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Chrissy

I had realized something was wrong almost the moment we met Lyric, although it didn’t hit me exactly what was odd until after I was done my heat. Thinking clearly now I realized that a sea pony in the Saddle Arabian desert was just the surface of what was wrong with the picture.

The most basic fact being that sirens hadn’t been seen in over a millennia.

According to the books in my library the last three sirens were last seen rampaging across the Equestrian countryside, causing disharmony and anger before being ‘dealt with’ by Starswirl the Bearded himself, we all know what 'dealt with' means though. The books hadn’t mentioned any other sirens or any foals, which is what Lyric must have been around that time. This also begs the question of where her father was and why they both weren’t mentioned in the history books. The more I thought of her unique nature and situation the more grim the conclusion I came to, a conclusion all too similar to the way the history books portrayed my species.

We were vile, emotion stealing parasitic bugs.

Sirens were cruel, stallion stealing enchantresses.

Both statements being completely ignorant to the reality of our species, and a sadly unsurprising fact given Equestria’s history of racism and magical might. They were also present in all the history books in their schooling system, yes the ‘magic of friendship’ was a fickle thing, only applying to those that fit into their society.

I could faintly remember my mother tucking me into our nest and answering my questions, my mind still upset at the notion that all I knew was wrong after reading that particular chapter in 'The History of Equestria'. She had chittered to me faintly before curling her warm body around my much smaller body, chitin to chitin, letting her love for me flow over, and I had trilled back in contentment.

‘They fear what they don’t understand my little nymph, the old king and queen cast their opinion of us and other emotionvores long ago.’

I could almost hear my hopeful squeak of a voice replying.

‘But surely the princesses, err, princess is different? She might listen to us! We can show the ponies how we aren’t scary. Maybe-‘

My chest ached as I remembered her next words.

'NO.' I had opened my mouth to ask why but she continued on, bitter sadness covering the sweet love, 'I’m sorry my little princess but Princess Celestia has already given us her answer, she will not listen to our ‘vile lies’. She ended the negotiation before we could get a word in. We have nothing left to say to the ponies of Equestria.’

Knowing that I grew up knowing that one of the creatures I get food from hated me, feared me, and that their ruler was perfectly fine with that. Did it hurt our feelings? Having to tell every new nymph that we must never show the ponies mercy in a fight for they would never show us the same luxury. That instead we had to teach them to avoid fighting, with disguises to hide in and how to concoct lies to hide behind, all to obtain one of their most basic needs.

I hated that reality.

Lyric must have hated that reality just as much as I did, do still. Despite not being a changeling I could tell she knew exactly what I had gone through. Only some words and locations might be different. But from her words I knew the experience was the same: ponies fear her, hate her, and she must use her innate talents to get by.

In truth we really weren’t that different.

We both saw a stallion that held no prejudice or distrust to us, despite both of our unique meetings. I still can hardly believe I came at his face like that, my brain was not functional then obviously. Although I can’t say her method was any better. She wasn’t bad though, just different, and just maybe tolerable when she remembered that I was-

No, I am his mare...But, if he wanted it and she listened to me then it might not to be bad to have a herd. A small herd, no more than what we were now, it wouldn’t be bad to have Lyric around. If-

My body froze as a thought hit me, foals, nymphs, and whatever sirens call their young. Can we even have nymphs together? Or would I call them foals?

I glanced at Ari’s groin as they looked for the second set of saddlebags, the first one dripping from on Lyric’s back. Were we even capable of reproducing, a emotionvore and herbivore, we had evolved from the same ancestor but…Would-

“Chrissy I can’t find your saddlebags, can you give it a try?”

Blinking I focused on his face, his muzzle was covered in mud again from his interesting way of searching for it, an embarrassed grin twisting his muzzle. He looked like a pig with his face like that and holding back a facehoof I looked to see where the other member of our…Where Lyric was. Ugh, I could decide what to call us later! I didn’t have to look far for the magical siren, she was just letting him get completely muddy. I was going to have to teach him a little magic, this was just sad, and her a little manners.

“Really Lyric? You couldn’t use your elemental magic and move the water from the dirt? Or better yet-“ I thought of the compass and map, letting them be a focus point as I located the bags some twenty meters behind them. Adding the intent needed the pack shot out of the mud with a loud squelch, levitating in my magic as I looked at my herdmates.

Fuck it, might as well go all in, she isn’t the worse mare to be stuck with. I mean it’s not like I have to share with- Not going there, just no.

Anyways, she was over a millennia old, I can't think of a excuse to forgetting locating and retrieval spell.

The nervous laugh said it all. “Oops, guess I forgot about that.” Her ears were splayed as Ari pinnined his ears back at her, snorting mud onto her face. I don’t blame him, the stench must be horrible.

Ari

What had started as a slight sulphuric smell now was a all dominating, nausea inducing smell.

I had started looking for the saddlebags with my hooves but that wasn’t working, my horn and wings certainly weren’t options so I used the only thing I could think of: my muzzle. Which Lyric didn’t point out was silly, or even try to use her magic to help find the bag, and really I think she must be a little sore about the whole two against one thing at the end of the fight to even let me do that. But, in our defense Lyric didn’t appear to need any help, she knocked us right out of the sky.

Magic was so awesome, it’s a shame I forget to use it sometimes.

Chrissy shook the saddle bags out and placed them on her chitin with a disgusted look, I can't smell anymore but I'm sure they smell like swamp mud now. In fact we all smell like the swamp now.

Not that I regret this mud fight at all, it really helped me relax, and even Chrissy seems less stiff with Lyric now. It did us all a little good to relax but we had to continue on, the planet’s destruction wasn’t slowing for us and I certainly didn’t want this to take longer than it had to.

I did want a life after this, even if it was different than the life I always imagined for myself.

My thoughts stopped as I felt Chrissy assume her usual side, feeding off my love on the go as was the norm for her. Lyric perked up on my other side, smiling widely at us, for some reason very happy.

“So are we ready to go again?”

The mares nodded and we headed in what I think was the right direction, after a while everything looks the same, but I could just be disoriented by that damnable immobile sun. How in the world did magic stop that thing anyway? Could all Alicorn’s do that?

The sun wanted to prove me a liar and started to move downward, towards our horizon. It was slowly adding a slight chill to the warm air.

Watching it descend in silence we marched on, the high steps wearing my legs as I had the mud sucking me down with every step, and my muddied wings resting on my mare’s backs-

Wait I meant my mare’s and Lyric’s backs, slip of the mental tongue, which thankfully Chrissy couldn’t hear or I would be dealing with a very angry mare right now.

Anyway the sun finally set and the moon ascended the sky, illuminating our rather murky path, and waking the nocturnal inhabitants of the swamp. A chorus of crickets, or what I thought sounded like crickets, started up as several wet plops up ahead drew my interest. Lyric shuddered at the sound, probably remembering her reaction to the frog. I had to remember that for the future.

However for now we had hours of muddy marching to do, all night long, it’s almost like I signed up for a boot camp. Actually I would have taken boot camp, it would have had less mud.

Our pace was tiring but necessary, if we ‘rested’ in any capacity besides pausing to float one of the canteens to our lips I knew we wouldn’t get up again. Both mares were leaning on me in a way that betrayed their tired state, Chrissy had even tried to rest her head on my wither but had quickly given up on that, muttering how I was moving to much to be a good pillow.

And we still had at least a week before we hit Zebrica…Wait Zebrica is a whole other continent, horse apples I knew I missed something.

“So, I just realized something kind of important,” Both mares turned their ears to me and grunted in a way I took as ‘go on’. “Well we have to get the airship from Zebrica right? No one inland makes them right?”

“Yes, I think I see your point Ari. To answer your question, no, no one on this continent makes airships. In fact they are quite a uncommon sight in Equestria altogether, even at the docks. How do we cross the narrow sea? We are a very noticeable -err- we stand out as an Alicorn, changeling, and siren. We almost sound like some bad joke.” Chrissy wasn’t sounding very hopeful right now.

“So we are going to be noticed any way we do this, crossing the sea, and then flying around in a airship. Maybe we should just paint it with a bull’s-eye while we are at it!”I couldn’t help but feel frustrated at myself, why did I have to be a seven foot tall Alicorn stallion, why couldn’t I have been a cutesy little pony, I would have blended in no problem then.

Not only that I had fallen in love with the one mare that the princesses would probably be more than happy to murder but I had another mare, mare traveling with us, that stood out like a sore thumb as well…At least Chrissy could disguise herself, Lyric on the other hand was going to be interesting to disguise, I mean I could wear a cape or something over my wings but it was Lyric’s entire front half that stood out. Not to mention she was taller than the average pony if Azure and Barium were an average size.

“There is always pirates.”

The whole swamp seemed to pause at her words, the crickets went silent and the croaks echoed into nothing, it left only the faint sound of the swamp water to our right moving against the shore.

We turned our heads to look at Lyric, my ears forward as I processed what she said. Chrissy was the first to break the silence, “So you really think a group of pirates would listen to us, to Ari? Then what?! They would happily sail us across the sea free of charge, feed us- “ At that point she looked pointedly at me like it was my appetite that took all the food from the bags, which it wasn't, that was a group effort! “-, and not breathe a word of this to the princesses. I assume they will also donate some money for a airship while they are at it? Is that how you pictured it?!”

Did the air just get colder?

While Chrissy was questioning Lyric’s suggestion, I felt the cold turn into a sliver of unease. Was it the plan? Maybe, I mean pirates were known for being ruthless, greedy, and just downright unmoral. They could kill us in our sleep sooner than help us. But…I know it was wrong, but what if we took a pirate ship, right from under their noses? Chrissy was good at disguising herself, she could easily infiltrate them. Or if we had to fight I knew Lyric could entrance the stallions while Chrissy and I take them down. I know I wasn’t exactly trained for combat, just a couple of scuffles defending my friends and then what my instincts guide me to do since I have been here, but-

The moon’s light vanished.

Looking up I saw why. Above us gleamed five sets of red eyes, glowing in the dark as they narrowed their draconic slits and met my slowly widening blue eyes. The eyes were part of a brown, scaly snout that dripped swamp water on my back, my eyes stuck in the ‘oh shit’ look I followed the five long necks down where they met a well muscled lump of a body that was still half submerged in the swamp.

My heart started racing, adrenaline racing through me as I realized that this was the biggest creature I had ever seen and I almost wanted Jabbar as an opponent again, he was only slightly taller than me in comparison. This thing was towering over me.

I was expecting the logical flight instinct to kick in at the sight of the eighteen foot tall monstrosity before me, but instead my instinct screamed ‘FIGHT’. Something about having two mares with me and a predator facing me said running wasn’t an option anymore. That wasn’t unsound logic and I had to agree with the urge, I did need practice fighting.

It was time to protect my mares- No, my mare and Lyric.

Snorting I arched my neck, keeping eye contact with the same head I raised my wings, spreading them as high and wide as I could. Chrissy and Lyric snapped out their stupor at my snort, turning their ears to me before they readied their horns, green and pink magic at the ready.

As if time stood still we all waited in the new darkness, the sound of water dripping and magic charging buzzing on horns made every twitch and breeze stand out in sharp detail.

Then a head I wasn’t looking at came hurtling at me, I saw it coming all too late, and knew I couldn’t dodge in time without leaving them unprotected. I didn’t want it to hit us and thought of the first thing that came to mind: a shield.

That head crashed into a translucent golden shield that was connected from my horn, now to-

I was flying through the air now my thoughts to slow to comprehend that I had not one enemy but five, each head capable of separate moves by the feel of it. Pain lanced across my left wing as I hit the tree, causing me to close my eyes as the feeling going up my wing felt reminiscent of when I hit my funny bone, only with twice the pain.

I slid down the bark of the tree that caught me, groaning as I tried to make sense of my senses, and opening my eyes I stumbled upright. My hooves swimming before my eyes, I started to panic inside, snorting unintentionally.

Were they alright?

Looking up I saw Chrissy and Lyric had constructed a bubble around themselves which both filled me with relief and determination. Both of them shot a glance at me as I groaned my pain, they appeared to relax slightly at me stumbling around.

Okay, my body felt like it was hit by a car but that was fading and the creature was swaying its many heads around, it was still above my mares, my-oh hell it doesn’t matter, the creature was over what I wanted to protect, and I was still a good twenty feet away from them thanks to the hit.

The creature decided to strike again, two heads going hitting Lyric’s bubble while the remaining heads hit Chrissy’s bubble, this caused both mare’s to grunt and close their eyes.

And here I was just standing here.

Feeling the call to act I went with the shield theme my mind conjured before and conjured a golden sword, yes I didn’t know a thing about swords but I it couldn’t be that hard, it was magic after all. Breaking into a gallop I charged it aiming for the side, my wings spread and ready for a quick evasion. Although the ground slipped and squished under my hooves I still was going a good sixty kilometers a hours when I ran past it, my magic sword taking first blood in the fight, and I immediately regretted it.

The blood was burning my fur as it hit me.

Unable to help myself I squealed at the pain and bucked, making contact with the monster’s belly, and surprisingly sending him back a couple of feet. Slowing the buck, I stood in front of Chrissy and Lyric’s bubbles, my eyes watering at the pain that lingered on my skin.

Dear lord that thing had acidic blood.

Speaking of blood, the blood still gushed from the long gash I had made along it’s neck, however my aim had faltered as soon the blood hit me causing the cut that was supposed to behead it to cut diagonly down it’s chest. With my focus gone my sword disappeared as well, pain now coming from my left wing and along my back.

“What is that?” I spat the word out, hate was a good word to how I felt towards it.

“A hydra,” Chrissy didn’t sound smug like I would expect, rather she sounded resigned and a little strained, telling me I wasn't the only one was in pain.

Of course, fuck my luck, I don’t get the easy daisy lined road to the coast, no I get the swampy, hydra blocked road. Anger bubbled in my chest at my life, overtaking my pain as I stared the swaying beast down. Was it taunting me? Did it think just because it hadn’t moved a inch out of it’s territory that it was winning?

I didn’t have to cut something to kill it.

Snorting again I reared up and stomped the ground, saying in no uncertain terms ‘come at me’. I could feel the hydra shift, rumbling the ground, and I could hear the mares back up from me. Lighting my horn I spread my wings, ignoring the horrible pull I felt in my left one, this would only work once after all.

The hydra finally lumbered forward, one scaley stump of a leg leaving the water and rumbling the ground, using this free leg it pushed itself up and out of the swamp. That added a good five feet to it’s already daunting height. Not waiting for the monster to make the move I rocketed upward with one downstroke, now two hundred feet above the hydra I began my descent just as quickly, with my muzzle downward I saw my weak link.

The far left head was staring off into space, ignoring the mares and me as well, it was too easy.

Although some muscles and joints protested I changed course to the zoned out head, my horn sparking and grabbing a hold of it in my magic as I whizzed by, giving another flap I ascended again with the head in tow. The howl of pain echoed through the swamp as I cranked its neck up with my magic, raising the hydra a foot off the ground before dropping my wings and aiming for the small space between the next two necks. It appeared slightly off balance at my actions but remained upright, if not a whole lot angrier.

I was almost to the gap when I saw it coming in my peripheral vision, a long thin tail rose from the water, sailing at with a whoosh.

However the tail never hit me, green and pink bubbles simultaneously appeared in front of incoming lashing. Relief crossed my mind as I made it through the gap, the head trailing me in my magic’s grasp, and I began to weave between the necks. While I weaved the hydra continued to try and tail whip me, it’s heads unable to reach me from my spot, and I was never more thankful for the green and pink walls protecting me from it.

With the final neck nearly behind me I felt my muzzle start to go upward in a grin, this was actually working! I turned around the last neck sealing it off with the now limp head in my magic, now all -

Then the hydra started to pass out, necks wilting faster than I expected, coming down at me with all the literal tons of deadweight. However much that scared me that was not the problem, the problem lay in my wing, and previously it had been just a pain. That pain had been dulled by my anger, my adrenaline to protect my mares, but it also hid the fact that something was clearly wrong with it and getting worse with my continuing use. That something chose now to return with interest.

With that my left wing seized in the air, signals not traveling to the muscles to tell them to move, and I felt true panic set in.

“ARI!”

Chrissy and Lyric called to me from the ground, most likely seeing my wing hang limply at my side.

My magic faltered around the hydra's head as my mind raced, tucking my remaining wing to my barrel I attempted to descend faster than the necks however I weighed less than the hydra falling behind me. I could feel the hydra’s weight nearly upon me, hear the panicked yells from my mares, and see the faint glimmer of the moon’s light as the head’s revealed the moon.

That light gave me a crazy idea and I spread out my good wing as it took hold of my mind.

The magic pooled in my horn as I tried to think of how I should form this, this brace, no, more like a framework for my wing to rest on. Wind whipped by as the ground approached and my magic finally flowed free with my intent clear.

It worked for all of ten seconds, allowing me enough time to glide out of the body’s descent, however the strain the magic put on my wing by forcing it to conform had me seeing spots. Pain was taking over my mind, so I finally let go of the magic frame I had made for my limp wing. This caused me to land slightly off center I landed in a stumbling trot before I stopped and turned to face the hydra.

What greeted my face was not a nearly twenty five foot tall hydra’s body but two mares coming at me at a full gallop.

“Hey-“

My welcome and reassurance knocked out of me as I staggered under their assault, both mares nickering softly and rubbing themselves along my neck. It felt amazing despite my pain, the smooth scales and chitin pressing on my fur, the rubbing prompted my own happy nicker and rubbing. Alternating my attention between Chrissy's neck and Lyric's neck I couldn’t help but feel my chest swell, a certain sort of pride at protecting them from the hydra that most certainly would have eaten us.

Glancing past them I saw the offending hydra, narrowing my eyes in the dim light the rise and fall of the hydra could be seen. Not on my watch, that hydra will cause trouble, if not for me in the future than surely for other creatures.

Golden magic grabbed the weak head and resumed tension on it as I resumed ressuring my mares.

Yeah I just give up on correcting my mind, I mean it was half correct at least, Chrissy was mine while Lyric was a mare traveling with my group. It was a small technical point but it still eased my mind to point it out, I was not-

The hydra began thrashing against the ground, sending tremors through the swamp, it was not quite conscious but also not yet dead. It would be dead soon.

Any introspection into my wiliness to kill for them was lost as soon as Chrissy kissed me, shaking slightly, and then Lyric began nibbling on neck. I guess they noticed my distraction.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Lyric was muttering into my neck and Chrissy broke the kiss and rubbed the other side of my neck in time to her muttering, but relief coated her voice. It was a feeling I could understand well now.

Seeing them get assaulted, even behind protective bubbles, had me scared. They still appeared to slightly affected by the hits and if the hit had landed… Well I didn’t want to think about that but it filled me with fear for them. Despite how I had met them they were my rocks, after I finished the one mission I had accepted I was counting on their company for the rest of my years, whatever my life brought me now.

“Yes, Lyric you are definitely coming with us after we are done the whole saving the world mission.”

Beside me I could see her tense before launching herself at my mouth, not the first time she has kissed me, but despite my insistence of not being into her that way I felt a little affection towards her in that moment. Chrissy turned herself around and pressed her still trembling form to my side, giving a cute sigh as her body relaxed against mine.

A thump sounded from the hydra.

I finally felt the tension leave my body as the hydra’s body stilled my mind relaxing now that the threat had been removed.

This night felt like it was going to be a long one if this was any sign of my luck.