Hole Hearted

A ship cruises through the sea waves. Its captain stares blankly his hooves holding to the steering wheel. In his eyes is the green signature of magical mind control.

Echo stood on the bowsprit of the wooden ship.

Amorpheus approached Echo. “Soon we will be in Griffin control skies. Your mother, your queen will then greet you as her daughter. We must speak of what happened before.”

“I do not know what there is say.” said Echo.

“You killed Thorax one of our own.” said Amorpheus bluntly.

“No I… Thorax …” said Echo weakly.

“To command is to kill. Your decision or indecision stopped Thorax from doing his duty. You killed Thorax, the same Thorax that was among your first guards.” said Amorpheus bitterly.

Echo’s face contorted but she held firm biting back the tears. Echo turned her face toward the sea to hide the turmoil written on her face.

“I fear that in sheltering you from the worst rigors of our monarch’s training, I have done a great harm. This is my weakness as well as yours. I have spoiled you.” said Amorpheus.

“Master Amorpheus, the pony, had saved my life once, my honor demanded repayment. Nothing more.” said Echo.

“Larvi, the affection that pony had for you was real. I tested him in combat. He loved not your mask but you… I have never seen the like. Do you reciprocate such feelings?” said Amorpheus.

Echo turned backwards. “Are you questioning my loyalty?” asked Echo fiercely.

“Yes.” said Amorpheus looking down. Amorpheus then faced Echo forcing her to stare into his eyes. “Swear to me now that you will never lead me to think so again!”

“I swear it by the monarchs of old, dead and cold.” said Echo.

Den awoke Blue was with him.

“Den, I’m sorry. I just froze up.” said Blue.

“Blue, it’s alright it was illusion magic of the highest degree.” said Den.

“You overcame it.” said Blue looking her hooves helplessly.

“I’m not sure how.” said Den.

Shining Armor entered their hospital room. “Here read this.” Shining shoved Den a sealed letter.

Den and Blue took the letter and opened it.

Dear Dented Armor,

A panel has reviewed the circumstances regarding the changeling known as Echo. At the insistence of Captain Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, we have decided at this time there is no sanction against changelings in the Royal Guard. We have no right to prejudge a being who wishes to join so long as its intentions are sincere. We shall permit it then changeling known as Echo, for her service in the battle of Manehatten, be allowed to continue under supervision. Dented Armor her superior officer will report regularly her progress.

Princess Celestia of Equestria

“A dozen more letters will have to written for families of the Royal Guards that died because of that changeling.” Shining Armor said with scorn.

“Echo wasn’t responsible. Other changelings-” said Den.

“Don’t defend that creature. She’s corrupted you.” said Shining Armor.

“Den was tested for mind magic.” said Blue.

“I love Echo…” said Den.

Shining Armor placed a hoof on Den’s shoulder. “Den, what I’m going to say you mustn’t repeat to anyone.” said Shining Armor with a severe expression.

Den and Blue nodded.

“When I was under the control of Queen Chrysalis, it wasn’t entirely mind control. If it had been just that I would have noticed immediately when my love Cadence was replaced. Mind manipulation isn’t just about magic. Spies without mind magic are still just as dangerous. The deadliest poisons taste… sweet. I love my Cadence with all my heart, I still feel guilty…” said Shining Armor.

“You couldn’t have known…” said Blue.

“…” Den looked downwards as the words sunk in.

“We don’t expect a follow up attack so soon after hitting the Griffins as hard as we have. This is the first time in 1000 years Equestria faces the prospect of war. There will be a lot of discussion between the higher ups. I need a Vice Captain with a clear head. Den, I want you to write those letters for the families of the fallen guards. I’m giving you a week off.” said Shining Armor.

The yellow glow of the sun was fading behind the blinders of the office windows. Den sat behind his desk and looked at the dossiers of the fallen guards that were given to him in a folder. ‘Lance Corporal Cobalt Blaze’ was the name of a particular dossier that caught his attention.

“Nearest Kin, wife Cherry Blossom, children two…” Den wept as he looked at the piece of parchment.

Blueberry stood by Den’s doorway. “You need help?” she asked tenderly.

Den wiped the tears from his eyes. “Blue, you can’t write.”

“I can fold the envelopes. I can stay by you.” said Blue.

“Sure.” said Den.

Den and Blue sat in the office. Den wrote each letter carefully, sometimes his tears stained the letters. Blue sat silently and patiently waiting with an envelope as he finished. The ritual continued late into the evening until a neat stack of a dozen letters was completed and sealed with hot wax.

“At least, you don’t have to deliver them.” said Blue sighing.

“I want to visit at least one… Cobalt Blaze his address is here in Canterlot.” said Den.

The snows became worst, as the White Wastes lived to their name. The blinding blizzard blasted two figures as they are pursued by dark flying shadows.

Spears were telekinetically thrown at them by the pursuing enemy.

The wind worsened.

“In this blizzard we either lose our pursuers or we lose our lives!” Zaza shouted over the howling of the winds.

The lead shadow caught up with Reagle and Zaza however noticed too late it was too far from its kin.

Reagle turned and grabbed a spear in mid air. “We stand and fight.” He flung the spear striking down the lead shadow.

The black Griffin fell near their feet. In green fire it reverted to its true self.

Zaza examined the insect like creature. “Cursed creatures, they are not Griffins nor Zebra. They are the enemy of truth.” Zaza pounced and smashed one of the shadows to the ground.

“Zaza, you know of these creatures?” asked Reagle fighting off one of the shadows.

“Yes, the cause of your father’s illness is now all apparent. They are called harpies in lore.”

A ship docks with a pier. The great coastal city is under Griffin occupation, airships hover overhead. Pony sailors walked timidly under the shade of the mighty airships.  A procession of Griffin guards greeted them. Echo and Amorpheus walked off the boarding ramps in their disguises. Echo recognized the green gleam in some of the Griffin soldier’s eyes. Amorpheus followed after Echo.

“So mother is behind the Griffins.” said Echo surprised.

“Listen our Queen shall test you again. You must look into her eyes as you did for your first test.” said Amorpheus.

“I know, what will be asked of me. It is customary.” said Echo.

“No this is different…” said Amorpheus.

Reagle and Zaza stood amongst a dozen dead changelings. The blizzard was intensifying.

“We must find shelter!” shouted Reagle back.

“Prince Reagle, look!” Zaza gestured with a hoof to a small cave outcropping in the distance.

Reagle and Zaza stepped into dry cold cave. The Zebra mare and Griffin hugged each other close for warmth.

“I have abandoned my father to the black feathered witch…” said Reagle despondently.

"We can return, I shall marshal my Zebra Zerkers. We’ll show your father the truth when we kill the witch.” said Zaza.

“That would end the pact between our two nations war would follow. The Equestrians will then destroy our divided peoples.” said Reagle.

Zaza huffed in frustration. “This war is a contrivance! Shortly ago there was no talk of war. This Celestia is not a monster. Neither are those she commands. My exiled sister  has studied amongst the ponyfolk. Her letters tell only of compassion and kindness in their company.  Why don't we speak to them?” said Zaza.

“Is peace possible? They will remember Manehatten.” said Reagle touching his forearms nervously.

“War is worse, we have met the Equestrians in combat it will not be the easy victory as we imagined.”

The morning sun was bright and welcoming. The Canterlot streets were bustling with workers. In a small house nestled in an alleyway Den and Blue stopped at their destination. Den tapped his hoof against the plain unpainted wooden door.

“Coby, you’re home!” a pink mare greeted them. Her smile evaporated as she saw Den and Blue in their Royal Guard Armor.

Den sputtered out his words. “You must be Cherry Blossom. Co-Could we come in?”

“Sure.” said Cherry.

“Mommy is daddy home!?” two small pink and teal fillies bounded towards their mother.

“No, it’s time for you two to go to school. You’re going to be late. Run along now.” said Cherry kindly.

“Yes mother.” said the two fillies filing past Den and Blue.

“Come in.” said Cherry smiling.

Den and Blue sat in a living room that was connected to the kitchen. There were two couches and Cherry sat opposite Den and Blue. There was a fireplace with a sword that hung by the mantle. Loving pictures adorned the walls of a teal stallion and a pick mare. The night curtains were still drawn and the home was dimly lit by sunlight.

“Can I get you two anything?” asked Cherry gesturing to a tea kettle on the kitchen stove.

“No, we…” Blue looked downward unable to say anymore.

“No thank you.” said Den nervously. Den spoke softly. “Your husband… he’s Cobalt Blaze?”

“You two don’t need to say anymore, I can read what you’re going to say from you faces. He’s fallen. Hasn’t he?” Cherry spoke calmly.

“Yes.” said Blue gritting her teeth.

Den placed a letter on the table. “You and your children will be taken care of. The Royal Guard will pay compensation.”

“I heard the Royal Guards liberated Manehatten, I’m glad Coby could have helped in a noble cause. The fool I loved him so. He’d always go spout about fighting for Equestria and the future of our children.” Cherry’s disposition was collected. Cherry looked to Blue. “Tell me how he died... was it like the poems?”

Blue cobbled together her words. “…Yes I reckon he Coby defeated a dozen of dem buzzards...” Blue coughed.

Cherry then leaned toward Den with bated breath. “Tell me my Coby was glorious. Tell me he died defending the Equestria he loved.” Cherry’s eyes were wide and expecting.

Den choked on his words. “No, he died defending a changeling… it was my fault…I’m sorry.” said Den bowing.

“Den.” Blue looked at Den with her mouth open in shock.

Cherry fell back onto the couch with a despondent blank expression. “Thank you for telling me the truth…” Cherry said softly.

“…” a moment of silence was held.

The tea kettle began whistling angrily.

Cherry’s face exploded with anger. “Now, get out!!!” Cherry jumped from the couch. She grabbed an ornamental sword on the mantle and swatted at Den and Blue.

Den and Blue ran from the crazed mare.

Cherry spat out the sword as Den and Blue were driven out of the home. “Never come here again!” Cherry screamed.

As the door slammed shut behind them Den and Blue could hear heavy sobbing.

They walked back into the main streets.

Blue punched Den in the stomach with her forelegs. “You dumb dolt! You wanna tell her that her husband pissed himself before they slit his throat too?!” She shouted in Den’s face.

Den reeled back. “I couldn’t lie to her.”

“You idiot.” said Blue with tears in her eyes.

Both Den and Blue hugged each other as they wept.

In the throne room Queen Chrysalis sat disinterested on the golden chair. Undisguised changelings flanked the carpet way to her. Each of the changelings wore sleet dark armor and could be counted as a commander of more. Echo and Amorpheus walked towards the throne in between the columns of changeling officers.

“My Queen, I bring you a Princess worthy of the colony.” said Amorpheus stepping backwards and bowing.

“I shall judge that.” Queen Chrysalis arose from her chair. She circled Echo and began pacing about.

Echo stood motionless looking ahead and allowed her inspection.

Queen Chrysalis scoffed. “You call this pitiful nymph a Princess? Master Amorpheus have you gone blind? I do not believe she took out a War Wing.”

Amorpheus spoke quickly. “Larvi has completed her training. She is-”

Queen Chrysalis raised a hoof calling for silence. “If she is to be my daughter than she can speak for herself.” Chrysalis turned to Echo. “Answer me, the ‘S’s in infiltration what are the three?”

“Seduce, supplant, subvert.” responded Echo determinately.

“Be not proud, that was simple.” Chrysalis spoke. “It is greater than stars above and the strongest love. The highest noble wants for it. The lowest peasant has it. Yet it does not sustain or support.”

Echo thought for a moment. “Nothing comes to mind.” replied Echo.

Chrysalis mused. “You have no answer child?”

“The answer is ‘nothing’.” said Echo.

“Clever.” smirked Chrysalis. Chrysalis’s tone became severe. “Now comes your real test. Do not succumb or it will destroy you.  Do not look away or I will destroy you.”

Chrysalis stared into Echo’s eyes. Echo matched her gaze. Chrysalis’s pupils became emerald embers that burned away consciousness. The bleakest black surrounded Echo. Visions of starving colts, a battlefield laden with corpse, and towns stricken with plague flashed through Echo’s mind. Life times of such visions coursed through her mind’s lens. The weight of the world threatened to crush her soul.

However Echo tried to fight back with her own memories. The happiest shards were swiftly swallowed by the visions. The sweet nectar of Ambrosia wine, was a blink. Master Amorpheus giving her a plush pony doll, several seconds. Even her first love, the lancer Constance was devoured by the all consuming emptiness. Echo shook violently hugging herself. She was at the Canterlot cliffs again. The wind was beckoning her to step forward. A voice cried about behind her.

“Echo!”

It was Den…

Echo blinked her eyes. She was blinded by tears. The room returned to focus as she wiped her eyes. She was shuddering from cold that touched from within.

Queen Chrysalis stepped back from Echo. Chrysalis’s expression gave no hint of approval or disdain.

“My Queen, Larvi can still be off some use! Soldier caste or even… banishment.” pleaded Amorpheus.

“Silence, Amorpheus! My daughter has passed her test.” smiled Chrysalis proudly.

“What?” said Amorpheus stammering.

“That was not feeble fear. She survived pure despair! I hereby acknowledge her as my heir. There is none more so worthy!! Anyone to challenge this claim challenges me!!” Chrysalis’s voice boomed throughout the chamber.

Amorpheus bowed. All at once so did the other changeling commanders.

Chrysalis hugged Echo from behind turning her towards the rows of changeling soldiers. “My daughter, kings will kill for you, the foundations of nations crumble before your feet… and even the living goddesses will cry as they die!”

With tears still in her eyes and shivering uncontrollably, Echo’s coronation began.

The changeling guards cried out lifting their lances. “All Hail Princess Larvi! All Hail Princess Larvi!”