I had quite a lengthy list of things to ask the Princesses after three days of thinking. Stepping off the train, I took in the multitude of ponies staring at me. They looked away when I looked them in the eye, however. My currently rather imposing presence drew attention away from Twilight, who appeared quite thankful for that. Leading the group, I marched straight for the castle, Ribbon trailing at the rear.

"Uhhh... Chi? Why do you seem so angry?"

"Because Twilight, I have reason to believe the Princesses held back some rather important information about what I am, and I want answers..." Twilight flinched back at the tone of my voice, as I sounded exactly like her.

After walking in silence for several minutes, we reached the castle gates, where the guards let us through without incident. We had just walked around a corner, where we encountered Shining and Cadence, whose eyes widened upon seeing Twilights new form.

"What did you do to her!" Dammit Shining, I am not in the mood for this! Focusing my glare on him, I smiled evilly as he squirmed under it.

Meanwhile, Cadence had walked up to Twilight. "Twi, what exactly happened?"

"I've, sorta been experimenting with dark magic, and used the elements to keep me sane, until... Yeah." She unconsciously began rubbing the spot her wings erupted from.

By now, Shining was sweating profusely, and breathing rapidly, as he could not bring himself to break eye contact. When I decided he had suffered enough for his transgressions, I broke it for him, and grinned wickedly as he waved, before resting himself on the wall, panting heavily.

"Why is she so angry? I've seen her in an undirected frenzy, but this is cold, focused fury..." Cadence had apparently walked over to Ribbon, and was trying to figure out why I was pissed off.

"She thinks that the princesses are withholding information about her..." she leans in to whisper the next part, but I knew what she was saying. "like if she is immortal..." Cadences eyes widen at that, she either didn't know as well, or realized the princesses made a very stupid mistake.

Satisfied that they understood the severity of the situation, I marched onwards, heading for the dining rooms. "I remember you!" That voice... Blueblood had found us in a joined corridor, and was advancing towards Ribbon, completely unaware of my presence. "You thought you we're too good for me, well guess what, you're just a mis-" he jumps back when Ribbon goes up in flames, revealing her in her true glory.

"'That miserable whore', happens to be Queen of the changelings." Blueblood a look of terror on his face, pure, delicious terror. but Ribbon wasn't done yet. "Not only that, but I have contacts with several alicorns..." I don't know how, but I could taste the fear coming from him, and it left me watering at the mouth, wanting more... "Two of which I know personally..." I begun slowly inching towards the unsuspecting prince, licking my lips in anticipation. "And one of which is my lover..." I heard several choaked gasps, as my observers were unable to speak clearly over the feeling of impending doom. "I believe you have met her before, Blueblood, and got on her bad side..." I begun cackling internally as the poor, poor fool realized how grave a mistake he had made. "And not only is she here..." he felt my breath against the back of his neck, and froze.

He oh so slowly turns his head to meet me, my fangs glistening with saliva, and my eyes promising levels of pain that converged on an infinite zero. "But I hunger..." unable to look away from me, he could only watch as I nipped his ear, drawing a few drops of blood. He could only twist his head to maintain eye contact with me. "Oh how I wish to make a meal out of you. The plump, spoiled ones are always the tastiest..." I watched as he begun trembling, tears begging to form in his eyes as I caressed my fangs with my tongue. "But that would be to easy..." he shivered as I made my hair slowly stroke his spine. "Now run, run as far as your legs can take you, mortal, and pray to your gods that I never find you..." by now, he was so pale he should be dead. The absolute terror he was emitting left me feeling stronger than ever, as my voice took on a sultry tone. "For there are fates much worse than death..." I cackled madly as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he slumped to the floor, dead to the outside world.

Cadence's jaw had hit the floor, and Shining was glad to still be alive after earning my ire. Rarity had a grin on her face that spoke volumes about how much she hated the bastard. I noticed that at some point, Fluttershy had begun cowering behind Ribbon, who was repeatedly 'nope'ing, and Rainbow was hiding behind her... Pinkie was just standing there, her jaw open, not moving at all, while Applejack poked her head out from under her hat. Twilight was standing there, her hoof covering her mouth, with Spike gripping her leg like it was the only thing in the world.

After waiting for everyone to come to terms with what happened, I stomped towards the dining rooms once again, intent on getting answers from those royal imbeciles. Those foolish ponies think they can withhold information from ME!?

I feel... warm? Like someone had thrown a soft blanket over me and was telling me everything would be alright. the hate slowly drained out of me, and a relaxed, no longer feeling the need to look intimidating. I allowed it to fully embrace me, and became dulled to the outside world, faintly aware of Ribbon nuzzling my face. I barely even registered that I was walking...

*whack!* I shook off the fuzzy feeling after walking into a door. "Are you alright? you walked right into the door." No... really!?

I try not to sink back into the warmness, and nod. "Yeah, I just got lost in thought..." opening the doors, I was greeted to the princesses, who were busy talking to a guard. When he left, they gave me a worried glance.

"Well, take a seat." Heh, Luna knew what I was thinking. We all walked over, and took our respective seats, Cadence and Shining sitting next to Celestia, while I sat directly across from her, with Ribbon and Twilight at my sides. It was only now I became aware of the fact Discord was sitting beside Fluttershy.

Putting on my game face, I forwent any formality, and cut straight to the chase. "Look, Celestia, Luna, I have reason to believe you've been withholding information about what I am, and I want answers..."

They quickly traded glances, before Luna spoke up. "We knew you'd find out eventually..."

Celestia gave a sagely nod. "We were just trying to let you get used to your new life first." I could still feel that blanket of warmth, keeping me from becoming infuriated with them.

"What am I, really? I can freely manipulate my form, have a fourth source of magic, and wasn't even an alicron until i wound up in this reality!"

After a short pause, Luna hesitantly speaks up. "You're a spirit, You're only loosely bound to the physical plane." WHAT!? You mean I'm not even real!? No, this isnt happening... I slowly feel my worry dissipate into that warm blanket of comfort... a spirit... loosely bound to the physical realm... that might explain why I can shapeshift, I am disconnected enough that my form is not held in a single shape.

Ribbon's extremely worry caught my attention. "Wait, you mean she's dead?!"

"No, we tested that when she was unconscious, after the elements were used on her. she's not dead." Oh thank god...

Rainbow raised a hoof, a concerned look on her face. "So she's a ghost... does that the mean she can posses ponies?" I think I did with Ribbon once, but Discord was involved... So I'm not sure if it counts.

Celestia holds a hoof the her jaw, thinking. "It's possible, as she inherited her power from the Nightmare. We couldn't test what her magic could do, only that she had it and how strong it was."

"Could the Nightmare also feed on emotions?" Oh shit, Ribbon just pulled that out of left field.

The first one to respond to that whopper was Luna. "Why do you ask? do you believe Chi is doing so?" Ribbon nods.

"When she had Blueblood scared out of his wits, her magic begun fluctuating in a pattern almost identical to a feeding changeling..."

"That explains why I felt refreshed after scaring him unconscious..." ohhhh boy, I'm a shapeshifter that can feed on fear... a literal Nightmare...

Celestias eyes widen. "Of course! It makes sense! Nightmare Moon overpowered me so easily because she had been feeding on Lunas negativity the whole time they were on the moon!" Shiiiit... that backfired on you badly, Celestia.

"Speaking of the moon, I've noticed every alicorn represents something... Cadence is love, Celestia is the sun, Twilight here is probably friendship or magic, and you, Luna, are the moon... so what am I?"

Luna hums in thought for a few moments, before replying. "You can hide in the shadows, you can feed of the darkness in a ponies soul, and take the form of their darkest fears. You can use dark magic rather skillfully and without consequence, and you even once forcibly moved the moon, darkening the sky... the only logical conclusion is that you represent darkness itself..."

"Now then, I heard from Ribbon that Alicorns are supposedly immortal... is this true?"

I am greeted to a synchronized "Yes." Several horrifying revelations occurred to me at that moment.

...

...

I have stand by and watch as everything I know and love fades to dust...?

...

...

I will be forced to bear the pain of Ribbons eventual passing...?

...

...

I have to bear the pain of ALL my friends eventual death...? Very well... I will spare myself such torment and drive them away... I shall become the successor to the Nightmare...

I slowly pull myself to my hoofs, barely aware of my tears dripping to the floor, even as I feel my features harden.

"Chi?" Ribbon, you and Scootaloo were the only two who truly cared for me.

I feel myself begin to slowly laugh, as the irony of my torment dawns on me.

"Chi, you're scaring me here. It'll be alright." No it won't, Ribbon, I've been doomed to fate worse than death...

"I-i-its... its j-just... just s-so..."

"Chi, calm down, the oldest Queen I know of lived to be over 300 before she was killed." 300 years is but less than a blink in the grand scale of things...

"ITS JUST SO GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING HYSTERICAL! I HAD FOUND TRANQUILITY IN DEATH, BUT NOW, NOW I HAVE BEEN ETERNALLY DENIED MY FINAL SLEEP, FORCED TO WATCH AS ALL I KNOW AND LOVE FADES TO DUST!" My tears began to run free... "Is this hell...?"

Celestia just looks me in eyes. "This is why we didn't tell you anything. Immortality can be cruel to those that are not born with it."

I could not stand these ignorant cretins presence any longer, and fled towards the gardens. Somehow, my body knew where to go, as I weaved through the corridors, dodging guards and staff in my sprint. When I got outside, I was still not feeling secure, I felt vulnerable, like one of those mortals could attack me from any angle... That was unacceptable. I instinctively wrapped myself in my miasma, forming armor that I hadn't used for quite some time, and letting out a relieved sigh, now that I had some form of protection to comfort my insecurity. Bolting into the hedge maze, I made my way to the center, where I curled up into a ball trying to block out the outside world to no avail. After lying on the ground for a few minutes, crying, I heard hoof steps.

"Begon fool, and forget what you have witnessed, least you face my wrath..." when I was ignored, I braced myself for the coming torment.

"I understand how much of a curse Immortality can be." I shoot Luna a glare that would have stopped a lesser ponies heart. She had the gall to follow me!? "The reason the Nightmare was able to possess me was not because our subjects shunned me, but because I shunned them. I locked myself away because I didn't want to be hurt and it made me weak, and now I feel responsible for what has happened." So I'm not the only one...

"I'm scared, Luna, I'm scared that when Ribbon passes, there will be nobody left to keep me from falling into the depths of madness... I am already a formless shadow of you, that spreads fear and carnage wherever I go, I don't want to think of the monster I would become if I lost it, and fully gave in to this body's instincts..." and I would be trapped in my mind, forced to watch as everything burned, burdened with the knowledge that I did that, for the rest of eternity... The tears return, threatening to turn into a flood.

She walks closer, a sad smile on her face. "But you won't. I'm sure you won't, you have already taken steps towards making this body yours, who is to say you will not take more. And regardless, Ribbon will not be going anywhere, any time soon, Chi, she is right here, right now. She said the oldest Queen she know was over 300 years old before she was killed, Ribbon could live longer still." She may be with me for while, but anyone else minus the Princesses, and possibly Discord and Twilight, will be gone in the blink of an eye... I notice her features harden slightly. "Contrary to what ponies say, me and my sister are not truly immortal, we are eternally youthful. I do not wish to say this, but if it will bring you peace of mind than I will. If when Ribbon passes away, you still wish to die, you need only a blade." I... I still can at least choose... no. I will not sink so low as to end myself when Ribbon passes, she would want me to live.

With a newfound will to live, I slowly pull myself to my hooves, and pull Luna into hug, only able to mutter a choked "thank you..." before crying uncontrollably into her shoulder. Thank you, Luna... I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

"...Chitsuki?"

I disengage from Luna, and turn to see Ribbon, looking me in the eyes, worried. Walking to her, I could feel tears of joy in my eyes. "Its not immortality... I am merely unaffected by time, and will never age... besides that, I am as mortal as any other pony..." I pull her into a hug, tears flowing freely, as Ribbon hugs me back. We stood like thi for several minutes, before disentangling and allowing Luna to lead us out of the maze.

As we neared the exit, I steeled myself, not wanting to let ponies who were unknowns get too close to me, and harden my features into a look of distaste, while my posture becomes one of absolute authority. I feel the same warmness from before, blanket me, and turn to Ribbon, confused. She gives me a fanged grin in response, confirming that it was indeed her, who had been causing that reaffirming warmness in my mind. I gave her a nearly imperceptible nod, before we stepped out of the maze, and were greeted to everypony else, most of them backing up a few steps upon seeing me being as intimidating as possible.

"Buddy, why are you suddenly wearing armor?" Rainbow flinches back at my displeased look.

"It is of no concern to you, and I am not your 'buddy'..." my distaste with the mare had everyone taken aback, even Celestia herself was shocked by my change in personality.

"You certainly seem... intimidating." I GLARE at Celestia, my hatred suddenly spiking even through the reassuring warmth Ribbon had wrapped around my mind.

"Chi. Stop that, she didn't do anything." You wouldn't understand Ribbon, you wouldn't understand how this impudent welp manipulated me...

I bare my fangs at Celestia, my voice full of spite. "Be thankful she deems there has been no transgression..." Composing myself, I break eye contact.

A certain polychromatic pegasus decides to interrupt. "Can we eat now? I'm starving." I had to reluctantly agree with that, as I nodded my head.

Celestia leads us back the dining hall, as I fell into step behind Ribbon, wanting to keep her as close as possible, worried that something might try to take her from me. I could still feel Ribbon trying to comfort me, but I couldn't keep my anxiety at how vulnerable she was from clouding my thoughts. I was jarred to full attention by multiple gasps and discover I was slowly dissolving, and realized my miasma was starting to blanket Ribbon, before settling and acting like it was part of her.

"Chi stop, what are you doing?!" I would have replied, had I not already fully dissolved, and covered Ribbon, before everything shifted, and I was viewing things though Ribbons eyes, and noticed as she looked herself over that she looked like a silhouette of me, her face featureless except for her eyes. It was then that I realized I was not only seeing through her eyes, but using her other senses as well. Wait, that explains why I can tell Celestia isn't absolutely terrified, and is CURIOUS, unlike everypony else, I've tapped into Ribbon's emotion sensing ability!

"Ohhh... you're cold..." her voice sounded like a fusion of hers and mine, sending shivers up several ponies spines.

(Ribbon? Are you alright?) I tried to speak, yet no sound was made, even as I felt that I had indeed sent a message.

"I'm alright, but what did you do?" Everypony looks at Ribbon like she's gone insane, much to my annoyance.

(What I did? I think I possessed you, but let you remain in control. Why I did it? I just wanted to keep you as safe as possible. How I did it? I have no clue, other than dissolving into miasma and wrapping around you... also, you might want to inform your audience that you're not going crazy.)

"I'm not crazy! you know we have a link." Her words didn't have much effect.

Rainbow gives her a suspicious leer. "So you're saying she's talking to you from inside your head?"

"Yes..." THAT, however, did relieve everypony's worries. Feeling like my beloved was safe enough, I let myself wind down, and simply observed...

"No wait! Don't fall asleep on me!... she's asleep." Everypony chucked nervously at Ribbons situation, even though I wasn't asleep, so much as completely inactive.

Rainbow was the first to work up the nerve to ask something. "You're stuck like that until shes wakes up, aren't you..."

Her nervous chuckle echoed of the walls. "...maybe."

"Well then, you might as well see what you look like!" Discord hd pulled a mirror from somewhere, and was now showing Ribbon her reflection. She looked like a silhouette of me, with two orbs of teal blue for her eyes. Her mane and tail looked exactly like mine, flowing in an invisible wind. She spread her wings, and found them to be shaped like a bats. But the single most disturbing feature, was the lack of any. Other than her outline, mane, and eyes, everything flowed into everything else, making her body look like a shadow in three dimensions. When she closed her wings, they seemed to vanish into her sides, her face was an expressionless mask, her eyes the only way of telling her emotional state. and she ran a hoof against herself, feeling her chitin beneath the inky blackness. It was then she, and by extension me, became aware of how the blackness felt... safe, and cool like a summer breeze, instead of the icy feeling my miasma usually had.

Upon clearing her throat, she seemed to completely ignore what had just happened. "So, dinner?" You're kidding... You're kidding, right? Everyone, even Discord, jaw dropped at her indifference. After several minutes of walking in silence. We finally reached our destination. Throwing the doors open, we filed in, everypony taking a seat, with Twilight and Rainbow sitting beside Ribbon. The food had been laid out before we got back, and Ribbon grabbed an apple in... oh god, It just floating there, no aura whatsoever! Note to self: find out exactly how things work when I'm attached to someone like this. Anyway, she levitated it over, and bit into it, causing a portion of it to blink out of existence to an outside observer. So thats what an apple tastes like to you...

The rest of the night was a blur of boredom, as even Discord was somewhat creeped out when Ribbon gave him the stink eye for turning the pear she was about to eat into a potato. When everypony had finished and said their goodbyes, Ribbon had an idea. My magic begun charging, and we teleported, reappearing with no flash or sound whatsoever, just 'poof', we're now in the basement of our house.

Finally alone with Ribbon, I muster enough will to become 'active', catching Ribbons attention.

"Welcome back." I never left...

(I wasn't so much asleep, as inactive and observing. But anyway, do you like this?)

"Heh, It feels cool, like a calm breeze."

(So is there anything you want to try before I work on undoing this?)

"I wanted to try the mane thing."

(Feel that source of power that wasn't here before we merged? Follow it to your mane, and will it to move.)

After a few moments, 'her' mane floats in front of her, and splits into four tentacle like limbs. She's better with this then I am!

(Impressive.)

They float back together at Ribbons side. "You should practice with you magic more often, you'd get better a lot faster."

I let myself relax, and pictured me splitting from Ribbon, before I felt myself moving and eventually returning to my default form, complete with armor. From nowhere, inspiration struck. "I have a plan... I could posses Chrysalis, and work on freeing her that way, and contain any backlash."

"Are you sure you're fit to help her right now?"

"I can relate to her now, I'm more fit than ever."

"If you're sure." She walks over to the pod, and cuts it open with her horn, before dragging Chrysalis out. "Get up" Chrysalis slowly gets to her hooves, where Ribbon uses a spell to remove the goop that clung to her. "Go for it."

I let myself dissolve, and instead of wrapping around her, flowed into her. My vision suddenly shifts, and I feel myself twitch a couple times. "Trippy..." laying down, I close my eyes, and focus...