CYOA Badluck Femanon Ch 17

Chapter 17

 

>Mara offers to cook Twilight breakfast.

>"Sure. I'd love some."

>What the absolute fuck?

>Are you the only one seeing this?

>"I'm turning over a new leaf."

>Mara says, grabbing a frying pan.

>"Wheat or hay toast?"

>"Wheat please."

>No. You won't accept that answer.

>It's not that simple.

>"It is."

"... you said you chose to be an incubus. You don't just wake up one morning and say, hey... I'm not going to do this anymore."

>"Well too bad. Sorry to disappoint."

"And what even made you choose to be an incubus? Couldn't you have been something a little nicer?"

>Twilight clears her throat.

>"Anon, please. Mara's trying to be nice."

"Twi, please, stay out of this."

>You lock eyes with Mara.

"Tell me."

 

>"I just liked being called an incubus. Sounded cool."

>He cracks a few eggs one-hooved, without looking.

>"Plus, I got to pound as many mares as I wanted."

>Bleh.

>"That answer your question sweetie?"

>He didn't call you Anny this time.

>"Yeah. Shocker, ain't it?"

>He chuckles.

>"It's almost like your sleeeeeeepin- I'm just kidding."

>You don't know what to say to that.

>"No seriously, that was a joke. You're fully awake."

>His hoof morphs into a hand, and he pinches your cheek hard.

>"See?"

>You shake your head.

>"Fine, do you want me to be an asshole?"

>He cracks an egg over your head.

>"Sorry. Now go take another bath."

>Twilight looks at you sympathetically.

>"You really should... clean that up. Before it runs."

>You grumble to yourself and walk up the stairs.

>The egg yolk drips on your face.

>If he really is trying to be nice, you shouldn't piss him off.

 

>You strip down.

>You had no idea how to drain pony bathtubs.

>The bathwater is still there.

>And it was still hot.

>But it was dirty.

>You put your hand down where the drain was.

>Your fingers brush against a weird knob.

>You pull on it. Twist it. Do everything you can to yank it out.

>Nothing.

>Fantastic.

>Your hand rests against it.

"..."

>You try and push down on it.

>It works.

>The water level sinks.

>Huh... push, not pull.

>That's a weird way of doing it.

>The egg starts dripping down your neck.

>You fill the tub up again with hot water and splash your way into it.

>You can hear voices coming from the hall as you step into the bath.

>"Want any bacon Twilight?"

>"Bakin'? You baked a cake?"

>"No. It's-... well, here, just try a piece."

>You hear a crunch.

>"Mmh, that's good. What is it?"

>"Pig."

>You hear a spitting noise.

>"WHAT?"

>"Relax. It was one of Applejack's old pigs. He was going to die any day now."

>"But that was-... I just ate-... bleehhhhh."

>Mara chuckles.

>You giggle a bit.

>Alright, fine.

>If Mara was going to be nice, you weren't going to spoil his fun.

 

>You scrub the egg out of your hair.

>Damn it, the yolk is all thick and oily.

>You do Mara's little head dunk in the water.

>It helps a little bit.

>You repeat that a few times and finish up your bath.

>You pat yourself dry, grab some new clothes, and head back downstairs.

>Twilight looks like she's gonna be sick.

>Mara's busy washing dishes.

"Hey, you alright?"

>"... I ate pig. A pig!"

"Sorry about that. Bacon's a human thing, didn't know ponies were against eating pigs."

>"It's.... whatever."

>You see the plate of bacon.

>Can't let that go to waste.

"Um… do you want it?"

>"Go for it."

>You quickly snatch away the bacon and devour it quickly.

>You know, to save Twilight the horror.

>She covers her mouth disgusted and looks away.

>"Well... I think I'm going to go."

>She gets up.

>Twilight starts walking, but stops.

>"Oh, before I forget, there was a package in front of your door when I got here. I brought it in."

>She hands you a small box.

>"Looks like someone wanted to give you a belated birthday gift."

>She waves goodbye.

>You see her off and shut the door.

>You open the box.

>It's a rock.

>Blue-gray, with a slight luster.

>Resting on a dry, soft, green material..

>On moss.

>"Whatcha got there?"

>Mara calls.

>You blink.

>Wasn't this Mara's gag present from before?

>Something about it seems...

>Familiar.

>It slowly dawns on you.

>You let it fall to the ground with a clatter.

>That's from the cave, isn't it?

>The one that Mara rescued you from.

>"What?"

>Mara floats by you.

>You give him a knowing, despair filled look.

"This... you never made a joke gift, did you? This is from the changelings."

>Mara looks down guiltily.

>"... I-"

"What are they doing here? How did they get to Ponyville without us knowing?"

>"... didn't they just waltz in and kidnap you before?"

>Shit.

>He's right.

>You start to panic.

>He pulls you into a hug.

>"Hey, relax. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

>You know that he saved you before.

>But something is in the back of your mind.

>One incubus couldn't possibly take on an army of changelings.

>Last time, he had the element of surprise.

"... not that I don't appreciate it, but you-"

>"I read your thoughts. You're right."

>He rubs your back reassuringly.

>"We can go see Twilight, if you want?"

>You nod.

>The two of you walk to the library.

>Slowly, as per Mara's suggestion.

>You don't want to alert anyone to any suspicion.

>You knock on the door.

>"Come in."

>You hear from inside.

>You blink.

>Wait, what if Twilight is a changeling?

>You'd never know.

>"Too late for that now. Just play it cool, I got your back."

>He winks out of sight.

>You take a deep breath and enter the homely tree.

 

>"Anon, what are you doing here? Didn't I just see you a minute ago?"

>Twilight looks confused.

>And concerned.

"I- uh... the box you gave me."

>"What about it?"

>You take a deep breath.

"I think the changelings were here."

>"What?"

>You explain to her how they kept you in a cave. Used moss as bedding for you.

>"... oh my."

"I'm not going to be their little vending machine."

>"... vending what? Nevermind. Spike!"

>You hear a yipping from the bedroom.

>"Spike, wake up! I need you to right a letter."

>Spike grumbles and walks down from the bedroom.

>"Twilight, it's 10 in the morning! Can't it wait?"

>"No, it can't."

>Spike looks at the two of you.

>"Fine."

>He grabs a quill and scroll.

>"An Urgent Message to the Royal Sisters. We request your presence in Ponyville immediately. Anon thinks there may be changelings in our midst. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. Send it now Spike."

>"... -light Spar-kle."

>The dragon rolls the paper up and blows a small stream of green fire.

>"There."

>You sigh a bit of relief.

>"They should be on their way soon. We need to get the others. Wait here Anon."

>Twilight rushes out of the library.

>You sit and wait.

>Spike looks at you.

>"What's going on? Changelings?"

>You don't know.

>But you're not sure you want to find out.

 

>"Why do you think changelings are here?"

>Spike seems a little concerned.

>"Are they here to attack Ponyville?"

>You look at him.

"I don't know."

>He looks at you.

>He doesn't look happy.

"All I know is that if they are here, they're after me."

>"Oh man..."

>Spike starts biting on one of his claws.

>"It's nothing to worry about, right? We used the Elements of Harmony last time. Wait! What if they're already here? They could have replaced one of us! Pinkie Pie? Rainbow Dash? Rarity and Fluttershy? Or maybe even Applejack! The Elements need to be together to work. If they have one of us in their clutches, we'll be defenseless! This is not good!"

>He starts pacing.

>You pull on his tail and sit him down next to you.

>He's making you more nervous than you already are.

>The scared little dragon stares at you.

>He gulps.

>"You know... we'll do everything to protect you, right?"

>You know.

>All too well.

>He pats your arm reassuringly.

>"It's ok-URP!"

>He burps out a letter.

>Spike catches it and reads it aloud.

>"Twilight Sparkle, your concerns have been noted. Princess Luna will be arriving shortly."

>He blinks and starts flipping the paper over.

>"That's all."

>What?

>You snatch the letter from him.

>No signature.

>No calming words to dispel your fears.

>That's not like the princess you've come to know.

>"Shouldn't they both be coming here?"

>You were thinking the exact same thing.

>You fight the urge to panic.

 

>Your eyes scan over the letter again.

>Luna should be able to help you, right?

>I mean, she's just as powerful as Princess Celestia.

>Maybe ol' Sunbutt just needed to protect Canterlot and make sure that it was safe?

>Yeah, that's gotta be it, right?

>Twilight barges in.

>She's followed by everyone.

>Rainbow, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy all accounted for.

>But you have no idea if any of them are changelings in disguise.

>"Anon, you alright?" Twilight asks.

"Yeah."

>You hand her Celestia's letter.

>"... that's it? Just Luna?"

>You nod.

>"I think this is a bunch o' hooey. You're basin' all your suspicions on Anon's hunch. On a present she got for her birthday? You sure you're not just overreactin'?"

>Applejack looks annoyed.

>"Applejack, don't be like that."

>"I'm sorry Twilight, but Applebuck Season is startin' in a few weeks. I gotta help my family prepare the farm and I don't want to waste any time worryin' about false alarms."

>"Darling please. If Anon is right and the changelings are in Ponyville then Applebucking is going to be the least of your worries."

>You sigh.

>This isn't the time for arguments.

>You carefully examine every p0ny before you.

>None of them seems to be acting any differently.

>Twilight pulls a wooden box from a shelf.

>The Elements of Harmony.

>You've never seen them up close before.

>"We're here for you Anon, so don't you fret. No ridiculous shapeshifting monsters are going to get through us."

>You smile.

>"What the?"

>Twilight starts to panic.

>"Oh no! No no no no this can't be happening."

>Your smile quickly fades.

>"One of the Elements is missing!"

>You stare at her.

>"We're missing the element of kindness."

>You blink.

>Kindness?

>Isn't that-

>"Why are you all looking at me like that?"

>Fluttershy.

>She backs away from everyone.

>"I-I didn't have anything to do with that."

>Her legs quiver slightly.

>You sigh.

>You can't jump to conclusions just yet.

>You pull Twilight aside.

"We might need some more help."

>"Agreed."

"Any ideas?"

>"I can think of one."

 

>Who?

>"A certain creature of chaos."

>You blink.

>Oh.

>That should do it.

>Twilight scribbles a letter away and has Spike deliver it.

>He sets fire to it, sending the magical smoke towards the castle in the distance.

>Fluttershy starts cowering as everyone approaches her.

>"We're not accusing you sugarcube. It's just mighty peculiar is all."

>"You are Fluttershy, right?"

>Dash asks, poking as she does so.

>"I- I think so."

>Her voice squeaks.

>She's trembling.

>You sigh.

"Fluttershy, let me just say... if you are a changeling, Discord won't be so happy."

>"Discord? W-w-why won't he be happy?"

"Because Discord and Fluttershy are friends. And he wouldn't like it if something happened to his best and favorite friend."

>"I'm his favorite?"

>You raise an eyebrow.

>"Oh right... I suppose I am his favorite."

>Right.

>You grumble.

>Spike burps up another letter.

>"They'll be here at noon."

>Good.

>The faster they get here, the safer you'll be.

>"What time is it now?"

>You shrug.

>Oh wait, don't you have Mara's locketwatch?

>You reach for your neck.

>And it's not there.

>Did you drop it somewhere?

>You feel something drop into your back pocket.

>The fuck?

>You turn and see a small wisp fade away.

>Mara.

>That's right, he's still here.

>You pull the pendant from your pocket and check the time.

"It's almost 11."

>"Good."

>Applejack sighs.

>"Alright fine. Might as well settle down... doesn't look like we have a choice, do we?"

 

>For the next hour, you guys just sit around in the library.

>You’re keeping an eye on Fluttershy, just in case.

>She was a little suspicious.

>But she was also under a lot of pressure.

>You’re probably just overthinking it.

>Your mind is thinking a million things at once, coming up with some explanation as to what is happening.

>It sets you into a panic, multiple times.

>You do a few breathing exercises.

>Luna and Discord are coming to the rescue, right?

>You’ll be fine.

>Chrysalis won’t be able to deal with them both.

>Mara too, he won’t let anything happen to you.

>You can trust them.

>Even if one of them went deranged and psychotic with jealousy.

>And the other was a god of chaos.

>And Mara was just in it for your body.

>You smash your head against a table

>Everything’s going to be fine.

>You aren’t doomed, or anything.

>Right?