Heart Of The CHIMERA

Tempest Shadow sat at a table, eating breakfast and listening to the radio that morning, as she often did every morning.

“Well, the summer fun has just begun, everybody! Our first day of a hundred-degree weather is about to drop, so grab your swimming trunks and hit that pool,” said the reporter over the radio.

But Tempest's thoughts were far from blowing off the heat as she sipped her morning coffee. No, what was on her mind was the thing that never left her mind. As she mumbled the words, “What could I have done differently? Could he ever forgive me? Was it simply too late?”

But before she could dwell on these thoughts any longer, a young teenage lizard came rushing in, rolling around the room on his skates.

He zoomed past the bread, popping it in the toaster as he made himself a bowl of cereal. “Hi, Miss Twilight’s mom! Morning,” he casually chimed in despite his rushing around.

“Good morning, Spike! What are you going to get up to today?” she asked with a simple smile.

“Oh, once I'm done with school, I'm heading to the cleanup crew down Mud Street. I may not be a member of Chaosville, but I can help out. Then I'm heading to Twilight’s lab to help Starlight finish preparations on her and Twi’s machine.” He then picked up the bowl and placed the toast in his mouth as he rolled over and grabbed his backpack. “Don't wait up for me,” he said with the toast in his mouth as he passed by the front door.

“Wait, Spike! Slow down,” she called out. Spike did as he was told and stopped for a moment as he took a bite of his toast.

“Don’t you want milk with that cereal?” she asked.

“Hmm, oh, you’re right,” he said as she got up and grabbed the milk. She poured it into his bowl as she continued the conversation.

“Now, Spike, I’m heading to the grocery store. Do you want anything?”

“No,” he sighed.

Tempest looked at him a bit curiously. “Spike?”

“Don't, just don't.”

“Spike, she might just not want you to see her in jail.”

“Well, whose fault is that!” he spat bitterly.

“Spike, believe me, she has your best interest at heart.”

“Really? How can you say that when she turned out to be a supervillain?” Spike argued grumpily.

“Spike, being a mother ain't easy; believe me.”

“Yeah, well guess what? She's not my mother!” He then grumbled, “She only adopted me. Clearly she didn't care, or she wouldn't have done it.”

“Spike!” Tempest shouted at him.

Spike sighed, “I'm sorry.”

“I know your situation is different from mine, but, Spike,” she shook her head.

Spike turned around and gave her a hug, to the mare's surprise. “Your son was a hero, and I know despite my… what Luna has done, I can be one too.”

She smiled and told him, “Your cereal is gonna get soggy; eat it quick, okay?”

He nodded and decided to sit down and finish his bowl alongside her. To both of their surprises, however, someone walked in through the front door.

“Sup, little man?” Dash called out.

“Dash, what are you doing here? I thought you were helping Pinkie and AJ pack up.”

“Eh, I'm on my way now. Twilight, though, told me to give this to you,” she said, handing papers to Tempest. She glanced over the papers quickly and sighed.

“What is it?” asked Spike.

“Oh, nothing, just another fan letter from people wanting me to continue writing Derring-Do.”

“You know, why don’t you continue the story?”

“Hmm,” she asked Dash.

“Tell them the truth! Tell them what really happened, and how he was, in the end, a good guy,” she snorted. “I bet you people would love to hear that story told.”

Tempest smiled. “Perhaps it's time to let a new writer take over this story.” She handed Dash a pen from the table.

“What? Me? I'm not an author. Hell, I'm about to go into the Air Force.”

“You’ll need something to do with your spare time, and I'm quite curious to see how you would write this story,” she smiled.

Dash took the pen and stared at it. Just then, her phone rang, and she picked it up. “Uh huh, this is her,” Dash muttered. “Uh huh,...yeah,” her eyes then widened. “Tha—thank you.”

“What is it, Dash?” asked Spike.

“Oh, nothing. Don't worry about it. Well, I gotta get to AJ and help her pack, and you’re gonna be late for school if you don't hurry up, kiddo.”

“Mind giving me a lift?” he asked.

“Sure, hop in,” smirked Dash as she waved goodbye to Miss Sparkle.

“I can't believe you’re actually doing this,” smiled Twilight as she and Dash loaded the last box into the moving van.

“Yep, sorry Dash, looks like you'll have to find a new roommate,” smiled AJ. Pinkie jumped out of nowhere, “Oh, oh, don't forget about us, okay?” She sniffled and cried.

“Pinkie, we're best friends, and besides, you’re heading to my old hometown,” chuckled Dash.

“So you're gonna finish college in Cloudsdale, huh?” asked Twilight.

“That's right. Along with it, we're already in business. Granny Smith even got us a store,” she chuckled. “With the help of Mr. Cheese, of course.”

Pinkie wiped away her tears. “Yeah, Mr. Cheese has actually helped us a lot. He's even opening a joke shop there, and we'll be working right next door.”

Twilight smiled. “It's also a good way for Chaosville to expand and make new connections outside of Ponyville. If we don't, chances of a new gang war could pop up if we don't make new allies quickly.”

“Twilight, do you really think he's up to the task?” asked Rarity.

“I'm sure he is; he's just got to get used to it is all.”

“Well, I think you should be the one to be the leader,” Pinkie chimed in cheerfully.

Twilight nervously laughed at that. “Thanks for the boost in confidence, Pinkie, but no.”

“So how goes your timey thing?” asked the pink pony.

“Well, my assistant says she has access to a possible power source, but I don't like nuclear waste; it can be dangerous.”

“And chimera blood isn't?” chuckled AJ.

“Point taken,” Twi shared in the laugh.

“Okay, well that's everything. I'm really gonna miss you guys,” Dash said and hugged the two leaving.

“Yeah, it's just too bad we didn't get to say goodbye to Fluttershy,” one sighed.

At the sound of that name, Dash crossed her arms.

“Oh come now, Dash,” Rarity chimed in.

“Shut it; your stupid theories aren’t helping.”

“What? I'm telling you the truth; she has a boyfriend and probably took off with him.”

“Why would she just leave us without saying goodbye? We're her friends! And to not contact her family either,” Dash sighed, defeated.

“I know you’re actually worried about her, Dash,” said Applejack. “I'm going to search for her back in town; maybe she's close by.”

“No, I know where it is,” Dash mumbled.

“What was that?” AJ asked.

“Nothing. I'm sorry; this is supposed to be a good moment to send you two off. I do wish you the best.” Dash smiled, but AJ could tell it was hard for her.

“Well, with me and Pinkie no longer being chimera, I think this is the safest thing to do.” She smiled.

“Yeah!” Pinkie cheered.

The girls all gave one last group hug before saying their farewells.

Dash, Rarity, and Twilight stood as AJ and her cousin drove off. “Well, what now?” asked Twilight, unsure of what was next.

“I don't know about you, but I'm gonna head home,” Dash shrugged.

“I'm going to get back to work,” smiled Rarity. “I have an important client coming next week, and I must finish their suits. With any luck, they might agree to stay away from Ponyville,” Rarity said as Dash got in the car. “Yeah, yeah, good luck with that,” she replied, and drove away.

As she came to a stop, she took out the pen her hero gave her. She stared at it in thought of the future. She knew she was going to be a pilot; that was no doubt. But the weight of the pen in her hoof made her question how she would write this. She sighed as she set it down and pulled out her phone, reading a text.

"Everfree Town 9912." She then punched in the address in her car's map.

“That's a ways out. What are you doing, Fluttershy?” she muttered as she began her long journey.

Celestia stepped out of her car; her driver drove it away as she approached a top-security prison. She walked at a calm pace as she followed some guards into the building. They let her in and escorted her to a prison cell, which she entered with a smile on her face.

“You have ten minutes,” the guard told her. She gave no response as the doors closed tightly shut behind her. The room she stood in was very dark; the only light came from a small window far too small to escape. Behind bars, sitting in the corner was a dark figure in ragged, dirty clothes. The figure raised its head and opened its glowing, fire-like eyes at Celestia. “Hello, sister,” she smiled warmly.

“You,” growled the chained-up Alicorn. “What have you done with Celestia?”

“Whatever could you mean? I'm right here, Luna,” smiled Celestia.

“Let me see them! Let me see Twilight and Spike!” pleaded Luna, horrified.

“Oh, I don't think they want to see you; every time I ask, they refuse to come.”

“That's a lie!” Luna called out. “Just like it's a lie that you're my sister.”

Celestia sighed. “Here we go again, honestly, Luna.”

“Who are you?” Luna growled. “What do you want with Twilight?”

Celestia giggled, then chuckled, and soon it turned into a cackle of sorts. “Oh, Lulu, honestly, it's amusing that you haven't figured it out already. After all… I already told you all my plans: to create a world of peace with no war to ever fight again. That was always our goal, remember, sister?”

“That's what you told me, yet here I am, sitting in bars while that, that maniac is out there.”

“From all reports, he died, Luna. There is nothing of him to speak of.” Celestia turned her back on her. “Now I just have to find his little girlfriend and extinguish his bloodline once and for all.”

“What? What are you saying?” Luna questioned.

“Oops, said too much,” she replied.

“Tell me,” growled Luna. “Tell me right this instant! What do you have planned!?”

“Oh, Lulu,” chuckled Celestia. “Soon, very soon, it won't matter, you see,” she chuckled darkly. “Soon, very soon,” she smiled wickedly, “I will have what I want, and so will you.”

At that, Luna lunged at her, only to be stopped by the bars. “You lay one finger on Spike or Twilight, and I promise you, you will be sorry,” Luna growled.

“Oh, come now, Luna,” she chuckled, “do you really think I'm going to hurt my niece and nephew? I have no such intentions. If anything, they're the exact opposite, actually,” she smiled.

“Discord is Twilight's brother,” spat Luna. “She didn't join me; why would she join you?!”

Celestia chuckled at that. “Twilight's brother? That actually explains a lot. However, he is long gone, and I am Twilight’s future.”

“That monster—he's impossibly strong. There's no way you could ever touch him!” At this, Celestia chuckled darkly once more.

“Oh, Lulu, it's nice catching up, but I'm afraid my time here is short. Now you know what I want. Tell me, where is the last of your chimera serum?”

“I told you before, and I tell you again: you’re never gonna get it,” Luna viciously spat.

Celestia turned to her with a sly smile on her face. “Fine, I suppose. Ha! I don't actually need it.”

Just then, the prison guard came in once more. “Your ten minutes are up,” he told Celestia.

She nodded and followed him out. “Ta-ta, sister dear,” she taunted Luna as she exited. Luna narrowed her eyes as she watched her escape. Once the doors were tightly shut, she used her powers to create a small light, giving the room more illumination.

She then looked at her shackled hooves. All four of them. On her front right hoof, however, were scorch marks and scars from her trying to free herself.

She sighed at the locked shackle and then once again began to pry it off of her. As she did, she gritted her teeth at the pain. “Oh, come on, come on,” she groaned as she pulled the shackle off her front hoof. “Ahhhh!” she moaned as the shackle began to cut into her flesh again, making another bloody scratch. She did this for hours without end, determined to break loose. Finally, it began to move and slipped off her hoof, if only slightly. It wasn't completely off her hoof yet, but it will be soon enough. Exhausted from trying, she finally gave in and used her fire powers: one wound to seal the cut, then ice to stop the pain.

“Almost have it,” Luna expressed. “Almost have it off.” She gritted her teeth as she breathed in and out, trying to ignore the pain. “Don't worry, Spikey, Mommy's coming. I won't let that thing hurt you ever again. No monster will hurt you again when I am done.” She gritted her teeth as she fell back.

Suddenly, she heard the doors opening, and she quickly hid her self-inflicted wound with her ragged blanket. It was the only thing besides a pillow, a toilet, and a futon that was in her cell.

The door opened, revealing the guard bringing her a biscuit to eat for dinner. That was all she ever had—a biscuit—and she was tired of it. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to have some real food. Perhaps a nice, full Caesar salad or a hay burger. Hell, she’d even go for a plain bowl of cereal, but a biscuit? She took it and stuffed it down her throat, starving. It didn't even have any butter or jam to flavor it. As it went down her throat, it took all she had not to vomit it back up as she quickly grabbed the paper cup of water the guard had also given her.

She sighed at her pathetic state before she lay back down and fell asleep almost instantly.