Chapter 7-Breaking Innocence
Celestia reappeared in the throne room back in Canterlot. She flinched as an explosion shook the entire castle. Luna was standing and looking out the window, a thoughtful look on her face.
“Luna!” Celestia said, walking over to her sister. “Why is the castle shaking?”
“That would be thy son.” Luna replied, turning to face Celestia.
Another explosion shook the castle. “What exactly is he doing?” she asked.
“Well, Shade was rather upset at not being able to exact his revenge on that pony, so he has been blowing things up ever since we returned him here.” Luna said calmly. “We have provided items for him to work his anger on.” The two sisters looked toward the door as another explosion rocked the castle. “How did it go with thee?”
Celestia sighed. “I'd rather wait to tell you until Shade calms down. That way I don't need to explain it more then once.”
Luna smirked as the castle shook again. “Thy might be waiting a while sister.”
. . .
I sparked my horn and proceeded to bore a hole into the side of the rich earth pony, then blew him apart. It wasn't actually him, just a statue that Luna had placed in our training room. She had enchanted the room so I didn't blow up the castle, which I would have done.
I was furious. It had all been a elaborate plan from the start. Of course Diamond had to be at the house and vouch for her father when he said that I had attacked him. I had no proof that it wasn't me. I was going to ask Fluttershy if she could explain where I was, but the shy pegasus didn't want to talk to all those ponies. She would have, but I sensed her fear and didn't push the matter. Which meant I had to take the blows.
The kicker came when Filthy said that I had planned to control everypony in town, and that I had started with Fluttershy. At that, I teleported next to him and ALMOST sank my fangs into him. Unfortunately, my mother picked then to appear in front of everypony. She picked me up, and teleported me back to Canterlot. I assumed that she had instructed Luna to put a barrier around the castle, because I couldn't teleport out and the portal in my room was closed. I was so angry I almost attacked Luna. Knowing that we would most likely end up destroying the castle, she advised that I came here.
And so I was, blowing things up. My vision was tinted red and I wasn't really focused on anything. Thus, when my mother came into the room and called my name, I whipped around and almost took her head off with a fireball.
She stood there, unfazed. “Shade, if you are finished, I need to talk with you and Luna.” She then turned and left the room. My vision slowly returned to normal and I followed her.
A little bit later, the three of us were sitting in the kitchen. I wasn't touching any food, still upset by what had happened.
“Shade, you need to eat.” Luna advised. “You can't go long without some sort of substance.”
“I'm fine.” I replied. “Got plenty at the meeting. The shock and fear of everypony filled me right up.”
Celestia sighed. “Shade, where were you last night?”
“With Fluttershy.” I immediately said.
“What about before that? Did you go over to Filthy Rich's house?” She continued.
Ah, crap. If Celestia knew that, I was in big trouble. “Yeah, I wanted to know why he was telling Diamond lies about me.”
“He said that you threatened him.” Celestia said.
Dang it! He was making himself look like the injured party here! And he was doing it by telling the truth! Suddenly a horrible thought hit me. Did my own mother think that I bit him?
“I did.” I said. “He said that I influenced Fluttershy to be attracted to me, and I didn't take too kindly to that.”
“Whether you know it or not, you gave him ammunition against you.” Celestia said. “Shade, I want to believe that you didn't bite him, but the evidence stacks against you.”
“Hello? Did you forget the two evil changelings that captured me three months ago?!” I angrily snapped.
“Watch thy tone, Shade.” Luna said. “Our sister is saying that you were the only changeling in Ponyville at the time.” I sighed. Having your elders be goddesses wasn't amazing. Don't let anypony tell you different.
“Did you sense any changelings, Shade?” my mom asked. “Your body should react if any changelings are where you are, because of your pheromones.”
Ah yes. Changelings can sense when another one is around. Luna had suggested that no changeling would be able to sense me because of my blood. Didn't matter though. Somehow, Filthy was bitten, and I was to blame for it.
“I didn't bite him.” I said
Celestia nodded. “Personally, I believe you, but I have to examine every possibility.”
“Why do you..oh.” If she didn't at least investigate me, it could be assumed that she wasn't trying just because I was her son. Oh, I was upset. I hadn't done anything wrong, and in one fell swoop Filthy ruined that. As my vision started to tint red, I heard Luna clear her throat.
“Sister, we are not fully accustomed to being awake in the day.” she said. “We will go rest until dusk.” Celestia nodded as Luna left the room.
“Shade, walk with me.” Celestia stood up. As she walked away, I was tempted to not move. Realizing that talking with my mother might help me feel better, I followed her.
We went into the throne room. “Shade, do you know why I brought you in here?” my mother asked. When I didn't respond, she continued on. “Whenever I need to escape from the world, I'll come in here and just look at the windows.” She put her hoof on a window that showed herself and Luna in a circle. “So much history in this room.”
“That's you and Luna, ruling.” I said softly. I looked at my mother. “You, weren't supposed to have me, were you? That's why you hid me.”
Celestia sat down next to me and motioned me to sit by her. When I did, she spoke. “Shade, Luna and I were never supposed to have any foals. The reason was that the foal would go though so much, just trying to live up to the reputation of being our foal.” I felt sadness flow from her into me. “Another reason, is that we cannot pass on our immortality.”
I knew what she meant. Even though I was her child, I would still grow old and die. Celestia would have to watch her child pass on. I felt horrible and it must have shown, because my mom put her hoof around me.
“No. Do not feel like that.” The sun princess said. “Having you with me, made the last few years purely amazing.”
“But how?” I asked, upset. “Now I know why you didn't tell me. You haven't had any foals, ever. Now you have to watch me die, and you can't stop it.”
Celestia gave me one of the kindest looks I've ever seen. “Shade. I love you. I never had any foals because of what you realized. But I wouldn't change the last few years for anything. I just wish that I could have made different decisions though.”
“It's fine...mom.” I said. Celestia smiled at me, and the two of us just sat and enjoyed being with each other, not needing to say a word.
About fifteen minutes later, I asked. “Why exactly did you pick Discord to have a foal with?”
Celestia looked at me. “Shade, what really happened was...”
She stopped talking as a green rubber ball came rolling toward us. “Hey, that's the ball I played with when I was a foal!” I exclaimed. “How did it get out of my room?” The ball rolled up to us and stopped moving. It started shaking violently. I quickly pushed Celestia behind me as the ball exploded. When the smoke disappeared, I was floating inside the ball! The ball had grown bigger and I was trapped inside. My mother was laid out on the ground.
“Celestia!” I yelled. I tried to cast a teleportation spell, but I was unable to. I wasn't drained, but it was like something was suppressing my magic. Or someone.
“Well, well. What's going on in here?” Discord rose up from the floor in front of me. I had long learned not to question how he could do these things.
“Let me out of here!” I yelled.
“Where's the fun in that?” he said. “Now I just needed to pick up Celestia. I don't want her to stand me up again.” He lifted her in the air, using a spell I assumed.
“Where are you taking her?!” I yelled. “Luna! Help!” I said in my mind.
“Don't you worry about it.” he said. “You know, I think that you should be around some friends for a while.” He pointed at me. The ball I was stuck in started to glow white. “Don't be afraid Shade. This ball's gonna let you sleep for a day or two.”
“I'll find you!” I hissed, my fangs coming out.
“Oh, I expect you to.” Discord said with a smile. “And we are gonna have some fun when you do.” He snapped his fingers and everything turned white.
. . .
Fluttershy was at the outskirts of Ponyville, just trying to enjoy the night. “Oh, I hope that Shade's okay. He was so mad..” As the shy pegasus turned to start walking home, something whizzed by her. “Oh my..” It happened again, except that it clipped her on the side, making her stumble and fall.
She held her hoof to her head. Looking up, she saw..Shade? Her face lit up. “Shade! You're okay!” She stood up to hug him, and he back-hoofed her, knocking her down. She landed hard on her flank, tearing up.
Shade gave her a disgusted look. “You know, I would have thought that you would toughen up at least a little bit.”
Fluttershy was confused and hurt. “I...don't understand.”
“I don't know what I saw in you.” Shade said with a huff.
Fluttershy was now openly crying. Twice she opened her mouth to talk, but was unable to say a word.
Shade rolled his eyes and his horn lit up. Fluttershy's eyes widened as he lifted her up, from the neck. “Well, at least you served a purpose. I don't need to waste my time anymore with you.” Fluttershy looked at him. Though her tear-filled eyes, she thought she saw something...wrong. She tensed up even more as he tightened his magical grip. “See you later.” The last thing that Fluttershy saw before she passed out was his eyes.
They were yellow.