Meeting the Mane 6 - Part 2
"Um..." Lance started, awkwardly looking at the ponies present. "Was is it something I said?" Lance tilted his head, almost making him look innocent...almost. Twilight stared down at Lance with a blank expression, causing him to squirm uncomfortably against his binds. "So, uh...care to--*cough*--help a guy out?" Lance chirped, smiling sheepishly at Twilight.
The Element of Magic raised an eyebrow "You're asking for love?"
Lance did a spit-take, "What?! What is it with you ponies and thinking I wanna fu--buck you?" Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash and Applejack started another giggling riot.
Twilight shifted as well, her face reddening once more. "And what is it with you changelings with all the sex jokes?..." Twilight stammered.
"Well I'm not the one asking for it!" Lance shot back, his own dark mask glowing with a tinge of...not red, but green.
Rarity noticed this change in color "Excuse me...er, 'sir', but might I ask, are you blushing?" she inquired.
Lance quickly shook his head, while stating: "Nopenopenopenopenopenope" in rapid succession. The sudden movement of Lance's head threw his chair off balance, crashing it onto the floor for the second time. This display of pure idiocy caused the two most athletic ponies in the room to erupt into laughter.
Lance remained on the floor, not moving.
"Oh, man oh, man, this changeling's not so--Hahaha--not so bad!" Rainbow Dash declared, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
Applejack nodded, "Ah dun' think he's much ofa threat, Twi! He's too darn foalish! Ahahaha!"
The laughter died down after a few minutes, Lance appeared to have been knocked out from the crash. Twilight reluctantly poked the fallen changeling, but it elicited no response. Nervously, Twilight looked at her fellow bearers. "Do you think we...killed it?"
Rainbow Dash shook her head "N'ah, their armor's tough as nails. I learned that the hard way, and I mean literally." Rainbow Dash shuddered at the memory, suddenly jerking her hind-hooves.
Twilight nodded, examining the "unconscious" heap of chitin in front of her. Twilight spaced out for a moment, just staring at the Lance, then proceeded to instill magic upon Lance.
"Hey, what are you doing?" asked Rainbow Dash, floating a few inches below the ceiling.
Twilight clucked her tongue as she directed more energy to her horn, causing it to glow a purple hue everypony was all too familiar with. Gritting her teeth she said, "I'm trying out this spell I read about. It's supposed to give the caster a brief overview on the target's intentions. It's kind of like a mind-reading spell but less complicated and less immoral. With this, we'll be able to tell what his Hive is planning"
In a few seconds, the light disappeared from her horn, and Twilight Sparkle let out a slight gasp. "What is it Twi?" the cowpony asked, concern filling her face.
Twilight took another glance at Lance (hey that rhymed) then shook her head. "I sense nothing. Absolutely nothing" Twilight declared, looking quite disturbed.
Rarity eyed the changeling as well. "Whatever do you mean by that, darling?" Rarity asked.
Twilight turned to look at her fellow unicorn "It means I feel no hostility, but no friendliness from it--I mean, Lance."
Applejack bobbed her head in agreement "Ah really doubt dat dis changeling is even evil."
"I'm still having suspicions about it though..." Twilight stated, eyebrows furrowed. Applejack was just about to retort something when a knock on the door drew everypony's attention. "Come on in!" Twilight invited. The door swung open to reveal a butter-yellow pegasus with half her of her face covered by her pink mane. Looking around nervously the newcomer spotted the knocked-out changeling and began to let out an "eep!" sound.
The pegasus took a step back, when a sudden push from behind caused her to come stumbling inside the library. "Come on, Fluttershy! This is no time to be--well, shy! Hey at least that rhymed! Speaking of rhyming I've been thinking of becoming a poet, ooh! Ooh! I have a new rhyme--uh...um...actually it's pretty hard to rhyme on purpose. I think it's, like a curse...wait a minute... Oh hey, is that the Changeling? *gasp* It is! I haven't seen one since I last looked in a mirror! Get it 'cause--" a pink bundle of fur kept bouncing from behind the timid Fluttershy. This sudden burst in liveliness helped everpony in the room to regain their bearings.
Rainbow Dash grinned at them. "Hey, Fluttershy! Pinks, good to see you! What took you so long?"
"Good to see you too Dashie! I had to drag Fluttershy from her cottage when I told her you caught a changeling! I don't think she really likes to meet him...or her...or it!"
"...I'm sorry." Fluttershy whispered, pawing at the floor with her fore-hoof.
Shaking her head, Rarity suppressed a chuckle. "I assure you darling, it's no problem at all. We're just glad you made it to our...er...interrogation."
Fluttershy looked up, a hint of fear on her face. "That sounds awful! You're not torturing the poor thing are you? I mean...he's still a living thing, and um...eep!"
"Now you dun' worry 'bout a thing, Fluttershy. We ain't done no harm to this here changeling. In fact, I reckon it did more harm to itself." Applejack reassured.
Fluttershy visibly relaxed, but looked troubled up again. "Harm to itself? Oh my...what happened? I mean, if you want to tell me that is."
At this, Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. "Haha! That reminds me! It fell to the floor when--hehe--it shook it's head as an answer. Haha, you should have seen him Pinkie...Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash looked around the room and spotted the pink pony squinting her eyes at the unconscious Lance. "Hey Pinks, what are you doing?" Rainbow Dash flew over to Pinkie Pie, when she noticed the look on Pinkie's face. She looked like she was about to barrage them with words.
"You mean he fell crashed the chair from shaking too hard? What happened? That sounds like a really funny story, speaking of which I got a story! One time when Gummy and I visited the Cheerilee's class, everypony was so happy when I brought them cake, balloons, candy, other pastries, the party cannon, an elephant--" Rainbow Dash stuffed a hoof up Pinkie Pie's mouth. Pinkie Pie went on talking, oblivious that her speech was being hindered by a hoof. After she was done with her rant, Pinkie Pie spat out the hoof, then smiled sheepishly at Rainbow Dash.
"Wait--elephant?" Twilight cocked her eyebrow, looking expectantly at Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie merely shrugged then went bouncing off into a room.
Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash wiped her hoof absentmindedly. Rarity opened her mouth to retort something, but quickly decided against it when she noticed Lance stir. "Girls, I think that our guest is starting to wake."
Lance felt heavy, what happened? Oh right, he got teleported to his dad's dream world. 'What kind of sick joke is this?' Lance thought, struggling to get up. Sensing that his appendages were stiff, he opened his eyes then groaned. He was tied. To a chair. On the floor. Then it all came rushing back to him, he was a "Changeling", it was a dangerous species, as stated by his dad. Apparently they "fed on love", whatever that meant. The Changelings had a mother-like queen/mother made queen...And he was captured by the show's main protagonists whose "leader" got her sister-in-law impersonated by the Changeling Queen, "Chrysalis". Oh, and did I mention that he was a changeling? Joy.
Looking around as much as he can, Lance noticed that he was in a sort of library. Lance closed his eyes and tried to recall everything his dad taught him about the mystical land of...Equestria. There were six main characters, who have some sort of badass treasure that can pawn noobs in "10 seconds flat". They were named; *shudder* "Twilight Sparkle", "Rainbow Dash", "Rarity", "Pinkie Pie", "Applesack" and the lat one whose name Lance can't quite remember. Although he remembered something when he was a little kid, his parents were shouting something in the room and Lance could have sworn his father said something along the lines of: "Futashy". Pretty weird pony names.
Lance let out a sigh, OK then. He had recollected the basic info about the characters and now, with the world itself, there were three pony types; Unicorns with their magic, Pegasi with their wings, and Earth Ponies with their...um...earthiness? Well, Earth Ponies probably had it bad. Lance fancied that Earth Ponies could be the equivalent of the oppressed back in his world. There were also sentient dragons, kick-ass griffins, and some "normal" animals like rabbits and dogs.
Now, back to the matter at hand...WHY THE FUCK WAS HE IN EQUESTRIA? Lance took a quick breath then exhaled as quickly. This process repeated until the girls took notice.
"I think he's hyperventilating." Twilight Sparkle mused, looking over at Lance.
'Futashy' appeared to be worried and her aura reflected that. 'Oh right.' Lance thought, while continuing his breathing session 'Changelings can read emotion, that explains a lot...cool...if it weren't for the fact I'm in freakin' Equestria!!'
"Are you...OK, um, 'sir'?" the butter-yellow pegasus flew over to the spazzed out changeling on the floor. Lance kept on breathing, his pattern becoming erratic.
"Ah think we should do something 'bout this. Ah wouldn't want to see anypony dead, changeling or not." 'Applsack' stated, a pensive expression on her face.
Coming to a realization, Lance let out a whooping cough that sounded like a fart. A silence ensued before this brought out mixed reactions from the mares. Rarity looked flustered and disgusted then promptly turned around. 'Futashy' took a step back and hid half of her face (and snout) with her mane. Rainbow Dash took this as another opportunity to laugh her flank off. Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared seemingly out of nowhere and began to roll over, giggling like Dash. Twilight and 'Applesack' had blank expressions on their faces.
Twilight examined the now-stable changeling on the floor. "Are you--...are you alright, Lance?"
Pinkie Pie stopped laughing and turned to look at Twilight Sparkle "Did you just say Lance?"
Twilight nodded he head "It's what the changeling said it's name was."
The pink earth pony stared at Lance like he was some sort of zoo exhibit. He felt like one too, being restrained and gawked at does make you feel like an animal. Unsure of what to do next, Lance found himself returning the gaze, albeit awkwardly.
Those baby-blue eyes appear to scrutinize his Lance's very being soul. Not wanting to back off, Lance foolishly kept up the gaze. After a few intense moments of Lance's and Pinkie Pie's eyes meeting, Lance let out a little yelp. "Stop that!" Pinkie Pie kept on staring. Shuddering, Lance looked away at the last moment, not seeing the pony's features twist into a genuine smile.
"I think we can trust him girls! He seems nice to me!" the upbeat voice of the pink pony said, voice dripping with glee.
Twilight Sparkle did a double-take "We can?"
Lance looked back at the happiest pony in the room "Y-You can?"
"Yep!" she replied simply.
Lance was taken aback. "Thanks? I guess." Lance pondered for a moment, he never expected the ponies--well at least one of them--to trust him so quickly. But then again, this is a little girl's cartoon, of course they'll always be happy and kind and shit. Or so he thought, Twilight Sparkle didn't look too pleased with her friend's revelation of immediate trust.
Twilight cleared her throat "I think you're forgetting why we're here Lance."
"I think so too." Lance quipped.
Ignoring Lance's remark, Twilight continued. "I'm going to ask you one more time." Twilight lowered her head, pointing her horn at the grounded changeling. "Why are you here?" the horn fizzled with magenta energy, spaRks were flying everywhere.
Lance stared wide-eyed at the rapidly-growing sphere of energy atop Twilight's horn. 'Fucking shit! Why is this cunt so freaking violent? What the hell. man! She's just a purple unicorn!' Lance thought. Attempting to dissuade his mind from panicking, Lance cried out the first thing in his mind; "I already told you! I need help I'm not trying to invade or anything! I swear! I Pinkie-Promise!" Lance promptly shut his eyes and prepared for impact.
It never came though, an audible gasp was heard throughout the room, followed shortly by a sound reminiscent to a broken record. Deciding against his better judgement, Lance flipped his right eye open and was met by a pink face smiling widely at him.
'She must waiting for that weird-ass ritual...Ah, to hell with it, I need to do this...' Lance thought. Clearing his throat (which yet again sounded like a methane bomb being released), Lance said "Cross my heart, hope to fly...Stick a cupcake in my eye."
The remaining five ponies in the room looked shocked for a moment. Twilight Sparkle took a step forward "How did you what a Pinkie Promise is?" She looked absolutely puzzled. Lance thought the same thing, how did he know? Why, courtesy of his father of course! But, Lance couldn't say that to Twilight, it would probably stir up some more suspicion.
"Um..." Lance's eyes darted left and right, "...cause I'm a changeling?" he muttered feebly. Twilight stared at him incredulously, then proceeded to bash her face with her hoof.
"Oooh..that's so obvious..." Twilight groaned, face still buried by her fore-hoof. 'Applesack' cocked an eyebrow but said nothing.
Lance fidgeted against his binds once more, but to no avail. "Any more *cough* questions, Sparkle?" Lance croaked.
Twilight Sparkle looked up; her expression brightening. "Yes, actually!" Twilight stated happily. "OK," Twilight cleared her throat "How long were you situated here?"
"I just came by here." Lance replied.
Lance noticed Twilight nod while 'Applesack' merely frowned.
"You're strangely cooperative..." Twilight muttered under her breath; as she magicked a piece of parchment and began writing down with a quill.
Lance shrugged in response, or at least, the equivalent of one when you're strapped down on a chair. "Do you have any other questions?" Lance asked.
Twilight Sparkle shook her head as she set aside the parchment. "That's all for today, Lance."
Lance had a sudden thought, "What are you ponies going to do to me?"
Rainbow Dash flew over to Lance. As Rainbow Dash looked at Lance, she gave out a smirk. "We're just gonna keep 'ya here 'till you rot!"
'Futashy's' eyes widened "Eep!"
"Ugh, OK, until we figure out what to do with you." said Rainbow Dash. 'Futashy' let out a soft sigh upon hearing this.
Lance let out a sigh of his own, followed by a coughing fit. "I f-feel terrible!" Lance sputtered. The mares gave each other uneasy looks while Lance kept on coughing.
Without warning, 'Futashy' hugged Lance in a warm embrace. "You poor thing..." Lance was taken aback by this gesture so much, he stopped coughing. He could feel concern and pity from the pegasus. The seconds went on, and Lance was still in 'Futashy's' fore-arms. Lance could actually feel the energy drifting from the pony to himself. 'So this is how changelings eat...I never thought it would be this...un-perverted'
"HUGS! COUNT ME IN!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in a shrill voice, before leaping and joining the embrace. If 'Futashy' was like a soft pillow, Pinkie Pie was that hard couch you can't sleep on no matter what position you take. Despite the "rough love" Pinkie Pie was emanating, Lance could still detect traces of pure joy. It tasted like sweets.
Lance hated hugs, but loved sweets. 'Damn paradox' Lance thought. Since he was strapped down, he might as well enjoy the meal he was given (no innuendo intended).
Twilight Killjoy-Sparkle decided it was enough "Hey, Pinkie, Fluttershy; stop! You're giving him too much love!! He might--"
Lance took Twilight Sparkle's warning as the cue to break free. With renewed vigor, Lance's hooves broke the binds and consequently pushed the hugging ponies away. "Meanie!" Pinkie Pie cried, pointing an accusatory hoof at the now standing Lance. Lance made a bee-line for the library door, only to be stopped by an invisible wall. Lance crumpled to the floor, rubbing his snout.
Eyes darting left and right, Lance noticed he was surrounded on all sides by the mares. "Shit" Lance muttered.
"That was a bad move, Lance!" Rainbow Dash smirked, eager for action.
"I know." Lance quipped.
"Ya know, I thought you were a pretty chill po--changeling, but I'm gonna have to take you down since you tried to escape. Nothing personal,...precautions, as the egg head called it." retorted Rainbow Dash.
"Hey! I'm not an--"
"M'eh." Lance mumbled, leaning on the force field keeping him in the room. As Lance took in his current situation, he was sure he was fucked...if it weren't for the door bursting open, revealing a gray blur speeding through the doorway; effectively smashing the force-field.
"Delivery for Vinyl Scr--Hey wait...Rainbow? Why are you in Vinyl's hou--...*gasp!*" The newcomer flew over and stared wide-eyed (and wall-eyed) at Rainbow Dash. "I never thought the rumors were true, Rainbow! You are a filly-fooler!"
"Hey! I'm no fi--"
"Anyway where's Vinyl?"
"This isn't Vinyl's...this is Golden Oaks Library..." Twilight Sparkle deadpanned.
"Girls, I think we are forgetting something very important. Something important running out of the library in break-neck speed!" Rarity informed.
Rainbow Dash flared out her wings, "Tsk, I got it! That changeling's not gonna get away from the fastest flier in Equestria!"
The grey pegasus let out another gasp "Are you bisexual?!"
"What the--I am not bisexual, Derpy!"
"Um...Rainbow Dash... the, um changeling is pretty far away now...so maybe if you, um, stopped arguing...I mean, if that's ok with you?"
"Like I said, I got it! Even if that changeling manages one mile, I'll be there to take him...or her... or it...DOWN!" And with those words, Rainbow Dash flew over to chase down the run-away changeling.
Applejack went after Rainbow Dash, saying something along the lines of: "Ah better go too, wouldn't want Dash 'ere to mess up the town..."
"So...shouldn't we go after them? Chasing is actually a pretty fun thing to do! Oooh, now I want to chase them, it will just be like the first game my sisters and I played back in the rock farm. Speaking of sisters--" Pinkie Pie breathed, obviously about to proceed to a rant; when Twilight Sparkle stuffed a hoof in Pinkie Pie's mouth.
"Please Pinkie, we still have to redirect Ditzy Doo to Vinyl Scrath's residence."
Pinkie Pie spat out Twilight Sparkle's hoof, "Okie Doki Loki!"
"Wait, so, I'm not in Vinyl's?...I thought you mares were just having one, big org--"
"Eep!"