Fool Moon, Part 31 (Returns a Beast.)

>The train ride back is the longest of your life.

>You can still taste the filly's blood in your mouth.

>None of the ponies you rode with could see it in your disguise, but you could still taste it.

>And it tasted good.

>Shame fills you at that thought, and you turn to look at Sparkler, who's wearing one of her rare, satisfied smiles.

>She was always keen to please her master.

>As if sensing your thoughts, the purple mare turns to you, appraising you with a keen eye.

>"You know, Bon-Bon, I really didn't think you had it in you."

"Like I say, you don't know much about my kind."

>"Really, I'd always thought of you creatures as monstrous...but you struck me as a coward. I'm glad to see I was wrong."

>She puts a hoof on your shoulder, and you have to stop yourself from shuddering.

>"Blueblood will be pleased."

>You roll your eyes at her.

"Fantastic."

>Sparkler frowns.

>"Don't be flippant! This is a grand step for your kind as a whole! Perhaps the King will come to trust your entire species!"

"He won't."

>"No, most likely not, but it's good to hope."

>You snort, and Sparkler grins.

>"I just wish you had allowed me to...help, with the filly."

>You don't respond.

>"It could have gone so much slower...why, I even brought along my favorite set of knives..."

>You block the noise of her voice out, just as you block out the taste of blood in your mouth.

>Just as you block out the poisonous outflow of hatred and sadism that flowed from Sparkler like water from a faucet.

>It made you sick.

>You are Bon-Bon the changeling, and you have done a terrible thing.

 

 

>When you step off the train into Canterlot's streets, Sparkler is STILL talking.

>Mostly about weaponry and different aspects of unicorn magic, but you've stopped paying attention.

>You just want to get this over with, wash the taste out of your mouth, and make sure Lyra's alright.

>But you know you can't.

>You still have something else you need to do.

>First, though, an audience with the King.

>Sparkler is practically bouncing on her hooves as the pair of you trot towards the throne room.

>At least she is until the doors open.

>Then she's back to being the calm, stoic, sadistic little nutcase you know and hate.

>The Throne room doors open on what is coming to be a familiar scene.

>Blueblood, seated on his "borrowed" throne, his cheek leaning against one hoof as if bored.

>A begging, kneeling diplomat, pleading his case before the new King.

>A griffin, this time. Not surprising, really. Blueblood had been slowly but steadily cutting all ties to that nation, closing down foreign exchange programs, dissolving trade agreements, and other such things.

>King Blueblood was sending the rest of the world a clear message.

>If it wasn't a pony, it was his enemy. Ironic, really.

>"Please, Sire, reconsider! We are not your enemy! We simply-"

>Blueblood holds off a hoof, and the griffin silences himself.

>"I believe I've already told you to leave, have I not?"

>"But I-"

>Blueblood leans up in his chair, and the "royal guards" at his side point their spears at the griffin.

>"O...of course, Your Majesty."

>The griffin bows and scrambles out of the room, allowing you and Sparkler to approach the throne unopposed.

>Blueblood greets your approach with a wide, sickening smile.

 

 

>Sparkler bows immediately, and you lower your head after a moment's hesitation.

>"Amethyst Star. Bon-Bon. I trust that your mission was successful?"

>Sparkler smiles, and you have to brace yourself against the sickly-sweet wave of pure LOVE flowing out from her towards the seated king.

>You can feel that love. And it's fucking disgusting.

>"Yes, Sire. We succeeded in our mission."

>His smile widens.

>"So you have my wedding gift?"

>Spakler's eyes shift to you for the briefest second.

"I'm afraid we were...unable to procure a head."

>Blueblood's smile vanishes into a frown.

"I got hungry."

>The frown turns into a grimace, and he begins to rise from the throne.

>Sparkler's horn glows, retrieving the still-bloodied lock of Sweetie Belle's mane from her satchel.

>"We did not return without trophies, Your Majesty!"

>Blueblood's expression lightens again, his eyes locking in on that bloodied tuft of hair with an iron intensity.

>"Oh...this will do nicely..."

>He rises from the throne, accepting the lock of hair with a flash of white teeth in his perfect grin.

>"The perfect wedding gift for my bride-to-be."

>You knew who he was talking about.

>You'd been told.

>You'd been told everything.

"Your Majesty?"

>His eyes switch to you.

>"Ah, yes. The Changeling. You have done EXCEPTIONALLY well, my dear. I will reward you any way I can. You and your...food source...will always be welcome in my kingdom."

"...Thank you, Your Majesty. I only have one small request."

>"Name it."

"The Queen wishes that I see your Bride to be before reporting back to the Hive."

>The Queen wished no such thing as far as you knew.

>"But of course. Come with me."

 

 

>You followed the new King through his stolen castle, idly wondering at what drove him.

>He was passionless. Cold. Mad.

>You could taste nothing from him but avarice.

>It was terrifying to be so close to him, to be behind him, and to feel nothing from him. Nothing but a keen, mad mind bent on-

>"We've arrived."

>He turns to you with a flourish and a grin.

>"I will allow you in first, dear Bon-Bon. Just make it quick. I have a marriage proposal to make."

>You bow to him and move to enter the room.

>You change as you enter, fire flaring around you.

>Razor passes you, on his way out to give you some "alone time" with the prisoner.

>The room itself is clean, spotless. More like a noble lady's powder room than a prison cell.

>Were it not for the "implements" lying on the table next to the chained prisoner, you would think it so.

>You wince at viewing her appearance.

>Tiny cuts and scrapes mar her coat. It seems like when hooves weren't enough, Razor began to cut her.

>Her hair is over one eye, and the other is bloodshot.

>Her horn is what makes you wince most. It's been cut, with delicacy and precision, tiny bits of it scraped away methodically.

>That must have been agony. An organ as sensitive as a unicorn horn...defiled in such a way...

>Rarity stares back at you, sipping quietly at a cup of tea that she cups in her hooves.

>"You must be Razor's replacement? Here to 'break me,' too?"

>You catch a tiny glint of fear in her sapphire eyes as you approach.

>Her sisters eyes held the same fear.

"My name is Bon Bon. I'm here to help you."

 

 

>You catch the distrust in her eyes.

>"Bon-Bon? I knew Bon-Bon. She lived in Ponyville. She was friends with...Lyra, the unicorn. She's not a-"

"Not a changeling? How could you know that, Rarity? How would you have ever known for sure?"

>She laughs, a cold, mirthless sound.

>"Is this some sort of new tactic? Torture didn't work, so you're going to convince me the ponies I knew as friends were changelings?"

>You close your eyes, and your voice shifts into something deeper.

"No, just me."

>You shift your voice again, going over the different voices you've used during your life as a pony.

"I promise you, I'm here to help."

>Rarity's staring at you, wide-eyed and fearful.

>"Bon-Bon? How are you...why are you...you're a-"

"We don't have time for this."

>You trot over to her, pushing your black snout close to her face so you can whisper to her.

"Rarity, Anonymous is alive."

>"I know that, but-"

"And I know where he is."

>"Where!? Is he alright? Captured? Torture-"

"I don't have time to explain. I know where he is, and I'm going there next. I'm going to free him."

>The suspicious gleam comes back to her eyes, and you have to credit her for her intelligence.

>"Why?"

"Because I know how Blueblood took the throne. I know what happened to the Princess. I know what he's planning. He can't be allowed to succeed."

>"Can you take me to him?"

"No. Not now. We'll be captured."

>"Then can you-"

"I'll deliver a message to him. Anything you want to tell him, he'll hear with your voice, from your lips."

>Her eyes brighten. You have her.

"Just make it quick."

>The white unicorn leans in, and gives you her heart.

 

Blueblood's perspective.

>Razor is kind enough to show the changeling out.

>The wretched creature will return to her hive, most likely.

>Their Queen has been keen on maintaining a portal from the palace to the depths of her murky den, and you haven't dismantled it yet.

>The creature has served you well, and you suppose that bought her little mint snack another week of life.

>You open the door to your beautiful, glaring bride and strike in.

>Your wedding present, you keep hidden behind your back.

>"Hello, Blueblood."

>She's smiling, the vapid little whore.

>Razor was specifically tasked with removing her ability to smile.

>It appears that physical punishment just wasn't enough anymore.

"That's King, to you, subject. And your King has arrived with a magnanimous proposal."

>She smirks, and you restrain the urge to lash out and remove that smirk with the back of your hoof.

>Plenty of time for that later.

>"Really? Is it another demand for me to submit to you? Asking my hoof in marriage, perhaps?"

"The latter."

>She rolls her eyes.

>"Oh, how wonderful. Please, sweep me off my hooves."

>You smile.

"Of course. Allow me to show you your wedding gift."

>You bring the lock of mane out from behind your back.

>There it is. The crack in her eyes. The horror.

>The breaking.

>"She...she-"

"Devoured by a rogue changeling agent, I'm afraid. It ate her alive. The poor thing. So young..."

>She trembles, struggling, and you hold back a smile as you watch her break, a piece at a time.

"It could have happened to anyp0ny, is the sad thing. It could have been another pony in Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle, maybe. Fluttershy? It could-"

>"Stop. Please."

"What was that?"

>"Please..."

>You smile.

 

 

Sweetie Belle's perspective

>You had to keep moving.

>You couldn't stop, you just had to keep moving.

>Pain blurred your vision and stole strength from your limbs as you ran.

>Bon-Bon's fangs had cut deeper than she thought, and you winced every few seconds as you ran.

>You had to get back to Ponyville.

>You had to warn the others.

>You remember your talk with Miss Bon Bon clearly.

>You screaming....

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

>She had pulled back from your head, a lock of your hair in her mouth and blood running from her jaw.

>You'd winced at the pain.

>She'd swallowed slightly, swaying, before replying.

>"Making it convincing."

"Wh-what?"

>She'd swallowed the hair and blood, panting, before turning those featureless blue changeling eyes back at you.

"You're in danger, Sweetie Belle. Somep0ny wants to hurt you, wants to hurt your sister's friends. I need to know why."

"I...I don't..."

>You'd panicked, frozen up, terrified of the idea of a changeling, one who'd BITTEN you, trying to talk to you.

>And then she'd explained herself. Told you about the Princess. What had happened to her.

"The necklace."

>"Necklace?"

"It's evil! I thought it was gone! But if the Prince put it on Luna..."

>"Then the Princess hasn't 'been cursed to become Nightmare Moon' again. It's just Blueblood. It's ALL Blueblood."

>You'd nodded at her, scared of the fervor in her eyes.

>She'd said she had to go. She was going to keep you safe. She said she'd keep everyp0ny safe.

>She was going to keep Rarity safe.

>But she said you had a job to do. You had to find Rarity's friends. You had to warn them. You had to keep them safe.

>You had to tell them the truth.

 

 

>You were dying.

>You could feel it.

>Blood ran down your face in rivers, dripping from your mouth, running from your eyes.

>Your lungs shuddered in your chest as you breathed, as the dark half laughed and howled at the changelings surrounding you.

>Your guards didn't know what was wrong.

>Neither did the Queen.

>She paced back and forth in front of you now, muttering to herself in anger.

>"What is WRONG with this creature? It's been fed, it's not sick, it's not injured...so WHY is it dying on us? WELL!?"

>She lashed out at one of the guards, hissing in anger, and it fell back, pleading.

>"It resisted us every DAY, and NOW it decides it just wants to die!? This cannot be allowed. If this thing is even HALF as powerful as Blueblood believed..."

>She pauses, and her minions shrink back.

>"It cannot be allowed to die. Such a weapon would change EVERYTHING if we could command it. Do you hear me!? KEEP IT ALIVE."

>One of the creatures, a cringing, cowardly beast, approaches towards the Queen.

>"Queen Chrysalisss....a spy drone has returned to the Hive. One who goes by the name...Bon Bon. She requests to see the creature."

>"Does she think she can influence it in a way I CANNOT!?"

>The changeling flinches.

>"I do not know, my Queen. I know only that she waits at the portal..."

>The Queen hisses and takes off, along with her retinue of guards.

>Leaving you alone with the cringing changeling messenger.

>You do not notice the flash of green as the cringing changeling shifts shapes into a more confident looking beast.

>You do not notice as it approaches you, a smile on it's face.

>You are too busy burning.

 

 

 

>Fire.

>Everything was on fire.

>The inside of your mind raged with the burning blaze that was consuming your body.

>Everywhere, the potion ran through your veins, struggling to complete desires it was not equipped to handle, tearing you apart as it did it's work.

>You and the Dark Half struggled in the center of your mind's plane, shouting and snarling at each other as your shared body burned around you.

>ARE YOU SO EAGER TO LET US DIE!?

>It wraps one furred hand around your face, pulling you close and snarling.

>Rather than let it escape? Let it rule your body on its own? Yes, you would choose death over that.

>THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM ASKING YOU TO DO!

>Isn't it? It's asking you to surrender yourself, your humanity, and to become one with it. It's asking you to die.

>A DEATH OF THE HALVES, TO SAVE THE WHOLE.

>And what worth was the whole if it was run by the same monster that killed your mother? That sought to kill the one thing you loved?

>It tosses you away in disgust, roaring, even as the fires rise around it.

>WHAT OF THE PONY YOU LOVE? ARE YOU SO EAGER TO LEAVE HER IN THE CLUTCHES OF THE PRINCE?

>Between watching her be eaten alive by a body you cannot control and leaving her to Blueblood?

>Blueblood, every time.

>You refused to let her suffer for y-

>YOU ARE WEAK. SELFISH. STUPID.

>Selfish?

>MAN IS SELFISH. YOU FEAR, AND YOU WILL LET HER BE TAKEN BY ANOTHER MALE RATHER THAN DEFEND HER.

>It snarls at you.

>ALL BECAUSE YOU FEAR.

>It was calling YOU selfish? This hungering, greedy wolf?

>YOUR FEAR WILL LET THE ONE YOU LOVE DIE. IT WILL LET US DIE. I WON'T ALLOW IT.

 

 

>You refused to join with this monster.

>You refused to let yourself be it's pawn any longer.

>You would both burn together.

>And maybe, in the fire, the stain of your sin and murder would be cleansed.

>YOU SPEAK MADNESS AND DELUSION. I AM TRUTH. I AM THE WILL THAT HAS KEPT US ALIVE.

>You are the maw that has seen us damned.

>It snarls, and you snarl back at it before charging it.

>Man and beast grapple and slash at each other in the burning hellscape that has become your mind.

>It chokes you, even as you stab it in the throa-

>A tapping interrupts your quarrel.

>Something from...outside.

>"...non."

>What was that?

>"Anon. Anon wake up!"

>Your eyes open. You have burned for so long, you aren't sure who controls what.

>Everything is...slipping.

"WhAt dO You wAnt?"

>"What's wrong with you?"

"What hAppenS to Us is oF no concErn to you, GreEnlIng."

>The changeling backs away, fearful and confused. It repeats itself.

>"What's wrong with you?"

>The dark half laughs with your mouth.

"We bUrn."

>It's blue eyes rove around your face.

>"I don't know what's wrong with you Anon, but you need to snap out of it. I'm here to help you."

"WhO?"

>"My name is Bon-Bon. You met me on the train, briefly. I was watching out for you, trying to-"

"LiAr. TrIckSter. GreEnlIng. DecIever. LeaVE."

>She flinches from the dual tones of your voice, or from the spray of blood from your mouth.

>You aren't sure which.

>"Anon. I have a message for you. From someone who cares about you."

"gO!"

>She bursts into a plume of green fire, and you wonder if you are going mad.

>Then the fire clears, to reveal...Rarity.

 

 

>Rarity.

>Cut, beaten, bruised, battered, but Rarity.

>Her horn is chipped and abused, cuts line her shoulders and hooves, her fur is bloody, and dark bruises appear on her sides and face.

>Horror rushes through you in a cool wave, adding to your burning suffering rather than lessening it.

>THIS IS HER FATE.

>The Rarity copy opens her mouth, coughs once, and speaks.

>"Anon? Anon...I don't know if this is real...if she's lying...but if you're still alive...still out there somewhere...I have to take this chance."

>The changeling inhales, and you close your eyes in pain.

"StOp."

>"I pray she finds you, Anon. I pray you're out there. I pray you're alive. If you are, than all of this..."

>The changeling gestures to herself in a self-deprecating manner, imitating Rarity perfectly.

>"Has all been worth it. Blueblood says you're dead. I know better, Anon. I know you're out there. Stay alive, Anon. For me. Stay alive. Stay safe. I love you."

>The changeling explodes into a nimbus of green fire as you close your eyes in pain.

"WhO?"

>The changeling holds a hand to her head, as if suffering a headache.

>Too many changes at once, perhaps.

>"What?"

"WhO dId ThAt tO hEr?"

>The force in your voice surprises even you.

>"Blueblood. Razor. Sparkler. They take turns. Blueblood's trying to marry her. Have 'pure heirs' or some nonsense."

"WhY tEll mE thIs?"

>"Blueblood has somep0ny I care about, too. I want her safe."

>She says something else, but you've stopped listening.

>Anger, hot and invigorating, courses through your limbs.

>The pain is a distant memory.

>You turn your mind inwards.

>And you go to meet the dark half.

 

 

>You return to the inside of your mind.

>To the burning hellscape.

>To the dark corner where it sits, waiting.

>Watching.

>Had it seen?

>I SAW.

>Does it understand?

>You can feel it, even here.

>The fury shaking your limbs.

>The rage.

>WAS IT BETTER, THEN, TO WISH FOR DEATH WHILE SHE WISHES FOR YOU? WAS IT BETTER TO LEAVE HER TO THE PRINCE?

>No, it wasn't better.

>It rises from the dark nook of your mind, padding closer to you, it's mouth stretched open in a wolfish sneer.

>SO THEN. WILL YOU BURN WITH ME?

>WILL YOU FIGHT ME FOR DOMINANCE, AND BURN ALONE?

>No.

>WILL YOU SUBMIT, AS I WILL?

>ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE, THEN? TO LOSE YOURSELF, AS YOU ARE?

>ARE YOU WILLING TO BECOME SOMETHING MORE THAN WE ARE NOW?

>It knows your answer.

>What you do, you do for her.

>It looms over you, and for the first time in your life, you see uncertainty and fear flicker across it's lupine features.

>It wasn't lying, was it? This was death. For the both of you. A true death.

>DEATH. YES. WE WILL DIE. BE NO MORE. THIS FIRE WILL CONSUME US.

>Fear fills you as you realize the impact of what it's saying.

>BUT WHAT RISES FROM OUR ASHES WILL BE STRONGER THAN THE BOTH OF US.

>Will it save her? Will it even bother?

>WE CANNOT KNOW.

>You close your eyes. You've made your choice. Do it for her.

>It holds out one clawed hand, and you hold out yours. It leans down, pressing it's forehead against yours.

>Everything goes dark.

>For the last time.

 

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAZsf8mTfyk

>You open your eyes.

>The bleeding has stopped. The burning has stopped.

>You see darkness. Only darkness, and the green light of changeling effluvia.

>You are restrained.

>All of these facts go through your mind in less than a second.

>You dismiss them as unimportant.

>Rarity. That's all that matters. She's captured. She is hurt.

>Blueblood. Sparkler. Razor. Chrysalis. All are guilty.

>All must die.

>You look at the green casing holding your arms and shoulders restrained.

>You reach up, your muscles shifting and sliding, bones cracking, as you change.

>The force of your change breaks the changeling coocoon into pieces, your clawed hand thrusting outward to grasp Bon-Bon around the throat.

>She screams, and in her terror you hear music.

>You release her. Her terror was only to draw the others.

>They are coming.

>You rise, pieces of cocoon dropping off of your back and shoulders, bits of green goo sticking in the shaggy fur that coats your body.

>You look up, as the darkness grows eyes. As hundreds of winged creatures begin to circle you, their Queen at the head. A cloud of carapaced forms rise above you, blotting out the dim light with the drumbeat of wings.

>You are Anonymous. Neither Thief, nor Beast.

>You simply Are.

>You roar to the heavens, and the Changeling Hive trembles.

>Chunks of rock break from the ceiling, and the changelings falter.

>Their fear is sweeter than the freshest of roses.

>You smile, your muzzle twisting into a ferocious grin, full of joy and murder-lust.

>You laugh at their terror, at their trepidation.

"COME, INSECTS! COME, AND DIE.”

>You leap into the cloud of changelings, and the slaughter begins.