//------------------------------// // The Balance // Story: Flight // by wkblack //------------------------------//         Two minutes hadn't passed before Canary realized she was lost. Lazy bug. Why didn't he come with me? Canary frowned. He could have at least given me better directions than 'turn left when you feel happy'.         She started following a green strip in the wall that forked and pulsed like the veins of some giant creature. Glowing rooms lined the walls, interspersed with hundreds of smaller tunnels that hosted a continuous flow of traffic. Every room felt the same, each glowing with an identical green light—it was as if she were trapped in some sort of dream. Canary sighed.         “Hi! You're lost!”         An inverted changeling stared her in the face, making Canary jump back. In a flutter of wings he righted himself and landed on the ground.         “You're Canary?” Looking her up and down he added, “You've had an emotional adventure recently.”         Slightly annoyed, Canary asked, “Sorry, have we met?”         The changeling shook his head. “Not personally, but I know you from the hivemind.” Sensing Canary's confusion, he explained. “When we get back from a hunt, we give all our emotions to the queen. When she redistributes them, we see each others memories and can work as one.”         The changeling smiled reassuringly, but Canary's skin was crawling. Is Echo sharing his memories too?         The changeling interrupted her train of thoughts. “So what lured you into the storage hallway?”         “Just looking around.”         “Well you're awfully stressed for someone 'just looking around.' Let me take some of that off you.” The changeling closed its eyes and breathed in slowly while a vein of yellow spiraled in the changeling's shell.         “Hey! You can't just… take my…” Canary suddenly lost motivation to speak as her indignation melted away.         “Don't worry about it,” the changeling assured her. “Having less fear will help you think more clearly. Nothing to worry about.”         To the contrary, Canary felt, deep down, that she should be worrying a lot about having her emotions eaten, but a wave of apathy kept her from protesting.         Canary felt a tug at her tail and turned around. A smaller changeling stood behind her, though she may have only looked small because of her posture.         “Did—Did you like it?”         They always assume I know what they're talking about. “Sorry, what?”         The changeling shrunk slightly. “The bed—was it okay?”         Canary chuckled. “After staying in Korporis, a leaf bed was the most comfortable thing in the world.”         The changeling stood tall and beamed while a streak of blue crossed her shell.         “She was the drone who made your bed,” the first changeling explained.         “Oh, thank you so much!”         The changeling bowed her head to the ground. “It's just the queen's love running through me.” After a second smile, she scurried down the hallway.         Canary turned back to the first changeling. “What did she mean by that—the queen's love running through her?”         The changeling paused, searching for the right words. “The queen acts like a nexus, redistributing love. Whenever we do something she would want us to do, we get a little burst of love from the queen that she had stored within us.”         “Ah, so the hive is based on reward—that's what keeps it running.”         “What?”         “I've been wondering how the hive stayed so organized—at first I thought it was some sort of mind control, but since love is what you live for, there's no better reward than a burst of love from the queen. That's how she keeps you all obedient.”         The changeling frowned. “But that's not why we obey. Libra is more like our mother than our employer.”         “So it's out of duty?” Canary nodded to herself. “Even though that other changeling was shy, she fulfilled her duty.”         The changeling stared upwards and tapped his chin. “It's odd that she would act so shy—she should have equalized with the collective by now.”         “What, you expect her to behave exactly like yourself?”         The bug laughed. “Of course! When Libra redistributes our emotions we return to equilibrium.”         Canary's eyes widened. Is that happening to Echo too‽         “Speaking of which,” the changeling started, “did you want to see Libra?”         Returning from her thoughts, Canary managed a nod. Each step down the hallway sped the swirling clouds in her mind. Is Libra equalizing Echo as well as the drones? This is like mind control! Why would he come here! Why would anyone stay here on purpose‽         “Sorry, what was your name?” Canary asked.         The changeling's mouth hung open before he answered. “I'm just a drone—we don't keep names.”         Canary frowned. “But Libra is the queen of your hive, and she has a name!”         A response from the right wall made her jump. A changeling stuck out from the wall above, lying in a tunnel barely taller than itself.         “Yes, but she's the exception. The queen names herself. If a drone named itself, their connection to the hivemind would be severed—no more shared memories, no more emotional balance, no more love from the queen.”         “And those things are bad?”         The changeling buzzed down and landed beside Canary, uncomfortably close. “Unless you're the queen herself, it's fatal. Staying nameless allows us to completely share our emotions so the hive's in balance. Without our link to Libra and the rest of the hive, we'd all be off-balance emotionally. Without the right mix of emotions, you die a slow and empty death.”         Canary frowned. So it's out of fear then, that Libra keeps them controlled. “But Echo has a name.”         The first changeling's wings stood on edge. “Yes. And it nearly killed him in Korporis. Don't you remember how sick he was when you first met him?”         “He wasn't sick.”         “Not physically sick—emotionally sick. Don't you remember how grey his shell was?”         Canary lifted an eyebrow. “What does his shell have to do with anything?”         Before the first changeling responded, the new changeling picked up the conversation. “Our shells reflect our mood. The emerald green we are now means we're healthy. So try and remember: when you first met Echo, what color was his shell?”         Though she could remember the scene perfectly, the world had seemed so black and white with only mossglow for light. “It was hard to tell. I think he was red when I first saw his real form.”         The first changeling's ears perked up. “Oh, you must have really liked him by then. Many of us thought he had died down there, before you relit him. You saved his life by being there.”         “Speaking of which, where is he?” the other asked.         “Oh, he wasn't feeling too well.”         A frown flashed across the talkative changeling. “What do you mean? Was his shell changing color?”         Canary closed her eyes. “I don't remember. He just said he was tired—he just didn't have energy to do anything… I guess his shell may have looked greyer than usual.”         The first changeling turned around, scowling. “This is why naming yourself is so dangerous!” He growled and broke into a gallop. “You could die without anyone noticing!” Before he got far, the other changeling followed suit.         What's wrong with them? Canary caught up with the rear changeling, whose shell was now a bright yellow. “Wait up! What's wrong?” The changeling responded without looking over. “Greying is a short step from death. If Echo is greying, it means he's losing all his emotions. He'll have no drive to do anything.” The other changeling interrupted. “You need something to live for; why else would we live?” “If it's really bad, he could even lose the drive to eat. That's why greying is so terrifying—he may never eat again. Changelings that have gone completely grey are impossible to save.”         Canary winced at the pain of her legs complaining at being pushed so hard. “But Echo was fine—just a bit apathetic.”         “Exactly,” the changeling responded. “For creatures that feed on emotions, apathy means death.”         Canary and the other two changelings burst into Echo's cave and tackled him to the ground.         Echo's voice squeaked out from under the three bodies. “Why—are you crushing me‽”         “You're greying! We can't let you do that!” the talkative changeling said.         “I'm fine,” Echo protested.         Canary stepped off, still unsure of what was going on.         The two changelings still held tight and cried out, “You aren't 'fine'. Look at your shell!”         Echo glanced back and saw his shell was a pale olive green. “Heh. I've been worse than this and come out fine. Compared to Korporis, this is nothing.” On seeing the two changelings' shells he said, “Look at yourselves—you're as yellow as Canary!”         The two other changelings glanced at each other then laughed nervously.         “Well,” one began, “we may have overreacted.”         “A bit.”         “Canary had a lot of worries—”         “we couldn't absorb them all—”         “but you are turning grey.”         “How did you survive in Korporis so long?”         “We missed you so much!”         “When your connection broke, we wanted to save you—”         “but Libra said it was too dangerous!”         Canary chimed in as well: “Were you really that grey in Korporis? You seemed fine to me.”         Echo pushed the the two changelings off and smiled. It had been a long time since he'd heard his siblings' scattered dialogue. “Yes, I was that grey in Korporis. Remember what I told you back in Korporis? After NightFlower died, I lost the will to go on—I was an empty shell, only moving out of habit. My body was starving for love, but I had no desire to love again. That's why I started to die.”         The second changeling chimed in, “But how did you survive so long?”         Echo nuzzled his head between his hooves. “I don't know… I think being a guard reminded me of NightFlower.”         The talkative changeling shook its head. “I may never understand you, Echo—getting energy from a dead bat—you keep doing the impossible.” He took a few steps towards the exit then added, “Nice to meet you Canary! I'm sure we'll cross paths again.”         The other changeling shrugged and said, “Well I'm glad I get to spend some quality time with you anyway.” After a quick smile she left the two of them alone.         Canary laid down on Echo's left, silent for a minute. “What's it like being grey?”         Echo remained in silence before answering. “You lose all your motivation and hope for the future. There may be things you want to do that you normally love, but you can't motivate yourself to do them. You just feel like there's a huge anchor tied to your chest, holding you back. I don't know… Emotions are what keep you moving forwards in life. It's hard to move on when you lose them.”         Canary sidled up to Echo and spread her right wing over him. “It sounds awful.”         Echo pressed his head into Canary's neck. “I'm so sorry you were hurt because of me. Changelings usually hate fighting. Since we feel the emotions around us, we feel our own punches. Turning grey put me beyond feeling—I was emotionally numb. That's the only reason I could stand to betray you to the Storm.”         He took a deep breath. “Please forgive me. I wasn't myself—at least, not my best self. It's like trying to run with a weight vest on—you just can't function at full capacity. Please don't be angry at me for what I did!”         Korporis still made her life a nightmare—the scars were fresh. But Echo was a beam of light through the darkness—no matter how dark it was and no matter how dim the light, it would always pierce the darkness. Words couldn't describe the emotions flowing through her, so she kept her mouth shut. Canary pulled the weeping changeling into her chest and imagined pouring all her emotions into him.         Echo's tears dried as he felt Canary's heartbeat. “Thank you Canary.” « ~ »         Canary's eyes slid open at the sound of marching hooves. As her world shifted into focus, she found herself surrounded by hundreds of changelings marching past her in perfect unison. It was the first hallway she'd been in, lined with its hundreds of cavities. The procession of changelings marched straight for the throne room to worship their queen.         She tried to stand up and call for Echo, but a passing changeling knocked her down. Each time she tried to rise, another changeling knocked her down. Pushing her way through the swarm, she called out for her bug. Where is he‽ Canary climbed onto a rock in the middle of the hall and scanned the walls for Echo. There she saw him, standing in one of the cavities.         “Echo!”         The changeling didn't flinch.         Waving wildly, Canary shouted out. “Down here! Echo! It's me!”         Echo looked down at her like she were a worm dried onto a rock. “Who are you?”         Canary frowned. “It's me! Don't you recognize me?”         From behind her bug, a carbon copy of herself stepped out. “Look,” it said, “that drone thinks it's unique!” The two of them laughed.         Canary looked down at her hooves which were covered in shining black chitin. Eyes wide, she looked back up at Echo. “No! I'm Canary! Me!”         Echo snorted. “Keep walking drone. I don't know you.” Echo pulled in Canary's clone towards himself and retreated with her into the cave.         “No! Wait!” Canary reached out her hoof towards them, but a new wave of drones knocked her to the floor and trampled her body. Canary covered her head and held her breath.         The trampling hooves died away in the distance and a single set of hooves approached. Canary squinted open one eye and saw Libra standing above her.         Canary covered her face and cried out. “Don't hurt me!”         Libra smiled softly. “I could never,” she said, extending a hoof.         Though she looked like the enemy, her love felt genuine enough. Taking her hoof, Canary climbed back onto her hooves.         “You have a beautiful emotional spectrum,” the queen said, sizing Canary up. “Fear, hate, love, gratitude, confusion—you're a masterpiece!”         Canary wiped a budding tear from her eye. “Um… thank you, I suppose.”         Libra beamed. “Yes, you've made a great addition to the hive.”         “About that…” Canary looked away. “There's… I've…”         “Go on: say it. You're among friends here.”         Canary growled. “It all feels so fake. How can they not have names‽ You're draining them of all their individuality! They're like mindless insects under your control!”         Libra nodded. “They may seem identical to you, but each one of them is unique to me. Every one has unique features, both physical and emotional, that distinguish them from the rest.”         “But they don't even have names! They share everything: their memories, their emotions—How can you call them individuals‽” Canary pointed her hoof in accusation. “You're a tyrant! The changelings can't even survive without you! They're forced to be your slaves!”         Libra shook her head. “It's not blind obedience like a slave to their master; it's sighted obedience. They choose to obey out of love.”         “But they're terrified of what would happen if they named themselves. Echo nearly died from naming himself!”         For the first time, Libra's expression grew serious. She examined Canary carefully before responding. “The unity they have isn't that of a mindless hoard. They might look mindless, but they are far from it. Though they share their emotions, they never share their hearts—those are always unique. They don't fear me, and they're not working out of duty or reward—their motivation is completely different: they only act out of love. Any feeling will pause our hunger, but only love gives us lasting satisfaction.”         Libra paused to let her words take root in Canary's heart. “They choose to love me, and I choose to love them. We balance each other and keep each other alive.”         The clouds in Canary's mind began to clear. “That's a bit like our relationships, between pegasi.”         “Exactly! The longest-lasting couples give up their entire hearts. They're like glowing mirrors—light bounces between them and grows stronger with each pass. One gives off more love than both could give alone. If you don't give up your entire heart, you're like a dirty mirror: rather than reflecting light, you only absorb it, and it dies quickly.”         A shiver ran down Canary's back as the queen licked her lips.         “Speaking of love,” the queen began, “are you and Echo ready to be linked together?”         Canary's head jerked back. “You mean married‽”         The queen smiled. “Something like that.”         “No! We haven't even known each other for a year!”         Libra chuckled. “True.”         “And I don't even know if Echo wants to!”         Libra rose an eyebrow. “You're more committed to each other than half of the pegasi in Feathermore combined. That run you went on? We could feel your love from a mile away.”         Libra let Canary squirm for a moment.         “What exactly does that mean, to be linked?”         “I'm assuming you'll want spawns some day?”         “Spawns‽ You mean kids?”         Libra smiled, nodding in affirmation.         Canary rolled her eyes and sighed. “Maybe some day… But can we please not call them spawns?”         “Well if you're going to have grublings—”         “Please just call them children.”         “—you need to be able to feed them not only physically, but also emotionally.”         Canary frowned. “Couldn't Echo do that? Just zap it with some love?”         Libra shook her head. “Infants have more primal emotions than adults do. While they're eggs, they need a constant supply of these primal emotions to survive. Without the right emotional mix, they die before birth. You need to be able to respond to the grubling's needs immediately, yourself.”         “So… how am I supposed to do that?”         “You'll need to be emotionally tied to Echo. When the two of you are bound together you're able to sense others emotions more clearly. Once you're bound together, you'll be able to supply all the emotions the spawn needs, along with keeping it alive as a grub. Er, child,” she added with a smile.         “So are there any dangers to being bound?”         “No. Just death.” After a moment's hesitation, Libra broke into laughter. “No, no, that won't be for a long time. The real side effects are completely worth it,” Libra assured her with a wide grin.         “What are they‽” Canary stamped her hoof, growing impatient.         Libra turned around and began walking away. “You'll have to see for yourself, Canary. Come to the throne room once you've woken up.”         Canary frowned. “This is a dream?”         “Didn't you notice?” Libra asked casually.         Darkness consumed the world around her and her heart rate sped up. Canary called out to Libra. “Wait! How did you get into this dream‽”         “Dreams are manifested emotions—our speciality.”         Canary's vision had turned fully black—the dream would soon end.         “But why not just tell me this in person?”         Libra's laughter echoed in Canary's mind upon her waking. That queen is crazy. Canary rolled onto her side. Her bug was breathing softly across the cave, shivering slightly. Canary cozied up to him and held him tight. She imagined sending love into him to keep him happy, though she had no idea whether it was doing anything. She smiled to herself. It will be worth it.