A Change in Heart

Originally by: Jexxazrez

From now on by: Kuroyami Fukaikuro

Black Daze sat up in his bed. He blinked, and looked around. Trixie and Chrysalis lay next to him, still sleeping. He rose and managed to exit the bed without waking up either of them. He slowly walked outside, and sat down outside of his house. The sun had not yet risen. He closed his eyes and focused the way Trixie had taught him yesterday. She taught it to him so he would better control his emotions in battle, but he found something in the process. He looked deep within himself once again.

There it was...

Black Daze had his own source of magical energy, despite not being related to any Unicorns, as far as he knew. He had told Trixie and Chrysalis, and together they wondered about it.

It's not like I have a horn, so where is the energy stored, anyways? he thought to himself. Where did it even come from, anyways? No Earth or Pegasi Ponies are born with magical energy. Thinking harder, he came to two conclusions. I'm either a special case, or, when Daravoc transformed me into a hybrid creature, some of his some of his magic became mine. He decided that the latter explanation was the most likely.

He rose from the bed and walked out. Now that he had (most likely) solved the little mystery, there was no point continuing to worry about it. He stretched, then rose onto his hind legs, balancing precariously on them. He had recently realized that he could walk like this, and wondered if he could fight like this. Any fighting style derived from this stance was sure to be unorthodox (at least to ponies) and would surely give him an advantage. He began throwing punches with his claws, taking the time to keep his balance.

Hmm... It seems like a good idea, but it'll take some time to get used to moving like this. I guess I better keep practicing...

A Few Hours Later

After practicing for a few hours, he was now able to perform a string of complicated moves. But it's still not ready for use in combat, he thought.

Chrysalis exited the house and wrapped her hooves around Daze. "Daze, dear, I've been thinking..."

"Yeah?"

"Well, your house..."

"What about it?"

"It's kind of a dump."

"I'd argue with you, but I agree. What do you want to do about it?"

She pursed her lips. "I don't know... Maybe upgrade to a tree house?"

"Really? A tree house?"

"Why not? Of course, it would have to fit my standards."

"Dark, foreboding, and full of Changeling goop? No thanks."

She hit him playfully. "What do you know of the Changeling Lands? You never even graduated from school."

"Well, fine. But it's gonna have to wait, at least until we meet with Celestia, and I get her to recognize these lands as a foreign country."

"All right."

A little later, Trixie exited the house, and Twilight appeared from the forest.

"Are you all ready to meet Celestia?" Twilight asked.

"Yes," Black Daze said, "Let's go."

They left. Fortunately, there was no interruption this time. They met with Spike and the rest of the Elements at the train station, and they all boarded and headed for Canterlot.

The Royal Palace

As they all entered, Twilight, Spike, and the other Elements bowed to Celestia, along with Trixie and Chrysalis. Black Daze, however, did not bow.

Celestia decided to kindly ignore that fact, and, smiling warmly, began to speak.

"Welcome, Black Daze! Twilight has told me about you and your strength. I am honestly impressed." Next she addressed Trixie. "I hear your skills have improved as well, and that you now rival my student, even without the Alicorn Amulet. You must explain your training techniques, seeing as you did all this without a teacher." Then she turned to Stargazer, and her eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't recall hearing about you, though. What is your name?"

"Stargazer."

Celestia eyed her for another second, then looked back at Black Daze.. "I heard about your... altercation with Harvest. I honestly don't know what to do about it. You claim the Everfree as your own, but it has yet to be recognized as an official nation... by anyone, really. So, basically, you commited an act of assault against Equestrian citizens."

Black Daze felt that he had to argue for his position. "But-"

Celestia cut him off. "However, I did order my student to befriend you, and throwing you in jail would... complicate the matter. So, I have thought of a solution. If you officially declare the Everfree as an official country, and make it your dominion, then I will officially recognize it as a country. And I will apologize for the actions of my citizens."

Black Daze stared in slight awe of Celestia's kindness. Then he recovered. "Harvest said he had a brother in your service?"

"Dawn Guardian will be warned, and ordered to stand down. Any other concerns?"

He thought deeply. Why would she do this? "You don't honestly expect me to believe that you're doing this simply out of the kindness of your heart, do you? What do you get out of this?"

Celestia put on a look of amusement. "What, you don't trust me?"

"I don't have a lot of good experiences with powerful beings. I look like this for a reason."

"I see... Well, even if you don't trust me, my offer still stands. You may leave." They turned, but Celestia suddenly remembered something. "One more thing!" Black Daze looked back. "You have lived in the Everfree for much of your life, yes? Then you didn't finish school."

"No, I did not."

"Then Twilight will educate you. You must at least learn politics, if you plan to run a country."

Black Daze sighed. "Fine. Whatever."

Together, Daze and the group exited Celestia's hall. There were a couple moments of silence while they all processed the events that occurred in the hall. Then Twilight spoke, ending the silence.

"So Daze... It looks like I'm going to complete your education. At what grade level did you drop out?"

"I was transformed when I was thirteen years old."

"What math level were you in?"

"Uh... Algebra. Why? Aren't you just going to teach me politics?"

Twilight looked appalled. "I was told to educate you. And the very least a nation's leader could do is have the education of a High School Graduate."

"But- Wouldn't that take years?"

Twilight smirked. "Just leave it to me! With the lesson plan I come up with, you'll practically have a Bachelor's Degree in politics by the end of the year!"

Meanwhile, at an unknown location...

Harvest sat in a room devoid of furniture, other than the chair he was sitting in and a lantern hanging from a hook on the roof. He turned and looked at the stallion in front of him, who was gazing out the window.

His brother.

"So," Dawn Guardian said, "you were beat by some... monster."

Harvest gulped. "Y-yes."

Guardian turned around. "Disgraceful."

"B-but you should have seen him! He breathes fire, and he's fast-"

Harvest was lifted out of the chair and slammed against the ceiling. Guardian narrowed his eyes. "I don't care for your excuses, brother." Guardian allowed Harvest to fall onto the ground. His stomach hit the back of the chair, knocking the wind out of him. "I just want to know what such an atrocity is doing in Equestria."

"I-I don't know! But- I know he's friends with Celestia's student!"

Dawn Guardian blinked. "A monster is friends with Twilight Sparkle?" Harvest nodded his head furiously. "I see... that complicates things. If we attack him, then we might be reprimanded by the princess. But if he attacks us..."

Harvest looked up at his brother. "So- You'll be getting revenge for me?"

Guardian glanced at him condescendingly. "Revenge? Why would I get revenge for someone so worthless? No, I will kill Black Daze not because he shamed you, but because he is a stain on an otherwise perfect Equestria."

"Brother?"

"Get out. Now."

As Harvest left, another pony came in. A messenger.

"A letter from the Princess, sir."

Dawn Guardian opened it and read.

Dear General Dawn Guardian,

It has come to my attention that your brother was defeated in an altercation with the Dragon/Pony Hybrid known as Black Daze. I warn you now, he is off limits. I have told my student Twilight Sparkle to befriend him so that he may be used to benefit Equestria. Any movement against him and you will be accused of treason and you will be brought in for a court martial. He also plans to declare the Everfree as a country separate from Equestria, and when he does I will recognize it, so any acts against him from then on will be considered unofficial acts of war, and you will be expelled from the Equestrian military.

Your Princess,
Celestia.

Dawn Guardian breathed in deeply. So the Princess would allow this abomination to exist? Fine. Screw the Princess. He turned to the other soldiers in the room, men who had been with him in combat, who owed their lives to him. "The Princess is allowing a monster to roam in Equestria. Some... Dragon/Pony Hybrid. But not on our watch."

His men smiled.

"For a Perfect Equestria!" They shouted.

"For a Perfect Equestria." Guardian said.

And so Black Daze wound up spending the next few months being educated by Twilight. He spent his days in her makeshift school at her library; his afternoons training with his new form, along with training in basic magic control from Trixie and Chrysalis; and his nights enjoying the splendor of the mares that he loved. He built some tree-houses, major improvements from his previous living conditions. He was introduced to Zecora, who accepted the change in the Everfree's status. But she asked that she be involved in major events, as one of it's few citizens. All in all, it was an easy life.

Dawn Guardian, on the other hand, spent his time preparing and planning his coup de'tat. He trained in the day and spent all the time he could learning about Dragons and their abilities. He wasn't a General for nothing, after all. Nearly all of his victories were attributed to excellent planning, and he wasn't about to change his routine for this.

A year later, Daze was ready to declare the Everfree an official nation.

Unfortunately, that was when Dawn Guardian was ready to attack.

Author's Note

I originally intended to put in a scene with an altercation between Black Daze and Jet Set (and Upper Crust) but I wasn't really sure how to write it, so I took it out.
Also, for the sake of the story, Twilight will remain a unicorn.
One more thing! I don't think Jexx specified Daze's age during the transformation, so I made it up.
ONE MORE THING! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been busy with school.