After Luna leaves shortly after Chrysalis and her drones take off, I decide to take out Nightmare Night decorations for any of the fillies and colts who’ll visit for candy. Last thing I remember before Pane and I started the tradition of Nightmare Night Exploration, or NNE, was that it was typically booked with passersby, hoping for four or five candies.
Looking through the decorations I have, stowed away in a small storage barn, they either are particularly dusty or rusty. I guess I’ll have to go to Sugar Fort and get some soda for some of the decorations that I would otherwise be unable to use. While I’m at it, I might as well get two pounds each of lollipops and chocolate bars. I decide to set up the non-metal decorations, including a “Happy Nightmare Night” banner and some authentic pumpkins. After that, absolutely nothing else happens around the house as I take a break to relax.
That is when what feels like fourteen hours later, but really three, I hear a doorbell. I sigh a hidden hope that the visitor may be Pane. And, yep.
“Hey Rusty. Sorry I left on you and Luna. Home-”
“I already know your reason, Pane. You know Chrysalis better than I do, so I get that you don’t trust her much.”
“Wait. You know?”
“Just a hunch.”
“Well, I’m ready to check on-”
“Carve? Yeah, she kind of left.”
“Left? Well, that’s a first. Where to? It’d make sense if she’s visiting Chrysalis’ hive.”
“Yeah, about that. She and a bunch of other changelings plan to turn the rest of the hive against a king that’s taken Chrysalis’ place.”
“Hmm. This is interesting. Who’s this king?”
“Well, his name in Lingo is apparently Solaz.”
“Solaz... I swear that sounds familiar.”
“Mono Solaz. Maybe one of the princesses could translate that name for us.”
“So, you’re learning Lingo, Rusty, are you now?”
“Only from what I’m hearing.”
“Yeah. How about we go see a linguist about this? Are there any nearby?”
“Pane, don’t worry about it now; I have to go to the store for some soda and candy.”
“Hmm... are you having a party?”
“Well, no.”
“Then what’s the soda for?”
“Are you serious? After all this time, you still don’t know what soda does to rust? Not all my decorations are up right now because what I still have stowed away in the barn is filled with rust.”
“Oh. I see your point. But why don’t we just buy better versions of them? That way you don’t have to worry about buying somethi-.”
“Um, are you forgetting that sodas only cost two and not twenty?”
“...wait a minute. I have an idea. I remember having to partake in an hour of community service after getting caught exploring one place filled with rust. Somehow, I came up with an effective way to remove rust.”
“Before you tell me why you haven’t mentioned this before... you didn’t think it was necessary until now, did you.”
Pane chuckles.
“You’re good.”
I groan.
“Ugh... what a pain.”
;=;
“So girls, where’ve you two lived since you left?”
“I know I’ve lived in Las Pegasus with Rusty Flashlight for over five years; I don’t know about Carina though. I do know she left almost two years before me.”
“Yeah. I kind of have myself a bit of a makeshift family. One other member right this moment is with Chrysalis, and he happens to be the only other changeling in it.”
“Well, okay. So, are you two going to stay in here for a bit or what?”
I nod.
“Yeah, I think we’re fine... uh, what’s your name again?”
“Jag.”
“Okay, got it. Bye, Jag.”
“Bye, Carve. You too, Carina.”
And with that, Jag leaves the armor room.
“Alright Carina, we’re in! Now quick! Which sizes fit us?”
“Hmm... I don’t know about myself, but I think I may have one that’ll fit you.”
Carina levitates one of the smaller helmets and puts it over my head, which somehow doesn’t slide in all the way.
“Nope. Try something larger.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Well, I don’t suppose it could fit you.”
I levitate the helmet Carina tried on me onto her, which actually fits rather snugly.
“Well, I guess that helmet won’t go to-”
“Ooh! Found one!” I interrupt.
I see another of the strewn helmets float towards me and over my head, which fits to my surprise.
“Oh, man, Carve! This is going to be so easy!”
“Wait... man... what does that mean?”
“Well, the way I used it is just an interjection, and it doesn’t really mean anything in that context.”
“Well, no changeling knows that term, so they’ll probably be confused.”
“Chrysalis? Aita?”
“Okay, I can see Aita learning that - seriously, who names a changeling that - but are you sure about Chrysalis?”
“I think I remember saying it in front of her after a friend’s ten year reunion went wrong.”
A hole forms in the wall front of me, allowing me to look into another room. Looking thoroughly, no changeling is in sight.
“Okay good. The coast is clear. Now, do you want to change your voice or what, Carina? I know what I want to do.”
I clear my throat, my voice transitioning from two female voices to only one male voice. Rusty Flashlight.
“Ah. That’ll do.”
Carina proceeds to burst into laughter, prompting me to snicker myself.
“Wow, Carve! How did you do that so easily? It’s hilarious!”
“Heh. The guards are going to crack up at this. They expect a normal voice from me, they get Rusty Flashlight.”
“Wait. You know humans too?”
“Wha- ...what are those?”
“Oh, I thought you did. That name seemed kind of like a human name.”
“Nah. It’s a pegasus name. Now, come up with a voice.”
“Okayokayokay...”
Carina clears her throat now and only changes from two simultaneous voices to just one and sounding a bit more a... what is it... suburban Manehattenite?
“Huh. So you’ve been to... Manehatten?”
“Nope. ’s just one of my friends’ voices. Sophie Handy I think it was.”
I snicker again.
“What kind of name is that? Oh, this starting to be a pain in the- Okay, no more foo-”
Another male changeling comes in and interrupts the conversation.
“Hey! What’re you two doing here? You’re late for afternoon guard duty!”
“I understand, we’ll be there right away.”
“You’d better be...”
Then the changeling walks out. Looking back at Carina, she looks kind of shocked and confused.
“Well, you heard him. Let’s go.”
I finally lead the way out of the armor room over to another, with Carina right behind me. This room so happens to have a line of guards, male and female.