//------------------------------// // The Flood // Story: The Dragon and The Changeling // by SlowMoBrony //------------------------------// The castle was silent. Not even Pinkie Pie was emitting her usual excited air about her as she opened the doors to one of the many drawing rooms of the castle, where both Twilight Sparkle and Daring Do were waiting, quietly. “That poor pony. Soarin's dead and he can't even mourn him.” she said quietly. “Did you enquire after the necklace?” asked Daring Do. “Princess Celestia bought it back from her trip to Saddle Arabia, and gifted it to Upper Crust a while back.” replied Pinkie Pie. “This thing can use magic, it can fly. It could wipe us all out in seconds. Why is it playing this game?” contemplated Twilight. “Every murder is essentially the same. They are committed because somepony wants something.” explained Daring Do. “But what does a Changeling want?” Daring released a large sigh. “Twilight, stop it.” she said. “The murderer is as equine as you or I. There's no way that- ” “You're right!” cut in Twilight. “Ah, I've been so caught up with giant beasts that I've forgotten.” Twilight had now broken out of her concentrated stupor and extended a hoof towards the author, an excited look upon her face. “You're the expert!” she exclaimed. Daring Do guffawed. “I'm not. I told you. I'm just a purveyor of nonsense.” “No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Because of plenty of ponies write detective stories.” she explained. “But yours are the best. And why? Why are you so good, Daring Do? Because you understand. You've lived, you've fought, you've had your heart broken. You know about ponies. Their passions, their hope, and despair, and anger. All of those tiny, huge things that can turn an ordinary pony into a killer. Just think, Daring. If anypony can solve this, it's you.” --- For the final time in twenty four hours, the party guests were once again called to meet in the main foyer, the time having gone well into Princess Luna's night. With the loss of Soarin, as well as the pony guard, the list of suspects had dropped, with only four in contention for the title. Twilight stood before one of the massive entrances to the foyer, it's doors sealed. “I've called you here on this endless night, because we have a murderer in our midst. And when it comes to detection, there's none finer. Ladies and gentlecolts, I give you, Daring Do.” Twilight moved to her left, allowing the doors to open wide. And from the doors came Daring Do, looking as exquisite as she had done twelve hours earlier when arriving to the same crowd. Only this time wasn't accompanied with a chorus of applause. She walked calmly, her eyes closed, towards the centre of the room. She opened her eyes the moment she spoke. “This is a crooked castle.” she began. “A castle of secrets. To understand the solution, we must examine them all. Starting with you, Miss Setter.” She pointed a hoof towards the young model. “But I'm innocent, surely?” asked the young mare. “You've never met these ponies, and these ponies have never met you. I think the real Ribbon Stter never left Trottingham. You're impersonating her.” proposed Daring Do. “How silly!” laughed Ribbon Setter. “What proof do you have?” “You said you'd been to the toilet.” “Oh, I know this!” piped up Pinkie Pie. “If she was really posh, she'd say loo.” “Earlier today, Miss Pie and I found this on the lawn, right beneath your bedroom window.” Daring retrieved the locksmith's case from her persons, holding it up for everypony to see. “You must have heard that Miss Pie was searching the bedrooms, so you panicked. You ran upstairs and disposed of the evidence.” “I've never seen that thing before in my life.” Ribbon Setter said defiantly. “What's inside it?” queried Upper Crust. “The tools of your trade, Miss Setter. Or should I say, the Dragon!” accused Daring Do. “You came to this house with one sole intention. To steal the Firestone.” The two mares stared each other down, neither gaze nor smile faltering until Ribbon Setter slowly rolled her eyes round slowly. “Oh, all right then.” Her accent had changed swiftly, from the upper class tones of Canterlot to the harsh hitting notes of Trottingham. “Fair cop. Yes, I'm the bleeding Dragon. Ever so nice to meet you, I don't think. I took my chance in the dark and nabbed it. Go on then, you knobs. Arrest me, sling me in jail!” The Dragon removed her necklace from her neck, the Firestone glinting wildly, the orange shade of the precious jewel catching everypony's eyes. As harsh as her words hit the ear, she threw the necklace towards Twilight, the unicorn catching it with her magic just before it struck her face. “So, is she the murderer?” asked Pinkie Pie. “Don't be so thick.” said the jewel thief. “I might be a thief but, well, I ain't no killer.” “Quite.” said Daring Do. “There are darker motives at work. And in examining this household, we come to you, Jet Set.” The accusatory hoof came to a halt just before the wheelchair stricken pony, the colt nervously looking from one pony to another, looking rather irritable. “Damn it, mare. You and your perspicacity. You've rumbled me.” He let out a lengthy sigh and rose from the wheelchair, walking as fit as any other pony that night. “You can walk? But why?” asked Upper Crust. “My darling, how else could I be certain of keeping you by my side?” He explained further as he registered the look of confusion on his wife's face. “You're still a beautiful mare, Upper Crust. Sooner or later some young colt will turn your head. I couldn't bear that. Staying in the chair was the only way I could be certain of keeping you. Damn you, Ms Do, how did you discover the truth?” Upper Crust was not the only pony to be confused by the scene that had just unravelled. “Er, actually I had no idea. I was just going to say you're completely innocent.” she said. “Oh.” Jet Set suddenly turned a bright shade of beetroot. “Oh.” “Sorry.” “Should I -?” “Sit down?” Daring Do finished for him. “I think you'd better had.” “So he's not the murderer?” asked Pinkie Pie. “Indeed not. To find the truth, let's return to this.” Daring Do took the necklace from Twilight, holding it high for all to see. “Far more than the Dragon's object of desire. The Firestone has quite a history. Lady Crust.” “I've done nothing.” the mare said simply. “You bought it back from Saddle Arabia, did you not? Princess Celestia was not the one who travelled all those years ago. You came home with an unknown illness, and confined yourself to that room for six months, at the request of the Princess herself. In a room that has been locked ever since, which I rather think means -” “Stop, please.” interrupted Upper Crust “I'm so sorry. But you had fallen pregnant in Saddle Arabia.” concluded Daring Do. “Unmarried and ashamed, you hurried back to Equestria, with confidants in tow, both young waiters later to become royal guards. The one who stood guard outside said room, and the guard murdered by our culprit.” “My dear, is this true?” asked Jet Set. Streaks of tears had started to fall from her eyes. “My poor baby. I had to give him away. The shame of it.” “But you never said a word.” “I had no choice.” She explained to her husband. “Imagine the scandal. The family name. I'm from Canterlot. I carry on.” “And it was no ordinary pregnancy.” continued Daring Do. The tears came to a halt. “How can you know that?” she asked. “Excuse me Daring, this is my territory.” interjected Twilight. “But when you heard that buzzing sound in the dining room, you said, it can't be. Why did you say that?” “You'd never believe it. It was forty years ago, in the heat of the Saddle Arabian capital, late on night. I was alone, and that's when I saw it. A dazzling green light in the sky. The next day, he came to the house. Golden Wheel, the most handsome colt I'd ever seen. Our love blazed like a wildfire. I held nothing back. And in return he showed me the incredible truth about himself. He'd made himself look like a pony, to learn about us. This was his true shape.” Upper Crust's horn shone brightly, projecting the shape of a Changeling onto the ceiling of the room. The image covered the entire thing, the green aura of her magic projection coating the entire room eerily. She let go of the spell and continued her story. “I loved him so much, it didn't matter. But he was stolen from me. That year was the year of a great monsoon, an exceedingly rare occurrence for Saddle Arabia. The city's central river rose up and broke its banks. He was taken at the flood. But he left me a parting gift. A jewel like no other. A jewel like no other. I wore it always. Part of me never forgot. I kept it close, always.” “Just like any male.” snorted the Dragon. “Flashes his family jewels and you end up with a bun in the oven.” “A poor little child. Forty years ago, your guards took that newborn foal to an orphanage. But Professor Plum Tart worked it out. He found the birth certificate.” deduced Daring Do. “Oh, that's maiden.” shouted an excited Pinkie Pie. “Maiden name!” “Precisely.” “So she killed him?” asked Pinkie Pie. “I did not.” said Upper Crust. “The murdered guard feared that the professor had unearthed your secret. He was coming to warn you.” “So she killed that one.” “Lady Crust is innocent.” stated Daring Do. “Because at this point, Twilight.” “Thank you.” Daring bowed in appreciation before letting Twilight take hold of the reigns of deduction. “At this point, when we consider the lies and secrets, and the key to these events, then we have to consider it was you, Pinkie Pie.” “WHAT? Who did I kill?” said a quite shocked Pinkie Pie. “No, but you said it all along. The vital clue. This whole thing is being acted out like a murder mystery, which means it was you, Daring Do.” “I beg your pardon, ma'am?” “So she killed them?” “No, but she wrote them.” explained Twilight. “She wrote those brilliant, clever books. And who's her greatest admirer? The moving hoof points at you, Lady Crust.” “Don't.” wailed the mare. “Leave me alone.” “So she did kill them.” “No. But just think. Last night, what were you doing?” asked Twilight. “I was in the library, reading my favourite Daring Do, thinking about her plots, and how clever she must be. How is that relevant?” “Just think!” Twilight turned to the ever-so-quiet Princess Cadance. “What else happened last night?” “I'm sorry?” “You said during the party, earlier this afternoon. Some ponies broke into your house.” Cadance nodded. “That's correct. I did. I discovered the two of them. Thieves in the night. I was most perturbed.” she explained. “But I apprehended them.” “Really? A student of Princess Celestia against two strong crooks in the night? A mare in her forties? Or should I say forty years old, exactly?” accused Twilight. “Oh, Celestia...” “Lady Crust, your child. How old would they be now?” asked Twilight. “Forty. She's forty...” Upper Crust could barely make coherent words. “Your child has come home.” presented Twilight. “Oh, this is poppycock.” laughed Cadance. “Oh? You were taught by Princess Celestia, raised by her practically after she found you in an orphanage.” explained Twilight further. “My daughter, can it be?” “You found those thieves, Princess, and you got angry. A proper, deep anger, for the first time in your life, and it broke the genetic lock. You changed.” explained the detective. “You realised your inheritance. After all these years, you knew who you were. Oh, and then it all kicks off, because this isn't just a jewel. It's a telepathic recorder. It's part of you, your brain, your very essence. And when you activated, so did the Firestone. It beamed your full identity directly into your mind. And, at the same time, it absorbed the works of Daring Do directly from Lady Crust. It all became part of you. The mechanics of those novels formed a template in your brain. You've killed, in this pattern, because that's what you think the world is. It turns out, we are in the middle of a murder mystery. One of yours, Ms Do.” “So she killed them, yes? Definitely?” asked Pinkie Pie one final time. “Yes.” Twilight put simply. Cadance only smiled the entire time, before standing up to leave. “Well, this has certainly been an interesting evening. Really, you can't believe any of this surely, Lady Cruzzt.” “Lady who?” asked Twilight. “Lady Cruzzzzt.” “Little bit of buzzing there, Princess.” teased Twilight. “Don't make me angry.” warned Cadance, a green tinge covering her irises. “Why? What happens then?” asked Pinkie Pie. “Damn it, you poniezz, worshipping your tribal sky godzz. I am so much more. That night, the universe exploded in my head. I wanted to take what wazz mine. And you, Daring Do, with your railway station bookmark romancezz, what'z to stop me killing you?” “Oh, sweet Celestia. My child.” whispered Upper Crust. “What'zz to stop me killing you all?” An unearthly force ripped the form of Cadance from the floor, her body ascending into the air, her eyes now a pure green. Eventually, the same green covered her entire being before shattering to reveal the Changeling hiding inside. Floating, not moving a single wing, it opened it's eyes slowly, and bared fangs for all to see. The wings followed suit, a familiar buzzing filling the room before it screamed an all-mighty roar that shook the very foundations of the room. “Forgive me.” said Upper Crust. “No, no, my dear, come back. Keep away, keep away my darling.” Jet Set struggled to keep his wife from walking straight into the jaws of death. “No. No more murder.” said Daring Do. “If my imagination made you kill, then my imagination will find a way to stop you, foul creature.” Still holding the Firestone, Daring Do placed the jewel back on her persons, and ran out of the room. The Changeling screamed louder than ever and followed the author out of the room, causing most of the ponies to duck out of the way of it's massive size. “Come on, Pinkie! We need to catch them!” ordered Twilight. The detective duo gave chase, struggling to keep up with the massive Changeling. It wasn't long before they had made it outside into the castle gardens, the visible green aura of the Changeling shining brightly against the cool blue night sky. “Over here! Come get me, Princess!” Daring Do's taunting could only just be heard by Twilight and Pinkie Pie. From off in the distance, they could make out that Daring Do had changed direction, the Changeling hesitating in which direction to follow. “Daring, what are you doing?” shouted Twilight as best she could. “It's all my fault, Twilight. If I started this, then I must stop it.” Making their way to where Daring Do was last seen, Twilight could immediately tell where the author was going. On a sign to the left of the path were the words THE LAKES written neatly into the wood. “Come on! She's heading for the lakes! What's she doing?” The two ponies continued the chase. Elegant flowers of all shapes and sizes lined the path to the lakes, the huge pools of water noticeable the moment they turned another corner. At the centre lake, Daring Do stood at the side holding the Firestone aloft, the Changeling hovering nearby, a large magical aura enveloping its horn. “Here I am, the honey in the trap. Come to me, Changeling.” The detectives were now by her side, the Changeling angered ever so more at the sight of the two. “She's controlling it.” observed Pinkie Pie. “It's mind is based on her thought processes. They're linked.” explained Twilight. “Quite so, detective. If I die, then this creature might die with me.” said Daring Do. The Changeling roared once again. “Don't hurt her!” shouted Twilight. “You don't have to do this” You've got the wrong template in your mind!” “It's not listening to you, silly.” said Pinkie Pie. In a flash, Pinkie Pie grabbed the Firestone from Daring Do and threw the precious jewel into the centre lake. As if playing fetch, the Changeling gave chase and plunged into the lake after it. “How do you kill a bug? Drown it, just like it's father.” “Pinkie, that thing couldn't help itself.” said an astonished Twilight. “Neither could I.” The lake was now bubbling slightly, the Changeling drowning as it dove deeper and deeper into the lake. A purple light shone from the depths, lighting up the lake. “Death comes as the end, and justice is served.” said Daring Do. “Poetic.” said Pinkie Pie. Daring Do had time to give one glimpse of a smile before she doubled over in pain. Covering her body was the same purple light as the one in the lake. “Ah, the Firestone!” shouted Twilight, grabbing Daring Do before she could fall. “It's part of the Changeling's mind. It's dying and it's connected to Daring!” Slow moments passed as both Twilight and Pinkie Pie could do nothing to help Daring Do. Before too long, the purple lights disappeared from both the mare and the lake. Unlike the breath of the Changeling, Daring Do was still alive and well. “Let her go. Right at the end, the Changeling decided to save somepony's life.” said a relieved Twilight. “Is she OK though?” asked Pinkie Pie. “I think so. She's out cold so she probably just needs to rest up a bit. Come on, let's get her back inside the castle.” --- 3 DAYS LATER “Do you think anypony will ever know what happened a few nights ago?” Both Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie were on the train back to Ponyville, their stay at Canterlot Castle now at an end. Although the case had officially closed the night the Changeling had sacrificed itself to save Daring Do, it was off the books. No professionals were at the scene, and who would believe such a story? “No one'll ever know, Pinkie” said Twilight. “For the high class guests, it's too shameful a story to tell. Too Canterlot. The Dragon managed to slip away, who knows where to but I don't think she'd blab about it. As for Daring Do herself...” “Yeah, any word on how she's doing?” asked Pinkie Pie. “I did check in with her at the Royal Canterlot hospital before we left. Health-wise, she's doing well. Unfortunately, she's developed amnesia of the entire event. As far as she is concerned, she's never met us nor has she ever met the Canterlot ponies before. I don't think she has entirely forgotten what happened though, kept complaining about a buzzing noise. The biggest thing to sort out was breaking the news of Soarin's death to the Wonderbolts. I won't be forgetting their emotions any time soon. Don't know if I should explain it to Rainbow Dash or just leave it the press conference they hope to hold soon.” “So, we solved the case of The Dragon and The Changeling, saved perhaps a dozen, if not more, pony lives, and discovered that Princess Cadance was in fact a hidden Changeling all along.” finished Pinkie Pie. “Actually, Princess Cadance is still Princess Cadance.” started Twilight. “The Cadance we encountered was the same case as Queen Chrysalis, a Changeling all along. When Cadance was attacked that night, the Changeling was in fact the one that had broken into her house on the same night it had awoken. Once it had subdued her, it took on her form and paraded around for the next twenty four hours as the Princess of Love.” “So, case solved?” “Yes, Pinkie. Case solved. Onwards and upwards.”