Loyal Defender

“Urgh...damn it...that’s the last time I shout at the top of my lungs, use magic, and not expect something unexpec--*GAAAAH!*” Seeing the giant bug queen in front of me, I shot a beam out of impulse at the ceiling, only for its magic to….flow into a nearby throne. (irony :D) (I so wanna put a broken echo trope in. Like, ‘Welcome to my evil lair!….lair!….lair!….PIANOS….lair!’) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Uhm…..isn’t it only menacing when they’re paying attention?” Another Changeling, by the name of Jerus asked, nudging the Alicorn. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*The moment is ruined due to Changeling magic colliding with exhaustion causing his blackout to be longer than expected.* *crickets chirp, revealing to be a Changeling adding to the drama.* “Eheh...sorry...” (had to xD) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I felt something green and sticky and/or slimy grow over me, covering my nose, mouth, eyes and ears, and body. I blacked out shortly after, mostly from the exhaustion of using so much magic ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I sat there, waiting. “I’m not looking at you. Looking a pony in the tear-stained eyes is more hurtful than seeing one cry. Just….tell me what you are. Speak, roar, something...at least I know I’m not alone now….and that SOMEONE will take me.." ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(With risky actions comes active risks) At this point, I’d had enough. With tears and wind stinging my eyes, I flew out and into the Everfree Forest, landing in a random spot, and took a deep breath. This was it. This was my only hope now. I had to let myself be kidnapped. It was the only way to be any form of happy...even if I had to let Changelings extract Layol from me. Even if it ended with me becoming a slave to their leader for maliciious reasons. I then shouted at the top of my lungs. “HEY! BUG FREAKS! JUST TAKE ME IN! YOU HEAR ME?! JUST MAKE ALL OF THIS HELL STOP! COME AND GET ME!” I shot all kinds of beams in many directions (just not up. I didn’t want anypony to find me) to give off my location. Tears streamed down more the longer this went on before I finally collapsed from exhaustion and sorrow. I didn’t want to open my eyes. I just didn’t. I at least hoped if a Changeling did find me….one of them would be a ‘nice’ Changeling who would be my friend..they’d at least be better than the ones I had. I waited and waited, until I heard hoofsteps. I didn’t dare look up or open my eyes. “Just take me...I can’t stand this any longer….I just want this all to stop…all this torment… *voice breaking* All this torture… I don’t care what happens to me, I just want my happy life back...I just want all this pain gone...please…..everypony hates me...nopony trusts me...I trust no one anymore...” From this point of view, no matter how evil the creature, they all agreed on one thing – as much as they had to go on with a plan, this was a very heartbreaking scene, even for creatures without emotion. It wouldn’t change a thing about their plan, but they likely would feel sorry for how much pain I seemed to be in. Of course if it wasn't Changelings at least this could be me imagining HOW they'd 'feel'.

(You made no mistake. This plan involved Loyal being kidnapped. That's exactly what he's gonna do. Also thanks :3) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Seven – It Bugs Me No Longer Back in Canterlot, Gallant Knight was busy with his training, when a letter poofed up before him. The same thing went to his mother, wherever SHE was. ‘To Mom/Dad, I want you thank you both for caring for me ever since I was a foal. All those good old times of family trips, having fun, with me being the savior during our playtime. Heh, kids grow up fast, don’t they? I remember vividly when I got my Cutie Mark in protecting ponies….but now...it doesn’t seem like that’s my talent anymore. All I’ve ever gotten from everypony is negative comments, telling me that I’m a lost cause, that I….I’m transient. So, with that, I’ve decided something. I’m no longer Loyal Defender...or the child you once knew. I am now somepony different...somepony who has to face facts – I’m just a royal offender. So with this letter, it saddens me that I must burden you both goodbye...it was all fun while it lasted...ironic that first time you left me….now it’s the opposite. Life’s just funny like that I guess. Even still, if you never hear from me again, just know I’m proud of you both for raising me well. Signed, U (hoofprint)’

(He doesn't know what to believe anymore. He can't trust anyone.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I could feel it. The darkness building up. I could feel it coarsing through my veins. No...I had to find a place where everypony could leave me alone! “You’re….YOU’RE BOTH SICK!” I turned on one hoof, and rocketed into the air, gone in a second, tears flowing down. I could see a patch of clouds, big enough to hide me. I flew into one, digging out a little cove, and curled up inside, hiding my face from the rest of the world. “I told you..” I could hear Layol repeating, over and over. “Just make it stop...” I pleaded aloud, feeling the clouds around me become dark and rough. Thunderclouds. “Please….” “….. j u s t m a k e i t s t o p.” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“No…..you’re LYING! She would never say that about me!” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Complaining? Oh, my apologies, I didn’t know commenting on being a vessel for Equestria’s doomsday counted as complaining. Seems like it’s just another NATURAL thing for ponies to do! Be vessels that will helplessly destroy Equestria! And ticking said ponies off is sure to make the situation better, because it’s not as if levels of anger weigh heavily on it! Oh, wait...IT DOES! Now I would KINDLY recommend leaving before this pony does something he’ll regret!”“…..I would kindly recommend leaving before this pony does something he’ll regret.” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Rrr…...” You could almost FEEL my anger. But then, I remembered – Changelings just wanted Layol. Layol was made of negative energy. I REALLY wanted to snap. So instead…. “...why should I listen to you? You’re not even a princess. The REAL Celestia wouldn't fire shots at me like this, and even if she did, it sure as hay wouldn't be in a place like this. You're a FAKE!" ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“‘Validation’?” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Well you did just express emotion, so that proves it….but why must you torment me? Isn’t a ruler supposed to look OUT for their subjects to ensure their safety?” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"What?" "Ugh, look, I don't have time for this. With all due respect, for all I know you could be a Changeling acting as a spy for others to act as a beacon." ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Well, as you know, I'm always open on Discord to talk to, hang out with (and snuggle). Hope you feel better soon about all this.. *hug*

“Are you just going to torment a poor innocent victim of an evil entity set out on taking over the land while you observe their panic and insanity? Is that really all you’re doing to me all day?” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“This makes no sense….the Changelings are going to USE Layol to rule over Equestria, and you’re just gonna tell me the only thing that can protect me is the one thing I can’t use, meaning everypony else will be in grave danger.’ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Can’t you do anything to prevent them from reaching me?” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“No….I didn’t want to be seen as overpowered, so I didn’t learn a spell like that..” (I”m gonna go shower, brb) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I sat in the pile of hay, trying to think of a reasonable escape route. "If anyone finds me, what do I do...what would Changelings do that can be outsmarted.." ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Note – This little story between me and Tia started out as a conversation on Discord but quickly turned into a sweet little roleplay. It’s not an x Reader fic, but it’s still one I like to read, and I HAD to share this.) “It's nice when others portray you in the sweetest way. Makes you sweeter than your well-known pancakes, which is saying something." Loyal told the sun princess. ” "Well I appreciate greatly the honesty, dear pony...." The princess leans a little lower, her voice hushing conspiratorially. "Though to be fair, a little fib for a nice compliment doesn't irk this princess in the slightest~" "Psh, I never lie about compliments. What I say comes from the heart, that's just how I am." Loyal stands up proudly and confidently. The sun princess seems to give a smile that seems somewhat more amused than anything else, raising her brow at the prideful display and eventually giving a wider, more proper smile. "Well, then I'm pleased to know I can trust your opinions when you decide to be admiring, dear pony. But what, pray tell, brings you to chat with me, hm?" "Well, I'm close with Luna (close enough I'm able to let her mane put me to sleep almost without her consent, she doesn't mind), so I figured I'd be close with you. I do appreciate the sun and moon, so I figured, 'Why not befriend their respective rulers?' Surely you don't mind." "Well, I have a tendency to more often than not appreciate the ponies that my dear sis tends to associate with. I suppose I don't mind chatting for a time with a dear pony of mine; after all, what sort of princess would I be if I not make time for my ponies, hm?" “Well, for doing the opposite of not making time, you’d be a rather appreciated Princess. But you already knew that, I’m sure. Believe me, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve actually grown close to Luna – and how many times I haven’t learned hugging her ends in a tight winghug every time. But still, it’s nice being friends with someone well-respected and known, the one who watches over us...as you might say, *day and night*?’ The solar princess closes her eyes a moment, restraining a quiet giggle, though after a moment peeks out of one eye at the shorter pony next to her. "Oh I suppose. But hopefully you will bear in mind that the two of us are... nm... what's the best phrasing... a bit strapped for time, nm? My dear nocturnal sibling has a great deal more time free to be a socialite, even if she is perhaps not as inherently social. But we can see, now can't we?" “Oh, I understand if you’re busy. After all, watching over everyone is tough...believe me, I know. I devote my *life* to that sort of thing, you know?” *Loyal sits down as he says this, rubbing the back of hishead, recalling how difficult his job can be at times*. The tall mare watches with a half-lidded eye as the colt sheepishly rubs at his head, seating himself in front of her, and she remains quiet for a while. Drawing out that somewhat awkward silence purposefully, before she averts her gaze and murmurs out of the side of her muzzle with a tone of amusement: "Well, dear... if you're aiming to receive a royal hug, you'd best act quickly before I head off once more, hmm?" *Loyal blushes. How had she figured it out so fast? He hadn't even hinted at HER doing it.* “That is….what I was going for….if you don’t mind.” Tia has been doing this sort of thing for a rather long while. She's been approached by many ponies with all sorts of reasons. She knows a thing or two about ponies that want to seek out certain sorts of 'royal attention'. She has a nose for it, one might say. Said princess restrains a quiet chuckle, and for a moment she looks slowly around as though conspiratorially making sure nopony else was watching. After a moment she parts open her wings. "Well come on, little one... " *Loyal didn’t hesitate to approach her, not too fast, not too slow. He steps into her cozy ‘chamber’ of sorts, and hugs close. So this is what it feels like...her fur felt soft, but warm, as if she’d been sunbathing for hours on end...it was like a heated pillow. One that was covered in fur. Princess Celestia, as might be expected for one with her name and title and description, was indeed very warm. Her fur was dense and fluffy, soft to the touch, starting to transition into feathers near her wings. Her chest presses gently, carefully to the smaller pony, not at all seeming to mind as he nestled himself right in against her and allowed her tremendous wings to swing them, curling and drawing him in towards her like arms. She was warm, heat that was like sunshine soaking into the coat, into the skin. Her scent was warm and wonderful vanilla, tinged somewhere with the distant spiciness of cinnamon, and as he pressed to her he could feel her heart beating in her chest. “So this is what it’s like….one of the smallest….yet most wonderful moments of my life...” He mutters, sounding pleased with the moment.He nestles slightly deeper, seeming comfortable with the situation. The sun princess doesn't seem at all to mind the proximity, her wings encircling the other pony to draw him in close to herself in an embrace that could best be described as almost motherly. Her head leans downwards, nosing beneath her own tremendous wing, and she brushes her royal snout gently to the top of the pony's mane, a quiet coo escaping her muzzle. "Mmh. There's my dear little pony. You seem comfortable~" “I am…..it’s like my bed at home….but ten times better...” The Princess couldn't help but to give a gentle little smile. She might not be her sibling, the princess of the night and as such an expert at lulling ponies to gentle rest.... but she was a regal alicorn princess all the same, and as the princess of the sun her touch was the touch of reassuring warmth. Her wings close more tightly, pulling the smaller pony to herself in a gentle tug, a firmer embrace, and her muzzle nestles against his mane to nuzzle with affection. "Let it never be said that I have no time to take good care of my dear subjects," she murmurs. "Nmmm... rest easy, my little one. Your Princess doesn't mind." The small pony doesn’t respond. Rather, he seems to murmur, his eyes closed but with a gentle smile spread across his muzzle, a gentle sign of breathing visible from his chest. That fast? Most likely. It’s possible he was overwhelmed by the warmth and comfort of the royal hug, and fell asleep. Not surprisingly, if he was used to Luna’s mane doing the same thing, being in a warm hug would have the same effect. The royal mare only smiles, quiet, when she feels the stallion in her embrace relax and drift into sleep, surrounded by her warmth and by her delicate wings. Leaving them be for a moment longer, eventually the princess' horn flickers to light, pale golden yellow that was itself warm and gentle as her physical touch sliding under and around the colt to scoop him up in her wings and magic alike. It wouldn't do, after all, to have him simply sleeping on his hooves even while pressed against her. This was, after all, one of the reasons she had comissioned so many guest beds.… His only response is another murmur, possibly dreaming….though it’s unclear what about, though presumably, it’s a good dream. The Princess certainly didn't want to place the colt into a mere cot. She was, after all, a princess. And this was her home. She'd be a poor host were she to leave one of her own subjects to possible discomfort. Instead her magic and her embracing, warmly-feathered wings cradle the stallion to her chest as she carries them to instead a guest chamber. One of several, but this one more homely. Dense green carpet, wooden furnishings done in a style that made them look more rough and natural, and a bed fit to hold three ponies if so many were to lay across it. Or at least an alicorn. It was a room meant to show the green of spring and summer, kept warm by an oil radiator near to the bed. "Mmmh.... sleep well, my little one," the princess murmurs, her magic drawing back the sheets and the heavy quilt on the top, reluctantly leaving the pony to be deposited into the caress of the plush matress instead of her wings, and drawing the sheets over him one more. The thin wisps of her magic trailed across him, briefly and lightly sliding like digits through his mane. And with that done, she leaves him to his rest.

Maybe I will in the future. But not now. Maybe when I finish up some more stories.

If I manage to think up more, I will. This was my first time as Twi, though, so I'll need to get into the swing of it.