-Two years later-

“Hey, Captain!” I turned my head back as I watched a few guards of the Crystal Empire run up to catch up with me. It had been two years…two years since I moved here to the Crystal Empire, and also two years since I became its Captain of the Guards. When I first came to my now new home, nearly everypony there, knew who I was. The pony that fell in love with a Changeling, willing. Nopony said anything to me, which I was glad for, but still; I heard some whispers here and there. After a few days of settling in, I went to Shining Armor, to start my new job. I was worried at first, believe me I was, but the guard faction didn’t seem to mind about my past at all. Was it because I was now really their Captain; eh, it doesn’t bother me now. In a short amount of time, it felt like I knew many of the guards for many long years,

As the guards came over, they were still wearing their armor, and really…it wasn’t that much different from the armor that Canterlot bore. I mean, it had a light blue like shine to it, held the chest plate and helm like that of the day guards. Near the rear, a set of three dark blue diamonds hung from the side slightly. In the front, the center piece, were crystal hearts, much like the one that was being held high in the tower. I had taken off my Captain armor, and all I had on, was my sword, and my necklace. My mane, still pushed backwards much like Soarin’s was, and I kept getting asked the question of why. I told them, as a joke; that I was the one who had it first, not him. But one thing had changed about my mane, on ether side, were now a bleach white lighting blot streak. It was something I did a while ago, I needed something new…something fresh, and this was the best idea I could think of! “Some of us guards are going out tonight, have a few drinks and such, wanna join us?” I smiled and slowly shook my head. At times I would go out to drink with the guards, but not today.

“Nah,” I answered waving a hoof at them. “Not tonight…just not feeling it.”

“Come on sir,” one pressed moving forward. “You out of anypony should have a nice relaxing night! I mean, when was the last time you had a mare, huh?” they were speaking the truth, over the past two years, I’ve had a few one night stands, or a few dates…but it never went off, I…I just couldn’t really bring myself into starting a relationship at all with anypony else; it just wasn’t there.

“A while, yes,” I answered. “But it matters not…I…look I’m fine, just don’t drink too much, I don’t want to hear whining that you drank too much and having a hang over; remember last time?” I watched as a few of them looked away, rubbing the back of their heads as I chuckled, turning to leave. “Just be ready by tomorrow, you hear?”

“Yes sir!” I heard them call out as I made my way home.

They were good stallions, as I said; they treated me as if we’ve known each other our whole lives. I felt that it would be a good idea, to not treat them as my Captain did back in Canterlot; all he cared for was getting the job done. I got to know some of them, some who had…difficulty cooping when it came to killing, if it had to be done. I remember there was one guard, who had no choice but to kill somepony. Seemed a drug dealer came a few months back, and was selling to foals. When we at last found the creep, he had taken one of the foals’ as a hostage. The one, who killed him, was our best sharp shooter when it came to the bow. He shot him right between the eyes…but afterward, I could see it in his eyes. I took him to the side and spoke to him, telling him I knew how he felt, and how it was affecting him. I told him he could take a few days off, but he didn’t want this. He asked me, how I had cooped when I killed, for he knew of my history and such. I told him, simply, ‘the worst thing about taking somepony’s life…it gets easier the more you do it,’ the look he gave me, I don’t even know what type of look was it, surprised by how blank I was being, or understanding. He came to me more after this, and that’s when I found of his own past.

-Flash back¬-

I was sitting in my office with Lance, though his main weapon of choice while in the guards was in fact a lance, like his namesake, he was a hell of a sharp-shooter. It was a few weeks after he killed the drug dealer, and he still seemed a bit, out of it. “Why did you want to become a guard?” I asked him, sitting behind my desk, looking at him as I placed my hooves together. “You must understand why I ask this of you, you came to the guards, nearly a month after I became Captain. Though it is a horrible part of the job…if we must take a life, to save another, we must.”

“I…I know,” Lance was an earth Pony, brown like mud, but his mane and short tail, sliver. His brown eyes looking up to me, as he played with his helm a bit. “I understand the duty of that of a guard…but I just…I thought I was ready; with all that I’ve seen…”

“Seen?” I asked as he sighed, looking up at me.

“Like you…I came from Higher Wing.”

“Ah…” I then understood what he meant then. “I’m guessing you weren’t part of Black Light?” he shook his head slightly before saying.

“I…I helped out when I could you know, repair a few things that need fixing, passed notes from one to the other…but never fought.”

“So what made you want to be a guard?” I asked as he then looked to me.

“You did…sir,”

I gave him a questionable look as he looked away, smiling a bit. “You saved my life once…not sure if you even remember me…I was rather young, I think a few years younger then you…so I guess not that young. But…ether way, many of those Higher Wing guards thought I was of Black Light, one was bored, and wanted to kill me! Then…then you came, you easily killed them all, using nothing but a small dagger and your hooves. When it was all done, the five guards killed, you helped me to my feet and took me back. I remember asking you, why did you save me…and you said…”

“If I can save a life, I will…” I answered, remembering now who this was. He smiled and nodded his head slightly.

“You saved me…and after that, I looked up to you. I heard that you disobeyed Sir’s order to save me, which he called me an idiot to go out there alone for no reason. I…I never got a chance to really thank you.”

-Flash back end-

I smiled, me and Lance…we got to know each other a bit better after that, and many times we would spend after work, talking. I even offered to train him. I did have my way around a spear and such. He still had much to learn, but he was a rather fast learner, and willing to learn new things. As I thought of these things, I found myself before my new home. Like all of the buildings here, it looked as though it was made of crystal; it…seemed over the top of me, truthfully still does; but whatever. Ether way, it was home. It was a three floor home, a basement, the main floor, and the second floor with three rooms, and a bathroom. So it was much larger then my old home in Canterlot. I pushed my way into the house, sighing as I unbuckled my sword, and placed it on the wall for now…rather tried and having no will to go upstairs just yet until I got my coffee. The clopping of my hooves on the floor were heard as I made my way over to set the kettle on, yawning out softly as I rubbed my face with my hoof. Pacing back and forth as I waited for the kettle to whistle and steam. One it did, I took it off, poured the hot water in the cup filled with the stuff for coffee, adding milk and sugar, before stirring it; the clicking of spoon hitting the cup, echoing throughout the room. After removing the spoon, and placing it in the sink, I was about to take the first sip, when a loud thump caused me to stop and place the cup down.

Peering out of the kitchen I noticed my sword, now laying flat on the floor in the hallway. I sighed; I knew I should’ve just hung it up like I should’ve before getting my coffee. Walking over, the coffee on the table still steaming and filling the room with the scent, I went to pick it up…when I noticed a folded scarp of paper sticking out from under the door. I frowned slightly, and lifted it with my magic, unfolding it; two words were there on the paper. “Turn around?” I asked myself outloud, I thought that it was only a joke, throwing it in the bin next to me, and turning to go back to my coffee. Once fully turned, a tall black form was standing before me, the legs filled with holes, and a light green like mane going downward. My mind raced, no…Chrysalis! I went for my sword at once, but the Changeling Queen, slapped my hooves away and threw the blade along the floor, I went to grab it, feeling her forearm wrap around me, and threw me onto the sofa. I gasped as the sofa fell over, me on it as I grunted and got up to attack.

I yelp as I felt her magic wrap around me, picking me up, and slamming me hard on the back of the sofa, as I then felt her weight on top of me. I screamed for her to get off me, my anger for what she’s done coming to me in full force. But, I let out a shuddering gasp as I felt her jaws on my neck, pressing down, as her fangs sunk into my flesh. I…I couldn’t move, the way she bit me…blissful as it was, left my body numb, I couldn’t even call onto my magic, she got me… when I felt her release my neck, I waited for her to do whatever she wanted to me…but why…did Saki do something, and she was just doing this to prove that she could get to me?! I then hear a soft laugh from her…but it was unlike the laugh I had known of her before she whispered close to my ear. “Seems you still like getting your neck bitten; Light.”

My eyes grew wide, that…that was not Chrysalis voice at all! In fact…I knew that voice rather well; sure…it had changed a bit but…but… “S…Saki?”

I looked up at the Changeling Queen, and noticed right away that she didn’t have the ‘crown’ on her head as her mother did, her mane, long like her mother, was not curled near the end, but fully flat. I also noticed that she had black streaks that went through her mane and her tail. She was much taller and longer then me now, from where I was now laying, I guessed she could not pressed my body to her own, like I did with her. I watched as she gave me a small smile, her now green eyes, softening as she looked down to me. “Light…”

‘Saki!” I screamed out and wrapped my arms around her tightly, holding her to my body. I couldn’t even cry if I wanted to I was just that happy!

After a while, I did indeed slowly feel my rage fill as I pushed her off me. I watched as she waved her hooves a bit before falling on her back with a grunt of pain. “Hey!” she yelled out, giving me a glare. “What the heck was that for?”

“You left for two years!” I yelled back at her. “What did you think I was going to do?”

“I did it to save your ass!”

“Oh, then why are you here now then? Aren’t you worried that she’ll come and get me like you said in that letter of yours?!” I watched as she said nothing for a while, that’s when I remembered what Cocoon said about how she became a Changeling Queen herself. “Did you…?”

“No, I didn’t kill her,” she answered with a loud sigh. “Light…please you must understand…I know it wasn’t something that you’d would’ve liked, but I had to leave with her…”

“And the fact that she was trying to kill you didn’t cross your mind?”

“She wouldn’t kill me…no, she needed me,” I gave her a raised eyebrow look as she sighed, picking up the sofa and setting it up once more and sat down; petting the spot next to her.

She started to tell me her story of why Chrysalis wanted her. It seemed Saki was holding on a lot of my love for her, so that she could change into a Changeling queen anyway. All that love she had, Chrysalis wanted it to help feed her little subjects. Whenever she wanted to refused, she was always threatened that my life would be ended at a moment’s notice. Seems the Hive of Changelings went nearly around the world, doing as she said. “Things of unimportance.” Nearly a year and a half, Saki then started to gather her own little group, much like Cocoon did. These Changelings that sided with her, didn’t like the way they were getting love from the ponies, and in fact, wanted to live with them, (not in their true forms however) and get mooch of the love around them.

She explained that after she became Queen, her mother thought that hey wanted to fully take over, a short fight later; Saki won…but stayed her hoof from killing her. She warned that she would kill her next time if she ever saw her, seeing how she easily toppled her; and to stay away from me. Then with her, and her small group, I believe she said ten, they left. They first went to Canterlot, finding that I had left, four Changelings stayed there, after explaining to the Princesses on what they wanted to do. It took a while to convince them, but Saki did. All they asked was that they would have been checked up on, to slowly gain their trust. Two more stayed in Ponyville, and the last group, here.

“So then, Cadence and Shining Armor…”

“They know I’m here, and of the last small group I brought with me, are here as well.”

“And…their okay with this, I mean, you I know they will be…but…”

“Cadence said that, ‘this is a new era of which we must look past on what is on the outside; for we are all the same on the inside’.” I only hummed my answer to her as she smiled. “It will be fine…its over Lighting…we can at last no longer be worried what ponies will think of us…I mean….”

“What?”

“The two years I was with…mother,” she hissed the name. “I overheard ponies speaking of us; you know…what they thought.”

“And?”

“Many were saying I was controlling you, blah, blah, you know, same old story. But very few, sated, ‘what if not’.” She then smiled at me as I slightly smiled back. So there were few who didn’t care, or didn’t mind that much? “Now, enough talk,” I gave her a look before yelping as she pushed me onto the floor, her on top of me. “Change,”

“What?”

“You know ‘what’, change for me.”

“One last question,”

“Ugh…” she scuffed. “Fine, what?”

“Why did you attack me?” I then got a small smile from her as she leaned down to whispered.

“Remember when you said I couldn’t kill you if I wanted to, back when we first met?”

“Yeah?”

“I just proved I could,”

“Evil Changeling…” I gave a small chuckle as she smiled, placing her hoof over the necklace that was both her’s and mine.

“Evil Changeling you love…now change.”

I sighed and nodded at her, chuckling softly once more as I looked up at her the whole time. Having had two years, I have spent much of my free time trying to change into other things. So far, my Changeling form was the best I could do without screwing it up. My body shuddered as I watched her still, feeling the burning like feeling creep over my body, starting from my hooves, all the way up to my head. After seeing myself as a Changeling a few times, I knew, without looking at myself, how I looked. I was a bit bigger in Changeling form, seeing how that type of Changeling had a bigger mass then the Changelings around here. My eyes would be the red colors, much like Saki’s eyes would be if she was still her old self. My mane stayed the same as it was, but with a rather weird twist. My mane and tail were now red, I knew this, but the tips of it, would be the black of my pony mane and tail. My wings were spread along the floor as I looked up to Saki, and then I gasped slightly as I felt a huge burst of love come from Saki and into my body. She gave me a wide smiled as she leaned down closer to me and whispered. “You liked that didn’t you?” she asked me as I could only nod. I hadn’t felt anything like that before; sure, at times when I became a Changeling when home, I could feel a faintness of far away love from others ponies. But never like this…because it was right for me! “Well then,” she smiled leaning even closer. “You’re going to have a lot more tonight, my little Changeling.” She closed her eyes and pressed her lips to mine, my lips moving with hers’ as we kissed softly on the floor of the living room. She was back…the love of my life was back…and I couldn’t be happier.

-One Year Later-

I was pacing back and forth in the waiting room of the Crystal Kingdom’s hospital, nearly a year ago, Saki had returned to me, as well as a few other Changelings, who were busy going on with their daily lives. I had seen them a few times, but I wouldn’t consider them friends. They, as well as the one from Canterlot and Ponyville, would come up once in a while to gather love from Saki, to better help them. But that was the least of my worries right now, for right now, Saki was in a room…ready to give birth to our foal.

The year that passed since Saki’s return, and true to what she said, she could walk around freely, without a care. Many ponies were still fearful of her, but when their Princess told them of who they were, still a bit fearful, but didn’t do anything about it. And nearly a few months after her return, she came to me and pretty much told me; ‘You’re going to be a father’. And today was the day, and trust me I was glad. All the mood swings she had and all the ‘meals’ she wanted from me, was really starting to get to me. I must’ve been pacing for hours; I lost count after the first two. The soft chatter in the backgrounds of ponies and such around, buzzing in my ear. Before at last, a nurse came out. “Is she…?” I asked, nearly fearing the worst.

“She and the…foal are fine,” she answered; I guess she couldn’t quite know what a Changeling would name its foals, maybe larva? “The birthing went off without a hitch, and you may see them now,” I nodded as she turned and led me to the room where Saki was staying in, from what I heard, seeing how she was the biggest mother they had (Height wise I mean), they had to put two beds together for her. The nurse pointed to a room, as I looked through the door window, seeing Saki lying on her back, a small white bundle in her arm. I gulped slightly, before taking a deep breath and made my way inside.

She looked up at me, her eyes looking slightly bloodshot, and her mane a mess…though her face was claim, and beaming with great happiness. I walked over, and lay a bit on the bed beside her, as she scooted over so we could both be laid on the bed. “We…we have a child,” she whispered as I nodded softly at her. “And…a Changeling one at that.”

“Guess you were right about that part yes?” I answered as she softly nodded her head. Before she lowered the bundle so I could see the foal. Already I could see that the foal was in fact, a colt. He was as black as a Changeling from this side of the world, taking after his mother. I could see that he had a small stud of a horn already on his head, ears pulled to his head. He had a bit of a black mane already on his head, eyes closed as he softly slept. I brought a hoof up, to touch his face…my son’s face, when I did; I noticed his eyes open slowly as he let out a soft yawn of sorts. When he looked to me, I noticed that he had green eyes, much like mine, not the soft glow of his mother’s.

“He has your mane and eyes,” Saki whispered as I smiled at her and back down at the small Changeling colt. A small lump in my throat.

“What should we call him then?” I asked her as she looked to me and smiled.

“I was thinking of…Shadow Knight,”

“Shadow Knight?” I asked her as she nodded.

“Seems like a good name for him, a powerful name to me, but one of great nobility.”

“Because of the ‘Knight’ name?”

“Because he’s your son,” she smiled softly before leaning down and nuzzling his cheek softly. “What do you think?”

“I like it,” I answered looking down at the colt named Shadow Knight. My son then turned to look at me, his eyes glued to my own as I smiled and leaned down, before I felt something on my nose. I opened my eyes to see his hooves out, touching my muzzle on ether side as he made…a chirping sound. “That…is so bloody cute!” I chuckled in a soft voice as Saki did as well. I nuzzled him softly as I did; I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as well.

My story was done, but I knew of a few things, Cocoon was still out and about, and I would do anything to keep my mare and my child safe from harm. But, that thought was pushed in the back of my mind. When that time came, I would cross that bridge, but for now…all I cared for was my family…welcome to the world Shadow Knight, welcome; my son.

Author's Notes:

Well, the end of this story, just as this chapter ends, and before you all start going about like "What about this, this, and this' i said thats this story ends...but not fully. Watch in the comming weeks of Changeling Heart: Shadow Knight!