The things we do for love... and land (ATTN: Steel, Dusty)

[Blueblood]

Was that a fair assumption?  Jizara frowned at the implication, but Blueblood had to quietly agree.  During his brief tenure as Archancellor of the School of Friendship in Ponyville, he'd had a chance to see Diamond Tiara's interactions with her peers, as well as Spoiled Rich's tenure as mayor.  Frankly, it was obvious to any who saw the two that they were on divergent life paths.  Lineage, more than motherhood, had been Spoiled Rich's ambition, but only Jizara would fill it.

 

But it was hard to blame the mare, at the end of the day.  Blue knew full well that the soul and body could be mismatched in identity, and it was just as well that this could be reconciled.  Maybe after the divorce, Filthy could find a true loving companion to serve as a stepmother, thus making five happy creatures total, rather than three miserable ones.  One had to hope.

 

Standing now on the threshold of this change, Jizara took a deep breath, looking aside at her reflection for the last time as a pony in the wall of crystal.  That was a face that would never be seen again.  "Well, if you could give me some of my youth back in the transformation, I'd appreciate it.  Niilaavin appreciates my maturity, but I'd like to have a lither, more energetic body to enjoy that with.  Not to mention some more years."  A not unexpected final request, all things considered.  With so many impossible things being done before dinner, what was one more?

[Dusty]

“I… Never teleported before, and heard it is no less easy on others the first time.” Niilaavin says back, if nothing else than to cover for his own reenactment to being teleported. He still felt rather queasy but swallowed it down. “A first time for everyone, after all.” He added and followed her into the mine. North Wind just grunted some, doing her best to wipe her muzzle clean and look presentable again before dashing after them to stay behind her master. He looked around the mine, getting low, almost on his belly, to follow the mare without fuss. His eyes danced around the place, looking at the working ponies… Then waved a pay next to a few. “Ah, no wonder they are not reacting. They can’t see us can they? Or are we even truly here? I’d notice something… Large as myself, cloaked or not.” He hummed in thought before moving deeper with the pink mare. 

 

He was putting together where they must be, seeing as she did not feel like telling him. “Are we at… Or well, now in the Crystal Caverns?” He asked, lowering his muzzle down to watch the filly work for a moment. Then he flicked his ears when asked what mark he may give Jizara. That was… Not easy to answer, he felt. He did not think of it at all in fact until now. They wanted him to do that? By the bells, Jizara wanted him too didn't she. He glazed down at a paw and popped one claw staring at it a moment. He’d… Need to practice inking fur on a pony. He’d hate to make a mess of her fur. He looked over at Cadance. “Something… Related to the moon I think. A crescent… Yes, that will fit. A time of change, the end of one and the start of another. I think it's thematic for her to leave her old life and join mine.” He chuckled softly, almost sober thinking about that. 

 

“I can’t believe it sometimes. I don’t know what she can see in me. I can offer her so little, yet she looks at me…” He cuffed, shaking his head. “I feel so much shame speaking of this, yet you are the princesses of love. So you must enjoy hearing such. For my kind it's… We do not have love like you do. Mates come and go and a male is judged by the size of his land and the number of females kept. He hardly spends much time with them. They court, he wins them to his land. Mate… And then his duty is to keep the land safe from others. That’s it. I saw my father once, flying overhead. That was it. And mother hardly spoke about him. He was a far lord and had good land. That is all I know about him. Then he was killed and a new pride-king came. That was that. She liked the new one less and was going to leave when all departed… All of this is to say, this is all uncharted for me. Her, This kingdom, everything. I’m walking a new trail for my kind. And I’m so thankful she is here to help me. I don’t feel so alone with her by my side. And I hope I can repay that. I truly do. I hope to be whatever she views in me.” He spoke, rambling in a way about this. But he felt Cadance may be his best outlet for this. At least he hoped she’d keep all this just between rulers. They were soon to be neighbors after all, so maybe it was good to open up and let her see his more soft side.

[SteelEagle]

“You are here. Technically. We…” she thought best how to explain it, “we are in the...veil...between material reality and unreality. You are seeing things as they are, in real time, as they exist now. If the spell were to stop, you would take up that physical space that you occupy now for all the good and ill that would imply,” she shook her head. “It is a powerful spell, one I learned not long ago thanks to Twilight. It requires not only a significant amount of magical power, but a deep knowledge of the area I am locating myself and others at while also requiring many magical crystals exist at the location of the spell. Luckily, this cavern has many of them.”

It was very true. As they dove deeper, the mine seemed to continue. The mining was indeed extensive, but careful work was shown up and down the mine. They mined at a rate that allowed the crystals and other precious materials to regrow at an acceptable rate, while also doing so safely. Everything spoke to a well-oiled machine being overseen by a startling small number of ponies.

 

“I think she sees in you the same pride and majesty of spirit that she has always looked for. Beyond that, I have learned lessons throughout life. We accept the love we think we deserve.  You are worth all that she is giving you now plus much more, if you allow yourself to see it. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Without this, you would not seek to create the better world for all Sphinxkind. Without her love, and without loving her in kind, you wouldn’t have a Kingdom to call your own. The rest, how her love works on you, what it means in your heart, those lessons are personal and take much longer,” she said gently as she turned to face him. “This is a journey that you will enjoy, more than any other.”

As she said that, she felt a small aethereal movement along her wings. She bit her lip in excitement, knowing what it meant. “Oh, I see. Well, I think we should be heading back.”

 

***********************************************************************************

 

Twilight had considered whether to modify Spoiled’s age during her transformation to Jizara. Of course, Sphinx aged in a very different manner. Spoiled was an older middle aged mare, but chronologically she would be barely an adult as a Sphinx if she used the exact birth-date. As far as Twilight could tell, Sphinx may mature somewhat slowly compared to ponies but it was once they reached adulthood that their aging slowed to a crawl.

Of course, Jizara didn’t need to know that. If she wanted a favor so graciously given, then she would receive one. Twilight smiled. “You will be a youthful sphinx, matching the energy and future you have and hold in your heart,” she nodded. “Now, hold still.”

 

Twilight’s horn lit up. In the past, such a spell would be hard and dangerous. It required time and preparation and she had messed up similar ones in the past. That would be because she was altering a form, changing what was into what is. For a unicorn or alicorn of her old power, not hard to do, but difficult to do well and accurately. 

This time, she went a different route. She instead reached through the fabric of reality and rewrote it. She changed what is into what was, and what was happened to be a Sphinx named Jizara. In a brief flash, Spoiled was no more and never had been. The only mark of her existence were her family members and paperwork, but as far as the foundational mechanics of material reality, she herself had never existed. Instead, Jizara existed, as pure and functional as if she had been born a sphinx. 

 

To outside observation, it happened near instantly. How Jizara herself perceived it, whether she even could, Twilight could only venture a guess. The spell was finished, and there sat Jizara the Sphinx.

[Blueblood]

 

Whether it was automatically part of the process, or a special request fulfilled, Jizara was getting what she wanted.  Perhaps, everything she ever wanted.  Maybe that was too much to hope for, but she wasn't too old at heart to not feel it pound in her chest at the prospect.  The magic rose, she felt it start to act on her... it was weird, since Twilight's magic was changing, in essence, the past, while leaving Spoiled's memories of it intact.  Which, more or less amounted to a retroactive bifurcation of the universe, which at this very point in the timeline was combining and joining on her very overlapping person, who Spoiled Rich was contained only in the legacy of her daughter and the memories in Jizara's head, an existentially world-shaking series of events!

It tingled.

With a shudder, Jizara felt herself expand to fill the hall, the enormous cushion seeming to shrink beneath her as she shook out changing limbs that felt as if they were going to sleep on her.  "Mwa, rar, raowl!"  New feline flesh and nerves, along with a spurt of sudden youthful energy, caused her insticts to rile up, pouncing upon the pillow, claws out, working out her weird feelings in a spray of cloth, stuffing and feathers!

It took a few minutes for her to get to full size, and get used to it, by which time Blueblood was cautiously emerging from cover, as he'd overturned his table to act as a makeshift shield.  Jizara had regained a more regal pose, eyeing the Prince in the midst of the wreck, as if daring him to acknowledge it happened at all.  
Blueblood, however, was a married stallion, and knew better.  "Well... you look... improved.  Fitter, I mean.  Er, not that you fat before..."  OK, so the boy still needed some work...

[Dusty]

He followed what she was saying as he kept looking around the mine. It was modest and he’s seen much bigger. But it seemed to have a rich vein with steady flow output. Why it was not expanded he can’t fathom, but he’d see to that. It was no gold mine but gemstones never made you poor. Looking over at the pink mare he pounded her magic some. “That is powerful, when I walk unseen I… Make it so one wishes to simply not see me. An overriding need too just ‘not see it’ as it were. For most it works well, only very well trained guards can overcome that trick. But for most… I can walk down a street, every pony in it moves out of my way and never reacts, or remember even seeing me move out of the way. But this is much more grand than my school of magic… But, your kind were blessed with flexibility in such.” He remarked.

 

The topic moved onto his own, and watched her keenly as she spoke. It was, as ponies tend to be, a charming reply and maybe too good willed. But he’d lie if did not enjoy it. “I hope it is just so, and I am all her heart can want all ready. Yet I know I can do more and will do so. Some things come less easy, some even more so. It takes some care too not just roll her about with a nuzzle. Or soak her with a single lick. But such troubles are worth feeling less alone in this world. Not to be dramatic, but I think your kind can never grasp what it is to be alone. Friends? Oh yes. Blue has been nothing but good. But to sit down grasp in claws the fact you it. The end song. The fact she helps me push that away and feel as if something understands me, truly, as another of my kind. No pierce can put on that feeling.” He says, eyes wandering around the mine to take in the glitter of gemstones. The shiny was distracting. 

 

He flicked his ears when told it may be time too head back. “So soon? I feel like we only just started. Or is the magic drain of such a spell? If so, no need to drain it on this trip. Your city is grand and pretty, I’d be content walking its streets with you and seeing all it has too offer.” He replayed with a respectful bow of his head. Well she was an odd mare, he found her pleasant. A good thing as with the deals being offered he’d have to keep in contact with her.

[SteelEagle]

Cadance nodded. “We all have our ways of using magic. I think it is important not how grand or powerful the magic we use happens to be, but how we choose to view it. As long as you use your magic in service, I think you will find your magical capabilities have a wider, grander implication than even you know,” she said as she prepared to end the spell.

As he spoke, she had two thoughts. One was that his loneliness was something she may never truly understand. She could respond that having such closeness with other creatures, friendship, love, opened you up to escalating levels of grief that only such warmth could breed. But she wouldn’t turn this into a competition. Secondly was the knowledge she had, foretold, that his concerns for his love for her and how it was shared. He would soon have to change some of those thoughts and concerns.

“We will have time enough soon to further investigate these lands, but I think something is happening back at the negotiation that you would be very interested in seeing. I will teleport us in three...two...one...now!”

 

----

 

Twilight took her tea gently as she watched Jizara come to terms with her body. It was very cute, in a way. For all their regality, sphinxes were just big cats. All of the great species, despite their advancements and intelligence, had their animalistic pasts buried deep within. Jizara tore and moved and attacked like an over-energized housecat the size of- well, a house. Blueblood chose to protect himself with a table. Twilight remained in her seat, protected by a thin layer of magic from some debris.

“Jizara, a delight for you to finally join us. A regal posture befitting your kind,” Twilight bowed her had slightly in respect as she started pouring some tea. As she did so, Cadance finished her teleportation...

[Blueblood]

Jizara chuffed at Twilight, then made a surprised face at the noise she'd just made.  She'd heard Niil make it many times before, but hadn't yet gotten used to the idea that her own voice produced it naturally rather than a whinny.  She also wasn't sure if Twilight was being sarcastic or not, but after giving her a long eyeballing, she decided to let it pass.  "I will say... it is good to be here at last myself.  If I may-"

 

But what she would have requested was lost to history as, with a flash, Cadence and Niilaavin returned.  The intant sight and smell of him hit her nose, she was up on all four paws, smiling.  Even less sensitive pony snoots could not escape the smell of cat around a sphinx, but it was just so much... richer, more vibrant and textured to her now.  Familiar, and lovable, as if Niil had a second, equally handsome face.  "Oh, welcome back, darling~"

Blueblood, still behind the overturned table, retreated back a little, wanting to give the two lovers some space.  He wasn't sure how active their reunion would prove, either, so remaining under shelter seemed the prudent course of action...

[Dusty]

Niilaavin gave Cadance a perplexed look, only to have any remakes cut short as took in a breath and shut his eyes preparing for the teleport. North Wind dashed over, flinging herself atop a paw as the count down hit… Now. He felt his insides move in ways most unpleasing as his body struggled to work out where it was for a moment. At least he felt less sick this time. He kept his eyes shut, pulling in a breath as he relaxed… Just to pick up a new scent. No, not new. But… 

 

The giant almost hit the ceiling of the grand hall as he leapt up and back, lips pulled up into a snarling display of fang as claws screeched over the floor. Both wings shut out, wide and open to make himself look even bigger as a deep hissing sound left his muzzle only to choke out moments later. He froze in place, eyes going wide as looking across the room at the other sphinx. His snarling lips dropped as he just stared with a look of raw confused bewilderment. Soon after his claws sheathed and he took a timid step closer. Then others as he stalked up to the other sphinx and sniffed at her. His eyes dated over to Twilight, staring with focused will for a few passing moments. But he did not say anything, he did not need to. It was easy to tell he’d be enraged if this was some trick. 

 

Soon he broke that look and looked at Jizara. Head to tail his eyes moved as he crept closer, wings still held out. When they reached each other he leaned his nose close to her own and sniffed some more. “Jizara?” He asked, his tone confused as his eyes. Yet full of something deeper. Despite her new found size she was still smaller than him, leaner and more elegant than his bulky frame. He cuffed three times in a row and soon as she spoke he rushed her in tackle as jaws found themselves along the back of her neck. Yet, Jizara will find the act painless. Oddly, it made her body relaxed to the point where standing was hard. Even speaking seemed too fizzler out as Niilaavin held her scruff, paws held onto her, nose flaring as he kept firm grip around her. He held her like for some time, not responding to anything or anyone. Just, staring down at her. Finly whatever was going on with his mind settled down as he let go of her scruff and began to lick her, gently and warmly as he purred. “How… And what pierce.” He asked, to Jizara or Twilight. Maybe both. 

 

North Wind, for her part, was staring as well with a mix of wonder and barely controlled envy.

[SteelEagle]

It was always interesting, watching sentient, intelligent creatures devolve ever briefly to their baser instincts. The way Niilaavin flared himself to appear more threatening, The way he approached her, held the scruff od her neck, controlled, then licked and purred her. It was a good reminder that they were all animals of different sizes and wavelengths, only a few steps removed from their feral cousins. If such a thought was given influence by Jizara, it was given certainty by Niilaavin. 

If anything, Jizara seemed to have better control of herself considering she just underwent a dramatic and irreversible species change. Of course, Twilight was certain that in about a second or two they were going to experience the most physically exciting part of Cadance’s domain, so she was quick to speak. “No price, Niilaavin. Jizara is finally herself. I hope you two are able to find your own happiness and harmony in each other’s paws, even as you embark on the custodial role of nation-builders together. There remains just one more thing,” Twilight said as she took a quick breath.

 

She looked at the bands and her horn glowed.

She knew she could just destroy them, but that could damage Niil and she did not wish to harm him. It was one of the better defenses against a powerful magical being, make it so that the power itself gave no grand benefit past a certain point. A few different attempts at scouting revealed how well made these cruel bands were.

 

And so her magic traveled back in time, looking for cracks in its metaphysical armor through the eons. Not one. She then went back to the time of their creation- no, indeed they had warded the work before the work began. She went back even further, tracking the base materials used in its creation. She created impurities and magical backdoors to either weaken the work imperceptibly or allow her to override the band. Nothing changed; they were made by somecreature that put great effort into only using the best materials.

 

No matter. She created a new element, a new material, localized it in the time and place of the band’s creation. It had all the strengths and qualities and protections and was for all intents and purposes an atomically correct replica of the source material. All she added was the faintest and lightest of touch, something so absurdly minimal that even Twilight, knowing what it was and what to look for and having placed it there herself,  could only barely discover it.

 

Happily, the bands were now made of this material as they always had been. She scanned the bands and found the trail of magic she had left behind. Like picking a lock she moved her magic, working through the personal ley line stealthily added into the material. Finally the bands came off, releasing Niil from them once and forever. 

She lifted the bands and put them on the table. “There. Now you can act as a ruler should- no chains on you,” she smiled mischievously, her eyes twinkling something fierce. “Maybe I can resize them for Blue?”

 

Cadance allowed herself to simply focus on the happy couple. Niilaavin likely did not know it, but she had infused the teleportation they had undergone with a bit of influence tailored to him. Not that he would need any cause to become so very interested in her, but to be clear, the chances of a litter being bred in the here and now was much higher than normal. Considering a primary goal of the day’s festivities was ensuring the survival of the species, a good decision on her part. She focused on the happy couple, the power of their affections acting as a warm salve to her. Her wings stayed close to her but shifted ever so slightly above, allowing the smallest of air currents to pass through to cool her body as it grew warm. 
She did manage to see North Wind, and she leaned over and whispered lowly. “How are you feeling about all this?”

[Blueblood]

Even with her restored youth as a sphinx, Jizara retained the fortitude of maturity, standing fast and unflinching even as she saw Niilaavin flared up at the first unexpected sight of her.  Not to say that her hackles didn't rise, and her breath was a little shallow as she verbally confirmed, "Yes, Niilaavin, it is I."  Quickly finding herself all of a flutter inside, for the first time in decades, she was hardly able to respond to the cuffs, save instinctually, and gasped outright as she was rushed, tackled, and seized.  Heart pounding from being tackled, she felt her love's teeth on the back of her neck.  For three heartbeats, the world stood still.  But this was no attack, merely a mark, a sign she was his mate.  His mate.  Held finally by a lover with no barrier of kind or kin between them, she let out a deep, rumbling purr, her hackles finally coming down to rest.

 

"No price, this is a gift... just as you were to me."  She fully leaned into her now-fellow sphinx, intertwining her tail with his own, giving him a smoky half-lidded expression that promised full advantage of Cadence's subtly-given blessing tonight.  But this was not the only gift he would receive this day...

 

Though Twilight's interference seemed to take no time, as it was outside of time, Blueblood could feel something... change in the amulet he wore about his neck.  A tingling, as if power was leaking from it.  Quickly removing it from his neck in case of dangerous leakages, he held it out in front of him, watching the golden collar and bands fall from the neck and legs of Niilaavin, freeing him at last from the ancient binding of the sorcerer.  The faint glow about the gold and gems of his own amulet faded with them, signaling the end of his command over the Sphinx.  The Prince could not be prouder, as he spoke the ancient words of manumission,  "No longer do I call you a servant, you are my friend and my brother."

A solemnly happy moment, unfortunately spoiled by Twilight's joking insinuation.  "He-e-e-ey!"  Blueblood whinnied, stung in a sensitive spot.  Damnit, one dreamwalking Auntie was bad enough, were all the alicorns seeking out the idle fantasies of his mind?

[Dusty]

As Niil and his soon be mate shared their moment, North Wind glanced over at Cadance and was a little startled the princess was even speaking too her. But she held herself and spoke matter of factually, standing stiff as a guard on show. “I am, as in all things, happy for my lord and lady Jizara.” She replayed, it was not her place to discuss things outside of that. She knew her lord would make up for this in some way. He’s never failed her on his word yet. And this was out of his paws anyways so she can’t feel mad, just envy that Spilled got blessed first. But the blessing was real, that pipe dream of her lord… And herself was real. He’d see it happen… Her eyes went wide with shock as the first golden band fell off a leg. “Wha-wha-”

 

 

 

Niilaavin was overwhelmed, truly. His mind was a train rushing down a hill still shoveling coal. Words failed as mumbled, purred and chuffed like some feral cat as he nuzzled and groomed Jizara. This seemed impassable. Did he dream of such? Yes! But deep down he knew it was folly, the hopes and dreams of one sitting at the end of some story wishing it would go on. He made peace with that fact. He’d live his life as best he can and when the time came he’d go into history with respect and his kind known, not forgotten. It took him well over a year of struggling to come to terms with this fact, and a few more years of coming to terms. And all of that was just… Ripped out from under his paws in the best way possible. Yet it seems unbelievable but here it was regardless of his own mind's struggles. Another of his kind born from the soul he knew fitted it. 

 

The rest chatted, talked and spoke as if nothing much happened. Yet he found himself just staring down at her, gripped in his paws as if she’d just slip away as some figment of his mind. But she was real. This was no spell, no trick on his own mind. She was as real as he. And for what? Nothing? How can one do something this grand and want nothing. Speaking of nation-builders as nothing changed. As if they did change the very story of life and remove the last footnote for books to be. Niilaavin, endling of his kind. It was just so much… And yet it was not the last world changing event. He did not even notice at first his mind was so hyper focused on Jizara.

 

But notice he did as a leg was moved to remove a band. He stared, unblinking at that leg. Where the band once snuggle gripped his leg was patches of missing fur and skin tender to the feeling of air. He stared at it and timidly moved a paw to touch the tender flesh and patchy fur only to stop as the largest band, the one around his neck, slipped open and was removed. A ring of patchy fur and tender skin was opened to the world. Wounds born from wearing what can not be removed for so very long. He almost choked on his own breath as a paw reached up and brushed his neck, eyes following the golden bands as were placed on the table with a heavy thump. His neck band alone made the table bow under his mass. Each one was heavy but the neck alone was almost a ton of enchanted gold. It’s placement on the table let out a thundering thump that echoed in the room. 

 

Niilaavin just stayed frozen for a time, one paw on his neck. Feeling the tender skin. Feeling the missing fur. Then he let out a choked gasp as water welled up under his eyes. He was shaking, paw wavering as kept feeling his own neck. Then his legs. Slavery was never painless for any race. But for a sphinx it was unimaginable. So hard wired to see themselves Infallible to be ‘owned’ by another was almost mind shattering. It was worse than death and was the only saving grace for Niil and his loneliness. His own mother will have killed him, same for his siblings, before seeing him a slave for a moment. And he’d welcome it. At least, back with his first master. But maybe in a way, the chains did something for him. With a mind taken too place unknown to his kind he was forced to think and see the world in new ways. It changed him in ways he’d never fully understand. 

 

His eyes fell on the table, looking at the gold. He hated gold. He hated it so much. But he used gold earrings, and had his claws done in gold. All to blend the bands in with the rest to hide them. Hide the chains of his slavery. He wanted it all off. Every last scrap of that demand gold. He’d never wear gold again. He never wanted it in his room. His den. He was shaking, breaths short as water ripped down his muzzle from the spring underneath his eyes. He wanted to speak but only choked out a yowling cry as he plunged into Jizara’s mane and sobbed. It was all too much at once and the giant truly was overwhelmed. For the first time in all Blue has known the cat, as well Jizara, He was truly sobbing with rampant emotions and lacked any words to speak. He was truly free and that was worth more then anything.

 

[SteelEagle]

Twilight had steeled herself before the meeting. She knew she would need to do so. For as friendly and agreeable, personable and cooperative as she needed and wanted to do, she was also acutely aware of the gravity of the negotiations. For that, and any unexpected issues that may have arisen, she had been sure to keep a lid on herself. There were times to be free and easy and wear your heart on your sleeve and there were times to be clear-headed and focused, and except for the small comments she made to lighten the mood she had kept herself even and warm.

Which was good, because if she had not prepared herself she would have cried when Niilaavin did, his own heart’s bursting through his Sphinxian mental granite a powerful display. Instead she smiled happily, friendly and kind, but gave the newfound Tyr the time he needed to weep in and hold deep his love. She analyzed and considered the future, and allowed her analysis to die for the sake of the moment’s momentary purity.

 

She allowed the Tyr time. When she spoke next, it was when she felt he was composed. “I suspect you may try to quickly work to heal and cover your bandmarks. I would not rush this process- the area will be raw to some extent and your body will need time. Similar styles of bandmarks can be found among some nomadic bardzebras of Unyasi. I have sourced some potions they use after extended use to promote natural healing. I hope it helps. And Jizara- please be aware of your claws. I hear an excited Sphinx can be a dangerous predator,” she offered with a smile. Her horn flashed once more, though it appeared nothing changed. She then levitated a small army of documents towards Blueblood.

“If you want time alone with Jizara, Tyr Niilaavin, I think we can take it from here,” Cadance added, her tone carrying the undercurrent of mischief that hung at the tail end of every pregnant pause whenever love was the subject. “Correct, Prince Blueblood?”