The Greatest Show of Kindness
Chapter Fifteen: Questions
“Hey!” a slightly gruff, low voice said. “Wake up!”
The voice belonged to a dark blue Pegasus stallion, whose mane and tail were blood-red, with a cutie mark that depicted the talking mouth of a pony, of which was speaking at a jailed criminal.
“Nggg…” Bumble mumbled, trying to roll over to his side.
He found that he couldn’t, and became alert immediately. His ears heightened while he tried to hear where he was.
“M-Mommy?” he asked, shivering. The room around him had a stony fragrance, which is to say none at all, and a cold mist surrounded his body. “It’s really cold right now…”
“You awake?” the voice said. It was slightly less forceful than it was at first.
“…Mommy?” Bumble responded.
“…No, I’m-“ the pony started.
“Mommy!” Bumble shouted, trembling with sobs. The guard looked confusedly.
“I’m not your mother!”
“Where’s my mommy!?”
“I don’t know! Be quiet!”
As the guard yelled at him, Bumble’s tears dripped from his face, down onto a freezing, uninviting table that laid below him. The pool spread underneath his chin, wetting his chitin. He clenched his fangs as tightly as he could.
The guard looked down at the crying changeling in pity. His face changed from anger to sadness as he slightly slumped in the chair.
“Hey… stop crying…”
“H-Huh?”
“Stop crying, please. Just… stop.”
“Wh-What do you c-care? I-I’m a changeling, and y-you hate m-me…”
“I don’t hate you.”
“You d-don’t?”
“No. I may not like you, but I’m not cruel. Besides, hatred is for the weak, and I’m not weak. You’re young, too, aren’t you?”
“Yeah…”
“I couldn’t hate a child. It goes against everything Equestria was made for, which is love and tolerance. But anyway, I’m going to ask you some questions. If you answer them and give me the information I want, you can go home to your ‘mommy.’ Okay?”
“O-Okay.”
“Are you cold? You’re shivering.”
“A little bit…”
“Do you want a blanket?”
“Yes, please.”
“Okay.”
The guard stood up from a chair he was sitting in and went out of the room. The granite door opened with a deceptively loud creak as he disappeared. A minute later, he came back with a wool blanket. He unfolded it, laying it over Bumble’s form. Bumble relaxed in his spot and rested his head on the table.
“Better?”
“Yeah. Thank you very much, sir.
“All right. The weather’s nice today, isn’t it?”
“I can’t see, sir.”
“What do you mean you can’t see?”
“I’m blind, sir. I can’t see anything, even if my eyes are open.”
“That’s not good at all. Why are you blind?”
“Well, the last thing I remember before I was blind was my mama picking me up and us flying away from Canterlot. I had my head tucked into her belly, so I wasn’t seeing anything. I think it was a few minutes later that I felt my back slamming against something hard. I saw red and green and yellow, and I woke up blind.”
“Oh. Did you hit your head?”
“No, I don’t think so. I could have.”
“Okay. What did you do after that?”
“My mama picked me up and she brought us both back to the hive-”
“Before you go any further, what is the hive? Where is it? What does it look like?”
“The hive is the place where all changelings live. It’s all black, like… that one rock that the fire mountains make.”
“Fire mountains?”
“Yeah, you know. The mountains that shoot out ash and fire.”
“You mean a ‘volcano?’”
“Uh, I guess? I’ve never heard that word before.”
“No? We’ve sidetracked too much. Where was I?”
“Uh…”
“Oh, yes. Where is the ‘hive?’”
“I don’t know what the area is called. I know that it’s orange, but that’s all that I could see from inside the hive. We were never allowed to leave.”
“Didn’t you see it when you were flying out?”
“No. There were too many changelings to see through.”
“Oh. Do you know if it was sandy? Rocky?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Hmm…”
“What else is the ‘hive’ like?”
“Well, it has three different areas. The smallest is the markets area, which is at the west. The castle district is the next biggest, and the biggest is the housing area. How else can I say what it looks like?”
“Well, what does the castle look like?”
“It looks a lot like what the castle in Canterlot looks like, on the outside. I don’t know what it looks like on the inside.”
“Hmm… I assume that your queen lives inside.”
“Her, and the princess.”
“You have a princess?”
“Yeah. Her name’s ‘Chryssy.’”
“How’s she like?”
“She’s really nice, but she can be stubborn, too.”
“Did you know her personally?”
“Yeah. She would sneak out of her castle to come to my home. I mean, all we’d ever really do was talk, but it was company. I had no real friends except for her.”
“That’s nice of her. What kind of things would you talk about?”
“Whatever was on her mind, really. If she was happy, she’d just go on and on about whatever she was happy about, or if she was sad or angry, she’d tell me why she was angry.”
“Hm… would you ever talk about her home life?”
“She didn’t like to talk about her life in the castle. When I ask her about it, she would always say that her mother was always doing stuff that she didn’t agree with.”
“Like what?”
“She said that Queen Chrysalis was always saying things about how to ‘conquer and cease.’ Whatever that means.”
“Did she ever say any of the plans?”
“No. Not with me. That’s treason in the hive.”
“Hm… Okay.”
The guard took a checklist and wrote the information that he had heard until this point down, which wasn’t much. All that he had down for location was that the area surrounding the hive was “orange,” and that the hive was large and dark, made out of an obsidian-looking rock. He wrote down that he knew nothing of the plans that Chrysalis had in store, and that there was a princess.
"So, you don't know anything about where the hive is or your queen's plans?"
"No."
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
He stood up and walked out of the room. He turned left and went down a long hallway, with rooms lining both sides. He walked all the way down through a door on the very end, which through led to a staircase that he trotted up. At the top, he entered a room where a white stallion with a light-blue mane and tail was. He was overlooking the town, scouting for the changelings he felt such a strong loathing towards.
“Captain Shining Armor, sir!” he addressed, putting a hoof to his head.
“Yes, Private Word Twister?” he answered, turning around.
“This is the report of the changeling I just interrogated,” he informed, offering the clipboard over. Shining Armor grabbed it in his magical grasp,
“Looks like little to me. We’ve already confirmed that it’s in the badlands, and that none of the changelings are going to tell us about Chrysalis’ plans. It is new information to me that the hive is made out of some black material, though. I also didn't know that they had a princess. Still, there isn’t enough information here to be able to let it go yet, so send it on the next chariot to Canterlot,” he ordered. Word Twister looked hesitantly for a moment.
“…It’s a child, sir,” he informed.
“The changeling? That doesn’t matter. It could still have valuable information that it’s hiding from us. Send it off, Private.”
“But-“
“Private, Do not argue with me about this. Send it off.”
Word Twister looked down in guilt for a moment before glumly turning around and walking back to the interrogation room.
"Well, since you didn't supply enough information, we're having to ship you off to Canterlot," he informed, gaining a face of shock from Bumble. "Now, I've seen what they do to changelings in Canterlot, so I have some advice: Listen to what they say. Do not argue with them and you'll have an easier time," he whispered.
"...Okay. Thanks, I guess."
Within the hour, Bumble had been loaded onto an armored chariot, off to Canterlot.
Oh my god this is so sad!
I now really want to see Fluttershy just burst into the jail at Canterlot all "Where's my baby?"
On principle, I can't say I like what is being done to the poor thing. However, the chapter was good.
Ok I hate Shinning Armor now. Thanks!
Ok Shining Armor was a bit if a ass there, but I really hope Fluttershy gets her son back!
4459760 I'm glad you enjoyed it.
4459799 As Dan Howell (danisnotonfire) says, and I quote:
"That place was filled with GIANT DICKHEADS."
ah yes the pass time of Mr. Armor's douchebaggery continues! Truly the greatest of legacies
psssst, I can't wait for more BTW.
4459866 Oh, thanks.
Wheres discord when needed?
You don't move a prisoner unless you have a very good reason. Aside from making escape easier, it unsettles them and makes them less willing to talk.
Ponyville is safe and secure enough, so there's no external pressure to move.
Bumble answered every question without resistance and his answers were verified by what they already knew, so there was no functional pressure to move either.
They need to provide rewards and punishments to keep him talking, but what they did is promise a reward - going home - and switched it with a punishment - going to canterlot - when he did as they asked. Now he expects to be punished no matter what he does, and knows his captors are liars. He has no reason to cooperate.
They should have continued questioning him until he became uncooperative, not until they ran out of questions. That was terribly incompetent of them.
They even missed the obvious questions, like "What did you do in the invasion of Canterlot?", which would let them know his skill set and thus open avenues for further questions. Or "Why were you in Ponyville?", to determine if this was a plot against the elements or such. The also didn't ask who his "mommy" is.
Also: Shining Armor has a critical conflict of interest. He should never have been allowed to participate in an investigation of a species who brainwashed him and amontillado'd his wife, let alone lead it. I can't see either diarch risking poor judgement like that. Luna would be a good choice, as her presence is intimidating enough that threats should not normally be required and she doesn't have much else to do.
*Growls* they are starting to get this Wolf Angry and that is NOT a smart idea!!!!! *As the Growl escapes, the Stars and Galaxies in my wings start to move down onto my furry body, as my hidden form starts to emerge*
Damn speciesists...
Shining. Is. Pissing. Me. The. Hell. Off.
Thanks for making me loathe Shining! Bumbles a kid! If he fully didn't know anything else how's scaring him witless gonna be effective?
But happy for the update! Hopefully Luna or Celestia won't let harm to foal.
SHINING ARMOR, WHAT THE FUCK?!!!!!!
Seeing Shining's reaction to Bumble, namely referring to him as "it", speaks volumes about how the changeling invasion affected him. Granted, it doesn't excuse sending off a child to where there will likely be no one sympathetic to him, and the increased likelihood of torture.
If he's lucky, they won't do any "beatdowns" and just waterboard him. Still, simulated drowning is cruel and will cause severe trauma to the poor child. Hopefully, there will be someone who is sympathetic towards him, but I doubt it. There might be an attitude of, "If the Captain is okay with treating the prisoners like this, then we'll be okay with it too."
I was pleasantly surprised that Bumble was able to meet a pony who was kind to him outside of Fluttershy. I say that because the Elements of Harmony tend to be best examples of Equestrian values, which they failed miserably, and other ponies might not measure up.
I hope that Fluttershy will attempt to rescue Bumble. As a previous commenter said, I don't think she will be punished for her actions when Bumble was taken, since they believed that she was under his control. It'll be what she does after he is removed that will force their hands, or hooves. In which case, I imagine that compassion and understanding will be in very short supply.
I can't wait for the next chapter, and hopefully we'll see Fluttershy go all Warrior Mode to save Bumble. That is unless the Elements are tasked with the transfer. I doubt it, but a showdown between Fluttershy and Rainbow would be something I'd love to see.
Yes um Canterlot guard head quarters, I have Shining's new armor! Belonged to some guy named Lensher had some codename for himself what was it, Magnus, Magnum... something like that.
Shining is being a dick.
Can Fluttershy go all mama-rage and win Bumble back already?
I said it once I'll say it again
NOT EVEN MY HIVE GOES AFTER CHILDREN and if somehow we did we would never torture a child.
Behold! My hatred for Shining Armor is reborn into new heights! Seriously Shiny... you were supposed to be a good guy... now look at you... hating on a child... A flipping blind child! Now I will eagerly wait for the next chapter.
4460005 Fault on the author's part..
4459799
Me too. He's just a guard doing his job but he also values morals. Maybe he will help out some way say writing a letter to the princesses for the heads up or if he sees fluttershy, at least tells her where bumble is.
"What was that Shining!? Couldn't hear you over the grind of this here blade sharpener!!"
SUDDENLY, BASTARD APPEARS!!!!!!! BASTARD USES SEND BLIND KID TO BIG CITY TO BE TORTURED!!!!!!!!! IT'S HORROBLY EFFECTIVE!
NEXT CHAPTER PLEASE
Love the story. but I would love to see Fluttershy go angry mother bear on Shining Armor and the other elements for their treatment of Bumble.
Post-Canterlot Wedding Equestria is a lot like post-Nine Eleven America, isn't it?
4465060 A little bit, now that I look at it.
Here, we see the rare species Shinius Dickius Armorius in his natural habitat.
I'm honestly scared for the next chapter...Please don't let Bumble get tortured.
Btw Sonik, thanks for making my tears flush out my contacts... I knew 'little bee' was gonna cry for fluttershy!
4468625 I did it just for you.
4468943
...much to my delight... You owe me a new pair of lenses! XD
4470827 Just please send your social security number to this location:
*REDACTED*
This is some realy serius, heavy stuff incoming next chapters.
Update?
4460005 I concur, Shiny being the one to head this is the most stupid and idiotic thing that Tia and Luna could ever come up with.
Also: FUCK MY LIFE!! ... I'm caught up...
4465810 He's so dangerous, he'll send you to be tourtured in a heartbeat... I'm gonna poke em with a stick.
4463674 And your spelling is even more horrible...
4478726 I'm glad you're enjoying it!
4478789 HE'S ANGRY!!
UPDATE???:
Just wanted to share this little gem I came across the other day http://www.fimfiction.net/story/130133/bloom
It's a shame the author has not updated, but at least the last chapter ends on a good note. It's told in the perspective of a day old drone changeling and it's too bad it's overlooked. Maybe if more read and comment, the author will update
4488078 I'm actually in the middle of writing the next chapter. It's just that finals are next week, and my Math and Japanese finals (though I am good at both subjects and an aspiring Japanese speaker), I'm really focused on them, because my Math final is cumulative for the entire year, and my Japanese final covers all three years of what I've learned so far. So, I'm a tad busy to really focus on writing the next chapter. Come summer, though, and these should start to come out more frequently than they are now.
In actuality, this story is almost over. I predict there to be a maximum of five chapters left, so, yeah.
4489174
Oops! You misread my post. I was referring to the other changeling story "Bloom" I know you will update shortly, I just wanted to point the other story out since it involves Fluttershy helping a baby changeling.
My heart is literally hurting from the feels.
Ok, the mane 6 is now 5 and damed, hluttershynis now bitterrage. And bumbble is gone from his mother again.
Shining armor is a idjit and im pissed.
Anyway, great chapter and update asap.
Grrr... Shining why you be so stylish?
4583568 stylish? O.o lol on my phone right now can't do emoticons or edit I meant stupid (dumb Autocorrect >:( )
that's harsh, shining armour. Seriously? You hear it's a child and all you think about is what information it could provide? What the hell happened to the honourable big brother that twilight had, cos you clearly ain't him