Author's Note

Yo, his another one a little short but I’ll have the next one out as quick as possible. I’m still dealing with no Internet thanks to the storm when I get my Internet this will come out much quicker on top of that. I’m now back in college, but don’t worry I know how to multitask
ALSO WORD OF WARNING THIS NEXT CHAPTER HAS A BIT OF A TRIGGER WARNING TO IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IF ANYONE HAS EXPERIENCED ANY KIND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA LIKE WHAT WILL BE MENTIONED IN THE STORY AND YOU FEEL THIS MIGHT TRIGGER YOU ADVISE YOU TO STOP READING THE STORY IMMEDIATELY JUST KNOW IF YOU EVER FEEL LOST TRAPPED OR LIKE YOU CAN’T COPE DON’T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE. LOVE YOU GUYS.

LENDING A HEALING HAND

( Sureiya 1st pov)

“It’s been about a week since my face-to-face with Celestia and Luna. Looking back, I probably could’ve handled things differently, but when you’ve got a demon and an angel part of your soul battling it out inside you, things get… complicated. The other supernatural parts of me? They’re just hanging out in the background, being completely neutral, but my demon and angel sides are constantly at odds.

The angel side tried to keep me calm, telling me to take the peaceful route. But after everything I saw, the anger built up, and my demon side? Yeah, that took over. I let my rage do the talking. But hey, that’s in the past now.

A lot has changed since then. Klugetown—or Chimera City as it’s called now—has grown like crazy. We’ve gone from a rundown town of 5,000 to a bustling place with 60,000 people in what feels like no time. It’s not just the refugees—plenty of others decided to stick around. We’ve got demi-monsters, ponies, griffins, minotaurs yaks , and even a few dragons.

The city’s growing fast, and so is the military. We’re sitting at 15,000 soldiers now, and still expanding. I didn’t expect so many ponies to join up, but they’ve proven they’ve got guts. And dragons? Yeah, they’re a serious addition to the ranks.

Overall, this place is shaping up. No discrimination here—everyone’s welcome, and people can smile at their neighbors without worrying about judgment. It’s a good feeling. But I know it’s only a matter of time before Celestia and her kingdom start paying attention. That’s something I’ll deal with when the time comes. For now, I’m just taking things one step at a time.”

I was now currently sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying the quiet of the moment. As Nezuko, my new house attendant, sat nearby eating the meal I’d cooked up for her. She’d become really attached to me, even though I’d added a second bedroom for her, she still ended up in my bed most nights because of her nightmares. I knew it would take time for her to heal, just like everyone else.

There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” I said. Miia and Rachnera walked in, both smiling. Ever since I helped reunite them with their mothers, they’d been more affectionate toward me.

Their mothers, Miika and Ria, were thrilled to be back with their families. They were surprised to learn I was in a herd with their daughters, but they were happy for us and gave their blessing. Life was starting to settle into a nice rhythm.

“Hey, girls,” I said as Miia and Rachnera greeted me with a quick peck on the lips.

“Ewwww,” Nezuko giggled from the side, only to be met with a playful attack as the girls started showering her with kisses.

“Nooooooo!” she laughed, wriggling but unable to escape their affection.

“Oh my goodness, you’re so cute I could eat you upppp!” Miia squealed, clearly enjoying the moment. It was no surprise she and Nezuko got along so well—they were both lamias, after all. Even though Nezuko was only half, the bond was there. It was still hard to wrap my head around sometimes—that she was a half-pony, half-lamia hybrid. I couldn’t help but frown a bit, reminded of the darker side of how she came to be.

And with that I got up, feeling the weight of the day ahead, and turned to the girls.

“Nezuko, sweetie,” I said softly, “I’ve got some things to handle today. Are you okay staying with Miia and Rachnera until I get back?”

She looked hesitant for a moment, but finally nodded. Rachnera smirked and wrapped one of her arms around Nezuko, pulling her in close. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of this little cutie,” she said, making Nezuko giggle.

“Thanks, girls,” I said as I headed out the door. I stood there for a second, taking in the sight of Chimera City. The place had grown, and not just in size—there was something different in the air, something better. Between all the expanding and remodeling, it was clear that the city was thriving. Seeing the city transform was like watching a plan come together, brick by brick.

Today, though, was about more than the city’s growth—it was the first day of the counseling program I set up for the ex-slaves. They’d been through so much shit, and this was a start in helping them work through their trauma. It wasn’t going to be easy, but if anyone deserved a chance to heal, it was them. I had to believe this could help them get their lives back.

Fortunately, I wasn’t doing this alone. Some of the travelers who decided to stay and make the city their new home had valuable skills and professions. Among them were a few psychologists and doctors, eager to build their reputations by traveling and expanding their practice. When they heard about my plan to help the former slaves heal from their emotional scars, they practically fell at my feet, offering their assistance.

“Okay, first stop,” I said as I arrived at one of the many houses I would be visiting. As I knocked on the door, I stood there, mentally preparing myself. This was going to be a tough task; I would really need to keep my cool and resist the urge to fly to that city and blow it to pieces.

The door was soon opened by a female earth pony. She had beige fur and beautiful green eyes, her face sprinkled with freckles that added a touch of endearing charm. Her mane and tail, a blend of light and dark blue, were styled in soft waves.

“Oh, umm… Lord Sureiya,” she said, preparing to bow to me, but I wasn’t about to let that happen.

“No need to bow, my dear. So, tell me, how have you been, Milky Way?” I asked, calling her by name.

“I’ve been good. Would you like to come in?” she offered.

“Yes, I’d love to,” I replied, stepping inside. I made my way to one of the couches in her living room, taking a seat and observing the space around me.

“Oh, well… what can I help you with?” she asked, trying so hard to sound cheerful. I could feel the strain in her voice, and it hurt just to see her struggle to keep up this mask.

“Milky, you don’t have to pretend you’re okay,” I said gently, and my words seemed to catch her off guard. She looked at me, confusion clouding her green eyes.

“What do you mean? I’m okay with you being here. Honest. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“That’s not what I mean, Milky. It’s only been a week, and I know, deep down, you’re still hurting from everything you’ve been through.”

Just like that, her mask fell apart. Tears welled up and began to spill from her eyes as she trembled, hugging herself as if trying to hold herself together.

I moved closer and gently pulled her into a hug. She clung to me, crying hard, her body shaking with each breath and sob. The pain was palpable, radiating through every quiver in her frame.

“What did I do? What did I do to deserve what happened to me?” she cried, her voice breaking. “I never hurt anypony… or any creature. So why? Why did it have to happen? I can still feel it… their disgusting hands on me, the horrible words they whispered, the vile things they did. And now, I’m left with something I don’t know how to handle… something I wasn’t ready for. How am I supposed to deal with this? How am I supposed to cope? I don’t know the first thing about being a mother…”

I fought back my own tears, struggling with the reality of her situation. Milky, sadly, was among the ones who were left pregnant after the ordeal, part of the first group of mares now facing an unexpected fate. I had seen her foal—a precious little filly, innocent and pure. She was so adorable, so full of potential… and yet conceived in the most vile way imaginable.

I lifted Milky’s chin gently so she could meet my eyes. “Milky,” I said softly, “you don’t have to face this alone. As your leader, I swear upon my life to help you through this, no matter what. Things may be tough, but I promise you that nothing like that will ever happen again. This entire community is here to support you, your baby, and everyone else who needs it.”

She tightened her hug, burying her face in my chest as she let out a quiet whimper. Thankfully, her tears had eased, and it seemed a bit of the weight on her heart had lifted.

Just then, a small cry echoed from upstairs. Smiling, I looked at her. “Looks like little Amelia’s awake. Why don’t you sit here and rest? I’ll go take care of her,” I said, gently guiding her to the couch.

“You really don’t have to,” she whispered. “I’d hate to be a bother.”

“Milky, it’s no trouble at all. I’m here to help you and everyone else like I said, Just relax.” I reassured her as I headed upstairs.

Opening the door to the baby’s room, I took in the soft pink walls, the plush white carpet, and the crib decorated with white and pink hearts. Peering over the crib, I couldn’t help but smile at Amelia, her tiny form nestled peacefully – aside from the small fuss she was making. Her coloring was just like her mother’s, with the same two-tone blue mane and tail , soft beige fur, and a dusting of freckles on her cheeks. Her big blue eyes blinked up at me, and the tiny horn on her forehead hinted at her unicorn heritage.

The thought crossed my mind: if the father wasn’t among those slavers I’d already dealt with, and if I happened to find the bastard responsible, he’d be in for a very special kind of justice. Feeding him his own cock and balls before ripping his heart out seemed like the least I could do.

Setting that aside, I reached down to lift Amelia, gently cradling her as her cries softened. I took a nearby baby bottle and, with a touch of fire magic, warmed it just right before feeding it to her.

This journey of healing was going to be a long process for all of us, but it’s what I’m here to do – and I wouldn’t have it any other way.