Chapter 12:A Change Begins

A Few Weeks Later

It had been a couple of weeks since Heavy's first day in the castle of princess Celestia herself, he started to adjust to the castle, there was much more freedom than a school could have, and he appeared to have somewhat of a good influence over the guards, except for the captain that is. His studies began quickly, he spent much of his time in the library when he would study regular things such as anatomy and history alongside Sunset Shimmer, in the guest bedroom to read and do his own personal studies. He would then end the day by entering the training grounds and learning how to handle himself in combat just like his father did, but not everything was nice and progressive for him.

Ever since the big scare with his mother, Heavy was now nervous, a bit paranoid, and even a little bit sad, the memory of watching his mother spew up blood and collapsed right in front of him still haunted the colt, and it had a seemingly unnoticeable change within him. He was getting a bit distant from sunset Shimmer right off the back, the guards treated Heavy much like a brother, but he never thought too much on it, all he could think about was his studies and his mother. Celestia has tried to push herself onto him like another family member, and for the most part it helped, but Heavy still felt himself descending into a cold darkness he never knew before.

It was now noon at the castle of Canterlot, the sun was once again shining nice and bright high in the sky with only a few clouds blocking it's way, the castle glowed in the light as well as the golden armor of royal guards that were training in the training grounds. The day felt like it was shaping up for every pony in and around the castle, but not all ponies were as bright and up to the day as the others.

Inside the castle and in the guest bedroom that was located in the throne room, Heavy Weight was now sitting at a desk in the bedroom and currently reading about the entire pony anatomy of stallions and mares. He carefully and slowly studied what he read, looking at every single detail and every single part of the pony body, he skimmed from nerve systems to the flows of blood, and even the skeleton structure. He then turned to a page and began reading about the magic used within healing abilities of some ponies, it had all kinds of fascinating uses magic has for healing injuries such as small cuts, bruises, and possibly even small fractures.

"Hmm..."Heavy hummed with interest.

He quickly began taking some notes on the page that spoke of healing abilities before suddenly getting a crazy idea into his head, he looked at his quill pen and then looked at his arm. He then suddenly took up his quill pen and placed it to his arm, he then slowly started to make a small cut on his arm as he whimpered and grunted a bit as he took the pain until he put a nice big cut into himself.

Heavy then dropped the quill pen on the desk and looked at the small cut he made on his arm as he then lit up his horn, he took one last look at part of the anatomy page that had an image of how a doctor stallion healed a wound on another stallion before looking back to his arm. He began to slowly concentrate and before long surrounded his arm in his magical ice blue aura, he then quickly began to focus on the cut as his keen eyes enhanced and saw every little detail of the cut in his arm.

Suddenly, the colt watched as steam raised the cut on his arm, and then it happened, the cut was healing, the steam worked as a numbing for the pain as the magic quickly began to close up the cut and make it disappear. It only took a minute at the most for the cut to suddenly disappear as if it was never there, Heavy smiled solemnly at his perfection at healing an injury, but as always he felt like there was more he could do.

Heavy then finally closed up his book and sat there in the chair for the longest time, he felt all the stress that was going on with his mother start to come back, and it was making him very much furious. He looked to a small candle on the desk and glared at it as the memory of his mother spitting up blood irritated him greatly, he growled in anger as his horn lit up and steam began to rise from the candle.

Suddenly as he let out a small but loud growl, the candle immediately lit up and was now lit with a small blue flame, it burned brighter than any regular flame, and it felt even hotter than a regular flame as it caught Heavy's interest. He snorted as his anger slowly subsided and he began to approach the candle, he studied it real closely before looking up to his glowing horn before smiling.

"Wow... I can make fire... And not just fire, but an even stronger fire, a fire like no other,"Heavy said as he looked at the small blue flame as the flame shined in his eyes with confidence."I need to work with this little trick a lot more."

He began focusing a bit more on the flame as he felt its heat start to grow, he raised his head in the air as the flame grew larger, he took a deep breathe and raised higher as the flame grew bigger and lit up the entire room with illuminating blue light. Heavy could feel the warm embracing heat of the blue fire as he aimed to make it even bigger, and just as he was about to make the fire rise and hit the ceiling, he was then suddenly interrupted by a knocking on the door.

"What...! Who is it?!"Heavy called out as he quickly put the fire out with magic and jumped off the seat.

"It's me Heavy, It's Sunset, can I come in?"Sunset Shimmer asked from behind the door while Heavy took out his personal book and began writing.

The door slowly opened with a loud and long creak that seemed to annoy Heavy a bit, but he managed to ignore it as Sunset Shimmer poked her little head and blew her fiery mane out of her face to see Heavy quietly working with a window full of sun light as his only source of light. Sunset smiled and let out a quiet and small gasp as she entered the room leaving the door open for more sunlight to leak in as she joined Heavy by his side and looked at what he was writing with curiosity.

"So Heavy...? Whatcha ya writing down?"Sunset asked as she reached out to touch the page that now had a picture of fire on it.

"It's a new spell I'm now going to be working on,"Heavy said in a low tone before suddenly slamming the book shut and almost catching Sunset's hoof in it."Do not touch it, It's not ready yet, I have plenty more things that I wish to make in this book before it can be complete..."

"Okay... Sorry... Princess Celestia's busy with some business out of the castle and I finished my studies for the day, and the guards wanted to see if we would like to join them in training today,"Sunset explained with a small smile.

"*Sigh*... Sure, I could use a decent distraction from today,"Heavy said as he put his book away in his back pack by the bed"Let's go... And try not to get in my way when I'm training this time."

Heavy jumped off the chair and stood before Sunset tall and proud as he slowly walked to the door with Sunset right behind him, he looked back and saw Sunset smiling and giving him the admiring look he was now growing accustomed to since he bested her on the first day. He swung open the door to the room and ventured out with Sunset right at his side as they traveled through the throne room.

They quickly made it to the big throne room doors and was met with the greeting smiles of two royal guards that stood at attention in front of the door, they looked down with their smiles and nodded to Heavy.

"Good afternoon Heavy, how have your studies been going?"One guard asked while Heavy magically opened the door.

"It's been good, I just learned how to heal small cuts and bruises, and I'm hoping to see if I can heal more significant injuries,"Heavy said as him and Sunset passed by the guards.

"We see... You really are just like him... You really are like Mega..."The other guard said as they watched the colt and filly walk down the hall.

As the duo made their way down the hall, Sunset continued staring at him with her big smile and her admiring eyes as they followed the red carpet under them to get to the main hall. She felt a connection with him, but it felt like nothing more than just a bit of a friendship connection, but since the first day, Heavy was keeping her at fore arm's length, and she could not seem to figure out why. She then thought, maybe it was what happened to his mother that was worrying him, she never understood the bond between parents and their children due to her never having any.

Heavy then suddenly looked back and stared at her silently as they walked and Sunset felt her thoughts immediately shut down as they finally made it to the massive door to the outside of the castle. They stopped for a moment to reflect and take in the massive main hall that was much bigger than Heavy's whole house, Heavy then let out a sigh as he descended down the steps while Sunset frantically ran down them to catch up to the colt.

They both quickly made it down the stairs and walked to the door in complete silence as they approached the door, Sunset then quickly let out a quick gasp as she jumped to the door and magically began opening the door. She struggled and pushed herself as the doors lit up with green magic and gradually opened up just enough for the both of them to make it through, she smiled at him as the colt walked pass her and turned back to her as he took the lead.

"Not bad, but you need to make you're magic stronger, use it more often and just like real muscles, the magic will get stronger, bigger and more dense,"Heavy informed as they both stepped outside.

"Okay... I'll...keep it in mind,"Sunset said in a more solemn tone.

The two then stepped out as the suns mighty rays hit their faces and illuminate the nice day today, but that was not what got Heavy's attention, what did get his attention was the constant clash of swords, shield, and spears he was now hearing to his left. They both quickly went down the stairs and turned off to their left and walked towards the iron gate that lead to the training grounds.

Heavy magically opened the iron gate and stepped through it with Sunset right behind him as they entered the grounds that were now full of guards both with and without armor practicing their skills, Sunset couldn't feel more out of her element if she tried. Heavy just smirked as he shut the gate hard behind him and immediately gained the attention of all the guards as they all smiled and began cheering for him.

"How's it going every pony?!"Heavy announced to all the stallions.

They all immediately erupted into a roar of many positive answers and respectful compliments as well as some boasting and some tough talk mainly from the new recruits. Sunset was a bit surprised by all the attention that Heavy got from the guards, but Heavy knew that it was mainly all because he was the son of the legendary Mega Weight who was obviously a good captain to them in his time, suddenly they were all interrupted by a boaster and neighsayer.

"So... This is the son of the great Mega Weight huh?"An Earth pony stallion without armor and looked to be just about eighteen suddenly questioned."Seriously, I don't see anything special about this kid."

"Ah shut up their Cliff, we've seen this kid in action, he's got twice the guts of half the stallions in here, you're just talking out of your flank,"An older unicorn guard in armor said.

"Last time I checked, beating a weak filly who has no business among real ponies isn't guts or in any shape or form impressive,"The young stallion argued back.

"Is this little stallion new or something?"Heavy asked the other guards as they gradually nodded.

"Yeah this guy just joined us yesterday, he's a tough talker,"A random guard said.

"And who are you to say that I have no place among real ponies! I'm more pony than you are!"Sunset said as she walked in front of Heavy.

"Sunset...! Let me handle this guy,"Heavy said as he then stepped in front of her.

"Aww... Ain't that cute, are you stepping up for the little filly?"The stallion said before laughing at them.

"Maybe... Or maybe I just feel like playing around with some pony my size,"Heavy Weight smartly said as the crowd of guards suddenly burst into laughter.

"Okay then little colt, you got time for jokes, step over here and we'll dance,"The stallion said in a cocky tone as he gestured to an open spot.

The stallion then walked to the spot and turned around to see Heavy gradually stepping up and coming over to the spot, Sunset as well as the other guards walked over against the walls and stood there watching and even placing a few bets. Sunset watched with interest as Heavy stood only a few feet from the stallion, captain Husky even decided to watch from the iron gate as the colt and new recruit squared off.

The guard suddenly drew his sword and began charging at Heavy with his sword ready to strike, but his attack was immediately stopped cold along with his entire body as he suddenly felt himself being constricted like an animal in a serpents grip. He felt something cold crawling up his leg as he looked down and saw ice blue tentacles that had shot up from the ground and held onto him nice and tight as they constricted his front and back legs.

The cocky guard began to struggle against his magical restraints only for two more tentacles to explode from the ground and suddenly began whipping the stallions bare back like a colt receiving punishment from his parent. He let out yelps and grunts of pain from each vicious slap he received by this strange attack, now he was regretting not wearing his new recruit armor today.

"OW...! Hey...! What kind of attack is this squirt?!"The stallion said as his back began to get red from each whip.

"I made it up you idiot! You should try learning things more often like maybe remembering to wear your armor, you really are a new recruit aren't you?!"Heavy yelled as he suddenly noticed the stallion doing something.

The recruit suddenly began rearing back his head as he fought against the tentacles cruelty, he then suddenly swung his head forward and made his helmet suddenly fly off his head and soar right towards Heavy. The colt immediately released the stallion and used one of the tentacles to grab the helmet and immediately crushed the helmet into a small metal ball.

He only had time to throw the ruin helmet away before he was suddenly surprised by the stallion being right up in his face and suddenly taking a hard head butt to his head. He flew back a few feet feeling the burning rush of pain in his head, the pain throbbed in his head like an unmerciful headache as he slowly got back up while a bruise began to form, Heavy then smirked as well as showed signs of getting angry.

"Is that all you got? So much for your big talk their tough guy,"Heavy mocked as blood began to leak from his bruise."I guess this is as good as anytime to show you another trick I learned to do."

While the stallion smirked with confidence, Heavy did the same as his horn lit up nice and bright before a bright icy blue aura covered the bloody bruise on his head, the magic buzzed as steam then began to emanate from the injury. Heavy's smile grew as he felt the pain going away, the entire crowd including Sunset and even captain Husky stared at Heavy in disbelief as the injury on Heavy's head suddenly disappeared.

"You like my new trick? It's easy when you study the health and anatomy of the pony body, you should take up some more books than just a sword,"Heavy mocked as he focused his glowing horn on the guard.

"Bring it on then you little squirt, show me what else you can do?!"The stallion said as he drew his sword again.

Heavy just smirked as he suddenly made his horn glow brighter and suddenly gave a small struggle before the most incredible thing happened. Blue flames that were the size of a full grown pony suddenly sprouted up all around the stallion and surrounded the stallion in the most hottest flames he had ever felt in his life. The flames lit up the entire grounds in a blue glow as the stallion did his best not to panic as he looked for a way out of the deadly blue ring of fire. Sunset widened her eyes as she recognized the blue flames as the fire that she seen in the book Heavy was writing earlier.

It was then that captain Husky suddenly noticed that while every pony else was still focused on the fire Heavy made, he just so happened to notice Heavy surrounding himself in some sort of heavy ice blue magic. Magic sparks were flying around him as Heavy ascended into the air and began to burn away at the ground below him, with one last smirk, Heavy suddenly took off like a bullet in the form of his comet spell.

Judging by the rate and the power that Heavy put in it, the captain realized that Heavy could easily kill the new recruit with this attack, and boy would he be in trouble if something were to happen to one of the recruits under his watchful eye. He widened his eyes as Heavy zero'd in for the victory, Husky quickly gritted his teeth as his horn lit up with grey magic and a big grey shield suddenly surrounded the young stallion.

Heavy had passed through the flames in his comet form as he noticed the shield the surrounded the stallion, he knew this was not of the stallions doing due to him being an Earth pony, but the shield turned out to matter very little. Heavy struck the shield with tremendous force that sent a strong force across the entire grounds, his attack cracked away at the shield as he pushed for the victory, he turned out to the corner of his eye to see captain Husky as the source of the magic shield.

"It's... Going... To take more than that... TO STOP ME...!"Heavy shouted as his massive attack suddenly smashed through the shield and struck the stallion directly in the chest.

Heavy forced the stallion in the air and carried him in his icy blue attack as sparks and magic flew in all directions, the whole ordeal ended as Heavy smashed the recruit into a wall and quickly jumped from the attack as massive blue flames erupted from where he hit. The stallion suddenly emerged from the massive hole Heavy made in the wall and stumbled around for a bit as he was now covered in many scratches, bruises, burn marks and even a few cuts. The stallion then suddenly dropped like a stone and laid there, beaten, battered, and unconscious.

"YES...! I did it! That will teach you to talk trash!"Heavy celebrated as Sunset Shimmer suddenly ran to him.

"That was amazing Heavy, you actually defeated a royal guard! How did you do all this?!"Sunset asked excitedly as Heavy took a breathe to collect himself."Like I said... You need to push yourself, and now I hope to learn more of this pain like the wound i have healed to harden myself, so I can get even stronger."

"Heavy... You are so determined... No matter what seems to happen... You never seem to break... Or even cry... I hope I may become like you one day,"Sunset said as she stared dreamily at the colt.

"If you hope to become the best... Then you have to apply yourself, I've seen how you hesitate and tremble with magic, you need to try harder and you need to embrace pain just like I did right here, only then can you achieve such a goal,"Heavy explained in a bit of a stern voice as captain Husky suddenly rushed to Heavy looking quite angry.

"YOU...! Your arrogant and reckless fighting almost got that stallion killed!"Husky said as the young recruit was carried out by two guards."I swear you are so reckless! You're just like your father, full of arrogance and complete disregard for control over a battle, you are going to be the death of us all I swear it!"

"What's the big deal? Your recruit started the fight, maybe you should try being a good captain for a change and take charge when they act up CAPTAIN Husky,"Heavy mocked as if he was unimpressed with the captain.

"YEAH...! I bet Heavy's dad was probably twice the stallion you were, and I bet he was a much better captain then you could ever hope to be!"Sunset said with support for Heavy.

"Sunset! Stay out of this, you have no room to talk among stallions like that, and you don't either you little..."Husky started before being interrupted.

"Go on captain... Say it... Call me that word... I dare you...!"Heavy warned as he knew Husky was about to call him the m word.

"That's enough! Captain Husky...! Stand down!"Came the royal voice of Celestia.

All the guards including the captain as well as Heavy and Sunset turned to see Celestia standing just in front of the iron gate and watching captain Husky and Heavy arguing, she then slowly walked into the grounds as every pony including the students bowed to her. Celestia walked calm and casually before stopping in front of the captain and looking down at him with a very disappointed look.

"Captain...! I am well aware of the little battle that happened here, and you should have been watching and controlling your recruits, then perhaps all this could have been avoided, do not blame Heavy weight for your own mistakes and your recruits insubordination,"Celestia explained while giving all the ponies the permission to rise.

"Yes... Princess Celestia... Will that be all your highness?"The captain said as he rose and came up to the princesses chest.

"It is... The rest of you continue on with your day,"Celestia said as all the guards got back to training, but then she turned to Heavy and Sunset."Heavy Weight, come... There's something I need to talk to you about, and There's some thing we need to do."

The sudden solemn tone that Celestia used in those last words struck Heavy with great concern as him and Sunset both approached the princess slowly, they felt a sudden fell wind blow over their heads as they stood at attention at the hooves of Celestia. Celestia looked to both of them as they stood in complete silence with each other, the princesses look then became sad as she looked to Sunset.

"Sunset...? Me and Heavy need to go somewhere, please go back inside and continue with your studies, it does not matter what it is..."Celestia said with a solemn look.

"Yes princess... Good luck Heavy..."Sunset said as she slowly made her way back to the castle.

"Heavy...?"Celestia said as Heavy turned back to her now a bit worried.

"What is it Celestia...? Is something wrong?"Heavy asked as Celestia let out a great big sigh of grief.

"It's your mother Heavy... She barely made it to the hospital... She checked herself in and... She wants to see you, come with me..."Celestia said in a very quiet tone.

"Is she... Going to be alright...?"Heavy asked now afraid for his mother.

"Just come with me Heavy... We mustn't keep her waiting,"Celestia said dodging the question as her horn then suddenly lit up with golden magic.

Heavy quickly rushed to Celestia's side as a golden magical orb once again surrounded them, Heavy watched as the castle disappeared and was replaced by the golden walls of Celestia's magic. He felt the wind pick up and the power of the Alicorns magic intensify as he held onto the Celestia's leg for dear life, then in a sudden pulse of magic, they both found themselves traveling through another tunnel of bright light.

It was only after a solid minute of traveling through this tunnel of magic that they then came to a complete stop and the tunnel suddenly became round and circular once more. The orb of magic then suddenly disappeared in a sudden poof of golden magical sparks, Heavy quickly looked around and as he looked to his surroundings, he discovered that him and Celestia were now right outside the Canterlot hospital, Celestia the began walking towards the entrance before turning back to Heavy.

"Come along now Heavy, and stay close,"Celestia said as Heavy followed her into the hospital.

As they entered the building, they were immediately met with the gasps and sudden recognition of all the patients around the whole lobby, but their attention mattered very little to Heavy, now he had something more important to worry about. Both Heavy and Celestia both quickly made their way to the lobby's desk and were met with the secretary who immediately recognized them right away as she pushed some papers aside for this.

"Good afternoon princess Celestia, what is it that you need?"The secretary asked as she then turned to Heavy and knew exactly what they were here for.

"Miss Golden Heart checked herself in a several hours ago..."Celestia said as she noticed Heavy's fear for his mother was growing."She... Asked that she may talk with her son on the matter..."

"Of course princess, she's on the third floor in room 305, nurse Red Cross will show you the way,"The secretary said as she gestured to nurse Red Cross who was now standing by an elevator with papers in her hooves.

Celestia thanked the secretary while Heavy walked over to the elevator with a growing cold pit of fear in his stomach, Celestia struggled to catch up to him as Heavy already made it to the elevator just in time to be recognized by Red Cross.

"Oh my goodness...! Heavy Weight! It's been awhile since I last saw you! You've really gotten big haven't you?"Red Cross said as Celestia caught up to them just as the elevator door opened."So what's the big rush?"

"Sorry about that nurse Red Cross, he's just really scared at the moment, Golden Heart had to be checked in earlier,"Celestia said as they all got into the elevator.

"Oh dear... I knew what she had was bad, but I didn't know the... Issue would escalate so quick, I'm... I'm sure she's fine, I'm actually going there to check on her right now,"Red Cross said as the elevator closed and began to ascend.

They all then stood for a solid silent moment as the elevator made its way up to the third floor, Heavy couldn't help but to keep walking in pace as he got ready to make a run for the hospital room. Celestia could see the nervousness in his speedy steps and couldn't even see signs of tears beginning to form in Heavy's eyes, she then knew that what Heavy was about see.

The minute the elevator doors the suddenly opened, the colt immediately took off with Celestia right behind them as they took off down the third floor hallway, Heavy made sure to keep his eyes open for the room number as he looked to each room he crossed. Celestia began to catch up with him as she could feel the hurt and the fear in the young colt as if it was her own, and in that very instant they both came to the room 305.

Heavy panted from the run as he quickly caught his breathe before placing his small and shaking hoof to the door and began to slowly open it, he felt the door creak as well as Celestia's hoof on his shoulder as the door opened and revealed a heart breaking sight. Tears welled up in the colts eyes as he saw his mother in a hospital bed with two different machines now hooked up to her, one appeared to be for breathing while the other appeared to be a heart monitor.

Heavy began to shiver and shake with shock and sadness as he began to silently sob, he did his best to contain his crying as he slowly approached his mother, Celestia's heart broke as well as she watched the colt approach his mother. Red Cross herself had finally made it to the room and froze as she watched this heart breaking event take place, both mares felt as if they could not move as Heavy finally approached the bed.

"M-mom...? Mom...? What's wrong with you...?"Heavy said as his tears streamed down his cheeks.

Suddenly Golden Heart let out a deep raspy breathe as her eyes slowly began to open, all she could see at first was the bright flash of light that came from the small light above her hospital bed. Golden Heart then let out a small moan as she awoke and looked around until she saw her son looking to her with tears in his eyes, she then surprised them all a bit as she gave Heavy a gentle smile.

"Heavy...? Oh Heavy... How are you doing today son...?"Golden Heart said with a small chuckle before a few coughs were next to follow.

"Mom...? Why didn't you tell me you were sick...?"Heavy asked as he stood up on his hind legs and put his front hooves on the bed.

"You didn't need to know such things, you are strong and you are much more mature than many others your age, but you are still a young colt son,"Golden Heart answered as she slowly placed a hoof on her son's hoof."I wanted only what was best for you Heavy, I'm sorry you had to find out about this in such a way..."

"Mom...? Please tell me... What's wrong with you...?"Heavy asked as he got on the bed and snuggled in with his mother.

"*sigh*... I'm... Not going to be around for much longer Heavy... I... Soon have to go and be with your father soon..."Golden Heart answered as she felt her son shaking his head in the thought of losing her.

"Mom... No... Please..."Heavy begged as he began breaking down.

"Heavy... Shh... I'm still here son, don't be afraid Heavy, you still have a dream that you wish to make come true right? and no matter what happens, I will always be there for you..."Golden Heart said as she moved her head slowly and nuzzled her son.

Celestia felt tears stinging her eyes as the memory of Mega Weight's death was also striking her heart, she saw as a colt's heart was breaking and the fact that now they were going to lose yet another good friend and a beloved mother. She watched as Heavy cried while his mother held him as best she could in her state, but no amount of love felt like it could stop what was going to happen as Heavy shut his eyes and didn't care who was here.

"I love you mom..."Heavy said through sobs without noticing the circles of his eyes suddenly change into a dark shade of grey.

"I love you too... Heavy Weight,"Golden Heart said as she held her son in her hooves with no care in the world.

SAD I KNOW, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORST, NEXT TIME... THE DEATH OF A UNICORN.