If anyone had told me, during the invasion of Canterlot, that I’d live in Las Pegasus, much less to this day, I would’ve zapped them right then and there, and even choked them if they even mentioned urban exploration. I’m so glad I changed. It only seems like yesterday that I last oathed against Queen Chrysalis. Over the many moons I’ve lived with Rusty Flashlight so far, my memory has gotten quite fuzzy on speaking Lingo. But eh, I think I can take that over almost dying in a place I didn’t even know existed before the Canterlot invasion.
Speaking of that, I’ve visited that place just to arrive at The Court of Twelve Trees almost every month. Twice, I was caught there by what I first called “earless creatures” that seem to be guards. The second time around, they knew the name of my species somehow. So basically, what I learned from, uh, them, is that Rolling Acres is a “mall”. At the time, I thought that kind of name was quite bogus. But “enclosed town market” doesn’t ring much either. Maybe ETM? Heh, okay, that’s amusing. I think I’ll go with that.
But yeah, after that second time I got caught by those guards, I have managed to slip in every two and a half moons for about eighty more. Now, not long after staying with Rusty Flashlight, the railings around the court I woke up in was gone like someone had access to some sort of disappearance spell or something. As I keep going to Rolling Acres throughout the years, I notice that it always goes further into disrepair with each visit. Recently, “potato” with a smile after it was added to the front of Customer Service. It was strangely amusing. Messed up, but strangely amusing.
For the most part, no one else has been inside Rolling Acres whenever I went in.
Then, each time I went in, I also recently noticed that it looks as if nature really is taking over the ETM. For the past year and a half of visiting this place every month, I have started to hear frogs, and birds, throughout my visits. Puddles have been everywhere, so it doesn’t come as a surprise to hear frogs inside. Also during my last visit, I noticed that the print on the main entrance was gone.
Now, about those bandages from when I first met Rusty, I have actually kind of gotten rid of them. They were pretty dirty after my second week with Rusty, and going with him and Pane Fall would just make matters worse. So, I’m glad about that, added to the fact that there hasn’t been a single changeling invasion in Las Pegasus for ten years. Most of the ponies in Las Pegasus seem to have forgotten June Pega-sixth, Queen Chrysalis’ name for the last time she invaded Las Pegasus ALL the way back when I was still a teen. I still remember it.
My invasion days are long over. But I have to say that, yeah, I am thankful for helping invade Canterlot, otherwise I would not’ve become the changeling I am today. Over the years of transitioning into dronehood, I began losing interest in erosion and reports. At least I still have those skills down pat, as opposed to cocoon making and speaking Lingo.
Right now, it’s nearing Nightmare Night. I’ve always wondered exactly what Rusty and Pane do on that night. Annually, I’m alone at Rusty’s. They always have said that they go on a special adventure for Nightmare Night where they would have to go the day before. Each year would be some sort of freaky name, or some name we've only come across once before And finally, they have invited me to come on one of them this year. They say this year’s Nightmare Night adventure is at a place that used to be called Circuit City. I wonder if that used to be a store that provided racing equipment or something like that because that name actually sounds a little interesting.
But then, something comes up on my mind tonight, so Pane, Rusty and I all gather around to talk about it.
“Hey, Carve. I heard you needed to tell me and Rusty something. What is it?”
“Oh, how do I say this? It’s pretty much been a month since I visited Rolling Acres. And my next visit is in two days. Do you mind if I stay for a couple of days in Akron? You can probably get me by that one place we slept in overnight when I first met you.”
Pane is a little puzzled.
“Wouldn’t you rather stay with us the whole time out of the house?”
“I don’t find much of a point to come here only to go yet again. I could just as easily head down to the nearby Taco Bell and soak up some positive emotion to keep myself filled up.”
“But didn’t Taco Bell use to remind you of one thirteen?”
I gasp in shock.
“Yesyesyesyesyes. But that was years ago, Rusty. My days strictly with the hive are long over. It’s not really going to affect me so much anymore. In fact, now I think of one thirteen as in the room number you two healed in, which has no relation to Taco Bell.”
Rusty chuckles.
“Okay. We’ll let you go early. On Nightmare Eve, we’ll meet you across the street from Rolling Acres. Okay?”
I nod.
“Well, I have to catch some z’s to get the energy for tomorrow.”
Pane stops me.
“Carve... we’re going to be up late, so if you need anything, just let us know. Rusty and I are just going to cook up some s’mores, then play a couple of games upstairs.”
I rub my chin.
“Hmm. I guess I could use a bit of a midnight snack.”
I proceed to stick out my tongue to sip on trickles of love coming from Pane. Then I hug Pane.
“Thanks. I better hit the hay, now.”
“Any time, Carve.”
When Pane leaves, I walk over to my room and tidy up my nest to rest on. I turn out the light and listen to what’s going on outside. I smile at the sound of Rusty and Pane’s muffled, calm voices while I hear the crackles of a starting fire. I watch as the dim, orange light pours from my window, and reaches a nearby corner to my right without any decline in altitude. The dancing brightness trances me slightly, causing me to slowly close my eyes and finally go to sleep.