her neck.
“MMHaah!~~” I freeze at the sudden moan that my bite draws from her. I no longer feel safe as her growls have turned into deep purrs. Fenrir soon brings her paw up and prys me from her neck. As she does she never looks back at me and instead only looks forward in an unbroken and unfocused gaze.
“I need to take care of something, when I'm done I will be in the bath waiting for you.” Fenrir crawls over me to free herself from the pillow nest. A very slow and deliberately calculated crawl that sent shivers up my spine thanks to her grinding and smearing her wet slit across my scales. Yet as if leaving a trail of her juices on me wasn't enough she stopped just over my head and stood there. Her very much swollen slit hovering just over my muzzle and leaving her pink flesh exposed and glistening in the torch light. I don't even notice her actually watching me until after she shakes her hips and causes a few drops to land on my snout.
“I-I'll be there.” My voice cracks and my heart jumps into my throat as even more of her ‘excitement’ drips down onto me.
“Burn the pillows, then go to the kitchens in the castle and grab as much food as you can carry. Bring all of it with you to the bath… You have ten minutes Vǫrðr . Do NOT make me wait.” Once she started to move again she never once lowered her tail. Instead she left it hiked up in the air and swayed her hips in a slow walk that left drops on her floors. It was only after she disappeared into her bathroom and pulled on the stone slab to half seal the room that I came back to reality. The sound of running water
Author's Note
Yeah I know it's a short one. Unfortunetly life is still being mean on top of writers block making it hard for me to feel satisfied with what I write.
Anyways, this is the last interlude for now and the next chapter will be back with Fenrir. If all things go as planned that should be before sunday!
Interlude 5
Having been forced to stay awake late into the morning Luna struggled in vain to suppress her yawn. The pages of the report she was reading blurring momentarily until her yawn passes and she's able to continue. As she does Silver Scale, the director of the Equestrian Intelligence Agency, waits patiently for her to finish by puffing on a cigar.
“Are you absolutely certain of this?” Silver nods her head and grunts, smoke momentarily obscuring her muzzle from the princesses view.
“Aye Princess. There’s a traiter somewhere in the Agency. I don't know who yet, but it's clear whoever they are is directly responsible for compromising multiple agents and safe houses both in and outside of Equestria’s borders.” Luna frowns as she sets the report down.
“Has my sister already left for the Dragon Lands?” Silver nods again.
“She has Princess.” Sighing loudly Luna rubs her tired eyes with her wings. The soft and repetitive motions offer little relief, but do manage to give Luna the strength to continue on.
“Looks like this is something we are going to have to take care of ourselves. Do you have any lead on who this individual might be?” Finishing off the rest of her cigar in a singular aggressive breath, Silver throws the now dead cigar butt into the nearby trash bin. Whether it was done for dramatic effect, or for the sake of not knowing when she would get another smoke Luna didn’t know, but it irked her either way.
“No Ma’am, but given the information that was leaked only a hoof full of ponies can be to blame.” Luna lets her wings droop at her sides as she raises up her forehooves to rub at her temples.
“Do you know of any reason these individuals may have done this?” Silver shakes her head again.
“Unfortunately no. I have absolutely zero evidence to put against any of them other than their rank and what that gives them access to. Worst of all is they all have an excellent record and no history of misconduct in any fashion.”
“Nothing can ever be simple can it…” Sighing loudly Luna gets up from her desk. Briefly stretching out her aching limbs and then making her way towards the door at a sedated pace.
“No Ma’am, but there might be a way to make things easier.” Stopping just before the door Luna turns around and looks to Silver with a raised brow.
“What do you have in mind Director?” Silver gives a lopsided grin and waves back towards Luna’s desk with a wing.
“Yes well I’m not most ponies. Besides if this is what you consider commanding you around I’d hate to see you actually lose a game of poker.” Luna grunts, but her other half is more than happy to let out a chuckle at the accusation.
“And what exactly would our trap be if you're in the field acting as some sort of bait.” Silver just smiled much to Luna’s growing annoyance.
“Not acting, I will be bait. As for the trap, what better than an alicorn? Though it might be a good idea to have some backup of your own Princess. That is, if you agree of course.” Silver's smile grows into a large grin as Luna's eye twitches.
“Under Absolutely no circumstance would I allow a plan like this to go forth. The fact that it would never work is pointless to even bring up considering how stupid this would be to even try!”
Author's Note
Hello and welcome back to the start of your semi-regularly scheduled programing of...
Drama Dragons!
In other words chapters should be returning to semi-weekly uploads
Chapter 15 - (Rewrite)
“This is so exciting! I can’t remember the last time I was able to go and do something on my own like this! Even after returning to my true form I’ve had to limit myself so I don’t outpace my own guards.” Celestia laughs as she flys about in the air like a hatchling that only just learned to use her wings. Quick dives and sharp turns are nothing for her as she screams out in joy when quite literally flying circles around me and destroying any chance of me using the thermals to glide lazily. A single traitorous part of me wants to join her, to flit about like a hatchling in the sky and burst through the thermals just like her. That part of me is quickly muzzled and thrown into a deep corner of my mind under lock and key.
“You do know where we are going though right?” Sólestia comes out of her latest dive and after sharply looping around me levels off at my side. Though she is still absolutely beaming and giddy with excitement she manages to take a moment to catch her breath and clear her throat before addressing me.
“Yes Fenrir I do. Thankfully it is quite easy to follow the natural path of the Horned River all of the way down to the southern coast. So long as we have the river in sight we are going the right way.” I only give a small hum in response.
“You said this would be about a two day journey right? Will we be stopping on the mainland to rest before we travel over the ocean?” Sólestia… No, Celestia…
“Are you alright Fenrir?” I reel back slightly from how close Celesia had gotten when I wasn’t looking. A soft blush even making its way onto my muzzle thanks to the embarrassment.
“Yes… I just keep getting your name wrong.” Celestia is quiet for a moment before she pumps her wings hard and flips herself over top of me and levels out again on my other side. I struggle not to try and evade her on instinct and only just barely stop myself from lashing out at her. I’m not sure if she noticed my struggle or not, but even if she did she let herself drift closer to me until the tips of our wings were almost touching. The thermals finally restabilizing the air current now that Sólestia had stopped playing.
“Well now you have me curious, what do you call me now? I have to be honest though, if it is anything less insulting than when you called me a Hóra Völva I’m actually going to be disappointed in you.” I laugh. I genuinely laugh and almost falter in my flight as Celestia just giggles.
“No, no… You are still both a Hóra and a Völva, but it wasn’t an insult this time. I keep calling you Sólestia.” Celestia snorts a puff of smoke and smiles.
“That's actually kind of cute.” Cute?! How? Why!
“The fuck do you mean by cute!?” My growls do little more than make that stupid purple bitch laugh louder.
“Oh don’t be like that, just because I think it’s cute doesn’t mean it’s a slight against you. Sól Logí is just as much my name as Celestia, though Celestia is far less formal.” I grunt and snort a cloud of frost.
“Well at least your real name has meaning… The ponies you rule over wouldn’t find the name Sun Fire to be different from their own naming habits. Why not use that instead?” Celestia roll’s her eyes before pumping her wings and rolling over the top of me again. Leveling out once more she blows a cloud of smoke in my face.
“Many reasons honestly. Besides, my little ponies had enough of a hard time coming to grips that I wasn't a real Alicorn. I can only imagine how they'd handle me changing my name back.” I roll my eyes and speak as mockingly as possible.
“Oh no~ The god like being that I owe my entire meager existence to did something I don't like! I'm going piss myself and cry now!” Throughout my act Celestia keeps a very straight and bored expression. Only the smallest of frowns visible at The end.
“Are you done?” I huff and flick my tail in annoyance.
“You know I'm right Logí.” Sólestia growls and hits me in the back of the head with a wing. I growl back but hold myself from hitting her in turn. Even though Spike isn't here I do not think he'd take Kindly to me attacking his mother. Worse is I know he won't take ‘she started it’ as a valid reason a third time.
“Luna and I have guided the ponies from the shadows for over a thousand years and directly as their leaders a thousand more. They may not be the Asir of old, but they are descended from them. As the last of the old races It is our duty to guide and protect all those who come after us. You're part of that too an -”
“Oh by the ancestors not this again, we're not doing this. There is no way we wouldn't try and kill each other if you're bringing this topic out only a little after our journey started. For Spikes sake change the subject.” Celestia growls but reluctantly pulls away and sighs. Her wings drooping ever so slightly and making her sink down until she flapped again to level out. Though I move very little I keep her in the corner of my eye in case she decides to hit me again.
“Alright um… Oh! Why don’t we do a back and forth! I ask a question and then you ask me one. Luna and I used to do this all of the time when we were younger. It can be a lot of fun, especially when we ask more raunchy questions.~” Bursting with energy again, Celestia pumps her wings and pulls ahead of me and then flips onto her back. A large smirk plastered across her muzzle as she rested her chin on her cream colored chest and lightly flicked her tail tip at my snout. An act that inadvertently made it hard not to look at her.
“Seriously?” Their smirk turns into a wide smile as they nod their head.
“Yes seriously. I’ll even let you go first and promise to answer everything honestly.” I glare at Celestia, but can’t help but have my interest now peaked.
“How can I be sure that you will be honest?” Rolling her eyes Celestia lights up her horns in a quick flash of magic and mana. Not a moment later a gold shimmer settles over both of us and makes my scales tingle.
“A Fae truth spell. As the Fae are often seen as the master of lies the truth is something that is sacred to them. So much so that they designed a spell specifically to identify lies. If either of us were to lie while the spell is active we would light up with my mana’s colors. In other words if we lie we glow yellow.” I bare my teeth and growl very softly with narrowed eyes.
“If you cast another spell on me without my permission, let alone without telling me first, I will hurt you.” Celestia’s eyes go wide and she laughs very nervously.
“You see if you were lying you’d have… Glowed yellow…” I snort a puff of frost that quickly disappears behind me as I adjust my wings so that I fly beside Celestia rather than directly behind her. That was genuine fear… Maybe I can use this little ‘game’ of hers to my advantage.
“Alright Celestia I’ll play, but if I ask a question you have to answer. I even promise to answer your questions to be fair.” When my scales do not glow Celetia flips back over and nods her head.
“I guess I can agree to that.” I flick my tail.
“Good. So why don’t you tell me why you’ve been so determined to change me back into who you used to know? Why have you fought so hard to make me into someone I have no memory of being other than what has been put into my head by your sister?” Let’s see you answer that you hór -
“I made you a promise and I intend to keep it.”
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. “What?” Celestia frowns and the playful air that had dominated her features since we first took to the skies disappears.
“You’d think that after I suggested such a game I'd be ready for this question. Ancestors preserve me.” Celestia shakes her head.
“That's not what I asked Sólestia. What was the fucking promise that made you decide to torture me!” Sólestia - No. Her name is Celestia stop -
“Fenrir I don't care what you call me. If it helps you to see me as Sólestia then call me that. Trust me when I say I do not care, especially when it clearly distresses you this much. Anyone else however…” I growl loudly.
“That's not -”
“Yes I know that's not what you asked and I'm going to be blunt Fenrir, you are not going to like the answer to that question. At the same time it's about a four day flight to reach the Dragon Lands and given your reaction to such revelations in the past I think it would be best to wait until we make camp tonight. I promise to tell you everything, I'll even recast the Fae spell to prove I'm still being honest.” I try to tackle Sólestia out of the air but she easily dodges me. Her only response to my charge is a sigh as she shakes her head.
“Fuck you Sólestia! Tell me right now what you did to me. Tell me why!” I try again to hit Sólestia but with just as much ease as before she effortlessly dodges me and even smacks me with her tail when I pass. I whirl around and snarl, but stop my next charge as Sólestia snarls back and matches my aerial stance.
“Fine. If you want the answer so bad I'll give it to you, but you have to play by the rules. You promised a back and forth between us, so I'll tell you what you want after you answer me.” I let out a long and low hiss that leaves a cloud of frost in my wake. When I don't do anything else Sólestia just nods her head and twists around in the air and pumps her wings. In seconds she is back to gliding on the thermals as if nothing ever happened. Reluctantly I follow along behind her.
“I want answers.” Sólestia hums softly.
“You'll get them, but answer me first. It's been over two and a half years since you managed to free yourself from your stasis crystal. Not long after that you tried to take your own life and we had you put in the medical ward with around the clock monitoring since you kept trying. My question is simple, have you tried to harm yourself again since Spike started to come visit you daily.” I hiss loudly.
“Yes I tried, no I didn't go through with it. Your son… Spike stopped me.” I can feel a gentle warmth build on my cheeks. I still don’t understand what he sees in me, especially back then.
“Good, I'm glad he was there for you Fenrir. Especially since he managed to do something that I continue to fail at. As for the promise I made to you, it's important for you to know that after Ragnarök you were gravely injured and begged me to let you die. I refused and did everything I could to heal you and save your life. You responded by repeatedly trying to kill yourself.” A frown is very quick to replace the small blush that had been taking over my muzzle. It’s almost sad that I wanted her to glow, for her to be lying again. At least then I wouldn’t have to keep having her tell me the same story with different words.
“So your promise to me was to stop me from killing myself? Are you fucking kidding me?” Celestia… You know what no, Sólestia. She gave me permission so I might as well try and not rot my brain any more than it already is.
“No, that wasn't my promise to you, that’s more of a side effect of it than anything. I promised to prove that your life was worth living because you were not the monster you believed yourself to be. I wanted to show you that you are not broken. What you did was not the actions of a monster, but the efforts of a neglected hatchling to get approval from your mother.” I growl and let myself glide closer to her until our wings are nearly touching. Why didn’t she glow? She should have glowed!
“Neglected? I don't really remember anything from that point, but I know I was not Neglected .” Sólestia frowns when I do not glow. I’m starting to think this spell is bull -
“Tiamat started training you as a warrior and assassin when you were only 8. Long before there was even any hint of Ragnarök or any instability in the Realms at all. You were 8 Fenrir, that is just wrong,” I growl again.
“So what! That doesn't mean she didn't care for me and neglected me! What about you Miss Perfect? How did your daddy treat you hmm?” Sólestia’s eyes widen in surprise before quickly narrowing as she bares her teeth and growls back at me.
“You are not turning this around on me! Do not compare how I was raised to you!” Her spines and scales start to bristle along her back and a small trail of smoke billows from her nostrils. I just huff my own cloud of frost.
“Then stop pull my tail and get to the fucking point! I don’t care what you THINK made me want to kill myself, I want you to tell me what I did that made me BELIEVE that I was a monster and deserved it!” Sólestias lips curve into a vicious snarl before she lets out a wordless howl of anger.
“Oh for the love of- You know what, I tried. I tried to do this the way that Chrysalis and Cadence wanted but you are just too stubborn! I give up Fenrir, you win.” Smoke practically pours out of her maw as the air around her starts to boil. Not wanting to risk anything I pull away and realign my flight a little farther back.
“What do you mean you tried? What do those two have to do with my past?” With a loud sigh the air around Sólestia cools quickly.
“Nothing. They have nothing to do with your past. They’ve been trying to teach me how to have these kinds of conversations with you without making your mental health worse. You however seem to be Tartarus bent to make this as difficult as possible. So I am done being nice.”
“You were being nice?” Sólestia snarls again.
“Shut up and listen to me for just one minute you stupid hatchling!” I at least have the decency to flinch as a glare is leveled my way. Thankfully nothing else is done and Sólestia starts talking again.
“You wanted to kill yourself because of the things you did durring Ragnarök. Things that Tiamat told you to do! You were absolutely mercilessly to all you came across, you slaughtered both innocents and soldiers without thought. You ate the corpses of those you felled without care and only took prisoners so that -”
“I ate what!?” Sólestia flinched back from my yell with a grimace quickly splitting her muzzle in two.
“Look It wasn’t just you, we all had little choice in what we got to eat at that time. During the Great Hunt there was nothing left to eat but those that were sent to kill us. There were no more fish in the rivers, no more cattle in the fields, even the crops were burned just to spite us. Solaris made it clear no price was too high to eradicate every Jötunn.” My stomach churns the longer I think about what she just said.
“Please tell me you’re lying.” Sólestia laughs. A dry and hollow sound completely devoid of any life rather than the mirth that such an action should bring.
“Am I glowing?” I frown when she turns to look at me. Her scales still the same deep almost black purple with not even a hint of her mana's glow.
“So I really…” Sólestia nods softly, a pained expression etched deep into her features. I think I'm going to be sick.
“You went out of your way to capture entire hunting parties only to skin them alive in front of the towns and villages they came from. Then you'd sit there and eat then so that everyone could hear their screams. Once you were done with them you'd butcher the town or village until only the mother's and their young remained.” My scales bristle and shiver in disgust. If I think hard enough I swear I can see it. Foggy distorted images of bloody flesh dangling from my claws as I laugh. This is wrong. Just an overactive imagination. If it really were a memory it wouldn't be like this. You can't feel or smell memories, I know you definitely can't taste them… Taste the blood…
“I ah… I at least spared them right?” Of course I spared them, why did I even bother asking. I'd never -
“No, you most certainly did not. Tiamat wanted you to spread as much fear and chaos as possible and there was nothing that would stop you from trying to appease your mother.” I shake my head. That can’t be right.
“But she wouldn't tell me to -”
“Fenrir I know you said you weren't neglected but Tiamat was not a sane Jötunn. Between the deaths of your little brothers, the war, and the hunt that followed something inside of her snapped. You may have some inkling that she was a good mother when you were young but she wasn't. No good mother would make her hatchling do the things she made you do.” I hiss softly. That can’t be right. Can it?
“So I just killed everyone? If this was during that hunt, how did she even tell me what to do? How did she make me do things without her being there?” Sólestia frowns and mumbles something too quiet for me to hear.
“In the last few months of the war, right around when I and Jörmungandr got together, Tiamat called a meeting between all of her top leaders. In that meeting she laid out the groundwork for a terror campaign if we lost the war along with a clawful of other contingency plans. In that meeting she gave you and your siblings each an enchanted journal so she could keep in touch.” Another hiss escapes past my lips as I spit at Sólestia. This is going nowhere. She is just talking in circles!
“I don't believe you. That Fae spell you cast is fake. Neither of us have been glowing!” Sólestia just groans.
“We only glow if we lie Fenrir, neither of us are lying. Here let's make this very simple for you. Focus on my mana and see for yourself that when I do glow I'm not channeling anything to make it happen.” I snarl but after a few moments relent with an irritated huff.
“Fine! Tell me a lie!” Sólestia shakes her head.
“I'm very happy to be having such an easy conversation with you.” While her scales start to emit a dull glow I focus in on my mana to try and single out her own. Unfortunately I can't find it right away.
“Again.” My voice takes on a deeper tone as I can't stop the growl from leaving my throat as I speak.
“I'm not at all losing my patience.” Again she glows, but I still cannot feel or see her mana flaring.
“Lie and then a truth… Please.” This time Sólestia looks at me when she speaks.
“It brings me joy to see you like this.” … “I hate that I am the reason you've been hurt so much these last two years.” Same as before her scales shine with a golden glow, but no mana flares up to cause this effect. The same happens when she tells her truth and the glow fades away. Never once did her mana fluctuate with the glow that surrounded her.
“Fuck you Sólestia. I hate this spell.” I turn away in a puff of frost as I snort.
“If you weren't sleeping with my son I'd absolutely fuck you Fenrir. As for the spell, I find it can be fun when not used for such heavy subjects.” I whip my head back around with wide eyes. Sólestia giggles, but after I feel the horrible blush taking over my muzzle that stupid bitch nearly falls from the sky laughing. Worst of all is that she isn't glowing. Why Isn't she glowing? Why does she want to sleep with me? Why do I really like that!? Change the subject! I need to change the subject!
“Sh-shut up! Don't change the subject. Go back to the stuff about Ragnarök.” It takes a moment but once Sólestia eventually settles enough to fix her wings and remain in the air she focuses back on me.
“Are you sure you really want to hear more Fenrir? Yes I said that to try and shake you up a little bit but I'm also trying to avoid you having another mental breakdown.” No longer able to feel the heat of a blush on my cheeks, I nod my head with confidence.
“What did Tiamat tell me Sólestia? What did I do?” Sólestia watches me intently, her eyes looking over every inch of me as a frown once again takes over her features.
“Alright, just remember that I tried to warn you.” I nod my head.
“I know.” Sólestia's frown Deepens more, but she does nod her head back.
“Alright, I'll start by going back to what I was saying earlier about you taking prisoners. Tiamat was adamant that you only roundup survivors so you could give them a glimmer of hope. Then she'd have you force them to watch as you slaughtered their young or even made them kill their own.” Why would I do that? What could I possibly achieve by doing that?
“What else?”
“Tiamat also told you to sometimes leave only a dozen or so mothers alive after forcing them to drape the corpse of their child around their neck. She wanted you to do that because they did that to her with your brother's corpse but… These were innocents. They had nothing to do with the war or the hunt.” Innocents…
“Alright. What else?” Sólestia looks to me even more worried than before.
“Fenrir I really think tha -” I cut her off with a growl.
“What. Else.”
“We would stalk groups of survivors that you let live from some of the villages. You'd injure them just enough so they were easy to track and then harrase and torture them until they led us to the next village. Finally you'd kill them just before they reached the safety of this new village and repeat the process all over again.” I tilt my head into confusion. What does she mean by we?
“We?”
“Jörmungandr, Hel, and I were with you the whole time. Jörm refused to abandon you even though both you and Tiamat told him to. I obviously wouldn't leave Jörm and Hel was too injured to go off on her own.”
“Oh.” Sólestia growls and snorts a puff of fire and smoke.
“Worst is that Tiamat kept writing to you in that damned journal. We only ever killed and ate enough to get by until we finally found a realm mostly untouched by the hunt. You on the other claw kept up with your mother's orders and continued To eat everyone we killed. Like some sort of sick challenge you kept eating and then laying out the remains like some art piece.” I really was a monster wasn't I. Ancestors I feel sick… I wouldn't deserve a second chance at life if even half of this was true, but all of it?
“Alright, you made your point. I was a monster, I get it. Let's stop talking about what I ate.” Sólestia snarls loudly.
“No Fenrir you don't get it! You're not the monster, your mother is! Tiamat forced you to do these things! She forced you to keep doing all of these horrible acts and punished you when you tried to stop! Tartarus Fenrir, you were scared to stop eating corpses because of her.”
“I… I'm…” I throw up. Bile catches in my throat as I try to stop myself. Instead all I end up doing is coughing and choking as I flap my wings in a panic.
“Oh shit… Ok come here, lean on me before you fall out of the sky.” I don’t hesitate and let my eyes close as my stomach makes me squirm. Before long only the sound of the wind and our wing bears are all that keep me company. It's strange how easy it is to get lost in a trance when flying. Even if she wasn't here to keep my wings in line I know that I'd still be able to fly for hours. All the while completely ignorant to the world around me.
“Skipping over that particular aspect of your self hatred, are you feeling any better?” It takes all I have left to open my eyes again and weakly glare at her.
“No…”
“Yeah that was a dumb question. Let's just call it here for now. We can do more of this later.” I grit my teeth and shake my head. I can't stop now. I need to know. I need to know why.
“No. I need to know… Please.” Sólestia is quiet at first but is quick to lightly shake me off of her shoulder. Looking me over she nods and holds up a talon.
“Alright, fine. Let's just speed through the rest of the list and get this over with. The quicker the better so I’m not stopping to answer any questions.”
“List? What do you mean list?” Sólestia ignores me as she takes a deep breath.
“In no particular order you killed the prior mantle holder for the element of ice. He was your Uncle -”
“Wha -”
“Butchered your entire extended family until you were the last Jötunn with an elemental affinity for ice left. You did spare the eggs though so that's a plus -”
“I -”
“You went to each of the 9 Realms of Mantle and Mortal to destroy them. Using your new mantle to freeze them with an endless winter. You did accidentally kill some of the World Tree's branches doing so -”
“Hang on -”
“Helped Tiamat light the World Tree on fire after you drained the Primordial Realm of all ice to make yourself stronger -”
“Light what -”
“You started to decorate your armor with skulls and fresh chunks of meat. You actually kept your Uncles skull and turned it into a pauldron -”
“...”
“At one point you -”
*Hurk*
“Aaaand we're back to puking.”
Author's Note
Hello again all, long time no see!
So lets just get straight into it. Things have been quite busy for me in my corner of the world. Between family and work I've struggled to find time to sit down and actually write things out. Which is more than a little irritating considering this chapter was almost done back when I posted the last half chapter.
I will go on to say that I am actually very dissatisfied with this chapter. Yes I got to say and put down the important information that I wanted to, but overall I feel like the delivery was weak. I can't even count the number of times I tried to reword things or change something small until it was just right. So in that regard I apologize again.
Finally I want to say that until things start to change I do not think I can keep to a solid publishing schedule. Again I apologize for the long wait only for an 'ok' chapter. I hope you all can forgive me and stick around for me. Until then thank you for reading and have an amazing day!
Lounging on the top of a remote hilltop along the Equestrian countryside Celestia watched Fenrir closely. Though Fenrir did help to set up her side of the camp she hadn't moved an inch since. Instead she laid with her back to the fire and had her head tucked tightly beneath her wing. Ever since, worry and guilt have fought for control Celestia’s mind. A perpetual storm of ‘what if’ scenarios plaguing her and leaving her to question if she could have done anything better.
The problem however, was that even after hours of replaying conversations and events out in her head Celestia was still unsure. From the joyous start to their journey, the very impromptu game of Truth or Fae, and finally the multiple hours of silence that followed. Every minute detail was criticized and analyzed only to be given varying different outcomes based on the smallest of changes that she would make.
What if I never caved in and vented my frustrations to Fenrir? A fight maybe or possibly a bigger fracture in their relationship.
What if I kept with the plan given by Cadence and Chrysalis? She may not have fought me but I can definitely see her losing any trust in me. I can't just not answer such a question seconds after I promised I would.
Celestia blows a small flame into the campfire in frustration. Sitting here and panicking over such small details isn’t helping, but it's all she can do until the next part of her plan shows up. Normally Celestia isn't one to put faith in such a rushed and messy plan. Then again Celestia isn't usually in charge of keeping another creature's mental health in check. For now though, all that was left to do was wait.
Thankfully if things stayed the same as they have the last few hours that wouldn't be too hard. Just keep Fenrir in her sight and intervene if she starts to do anything bad. Best of all is that she no longer had to worry about the original contingency plans put forth by Cadence and Chrysalis. Sure Fenrir is taking it pretty hard and likely won't be at her best for a little while. But considering the most anticipated response everypony thought Fenrir would have included extreme violence, this is a definite win.
Without warning Fenrir quickly jumps up from the ground and snarls while her scales and spines bristle. Less than a second later Celestia's voice catches in her throat as she is overwhelmed by a massive surge of mana. However as the mana peaked a bright flash lit up the clearing and Celestia let out a heavy sigh of relief.
“Don't worry Princess I gathered everypony and came as quick as -” Twilight's voice is silenced as a silver blur storms past her and knocks her and the rest of the group she brought with to the ground. Cries of surprise quickly filled the air as the group found itself in a tangled pile of limbs.
“Applejack! You're crushing my mane!” Rarity's complaints are cut short as a blue wing smacks her in the face. While grimacing at her mistake Rainbow is just as quick to turn around and send a verbal jab at her Kirin friend.
“That's what you're worried about?” Trying to get herself untangled from the serpentine body of a now draconequus Twilight, Rainbow catches her hindpaw and falls on top of Pinkie.
“Oh my. Pinkie are you alright?” Fluttershy carefully reaches under Rainbow until her cloven hooves make enough room for Pinkie to pop her head out from under the Diregriff.
“Yepperoni!”
“Gah! Rainbow watch your talons!” Twilight twists around and frees herself from the pile quickly. A single talon however followed her flank out and squeezed it.
“Actually those are mine.”
“Oh sorry Discord I - Wait a minute! Discord let go of my flank!” Any sense of relief that Celestia felt died a horrible and violent death as Twilight coiled her body around and lunged at Discord with murderous intent. Though Twilight had done as Celestia asked and brought Spike, she wasn't counting on her bringing the rest of her friends AND discord. Worst of all however was her growing migraine now that the group continued to argue with ever raising voices.
“SILENCE.” Having channeled her mana into her words Celestia cobbled together a very crude and basic silencing spell. Regardless of how it was formed however the spell was still more than able to complete its task. Only seconds after casting the spell the entire campsite falls quiet with only the soft crackling of the fire able to be heard.
“Twilight, while I'm happy you got here as quick as you did with Spike, this is too much. I say this with nothing but respect, and Discord this is actually not directed at you for once, but I can't handle any more chaos right now.” Before Celestia has a chance to cancel her spell Discord drapes himself over her back and caresses her jaw. Her spines stiffen as he does and her tail begins to lash out behind her.
“Aww, Celly, I didn't know you cared.” Baring her teeth and leveling the draconequus with a deadly glare it took all of her remaining willpower to not tear him to shreds.
“You're pushing it Discord. Off. NOW.” Without hesitation Discord snaps his talons again and reappears behind Twilight. The light purple harmony draconequus becoming the impromptu shield for the chaotic chimiran one.
“Noted.”
“But Princess you said that -” Celestia holds up a paw to stop Twilight.
“This isn't up for debate Twilight. I said in the letter to just bring Spike as quickly as you could because of Fenrir. We're all lucky she didn't just jump you the second you appeared. Even I was caught off guard by the amount of mana given off by your teleportation. I wasn't even the first to sense your arrival, Fenrir was.” Twilight gives Discord a dirty look as she shrugs him off of her. Unlike with Celestia however he is not so easily deterred and deftly coils his tail around the base of one of her hindlegs. Twilight just sighs and rather than press the issue ignores it.
“Princess, you said it was an emergency and that I needed to come as quickly as I could. That usually means there is something big going on and that we will need the Elements of Harmony.” Discord nods his head enthusiastically and wraps an arm around Twilight's shoulders. Rather than a soft blush however Twilight again ignores Discords antics.
“To be fair, you do have a knack for springing such things on the poor mare all the time.” Celestia groans and falls roughly to her flanks. Both her forepaws covered her muzzle before slowly dragging them down in exasperation.
“Oh blessed ancestors Discord, I am not going to argue with you about that again. Besides I specifically mentioned that I needed Spike to help with Fenrir. Why would that make you think the Elements of Harmony would be needed?” Twilight snorts and swishes her tail.
“Because Fenrir is a sociopathic monster that is responsible for the biggest catastrophe in both known and unknown history.” Silence falls over the campsite again, though this time it is not due to a spell being cast. After a few moments Celestia sighs and rubs at her temples.
“Spike?” Twilight nods her head.
“Spike.” Having been all but forgotten by everyone else the rest of Twilight's friends slowly untangle themselves and line up to watch the exchange.
“I can guarantee you that Spike did not call her a sociopathic monster Twilight, nor do I appreciate you calling Fenrir such a thing.” Twilight throws up her arms in frustration. Her serpentine body practically vibrates as she does.
“Well no, but you only have to hear some of the things she did for anypony to come to the same conclusion! I mean she killed and ate other sentient creatures Princess Celestia! That is not just something that you can ignore.” Eye’s going wide Discord laughs nervously and tries to tug on Twilight's arm. At this point however Twilight is having none of it and pulls her arm back roughly from him and even growls.
“Um Twilight while I know you don’t usually care to listen to my judgment, I highly advise you stop now.” Flinching in response to his words Twilight is too focused on Discord to see Celestia practicing some all too familiar breathing exercises.
“What? No Discord! First of all you know that is a lie, I do trust your judgment after all you’ve helped me with. Yes your idea of jokes are traumatizing but I can be the bigger pony and see that they meant no harm. That silver scaled harlot on the other hoof -”
“Um Should… Should we do something?” Fluttershy turns to Rainbow Dash after it is clear that Twilight is now having a full meltdown.
“Nah.” Rainbow Dash however is already partaking in a bucket of popcorn provided by Pinkie.
“Are you kidding darling? This is the best tea I’ve gotten to be part of in ages!” Applejack raises a wooden brow and tilts her stetson to better look her kirin friend in the eye.
“We aren’t actually involved, you know, right Rarity?” Rarity just shrugs.
“Semantics darling, semantics.”
Author's Note
This is the start of my 'rewrite'. As a side note the 'corrupted' text is not meant to be read easily. This will hopefully make more sense once you make it to the end of the chapter.
Thank you
Prologue (Rewrite)
Dragons are a race known for strength and resilience. Claws that are sharp enough to cut through almost anything. Scales strong enough to soak in lava and take a hit from an ursa major without so much as a scratch. Yet here I stand… After days of constant fighting I am the opposite of all we are thought to be. Pain and fatigue dominate my body that is only weakly held up by scared and shaking limbs. Dragons, no matter what is said about us, are still mortal creatures.
A bright flash to my side makes me turn to shield my eyes but only seconds later I’m struck by a …?̨̛͎͓̞̼͔̭̮̑͆ͧ̄̈?̨̣̼̜͈̐ͨ̂̾ͪ͛͞?̴̰̈́͌̇̈̇̀̕
Thrown violently through the air I flare out my wings to try and catch myself but am too quickly returned to the ground. Rolling and bouncing my wings are torn apart before I finally come to a stop. Head pounding and vision swimming I begin clawing my way out of the shallow trench I created. Slowly pulling myself back up onto my paws I fall back into the dirt after trying to take a single step.
Blurrily looking down I see bones poking out between still smoldering chunks of black flesh where my shoulder used to be. Hanging limp beneath the burn my arm didn't fare much better as skin and scales slowly peeled away to reveal charred muscles. Staggering back on my remaining limbs a loud cry to my side forces me to try and block another blow. Without thinking I'm already moving to deflect the attack. Only I couldn't raise my arm fully, horrible pain coursing through my shoulder and stopping me completely in my tracks.
A spear meant for my heart was only inconvenienced by my injured arm as it passed right through it and ended up pinning the charred limb to my chest. Crying out all I hear is a strangled gurgle, the spear in my side letting out a wheezing sound where it must have punctured my lung.
Gasping for breath I glare at the pony Â̷͚͔̠̙̟̲̳̑̕lͨ҉̱̗̖̖̲̳̙͖i̴̜͉̳ͫ̀ͦͧ͆ͭ͑͛c̵̮͈͎ͦ̄ͪͧͦȍ̼̞͎̳̺̜̤ͤͯ͐͊̀̀̚͝ř̛̺̬̞͓̝̰̤͉̉̋ͮͥ̈́ͦͧ͢n̗͕̩̞̆̇ͭ̽ͯ̑͌ͨ̂͝,̭̜͙̣̰͙̰̣̺ͩ̏̈́́̕͟ ̶̲͓̩̣͈̓ͣ̇ͮ̓͂̚͝Æ̃̍ͫͦͫ҉̷͈̤̠͚͖̱s̸̛̻̼̥̄̑͊ͩ̏͋̂i̥͖̅ͫ̂̓̏̉͐̀͠r͔̱̝̉͛̒͒̏̚ still holding the spear. With all of my remaining strength I whip my tail around and manage to shatter the wooden shaft in two. Lunging forwards their eyes widen in panic, mouth flapping uselessly as my jaws snap shut around their neck. Warm blood filling my mouth as they frantically beat their hooves against me in an attempt to get free.
It is wrong to enjoy inflicting pain on others. One of the first things I was taught growing up was that as a carnivore I have to kill other living things to survive. Never once was it hidden from me that this was not a painless process, but we were taught how to make it as painless as possible for our prey. Over and over it was drilled into our heads that all life is sacred in the eyes of the great mother and we must only ever kill out of necessity. Our prey must be respected and we should always make their transition to the next life as easy as possible. Ķ̙̺͍͉̏͛̋̐̒͐i̪̲̠̳͚̍͋ͅl̡̤̟̗̳̹̲̰͓̈̀ͭ͘ͅl̡͎͚̥̱̰̎͆͐͗͘͡i̺̹̥͖͎̼ͩͬ͛ͧ͗̉ͣ̂̀ͅn̡͚̬̭̬̜̤͓ͯ̒̽ͩ̎̀g̷͙̙̜̰̰̜̩̣̺̈́̏͗̂ ̶̨̖͙̼̪̣̜̫̼ͮ̋ͤ̚͠t̴̰̩̗͎̫͓͗́̈́ͪ̎h̍̏̃̌҉̹͚̞͓̳͕e̢̻̪͍̺͚͓ͤ̋ͪ͒ͤͣͤͮ ̛͕̱̣͉͕͓͈ͦ͆̀ͣ͌̔ͤÆ̧̯̟̫̞̟ͨ͊̀͐̎ͥ͋̄s̎̌ͭͮ̒̄͏̵̥̬͍̜̼͇̪͎i̴̡̲̪͎̬͐̋͋ͪ͑͒̒͞r̨̛̰͕̘̬͍ͩ͆̓ ̢̙͍̀̒ͨi̷̸̲͇̰̖͖ͦ̇ͮ͆͋͋ͧs͕̖̘̺̦̣̦̃̉ͩ͘ ̠͒ͫ̾̌̌́n̢̪̙̩͖̟͇̬̱̰̉͠o̷̺̞̗̗̩͇͇̙ͮ̋ͣț̡͓͙̦̻̗͓͇̉ͬ̈ͣ͒̈͐͢͞h̹̩͉̜͕̰̳̘̅͂i̯̝͓̬̓ͮ̎͊̆̌̓̕͘ͅn̷͂̒̿̄̆̿ͦͩ͜͏̩̟͓̬g̸̲̻̜̠̗ͦ̐͋̇ͭͩ̌̀̔ͅͅ ̢͖͎͓͈̺̟̜ͨ͊ͧ̈ͬ̅b̬̺̦̰͈͗̒̓̂̉͂ͬ͜͠ụ̶̤̗͇̱͊͐t̸̶̬̰͍ͤ̓̾ͫ ̺̤͔ͬͦ̈́̒̇͢͜a̛̟͍̯̓͒̋͂̉ ͎͎̪̰̿ͤ͟ͅḇ̴̡̮̗̂̉͌̊̾ͯ̚͘l̥̭̐ͪͧ͌ͬ͜e̓ͦ̐̀̿̄͏̶̞͙̬̪s̷̮̪̬͎͎̣̫̙̘̉͆͊̏ͣ͒̆ͤs̵̟̭̟ͭ̎ͮ̃̏̄ī̪̳͉̓̽ͨ̕͝n̴̡͔̬ͨ͋̈́ͩͫģ̢̯͎̙̊̆ ̪͉͇̔ͣͧa̭̙̮͍̗͉̙̓̅f̧̾̈̅ͩ̅̎ͫ͗҉̦̹t̺̩̩̝̬͋͌ͨ͐ͪ̄̋̓e̙͇ͧ̓ͨͨͥ͢r̨͎̅ͦ́͂͑̚͟ ̿҉̭̗̤̯̟̺w̢̺͔͎ͤ̋̎̈́͛̀ẖ̨͓̲̫̃̑̔̔̈͌̀̇ͮ͘â̴͙͔̣̥̟̰ͣ̆ͥ̇ͨ͟t̞̩͍̯̫̮̂̔͗̏͠ ̺̙̯͚̝̞̜͎ͮ̀t̷͔͍̺̼̘͉̄̀̽̉̔ͥ͑́̚͜h̼̜̯̖͖ͫ̆̌̋͑̽̄͛ͥ͘ė̷̷͉̜ͯ͌ͨ̕y͇̳̬̝̜̭ͪ̐̌̆͌’ͩ͂҉̛̫̹̹̯̝̀ṿ̴̙͉͇̦͈ͫ́̀ĕ̵̦̤̦̼͗̈́̂͐̏ͦ͂͟ ̭̺̞͔̖͉̗̖̊͒ͪ̚ͅd̵̮̙̼͇̗͉͑̒̉̎͛͂͢o̔҉̧̹̣̖n̡̮͙͎͇̮ͣ͋͋̚e̴̗̮̼͖̬͈͗̎ ̸̯̠͖̗̤̑ͬ͜t̳͎͙̼ͧ́o͓̞͙̩ͥ̿̆͆ͣ̿̐ͪͯ̕ ̶͎̗̟͇̥ͫͩ̍̑ͯͪű̶̺̆ͨ̔ͬ̒s̴̸̬̪̔ͤ̅̔͌ͧ̌!͔̝̘̥̈ ̍ͣ̉ͣ̿̇͛҉̟͍̜̯͍͔ ̢̺̰ͯ̌͗͘͜
Loosening my grip and feigning letting go, the look of hope and relief that crosses their face is almost cute. Rumbling up from my chest a deep growl is the only warning the pony has before my teeth sink back into their neck again near the base of their skull. Vertebrae snap and flesh tears as my jaw completely closes. Shaking my head back and forth in quick and violent movements their body is thrown around in an identical fashion before finally tearing free with a shower of blood.
F̵͇͉̻̻̖̉̌ͯͧ̄̉̍̋͜e̤̤̟͓̖ͭ͋͊ͪͨ̔͟ả̡̺̲͖̰̰̯̻͙͔̇̇̋̋ͦ͋ş͓̙̗̦̆͒ͫ͌́͘t̍͑̄ͣ̓̐҉̶҉̰̹̠̘̳̻ ̱͙͍̼͈̋̄͐̋̽͗ͨ̕u̶̧̠̻̰͑̎̈̊ͩp͙͕̣̗̣̦͎ͥͥ͒o̡̖̭̗̓ͧ̌̓ͧ̓ͫͅn̖̲̞͓͎̟̔ͣ̎ͯͣ͞ ̙̮͍̳ͥ͋ͩt̏ͯ̿͊̀ͯ̄ͧ̋̕҉̵͓̫̩̪̙͖h͇̗̰ͮ͐͗̎̀̐̃ę̣͇̱͓͑ͩ͘͜ ̠͕̪̳̝̘̗͈̔̐͆͌̑̒ͭͯ͠f̬͌ͦ̓̏ͪ͗͐̈́͑͜͝͝l̟̬ͩ̉͜e̛̱̰̯͗͑ͧ̌̒̒͢s̪̘̳̥̱͆̂ͧ̉ͤ́̀h̞͓͙̣̺̠̲͐ ̵̜̣̪͙̥̔ͩͦ͠õ̡̬̝̻̺̫̻̦̥̇f̢̢̮̭ͭ͌̓̔̕ ̱̲̤͎͔̻ͦ̑͗̓ͅt̹͉̺̖̤̦ͤͯ͡͝h̘̝̤̘̤̙͎̺͒ͮͫ͆e͓̞ͧ̆̊̊͢ ̛̩̲̦̲̪̲̳͎͕̂̇̆̂̈́ͤ̓͟w̺̠̰̺̤̗̻̻͊̎̐ͥ̒į̸̜̖͖͇̲͙͚ͯ̆͛ͩc̡͚̺͖͔̘̙ͨ͒ͦͨ̂́͡k̡̧͚̱͔̖̙̙͇̲͐ͨę̢̼̦̖͛̍̽̿͌̂ͥ͜d̐ͣ̄͏̖.̢̛̖̜̹͈͖̻ͥ̓͂̊̈̉͋̑ ͕͍̗̟̅̊̈͊́͟ ̛̳̣͕̣̮̙͙̿̓ͧ́̆͗́F̺̫̰̳͇̰̠͎̓̉͑̈̐è̢͖̯̏e͍̞̬͚̹͗ͭͣ̍͠ͅḏ̨̥̰̫̖̟͌̀̇ͤͦ̈́͝ ̢̭̲̲̣̈́ͥ̿̋̓ͤ̔̚͡ų͖̞͈̺͈̝̤ͮͪ̓̕͢p̸̪̘̲ͧͤͯ̊̌̔̓̇͘͠õ̅ͬ͝͏͈̺͓͉̬̜ͅň̴͐̄͏͓̼͚̺̘͖̟̟͘ ̛̛̭̖̺̬̤̬̳̔ͤţ̤̮̠̥͚̔ͮ̽̅̇ͧ̈́̀͑͘h͔͍̤̺̠͇̺͔ͭ̇̾ͤ͐ͅȅ̷̩̯͙̫̙̕ͅ ͈̺̯̲̣͕̥̭̲̔́̌͆̚͞Ṱ̨̦͙͔́̎ͧ̂͢͠R̗̹̝̻̩͎̜ͭ̂͂͡A̶̤͖̼̻̝̯ͫ̐̄͐͜Iͭ̓͊҉̥T̵̛̜̲͈̖̂ͥ̿ͪͯO͕̹̗̥ͮ̋ͨͪ̅̎R̷̖̙̼̜̙ͮ̃ͮͫͩ̾!̠̲̯̀͑̆ͮ̄ͤͬ̿̓͝ ̴̷̠̼̞̬͊͊̈́ͭͬ ̴̲͈̘͙̮̬̑͜
Dropping the severed head a horrid cough drops me to my flanks. Gasping for air that isn’t there I can feel each breath getting more shallow. Clutching at the spear to hold it steady I continue to wheeze and cough up blood. Feeling dizzy, my head is forced up roughly by a strong grip. Through blurry eyes the hazy outline of a large white pony slowly takes shape in front of me. With something sharp pressed against my throat the blurry figure advances to only a step away. Ọ̍̑́́̕ͅD̵̜̞̯̟̺̗̠̽ͩͩ́͘͘I̙̤̦̳̤̜͚̜ͤͤ͊͟͝N̬̟̳̻̞̤̳̯ͧ̊̋ͯ͌̒,̜̙̖̐̆͛ͅ ̯̖̞̰̹̲̩̗͂ͩ̋͋ͥ̀ͧ ̴̲͛͒͒T̬̰̜̮͇̫̦̭̐̉ͣ̉͆̇̒ḫ̡̨̺̼̞̽̓͛ȅ̵̲͔̖͈̼̥̘̯̓ ̧̺̭̯̱̙͙̙̜̈́ͮ̏ͧ̌ͅĄ̶͔̻͚̫͈͕̹̊̈́ͪͤ̓̑ͥͨ̿̕l̵͖̐̃ͮͫ̊͛͞l͔͕̺̯ͣ͑ͪ͌̕F̫̜͖̱͎̖͎̍͐͂͜͝ā̯̲̺͈͎͎̯̘ͫͯ̊̾͌̄͗̋͢t̡̛͙̮̙͎̯̠̒ͯ͛ͩ̒ͭ́̚͠h̢̘͍̳͗̂̏e̼̭̞̘̠͂̾͜r̲͍̺̙͂ͬ̾ͧ̚͜.̡̧͎̠̍ͮ͟.̴͉̹̺̺̥͈̋ͨ͛͡ ̓͒ͨ̀̈́̾ͦ͏̫͔̟͇̫̙̝̤ ͖̖̹̱͋́͗ͪͅĂ̴̳̥̪̲̍ͬ͋L̶ͫ̏̄͏҉̬̗͈̝͎͚͎L̯͓̘̖̭̖ͣ̽̊̈ͤ̀͌͂͡ ͓̫͚̞͉̱̮̓͂̽ͪͮ́Ḅ̗͔ͮ̎̔ͯ̄̄́͒͡É̝̣̄͌̒̕͟T̫͇͇͎̮̽́R̛͑͒ͧͥ͂͋ͦ͞͏̘̼̞ͅA̔̐̇ͭ̓̌̈́ͭ͏̝͚̮̦̭͉̤͜Ÿ͈̫͖̗̜͓E͐ͤ̋̒͜͏̸̙̬̯̥̟̩͔̯̟R̗̟̹̘̝̤̟ͨ̿̿̈́ͅͅ
“It’s over, tell your warriors to lay down their arms. Nopony else has to die.” With possibly the thickest accent I've ever heard I can’t help but laugh at their attempt to speak draconic. Ċ̈́̍͏̨̡̩͍̫̦̘̬eͯ̌҉̦͉͟l͎̻ͬ̉͢ę͙͙̯͚͙̟̼̑͡s̢̲͇̺̟̣̟̜ͣͯ̃ͨ̓̃͑ͅt͉̓̇ͧ͋̃̾ͫi͛ͬͬ̑҉̙͔͓͓̣͞͝a̖̞̬̖̫͓͍̾ͩ̒̐̊̃́͠ ̲̱̩̤̟͉́̈ͥͥ̎ͫͩ̈́̕n̨ͭ̃̀ͣͮ͂҉̰͙̗ẻ̷̷̳ͪ͆͋̈́̀͛̓͜ͅv͉ͪ̈́́e̡̛͈̼̦͊ͨ̇͛̓r͈̮̪̞̞͓ͫ̂ͩ̅ͧ̃̋ ͕̲̼͔͕͎͈̋̎̃ͬ͐d̯͔̠̻͍̈ͬͯ͗̓ͣ̐͟i̧̙͖̪͚̯ͥ̓̓͆ͪͭ̊ͤͤ͞d̨̨̖͚̺̟̤̞͓̄́̀̊̅̃ͥ͘ ̙͉̖͇ͦg̴͙̬̜̎ͦ͡ë̵̫̩̥̗͈̯̮̤̳́̄̊̿ͨ̈̊͛͐t̵̡͈͕͚͕́ͧͧ͂̇͝ ̍̽͗͆̓͏̶̴̞͚̼̤͖i̛̘̖͈͎̓͌̐͊̌͒t̴̼͍ͦͩ̿ ͓̟̠͛̅ͥ͊̃̓́d̛͖̫̜̆̓̍́ͫ̾̈̀̚͜ȯ̧̘̗͔̯̮̔͌̀̀w̸͙̖̺̏n̗͓̲̺̗͊͂̋͋͆ͬ͌̒ͣ͞ ̶̸͚̘͑͑̒ͦ͋̓̚ẳ̛̞̫͓̬̩͟ͅs̼̭̬̻̈́͋͐ͣ͑͂͂̓̄͜͠ ̠̮̃̓̇ͮw̓̅ͮ̈̽́̾͂҉̣ê̺̠̺͚̯̠ͥ̅̚l̳͚͇̜̤̼̪͉͒̓ͥ͡ḻ͓̹̰͇̆ͤ̈̽̎͒̾̽ ̜̫͙̩̈́ͪ͘͞͠a̙̪̻͉̻͉͈͈͛̽ͭ̂ͨ̆ͬ̆̾̀s͕̮̘̜̐ͧ͑ͬͨ̊̿ ͉̬̦̹ͣ̓̉͟͠L̵̗͍̲̮̄̀̀u͐͐ͤ҉̝̩̙͇̩̀n͋ͩ̉҉̢̟͓͔̘a̯̺͓͉͇ͫ.̸̨̳̙̲̯̳̩͛͌́̌ͨ͘ Only a single pitiful and hollow wheeze managed to escape my throat before I broke down into another coughing fit. Every cough caused my wound to bubble with blood, the sound of them popping practically deafening even over my coughs. Taking time to recover I eventually managed to look back up to the mare.
“Nopony… Funny.” My throat aches as I speak between wet breaths. The mare stomps her hoof in agitation and presses her sword against my throat.
“I will not ask you again, dragonJ̮̼̮̰ͦͤͬͥ̋̇̾o̼͍̘̱̟̯͓͒̏ͣt͈̭̟̗̤ͯ̾ͭ̐u͍̩̘̝̳̝͔̖ͤ͛ͦ͗̃̎̅ņ̫̩̘̝̳̠̈́͐̎̎́n̽̐ͨ͛ͪͩ҉͔̘̟͉̗͔̗͍͞,̛̥̤͓̓͋ͣ̅̅͞ ̨̲͓̭̥̼͌ͧ̋͠D̵̟̻̱͈̼̦̙̉̄͗ͨ̚E̡͉̼̹̰̤͓ͥͬ͛̒ͣ̑̕͞M̙̻̙̳̱̃̋ͥ͊̎̽̍̍̀͜O͓̜͕̙ͤŃͪͨ̾ͫ̚͏̩̥̲̱̺̗̘̖!͐̒ͭ̽͗̊ͣ͏͕͖ Tell your warriors to lay down their arms and surrender. I don’t know why you're protecting that monster, but w-”
“Monster?!” I had to stop to catch myself as I nearly fell over. Coughing and light headed I tried again.
“It is alright little one, save your breath.” Turning to the new voice I tried not to panic. Walking towards us m̴̸̙̳̺͊̇̇̋ͣë̛̖̲̬̩͓͈͌ͫ̽̊ͦ͝ͅ,̵̬̈ͦͤ͠ ̸͍̮̠̔͛̇̊ͦ̈́͗͊M̳̯̝͎̆̇͌̕͜y̯͍̼̤͚̻̣̪̓̂S͒̅̉̐̅̆ͬ̚͏҉̳͇̳̹͇̪̺͚e̝͍̮̭̖͎͕̱͂͌ͬ̊̇̽̾ͮl̡̘̲̬̫̋͐̍̍f̡̘̿̃̒̾̿̊?ͧ̈͐ͥ̈ͧ͢͏͖͍̻̟͉̟͉͖ was a tall nature spirit. Her wooden form knotted together into the rough shape of a wingless dragon. T̳͙̲͖ͨͤ͜h̨̧̭̲͙̫͗e̳̳̍̑͊̂̀ͨ͋̆̌ ̼̝̼̼̗̮̾̍̽͘ͅF̶̛͙̙̯̙̜̦̭ͨ̏̈̈͂̇̅̎ͫa̵̤̟̰͐̽̅̋ͬ͋ͤ͋̀t̶̫ͨ͒ͯ̆̌̀ͬ͒e̟̥̫̱̘̠ͩͬ̓̋͂ͤ͢͝ ̩̦̪̤ͣ̐͛̉ͭ͜͠ȍ͙̭̹̼̮̬̹̊̍̑́f̸̽ͪ͝͏̹ ̏̌ͪ͞҉̰̦̘͇̰͘a̵̢̪̟ͯͥ͗̈̽̈ͬ͆l̖̯͈͚͓͍͖͚ͩͦ̽͐́͟͢l̴̡̙̹͇̟͍͙͇͌͗ ͕̩̙̆̒ͤͥw̵̙̰̬̜͓̍͘ͅẖ̴̟̓̂̋͐̅ͭ͒ỏ͔͖͚̦̟̎̇ ͦ̾̊ͣ̔̑҉҉̙̗͖̠̱o͋̈͊͌͒̆͏҉͚̣͚p̠̗̼̞ͯ̅̚͡ͅṗ̴̊ͬͮ̌̆͂̎҉͙̦o̙̫͔̲̞̼̺̰̎̋ͣ̀͝s̜̽̋͝e̖͎̼̜̍̿̑̽͛̑ ̸̨̰̝̗̝͛̒͠h̨͉̙̯͚̔̌ͮͥ̚i̠̠̪͈͙͖ͯ͗͘͝m͙̻̜͍̮̫̻̝̅̌͢.̛͖̹̃ Moss and fungi grew freely all over her body, and a soft green glowing mist seeped out from the many holes that marred her not quite perfect shape. Walking through the crowd, ponies̢̜̩͚̜̅̇̈͟͞Æ͙͚̤̪̤ͪ͛͂͆̀͞S͇̞̹̙͓̤͙͈ͤ̑ͤ̒͒̈́Ǐ̶̗͈̭͙͒͛̎̆͗R̼̖͓ͩ̒͛̈́̚,̺̤̖̹͓̝̜ͫ͂͆̿̓ͬͭ́ ̨͙̜̊ͥ͌ͬ̏͂Ḋ͗̓͑҉̡͖̻͇̟͎̺E̮͙̺̬̺͍ͪ͆͗̔ͣ͆̇͋̕͢͞M̟̗̣̫̖̔̂̈́͝O̡̹͈̓͊̈̇ͣ̿͗͑̑͞͞N̴͕̱̠̟̊́Š̩̙̣̘͇̦̂ͅ,̷̮̞͗ͬ͗ͩ̍ͭ̈ͧ ̻̱̥̻̱̤͈̮̅͂̀́̌ͤ͒ͨ̀A̻̱͉͑ͯ̓̌͠Ḻ̶̢̘̘̦̘̞̗̠̍ͧ̊͊Ḯ̧̧̫͈͉͕̩̈́̋̐ͣͅC̸̫̿͐̔͑̎̈̾Ỏ̜̮̼̥͎͖̦͛ͣͪ͌̈̓́R̛̗̗̫̬̻͔̗̝̋ͥ̓́͞Ņ̦͎͇ͧ͋͒̓̀̚S̸̝͕ͩ͒̋̂͢ scrambled to get out of her way as she settled down next to me. Sitting on her rear she gently cupped my chin and stroked my cheek.
“Mom I-”
“Hush my little wildflower, it will all be okay.” Even without a mouth I knew she was smiling as she looked down at me. N̵͔̫͉̳̹̪̉̎ͦͤͅo͚͚̐̑͊ͣ͠ ̲̺̥͈̥̃ͦ̈͐̂̎j͔͚̝̒͆̐ą̩̹̙̭͚̯͓̎ͤ͗ͭ͌ͥ̕w̴̭͉ͥ͋ͧ͛ͤ̈.͈͚̞͖̈́̋͜ ͈͓͓̘͇̝͕̥̇̋̇͛̓̐̿̊̀̚͘͡ ̪̱ͥ̌̂̊̈́͜Ň̰̫̳̈́̑͞o͕ͥͭ̀̋ͪ̑ ̖̳͈̫̄̓s̱̪͕̺̘̮̙̘̎̃ͥ̀ḿͦ͛ͤͥ͢͏̰͖î̡̡̳̣̦͉̅lͦͫ̏̅̓ͩͦͬ̐͏̵̣͚̪̜̤̬ͅͅȅ̟̇ͬ͒͊͛̐̚ .̶̰̥̖͓̪͓ͧ́̉́ͭ̓ͨ̏Even with her so close to me I fought to not shake in fear.
“So you finally decide to show yourself.” Looking up at the mare, mom T̷̛̼̳͍̙̜͍ͯ͐ơ̙ͨ͊ ̶̒̓̂͏̫̣̼͙̦̤̲̺͜l̡͆́͠͏͔̯̭͙̜ȍ̙͉̹͇͍̗̖͙͒̚o̷̬̦̳̊ͦ̈̔ͫͣ̏͟k̡̠̲͉͙͉̹̭ͦ̆̀̿̄̇ ̴͈̬̮̞ͣ̈́̈̉̎̑̉͗͠͝ȉ̥̒̑͑ͭͦ͟͟͡n̴̛̖̬͚̝͕̤̬͍͒̋ͯͪ̇ͣt̘̓͐̆͒̎ͤ̔̊͆͢͝o̢̟̱̙̲ͬ͊͊̄̌ͤ͡ ̧͕̹̰̳̙̦̬̻̀̍̎t͈̪̯̬̼̗̜͗̉ͧ̓̌ḧ̢̰̺̬̯́̓̓̒ë͕͔͈̝̺́ͤͩ̓ͩͨͧ̑ ̧̔͛̔͛͐ͧ͊̅͛͏̗̘̬̭d̛̙̘̤͗ͬ̔ͩ̕͟a̵̪̼̟̪̙͔ͭͤ̀ͅr̀͋̓͗ͬ̀͘҉͙͙̝̳̟̺̣̘ͅk̨͍͉̜̺̬̲̿̉ͨ͘͘ ̵̩̦͚͉̬̇͛ͤͣ̐̕ͅi̳̥͈͎͎͍̬ͪͭ̕ͅs̫̥̖͇͇̮̔̅̌ͭ̒ͪ̽̕ ̊̃̋҉͍̺̥̜̝͘t̡͖̝̝͖͔͇̣̻͐̔͗ǫ̫̩͇̹̺͎̗̪̓͑ͨ̐ͧ̆̈́̃̏͢ ̢̮͕͗̀̈́̅͊̇͘l̟͍ͦ͟͝o̷͎̭͐̋̀̈ͥ̋ͥ̀̓͞o̵̞̱̲̫̠͕͕͂̀̍̎̉̍ͮk̴̠̫̫͌̕ ̛̦͉̘ͦ́ͣ̈́͑ͧ̚͟i̙̟͓̊̔̽̀n̷̶͖̤̜̰̫̄ͦ̾̔̚t͆͆ͫ͞͏̤͈̘̥͔͉o̺̖̙̿͂̍ͫ͛̂̾ͥ̀ ̧͇̩͂͐͝ÿ͚͚̞̪͍̺̮̟͕́͐͂̕o̦̝̖̖ͣͩ́u͆̆ͥ҉̹̙̺͇̗̀r̵̢̤̅̑̂s͋͛ͪ̊͊҉҉̜̺̘̮̱͇eͦ͆ͫ̍ͯ͆̀͢͏͖͇l̒͋̂̂̐҉͓̯̭̣͚̳̘͉f̱͖̥̺ͯ̉͐ͪͯ̚.̱̘̼̖̹̠̔̊ ̸̴̣͚ͨ̾͛͆̚͡ ̛̱͍ͨͦ̉̑ͣ͂̓͡M͆̎̆͗̕҉̺̜͈̲̲Y̡̮̝̜͊ ͔̠͉̠͒̇ͩͧ̒ͥ͂͘s̡͑̄̐̓̀ͅc̠ͪ͘a̤͕̭̮̪̐̑͟l̡͚̦͕̲̫̈́̓͝e̗̣̪̜͎̘ͬ͝͞ͅš̫̥̪̠͕͒̎̋́͠ ̵̩̪͔̣̳͚̙̪̯̿ͦͬ̀͒̀s̐̂ͫͩͮ̋̀҉̷̖h͕̰͌͗̋͐́͑̓i̗͎̒̿͋͢͢n̴̶̥̜̝ͦe̹͎̘̾̅̀ͪ̎̿͢ ̹̹͐͝͝w̧̭̣̺͙̮̞̍͋ͤ̂̽ͅi̒̎̃͑̈̈́̊̚͢͏̧̬̰ṫ̪̝̍ͬͩ͜h̵͎̘̖̄̅̏͞ ̭͈͇̜ͭͧͣ͜t͚̮̜ͯ̐̿͛̌͆ͫh̵̟͚̯̉̑͋ͩ͐̀͡ȩ̺̦̘̜̰̗̖̇̓͂̽́̀̚̕ ̼̲̮̘̬͓̎̽ͫ̎ͤͫ́͡b̹̳͎̥̙͂̒̊̾ͅl̢̯͈̬̹͙̠̰͆ͭ̈́͐̑̌o̟̠͔ͤ͗̃o̶̡̫̖͕̖̦̾ͅd̐͒͏̨̥̩͍͎ ̘̻̞̜̰̹͔̰ͦ̈́̃ͮ͊͒ͭ͡ǫ̻̩͎̩̱̖̗̪̅ͭ̽͆̉ͭ͆̃f̤̭͐ͤ̆̾̚͡ ̥̣͇͖̭̥͔̣̝̐ͬ̽͒̈́ͯͭ͘t̢̧̪̩͚̰̲̒͋̊̓̔ͦͦ͋͜h̝̦̦͈̟̝͙̿̆̇ͮ̌ͫ̋ͬ́e̡̼̪͑̈́́ ͈͔̩̻̻̥͍̙̉i̛̺͎̝̹̤̩̳̝̋̆̽̚̚ṇ̲̟̪͓̰͙͊̈́̔n̲͕̭͋̃͊̾ͫ̾ͦ̀͘͡o̹͎̗ͦͤ̽̅̎ͥc̜͇͔͈̼͔̺̿͑͟e͕ͦͬ̚͡͞n̬̞̙̪̳͓͕̦̞̄ͦ̎ͬ̋͢ţ̴͚̘͈̗̖ͫ̍ͫ̾,̱̾ͥͫ́ͭ͜ ̞͔̘͔̱ͪͥͦ̌͐̄̌͌m͎̻̘͓͇͈͕̝͑̌̎̓̄̕ͅy͆͒̔͠͏̷͙̺ ̨̛̭̤̲̻͋ͣ̍̒ͦ͐͗͛̿f̢͕͉̝̓ͫ̔͐ͣ̑͋ͨl̹̟̦ͭ̍̽͜ë̢̬̻̥͌͝s̵͉̯̣̺̝̱̾͊h̵̬̹ͮ͒ͫͤ̑ ͔͚͎̬̰̫̤̹̞̎ͦ̕a̶̹̪̺̍̃͢s̩̖̣̪̍̔̂̃̇̑̾̚̚ ̵͇͙̬̺̹ͦ̉͐ͯb̡͇̦̗̗̑͒ͅl͉͖̦̦̥̜͉̱̲̎̑̄̈́̑a̮̲̖̭̗̤̺ͨ̉͞͡c̟̦̟̺͕̗̎ͬ̎͜k̙̝̤ͨͫ̾̈ͮ͋͂ ̷̛͕͕͇͇̥͓̝͎́ͮ͆̋̉͂ͪ͜a̳͙͓̤̙̞̺̋ͧ̔̕s̘͙̮̮̄̓͢ ̴̛̮͈̺̳̭͔̠̯̝ͪ̚m̷͎͉̋̔̄̉̓̚͠ẏ̻ͭ ̧̘͓̺̩͙̺̙ͬͣ̓͢s̵̞̯ͫͯo̹͚͙͙̻͔̪͔͊ͪͩ͛͛͑̄ͮů̱̪̜̹͎͙̈̇͆̇ͧͪ͜l̟̫̫̭̤̳̔ͯ͐̀ͦ̆̉̃͢͝.̢̳̗͚͓̥̫͑͠ͅͅ slowly settled in next to me and methodically wrapped her wooden form around my own much like she had when I was still a hatchling.
“Oh Celestia, I’ve been here the whole time, I just had to make sure everything was in place before you came.F̪̹̤̤͔̆͗̈́̂o̓ͫ̀ͤ̽͊͗͏̸͇̺̭̣͔͈̣řͬ̎ͤ̅҉̵̳̠͚͇ ̬̱͎͔̈́̾̏̊͒̀t̬͈͔̬ͦ͒ͮͭh͉̣̺̻̣̻͈̬̃ͨ̽̉̏̅̓͆e̸͚̭͉̭͔̠̓ͬͨ ̡̙̟ͮ̑̀W̸͔̬͎͊̆̓̈ͯ̀ͨ̍ͮ͘͞iͪ͆̍̅ͪͥ̓̈͏̮̙͔̹n̡͖̠̦̬̤̗̠̭͕̋ͥ̎t̗͕̫̻͓̹̙̱ͥ͒ͥ̿̃̒ͦ̽͝e̡̙͚̐ͬ̉ͯͩ̓̒͐͆͠r̢̻͎̲̩̪ͫ ̩̗̳̜̆̑͐̆̓͘͠͡i̷̷͙̤̦̤͚̝ͬ̋ͅs̶̟͇͇̫̣ͮͬ͛͆͘ ̮͖͓̰̄̀͋̉ͨL͎̾Ọ̹̫̒ͥͩ̊ͮͮ̒̚͢͡n̅̎̍ͬ͐͏͖̙͉̲͘G̶̤̝̠͑ͫ̒ ̶̘̤ͥ̏̉ͫ͐͘͠ą̸̧͇̙͉̱̱̩̣̑n͙͇͖̙ͧͧ̏̊͛d̫̥̙̯̠̼̱̤͗̏̉ ̨͙̪̗̤̳͓ͤ͛̉ͧ̅ͮ͜Ŵ̧̫̰̭̜̹̺ͣ͂̈́̀̇̀͠I͛ͩ̉͗ͧͨ̽͏̸̠̗͇̟t̨̫̺̼̗̥͕̃ͥͦ͗ͫ̂̂̽̚h͈̝̖̺̜̎ͨ̈̂̈́̒̈́̕͠O̢͕̔̀͂̃͡Ų̛̹͈̼̣̯ͬͪͨ̄ͭ̄̍ͧt͉̗̖̣̍̌́̽̐͛ ̧̖̀͑̇M͉̝̤͛͢E̷͇̤̦̳͍̲̼͒ͭͬ͌ͮ͋͜͠R͇̠̹̆̈̈́̉̉͌͢C̴̖͕̫͔̹̬̞̼ͬY̸͈̗̅̿ͮ́̈́͐̾̚”̷͎̗̤͓̋̾ͫ ̵̧̗͕͖̯͇̪͗̐̃ I watched as theḶ͚͕̃ͨͩͬ̍̀̕I̜̜̫͙̱̯͊̈́ͯ̃͠Ȃ͙̪͉̦̺̫͖̽̎R̸̩̞̟̲̼̲͍̓̊̐ͥ̍̓͐̏ͬͅ,̘̫̳͚̪͑̆́ who I could only guess was Celestia stiffened slightly at her words.
“What did you do?” Ignoring Celestia's demand, mom gently grasped the spear in my side with one paw and offered me her other one. I needed no prompting to open my mouth and bite down on the offered limb. In one swift motion she pulled the spear from my side and then pressed her palm against the wound. Biting down hard from the pain I did my best to make no noise as she pushed her mana into me.
“Nothing more than an incentive for you to stay and listen. Sit, I would like to speak with you about a few things Celestia.” Pulling her paw back from my shoulder I felt myself able to breathe again, but as I opened my mouth to let her arm go she held it in place as she started to poke at my charred skin. Slamming my jaws shut I growled loudly in protest to her actions but otherwise did nothing to stop her.
“And if I don’t? What happens if I strike you down now and rid the world of your vile spirit?" W̵̱̿ͧ̿̿͑̄h̶̻̣̹̝̬̍̽̈ỹͮ̃̍̔̏҉̠̞̖!̪̟͔̖̠͔͈͕̎ͣ̍̓͜?̗͇̗͎̽͐ ̧̆̄ͧ̅҉̖̮̟̼̪͞ͅ ͪ̀҉̼͈̩̹͓̀̕A̳͕̰͈̝̞͚͖̋̇̊͘͠f̴̰͇̯̪̭͓͌ͩ͐͠ͅț̶̢̺̫͍͓̻͕̜ͫͮ͐̉̅̽͡e̱͈̅̎͘ŗ̿͑̍̌ͮ͏̪͇͓̖̘̠̀ ̴͖͔͈̬͎̭̥͊ͩ̒̾ͯ͂͋̀ͅa̸͍̖̦͊ͭ̆l̞̜͇̂ͥͯ̓͗̓͟͝ḻ̡͙͙̞̩̽̍ͫͤ͊͠ ̧̫̠̏ͥ̀͟t̶̙͙̦͉̣̱̹̻̬̑̅ͭ̉ͥ̐ͪ͑h̦̺̹̹̠̪ͮ̽ͨ̾̌̈́̀́ͯ͜͜ͅȩ̂ͩ҉̹̬̪͔̰͍̜̤y̴̝̫̯͖͖̠͈̿̍͐'͍̑̌͒̓͐̽ͦͭ̇v̩͒̉̐̃̾͟e̲̖̘̻̲ͮ̓͌͘ ͗͒҉̶͙̯̤̰ḏ̸̯͖͙̯͍͛̿ͮ̈͂ͯ͊́o̠̝̭̗̖͈͐̆ͭͬ̾̉́͝n̜̬͙͎̾͗̔ͦ͂̏ȩ̙̪̲̠͚̭̺͋ͩ̄͝ ̩͙̦̇ͧ̒͊̂̐̚͢͡f̼̰͋͗͊̊̅̑́̕o̰͓͛ͯ͊͒ͨ̍ͤ͜ȓ̰̹ͦ͛ͣͥ͑ͪ̃ͩ ̴͙̦̜̀̌u̴̫̥̦̩̻̣ͬ̽ͦ͂̄̋ș͋͂̎́̽̄̚͘͡!̙̪̭̙̪̳̗̣͚͋̏̌͗?͚̖͓̍́̽͑̃̿̈͡ Stopping her prodding, mom looked up at Celestia and cocked her head to the side.
“Do you really want to find out? I thought you cared too much about your precious little ponies to take risks like that. By all means Celestia, strike me down. I would love to watch as your little perfect world burns down to ash.” With a sigh Celestia finally lowered her spear, the other ponies however kept theirs trained on us.
“No, I do not. ” W̳̞̲ͧ̽͌ͯ̈̓̕h̄͌͐ͣ̐̕҉͖̖̳̫̗͚̞̘ͅỷ̧̱̺̬͉̼̥̓̒ͥ̓͑̕ ̶̗͉͈̙̉ͩ̾ͤ̎́̆̅͢F̛̣͙͎͉͆̈́̓ͥ͑͆ͣͭͣ͠aͨ͂̅̎̔ͥ҉҉̠̼̱̣͔͝t̵̻̠͐̍̽͑̌͝h͉̺͍͚͐͑͋̚̕ẽ̙̲̞̹̭́̽́̑ͦͪ̌ͧř̛͓̝͕̩̪̭͕̫̪̂ͨ́́?̙̠̱͔͙̳̥ͧ̀̈́̎̾ͩͅ ̹̮̦ͮ̎͟ ̫̺̼ͤͫ͗̏̎̇͜ͅT̟͆ͪ̎ͭ̍͒͋̚h̸̙̼̐̾̿e̹̬̟̽͒͂͗̄ͬ̂y̢̙̥̟͚̜̜̫̫ͪ̿͌ͧ̆ͮ̓̀ ̶͉̟̰̊̅͒̊ͣ̽a̟̗̣̪̮̫͑̃̽̐ͮ̑́͜r̸̝̤̲͓̘ͬ́ͯ̒͒͝e̔̍̍ͬ͆̓́̌́҉̯̪̩̮͔͚͙̤̝ ͕̖̺̪͈͓̣̍ͣ̏ͣͩ̈́ͧ͢o̧̯̮̞̼ͪ͌̅̓͝ͅu̴̵͙̭̞̜̮ͨ͢ṛ̯͍̫͚ͭ̊ ͎͆͛͒͂̌ͪ̅f̗͉͉̬͔̠̫̑̓͑͞ͅr̜͚͍̱̓̾̃̋̐̀i̠̣̮̲̱ͬ̋ͧ͐ͧ́̚e͑ͣ͏̠̼̞̜̩̖̳n̠̼͖̪̽̿ͣ͌̈́ͭ̓̚d̓̇̔̌̅͐̏͝͏͕̞̙̗s̻̮̟̹͈̗͕͒̔̎̂̀̕,̷̟͇͖̯̃́ͮ ̦̈́ͦ̀͋ͪO̷͕̳̞̥͙ͯ̌̚u̷̷͇̩̘̠͐̌ͮ̕r̴̝̦̠͚̪̅̾̒͂͒ ̸̷̙̮̖̝̜̥͖̳̈̌ͮͩͨͬͅF̥̣̮̦͍̬̦ͤͩ͆̄͂͑ͅa̐ͣ̌̒͐̌҉̦̫̳͖m̤̬̪̱͔̯ͪi̸̩̯̍ͣͥ̆̓l̴̷̝̫͉̣͒ͥ̽͐ͬͫ̿̈́́͟y̴͋̔ͧ̎́̅̇̄ͨ͏̶͚̠͉̮͓̺̪ͅ!̧͚͖ͮ̂̊̓̓́!̼͙͍̤̮͗̓̕ͅ Mom turned her attention back to me as Celestia did her best to kill us both with her eyes alone. Biting down hard on her arm again mom started to pick at some of the more nasty chunks of flesh.
“Wonderful!" Mom's voice practically dripped with false positivity. Her ruse was so over exaggerated it couldn't be seen as anything other than an insult.
"Let's start off simple shall we. Why are you here Celestia? Why did you feel the need to march an army into my home and start slaughtering my people in the middle of our most sacred festivals?" Fighting back tears and struggling to remain quiet I held onto mom's arm as if my life depended on it as she used her mana to regrow my flesh and then knit it back together. The pain was excruciating, but I kept myself still.
"March my army? Do not sit there and play dumb! You attacked my ponies! Entire villages have been wiped off of the map because of you! Thousands are dead! You think you can sit here and pretend like you are not the sole reason for that? Not only were your barbaric warriors found among some of the dead, but I went to the villages. Every inch of those settlements were covered in traces of your vile magic. One village still had those wooden abominations you love so much feasting on the dead. Ẉ̡̼̫͖̤̺̮͒ͬͨ̃̌̊̚̕E͒ͥ͂ͫͮͥ҉̡̳̜̗̘ ̬̤̬̥̟̼͔͆̒ͦͣ͒ͨ̌̇̋̀̕H̞̱̣̩͚̮̱͗̄̓̀͜Ȃ̡̝̙ͥ̀̓̀ͧD̰̬̟̲̬͌̕͟ ̔̿͘͏̞̣̺̪̼̪̬͕̹N̶̯͚̭̦̣̹̋̓̏̿͊̀O͍̭̩͚̘̾́̑ͭ̐́́͡ͅͅ ̨̢͕̬̻̦̯̾̈́̍̆ͮ͝C̵͈ͩ͛͐͑̐̔̊̕Ḩ̸̗̙̦̟͍̺ͪ͊ͅǪ̦̪̪̭͋̎̊́ͅI̷̗͇̩̣ͦ̃ͤC͛̓̆͞҉̛̫E̛̲ͬͥ́͐̾̎͘!̧̜̰̮̠̆ͪ̀͌̓̋̕͜ͅ ̮̰̦̜̫̙͎̮̣͒͐͐ͥ͋͐̾͌͠ ̛͇͓̯͉̟̯̜̋͆͞Ă̡͙̖ͪ͑͢͡Ņ̴͉̗͇͓͇̬̀͋̇̃̚C̸͙̘̦̰̼̏̇̆̋̆̈́E̠̱ͮͫ͞S̟͈ͩͥ̅ͦ̈́ͪ́́͝Ţ̴̯̦͓̬̝̗̙͓̝̈̑Ȏ̷̴͉̥͋͗̎̿́ͬR̝̮̈́̐̊̉ͯ̍̄̉͠S̷̡̮̙̺̲̝̐ͣ̓͡ ̧̡̜̬͎̯̆ͤͦͩ͂́͆̂̚͝ͅF͍͑͛͊̕Ô̞͊R̸̃͛͊̓̉̊҉͎̫G͋̿̒̎ͬ̃͂ͧ҉̱̼̠̼͍̱̠͢Ï̹̻̼͓ͥV̥͕̻̼̹̟̘ͨ̂ͧͫͣ͘͠ͅE̫͚̬̊̂̋̀ͧ͂̒̚ ̵̼̙͈̰̝̹̫̗̑̽͂̈́̃̑̉͜͠Mͮͥͮ̍ͪ̆͋ͩ͒҉̪͔̪ͅE̍ͥ̊ͧͬ̄ͤ͏̧̮̯̮ ̤̖̩̜̬̤̼̺̞ͨͪͮͨ̓F̹̰̗̣̗͉̥ͪͯ́ͅỎͨ̓͂ͧ͏͇͈̙͎̟͕̠Ṟ̸̵͖͑ ̸̰͖͖̯͖ͫͦ̽ͩ́̚͟W̪̪̹͕ͭͫ͢͡H̨͇̥̹̺͇̎ͨ̂͐ͬ̐̒̔́ͅA̛̳͕̖̠̬̰̗͊̄ͬͤT̺̟̰̰̦̐̑̃̀ͅ ̢͍̥͈̠̰̑̓͆͐́̕I͓͇̥͎̹͇̯ͤͯ̏̄ͨ̿ͣ̂͞ͅ'͉̥̮͈͍̥͚̹͒͘͢V̰̞̣̂̑ͨ̒͌͋Ě̔͞͏̗͈ ͦ͘̕͏̪͖D̴̡̥̜̟͗̉ͥͪ̎͑͗ͥO̙̮̯̬͉̖̻̗̣̿̇ͬ͗ͯ̈ͯ̃̕͢N̸̢̛͓̪͈̻̭̭̞͂̽͗ͬͭͅE̠͎͖ͧ͗!̦̠̗̥̭͚̐̓͟͢͝ Yet you are going to sit here and pretend that you had nothing to do with any of this?" Mom never looked up from her work as she started to chuckle. In seconds I could feel the air around us start to burn with heat, looking over to Celestia I saw her armor steaming and any blood that was on her burn away.
"Even if I told you the truth it's now clear you wouldn't believe me. Either you are so blinded by your love for your subjects that you cannot see their lies, or you are choosing to believe them. I never sent anyone to attack your ponies, nor did I join them in any attack. I find it impossible for my so-called barbaric warriors to have been found at these villages as we never leave the dead. I can only imagine where your precious ponies found the dragons they claim are my own. As for the wolves I cannot control them, they are not my pets. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that they would be drawn to the dead. Nature never stops, and every creature has to eat. As for my mana… I will admit I am curious how they managed that. I'm honestly impressed that they would be able to mimic my signature to such a degree that even you couldn't tell the difference." Sighing softly, mom would lightly pat my bare shoulder. Her wooden palm soft against my bare flesh. Cautiously I would open my mouth and she pulled her other arm back only to wrap me in the tightest hug I've ever had. Looking into her glowing green and misty eyes I try to find any hint at what she is thinking.
"It doesn't matter anymore Celestia. Whatever it was that either you or your ponies were playing at is over. You've won, all of my dragons have either been killed or fled. It is only my daughter and I now, and I've used up the last of my mana to make sure she lives."
"What, mom no I-" Mom placed a claw on my lips to quiet me.
"I want you to remember this day Celestia. I want you to learn from it and understand that I don't fault you for your actions. May it be today or years from now you will learn the truth behind your ponies actions… I have lived a very long life Celestia. I've seen civilizations rise and fall, heroes become villains, so on and so forth. Yet through it all I was never as happy as I am now with my daughter. I hope you find that same happiness Celestia, especially with your sister gone…" Mom's eyes flashed brightly causing me to close my eyes.
"I'm sorry sister, but what in our mother's name was that? How in the many levels of Tartarus did this turn into Her last memory. I've never seen something so... chaotic! I would expect this in Discords domain but to find it in the mind of our old friend?" Celestia's ears fold flat against her skull. Unable to look at her sister Celestia instead focuses on the 'dream' in front of her.
"I tried to release her a few years after you were gone. It didn't go well" Luna cringes and wrinkles her snout as if she smelt something foul.
"Do you have any idea how her mind and memories are so corrupted? Even as an observer to her mind I find it hard to make sense of what is going on." Celestia sighs.
"No Luna I just… I was lonely. I thought after all we've done she would wake up as the same dragoness we knew when we were little. Instead she didn't know who, or what, she was and attacked me. I had to reseal her away but... Look you know I've never been the best with dream magic Lulu. I know things look bad but with your help-" Luna flares her wings and throws an arm out to point at the flickering manifestation of their late father's head on Celestia's dispositional body.
"She believes you and the monster our father had become are one and the same Celestia. Even if we ignore the archaic whispers that I can’t even begin to decipher, you fought alongside her to defeat our father. How did you fuck that up? How did her mind turn into this!?" Throwing her own hooves up in frustration, Celestia motions towards the twisted tree in the shape of a dragon.
"Because I don't know what I'm doing Luna! You would think that the countless years I worked on this even before asking for your help I would have at least made some progress. Yet everytime I try to correct her memories or reintroduce once she's lost it Immediately unravels! That stupid tree thing is the result of me trying to recreate a memory of the world tree!" Confused Luna lowers her hoof.
"Everytime? Are you telling me you have tried this more than once without me?” Sighing Luna shakes her head. “I will see what I can do Celestia, but this might truly be beyond me… If I can’t help… I need you to promise me you will stop.” Celestia scoffs.
“You knew that I have been trying to help her long before I ever got you involved. I only just convinced you to start helping me when you-” Luna snorts and stomps her hoof.
“Celestia stop. I have only just come home. I’ve told you in the past that I didn’t want to keep doing this. I’m only really helping you with her again this one time because I feel partially responsible for her current state. It's quite clear now that I was never close to fully healing her mind… Regardless I will do my best to pick up the pieces left and bring her peace, but no more. After tonight you are on your own sister.” Flashing her horn Luna disappears and leaves Celestia alone.
"I'm doing the right thing... I know I am..." Raising her head Celestia struggles to peer through the black tendril swarm that marks the 'memory'. Looking to the burning blue eyes of the injured dragoness Celestia's heart aches. "I made a promise, and I will do everything in my power to keep it."
“When I agreed to help you again I did not think you would want me to help enforce and give credit to her delusions. What we are doing is wrong, we should be getting her help.” Turning to her sister Celestia sighs. The floating portal leading to Gaia’s dream gradually shrinks as the two sisters walk along the floor of the dream realm.
“We are getting her help Lulu, but I can’t just throw her at a therapist right away. As much as I hate to say it, they are just as much of a danger to themselves right now as they are anypony else. I cannot in good conscience put anypony in such a dangerous position.” Luna groans in exasperation.
“Tia.” Celestia manages a weak chuckle when she hears the blatant anger in Luna’s voice.
“Please don’t start Luna. I’m not blind, but I am trying my best. Would you rather I wake her up and then lock her in a room with a terrified psychiatrist? How much can we help her if the ponies that are specialized to care for patients with such trama are too scared to be in the same room as her?” Both sisters stop in front of another dream portal. The edges of the sphere shimmer and distort at random until Luna lights her horn and gently touches it to the edge of the sphere. Almost instantly the sphere settles and Luna sighs while turning to look at her sister.
“I know sister I just… I wish there was a better way to make things right. I just feel as though I should be walking away from our old friend's dream while cackling madly. This is the same thing I used to do while possessed by the parasite that made me turn against you. I would dive into the dreams of the innocent and either corrupt them or fill them with so many lies they would simply go insane.” Wrapping a wing over her sister's back Celestia pulls Luna tightly into her side.
“That wasn’t your fault Lulu, you know that. What happened to you was horrible, what the elements did to punish us both even more so… But we are together again. It didn’t seem right then, but it led us back to one another in the end. We are helping Fenrir. I promise.”
A loud slap echoes through the dining hall causing all to go deathly silent. Celestia can only stand still with her mouth hanging open. Even as the pain reaches her brain she does little more than flap her jaw looking for words that will not come.
“I warned you sister.” Hot tears begin to pour down the white alicorn's face as she reaches for her sister only to be slapped a second time.
“Mom!” Luna lights her horn and catches Spike with her magic before he can get close.
“I’m sorry nephew but your Mother deserves everything that is coming her way. As angry as you may be Spike I will be taking you with me and explaining everything that is happening. Something that your mother should have done properly.” Even as they try to quietly leave both Shining and Cadence are easily noticed by the Lunar princess.
“Lulu…” Luna glares at her sister.
“Don’t even start Tia. I have been against this every step since my return but each time I have let you worm your way into my head and sway my actions. I am putting my hoof down this time. I kept telling you how fragile her mind was, how little it would take for her to snap. All you had to do to stop that was to keep your mouth shut about her past until she was ready to hear the truth!” Celestia hangs her head and collapses onto her flank.
“I know…” Luna has to look away so that her own tears are not seen.
“Don’t think for a second that I enjoy this. It hurts me just as much to see Fenrir like this Tia, but it hurts me more to see you like this. In your race to see our old friend again you have done nothing but damage what little of her we had left.” Spike squirms in Luna’s magic until she finally lowers him to the ground next to her and lets him free. Giving her nephew a stern look Spike wilts slightly under her gaze but stays by her side.
“Um, Auntie?” Both princesses look over to Cadence and Shining.
“Come along you two. You’ve both seen and heard too much to just be thrown out without an explanation.” Looking to one another for support, Cadence and Shining eventually follow along after Luna.
“Please don’t hate me sister.” Luna stops and looks back to her sister.
“I don’t hate you Tia.” Luna closes the door behind her and the others leaving Celestia alone. In the large empty room it was easy to hear her cries echoing.
Chapter 11. Part 4 (Rewrite)
With the music blaring loudly and the lights flashing enough to give a colt a seizure many call me crazy. A club is generally the last place somepony in my line of work would be found, especially when training a rookie. Then again it's not all that hard to keep your eye on somepony trying a bit too hard to blend into a rave. Their eyes and ears are constantly on the move and scanning the crowd for a hidden threat. It's ironic really, that the things that give them away most is what they were told would keep them alive.
Clicking my beak twice in rapid succession I thankfully get a small nod from my trainee on the other side of the club. Without hesitation they slam the rest of their drink and hop down from the bar, their gait slowly transitioning into a drunken stumble the closer they get to our ‘target’. Unfortunately for said stallion he never saw Sierra until after she had already stumbled into him and slurred a half hearted apology. An apology he probably never heard considering he wasted no time taking the note slipped to him by Sierra and found a dark corner to slink away to.
“Why are we even bothering with something like this? What's the point in putting this much effort and resources into an op just to pass a note?” Taking a long sip from the overly fruity and watered down drink in front of me I hear Sierra sigh.
“While I congratulate you on making it back to me so quickly without me seeing it, you should know better than to talk about the job. Especially when you are ON the job.” Sierra winces slightly when I look back at her. No doubt expecting me to rip into her for it.
“Sorry Hotel…” Offering a nonchalant shrug in response I take another drink and toss a claw full of greasy fries into my beak.
“Relax Sierra. I may be your instructor but this is for all intents and purposes a low risk and high reward way for you to learn things. It's meant to let you get your hooves wet and give me a small break.” Sierra folds her ears and ruffles her wings.
“And sit down, you're going to make me nervous if you keep fidgeting like that.”
“Sorry.” Sierra reluctantly takes a seat next to me. The bravado and confidence I saw earlier are all gone now as she stares intently at my beak and claws as I finish up my fries and move onto the fish.
“Not bad Sierra. I honestly didn't see you until the last moment, but by then it was too late for me. Sure I could have thrown hooves and gone down valiantly in the line of battle for the glory of the crown, but it just didn't feel like the right time.” Sierra, the poor mare, sucked up Echo's praises like a dry sponge. Her ears peeking up and a hoof moving to idly twirl some of her mane. Sighing loudly I finish off the rest of my fruity drink and glare at Echo. The idiot at least has the decency to look guilty as I do so.
“How many times have I told you to stop trying to sleep with the recruits?” Echo starts to sputter a response but surprisingly Sierra beats him to it.
“Hey! He was just being nice! It's not his fault I'm just so good at my new job.” Oh Sierra you poor mare. He's inflamed both your ego and your libido.
“Echo is a Fae Sierra. He had you zeroed in the moment you walked into the bar.” Echo sputters louder and a very unequine like chatter escapes the ‘pegasus’.
“So what? Changelings have been pretty commonplace in Equestria for over a decade now. Most don't even walk around in a disguise anymore.” Echo is surprisingly quiet as I lean over the table and smile.
“I knew there was a reason they picked you to transfer to us. I'm glad I don't have to go over the usual spiel about them being people just like the rest of us.” Taking a large and messy bite of my deep fried fish I purr.
“Right umm… Should we head back for a full debrief Hotel or…” I shake my head and after noticing a small line of drool dripping from Sierra's muzzle reach under my wing and toss her my purse.
“No Echo, something big is going on back home and I was told to keep the rookie out of it. Speaking of, go and get yourself something to eat hun, training or not you did good.” Sierra parks up quickly and nods excitedly before tucking the purse under her own leathery wing and darts off into the crowd towards the bar.
“What the hell is going on Hotel? This is the fourth rookie in two weeks! Even if you're not supposed to say anything, we've known each other for years. Please, tell me what the fuck is going on.” Swallowing the last bite of my fish I sigh and motion for Echo to put up a quick ‘notice me not’ spell. After the dull green flash fades I watch to make sure Sierra can still find her way back to us.
“Might as well wait for the kid too. Top brass wanted to keep her out of the loop thanks to her mom, but if half the things I've heard about her are true she'd find out regardless.” Rather than saying anything Echo just nods and then rests his chin on the table until Sierra comes back.
“Did you guys cast a notice me not spell?” I interrupted her quickly before she could say anything else.
“Sit down Sierra.” Taking her seat quickly and with folded ears I sigh.
“You're not in trouble, relax.”
“Well not yet anyway. If you let those fish and chips go to waste however…” A small smile makes it back onto the mare's face thanks to Echoes teasing.
“I'm going to start by saying that I'm not supposed to share any of this info… So with that out of the way, you didn't hear any of this from me.” I clear my throat roughly and shift around in my chair to get a bit more comfortable.
“Equestria is gearing up for a war.”
“What?” Holding up a talon I shake my head. Echo thankfully takes the hint.
“Equestria is, much to the surprise of some, not a very well liked country by others. For nearly 1,000 years we've been an economic and cultural powerhouse that dwarfed all other countries. After Princess Celestia's big surprise however things have changed. What was once blind zealous faith by the average pony towards a literal god like being, has turned to betrayal and mistrust. A mistrust that has inevitably over the past year dwindled down the overall stability and standing of our country and made us look weak.” Chewing on her fish widthwise eyes Sierra doesn't seem to notice some of her fries disappearing into Echoes mouth after being picked up in a green glow.
“Sho hwat!” Swallowing his mouthful before continuing Echo let out a soft hiss.
“Everypony wants to pick a fight with us now that Celestia turned out to be a dragon? She still raises the fucking sun! What do they think will happen if they attack!?”
“Normally that thought alone would be enough to stop any war minded nation in their tracks. However there has been a disturbingly large amount of ponies leaving this country en masse. Most of which tend to be of noble standing or in places of power and influence. In the last month alone we've had three businesses transfer their headquarters to another country and liquidate almost all assets within the Equestrian border.” Sierra laughs nervously.
“You're kidding right? Why would so many leave just because Celestia isn't a pony?” I smack Echo in the back of the head with my wing when he tries to take more of Sierra's food.
“Unfortunately it's not a simple answer, but from what little we've been able to gather… It's fear.” Echo chews loudly as Sierra looks on in confusion.
“Fear? Why?” I shrug.
“A few things have been proposed, but we have no idea for sure. The current running theory however is that if the Princess is willing to hide being a dragon for so long, what else is she hiding.” Whether or not she actually cares Sierra makes a very weak attempt at stopping the Fae from grabbing more of her fries.
“So basically everypony is jumping ship because the Princess isn’t an alicorn anymore? Seriously?” I shake my head.
“No, like I said, that is only a running theory. Besides that isn’t taking into consideration the different things happening around the globe. Over half the countries that Equestria has had ties with have distanced themselves from us if not outright cut off all contact. The biggest thing however, is that apparently, the Gods are returning.” Both Echo and Sierra stop eating and stare at me.
“The Gods?” Sierra grabs the last of her fish with her hooves and then passes the box with the remaining fires to Echo.
“Like all of the Gods or?” I sigh and shrug my wings.
“We don’t know. Any agents we send out go dark the second they cross the border. What I do know is that the brass are scared shitless.” Echo chitters something in his native tongue before switching back to common.
“Alicorn or not Princess Celestia holds the mantle of the sun, basically making her the Goddess of the sun depending on how you look at it. Then of course you have Princess Luna with the moon and Princess Cadenza with Love… Chrysalis, even if she refuses to be a monarch, holds the mantle of deception and lies… I think I heard somewhere that the new dragoness Fenrir was like the Goddess of War and chaos.” Sierra looks to Echo in confusion.
“Chaos? I thought Discord was the God of Chaos… How can -”
“Discord is the Spirit of Chaos, yes, but Fenrir holds the mantle for natural Chaos. Her existence is the sole reason that the Everfree forest still moves and acts on its own. She is chaos in its most natural state.” Sierra pales and drops the last of her fish back onto the table.
“Oh fuck…”
Author's Note
No these three characters are not throw aways and will come back at some point in the future. Other than that... I hope you enjoyed!
The next chapter will be back to our regular schedule program and may or may not accidentally be very spicy. In the meantime please feel free to leave comments in case I need to clarify more or even touch up the chapter in some spaces. I'll be honest 99% of this one was written on my phone at work so may be a tiny bit more rough in some places and self proof-reading can only do so much.
