Commission for

david.pigo

He owns the characters, lore and world within... for the most part! What lies beyond the sea belongs to  HistoricalyIncorrect, and Nova belongs to  xxX-Nova_Night-Xxx
Thank you so much for your support!
This piece follows on from Catalyst for Change. Enjoy everyone! <3

---

Crystal Pass

Deep breaths. It was all that Shary could do to keep herself calm, to hold back the anticipation that rose up like a storm within her chest; but it was a futile effort. Bit by bit she felt herself slipping, even in this warm and cosy place that she and the others were brought to by Nova. And as she slipped, her mind wandered to more and more experiences from her past. It was natural to consider her life up until this point, given the event that she was rushing towards; this metamorphosis. Like all those fine edges on a crystal, she could see them all together when she shut her eyes, a different experience on each face, split and well defined.

There was that time she fell out of a tree, back before she learned how to fly. It was a big tree and she was a little girl. It hurt her ass pretty badly at the time but for some reason it always gave her a good chuckle whenever she thought back to it. There was that first time she won a friendly brawl. The second one didn't go so well but damn if she wasn't proud of that first time. She'd always have the memory of the rush it gave her... and the anticipation she'd felt going in. It was similar to the anticipation she felt now. There was this time that her life was in danger. Poachers tried to kill her, harvest her body for money. She was backed into a corner on a mountain. That mountain... She still remembered the pain she felt at the moment she saw Nightshade for the first time; that wound on her side. She thought he was a poacher. She had no idea he was about to risk his life for her or that she'd do him a wrong turn. She remembered the days that followed, spent taking care of him in his home; their home now. She remembered training together, the cold Winter spent warmed by the fireplace, the beauty of the Spring when the snow melted.

More and more of the memories showing on those crystal faces became of Nightshade from this point on. Shary didn't blink anymore, just keeping her eyes closed. She smiled. It was all beautiful, so beautiful that tears came to her, multiplying the prisms in her eyes and making way for so many more memories. Were these all her memories? No, not all of them. Some of them were hopes, fantasies of the future. They were things that could happen in her life after this day; things that she wanted to happen. There was plenty more to be seen of them at that cabin, spending the seasons together in peace and hunting to keep a living; Silvan's Peak always found the wild bounties useful. There were children in some of the fantasies but the features weren't so clear to make out. Were they her own? There was Nightshade holding her hand.

Holding her hand. Shary's eyes opened, watery from the tears, and she glanced at her side, seeing Nightshade there with his hand holding her own. "Are you alright?" asked the pony.

The dragoness swallowed, giving him a smile and wiping her eyes. "Never better."

Nightshade gave a firm yet gentle squeeze as he looked her over with concern. He knew the time was coming soon and she was going to be vulnerable. He needed to watch out for her, make sure no harm could even approach, let alone reach her. And yet, concerned as he was, his marble eye shone amplified with a certain brilliance for a moment, betraying his satisfaction to the answer she gave.

It was odd. Shary could sense the stress in him but something was missing, something that she'd gotten so used to whenever she sensed this. What was it? She searched her memories a moment more until she remembered how Nightshade would smoke. He always said it was a good way to relax the nerves. "You aren't smoking?"

"I don't need it," answered the pony. He was very matter of fact about it but how could he be anything else? Lately that was just how it was. He had Shary by his side and the future looked all the brighter for it. Smoking wasn't the healthiest thing but, even more important to him, it was a distraction from her. He was stressed about what was about to happen... but he simply didn't feel the need to relax like that anymore.

A sudden yawn. The dragoness felt sluggish, her eyes falling heavy. "I... I think it's time now."

"Can we use this sofa?" Zilea moved some pillows away without waiting for Nova to answer. And an answer never came as he seemed too fixated on the front door. With a shrug, the smaller dragoness patted the cushions. "Bring her over here, Nightshade."

The pony wrapped his arm around his girl and helped her forward. She was almost a dead weight already and each step became more difficult but they soon arrived and he gently laid her down, head cushioned with a pillow. Zilea moved away from the sofa now, giving her space, so Nightshade did the same, watching with an intense curiosity which was soon rewarded. It was between some of her scales that he first saw what seemed to be liquid leaking from her body. No, not just some of her scales but all of them. Whatever it was, it had a very pure appearance, almost shining despite its clearness. And then the pony realised that it wasn't liquid at all but something perfectly solid. It grew and grew, leaving Shary completely covered without any signs of stopping as the mass began to consume part of the sofa as well, growing into a thick area around the dragoness it had originated from. Very soon, Nightshade could no longer make out Shary's distinct form, distorted by many refractions of light as it was to the point of abstraction. And then it stopped growing.

"The crystal cocoon is complete," said Zilea. "Now we must wait."

"Is she okay?" asked Nightshade. "Can she breathe?"

Zilea shrugged quite casually. "I wouldn't have a clue but she's fine. No one ever suffocated so maybe they don't need air during the metamorphosis. That's the theory I subscribe to anyway, the body slows down so much that it doesn't consume much of anything we need for life. Except food." She giggled. "She'll be starving when she comes out."

Nightshade smiled, feeling some relief. "What are the other theories?"

"Other theory," said Zilea, making it clear there were only two. "That one says there are countless tiny holes that we can't see letting air through the crystal."

"No way," said the pony. He moved over to the wall nearby and leaned back against it, arms crossed. "How long is this supposed to take? Not that I'm trying to rush anything but there's military movement on the streets. I felt like eyes were on us."

"Eyes on us?" Nova seemed to snap out of his focus at those words and spoke before Zilea could answer. "This place has served me well so I hope not. I'd hate to lose it."

"We aren't that far from the inn you brought us to," said Nightshade. "We're bound to be reported and they'll search the area." He looked at the smaller dragoness. "How about it?"

"It'll be a few hours before the metamorphosis is complete and there's no way for us to hurry it up," said Zilea, taking a seat nearby. "We can't afford to be found before then."

"Damn it, that's the evening," said Nightshade.

"I don't like that," said Nova. "I'm going to go and keep watch for trouble outside." His form began to shift as it had earlier. He kept roughly the same height, maybe a little shorter as he began to stoop, but he changed from a cat into a rat, a long pink tail protruding from his robes as well as a grizzled muzzle sticking out from the cloak. "They'll be looking for a cat of that description so best I leave that disguise off for the time being." And with that he went through the door into the street.

Nightshade spotted the concern on Zilea's face. "He knows what he's doing," he said in an attempt to put her mind at ease. "If anyone comes around I'm sure he'll buy us the time we need."

"I just hope nobody comes around," said Zilea. "They really mean business."

"You're referring to the coup..?" Nightshade thought back to that meeting with the Foreigner. He was a man of grand ambitions, certainly, but armies never lived up to great commanders in this fashion. "The soldiers in the streets are still just soldiers. Nova will find a way to divert them, I'm sure of it."

"You have a lot of faith in him," said Zilea. She fell silent for some time, simply watching over Shary. But she was eventually the one to break the silence. "So you two go back a long way."

The pony made a single laugh through his nose and took a seat with her, leaning forward. "Going back doesn't really cut it. I owe more than a few of my successful missions to him. He'd get me all the best information, anything I'd need, and even the stuff I didn't need. Some of the stuff I didn't need ended up saving my life. He will come through."

Zilea offered an optimistic smile. "Alright, you've made your case. It's comforting to know."

"Good," said Nightshade. "It hasn't been long since we were clubbed over the head. We'll do well to rest ourselves and prepare for whatever tomorrow will bring." He fell back in the seat now, his amulet flinging out in front of him and bouncing from his chest. "Huh?" He looked down, and grabbed the token between a finger and thumb. It was always hanging around his neck but he didn't often notice it these days. Ever since he left the assassin life, he'd thought about it less and less until he'd forgotten it enough that he was surprised by its presence now. He flipped it on its side, stroking the token and examining the almost moon-like form of the person shown in the image.

"Special piece?" asked Zilea, catching his attention as she nodded at the amulet.

"You could say that," said Nightshade. But special didn't always mean something good. "A souvenir from days gone by." The person in the image was the goddess of nightmares and the amulet belonged to her cult of assassins; those trained in the use of shadows. That was how it came to be in Nightshade's possession. He wasn't really sure why he'd kept it all this time. Sure, at first he may have wanted it after retiring for sentimental reasons... but as time went by he felt less and less connection to it. How else could he explain completely forgetting that he wore it around his neck? It was the amulet of a long dead man... and not exactly one that he wished to remember as he continued making his way into a new life. The time may have been coming to do away with it. He dropped it back against his chest and looked over at Shary. For himself and for her.

---

Orange light. It was the twilight of the day and the sun was setting quickly but there was no shortage of people going to and fro outside. Nova didn't like it. There was something in the hustle and bustle, something anxious but silent, a wordless acknowledgement of that great event that had taken place earlier today. The shapeshifter nonchalantly looked up and down the street through the crows, trying to spot as many soldiers as he could on his first glance. No one? Good. He hoped it would stay that way but hope was not enough alone. The eyes of this old rat would keep a vigil while he sat at the edge of the street begging for coin. It was illegal here and guards typically sent beggars packing but they were surely too occupied to bother with him right now. He held out his hands. "Please." Words spoken with feigned desperation. "A coin." Hands remained outstretched and citizens continued passing by.

Nova spent a long time like this, that anxious and silent feeling bothering him more and more. What was it? "I am hungry." The feline marched on, clearly resisting the urge to look his way. That's when it occurred to the shapeshifter that he'd not been given anything in the couple of hours he'd sat here. Everyone who had the look of a person who'd stop and show some charity just passed him by like everyone else. They all wanted to be off the street tonight... That's what the anxious silence was; haste. Nobody had time for a beggar right now. Thumping. Nova's attention snapped to the door of his rented place being knocked upon. Oh, what a bother. He didn't notice the soldiers making their rounds until just this moment!

"Open up! This is your last chance before we force entry!" They didn't know anybody was at home but the hunt for a fugitive gave them a justified excuse to do as they said regardless.


The shapeshifter scrambled to his feet. He had to do something immediately or his cover and the hideout would be ruined! And of course Nightshade and his friends would be in trouble. But his cover and the hideout! There was a potted plant in the window sill nearby. He had no idea what the hell it was but it was quite small and just the right weight to toss across the street. So that's what he did, shattering the pot just short of the soldiers. "Long live the crown! Fuck traitors!"

Instant attention. Every one of the soldiers turned to look at him as did every citizen, though the citizens were rightly afraid and distanced themselves. One of the soldiers pointed as they quietly spoke to each other. Time to bounce. Nova picked a moment where none of them had eyes on him and... broke into a sprint down the street.

"Hey! Stop!" a voice shouted from behind.

Nova laughed to himself. They'd never catch him. All he had to do was gain enough distance and he could change appearance. He came to an almost sliding halt as he turned a corner, running straight into another patrol. The surprise of both sides wore off a moment later, fortunately a little sooner for the shapeshifted rat, and the guards charged after him down the other turn.

A voice from the first set of guards. "He attacked us! Get him!" And yet the voice was more distant than before. They were having trouble passing through the slew of the masses as a group but he was a lone runner and the orange of twilight was dimming into darkness. Soon night would fall and, hopefully, the hideout would be forgotten in favour of capturing this loyalist.

"The Emperor will have revenge from beyond the grave on all of you!" Nova taunted. He'd run for a few more streets and find a place to ditch them. The traffic on the street was lessening too so he wouldn't be able to run forever.

"D-don't lose th-that rat!" The guards sounded puffed.

"You always were u-useless at your jobs!" Nova was puffed too. "D-damn..."

Around another corner. No one was here! The shapeshifter tilted his head to crack his neck, hurriedly activating his abilities. Fur receded, giving way to scales and his forked tongue flicked from his mouth while some bone plates grew from his spine. A lizard could be one of the further things away from a rat and when he turned around, making his way back around the corner, the soldiers ran right past him, turning the corner themselves before coming to a complete halt.

"Wh-what the hell? This street stretches for miles!" shouted one of the guards. He shoved another. "You let him get away!"

"I was running faster than you!" The other guard shoved back.

"He can't have gotten far!" shouted another. "Search the area!"

And so the knocking on doors began again, far away from the hideout. And of course away from Nightshade and his friends... Nova hummed to himself. That bit of running earned him a nice lay down. Would the couch be free by the time he got back? Well, that didn't matter given that he had a bed there too.

---

Nightshade's hand leapt at the hilt of his sword, the pony quickly standing from his seat and facing the door as he heard it being fiddled with again. Damn... Did the guards come back? He looked at Zilea who nodded at him. This could get bad quickly but at least he wasn't alone. They'd figure something out. The door opened and a bubbly lizard came through full of cheer and song. "N-Nova?" asked the smaller dragoness. Nightshade sighed with relief and relaxed his body again.

"Make the scoreboard army, zero and Nova... a few hundred or something," the shapeshifter laughed as he danced around, changing back into his childish pony form bit by bit. "I lost count by now. Those idiots didn't stand a chance!"

Nightshade couldn't help but chuckle as he saw the look of pride on his friend. "There's the Nova I know."

"Thanks for getting them away from here," said Zilea. "I don't know what we would have done if they burst inside."

"Don't sweat it," said Nova, taking a good stretch. "It was a bit of fun but fun that's got me all tuckered out. I'm going to hit the hay but I hope that dragoness of yours is doing well."

"Thanks, Nova," said Nightshade, taking another seat as the shapeshifter left them towards another room. He looked at Zilea now. "It's getting into the evening. Do you think she'll come out soon?"

A crack formed in the crystal with a subtle splitting sound.