//------------------------------// // Chapter Three // Story: Earning Their Trust // by UniqueSKD //------------------------------// Thorax walked inside the orphanage into the main hall, closing the front door behind him with a flick of his magic. Jet Shine wheeled herself to the side of Thorax and positioned her wheelchair so she was facing him. She leaned back in her seat, one hoof on her lap and the other resting under her chin. "So, the new assistant I've got is a Changeling, huh?" she began, looking Thorax up and down, sizing him up with her eyes. "Er, yeah. I guess that's me." Thorax put on his best friendly smile. I hope this is what ponies call a good first impression. Don't want her to feel uncomfortable, he thought to himself. "Don't really understand why they chose a changeling over a pony really, but I guess since you're here now I might as well get you acquainted with how things work around here," Jet Shine said as she turned and rolled herself along. Thorax quickly trotted up to the side of her chair as they walked and talked. To the changeling's surprise, the interior of the orphanage was not made of crystal as the outside appearance would have led anypony to believe, instead his holey hooves touched down upon a soft carpet sprawled over wooden flooring, the walls around him made of concrete and plasterboard, with numerous old timey photos of whom Thorax assumed were probably the previous attendants of the facility. The only things made of crystallized material were the windows, and the large chandelier that hung above from the tall ceiling. "This is unusual. I thought there would be more crystal on the inside?" Thorax wondered out loud. "This orphanage was built by an earth pony who came to live in the Crystal Empire over a thousand years ago," Jet Shine answered, not turning her head to look at Thorax. "If I recall, after this place was finished, the empire's original ruler Princess Amore used her magic to cover the faculty with a layer of crystal to add it to the empire's other buildings, as a gesture of her appreciation for what the pony had done. The insides of this place have remained unchanged ever since." Just as she said that, a crash sounded behind the two, causing Thorax to jump in surprise. They both whirled around to see a picture frame had fallen from the wall, the nail on which it hung having come loose. Jet Shine looked at the large crack in the wall where the nail once was and rubbed the back of her head, eyes looking away from Thorax's. "Although now and then the place does need a bit of, er, restoration to keep it together, to be fairly honest," she said. She coughed into her hoof before twirling the wheelchair around. "Anyway, let's not stand here dawdling around. Your room's over here, ready and set to your liking as requested by Cadance and Shining Armor". Thorax followed behind her along the corridor to a white oak door. Hanging from a nail in the door was a sign made from a plank of wood, with a hastily written name upon it spelled in black paint. 'Thorax'. "In case the sign didn't give it away already, this is your room," Jet Shine said flatly. "You can go in and get familiar with your new living quarters while I go bring the children to the hall for you to meet." The mentioning of the word 'children' brought up a question Thorax had been meaning to ask before. "Speaking of children, where are they exactly?" he asked curiously. His query was answered almost immediately by the sound of banging coming from above their heads, followed by what sounded like muffled laughter. "Playing up in the playroom, to answer your question," Jet Shine replied. She sighed to herself and rolled her wheelchair past Thorax. "Now go on in and know your accommodations. I'll go calm the kids down and bring them downstairs for introductions soon enough." Thorax watched her until she disappeared around a corner before turning to the door leading into his new room, deciding to inspect the place and what it had to offer him. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. The room was average in size, spacious enough for the changeling to move around. In one corner, there was a desk with a few drawers, where he might write letters back to the Crystal Palace to keep the royal couple up to date with his progress, and maybe perhaps a letter to Spike if he got the chance. Next to that there was a large mirror made of crystal, which gleamed brightly in the light. Over in the other corner was a single bed, not quite as grandiose looking as the one he had slept in back in the Crystal Palace, but appeared comfy enough all the same. Next to the door was a wardrobe made of dark oak wood, which Thorax figured would serve him no purpose since he never even wore clothes. On the floor, there lay a simple plain rug, that barely covered up a few of the wooden floorboards. So there wasn't really that much to his new room, but he didn't need much to feel at home. What was in here now would suit his needs. Perhaps, if and when he began earning a wage for himself, he would be allowed to purchase his own things to make his quarters more to his liking. That was a thing ponies did, right? Thorax didn't have time to ponder over the thought when the squeaking sound of wheels alerted him to Jet Shine entering his room. "Alright, Thorax. The children have come downstairs, so come on out here so I can introduce you to them please," she asked. Thorax nodded his head, and she reversed out into the main hall. Thorax quickly walked over to the mirror to check himself over, and did a breathing technique that Princess Cadence had kindly taught him to help him keep calm. Feeling relaxed, he put on his serious face as he gave his reflection one last glance. "Okay, Thorax...time to meet the foals."