//------------------------------// // Questions and Answers // Story: Imprisonment of a Changeling // by Southern Wing //------------------------------// Sev led Fluttershy, Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie to Wing’s cell. The sounds of someone singing being their guide. As the group of five approached, they peered into the darkness of the cell. A pair of red eyes appearing from the dark in the corner. “Hey guys…” Wing said, ceasing his singing looking toward the group. “Um...hey honey. How are you?” Fluttershy asked as Wing walked up to the cell door. The pair made an attempt to touch their hooves together through the door. But an embrace wouldn’t be possible. “I’m alright at the moment.” Wing looked to Twilight. “I assume you're wanting to ask questions of me to see how we are as a society to report to Princess Celestia?” Twilight was silent for a few moments looking at Wing. “How did you…” “Didn’t ‘til you just told me.” Wing said with a chuckle. “What do you want to know?” Twilight realized how outsmarted she just was, but shook her head to ignore it. “Well, what is your government like?” “We’re kinda like Equestria’s government. Although when you hear what our ruling party is, you may confuse us with another government type.” “How is that?” “We call ourselves harmonists.” “Oh…” “Yes. Anyways, next question?” “Right, um where do changelings come from?” “Oh boy, that’s a story we don’t have time for.” “Why not?” “It’s a long story.” “Ah. But could you give me a run through?” “Alright. Have you ever heard of flutterponies?” “Yeah, weren’t they ponies that had butterfly wings? And that defeated the Smooze in the first pony era?” “Yep, that’s them. Or rather, that’s us changelings.” “What?!” “Yeah, the changelings of today were in the first pony era called flutterponies.” “What happened?” “Grogar. It was Grogar that gave us this curse when Tambelon appeared in the first pony era.” “I never knew this.” “Because most ponies want to forget about Grogar. And we don’t share our history with outsiders. Sev is the exception because as a bond brother he’s an honorary member of the hive.” “What’s a bond brother?” “A bond brother or bond sister is the first pony who finds out that you’re a changeling. And after that you have a permanent telepathic bond with said pony. And are honorary members of the hive. Now as I was saying…” “Right, Grogar. I’ve read about him so I would understand.” “No kidding,” Sev interjected. “Um... Wing dear? C...can we change the subject?” Fluttershy meeped. “No problem, Flutters.” “So um...what do you think is gonna happen because of the wedding, Wing?” “Well, Twilight, that all depends on what ponies do.” “How so?” “Those ponies who don't have direct knowledge of changelings will believe what Chrysalis claimed. Of that we can sure” “Yeah…” “So it’s gonna be a long road.” Wing chuckled “I wonder how those alternate versions of us are dealing with this?" “Wait...what?” Twilight asked in confusion. “Oh right, I forgot. You didn’t know Sev and I have had encounters with versions of us from alternate universes.” “I…” Twilight looked at Wing flabbergasted. “Some versions are more than a little crazy, but the majority are quite sane.” “I see…” Twilight said writing it all down. “How do these events occur?” “Well, sometimes through magical mishap. Sometimes it just happens. But for the most part it’s from external forces.” “And as for getting back?” “We have some help in that regard from our alternate versions.” “And in the ones that are less sane?” “They wouldn’t dare do anything. The consequences for them would be severe.” “Ok then…” “What else do you want to know?” “What about…” “Our libraries? Oh those, ah extensive. They cover every period of pony history.” Twilight’s mouth gaped open. Her mind's eye pictured the sheer the amount of books that the library in Wing’s hive contained. “Could…” “Not at the moment. Things will have to settle down between ponykind and changelings first.” “Right.” Twilight wrote a few more things down. “Darling, what about your fashion?” Rarity asked. “Well, like ponies we don’t usually wear clothes. But there are some changelings who do well at fashion.” “I see.” “Pinkie Pie, you’ve been quiet all this time. I figured you’d ask about what kind of parties we throw.” Wing said then noticing her half flattened mane. “What happened?” “I don’t feel like talking about it.” Wing looked to Sev. “Well buddy?” “Wing, please don’t push it. And don’t you try searching my mind for the answer either!” “Ok! Ok! I won’t!” Wing exclaimed. “So how is your particular hive cultural wise?” “We’re Japoneighse mainly.” “Intriguing.” Twilight continued to write stuff down. Twilight went on for a couple hours asking Wing about changeling society. Wing answering what questions he could. “And I think we’re just about finished.” Twilight said. “For now you mean?” Wing quipped. “Uh hehe yes.” Twilight said. “You better get home to take care of Winter, dear.” Wing suggested to Fluttershy. “Oh um yes I should.” Fluttershy replied. “I’ll be alright Flutters.” “Ok...” Fluttershy replied not sounding sure. “Fluttershy, I need you to put on a brave face, not only for me but for our daughter.” Fluttershy looked up to Wing and put her bravest face that she could on. “That’s my girl.” Wing said smiling. “Wing darling, when you're released. I’m making you the most fabulous suit you’ve ever seen!” Rarity exclaimed. “Thanks Rarity, but you don’t need to.” “Pish posh!” Rarity exclaimed. “I insist on making you a suit.” “Hehe, alright then Rarity. Who am I to argue?” “Rarity, are you serious? This isn’t the time.” Sev said. “Hey, come on you two. Don’t start fighting now.” A guard walked up. “Visiting time’s up.” “Well, you guys can come visit next week.” “Yeah… I’d better get home to Winter.” Fluttershy said as she looked to Wing and smiled again before walking out. Twilight and the others besides Sev followed her. “You tell me if anything happens, ok Wing?” “Yeah Sev, nothing is going to happen.” “Better not.” “Yeah. I just hope Mr. Hooves isn’t too angry at me for hiding the fact I’m a changeling.” “Derpy will be able to talk him down. Don’t worry about it buddy.” Sev followed the others outside. “Sure hope so.” Wing said to himself. ----- Meanwhile Wing’s boss Mr. Hooves the head of the Hooves crime family of the Cloudsdale Mafia was at his home. He had just started to read the newspaper in his study. It was the article on Wing and his capture. The picture was him in his two-face appearance. “I’m gonna kill that mother bucker!” Mr. Hooves roared, slamming the paper onto his desk. Just then, he heard a knock on his door, which averted his attention. “Who’s there?” Mr. Hooves asked the tension in his voice clear. “Your favorite daughter, that’s who!” Derpy chirped. Mr. Hooves trotted over to the door and opened it, hugging his daughter. “Good of you to visit, sweetie.” “Nice to see you too dad, but we have to talk.” “Can it wait? I need to, uh...take care of some business.” “You mean Wing?” Mr. Hooves’ expression turned around once again hearing the question. “How long have you known?” Derpy sighed. “I was delivering mail to his and Sev’s place when they were roommates some time ago. And I was wanting to get back home to Dinky, I rushed in and saw him in his natural form.” “Then what?” “After calming down, with Wing’s help, he explained to me about his hive and its customs.” “So you decided to keep what he told you a secret?” “It was that or he would have had to remove that memory from my mind, a prospect I could tell he didn’t want to do.” Mr. Hooves sighed. “And if I do anything, I jeopardize my relation with you?” Derpy nodded her head. “He’s been like a brother since flight camp.” “Alright. I will spare him for you.” Mr Hooves looked to his desk. “You also shouldn’t worry. He won’t reveal anything about your business. His people have what’s called an oath circle. It means when he swears to something, depending on what it is, they won’t do anything to go against that swear.” “So if he swears he won’t talk…” “He will be unable to do so.” “Good.” Mr. Hooves said. Derpy smiled. “Should we see what mom’s cooking for dinner?” Mr. Hooves chuckled. “Yeah, let’s go see.” The two pegasi father and daughter walked off for the kitchen. ---- Red Changeling Hive Queen Chiton’s Chambers Queen Chiton sighed as her advisers sat at the table they were meeting at to discuss what was to happen. If they were to go to Canterlot to free Schkitz with their special ops troops. “Any suggestions?” Queen Chiton asked. A semi buff changeling, A high ranking military official, stood up. “I say we go in and break him out!” “And risk the already fragile relationship we have with ponykind?” Another changeling asked gobsmacked, standing up. “I agree with the general here. If we’re going to be at war with Chrysalis, we need everyling we can get.” A third changeling scoffed. “I think you’re forgetting, defense minister, that Schkitz is not in some backwater jail. He’s in Canterlot, which is most likely under heavy guard. Any move there will without a doubt raise tensions even more.” The group broke into an argument. The subject was on what decision they should or shouldn't go with. A commanding voice shouted over them all ending the squabble. “Gentlelings!” Queen Chiton shouted silencing the group. “This bickering is pointless! Now I am putting my hoof down on the decision. Schkitz is to stay where he is. To break him out will only cause more tension, tension that we don’t need.” Queen Chiton was quite distraught over the fact, but she kept her voice calm and clear. “We will give it a month or so, then we’ll send someling to check on him. Until then, we can only get what we can from his wife, and we must be careful while doing this as well. Is that understood?” There were murmurs of agreement and nods from the other changelings. “Good.” Queen Chiton said. “Now leave. I wish to be alone.” The various ministers got up from the table and left the room. Queen Chiton was alone to her thoughts. She walked over to a map of Canterlot and looked it over and sighed with dismay. “If only he wasn't disconnected like that,” she muttered. She then turned to Ponyville on the map. ”I wish the best for his wife and child. They’re among the few that share my heartache right now.” Queen Chiton walked away from the map and sat back on her throne. She knew it may be sometime before Wing could be re-connected. But she hoped it would be soon. She also hoped things would soon get better between changelings and ponies.