Copper had seen plenty of raids before, with drones hitting campsites or small villages, but this was different - this was an all out siege. The ponies who couldn’t hide ran screaming, while those who could do neither boldly stood their ground and tried to fight. He would have never suspected the hive would wage an full-blown assault on Canterlot, even with the element of surprise on their side, but his former queen had apparently grown brazen.
He’d had no way of knowing the Matriarch would ever dare do something as audacious as assaulting the capital, yet she had. Perhaps she’d changed over the nearly two decades since he fled, grown more ravenous or discontent with feeding on the easy prey she could find, although that made little difference. In the end, driven by madness, hunger, a need for power, or some combination of the three, she had pitched her forces against the very heart of the Equestrian empire.
The assault itself had succeeded, as unbelievable as it was, in the midst of the royal wedding between Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. Chrysalis had somehow weakened the force field protecting the city for just long enough to let the continued onslaught of her strongest soldiers break the spell, and pure pandemonium had ensued. After the hive flew into the streets, capturing who they could and subduing those who resisted, the invasion became pure, unadulterated bedlam.
He helped where he could, sheltering his neighbors and proving to be a distraction, but he’d never been much of a fighter. He’d long ago forsaken his kin, embracing the love and kindness of the creatures he’d come to call friends, compelling him to protect the peaceful inhabitants of Canterlot where and when he could. While he did realize the attack had a purpose, giving the hive the means to thrive for years or even decades, it pained him to see the dread on the once cheerful ponies’ faces.
The attack felt like it lasted an eternity, with the brood’s foothold in Canterlot growing stronger by the minute, until everything changed. The ruinous moment was one he’d never forget, seared into his mind, and it doomed him and his family in the blink of an eye. A burst of light, the world turning upside down, darkness, and then pain - ceaseless, unending pain.
Though he couldn’t explain exactly what had happened, some unimaginable force repelled the entire hive from the city. The screams of his kin, the sight of buildings rushing by, the sensation of weightlessness, and then the impact of hitting something hard and unyielding. It all happened so fast, quicker than his senses could allow, and was over before he knew it began. The next thing he knew, waking in the snow strewn rubble of a mountainside, anguish greeted him.
He tried to push himself up, realizing something had gone terribly wrong, but his left arm crumpled beneath him. Just below the elbow, midway to his wrist, the limb bent at an unnatural angle. It took him a moment to grasp what was wrong, a merciful moment of shock, before it hit his system. Howling out, collapsing in on himself, he writhed in the frigid cold, alone, without anybody to hear him.
Alone with his thoughts, the sole source of his comfort was also his greatest fear. His precious daughter, Ivory Keys, would be safe, but she may lose him. He’d adopted her years ago, back when she was little more than a tottering filly, and she meant the world to him. He knew she’d survived the onslaught, since she was attending college in Manehattan, but that wasn’t what caused him worry.
On the off chance that he did survive, it was almost a certainty that his carefully crafted disguise would be found out. The ponies would be on high alert, likely searching for drones lurking in the shadows, so it would only be a matter of time until the life he’d toiled to create was stripped from him. Even if he could gather the strength to conceal his true identity, his injuries would raise questions - questions which would inevitably garner the attention of the royal guard.
When his companions and coworkers found out about his real identity, he’d lose everything - his home, his job, his belongings, but the thought of losing his daughter hurt worse than anything. With nobody to turn to, only just having become an adult, her fate would likely be a difficult one. For all intents and purposes, he was all she had, and because of what he was, they would be torn apart.
The cool embrace of death would have been a kindness, compared to the torment he endured, yet it didn’t come - lingering nearby, perhaps, but waiting for karma to reap its toll. Just as his consciousness would fade, the harsh reality of it all would bring him back - back to the suffering. He honestly wasn’t sure how long he stayed there, feeling himself succumbing to his wounds, but fate ultimately intervened.
He’d assumed the noises were some hallucination, possibly caused by the frigid wind gusting over the boulders and scree around him, although that wasn’t the case. A figure wandered into view, followed by a second and a third, causing him to lift his weary head. For the briefest of moments, he thought he’d been rescued, yet that wasn’t necessarily the case. As the trio grew nearer, coming into the view of his one eye, the gleaming gold and white plumage left no doubt - the ponies had found him.
They tried commanding him to walk, prodding him with their lances, but it simply wasn’t possible. Even if he’d had the strength to stand, his arm was broken, he was blind in one eye, and he felt certain that his wings were damaged beyond repair. Minutes passed, with the centurions growing increasingly impatient, until one of them, a pegasus, departed.
Some part of him wished they’d finished the job, running him through and granting him a release from his misery, but they had other plans. Minutes passed, or maybe they were hours - in truth, he had no way of knowing - before he finally felt himself being shifted. Rolled onto what he could only presume was a stretcher, wincing and whimpering, every move sent bolts of fresh pain surging through him. In the end, just as he felt himself being lifted, darkness claimed him.
Distant sounds of creatures talking, lights passing, the sensation of being moved - it was all a blur. It wasn’t until he found himself somewhere soft, warm and with a distinctly dulled sense of body and mind, did his lucidity return. What he’d assumed was the afterlife, contrasted against the hell he’d endured, was anything but. Cracking his eye open, allowing it to adjust to the harsh light, he found himself in a bed.
Glancing around, doing his damnedest not to move a muscle, he surveyed his surroundings. A window to his left, a chair to his right, and a tray beside his mattress immediately caught his eye, though he quickly discovered he was not alone. Sudden movement near the door drew his attention towards the exit, where a pair of armed and armored soldiers stood. It made sense, since he was a captive, but it was a laughable concept - after all, what harm could a crippled changeling do to anyone?
Given that his arm had been set, resting in a sling against his chest, it was apparent that they had something in mind for him, though he couldn’t fathom what. His best guess was that he would stand trial for his part of the mayhem the hive had wrought, which meant his stay in the hospital would likely be the last kind treatment he’d receive from the ponies. Though he couldn’t say what they’d ultimately do with him, casting him in a prison cell or petrifying him as a constant reminder of the changelings’ failed coup invasion, he had little doubt that his life as a free drone was well and truly over.
The days became a blur, as he slowly recovered. Regular visits from a nurse or doctor were terse, typically with the medical staff checking his injuries, administering medication, or changing his sheet, yet they were never social - even the guards, who silently watched him day and night, never spoke with him. He couldn’t blame them, not after what the hive had done, but he really wasn’t like the rest of his kind.
From an outsider’s perspective, he was just another drone. While in his natural state, he was almost indistinguishable from any other changeling, yet that wasn’t the case. Why else would he have abandoned the hive, adopted a daughter, and forged a new life for himself. He’d be able to plead his case at some point, he hoped, though that was no guarantee the ponies would believe him.
For nearly two weeks, he was confined to his hospital room. While he was fed, tended to, and eventually allowed to stretch his legs and limp through the corridors, the centurions watching over him were never far away - heck, even when he used the bathroom or showered, a guard was posted just outside the door. It was a miserably depressing state, especially because he had no way of knowing what his captors had in store for him, although he eventually found out.
Roughly a month into his stay, finally having recuperated enough to walk without assistance, he got his first real visitor. He knew straight away that something was amiss, before anyone even walked through the door.. The soldiers snapped to attention, slamming their fists against their breastplates, as a shadow was cast through the doorway. Casually seeing herself inside his chamber, surveying his room, the Princess’ form was unmistakable.
He’d seen Princess Celestia a handful of times, at public events or ceremonies, but it had always been at a distance. Now, with his pulse quickening, the snow white alicorn stood mere feet away. As majestic as she was, bearing an impassive, genteel smile, the sight of her made his blood run cold.
“I...hear you are recovering?” she demurely asked, shaking him from his stupor.
Copper nodded, unsure of what to say. It was rare for her to mingle with anyone, let alone the member of a hostile species, so her presence took him completely off guard. If anything, he expected to find himself facing a judge or magistrate - certainly not one of the most powerful and highest respected ponies in all of Equestria. Fumbling for a glass of water, feeling suddenly parched, took a long, metered drink.
The Princess glanced to a chair beside his bed, before looking back towards him. “May I sit?”
“P...please!” he sputtered. Waving to the piece of unused furniture, he winced.
Celestia eased herself down, smoothing her dress and modestly crossing her legs. Her eyes swept over his covered form, up his legs, past his torso, and to his face. Her expression was nearly impossible to read - then again, she probably intended it to be. One didn’t live for thousands of years, reigning as a Princess, without having the ability to control one’s self. Forcing a smile, despite his racing heart, he did what he could not to appear imposing.
“Is it true?” she cryptically asked, lifting one eyebrow and breaking the silence.
He swallowed hard, perplexed and terrified by the nebulous question. “Is - uh - is what true, P...Princess?”
Shifting ever so slightly, leaning towards him, she locked eyes with the drone. “That you’ve been covertly living in Canterlot for nearly two decades?”
“I…” he coughed, breaking into a cold sweat.
They knew. He had no way of knowing how she’d found out about his life, but she had. For a split second, he thought about lying - his inherent abilities of subterfuge racing to the fore - but he kept his mouth closed. If she’d found out about him and his life, deceiving her could only make his situation worse. Even on the off chance that she’d made a lucky guess and was trying to bluff him, there was a very real possibility that he’d already tipped his hand on the matter.
Turning his head, he averted his gaze. “Yes, it’s true, but I never knew any of this was going to happen.”
The alicorn didn’t reply, didn’t make a single sound, causing his anxiety to spike. Either she was an amazing interrogator or he was a lousy captive - in any case, his nerve eventually broke. Looking back at her, he clamped his eyes shut and took a deep breath. Unfortunately, mere moments before he could explain himself, she cut him off.
“There are those who believe that you were acting as some sort of spy, mapping the city and probing the capital for weaknesses. If what you say is true, how would you convince me that you are and were never a threat?” she placidly asked, her soft tone standing in stark contrast to the serious question.
“I swear on everything I hold dear, I never meant any of you any harm!” he bleated, bolting upright. A sharp pain radiated through his rib cage and left arm, evoking a stifled grunt of pain, yet he quickly composed himself. “I came here to get away from them, to start a new life. You have to believe me!”
Easing herself back, the alicorn watched a small flock of birds flit by the sealed window. “And what would your neighbors say?”
“T...they’d…” he trailed off.
His neighbors, his friends, his coworkers - though they may have known him, interacting with him on a regular basis, not a single one had known what he was - at least, they hadn’t before the cataclysm. Given her question, there was a distinct chance that everyone he’d come to know, everyone he’d come to care about, now viewed him as a traitor. Even though he’d survived the invasion, his life had ended the moment Chrysalis had attacked.
“They’d…?” the Princess softly pressed, tilting her head.
Weakly shrugging, feeling his shoulders go slack, he hung his head. “I...I’d like to think they’d say I’m a nice guy,” he breathed, so faintly that he barely even heard himself speak.
He really had tried his best to be a good person, regardless of what he kept hidden from others. He’d looked after his neighbors’ pets, covered shifts for his coworkers, attended community events, and even had a spare key for a few of the houses in his neighborhood - not because he’d intentionally misled anyone, but because he genuinely considered them good people. They’d looked after him, welcomed him with open arms, and they gave him something he’d never had - a home.
He sniffed, feeling something hot and wet roll down his cheek, before he realized how severely the thought had impacted him. On the off chance that the Princess let him free, he’d have nowhere to go, nobody to turn to. The hive had likely branded him a traitor ages ago, shortly after he’d abandoned them, and now the ponies would mark him as a pariah. Shaking his head, wiping his nose, the sound of magic caught his ear.
With one blurry and unfocused eye, he peeked out and saw a box of tissues levitating just beside him. The alicorn’s golden aura surrounded the box, with the faintest smile gracing her lips, as she made the kindly offer. Swiftly blowing his nose, after wiping the tears from his face, he did what he could to compose himself. There was something he needed to say, no matter what plans she had for him.
“If they don’t already know, please, don’t tell them,” he sighed. “If you have to tell them anything, tell them I was abducted by the changelings or..." He paused. "Or maybe I died in an accident.”
She held his gaze for a moment, possibly attempting to read his intent, before she nodded. “Duly noted. I will admit, we haven’t divulged your - ahem - condition to anyone, although there is one soul who figured out where you’ve gone and why you went missing.”
Knitting his brow, his mind started to race. News of the failed siege of Canterlot had more than likely made its way across the continent, which meant everyone would have heard about the incident. There was only one pony abroad who cared about him, so unless someone unexpected had done some investigative work, that could only mean…
His eyes widened, and every muscle in his body tensed, as he looked up and noticed who was standing at the door. The turquoise tinted, alabaster plumage and the azure gaze were unmistakable. Somehow, as impossible as it seemed, his daughter lingered just within the doorway.
Dread warred with joy, seeing the fine young mare he’d raised. Without a second thought, acting on instinct, he reached for her - that is, before he realized what it meant. There he was, battered and bruised, the man she viewed as a father, yet not the pony she’d grown to love. He’d had no way of knowing she’d simply appear, no time to form his disguise for her, and so she saw him as his true self.
Unable to move, barely able to breath, he lay petrified. He’d spent every moment around her in the form of a pony, nearly every minute of every day, so he couldn’t fathom how she’d react to the revelation. Closer and closer she drew, walking to his bed, until she stood just beside him. Without saying a single word, with her eyes starting to water, she leaned in, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed herself to him.
The sensation of her loving embrace was wondrous beyond works, akin to the divine, and it utterly sundered his hesitation. Quietly crying to himself, hugging her with his one good arm, he returned the hug. Relief beyond reasoning overtook him, leaving him to softly weep against her. She knew, she knew and she still cared for him, and the revelation warmed his very depths of his soul.
Resting his hand on her shoulder, he reluctantly withdrew. “I didn’t mean -”
“It’s ok,” she murmured, wiping her cheek, “I...I’ve known for a while.”
“But how…” he fell silent, too shocked to speak.
“I always just...knew,” she admitted, burying her face in his neck.
He couldn’t explain it - hell, he could barely make sense of it, but it didn’t matter. With his hand on her cheek, cradling her head, he smiled. “If you knew, why didn’t you tell me.”
“I just,” she began, her joy waning, “didn’t want to make you upset. I knew you had to have a good reason for hiding it from me, so I just sort of played along.”
The admission, while heartwarming, was somewhat unsettling. If she’d known about him, without fully comprehending why he’d done what he’d done, she may leap to the wrong conclusion - or worse, the Princesses and the guard may view her with the same suspicion that they viewed him. Gently pushing her to the side, he glowered over at the seated alicorn.
“Whatever happens, keep her out of it,” he darkly muttered, his paternal instincts roaring to life.
“Oh?” Celestia chirped, smoothly getting to her feet. “It’s funny you should mention keeping her out of it, because she’s been your staunchest defender.”
“I...what?” he croaked, glancing between the Princess and his daughter.
“It’s true. Shortly after the assault, she insisted on having an audience with me,” Celestia explained, shifting her attention to the then blushing pegasus, “despite how busy I was.”
“Yeah,” Ivory sheepishly hummed, “sorry.”
“She informed us about your state, and that you may well be mistaken for one of the attackers. It took us some time to find you, and longer still to determine which of the wounded changelings you were, but here we are,” the Princess continued.
As confused as ever, surprised that they were treating other drones, he peered up at his child. “But how did you figure out-”
Silently cutting him off, Ivory tapped her left eye. Though he’d long ago sustained the injury which had partially blinded him, his recent wounds would have made identification a bit difficult, if not nearly impossible task. Feeling himself tearing up again, overjoyed with the fortuitous and wholly unexpected turn of events, he shook his head.
“I don’t know what to say,” he whispered, reaching out and taking his daughter’s hand.
“Well you’ll have plenty of time to find the words, considering you’ll likely be here for another month or so. The physicians believe you’ll be recovered enough to sustain your illusory magic within a few weeks, although that’s just their guess. Once you can properly disguise yourself, you’ll be allowed your freedom,” Celestia noted, peeking over her shoulder at him.
“Thank you,” he breathed. “Thank you so much.”
“I believe you should be thanking her,” the Princess corrected, motioning to the young pegasus beside him. “Without her intervention, I truly can’t say what would have happened to you. Now then, not to be brusque, but I have other duties to attend to.”
Without saying another word, curtly nodding to them both, Celestia saw herself out. The tension bled from Copper as he falteringly ignited his magic and unsteadily pulled the empty chair to his bedside. He’d never really believed in miracles, but all that changed in the blink of an eye. The revelation wasn’t because he’d be able to regain the life he’d made for himself, but because he realized he’d already experienced one - the day he wound up at the orphanage and met his daughter…
