A Change in Heart

Originally By: Jexxazrez

Everything from here on out: Kuroyami Fukaikuro

A/N: From here on out, it's all me, Kuro. Jexx's only contribution from here on out is the basic idea. Also, I'm not that good with dialogue, so bear with me until things get exciting.

Black Daze awoke the next morning. He sat up, and observed the scene. Chrysalis and Trixie were asleep next to each other, forming a circle. Her time asleep had apparently reverted her to her original form. I wonder if I should wake them up... nah, I'll let them sleep. He rose onto his feet and walked towards a river, to cleanse the... fluids... of the previous night off of himself.

He returned minutes later and found them awake.

"That was fun." Chrysalis said. "Better than all my... past experiences."
"I agree." Trixie said.
"Well, I'm glad you two enjoyed it."

Suddenly there was some rustling behind him. Black Daze turned and Twilight stepped out of the bushes.

"Oh... Hello Black Daze, Trixie, Stargazer."
"Hello Twilight," Black Daze said, "what are you doing in the forest so early?"
"Celestia sent me a letter telling me to see if you could visit. She said she'd like to meet you in person."
"Oh. Alright then. Can Trixie and Stargazer come too?"
"I think it's alright." Twilight said.
Black Daze turned around. "Do you want to come?"
"Sure." Trixie said.
"I can't." Stargazer said. "I have to clean up from last nights events."
"What?" Daze asked.
"Well..." She looked at Twilight. "It, uh, it's better explained in private."
Twilight slightly blushed, as if she suddenly realized why they were in the forest so early. "Go ahead."
Stargazer pulled Black Daze behind some trees and reverted back to her normal form. "Right. So, you know how you came inside me last night?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, you understand how little fillies and colts are made, right?"
"What, like babies? All my parents ever told me is that when a mare and stallion love each other a lot, some magic happens and a baby is born."
Wait, Chrysalis thought to herself, so I have to teach him about reproduction?
"Okay... So. You know what we did last night, that was sex."
"Right."
"That's how babies are made."
"What? Really?"
"Well, not all the time. You see, when you came into me, you released your semen. If your semen reaches my ovaries, there is a good chance I will become pregnant. With your child."
"So, I'm gonna be a father?"
"No. That's why I can't go with you. There is a spell that will ensure that I won't get pregnant. Which is good, because, let's be honest, we're not ready to raise a child."
"Don't you have experience with it though? All those Changelings..."
"Changelings reproduce differently. When we aquire enough love, we can magically reproduce... It's complicated. Not to mention, you're part dragon, so there's no telling what the child would be like."
"Oh. Can't you just cast the spell and come with us?"
"Unfortunately, I cannot. Spells that deal with life take time to cast."
"Alright then. Take care."

They rejoined Twilight and Trixie who were having a conversation about combat magic. They turned to face Black Daze upon his reappearance.

"Are you ready to go?" Twilight asked.
"Yes."
"Alright then. Let's go."

Chrysalis headed back to Daze's house to begin her spell. Upon their way out of the forest, however, Black Daze suddenly stopped.

"I smell fire." he said.
"What?" Twilight asked. "I don't smell anything."
"Being part dragon, I have a somewhat advanced sense of smell. And I definitely smell fire. Give me a second to check it out."
"Well, if you insist."

Black Daze spread his wings and took off, slowly following the scent of flames. Which was somewhat unnecessary because a column of black smoke flowed from the eastern-most part of the forest. He flew quickly and saw a group of ponies setting fire to thick trees and chopping down thin ones. In the back, enjoying a drink with his bodyguards, was-

"Harvest..." Black Daze growled.

He quickly flew back to where Twilight and Trixie waited.

"Sorry Twilight, but I'm gonna have to postpone the meeting with Celestia."
"Why?"
"Harvest and some of his workers are cutting down the trees, even though I warned him."
"What?! Don't worry Black Daze, I'll get the rest of the girls, and some guards, and we'll stop them."
"Actually, you should worry about stopping me."
"Huh?"
"I'm going to give him one last warning. If he doesn't heed it... I can't say that I won't kill him."
"Oh... Alright, I'll hurry! Trixie, go with Black Daze and try to keep him from killing anypony."
"Okay!"

The three of them took off, Twilight to get help and Black Daze to defend his land. Trixie followed as fast as she could, but he still got there first. He flew lower and shot a fireball in near the workers. They dropped their axes and tools and backed away from the forest. Black Daze hovered above them, wings spread, eyes glaring threateningly.

He cleared his throat, then announced his intentions loudly. "I am the closest thing this forest has to a ruler. I will forgive you for what you have done up until now. But if you continue to chop down trees and burn my forest, I will rip out your hearts and I will feed them to the timberwolves! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!??!"

Many of the workers got the message, and ran away. Part of it probably had to do with his appearance, because many of them screamed "Monster!" as they ran.

Then Harvest walked up, with his hench-stallions, Maroon and Piper behind him.

"I warned you Harvest. I told you to stay away from the forest."
He smirked. "Black Daze, I honestly was afraid of you for a bit. Then I realized, since the Everfree Forest is technically owned by you, then under normal circumstances I would have to ask you for permission to do this."
"If I remember correctly, I refused to give you permission."
"Which makes this a technical act of war. My brother, Dawn Guardian ((Is this how you do pony names?)) is one of the Generals of the Equestrian military. If I ask, he'll back me up."
"If it's a war you want, then a war you'll get. I'll be sure to leave a part of you unscorched, so your family can recognize you."

They both glared at each other. Trixie burst through the trees.

"Daze! I'm here to help!"
"Good! You take on Piper! Maroon and Harvest are Mine!"

Maroon shot off the ground and engaged Black Daze in the air. Harvest supported him with blasts of magic. Black Daze, despite his experience, was pushed back at first, due to the synergy between Harvest and Maroon. But then he got the hang of their combinated moves. Maroon would swing at him while Harvest would prepare his shot, and then he would back up so Harvest could attack.

Wait for it... Now!

When Maroon threw his hoof, Black Daze caught it in his claw. Then he spun Maroon around and wrapped his forlegs around Maroon's body, preventing Maroon from using his wings. Then Black Daze turned upside down and allowed them both to drop. At the last second, Black Daze let go and Maroon slammed into the ground head first, knocking him out instantly.
Then Daze turned to Harvest.

Meanwhile, Trixie and Piper squared off, before shooting each other with their own beams of magic. Their magic collided, and they both held their ground. They both pushed with their willpower, attempting to overpower the other. Normally, Trixie would easily overpower him, but the previous night's events had left her somewhat hung over, drastically limiting her power.

Damn... How do I beat him now? Then she remembered what she and Twilight were talking about. She allowed Piper to slowly overpower her.

"Ha!" he said. "Foolish mare! Trying to fight a stallion!"

Wow, he's sexist too... she thought. Then, when she was sure that he was putting all of his effort into the beam, she jumped to the side, and his beam rushed past her uncontrollably. Then she shot him with her beam, and he was pushed up against a boulder, knocking him unconscious. She looked over at how Black Daze was doing, and saw that he was about to face Harvest.

Harvest smirked. "I'm a unicorn. You can't possibly defeat me."
"Try me."

They charged each other. Black Daze leaped into the air to deliver a blow- but he was held there by Harvest's magic.

"What did I tell you?"
"Daze!" Trixie yelled.
"Don't worry Trixie, I've got this!"
Harvest guffawed (I just love that word). "You've got this? How preposterous! What can you possibly do?"

Black Daze smiled. Then he shot a fireball at Harvest. At this close range, Harvest was forced to erect a force-field around himself. In the process, however, he had to let go of Black Daze. When he put down the field, Black Daze was already too close.

"Buck!" he attempted to grab Daze again, but Daze managed to scratch his horn, disrupting his magical concentration. Then he grabbed Harvest by the throat, and slammed him into a tree.

"Listen, Harvest. I'm only going to say this once more. Stay away from my forest. I'm going to let you live, because I'm trying to be friendly for the first time in years, but if I see you near my forest again-" he slammed Harvest against the tree again to emphasize his statement. "-I will kill you, and I will eat your heart myself. However, since the last time I warned you, you didn't listen, this time, I'm going to remind you in a way you can see."
"What-"
Black Daze inhaled, then breathed fire over Harvest's horn.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHH PLEASE PLEASE STOP I'M SORRY I SWEAR-"
Black Daze stopped. Harvest's horn was now charred black. Daze let go of Harvest, who collapsed onto the ground, shuddering in pain. Trixie simply stared in shock and awe.
"Now take your men, and go."

Slowly, Harvest stood on his four legs. Avoiding eye contact, he woke up Maroon and Piper. They slowly stumbled away from the forest. Just before they reached the road, Harvest turned back.

"This isn't the end, Black Daze!" He yelled angrily. "You'll hear from my brother!"
"If he's anything like you, then I'm not worried."
Harvest glared as if he had something to say, but instead turned away, defeated.

Just then, Twilight showed up with the rest of the Mane Six, and some local guards.

"Daze! What happened? Are you alright?"
Daze smiled. "Don't worry. I've taken care of it."
She gasped. "You didn't... Kill anypony, did you?"
"No. I wanted to, but I held back for your sake, and for my own. Would've been a pain to have to bury their bodies."
"Uh... Well, Celestia said she's okay with the delay, but she hopes tomorrow's free?"
"It should be. See you then."
"Later. Oh wait, Trixie? Can I talk to you?"
Trixie turned to Daze. "I'll see you back at the house." He took off.
Trixie turned back to Twilight. "Trixie..." Twilight asked, "did he kill anypony?"
She shook her head. "No. But... At the last moment, when he confronted Harvest, there was a look in his eyes, like he really wanted to. Do you see the scorch mark on that tree?" she pointed with her hoof. Twilight and the rest nodded. "Black Daze held Harvest against that tree and breathed fire on him, scorching his horn."
"What!?" They all exclaimed.
"Yeah... for a second, I thought he really meant to kill him... I'm worried about him."
"Well, there's nothing we can really do... Just talk to him, try and get him to control his anger. You know that magic meditation technique?"
"Of course."
"Teach it to him. It's not like he'll learn magic, but it's good for self reflection and self-control."
"Understood."
They parted ways, Twilight and friends back to Ponyville, Trixie back to Daze's house.

End of Chapter

A/N: Wow. So, that was the first part of A Change in Heart that really belongs to me. I hope you all enjoyed, expect more.

Author's Note

(Don't mind this, I just need to take note of this for my other fic)
(Taken from a YouTube comment)

As the moon takes the sky in its blood-drawn embrace
As our cages will fill up with ponies of each race
As the dancers and singers take blades to the show
As apocalypse greets us with its fiery glow
It's now time for you to be out of the game
But don't die too quickly, that would be a shame
Step into the darkness, in there you will stay
For your death is at hoof and your doom is today!