//------------------------------// // Answers // Story: Fortunate Misfortune // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// I have still found no scientific benefit as to why changelings, on average, are smaller than ponies. If observered in their true form, a changeling of average size will be a few inches shorter in both length and height. Does it help increase stealth? Does it help them survive in the desert? The world will never know. -excerpt from Among the Shapeless by Wanderlust. ——————————————- I nervously stared at Redheart’s door. I’d been standing here trying to work up the courage to knock for some time, but still hadn’t. “M-maybe I should just pretend I forgot. No, then she’ll tell the Royal Guard... whoever that is. I could... uh... oh queens I don’t know what to do!” I groaned and slammed my head against the door. “...Why did I do that?” Apparently Redheart heard the sound because moments later she opened the door. “Oh... you actually showed up.” I nodded and scuffed my hoof against the ground. “Well... yeah.” “Come in, I guess.” I followed her to a room with some chairs in it and sat opposite her. We both avoided eye contact as we sat in silence. Finally Redheart chuckled, “To be honest, I was hitting myself all day because I was sure I’d just made the dumbest decision of my life, and that you were just going to run as soon as you left. I debated telling somepony, but decided against it.” “...Then why did you let me go? Why didn’t you tell anyone?” She shrugged. “I just kept thinking about during the invasion. You fully intended to risk getting hurt to protect us because we’re your friends. And I just... I couldn’t see the pony who did that foalnapping and trying to hurt ponies.” I remained silent as she spoke. I wasn’t sure what to say. She knew I was a changeling and yet she didn’t seem too bothered by it. I gathered my courage and asked, “So... you don’t care that I’m... you know....” “A changeling? To be honest, I’m still in shock about that, and you definitely have some explaining to do. But I’m pretty confident you aren’t my enemy.” “Really?! Why? that makes no sense! I’m a changeling and you’re a pony, I’m pretty sure we’re natural enemies!” I froze and sheepishly shrank back into my seat after my outburst. Redheart giggled and said, “Because you’re just as goofy and sincere as the Broken Mirror I became friends with. But still, I want to know what happened.” “What do you mean?” “You know, why you’re here? Why you’re doing whatever you do? There has to be some story as to why a changeling showed up less than a month ago and decided to stick around for no apparent reason other than he liked it here.” “Oh... that. Well, I guess it all started with the Queen’s speech....” And so I told her everything. How I was left behind, how I came up with my disguise, my first few days in town, everything. By the time I was wrapping up the sun was beginning to set. “So basically I just decided that I’d stay here and live like a pony. I mean, what else am I going to do?” Redheart sighed and looked at the wall. “Alright, I believe you. I won’t tell anypony about this.” I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d suddenly started holding. “However, you are on thin ice mister. I even catch a whiff of you doing something less than benign, I will have your buggy flank in jail before you can say ‘whoops.’” I nodded and Redheart smiled. “Good, now let’s get some food. I don’t know about you but I’m starving.” “I’m quite hungry as well, but I’m glad that this is behind us.” Redheart chuckled. “Oh no it isn’t. Starting tomorrow you’re coming by every week so I can research you. I might be letting you keep your secret, but I am definitely not passing up the opportunity to perform a physical on a member of a recently discovered species.” I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Why? I didn’t think you were all sciency.” She shrugged. “It won’t all be just scans and tests, you’ve gotten me curious about changelings in general. I really want to know more about your species.” “Alright, I don’t see why not.” She clapped her hooves together. “Great! But before we get started on that, it’s time to eat.” All in all, I am simply glad that I not only got to keep my identity secret, but I got to keep one of my friends as well.