//------------------------------// // Revelations // Story: The Secret Life of a Mulberry Mare // by SamuelK28 //------------------------------// As the Golden Oak library loomed in front of Berry and Ruby they saw that Cheerilee was already waiting for them outside. The cerise mare gave her sister a curt nod as she approached heading straight for the library’s front door and pounding her front right hoof upon it. They were swiftly met at the door by Twilight’s young dragon assistant Spike who looked at the three ponies with a confused expression etched across his face. “Mrs Punch, Miss Cheerilee, what can we do for you today” Spike enquired. “I require the aid of your guardian Miss Sparkle in a family matter, is she home?” Berry enquired politely. “Yes, she is, but would rather not be disturbed right now. She’s catching up with her reading after the Canterlot, Crystal Empire, Pinkie Pie, Trixie debacles.” Spike replied. “I see, well this is quite an important matter but I’ll let her decide if she wishes to see me or not. Could you tell her that former Agent Black Seed of Celestia’s Secret Service Covert Operations Changeling Detection Division, Agent no.C8462C, discharged with highest honours 10 years ago due to severe mental and physical trauma, would like to see her and send a message to the princess.” Berry said, reaching into one of the saddle bags on her back and pulling out a beautiful half normal, half black diamond representation of a solar eclipse encased in solid gold and with the words ‘The Medal Of The Two Sisters’’ engraved in gold below it. “Also, show her this” she passed the medal to Spike as the Dragon, Cheerilee and Ruby stared at her open mouthed. “Okay” the Dragon stammered after managing to regain some of his composure, taking the medal and heading back inside. Twilight sat behind her desk reading a large tome entitled “Mythical creatures and beasts”. After the wedding in Canterlot and the return of the Crystal Empire she wanted to be sure she was prepared in case any other legendary bizarre creatures suddenly appeared and tried to conquer Equestria. She’d learnt more about manticores, their cousin the chimera, griffins, seaponies, hippogriffs, anthropomorphic cats, humans, changelings and many, many more weird and intriguing beings. It was in the midst of her studying that a loud knocking had occurred on her front door and she’d sent Spike to investigate, the dragon only to glad to assist. As she buried her head back into her studying it was only when she heard a loud cough behind her that she realised Spike had returned. Not bothering to look up she simply muttered “who was it Spike?” Upon which her assistant responded. “Former Agent Black Seed of Celestia’s Secret Service Black Operations Changeling Detection Division, Agent no.C8462C, discharged with highest honours 10 years ago due to severe mental and physical trauma, would like to see you and send a message to the princess.” Spike repeated Berry’s statement almost word for word. “And she wanted me to” “That’s nice.” Twilight responded, to engrossed in the book she was reading and not really paying attention to what her assistant was saying. “3, 2, 1” Spike deadpanned. “WAIT, WHO?!?” Twilight shouted, her eyes widening at what Spike had just told her as she spun around and looked at her assistant who was holding something out to her in his claws. She looked at what Spike was holding and her mouth dropped. Quickly leaping down from her chair Twilight pushed past Spike and headed to the front door where Berry Punch, her daughter Ruby and Cheerilee all waited. “May we come in?” Berry asked. * To my Commanding Officer Princess Celestia, 10 Years have passed since I was relieved of your service and had my previous life signed away to secrecy. I think we both knew then that there would come a day when my daughter would need to learn of her origins. Today is that day. I wished to keep my daughter from knowing about my past and her changeling lineage for as long as possible but sadly I no longer see this as a viable option. For one there is the recent Canterlot invasion and public awareness of the existence of changelings. This has, as expected, led to widespread paranoia and fear across the general pony population in Equestria and I fear constantly about what may happen to Ruby if she accidentally exposes herself, which grows more and more likely as she gets older with no knowledge of what she actually is. By letting Ruby, my sister and Twilight know of my past I hope that we can help her to understand and embrace her currently unknown changeling attributes whilst keeping them a secret from those who may wish to cause her harm. Secondly, as she is getting older she is becoming more and more aware of her surroundings and the insults that are being directed at me. Today I found her after school sobbing into her auntie’s chest asking what an alcoholic whore was and why her mummy was being labelled one. These questions will only grow as she gets older and this event ultimately confirmed to me that this conversation needs to happen now. Twilight has already setup the anti-scrying spell around the library, all I require is your permission along with the necessary paperwork so that we no longer have to bare this secret alone. Please my dearest and oldest friend, grant me my wish. Finally, I’m sorry I was unable to assist you in your time of need during the recent Canterlot invasion and that if you ever require my services again, I will be more than happy to assist you as best as I can. Your forever loyal and faithful servant, Agent Black Seed. As soon as the green flamed letter had appeared in front of her with the seal of a black strawberry and bunch of grapes Celestia had retired to her quarters, informing Kibitz that all further duties were cancelled for the day due to a matter of the highest importance and urgency. Celestia had been expecting this for a while now and as she read over the letter from her prized asset, she couldn’t help but let a tear drop over her face. “I’m so sorry my little pony for how I have failed you.” She muttered sadly to herself whilst pulling out a scroll, quill and ink from a draw beneath the desk in her room. My dearest Berry, I enclose the necessary forms and grant you my blessing. I am so sorry for the problems these secrets have been causing you and hope Twilight, Ruby and Cheerilee take the news okay. I just wish I could be there to support you but feel it is best we keep this as low profile as possible. You are in no fit state for active service and you know it, so please don’t beat yourself up about what happened in Canterlot, I and the whole of Equestria already owe you enough for what you have done. The Canterlot invasion was my fault and mine alone, I should have seen the signs. I am just thankful Twilight did. I would very much appreciate your help though in an advisory capacity on the current changeling situation and even more so would like to meet you and Ruby again as it has been so long. This would also give me the chance to talk to Ruby hoof to hoof about just how special she is. Enclosed with the forms are two train tickets and tickets for the premiere of Canterlot’s latest theatre production based upon the events of the royal wedding. I expect to see you in two weeks for a month-long visit where you will be my personal guests and have access to all the privileges the castle has to offer. I’ll also arrange a tutor so Ruby does not miss out on any schooling. It was great hearing from you again, I’m just sorry it was not on better terms. See you in two weeks, your dearest friend, Celestia. As Twilight and Berry finished reading the reply, Twilight looked at the Mulberry mare intrigued. “Okay, Mrs Punch you have well and truly got me hooked. You had that as soon as I saw your medal, so let us get these forms signed and then you can tell us your tale. SPIKE” she called. The dragon quickly made his presence known, popping his head around the door to Twilight’s study. “Yes Twilight” he asked. “Can you pop out and get pizza, ice cream and drinks. Oh, and take it out of my royal expense allowance, thanks.” She asked politely. “Woah, you never let us use that money, this must be important. Any specific type of pizza or ice cream?” Spike respoded. “Just get a mixture and take Ruby with you if she wants to go. We’ve got an interesting evening ahead of us.” Twilight stated. “Okay Twi, see you in a bit” and with that the young dragon was gone. “That’ll hopefully keep those two busy whilst you, me and Cheerilee go over the paperwork.” Twilight smiled, picking up the letter and adjoining items with her magic as she trotted to the door of her study. Berry stood where she was looking at Twilight a little perplexed. “You’re taking this very well”. Twilight turned and gave her a nervous laugh. “Well I am here studying friendship and what kind of friend would I be if I couldn’t help one in a time of need” She smiled warmly at Berry not waiting for a response as she walked out the door towards the main hub of the library where Cheerilee had been helping Ruby with her reading. “Thanks. You are a good friend Twilight Sparkle” Berry whispered under her breath before following Twilight out of the study. * The paperwork completed and the importance of the secret she was about to be told emphasised to Ruby, the ponies tucked into the takeaway Spike and the young filly had picked up. As the ponies slowly devoured the meal that was in front if them an awkward silence hung over the table. It was Berry who finally broke it as she gathered enough courage to start her story. “So where should I start” she said in a resigned tone. She turned to her little filly and stared solemnly into her eyes. “Some of the things I’m about to say you may not understand or be shocked by. If there is something you want explained just stop me and I’ll do my best. Just remember that I love you Ruby. You are the one thing that keeps me going. Got it.” “Yes mummy” Ruby stuttered, feeling a touch scared by her mother’s sombre tone. “Good” Berry replied. “So, let’s start from the beginning, my cutie mark. Many people see it as being related to alcohol and being able to distinguish a good alcoholic drink from a substandard one. In truth that’s only a part of it. My cutie mark illustrates my special talent of being able to identify the subtlest of differences between two things, whether this be the contents of two wines or a pony and a changeling pretending to be a pony.” She paused for a moment as she saw once again the stunned looks from the ponies around the table. “Mummy, changelings are those horrid black bug creatures that attacked princess Cadence at her wedding, right?” Ruby queried staring up at her mother. “That’s correct sunshine, but not all Changelings are horrid. I feel it’s best to get this out of the way first. I want you to look across at Twilight and concentrate really hard. Let the image of her flood your mind and make you want to be her. I know that sounds like a strange request but please just do it for mummy.” Berry responded nervously. “Okay, for you mummy.” Ruby said a little confused, but did as her mother wished and concentrated her gaze on Twilight. After a few moments there was a burst of green magic and an exact duplicate, if a little smaller, of Twilight sat at the table. This time the table was full of gasps at what they had just witnessed and Spike screamed toppling his chair over. “Mummy” Ruby whimpered turning to Berry, “why is everyone staring at me?” “Because you are the most special and unique filly in all Equestria, that’s why. You are a pony changeling hybrid, the only known one in existence and before you ask, no, that does not make you evil. You see, your core is that of a pony, a creature full of love, warmth and acceptance of other creatures. This neutralises the dark, cold evil that changelings usually possess in their core. Despite this, you are likely to display some changeling characteristics although thankfully it seems your appearance will be that of a pony except for the fact your canines are starting to develop into fangs and your tongue is forked. The latter is why you occasionally hiss at me when you are angry. Your diet also needs to supplemented with love, something which I’ve been more than happy to give to you, but is often the reason I seem quite tired as the whole process drains me of energy. I’m also unsure if you’ll ever get a proper cutie mark and as you’ve just demonstrated you can shapeshift into another creature. I know you must be feeling a lot of emotions right now but what you need to remember is that no matter what happens in the future you will always be mummies little girl.” Berry explained wrapping her filly in a hug as a stream of mulberry love passed between them. As the embrace ended the Twilight duplicate looked up at her mother and said in her most grown up voice “as long as you love me mummy nothings changed. Except now I know I have super cool powers.” Ruby turned and looked at her aunt and with a flash of green the miniature Twilight was replaced by a miniature Cheerilee at the table. Cheerilee had to hold back a scream and/or a laugh as she shivered reactively to the doppelganger of herself across the table. In the end she settled on “okay that’s just freaky, please return to your normal self and remember no doing that in public. All of us may be willing to accept what you are Ruby, but not everypony will be. I’m sure someday you will be able to reveal what you really are but for now we have to keep it a secret for your safety.” “Okay auntie Cheerilee.” Ruby said with a small pout as she returned back to her normal self. “Thank you Ruby. Now sister, I’m keeping calm and collected for Ruby, but if I don’t get some answers immediately, I am going to go Freakilee and you know what that means.” Cheerilee said looking sternly at her sister. Twilight for the most part had just sat in silence jotting notes as her assistant picked himself up of the floor in a daze. “Yes, please continue and inform us how this all came to pass Mrs Punch. I must say your special talent is fascinating. You alright starting with an explanation of how you found out your talent?” Twilight questioned. “Of course. As Cheerilee is well aware we are half-sisters and it is because of our mother’s actions that we ended up not only without a father growing up but also living in a two-room bedsit, with one of those rooms being the bathroom. After Cheerilee’s father left our mother suffered badly from depression, could barely hold down a job and developed an unhealthy drinking habit. I’m not going to go into details about our early lives, there are too many things to discuss as it is and I’d rather Ruby didn’t know certain things about my upbringing.” Berry began her story before her daughter piped up once again. “Why mummy?” Ruby quizzed. “Because it was not a very nice time of my life little gem and I don’t want to make you feel needlessly sad over something that was so long ago and which can never be changed. It is better just to look ahead and think positively about the future.” Berry answered her filly’s enquiry. “Oh, okay. I can do that for you mummy.” Ruby looked at her mother with a smile on her face before a burst of green turned her into a miniature replica of her mother Berry went wide eyed as Cheerilee broke out into a fit of giggles across the table. “Ahh, she’s so sweet” cooed the cerise mare, trying to suppress the giggles. Berry stuck her tongue out at her sister before turning to her doppelganger and chuckling “I’m going to have to get used to that. Okay sweetie enough with the games. You do want to hear the rest of my story don’t you.” A flash of green and a nod of her daughter’s eager head was all Berry got in reply as she reached out and took another slice of Pizza. “Thank you Ruby, you truly are the best daughter any mother could ask for. Anyway, moving swiftly on” Berry mumbled with her mouth partly full of Pizza, turning her attention back to the other two mares and dragon at the table. “One night shortly after my sixth birthday our mum was very late back from her latest job, so late that both me and Cheerilee had fallen asleep. The next day I found her cooking us a proper breakfast. By this point Cheerilee had been cooking our meals for over a year, so that was strange to begin with. The drinking also decreased and for the first time I could remember she showed great interest in me and offered to help in an upcoming school field trip of mine to Canterlot Castle amongst other almost unnoticeable things that all started to tell me this ‘thing’ wasn’t my mother”. Berry explained. “Wait?” Cheerilee interrupted “Are you telling me it wasn’t a sudden cardiac arrest that killed our mother on the trip to Canterlot Castle?” “Exactly, two weeks after the changeling had disposed of and replaced our mother we had our field trip. In short, I broke away from the group, found and confronted Princess Celestia and tried to tell her that something had replaced my mother. She was happy to listen politely to my ramblings until our supposed mother came to find and take me back to the group. That’s when it made a vital mistake. It said apologies my queen, I took my eye of her for one second and she snuck away. For some reason my daughter has had some crazy belief recently that I’m not her real mother and rather something that has replaced her. Anyone spot the mistake?” Berry asked pausing and taking a sip from her coke on the table to help wash down the pizza. “Celestia’s a princess and not a queen” Twilight deadpanned. “Correct. Celestia revealed the spy and the changeling tried to lunge at her with a knife, but I barrelled into its side before Celestia imprisoned and suffocated it with her magic. My cutie mark appeared and Celestia recognised my gift. It represents how although somethings may look or be labelled the same, if you look close enough you can often notice even the most minuscule of differences.” Berry continued. “So, when Celestia took both of us in, it wasn’t just because she felt sorry for us.” Cheerilee pressed. “After the whole event went down Celestia talked to me and that’s when she found out that me and you were now orphans. She told me that we could live at the castle if I assisted her in locating and tracking down more of those bug creatures. I had no idea what they were called at the time. Celestia told me how I had a very unique special talent and I’d be doing not just her a great favour, but the whole of Equestria. Initially I did it for neither of them sister, I did it for you” Berry enlightened her audience, smiling at her sister as forced back the tears that had started to form in her eyes. “You may only be three years older than me, but you did so much for me during my early years. You practically were my mum.” Cheerilee let a gasp of shock leave her lips as tears also welled in her eyes. “I never knew you saw me that way. I can’t believe I got so frustrated and annoyed from not being able to spend much time with you over the course of the next five years. I’m guessing the whole boarding school thing was a lie as well?” “Yes, over the course the next five years I was taught not just the normal curriculum but detailed classified information about the secret war with the changelings that although had been ongoing for centuries had only recently become an actual major threat to Equestrian security. I also had martial arts, stealth, weapons and many other forms of training required for one of Celestia’s field agents and was provided with my codename, Black Seed. I know it is one of Celestia’s biggest regrets that she had to push me into service so young, I wasn’t even twelve when the threat to our monarchy became all to real. You see my left eye, glass and one of the biggest developments in magical technology over the past century.” She tapped it to express her point. “It was a normal day at the castle like any other, but there was a feeling in my gut that something was off, I just couldn’t pinpoint it. As I lay tossing and turning in my bed that night I decided to get up and go for a walk. You won’t remember this Twilight as Celestia used a memory wipe spell on you but I saved your life that night.” “WHAT?” Twilight exclaimed staring up at the mulberry mare from her notes. This story was getting more and more ludicrous by the minute. “Yeah, it was shortly after you arrived and one of the servants had been replaced without us realising. Chrysalis must have felt your raw ability even then and decided to be safe rather than sorry, knowing your death would also have a huge impact on the princess. After I found the first dead guard I ran and followed the blood trail, fearing another attack on the princess. Seven guards lost their lives that night but I at least saved you, just. The changeling was seconds away from plunging a knife deep into your sleeping form when I got there. A struggle ensued, the knife ended up in my eye, the changeling didn’t end up getting up from the floor. It was the first of 1027 Changelings I would locate and help eradicate across Equestria over the next three and half years.” The shock was back on everypony’s face, even her daughter looked at her open mouthed. It was Twilight who finally broke the silence. “So what happened?” She asked cautiously taking a slice of pizza from the table in her magic. “Shortly after my fifteenth birthday Chrysalis finally located and pinned down me and my team in a little village in southern Equestria. Six ponies versus the queen of the changelings and over 1000 of her drones. The fact that the queen herself had left the safety of her hive to deal with us shows you just how much we had pissed her of. In short, we knew we were bucked. There was no place to run or hide. I’d say we took down at least a quarter of them before the last of my comrades, my friends, were ripped to pieces limb by limb in front of my eyes and I was pinned down. The queen had special plans for me. They hogtied and blindfolded me and took me back to their hive. Chrysalis used me as her play thing for over two years.” Berry went on. “That’s when Celestia informed me there had been an accident on your way back to Canterlot from boarding school and you were currently missing. She refused to give me any further details despite how much I pressed.” Cheerilee added. “I always wondered what she told you when I disappeared.” Berry said continuing with an element of sorrow in her voice. “Anyway, what you see before you is simply a very powerful illusion spell. I have the spell with me if you wish to see my true appearance, but will not expose my daughter to such a horror. I have multiple permanent scars and burns, patches of missing fur, an unnaturally twisted right back leg and serious muscle tissue damage in my left shoulder both of which effect my walking along with the permanent lung damage I suffered from countless broken and re-broken ribs that affect my breathing. I’ve also suffered numerous head traumas and my right ear is missing. In truth my real form looks like Frankenpony’s monster and I’m in agony 24 hours a day, not just from my physical wounds either. My body was exposed to so much changeling venom that it has become infused with my blood and naturally reproduces itself within me. No doctor in Equestria can really explain what’s happened other than although I seem to have built up a strong enough immunity to prevent it from killing me, the level of toxicity it causes makes it feel like I am being burned alive from the inside constantly." "Fascinating" Twilight interrupted, adding a few more notes to her already nearly full notebook. "Sorry, please continue." She quickly added seeing everypony glaring at her. "Anyway" Berry persisted. "That’s before you even consider the psychological trauma.” Berry’s mouth twitched as she finished that last sentence, her eyes glazing over with a faraway look as tears started flowing freely down her face before she continued. “The horrors that monster did to me are unspeakable. I only got away due to her finally getting bored with me and telling a few of her drones to dispose of me. Buck, I still don’t know how I managed to overpower them in the state I was in and get away, but I did it and I’m sure unknowingly it was Ruby giving me the strength to do so. Chrysalis didn’t even bother sending another search party to find me, that’s how sure she was I was as good as dead. Five days I wandered on aimlessly through desolate landscapes scraping to find food and water just to keep me going until I finally hit a military outpost and word was able to get back to Celestia that I was alive despite the delirious state I was in. An initial medical examination followed up by a more thorough one in Canterlot revealed I was two months pregnant with Chrysalis’s child and Celestia officially signed me off with highest honours and awarded me the highest medal in Equestrian history along with a healthy pension. As Cheerilee had just been offered the position of school mistress in Ponyville I moved and have lived here ever since. Still, if it wasn’t for Cheerilee and Ruby I doubt I would still be alive today. They are the only two reasons that have kept me going ever since I was first captured by Chrysalis and then after I moved to Ponyville” she finished turning to her daughter with the medal in her hoof as Twilight fainted at the reveal of who Ruby’s father actually was. “So now you” she didn’t finish as her daughter wrapped her arms around her in the biggest hug imaginable. “You are the bravest, coolest, most badass, amazing mother ever” Ruby squeaked. “I can’t believe you gave up so much to help so many others. I couldn’t love you anymore if I tried”. Tears of relief and happiness streamed down Berry’s face in response at her so understanding daughter “and neither could I love you anymore” she murmured as she hugged her filly back feeling another hoof on her shoulder as yet another mulberry wisp of love passed between mother and daughter. “We’ll be by your side now and forever dear sister, this fight is no longer solely yours to bare.” Cheerilee whispered in her ear.