Inner Demons

Princess Celestia walked slowly through her castle. Her eyes were drawn to the scars of the changeling attack that occurred two days ago. Battle scars, broken stone, and even some of that goo still clung to the walls were all reminders of event. Celestia sighed. Twilight had been right all along. She wondered if perhaps this could have been avoided if they had listened to her.

A small whimper caught her attention. The noise came from a basket that laid against the wall in a tilted position. Celestia walked over to it and looked inside. A small white colt looked up at her, terrified.

"Why hello, little one. What are you doing here?" She asked as her magic lifted the child into the air, bringing him closer to her. The colt just stared in fear. No words came from his mouth, only the faint sounds of his breath, and once in awhile a whimper. "Oh you poor thing, I bet you're horrified being all here alone...How did you get in here anyway?"

"I...I can't re...remember." The colt said softly. His voice struck at her like dragon's fire. It was sultry and calming for some reason, and his emerald green eyes made it all the more innocent.

"What's your name, dear?" The colt pondered this for a second.

"I th...think it might be Ob...obsid...obsidian." Again her heart sunk slightly. He sounded so scared, but what could she do?

"What a unique name. Do you know where your parents are, Obsidian?" The colt started to cry.

"N...no! I can't find them and I'm lost and sc...scared." Celestia pulled the colt close to her and tried to shush him.

"Fret not small one, I know of a place where you may live until we find your parents. How did you get in here anyway?" Before remembering that she had already asked that.

"Mommy was a guest at the wedding...when those monsters attacked, I...I lost her." The colt began to sob again.

"Shhhhhh sweetie, it's going to be okay. I'm going to take you some place safe." She set him on her back and flew towards Ponyville not wanting the guards to question her intentions with the child. Though she didn't think that they would think she was a molester of any kind, but having a child that isn't yours and not having a good excuse could cause for some problem.

Twilight left her library and made her way to Sugarcube Corner. She smiled, thinking of all the tasty home-made treats they made there. Definitely the best in all of Ponyville. Well, except maybe for Sweet Apple Acres. That begged the question: which was better, and how would she know?

"Twilight!" A bubbly pink mare yelled from her window, interrupting her thoughts.

"Hey Pinkie!” Twilight greeted her friend. “Can you grab me some food to go? Spike needs breakfast before he gets to work and we all know I'm not the best cook." Twilight chuckled slightly and Pinkie nodded, quickly disappearing from the window. A few moments later Pinkie burst from a vase beside Twilight, causing the lavender mare to shriek and fall on her plot.

"Ow! Pinkie..."

"Oops. Sorry, Twi." Pinkie picked up her friend and smiled, handing her the food. "That will be five bits."

Twilight nodded and gave her friend the money.

"Thanks Pinkie!" she yelled as she made her way home. She had expected to return home, and have a normal day. Instead as she walked in the door to her home a strange feeling came over her. There she was the Princess of the Sun herself and Twilights own teacher.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight yelled as she ran towards her mentor embracing her in a hug. Then she saw him. A small white colt with a black mane and emerald eyes. "Princess, I didn't know you were pregnant!" The alicorn blushed and let out a small giggle.

"No, Twilight, I am not pregnant, nor was I, but I do have an important task for you my faithful student."

"A task, Princess?" Twilight looked at the foal and a had a feeling she knew where this was going.

"Yes my student, I need you to watch over thi..." She was cut of by the lavender mare.

"I'm sorry Princess, I can't. I wish I could, but I just can't"

"May I ask to as why not?"

"I am far too busy and even though Spike mostly takes care of himself, he can still be quite a hooffull sometimes...maybe you should ask Fluttershy. She might be your best and only option."

"I see. Well, thank you Twilight. I hope to see a new letter from you or one of your friends very soon." The Princess then picked up the colt and left the house. Twilight sighed and went to her study felling a little ashamed that she couldn't help.

"Ready, dear?" Celestia asked as she put Obsidian on her back. He wrapped his hooves around her neck and nodded snuggling into her. "Alright, here we go." With that, she was off into the air flying towards Flutershy's cottage.

Fluttershy was busy attending to her animals when a sudden gust of wind caused her to shriek and run inside. She hid behind her bed when a small knock came to her door. "G...go away please." she whispered.

"Fluttershy, it is I, Princess Celestia." this news caused Fluttershy to sigh happily and open the door. Celestia walked in with Obsidian trailing after her. "What can I do for you Princess?"

"Well, Miss Shy, I have an important task for you."

"M...me? Why, Princess! I'm honored. What would you have me do?"

"I need you to watch over this young one until we can find his parents." Celestia looked at Fluttershy with a serious look in her eyes. "Can you do that for me?"

"Of course Princess but, how long will I have to watch him?"

"That I do not know...when I return home I shall send a scouting party to look for his parents."

"I see... Well, I'm happy to be of help." Shy smiled and looked at the colt. "What's your name anyway, cutie?" Obsidian blushed slightly and then shielded himself behind Celestia's wing.

"I...I'm Obsidian." Fluttershy's heart nearly exploded when she heard him speak. It was so calming and beautiful...

"Such a beautiful name for such a handsome colt." She looked at Celestia and smiled. "I think I'll be fine from here."

"Very well." Celestia looked at Obsidian and smiled. "You'll be good okay?" The colt nodded and ran over to Fluttershy. Celestia left the cottage and the two were alone.

"So, how about we get you something to eat, and then maybe we could play a game until your bed time?" Fluttershy asked. Obsidian nodded happily and followed her to the kitchen.

Meanwhile in a small cave far off...

The changeling walked up to his injured queen with a small cup of water. "How are you feeling, your majesty?"

"Weak but alive... I realize the mistake I made, and next time I won't make it again."

"My queen, are we going to hit Canterlot again?" Chrysalis laughed and looked at the servant.

"Not right away. No first we must grow and then we attack Ponyville. Killing those insolent fools who call themselves 'The Elements of Harmony'. Celestia and Luna will be so heartbroken that taking over Canterlot will be easy." She started to laugh and soon she was joined by the thousands of changeling that  were by her side.

Obsidian looked at Fluttershy with determination. Fluttetshy stared back as well. Then, she blinked.

"Oh, you beat me!" Fluttershy smiled and grabbed the colt hugging him and tickled him. Obsidian couldn't help but laugh and soon he let out a long yawn. "I think its someone's bedtime." He tried to shake his head but couldn't as he closed his eyes and slowly started to fall asleep against her. Fluttershy smiled and carried him to his bed. There she laid him down and tucked him in.

"Goodnight, Obsidian," she whispered and gave him a small kiss on his forehead.

Obsidian was almost asleep when a terrible image came into his head, causing him to scream and cry. "Mommy!" he wailed. Fluttershy ran into the room and picked him up.

"Shhhhh, it's okay, I'm here... I'm here..." She looked at him and held him close. "What happened?"

"I...I saw some...something scary."

"What was it?"

"I can't remember, but I don't wanna go to bed." She smiled and kissed his nose.

"You can sleep in my bed. I'll do my best to protect you but I must warn you: I'm a bit of a scaredy-mare myself. Okay?" He nodded and she carried him to her bed. There they laid, and he tried to sleep, but every time he closed his eyes the same image kept appearing. An area of pure darkness with two huge green eyes and a wicked smile...

Soon he gave up and tried to deal with it. Hours later, he finally fell asleep