I found myself running at the often silent bitch as I was both surprised to see her and pissed off that she hadn’t done anything to help either of us escape. Sadly, she anticipated my reaction and lifted me into the air, out of reach of absolutely everything. I floated there, swinging at air as I got it all out of our system.

“You’re probably wondering why I didn’t help you escape. The fact of the matter was I did help. I suggested to Twilight that she do something to boost the soldiers’ morale. You’re the one who alerted every guard in the castle to your unchained presence. I did my part.” I crossed my arms at her explanation and just sat in the air with crossed legs.

“And you didn’t think to do that eleven or even twelve years ago?” I asked. Luna dropped me on the ground, and I landed on my back with a loud thud. I think she pulled something.

“To be honest, I didn’t really see any use in helping you, nor did I care for your well-being. You’re a foreign entity to my world. But when Chrysalis was captured, my opinion of your usefulness changed. The fact that you remain still vexes me, however. Perhaps Chrysalis has uses of her own for you.” Luna said. I growled at her.

“She’s labelled me the King of the Changelings.” I said.

“Is that so?” I watched as Luna raised a brow to the Changeling queen who seemed unperturbed by the look she was being given. I rose to my feet and tried to bring as much of a prideful stance as one could standing in their birthday suit.

“Why she did it doesn't matter to me, nor should it matter to you. What does matter is Celestia and killing her.” I said. I saw the disturbed look in Luna’s eye and the beginning of a glow around her horn. But she’d made the mistake of dropping me right in front of her. Before she could cast any magic, I reached my hand out and grabbed her horn, squeezing it hard. She gasped and scrunched her eyes. Pain or pleasure didn't really matter to me, I’d stopped her spell.

“You brought me from my home and sent me to hell. Your sister is the devil and must be exterminated.” I could feel the tingling of her horn as it tried to focus magic again, but I clenched harder, dispelling it.

“That’s enough, both of you. I’ll not have my hive turned into a squabble fest.” Chrysalis interrupted. Reluctantly, I released Luna’s horn and she refrained from blasting me with whatever was up her arsenal.

“Now I agree with you, but you have to take into account Luna’s feelings on the matter too. She’s not your enemy. Would you settle for sealing her away?” Chrysalis asked. I considered the new factor as well as the option. As much as I wanted to kill Celestia, perhaps banishment into a seal would be even crueller.

“I’m thinking of putting her in a similar situation to myself. Strip her of her power and throw her in a cell or something.” I replied. Chrysalis shuddered.

“That seems a bit drastic, don’t you think?” she asked.

“You’re kidding, right?” I said. There was no way she could have forgotten what happened earlier that day.

“I agree with your friend, Chrysalis. As much as it pains me to admit it, Celestia will never rest, even if she had a thousand years to think about what she’d done. She has to die.” Luna interjected. I couldn’t help but start liking Luna already. I fought off a smile for the sake of what little morality remained in me.

“Perhaps we should talk about this some other time. We still have to make you a King, my friend.” Chrysalis said. I dropped the subject as she’d suggested and focused on her instead.

“Yeah, you mentioned something about that. We had to do something in order to make the Changelings obey me.” I replied. Luna gasped.

“Chrysalis, surely you don’t intend to do that? He’s not of this world, the results would be unpredictable.” she protested.

I turned to her. “What do you mean? What’s she trying to do?”

“You said it yourself, Luna he’s of little use to us as he is now, as good as he is with a blade. He wants revenge, but two blades won’t cut it when facing your sister. He needs power.” Chrysalis replied.

“What’s going on?” I asked again, turning to the Changeling.

“Proceed with this and he could become a mindless monster, you could kill his mind or destroy his body.”

“What?”

“I know what I’m doing, Luna, that’s why I called for you. Your magic needs to act as a stabiliser so his mind stays safe.”

“What about my mind?”

“That’s why you called me? I thought you had a plan, not a damn fool’s afterthought.”

“Alright, both of you, SHUT UP!!” I interrupted, stepping between them. I faced Luna first. “What the hell are you both talking about? What is Chrysalis planning on doing?” I asked. Luna sighed and shook her head.

“A foolish thing, I’m afraid. She’s planning on turning you into a Changeling.” the princess replied, sitting down as if exhausted from the argument. I stood there, staring at Chrysalis.

“It’s the only way. You’re a good swordsman, but that’s not enough if you even want to get close to Celestia. Become a Changeling and you have a chance–.”

“But there’s a good chance he’ll die in the process.” Luna added.

“He’s dead either way. If he remains as is, he’s as good as dead. If he changes, he might die, but at least he’ll have a chance of surviving and taking his revenge.” Chrysalis argued. I’d heard enough at this point and the decision was clear as daylight.

“Let’s do it.” I said. There was a pregnant pause in the room as the two members of royalty worked over my words.

“Very well… but I believe you should at least become king with a little dignity.” Luna replied. Before I could ask what she meant. She lit up her horn and there was a flash next to her. I suddenly saw my old clothes folded neatly together, cleaner than when I appeared in them.

“Ah, just what I wanted.” I said, going to grab the clothes, but Luna moved them out of reach.

“You’d best bathe first. Clothing and smelly human don’t go well together.” she said.

“Yes, Mo~om!” I groaned, motioning for Chrysalis to lead the way.

The shower was cold, but one would expect that from an underground waterfall. Luna and Chrysalis watched me bathe. Their gazes didn’t bother me, although I was sure they would have had I not been in such a bad state for a dozen years. Shame, privacy, manners and morality were long lost to me. I might as well have already been a Changeling. I was hardly human anymore. Sadly, neither equine thought to get me a towel. With a sigh, I dried myself off with the aid of Luna’s magic. It felt strange to have clothes on again after all this time. I’d lost so much weight, they barely fit me anymore, but with a little tightening of the belt, I managed to get by. A pair of jeans, black steel-capped boots and belt, a white short sleeved shirt, a grey zip-up hooded jacket and a black leather overcoat later and I felt almost like my old self. All that was missing was twelve years and a name.

“Somehow, that suits you.” Chrysalis said. I chuckled and slung an arm over her shoulder.

“I always knew how to dress with style.” I mused. The changeling giggled at the joke and we walked together with Luna to some place.

So my Coronation was to take place at the highest point underground. Kind of ironic when I thought about it. There wasn’t much to the tower itself, even less to the roof. It was just a circular dome that allowed you to see the entire hive. If anything it was a good place for seeing the sights, assuming your eyes were used to dim lighting.

“This is it, this is where you will become a Changeling. As a King you will be able to feed off of the love of other Changelings, including me.” she said.

“Assuming you and they have love to give, correct?” I asked. She nodded.

“Now, I’m afraid this is going to be a painful process. Are you sure you want to do this?” Luna asked.

“I’ve suffered worse.” I replied. Luna nodded.

“No doubt.” Chrysalis stood beside Luna and they both stood inches from me. Chrysalis was to my left, Luna to my right. I closed my eyes and tensed my body, preparing for the pain that was sure to come.

It was a slow thing. Something even the strongest of men would dread. It felt like two bullets slowly entering through each side of my chest. Chrysalis’ horn, being jagged, was more painful than Luna’s. I couldn’t help but cry out in pain. I felt blood trickle down my torso, staining my clean clothes in my own blood. My heart was beating like a mad thing just before Chrysalis pierced it. It was at that moment that I felt myself dying, but at the same time, coming alive. Magic flowed through me from the epicentre of my heart. It was cold, freezing. On Luna’s side, I could feel her magic working its way up to my mind like a brainfreeze, but more comfortable than anything else. I remained conscious thanks to Luna’s aid, and I endured the pain from their horns and the freezing cold from Chrysalis’ magic. My entire body felt like liquid ice was coursing through my veins instead of blood. It was as soon as my eyes began to burn that I felt it; the change. I pushed both mares away from me, forcing their horns out of my body. I could tell that was the wrong choice as both of them protested to the action. I curled in on myself, gripping my arms and pulling them closer. I roared in agony as the freezing feeling turned to searing heat. It now felt like liquid metal was coursing through my veins, boiling hot. I felt like the Ghost Rider.

I was brought to my knees in pain. And of all the times for it to start up, it had to start then. I began coughing up red. But instead of falling into my hands, the blood swirled around in the air and shot back towards me, spreading itself along my clothes. I coughed more and the process repeated itself. I was scared. I didn’t know what was happening, and Chrysalis’ stunned and confused look only aided the fear to take hold. I tried to wipe the blood off, but then my clothes became all sticky, stretching out of place and attaching itself to my hand. Leather was not supposed to stretch, at all. I felt everything about me engulfing the rest of me. It was like a power struggle of the flesh. I imagined I looked like a cacophony of tentacles and tendrils of blood and stretchy leather.

I tried to think of a good memory, anything that might remain still in my old life, but all there was, was emptiness and the burning hatred towards the one primarily responsible for my situation. Celestia. With my hatred in mind, I felt and heard the flesh around me cease to move. Then it began to creep onward, slowly at first. I thought about surviving so I could kill her and release all my rage on her and the flesh cringed in on itself. I gave out a roar of hatred and my flesh began to return to its normal self. I was regaining my original form. The leather returned to normal, the clothes underneath returned to normal, even my wounds had healed completely. I looked myself over. There were slight changes to my clothes. My hooded jacket was now red, and my jeans were grey. The leather jacket was covered in a veiny looking surface that seemed like it was part of the item. I imagined what my blades would have looked like had I worn them, and suddenly, my arms began to fluctuate and I felt the extension and hardening of my fingers. A black mist surrounded the change and when it dissipated, I had four blades for fingers on each hand. My thumb remained as it was, but was covered in black. I tried bending the fingers to test them. They bent as though the blades were just an illusion. I tested their strength on the floor. It was like cutting through butter. I smiled at my new toy, then looked to the Princess and the Queen who had both their jaws dropped.

“What? I like these clothes. I certainly wasn’t going to change into something that couldn’t use them. I’ll do that later. For now,” I flexed my arms and hands and the blades disappeared, reverting to regular limbs. “I want a new name. I’m sick of not having one. What do you guys think?” Chrysalis and Luna shook their heads both and fixed themselves up.

“Yes, right. Your name, what shall we call you?” Chrysalis asked.

Author's Note

And here's a little GAME for everypony!!! That's right, I said game. So for all you readers out there, I'm going to let you all decide on a name for this guy, Sweetiejack and I will decide on which one best suits him and we'll use that. So have fun and good morning over here in Australia!