//------------------------------// // Chapter XVII - Consequences // Story: The Lost Changeling // by AizakkuHorooee //------------------------------// In the front of the crowd, in place of Immunity is an enraged Queen Chrysalis. “Queen Chrysalis.” Then, the Queen starts stomping towards me. “CARVE!!! You BASTARD!!! How DARE you oath against me!!! How DARE you use a revelation spell onto me in public!!! Do you have no affiliation with my hive?!? This is NOT how Areola and I raised you to be!!!” “That affiliation of mine is over now. You can resume the hive without me. This has happened in the past, you know.” “ONCE!!! However, that time was different!!! You don’t get it easy like she did!!! You don’t have amnesia!!!” “I don’t care whether or not you give me a hard time! If you keep up the way you’ve been acting, then you can forget about taking me back to the hive! In fact, if I were you, I’d start over.” I start trotting back into the front of the hospital but then stop to a yell. “WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?!?” “I going to room one thirteen…” Queen Chrysalis gasps, but before she can say anything, I assume my turn to yell. “...TO CHECK ON RUSTY AND PANE!!!” The memory of that cracking that Pane’s hoof had made starts to make me tear up as I walk the halls of the hospital. At the end of the hall before my destination, I hear a familiar, calmer voice. “Carve...” I turn around and see the six ponies I heard about before all of this had started. “Twilight? What are you and your friends doing here?” “I’m very proud of you for standing up to Queen Chrysalis. You seem to actually care about us...” “...unlike the other changelings? That’s one way you could put it. I got tired of how Queen Chrysalis was acting, and now, I feel so much better knowing the freedoms I gave myself by doing that. I still have to let Rusty and Pane heal, but by tomorrow, they’ll be in a condition like their injuries never happened.” Twilight looks puzzled. “Injuries?” Rainbow Dash taps Twilight on the shoulder. “Rusty kind of burned his front hooves on his breakfast. That much I know. But what happened to Pane?” “Her left forehoof got crushed after hitting a wall when I was thrown into her." Twilight gasps. “Oh no. I hope she’s alright.” “With my solution to the injuries, Pane and Rusty will be alright.” Now, Applejack looks puzzled. “Are ya sure ‘bout that? Y’ain’t exactly a doctor.” “I know I’m no healer, but I can distinguish different types of cocoons and how to make them.” “So, uh, where are Rusty and Pane?” Rainbow Dash asks. I gesture to the Elements of Harmony over to room one thirteen as they follow suit. “Girls, welcome to room one thirteen.” Before the six enter, Rainbow Dash gets confused. “Uh, didn’t you say that the other members of your hive would take offense to saying a day that way?” “Yeah, I did. But I’m no part of that hive anymore, especially since Queen Chrysalis said pretty much that exact same specific thing. I don’t even remember why she vilified it in the first place.” “But where are you going to live, especially tonight?” “I know a couple of places. Perhaps I could...” Twilight shakes her head. “No, we don’t need to see it. You and I probably both know that it’s in Akron.” “Uh, do you?” Twilight nods. “Well, the general vicinity. Please don’t say Rolling Acres.” And that confused everyone else except for Rainbow Dash. “Apparently, Rolling Acres is some building that’s almost as dangerous as the Everfree Forest. It hasn’t been used for at least eighty moons, but is still frequently visited, if the emotional content had said anything when I was there yesterday.” Fltutershy’s eyes shrink. “But why would you want to be there in the first place?” “Really? You don’t remember what happened when we-” Then, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie push their heads forward in realization. “Oh.” Rarity just blinks. “Come on in, ponies. Rusty and Pane haven’t stayed in their healing cocoons for long.” Looking at Pane now, her left forehoof seems to be quite misplaced. I wince. “So, who is this duo y’all keep callin’ ‘Rusty and Pane’?” Applejack inquires. “Rusty Flashlight and Pane Fall. They kind of have a knack for exploration. I met the both of them in Rolling Acres.” Rainbow Dash flies up to the cocoons. “Well, his cutie mark does have a pair of rusty flashlights. And that cutie mark with one broken glass pane would certainly look painful if-” “Hun ve- enough of the puns! By Medley! I was lucky I got through my own when I was deliberating in Rolling Acres!” “Oh.” Rainbow Dash nervously chuckles. “Sorry.” I sigh. “Okay. I’ll have to talk with the receptionist if I want to let the two stay here while I find a place to spend the night.” “Yeah. Let’s do that. Spike went to Canterlot today to take a two day break. He’ll be back tomorrow. In the meantime, you could stay at my place.” “Oh, uh, thanks, Twilight.” When I get to the front desk at the hospital, it’s bustling again. However, something about it feels off, like something shouldn’t be here. “Uh, girls? I have no idea whether or not it’s the case, but does everything in here seem a little off to you?” “Um, what are you talking about?” Twilight asks. “I really don’t see anything different from before you first arrived in Ponyville.” “I don’t know.” I turn my attention to the “receptionist”. “Uh, excuse me. Are you willing to let Rusty and Pane spend the night here? They’ll be out by tomorrow, I can assure you.” “Haha, no. There are only so many staff members here at the hospital.” “No, don’t give me that. The only thing that will be taken up is a room; no staff member is really needed with the way they’re being treated, unless there’s a desire for them to be carefully watched.” “Very well, we’ll be sure to watch them for you.” Suddenly, there’s a green glow in the normally brown eyes, causing me to back away from the six ponies. “On s-second thought, maybe not.” Suddenly, I jump to two familiar voices. “Hey Carve!” “Rusty? Pane Fall?” How did they get out of their cocoons?!?