Masks Chapter 6

It's been about a week since I awoke from the coma. The hospital has, for the most part, calmed down since the attack. AJ has been filling me in on all that's happened while I was out. Apparently the whole Changeling event happened during that time. To be honest I'm glad I wasn't there for it because I'm not sure who I would've sided with. I love the mane six, I really do, but I can feel for Chrysalis and all the Changelings. I'd like to start moving around again but the doctors say that I have to stay so they can monitor my condition, it's not that bad considering AJ visits me everyday plus she brought me my MP3 so it help to pass the time.

Applejack: "Hey Thomas. How's it goin'?"

Thomas: "Hi AJ, Fine just a little boring."

Applejack: "That's good."

I looked over at her confused

Thomas: "What?"

Applejack: "Come on in girls."

Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie walked through the door.

Pinkie Pie: "Hey! We didn't get to throw you a welcoming party so instead we're throwing you a coming-out-of-a-coma party!"

I couldn't help but smile when they all came into the room, being confined to a room all day tends to dampen your spirit a little. We talked and laughed for a couple of hours then a nurse came through the door looking worried.

Nurse: "Um…girls can you come with me for a second?"

They all looked at the nurse with confused faces and shuffled out of the room. After about a minute a tall white alicorn came into the room.

Thomas: "Princess Celestia?"

Celestia: "Hello Thomas. I'm glad to see you've recovered."

She smiled warmly

Thomas never liked Celestia. She put the mane six in danger way too much but he didn't put too much thought into it considering it was just a show to him not too long ago.

Thomas: "Thanks... why exactly are you here?"

Celestia: "I was the one who brought you here when you were protecting my subjects, for which I am very grateful."

Thomas: "Oh, uh, your welcome..."

Celestia: "But that is not my only reason for being here, I have a few questions for you."

Thomas swallowed.

Thomas: "Those being?"

Celestia walked over to his bedside and smiled down at him

Celestia: "No need to be nervous. Just where did you come from? In all my life i've never seen a creature quite like you."

Thomas: "I, uh, I came from..."

Thomas sat there silent

Celestia: "Maybe another question. How do you know Applejack?"

Thomas: "I helped her with Sweet Apple Acres."

Celestia: "Is that all?"

Thomas: "Yeah, pretty much. Why are asking me all of this?"

Celestia: "What I really want to know is why did you go so far to protect Ponyville?"

Thomas: "Excuse me?"

Celestia: "The only conection you have with them is Applejack and the only connection you have with her is being a farm hand, so i'll ask again why did you go so far to protect them?"

Thomas: "Is it wrong for me to want to protect ponies?"

Celestia: "No ,quite the opposite really but I just want to make sure you aren't a danger to my subjects."

Thomas was silent

Celestia: "Applejack has no doubt informed you of the changeling attack on canterlot. These disgusting creatures have the ability to take the form of anypony they please. I just need to know if you are as much of a danger as those...monsters were."

Thomas: "Get out..."

Celestia: "You have no relation to my little ponies so why is it that you'd go so far for them! What exactly are you after?"

Thomas: "How dare you..."

Celestia: "Excuse me?"

Thomas: "How dare you doubt me! I care more for them than you ever have!"

Celestia: "I am protecting my subjects."

Thomas scoffs

Thomas: "Pfft. Protecting them? Where were you when Ponyville was being ravaged? Nowhere to be found. How easily did you defeat those Timber Wolves? I can't imagine it was to hard for the "ruler" of Equestria."

Celestia stamped her hoof on the ground

Celestia: "I have ruled these lands justly for more than 1000 years and you will show respect."

Thomas: "Ruled them justly? Like when you "justly" banished your own sister to the moon for that millenia?"

Celestia: "You know nothing about that."

Thomas: "I know that when your sister was at her lowest and darkest moment you did nothing to comfort her, nothing to reason with her. Instead you sent her away to seethe and despise you. The fact that she can stand your presence speaks volumes about her."

Celestia: "I had no choice, she would hav-"

Thomas cut her off

Thomas: "There is always a choice. Like when you fought chysalis you made the choice to comdemn her. You made the choice attack her."

Celestia: "And she made the choice to attack Canterlot. Without and reason she kidnapped my neice and threatened all of Equestria."

Thomas: "She had her reasons."

Celestia: "Such as?"

Thomas: "Survival. They feed off of love. She did what she had to for her entire race to continue living, but did you stop and think about that? Can you imagine what it must be like to have ponies run from the very sight of you? To see your race hide their existence in fear of rejection or retaliation? No of course you wouldn't. The ageless, faultless princess wouldn't know a thing about fear or ridicule."

Celestia: "If she'd simply come and asked me for some sort of deal than everything could've been avoided."

Thomas: "Do really think she would've even gotten passed the front gate? Do you think, for even a second, that the shallow snobs you call subjects would've given them a chance?"

Celestia stood in silence glancing at the floor

Thomas: "That's what I thought."

Thomas got up and left the room. When he opened the door he saw the mane six eves dropping. he walked by silently. Applejack called out to him.

Applejack: "Wait...Thomas..."

Thomas: "I'm sorry AJ, I just...I need to think."

It was already night when Thomas Started to walk around He found a large hill just outside of town. He walked to the top of it and sat down. He sensed somepony behind him. After a few moments the pony sat next to him. When he looked over he saw Princess Luna.

Luna: "You know speaking to royalty in such a manner could have serious consequences."

Thomas didn't respond

Luna: "My sister has...tried very hard. For so long she governed this land alone and she has made mistakes but that doesn't mean she doesn't care for her ponies."

Thomas: "I know...It's just...she banished you for a thousand years how could you ever forgive her?"

Luna: "I still ask myself that sometimes but whenever I think about it I remember the fear and pain I saw in her face when she used the Elements of Harmony on me and I know it hurt her more than I could ever know. She is my sister I have to forgive her."

Thomas: "I don't have and siblings."

Luna: "That's a shame. It's a really strange experience."

Thomas: "Tell Celestia I'm sorry. I don't think I can face her right now."

Luna: "I will. Well I had best be off. Goodbye..."

Thomas: "It's Thomas."

Luna: "Goodbye then Thomas"

Luna spread her deep azure wings and flew away.

Appleajck was kind enough not to ask about what happened next day Big Mac and Granny Smith came home from Appleloosa. Applejack inroduced me to them.

Applejack: "Big Mac, Granny Smith this is Thomas he'll be helpin' out on the farm."

Big Mac approached me and offered a hoof.

Big Mac: "Nice ta meet ya Thomas."

I grabbed his massive hoof and shook.

Thomas: "Nice to meet you to Big Mac and please call me Tom."

He nodded his head and took his and Granny Smith's bags into the house. Granny Smith whispered into Applejacks ear. Applejack's face turned bright red and she nodded slowly. Granny Smith trotted over to me and held out her wrinkled hoof.

Granny Smith: "The names Granny Smith."

I grasped her hoof as gently as i could but then, to my suprise, she shook my hand up and down vigorously. After she was done she leaned in close and said

Granny Smith: "Take good care of Applejack."

She smiled at me then trotted inside the house.

Applejack: "That went better than I expected."

A few hours passed and Big Mac was plowing the fields, Granny Smith was inside knitting, Applejack was out Applebucking, and Applebloom was nowhere to be found.

Granny Smith: "Thomas, could you be a dearie and go and find Applebloom? She promised to help me knit."

Thomas: "Sure thing Granny Smith."

I went up to Big Mac who was still plowing the field.

Thomas: "Hey Big Mac Have you seen Applebloom?"

Big Mac: "Nope."

After about ten minutes of searching I saw the little yellow filly behind the house.

Thomas: "Hey Applebloom! Granny Smith wants you!"

Applebloom: "Hey Thomas. Can you come back here for a sec? I need some help."

Thomas: "Yeah sure."

She walked further behind the house. I made my way to where she was but when I got there Applebloom was gone. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head and I was soon overcome by darkness.

When I awake I try to open my eye's but they're so heavy. I realize I'm stuck. Something thick and gelatinous is holding me in place. I force open my eyes only to have the gel slide over them. It makes me blink. Looking around I see that I'm inside of a translucent pod. I look around only to see dark stone walls barely illuminated by the pods strange green light. Twin green eyes are fixated on me. I hear a malicious chuckle.

The pod ruptures and both the slime and me pour out. I start coughing up the slime that managed to get into my throat.

Chrysalis: "So, this is the creature that defended my race in the face of the ruler of Equestria."

Thomas: "H-how...did you...?"

Chrysalis: "I may have been launched out of Canterlot but I still have eyes and ears everywhere."

I managed to cough up the rest of the slime

Chrysalis: "I must apologize for the rough treatment but I had to be sure you'd come here. Now I must know why exactly did you do that? Defend the Changelings I mean."

Thomas: "I just thought it was wrong to let an entire race die out due to skin deep prejudices."

Chrysalis: "My sentiments exactly. Please come with me."

She started to walked down a tunnel in the cave and I trailed closely behind. Upon closer inspection I could see Chrysalis had some minor scrapes and bruises

She brought me to a large pit full of the same pods I was just in each of which housed a Changeling.

Chrysalis: "Each of these pods is healing the Changelings lucky enough to...to..."

She began to shake and tears formed in her large emerald eyes.

Thomas: "Survive..."

Chrysalis:"i am the only one who can produce the liquid that heals them but I am so weak and If I am to continue I will need to feed."

She turned to me

Chrysalis: "So will you help me? Will you help me save them?"

Thomas: "Of course but what can I do?"

She smirked

Chrysalis:"Just follow me."

She lead me down another tunnel into her own private chambers

Chrysalis: "Just take a seat over there on the bed."

I nevrously walked over the the bed side and sat down. The sheets were incredibly soft and the bed was suprisingly comfortable

She closed the door as soon as I sat down and trotted over to me. She started changing forms. She cycled through the mane six.

Chyrsalis: "I can give you anything you want. Are you into the shy type? Or maybe the athlete? The party girl? the smart one? the fancy one? Or maybe the cowpony? Or maybe you have more royal tastes?"

She transformed into Celestia, then Luna

Chyrsalis: "You could have the sun and moon goddess in the palm of your hand."

She changed back into her original form and whispered seductively into my ear

Chyrsalis: "Just give the word and you can have anything..."

Thomas: "Close your eyes."

She did as I instructed.

I leaned in close to her and wrapped my arms around her

Thomas: "You don't hide yourself from me. You never have to hide yourself from me."

I simply sat there embracing her for what seemed like hours.

Chyrsalis felt a new kind of love eminating from Thomas. This was a love she had never tasted before. There was no lust, no desire, no greed. Just pure untainted love. She could see all there was in his heart. She saw one other, the orange pony with the hat. As much as she wanted to take all the love there was in him she found that she couldn't. She simply laid back and fed on all that he gave her.

After a few minutes I began to feel tired but I didn't let go of Chyrsalis. I felt so tired but I held on until I fell unconscious.

After Thomas fell asleep Chyrsalis tucked him into her bed and exited the room with a red face and large smile on her face