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x by Raackman

By grapenut
Created: 2022-07-20 17:28:21
Updated: 2022-07-20 17:31:16
Expiry: Never
sim

  1. x by Raackman
  2.  
  3.  
  4. ---
  5.  
  6. >Those foolish little ponies thought they could stop you from taking over the world
  7. >Even the elements were no match for your power
  8. >But not even you can efficiently rule this world by yourself
  9. >No, you're going to need some help
  10. >You glance in the direction of the pod that your king is still being grown in
  11. >He will likewise be seething with power, but still easy for you to control
  12. >Only a few more days before he is born, even now his embryo stirs now and again
  13. >The result of all of equestria's greatest minds combining to create the perfect life-form
  14. >You thought of a "name" for your king
  15. >Anonymous, for the nameless king
  16. >Months is what it took, waiting in anticipation for him to grow and to be born
  17. >Constantly feeding him all kinds of life forms, anything your servants could get their hooves on was killed then fed through the nutrient pod surrounding him
  18. >It was nice of the changelings to lend you such a thing
  19. >With such a rapid growth, he will most likely be aggressive at first, but eventually he will warm up to you, and will be able to rule just as cruelly as you do
  20. >Perhaps you can even give him those worthless allies of Celestia as slaves
  21. >But for now, you must wait for him to be born
  22. >Although you will not be able to see him personally as he is born, your most loyal servants will make sure he is pushed in the correct direction
  23. >It is risky, but it's the most convenient method of acquiring a trust-able King whom will also be at your side for all eternity
  24. >You walk down to the chambers below the castle where his growth pod is being held
  25. >The servants scurry hither and thither, making themselves look useful and busying themselves
  26. >You walk up to one of them
  27. "How much longer do you estimate?"
  28. >He swallows hard before responding
  29. >"W-We estimate either tonight or early tomorrow, it won't be long now, your highness."
  30. >He bows his head as he finishes speaking
  31. >You turn away and walk back up the stairs
  32.  
  33. >Muffled sounds and vibrations surround you
  34. >You're surrounded by liquid and flesh
  35. >Where are you?
  36. >Who are you?
  37. >What are these shadows surrounding you?
  38. >No, none of that matters right now
  39. >What matters is that you're hungry
  40. >Very hungry
  41. >Even though you were being engorged recently...
  42. >It's not enough
  43. >No, you need to get out of this thing
  44. >Looking around, you don't find any openings
  45. >You'll just have to make one
  46. >With a quick thrust forward, you break the wall and the liquid begins to spew out
  47. >You bring your hand down, sawing through the wall of flesh between you and the outside
  48. >The flow of the liquid brings you out, and you step onto the ground for the first time
  49. >You see several scared creatures surrounding you
  50. >They're somewhat familiar for some reason...
  51. >Regardless, you are still hungry
  52. >You look around at them, and approach one of them
  53. "You."
  54. >Pointing to one of them
  55. "I'm hungry, you will bring me food immediately."
  56. >They just stand there
  57. >A few of them mutter among each other
  58. "I will not repeat myself."
  59. >Your patience is wearing thin
  60. >"Y-Your highness, I'm afraid we cannot give you f-food yet, you must wait until after Nightmare moon has given you p-permission."
  61. >You shake your head
  62. "I will not wait until later, and if you will not give me any food..."
  63. >You look at yourself briefly, and see your body
  64. >It seems that you're wearing a type of suit, well dressed, but for some reason feels strange
  65. >But it is of no consequence
  66. >You swing your hand hard, decapitating the creature you had been speaking with
  67. >The body falls, and you watch the head roll
  68. "If you will not bring me food, I will make you my food."
  69. >You kneel down, and study your hand before partaking in your first meal
  70. >These fingers are tipped with sharp claws, and your arms have strong, built in muscles
  71. >You plunge your fingers into the flesh of the creature, and pause a moment
  72. >What are these creatures called?
  73. >You scoop up the flesh and put it in your mouth, then bite down and chew it
  74.  
  75. >The flesh has an interesting texture, and the taste is pleasant
  76. >But in the pod... you occasionally received food that was heavenly
  77. >You continue to rip through the skin, exposing the insides of this creature further
  78. >Continuing to eat, you begin to fill
  79. >A few different tastes here and there, though some organs did not taste well, and you ripped them directly from the body immediately
  80. >You need to know more about these creatures if you're going to eat more
  81. >Speaking of which, the rest have fled the area
  82. >If they hadn't prevented you from acquiring your food, this wouldn't have happened
  83. >The one you're eating... it mentioned a name didn't it?
  84. >Nightmare Moon?
  85. >And it said something about you needing permission from who ever this is?
  86. >Curious, you should find out who this is
  87. >But first thing first, you require more food
  88. >You've eaten most of the corpse, leaving behind mostly bones and some distasteful organs
  89. >But, you haven't eaten the head yet
  90. >You stand, and on your way to what seems to be an exit, you scoop the head of the creature off of the ground, and begin picking away flesh from it's neck
  91. >Skin and muscle seems to be the best part of these things...
  92. >The exit leads to a small flight of stairs, once you climb it, you spot another one of the creatures, but this is sitting down, and appears to be holding something
  93. >It spots you, and seems shocked, but not long after, seems to quickly compose itself
  94. >You approach it, bearing questions
  95. "You, you will take me to where I may be fed, and will answer any questions that I ask."
  96. >It carefully nods, and stands from it's seat, leaving behind what it was holding
  97. "What are your kind called?"
  98. >You hear it take a deep breath
  99. >"Ponies."
  100. >That answer that
  101. "Do you know my name?"
  102. >The pony continues to look forward, away from you, apparently afraid to face you
  103. >"I believe I overheard Nightmare Moon say Anonymous."
  104.  
  105. "I believe I overheard Nightmare Moon say Anonymous."
  106. >You struggle not to glance back at the head the king is holding
  107. >Or at him, for that matter
  108. >Didn't they say that he would be a stallion?
  109. >What is that thing?
  110. >Sure, they said that he would be aggressive at first, but this seems insane
  111. >The first thing he did was decapitate one of the servants because he was hungry
  112. >Why didn't you run?
  113. >Why did you let yourself get into this situation?
  114. >One wrong move and he'll probably kill you too
  115. >"How much longer until we arrive at the area where I may eat?"
  116. >You gulp again, clearing your throat
  117. "It is some distance away, sir, it won't be long now."
  118. >Each trembling step and ragged breath with such a presence right behind you
  119. >That must have been what stopped you from moving
  120. >Just being in his sight is enough to cause a creature to freeze with fear
  121. >When you saw his eyes, all you could see was apathy and cold cruelty
  122. >Is that how he will see all living things? as food or means to an end?
  123. >Finally, after having maneuvered through the large castle, you and the king reach the dining hall
  124. >The table has already been set, with food waiting to be eaten
  125. >He walks forward, and drops what's left of the head on the ground with a splat
  126. >You had almost forgotten about the sickening feeling in your stomach almost causing you to throw up
  127. >All that's left of it is the top of the skull and some of the brain, and it lands with a splat on the pink flesh of the brain
  128. >You almost throw up at the sound and sight
  129. >"Clean that up."
  130. >Your heart skips a beat as he points to the pile of gore and flesh
  131. >No choice in the matter
  132. >Wait, how are you going to clean it?
  133. "M-May I acquire cleaning s-supplies?"
  134. >You look up at him from your bow, and he nods
  135. >Quickly, you turn and leave the room, with intentions of not vomiting and to find some cleaning tools
  136. >But why would you go back?
  137. >Can't believe that you're saying this, but where is Nightmare Moon when you need her?
  138.  
  139. >You finally reach your watch tower to make absolutely sure that there will be no hesitation of loyalty to you among your citizens
  140. >The door leading to the room suddenly flies open, and you turn to see a servant from the king's room frantically running in
  141. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?"
  142. >The servant suddenly stops in their tracks, and slows their heavy breathing
  143. >"Y-Your highness, it's the king, he's been born, but something is wrong."
  144. >Something is wrong with the king?
  145. "Speak, what is wrong with him?"
  146. >The servant gulps
  147. >"He's not a stallion, and he's killed one of the servants."
  148. >What?
  149. "He's not a stallion?"
  150. >The death of servant does not matter
  151. >What matters is the king's well being
  152. "Where is he now?"
  153. >You can see the servant's eyes widen even as he bows down
  154. >"I... don't know, when we checked he wasn't in the growth area anymore. Although there was a small trail of blood that we could follow, but it eventually stopped."
  155. >A dangerous king is now skulking around your palace...
  156. "Do you have any idea of where he might be?"
  157. >"Well, he demanded that we give him food, and when we denied him, he killed one of the servants... when we got back, the corpse was mostly eaten and that bass player was gone."
  158. >So much for a soothing entry to your palace
  159. >You'll know who's fault this is once you've seen the king
  160. "I shall leave at once, you shall gather the rest of the servants, I presume he is in the dining hall, that is where we shall meet."
  161. >The servant nods and leaves through the door he came through
  162. >Now... where is the dining hall again?
  163. >It takes you a moment to conjure the vision, but soon enough, there it is
  164. >The king sits at the head of the table, eating the food that has been set out
  165. >Ironically, the food was set out specifically for him
  166. >Though you wished to speak with him before he ate
  167. >It does not matter anymore
  168. >You cast a teleportation spell, appearing at the opposite side of the table
  169.  
  170. >Sitting at the head of the table, now you must decide what to eat
  171. >Many different kinds of food are here...
  172. >May as well start with the closest items to you
  173. >You take a bite from the nearest food item
  174. >No, this is not the taste that you seek...
  175. >When will you be able to experience that absolutely magical taste again?
  176. >It was nothing like anything you've tasted so far
  177. >Then again, all that you've tasted is this strange food and a pony
  178. >You drop what you had taken a bite out of and move onto the next
  179. >No, that isn't it either
  180. >Again...
  181. >No
  182. >You continue around the table, taking a single bite of each of the various foods
  183. >By now you've taken a bite out of every single item, and are no longer hungry
  184. >But you still didn't experience that wonderful taste again
  185. >You look around the large room, and spot that pony that you ordered to clean the remains standing a distance away
  186. >Now that you are no longer hungry, what to do now?
  187. >Find out more about this world?
  188. >You point to the pony
  189. "I have more questions, and you will answer them"
  190. >It nods as you walk back to your original seat at the head of the table
  191. >As you sit a flash of light suddenly appears at the opposite end of the table
  192. >You look over, and a moment later, a much larger being appears, resembling a pony, but with longer limbs, wings, and a horn
  193. >Now who could this be?
  194. >It seems to have something surrounding it, like a type of light or aura that seems to extend several feet out
  195. >This reminds you, your next move was to find this Nightmare Moon
  196. >Perhaps this is whom you seek?
  197. >The newly appeared creature stares at you for a few moments
  198. >Then it's attention shifts over to the pony that has been accompanying you
  199. >"Is this the king?"
  200. >The pony nods quickly
  201. >"Something must have happened during the final stages of his growth."
  202. >You tilt your head
  203. "And who are you?"
  204. >"I am Nightmare Moon, of course."
  205. "So, you are the one who has commanded that I be deprived of food?"
  206. >You flex your fingers as you stand
  207.  
  208. >Nightmare Moon tilts their head
  209. >"Indeed, but only so that I may speak to you as soon as possible."
  210. >You crack your fingers and your neck
  211. "You wish to speak with me? About what?"
  212. >It might have the answers to your various questions
  213. >You don't know much at the moment, you still need to learn about this world
  214. >"At the moment, I wish to help you find your purpose."
  215. >Intriguing, indeed
  216. >Perhaps you ought to listen to what this Nightmare Moon has to say
  217. >You can forgive them for their accidental disrespect
  218. "Very well, speak."
  219. >"I will start off with the reason for your birth, to rule this world by my side. You will be the king, and you will have all the luxuries that accompany the title."
  220. >A king?
  221. >To rule this world?
  222. >This will take time to sort out, and to decide your future
  223. >For now, you must wait
  224. >"With being king, you will rule your own subjects and kingdoms. For now, I will start you off small. Six ponies that you may do with as you please."
  225. >Does she trust you with these six?
  226. >Are they to be in your care or for you to simply order around?
  227. "If they are to be my responsibility, I need to know more about your species' anatomy."
  228. >"Very well, I will personally escort you to the library."
  229. "A library?"
  230. >"A place in which knowledge is hoarded and gathered for public use."
  231. >Clarification on this world, finally
  232. >This should be simple enough
  233. "Very well, let us go to this... library."
  234. >Nightmare Moon walks over to one of the many doors leading into the dining hall, and opens it with their aura
  235. >You follow through the door and down several hallways
  236. >Eventually, the both of you arrive at large double doors
  237. >"Here it is, there are servants inside that will assist you. I have other duties to attend to, but once you are satisfied, send a servant for me."
  238. >You nod and open the doors
  239. >"One more thing, I'd prefer that you not kill any more servants."
  240. >You sigh, and nod again as you pass through the doorway
  241.  
  242. >There are large shelves with books within them, and stacks of books here and there
  243. >Here and there are ponies awaiting orders or inspecting books
  244. >You point to one, colored with mint green and striped hair
  245. "You, bring me a book with information about your world."
  246. >They look around before suddenly spotting something among the shelves
  247. >The pony quickly trots over, grabbing a book and bringing it over to you
  248. >You grab it from it's mouth and open it
  249. >...
  250. >What are these symbols?
  251. >They accompany pictures, but you still cannot identify anything
  252. >You see a table and walk over to it, then sit on one of the chairs
  253. >Since you cannot use these books...
  254. >And you would never degrade yourself to being taught by another being
  255. >You point to the pony that had brought you the book as you place the book on the table next to you
  256. "Come here, and sit before me."
  257. >They tilt their head, looking confused
  258. >Foolish creature...
  259. "I will not repeat myself."
  260. >Suddenly they seem to understand and quickly run over, and sit down in front of you
  261. "Turn around."
  262. >They do so
  263. >"May I ask what you're going to do, Sir?"
  264. >Patience...
  265. "Remain calm, and still, you won't feel a thing."
  266. >You look at your hands
  267. >Still filthy with dried blood and food
  268. >You lick your nails clean, as they are all you will need
  269. >This feels strangely natural
  270. >Hopefully what you're about to do works
  271. >You drive your index finger nails into the top of their head, but only enough to get through the layer of hair, skin, and bone
  272. >The pony suddenly shudders briefly, but stops
  273. >Next, you cut out the top of their head, and carefully pull off the top of it's head
  274. >Now, with it's brain exposed...
  275. >You push several points in the brain with your nails, and feel...
  276. >Feel it
  277. >It's a strange sensation, but you know what it means
  278. >Information from the pony flows directly into your mind
  279. >How did you know to do this?
  280. >No, you didn't, it was... almost instinct
  281. >This pony's name is Lyra... she's a unicorn
  282.  
  283. >The top of her head is bleeding, so you have to extract this information quickly
  284. >Their language... it's... English
  285. >Not too long ago they were celebrating for a different ruler
  286. >Princess Celestia
  287. >But at that celebration, Nightmare Moon appeared, and swiftly took over the world
  288. >That was about two months ago
  289. >Interesting world, and view from this Lyra
  290. >You have what you need
  291. >Picking up the cut from the skull, you place it back over the hole, and drag your finger across the space between the slice and her skull
  292. >The skin seems to close above the bone, which also comes together
  293. >But you still don't know how you did that
  294. >The Unicorn starts shivering
  295. >You pat her head
  296. "That was quick, wasn't it? Your mind will be foggy for a while, but otherwise you'll be fine."
  297. >She slowly nods, still looking away from you
  298. >Now that you're literate...
  299. >You pick up the book she brought
  300. >Encyclopedia
  301. >This ought to do
  302. >Lyra knew enough, most of this information you technically already know
  303. >Aside from a few creatures and magics, nothing new from the book that you haven't already gotten from Lyra
  304. >Her name...
  305. >You haven't asked for anyone's name, have you?
  306. >That grey pony that took you to the dining hall?
  307. >...Octavia, and that was a bass violin she was holding
  308. >Still learning about this world, ever so slowly
  309. >Nightmare Moon, she mentioned you having subjects to order?
  310. >You look around, other servants glance to you then back around the room, while others continue walking by
  311. >This pony didn't know much about getting around this palace
  312. >In that case, you'll need the help of another servant
  313. >How exciting, your first subjects for you to rule and warp to your pleasure
  314.  
  315. >Blindfolded, Wings tied, gagged
  316. >You're stuck here, and you can't fly any more
  317. >All you can do is listen
  318. >But listen for what?
  319. >Only occasionally do you even hear distant foot steps
  320. >Or the shuffling of rock under a body from your other friends
  321. >They threw you into these cages, and told you to wait
  322. >But they haven't told you what to wait for
  323. >Or why you have to wait
  324. >Just... wait
  325. >Voices?
  326. >Yes, some are there, approaching the door to this dungeon
  327. >Next, the sound of the lock opening, followed by the door
  328. >"And here they are, the would-be elements. I assure you that they will be fine subjects."
  329. >"I will be the judge of that... You said they would or could be the elements of harmony?"
  330. >You can't recognize either voice
  331. >"Indeed, the elements are Loyalty, Honesty, Laughter, Generosity and Kindness."
  332. >"I want their blindfolds and gags removed, I wish to speak with them before conducting... experiments."
  333. >"As you wish."
  334. >The moment they take this blindfold off, you'll take them all down
  335. >And save your friends
  336. >The door opens, you feel the blindfold lax, then slip back
  337. >You see the guard who took your blindfold off first, but instantly see the figure behind him
  338. >A strange, two legged creature, looking right at you
  339. >Why won't you move?
  340. >Just... do it!
  341. >...
  342. >No, you can't
  343. >Why not?!
  344. >He's right there, just do it!
  345. >The gag comes off, and the guard steps back out, locking the door behind him
  346. >Your only chance... ruined
  347. >All because of you
  348. >With the gag gone, you'd like to try and spout some insult towards them, but your parched throat won't let you
  349. >And with that strange creature eyeing you...
  350. >You probably wouldn't speak anyway if you could
  351. >Two guards go around, taking off blind folds and gags from the rest of your friends
  352. >All of you sit in neighboring cages in a half-circle room, with the only door in or out on the flat side, and the cages on the opposite side
  353.  
  354. >The six ponies all exchange glances between themselves and you
  355. >Those guards that entered the room with you now leave through the door, and lock it behind them
  356. >It's been three days since your visit to the library, since then you've learned much more, and have acquired six more pods
  357. >Just for this occasion
  358. >The six elements... Loyalty, that could be useful
  359. >Honesty, also
  360. >Laughter, you have no need for that
  361. >Kindness, entirely dependent on the situation
  362. >Generosity, useless
  363. >The sixth is unknown, but you'll figure it out soon enough
  364. >How to figure out which one is which?
  365. >That blue one to your left, seems to have much fire in her eyes
  366. >An orange one next to her, similar
  367. >After her a scared pink one
  368. >Then a purple one who currently glares at you
  369. >Next to her, a yellow one cowering even more than the pink one
  370. >Then a white one, who also seems quite frightened
  371. "Now, which one to start off with?"
  372. >Perhaps Kindness? they might be able to sway the hearts of the others and make the conversion process quicker
  373. >Or the one with the strongest will, which will make the others easier to break
  374. >Perhaps Loyalty, to show that their bonds aren't as deep as they may think
  375. >Maybe you can just ask
  376. "Who wants to go first?"
  377. >You sweep your vision over all of them
  378. >Upon further examination, both the Purple and White one have much fainter auras surrounding them
  379. >Nightmare Moon's is much larger and more defined
  380. >You walk over to the white one's cage
  381. "How about you?"
  382. >She just stares at you, wide-eyed, in the far side of her cage
  383. "I'm not going to hurt any of you if you cooperate."
  384. >You walk past each cage, getting a closer look at the occupants
  385. >All of them remain completely silent...
  386. >You stop at each of the cages, kneeling down and staring straight into their eyes to see any wavering in their eyes
  387. >The Blue and Orange ones waver the least, as they both stare straight back at you
  388. >One of them...
  389. >Yes, the Blue one shall go first
  390. >You walk to her cage
  391. "What's your name?"
  392.  
  393. >She swallows hard, and croaks out
  394. >"R-Rainbow... Dash."
  395. >You lick your lips
  396. "Now, you're going to come with me, and if you attempt to escape or cause any commotion, I will personally torture every single one of your friends to death, do you understand?"
  397. >She nods
  398. >You reach back into your pockets and pull out the key to her cage
  399. >Unlocking it, you open the door, and motion for her to move
  400. >She stands, and walks forward
  401. "The rest of you, don't worry about her."
  402. >You open the door, and lead the way for the both of you
  403. >Several pairs of guards flank the hallway, standing at attention as you and the smaller blue pegasus walk past them
  404. >Down the hall, the room that holds the other pods awaits
  405. >Silently, you both travel the distance and arrive in the room
  406. >You point to one of the unraveled pods
  407. "Stand over there."
  408. >She gives a worried glance to the pod, then back to you
  409. "I'll take your bindings off if you do as I say."
  410. >She nods, and stands atop the flat, plantlike surface
  411. >You walk over and cut the rope with your nails
  412. >Then you jab her in the neck, and with a gasp, she collapses
  413. "This makes it much faster."
  414. >You step off the pod as it begins to twist upwards, lifting it's lazy arms into a crude spherical shape
  415. >The sound of rushing liquid is heard as you walk away
  416. >Good, one down, five to go
  417. >Should you wait?
  418. >Perhaps you should wait for the process to finish, and surprise her friends
  419. >Regardless, you'll have your first Royal Guard born in an hour
  420. >You walk to one of the guards
  421. "I want you to bring the prisoners water, just bring a barrel with six bowls, I can handle the rest."
  422. >He salutes and nods, then is on his way
  423. >They all looked rather thirsty
  424.  
  425. >Rainbow Dash was just taken by that... thing
  426. >And neither of them have returned yet
  427. >What's happening to her?
  428. >Are they torturing her?
  429. >Raping her?
  430. >Have they killed her?
  431. >The door suddenly swings open, and several guards bring in a small table, place a barrel on it with a stack of bowls
  432. >Then that strange creature walks in, and the guards leave
  433. >That creature pours water into the bowls from the barrel, walks over to your cage, and places it in front of the door of your cage
  434. >He does so for the rest of the cages in the room
  435. >"Feel free to drink up."
  436. >It reminds you of your completely dry throat and mouth
  437. >You look over and see Pinkie already gulping down the water
  438. >The strange creature notices her, and walks over to her cage, then sits down in front of her
  439. >"So, why don't you tell me your name?"
  440. >She finishes the bowl, and looks up
  441. >Much less afraid now, for some reason
  442. >Is it just because he's offering water to quell her desperation?
  443. >"I'm... Pinkie Pie... what's your name?"
  444. >He widens his eyes
  445. >"Well... my name is Anonymous."
  446. >You edge forward towards the bowl as he focuses on Pinkie Pie
  447. >It's hard to move with one front leg tied between your back legs
  448. >Makes it impossible for you to kick anything, and extremely hard for you to move
  449. >You finally reach the bowl, and begin drinking
  450. >Pinkie Pie is still just sitting there in front of him
  451. >"So... Mr. Anonymous, where's Rainbow Dash?"
  452. >He scratches his head
  453. >"Come to think of it... oh, she's already finished? That was quick."
  454. >What?
  455. >The door opens, and in walks...
  456. >No, that can't be her
  457. >It has segmented, armor like skin
  458. >It's hooves are now strangely grooved and segmented as well
  459. >No wings, but it still has the rainbow mane and tail
  460. >Those... red eyes
  461. >It's... her?
  462. >"Hello, Pinkie, and hello, everyone."
  463. >Her voice is... different
  464. "Rainbow, what'd they do to you?"
  465. >She looks over to you, and smiles
  466. >"He changed me, and I've never felt more alive."
  467.  
  468. >You look back, and see your creation
  469. >She's been combined with multiple creatures to create what she is now
  470. >And now, with absolute loyalty to you, and more then willing to be nothing but an extension of your will
  471. "Why don't you show them what you really are now?"
  472. >She nods to you, and stands on her hind legs
  473. >The armor around her legs opens, revealing paw-like appendages
  474. >Her front legs shift into arms, and her hooves turn to hands with dangerous claws as she stands at full height
  475. >The skin around her shoulders shifts, causing her to become more slender akin to her new form, which resembles a cat now
  476. >Armor on her head moves to reveal her mouth, which now appears to be a mass of sharp teeth and fangs
  477. >Finally, large wings unfold from her back and stretch outwards
  478. "Good work, you may choose which ever form is most appropriate for you."
  479. >She nods, and once again, shifts her form into something between a cat and horse
  480. >More of a horse with cat legs and armor
  481. >Ant, Cat, Horse and Eagle all in one
  482. >"You're... You're a monster!!"
  483. >You look over, to the orange pony
  484. "Oh, Am I?"
  485. >She stares daggers at you
  486. "Pinkie Pie, I'm afraid your turn will have to wait."
  487. >You walk over to her cage, while occasionally glancing back to Rainbow Dash
  488. >Hoping that she doesn't attack this pony
  489. "What's your name?"
  490. >"I'm not speaking to filth like you!"
  491. >Rainbow Dash slips over to you and purrs in your ear
  492. >"Her name is Applejack."
  493. "Applejack, you're going to come with me and y-"
  494. >"I ain't going anywhere with you! Rainbow Dash! Snap out of it! Can't you see what he's done to you?"
  495. >What manner of insolence?!
  496. >You stop yourself at almost ripping the door to her cage off, but then you get a better idea
  497. >Calm yourself...
  498. >Take a deep breath
  499. "Pinkie Pie, come with me, Rainbow Dash, keep an eye on them."
  500. >You walk over to her cage, and unlock it
  501. >She carefully trots out of the cage past Rainbow Dash
  502. >No, Applejack will be last
  503. >And she'll find no support from her Chimera friends
  504.  
  505. >Rainbow Dash glares at you through the twisted metal bars
  506. >"You know he was about to rip your head off, right?"
  507. >Poor Rainbow Dash...
  508. "Ain't that you? C'mon, tell me that you're still the Rainbow Dash that I know!"
  509. >She starts grooming herself as she stretches
  510. >You look over to the others and see that they have finished their water bowls now that Anonymous has left
  511. "Rainbow, please, I'm your friend, help us get out of here and we can rescue the princess!"
  512. >She shakes her head as she prances over to Rarity's cage
  513. >"Don't I look fabulous now? My tail, beautiful feathers, and my adorable little ears!"
  514. >Rarity gives her an unsure look
  515. >"I... Suppose... Rainbow, is this really fine with you? Just listen to yourself, look at yourself! You're not you anymore!"
  516. >Rainbow Dash eyes her for a moment
  517. >"You just don't get it, but you will once he changes all of you. It's actually really nice."
  518. >Twilight looks up from the floor in disbelief
  519. >"How could he have done it? You're something completely different! Now you've accepted his domination over you because you're changed?"
  520. >Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes
  521. >"Whatever Twi, I'm still me, but better! I can run faster, fly further, I can't see what all of you are all worked up about! I'd say you're all jealous."
  522. >Fluttershy suddenly stands, stomping her foot
  523. >"Rainbow Dash, you're an abomination of nature now, why would you be so proud of that? I'm disgusted just by looking at what he's done to you. Just let us help you and we can escape!"
  524. >Her eyes narrow and ears flatten
  525. >"An... Abomination?! Well, I... You..."
  526. >She's clearly suppressing tears now
  527. >"I'm not speaking to any of you... until you've changed."
  528. >The door opens, and in walks...
  529. >No, please no! Not Pinkie too!
  530. >Instead of plated armor skin, now her skin is covered in different shades of pink and stitches, all the while looking like it might just fall off her body
  531.  
  532. >Her right eye is covered by skin, but it most likely isn't there any more, it's just a depression of skin in her head now
  533. >And to top it all off, three, brightly colored balloons matching her cutie mark are tied around her waist
  534. >In a horrible, quiet, dying voice she turns to Rainbow after a deep breath
  535. >"Hey... Rainbow... looking... Umm... good."
  536. >She constantly shakes, while still seemingly thinking hard
  537. "Pinkie... why?!"
  538. >Mechanically, she turns to you, her head likewise mechanically jerks back and forth as her one eye seems to constantly shiver
  539. >"I'm... happy...Applejack..don't... umm...worry."
  540. >He really is... a monster
  541. >You sit back
  542. "I'll never give in, you hear me?"
  543. >He looks over, and rolls his eyes at you
  544. >Then turns to Rarity
  545. >"I have something special for you, my dear."
  546. >She shakes her head
  547. >"P-Please no... I don't want that to happen to me, please!"
  548. >Anonymous brings a hand to his head
  549. >"Your highness, may I speak with her?"
  550. >He nods and steps back
  551. >"Rarity, it's fine, really. Pinkie may not look it, but she's actually bursting with glee and happiness."
  552. >She continues to shake her head
  553. >Pinkie Pie awkwardly steps over, looking as though she may trip at any moment, then cocks her head over at a strange angle
  554. >"Rarity... it's... fine."
  555. >Her head cocks back and she mechanically steps back
  556. >Rarity lowers her head
  557. >"I'll... do it."
  558. >What?
  559. "Rarity! No!"
  560. >"What choice do I have? It's either that or starve to death down here!"
  561. >Anonymous walks to her cage, and opens it's gate
  562. >Silently, they walk out
  563. >Now you can make out the sound of gears and cogs coming from within Pinkie Pie's body
  564. >She constantly trembles this way and that, her eye darting around the room
  565. >"So, Pinkie, how do you feel?"
  566. >She awkwardly turns to Rainbow Dash
  567. >"It's.... umm.... nice."
  568. >That strange, empty smile and her empty eye
  569. >"So, where's your other eye?"
  570. >This time, she makes a real smile, one that reminds you of the old Pinkie
  571. >"It's.... a secret."
  572.  
  573. >He's turned Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie into... strange creatures
  574. >How could you call your friends monsters?
  575. >But, what you find most strange is how he is able to do so?
  576. >Yes, it's cruel but... admittedly ingenious
  577. >Chimeras are the stuff of legend, and two have been made, just like that
  578. >How does he do it?
  579. >Do you want to find out?
  580. >Rainbow Dash... what is she now?
  581. >Pinkie Pie, just as confusing
  582. >Rarity, what's going to happen to her?
  583. "Rainbow Dash, do you know what's going to happen to Rarity?"
  584. >She turns to you, then tilts her head slightly
  585. >"Nope."
  586. >If only you could get this magical inhibitor off of your horn...
  587. >You look over to Fluttershy, who just sits at the far end of her cage, facing away from everyone else
  588. >Applejack is also just sitting in her cage, unsure of herself or what to do
  589. >Convincing your turned friends seems to be impossible, the old ones you knew are most likely gone now
  590. >And you were so close to defeating Nightmare Moon
  591. >Of course the price would be immense... but this is just insane
  592. >The door leading out swings open again
  593. >Anonymous walks in, then steps aside
  594. >Some strange creature walks in, most likely Rarity
  595. >Her mane is still it's perfect curly shape, along with her tail
  596. >But her legs, are now segmented like Rainbow Dash's, but in a different pattern, and her hooves are still the same shape
  597. >Her body, though, is much different
  598. >Stitches cover her belly and around her neck
  599. >"Rarity, show them your special talent."
  600. >She looks back and nods to him
  601. >Her legs shift, and the plates on her legs stretch apart, revealing pale, red flesh
  602. >Next, her stitches unravel and open, then several knives, clamps, needles, and countless metal objects and mechanical arms lower themselves
  603. >It's definitely cruel what he's done...
  604. >But how?
  605. >Should you just ask?
  606. >Rarity's legs compress and the plates shift into their original places as the machines recede and her body closes
  607. >She turns to Anonymous
  608. >"This isn't so bad, thank you, your highness."
  609.  
  610. >He glances between you and Fluttershy
  611. >Who will he turn next?
  612. >And how?
  613. >Wait... did Rarity just say your highness?
  614. "Your highness, what?"
  615. >Anonymous fixes his sight on you
  616. >"Indeed, I am the King."
  617. >How?
  618. "Where did you come from? I've never seen anything like you before, nothing in my books, nothing taught by Celestia... what are you?"
  619. >He tilts his head
  620. >"Of course you haven't, I was born about three days ago."
  621. >What?
  622. "That's not possible! You're fully grown!"
  623. >"I was created with the purpose of ruling along with Nightmare Moon. She does not have the time nor patience to raise another creature, so I started out at this stage of growth."
  624. >Why would Nightmare Moon need someone else to rule with her?
  625. >And why would that person be something like this?
  626. "Wouldn't Nightmare Moon want another equestrian by her side?"
  627. >"Actually yes, but something occurred during the growth process to turn me into what I am now."
  628. "How were you born, then?"
  629. >"I'll tell you when you're... like me."
  630. >So, he's not going to say anything until you've changed?
  631. >You still haven't figured out why he's doing this...
  632. "I'm curious, why are you doing this? Did Nightmare Moon tell you to punish us?"
  633. >He raises his eyebrows
  634. >"Why?... At first, just because I can, but now I've figured a real purpose for myself. I'll tell you when you're changed as well."
  635. >He cracks his neck
  636. >"Now, where was I?... Ah yes, you, you're next."
  637. >He points to Fluttershy
  638. >She still faces the wall
  639. >Anonymous clenches his fists
  640. >"Stand, and face me."
  641. >"Or what? You'll kill me? Go ahead."
  642. >He strides forward, with a furious expression on his face
  643. >Rainbow, Pinkie and Rarity all seem to give worried faces, towards both Anonymous and Fluttershy
  644. >He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a key and jams it into the lock, then opens the gate
  645. >"You're only making this harder for yourself, fool."
  646. >He grabs Fluttershy by the mane and rips her back, as he stomps back out of the cage still holding her hair
  647.  
  648. "You're only making this harder for yourself, fool."
  649. >You grab her mane, and pull back viciously as you quickly stomp back out of the cage, dragging her with you
  650. "All of you, listen well, and watch closely."
  651. >You release her mane, only to widen your grip to the back of her head, and force her face to the ground
  652. >Her wings are also bound, you quickly cut the ropes
  653. "Now then... this is what happens when you attempt to test my patience."
  654. >You grab the base of her right wing, and pull up as hard as you can
  655. >She screams as you feel the flesh underneath your grip strain and stretch
  656. >Then the wing rips
  657. >You can hear her sobbing now
  658. >Now, for her other wing
  659. >You grab her left wing, and pull up while twisting
  660. >Once again, she strains and screams, to no avail
  661. >It tears as well, and comes free
  662. >The two wounds bleed freely, as the pegasus under your grip still attempts to stand
  663. >You look over to the other ponies, first to Applejack
  664. >Her expression has hardened again, as now she glares at you with all her rage
  665. >She's going to take forever to turn...
  666. >Then to the purple unicorn
  667. >She seems to likewise glare at you, and look at you in disbelief
  668. >You pull up on the pegasus' mane, then turn to Rainbow Dash
  669. "What's her name?"
  670. >She looks at the pony in your grasp with a disinterested expression
  671. >"Fluttershy."
  672. >Interesting name
  673. >You lift her to her hooves
  674. "Now, do you want me to drag you there, or will you walk?"
  675. >She responds in a weak, quiet, shaky voice
  676. >"W-Walk... please."
  677. >You release your grip and allow her to walk past you
  678. >"You're a sick and twisted monster, you know that?"
  679. >Once again, Applejack
  680. >Only a little while longer before you'll stop her from running her mouth
  681. >It's taken everything you have to not decapitate her now
  682. >You follow Fluttershy through the door
  683.  
  684. >"Y'know I'm impressed she could still walk after that. Her screams hurt my ears."
  685. >"Indeed, I found it to be unpleasant."
  686. >Pinkie Pie turns from her corner
  687. >"What.... happened?"
  688. >Rainbow turns to her
  689. >"Oh, Anon's turning Fluttershy into one of us now."
  690. >Pinkie smiles weakly
  691. >"Oh.... that's.... good."
  692. "That's cute, you already have a nickname for him?"
  693. >Rainbow rolls her eyes while Rarity scoffs
  694. >Funny, they act the same...
  695. >Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to turn
  696. >What would you be turned into?
  697. >Might as well accept it now
  698. >Silently, you all wait for Fluttershy's appearance
  699. >You never did find out what happened to Celestia...
  700. >The door opens, and in walks Fluttershy
  701. >But, she looks... the same
  702. >In fact, she looks better than before
  703. >Except now she has... antennae?
  704. >And something folded across her back
  705. >"Fluttershy, show them."
  706. >The folds open, and radiant light shines from her new, butterfly-like wings
  707. >In fact, they might as well be giant butterfly wings
  708. >With shimmering particles raining from them as a rainbow of colors constantly cascades down her wings between the lines
  709. >It's almost mesmerizing
  710. "Fluttershy... you look... great."
  711. >She smiles towards you
  712. >"Thank you, Twilight."
  713. >You've completely forgotten...
  714. >His cruelty, his brutality
  715. >Celestia always told you to never judge based on first impressions
  716. >"I was going to lose my original wings anyway, the conversion process would have taken longer if I still had them."
  717. >She sounds the same, and sounds happier
  718. >The only difference is that she no longer has ears, and her coat is slightly paler
  719. >Anonymous walks in behind her, going around her large wings
  720. >"Now, you, it's your turn."
  721. >This isn't so bad, so long as you don't resist
  722. >"You all sicken me, ya know? I can't believe you've all fallen for this! He's a monster! You're all gonna be slaves!"
  723. >Anonymous completely ignores her as he opens your cage, and gestures for you to exit
  724. >You walk through the open door with Anonymous behind you
  725.  
  726. >You're the last one...
  727. >Now you're in the minority
  728. >And it's impossible for you to to do anything about it
  729. >You'd kill him if you could
  730. >If you died, that'd be fine, if it saved your friends
  731. >But it wouldn't
  732. >The friends you knew are gone now
  733. >All you can do is wait...
  734. >You're annoyingly anxious, really
  735. >Waiting your turn after having seen what your friends turned into
  736. >How can you cope?
  737. >You'd need help, but no one else is here that would
  738. >Suddenly...
  739. >Your family
  740. >Where are they?
  741. >You haven't seen them
  742. >For... who knows long?!
  743. >This is the last time that you'll be able to even think about them... as a pony
  744. >You'd cry if not for...
  745. >For...
  746. >A sudden comforting feeling
  747. >Like another presence warming you
  748. >You snap up, and look around
  749. >No one else is in your cage
  750. >Why do you suddenly feel so warm?
  751. >"Applejack, it's alright."
  752. "W-Who's there?"
  753. >None of your chimera friends spoke
  754. >Though they've all noticed your sudden outburst
  755. >"Applejack, calm down, it'll all be clear soon."
  756. >No, it's not coming from any particular direction
  757. >It's... coming from all around you
  758. "Who is this?"
  759. >"Have you already forgotten my voice?"
  760. >The voice chuckles softly
  761. >"It's me, Twilight. I'll be in the room in a few seconds."
  762. >The door suddenly opens, and in walks...
  763. >Twilight, but her eyes... they're empty
  764. >No pupils, no irises, nothing
  765. >She's blind?
  766. >And there are several, small purple spheres floating around her
  767. >She immediately turns to you, and smiles an extremely warm smile
  768. >"Alright everyone, get ready to have the whole gang back together again."
  769. >You hadn't noticed until now, but there's a strange, sweet smell in the air
  770. >Anonymous walks to your cage, and calmly opens it
  771. >"They're all waiting for you, Applejack."
  772. >He gestures for you to move from the cage
  773. >"This time, all of you can see her transformation."
  774. >You walk out from your cage
  775. >Strangely calm
  776. >Rainbow Dash opens the door for all of you as everyone files into the hallway
  777.  
  778. >The guards continue to stand at attention as the entire group heads into the pod room
  779. >You look back at your current creations
  780. >All of them have undergone drastic, physical changes
  781. >Although they haven't gone through many psychic changes, aside from increased apathy and loyalty towards you
  782. >To increase their loyalty and apathy however, you had to swap parts of your and their minds with each other
  783. >Therefore, you have some of them with you at all times
  784. >But it does help them actually enjoy having been turned
  785. >Regardless, it won't be long until Applejack changes into another one of your Royal guards
  786. >Twilight will act as a guide, and radar for you
  787. >Fluttershy will be your maid and spokesperson
  788. >Rarity will be a surgeon and clothes designer
  789. >Pinkie Pie will be another guard, along with Applejack
  790. >Each of them is wholly unique, and similar
  791. >You and the group finally reaches the pod room
  792. "That one, right there."
  793. >You point to the unused pod
  794. >The others simply require time to recover or rejuvenate from their usage
  795. >Applejack looks back to the others as she steps forward to the pod
  796. >"Well, guess I'll see y'all again in a few minutes."
  797. >She steps onto the pod, and it's arms lazily reach upward and envelope her in the same way the others had
  798. "Once she is finished, I will show you all to your quarters."
  799. >You and the others watch the pod
  800. >The rushing of liquid, the writhing of the pod itself
  801. >And why are you doing this to them?
  802. >Something that you've known ever since you were born
  803. >Literally buried into your subconscious
  804. >To create more creatures like yourself
  805. >Rather than direct reproduction which would take months to have an effect, you can quickly start your own species right here and now
  806. >No more ponies or griffons
  807. >Not equestrians
  808. >Instead, chimeras, all with the same thought process and ideals
  809. >Worldly equality at last
  810. >But that comes later
  811. >The pod stirs
  812. >You step back from it as the arms unravel and the liquid begins seeping out
  813.  
  814. ...
  815.  
  816. >Muffled voices...
  817. >Who are you?
  818. >You can feel your body...
  819. >Awake, finally
  820. >Your mind is in shambles, as if you can only loosely make thoughts
  821. >It feels like... you're underwater
  822. >But you can breathe?
  823. >It's warm here...
  824. >You open your eyes
  825. >Blurry, yellow liquid all around you
  826. >You relax your tensed limbs, and begin gently floating
  827. >More muffled voices from outside
  828. >What are you?
  829. >You flex your arms and hands
  830. >Some times you feel something scrape against your fingers
  831. >No, not your fingers themselves, your fingernails
  832. >You feel something flow into you, although you can't tell where it's coming from
  833. >But it's quelling your hunger
  834. >And it's quite delicious
  835. >Very filling.... empowering, in fact
  836. >Then it stops
  837. >You must have more
  838. >How to get out of here?
  839. >You twist your head around, looking for a way out
  840. >All around you, nothing
  841. >You look up, and see a tube leading down to your body
  842. >Looking down, you see your body
  843. >You stretch your legs, and your feet reach the bottom of the fleshy sphere
  844. >Maybe...
  845. >You reach forward with your hand, and meet another wall
  846. >Using your nails, you push your fingers forward into the wall
  847. >It splits, and you feel the liquid rushing past your fingers
  848. >Now where does this lead to?
  849. >You push further, opening the hole wider and more liquid begins to pour out
  850. >Now you can feel the tube from above you beginning to stretch as you seem to be carried towards the opening you've made
  851. >You claw the opening further open with your long nails
  852. >The tube snaps
  853. >Why are you suddenly so hungry?
  854. >Your legs meet the bottom of the tear in the wall, and you feel it further give way as the liquid begins to carry you beyond the wall
  855. >Suddenly you meet another surface
  856. >And you can hear the voices clearly
  857. >"Is... that what he's supposed to look like?"
  858. >Without all that liquid... it's quite cold
  859. >No, it's not another wall, it's the ground
  860. >You push off from it with your arms, and look up
  861.  
  862. >It's a dark room, and you are surrounded by several...
  863. >You just had the word...
  864. >Things are constantly slipping from your mind
  865. >Ponies?
  866. >You eye each of them as they stare back at you
  867. >Some of them seem to be covered in glinting materials... armor?
  868. >Others are completely bare
  869. >You try to speak, but the words seem to get caught in your throat
  870. >Now you notice that the air and ground are both quite cold
  871. >You're completely naked, as well
  872. >"Is that the King?"
  873. >You widen your eyes
  874. >King... King!
  875. >Of course! That's who you are!
  876. >You push off the ground with your hands, then you bring your left foot forward as you sit up in a kneeling position
  877. >But if you're the King...
  878. >Why does it feel so natural?
  879. >It feels like...
  880. >There's more than one consciousness within you
  881. >You can hardly tell
  882. >But what matters now, is establishing your authority
  883. >You ARE the King!
  884. >Bringing your right foot forward, you pause for a moment before slowly rising
  885. >You take a deep breath through your mouth
  886. >What will your first order be?
  887. >Well, first you need to figure out how to actually speak...
  888. >"Wasn't he supposed to be born tomorrow?"
  889. >You clear your throat
  890. "I... am... King."
  891. >What a strange sensation
  892. >The bare ponies begin to exchange worried glances with each other
  893. >"He was in the middle of mental organization."
  894. >"Be careful, he's probably still hearing voices."
  895. >What are they talking about?
  896. >You... are you not the King?
  897. >Not the one to rule the world?
  898. >You point to one of them with a shaky finger
  899. "Obey..."
  900. >Why are you trembling?!?!
  901. >You tense up, clenching your fists
  902. >What voices are they talking about?!
  903. >Why can't you stop shaking?!
  904. >Stop... IT! STOP IT!!
  905. >You grab your head
  906. >"I think he's breaking down!"
  907. >One of the ponies with armor begins to approach you
  908. >You yell out as loud as possible
  909. "AWAY!!"
  910. >Why is your mind shifting so much?!
  911. >Suddenly you were confused... and angry
  912. >Maybe... those ponies have the answer?
  913.  
  914. >All these other voices
  915. >You can tell they aren't coming from the ponies around you... but you still don't know exactly why you're hearing them in the first place
  916. >But the ponies around you, they should know
  917. >They were standing around the thing you came out of
  918. >You look back to the deflated structure
  919. >So that's where you came from.... but why do you hear all these voices?
  920. >And... these other places you've seen... memories?
  921. >They took you from your family
  922. >What? You have no family...
  923. >No, you are the King
  924. >These ponies will answer your questions
  925. >What happens when they don't recognize your authority?
  926. >You'll have to decide later
  927. >All of them have maintained their distance since you yelled
  928. >You should be straightforward for now
  929. >No, you should KILL ALL OF THEM!!
  930. >You grab your head at the sudden rush of blood lust
  931. "BE QUIET!!"
  932. >Most of the ponies back away further, save for a few of the armored ones
  933. >This is so annoying...
  934. >No, you need to focus on gathering information
  935. >You straighten up as well as you can, and shift your gaze between several of the ponies
  936. >Again, you clear your throat
  937. "Tell me where am I?"
  938. >You keep your voice as stable and deliberate as you possibly can
  939. >The armored ponies look back to the bare ones
  940. >One of them steps further towards you, though still staying further back than the ones with armor
  941. >"We are beneath the castle, your Majesty."
  942. >At those words... your Majesty
  943. >The voices seemed to recede, and become much quieter
  944. >It felt... reassuring
  945. "Who are all of you? And what is that?"
  946. >You point to what you came out of
  947. >"We are servants of Nightmare Moon, and that is the pod used to create you."
  948. >Nightmare Moon... why is that name familiar?
  949. >The voices seem to return at the sound of the name
  950. >It's her... she's the one!!
  951. >KILL HER
  952. >KILL THEM
  953. >NO! Be silent
  954. >Whispers continue to persist
  955. >You... you are the King
  956. >Ignore these voices
  957. >They are insignificant
  958. >You suddenly notice your clenched fists, then quickly relax them
  959. >Just... calm down
  960.  
  961. >You need to get rid of these voices
  962. >But first, you need to figure out what you're going to do
  963. >And where you're going from here
  964. >Where to start...
  965. >You are the King, therefore, you ought to have your own quarters
  966. "I wish to explore the castle, you will escort me, correct?"
  967. >The pony that had been speaking to you seems to glance back to the others
  968. >"Well... by order of Nightmare Moon herself, you are not to leave this room unless given permission by her, this rule may only be changed henceforth by her."
  969. "So, I can only leave this room if she allows me to?"
  970. >A wave a rage ripples through you as some of the voices begin to scream in anger
  971. >Just... be quiet... we'll talk soon
  972. >At that, the majority of them quiet down
  973. >"Yes, your highness."
  974. >This will give you time to sort out these voices
  975. >You relax, and sit down on the cold ground
  976. "Very well. Do not worry about me, I shall stay right here. Though you will still answer any questions I have."
  977. >They nod
  978. >Now then...
  979. >Pay attention to these other minds
  980. >Hear what they have to say
  981. >...
  982. >Her royal guards came to your home, to collect debt
  983. >You tried to tell them, without any sun your crops were dying, and your family still needed you
  984. >They wouldn't listen
  985. >Eventually, you asked if there was any way you could pay the debt without money
  986. >They said they had something in mind, and they brought you to the castle
  987. >That's where you died
  988. >...
  989. >His name... he forgot
  990. >Most of his memory is gone
  991. >You look up at the ponies around the room
  992. >The armored ponies have returned to their initial places
  993. >And the bare ponies still murmur among themselves
  994. >You point to one
  995. "Come here a moment."
  996. >The one you point to is quickly singled out as the others move away from... her
  997. >You know some things about these ponies, although you have to use loose and broken information from other's memories
  998. >For now, you can alternate between listening to the voices, and getting information from the ponies around you
  999.  
  1000. >You are Octavia
  1001. >The King has been born, but something is wrong
  1002. >He's not a stallion, he's... something else
  1003. >"Come here a moment."
  1004. >His voice suddenly snaps you to attention
  1005. >You look up, and see that he is pointing in your general direction
  1006. >All of the other servants have moved away from you
  1007. >You gulp
  1008. >No helping it...
  1009. >You walk toward him, stopping a few feet in front of him
  1010. >His face changes from cold to... warm?
  1011. >He relaxes his face, no longer glaring at you
  1012. >"What's your name?"
  1013. >This is bizarre, he's a completely different creature, and he isn't nearly as cruel as they said he would be
  1014. "It's Octavia, your Majesty."
  1015. >He seems to thoughtfully tilt his head
  1016. >"What do you do around here?"
  1017. "Well, ever since I was brought here, I was made a maid servant."
  1018. >"What did you do before?"
  1019. "I used to play the bass violin."
  1020. >It's a shame, you enjoyed playing that instrument
  1021. >"Used to?"
  1022. >Why does he even care?
  1023. "Yes, I'm not allowed to use the instrument here."
  1024. >"Could you still play if you had one?"
  1025. >He seems... interested in your life
  1026. "That's hard to tell, but I think I could."
  1027. >"Maybe I could have one given to you."
  1028. >Suddenly his face turns to disinterested, then to angry
  1029. >"What the hell?"
  1030. >He's obviously insane...
  1031. >And he's glaring right at you
  1032. >"I'm hungry, is there any chance I could receive food in here?"
  1033. >You swallow other words
  1034. >It would have been nice to continue that conversation
  1035. >The atmosphere became somewhat pleasant
  1036. "I do not know, sir."
  1037. >His eyes darken
  1038. >"I may just have to eat one of you if I'm not fed soon..."
  1039. >You need to get away from him, it's impossible to read him
  1040. >He waves you off as he rests his head on one of his hands
  1041. >"You may go back to the others."
  1042. >As you stand, a tear seems to roll down from his eye
  1043. "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
  1044. >He looks up at you
  1045. >"What?"
  1046. "Your eye..."
  1047. >He reaches up and wipes the tear away
  1048. >Now he looks confused
  1049. >"Give me some time to think."
  1050. >You walk back to the others and breathe a sigh of relief
  1051.  
  1052. >You are Anonymous
  1053. >The King
  1054. >Why don't you remember most of the conversation you just had?
  1055. >And why did it feel like you already knew Octavia?
  1056. >What are all these minds surrounding your own?
  1057. >But... you are curious about them
  1058. >To learn about them, to better cope with them
  1059. >Though it would be better to remove them altogether
  1060. >Several names seem to suddenly appear in your mind
  1061. >When you talked to Octavia, one in particular distinguished itself
  1062. >One called Vinyl
  1063. >Why should you care?!?!
  1064. >Why do you want to know?
  1065. >Who are they?
  1066. >Just go away already
  1067. >And you were crying?
  1068. >What is this foolishness
  1069. >This... insanity
  1070. >First, you must figure out the source of these voices and minds
  1071. >Most of them say they died
  1072. >Specifically eaten, mostly
  1073. >Some were killed, then woke up here
  1074. >Many have told their stories, even now you listen to the countless voices
  1075. >The more you listen, the more you understand them
  1076. >And it drives you mad
  1077. >You are the King, why should you be concerned with such petty matters?
  1078. >Ignore these voices, do not give in
  1079. >But, why do you listen?
  1080. >Are you growing... attached?
  1081. >Impossible
  1082. >They are nothing but lower life forms that happened to be put into this body
  1083. >Perhaps you should say that they're rubbing off on you already
  1084. >Is that really your personality? Becoming attached at first glance?
  1085. >Pathetic, perhaps you don't deserve to be King...
  1086. >What?! NO! Impossible, there is no other fate for you!!
  1087. >Be SILENT
  1088. >How much longer until this... Nightmare Moon arrives
  1089. >Until then, you must suffer this internal torment
  1090. >It's hard to do... on an empty stomach
  1091. >You should just kill one of them
  1092. >They won't be missed
  1093. >No, not at all
  1094. >You begin to stand
  1095. >What? What are you doing?
  1096. >Immediately, you drop
  1097. >These voices are getting to you
  1098. >So annoying
  1099. >But you are hungry
  1100. >You speak out, not to anyone in particular
  1101. "How much longer until Nightmare Moon arrives? I am getting impatient."
  1102. >Most of the bare ponies look to you, along with the few armored ones
  1103.  
  1104. >"We do not know, but you must wait."
  1105. >You can do nothing now but wait, entirely restless
  1106. >Why are you so damn hungry?
  1107. >You need to learn more about yourself
  1108. >About your body
  1109. >And the voices
  1110. >Just ask one of them
  1111. >You look to them
  1112. "Do any of you have an explanation for the voices in my head?"
  1113. >Most of them give you a confused look, while others seem to think
  1114. >One of them steps forward from the group
  1115. >"I believe it has to do with you emerging from the pod a day early. Your birth date was to be tomorrow. And you just so happened to be at the most sensitive stage of mental development."
  1116. >A day early?
  1117. >"You were in the middle of the breaking down of the mental barriers. So, now all those consciousnesses are distinguished within you."
  1118. >Is that why?
  1119. "Would I still hear if I were born later?"
  1120. >They pause for a moment
  1121. >"Most likely not. They would be gone."
  1122. >Interesting
  1123. "Do you know how I might be able to get rid of or deal with them?"
  1124. >The pony shakes their head
  1125. >You can still hear them, and feel the subtle pressure they exert on your mind
  1126. >Speaking of them...
  1127. >Their memories, while shattered and distorted, are also yours
  1128. >Many things involving Nightmare Moon
  1129. >And most of them seem to have some level of hated for her
  1130. >But a few of them feel loyalty
  1131. >So many mixed emotions and thoughts
  1132. >Why are so many focused around Nightmare Moon?
  1133. >And why do those memories seem to be exaggerated?
  1134. >You take a look around the room and notice that most of the ponies are no longer looking at you
  1135. >Following their eyes to a figure standing in the entrance of the room
  1136. >It's... her
  1137. >Nightmare Moon
  1138. >Pure rage is the first thing you feel
  1139. >You quickly stand, outstretching your hands
  1140. >The voices scream out
  1141. >KILL HER!!
  1142. >STOP HER HERE AND NOW!!!!
  1143. >They're... overpowering!
  1144. >Controlling your body!!
  1145. >Just as you lunge forward you hear her speak
  1146. >"King, your chariot awaits."
  1147. >Suddenly, they stop
  1148. >Silent
  1149. >You drop back to your knees in front of her

Submission is Mandatory archive

by grapenut