//------------------------------// // Familiar Change of Pace // Story: Ofolrodi // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// "Please... don't be sad..." The metal mare murmured, lingering in the aisle. She tried to stand up straight, but a strange tick rippled through her features. Her scarlet braids danced as she teetered to the left... then to the right. "Even though we both know... you secretly enjoy the release..." A tender smile. Her eye-lenses whurred. "...I would give anything... anything just to hear you laugh again." "Uhhhhhhhhh..." Applejack squinted. "Who in blazes is this?" Rarity stammered. "Did she say 'Roarke?'" Twilight remarked. Rainbow said nothing. She remained locked in place, her heart thudding within her petite chest. The mare came closer—growing in both size and proximity. "Did you find what you were looking for beyond the Grand Choke?" She murmured. She wheezed. "Belle... Kera... Pilate... they are all waiting to see you..." "'Roarke?'" Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "Who's 'Roarke'...?" "If..." The metal mare extended a trembling hoof. "...you would just come with me..." Roarke's smile grew wider. More tender. The ringlets of her mane added heavenly percussion to her gentle voice: "...we can just... lie together... and share our thoughts and fears... in the hammock. Like we used to..." Fluttershy knowingly glanced towards her anchor. "Rainbow Dash..." But Rainbow was already shivering. With a frown. "You... you are not Roarke..." "What's goin' on?" Applejack stammered. "I'm... I'm so confused—" "Rainbow, she's getting closerrrrr," Twilight droned. Rainbow's eyes fell. Beyond the metal mare's legs, she saw residue lining the metal floor... a viscous, slimy material that spread up the rusted shelf looming above them. Like a web. "I... know I never cared much for the breeders and their faith in the 'Spark,'" the mare said. She teetered again. Her head ducked into shadows, and when it came back the metal lenses were gone... replaced by ice-blue eyes brimming with tears. "But I would give anything, Rainbow, to be called your 'beloved.' Just once..." "Stop it..." Rainbow snarled. "Just once, Rainbow, please..." She stumbled closer, nearly sobbing. "Please." "I said..." Rainbow leaned back, clenching her teeth. "Back off! You are not who you say you are—!" "Y'know, does it really matter?" Deep chuckles. Goat hair. Breathless, Rainbow glanced to her right. A shiny pile of brass pipes reflected dragon skin and eagle claws. "This is likely your last chance at happiness, Sparky. So why not give in?" Rainbow's blood ran cold as the world around her went silent—all but his voice. A pair of red-on-yellow eyes peered back at her from the reflection. "And just what are you going to tell the freckled goddess now, hmmmm? Heh heh heh..." His chuckles dissipated, replaced by the frantic shrieks of her friends. "Dashie! Move!" "Look out, sugarcube!" "!!!" Rainbow Dash jerked her head forward to see the metal mare outright charging her. She flinched—too late to dodge. Thwoooosh! A metal bo-staff caught the figure beneath Roarke's chin. She gasped for breath... being jerked back in the vice-grip of a griffin from behind. Wildcard held the metal mare at bay, throwing his weight against her flank. "Wildcard!" Rainbow stumbled, catching her breath. She pointed with her hoof. "Wait—" "Mrmmmff..." The mare in the Desperado's grip looked over her shoulder. "Dubya?" Wildcard's goggles rattled in surprise. A blink. Roarke's voice deepened. "You dun goofed, mofo." In a green flash, Bard materialized backwards with a savage uppercut to the griffin's beak. WHAM! Wildcard flew back—only to be jerked in place by the stallion's grip of the other end of the staff. "Dayum chatterbox," Bard spat. He stomped his hoof down over his end of the staff, knocking it out of Wildcard's grip. "Takes two hooves to hold it." WHUD! He slammed the opposite end between Wildcard's legs. "And two of somethin' else to use it!" Wildcard fell over in a meaty slump. Bard loomed over him, twirling the staff with his forelimbs and wings. "You enjoyin' the grind without me?!" He hissed, frothing with anger. "Lemme learn ya the proper thang to do now you've cast off the dead weight!" Growling, he raised the staff to slam down over Wildcard's midsection— WHUMP! Rainbow barrel into him. "Mrmmmf!" "Guh!" Bard dropped the staff altogether as he rolled across the floor. Hard crusted slime and the remnants of a hollow egg shattered to bits as Rainbow's spotlight revealed the rest of the aisle. "Grnnngh..." Bard pushed himself up off the floor, his limbs bending at unnatural angles. "Dammit... rrrrnkkg—Rainbow..." He shrank to an orange shadow, hissing. Sobbing. "Always thinking with your skull!" Scootaloo shrieked, then enlarged once again into a Searonese phantom. "Never with your heart!" Roarke charged her at full force. "Rainbow, get away from it—!" Rarity shouted. "No!" Rainbow charged Roarke head-on. "Don't you—" Fwooooosh! Feathered wings spread. Gilda glided clearly over Rainbow Dash's reach. She landed on yellow hooves. With a breath, Bellesmith galloped swiftly into the shadows of Darkreach. "Dang it!" Rainbow hissed. "Dang it dang it dang it!" "Rainbow, I don't understand!" Rarity exclaimed. "Who in the hay was that pony?!" Applejack stammered. "That's no pony!" Rainbow rushed over to Wildcard and helped him up to his talons. "Mrmmff... it's a changeling!" Twilight did a double-take. "That's a changeling!" "Uh... duh," Pinkie Pie belched. "Why is it running away from us?" Fluttershy stammered. "Because it just gathered strength, and now it's drawn to its mother!" Rainbow gnashed her teeth. "Tchern!" She forced Wildcard to move with her, picking up Bard's staff along the way. "And if it gets close enough to her, the entire Hive will know that we're here! In Darkreach!" "Ohhhhhhhhhh poop," Pinkie squeaked. "Come on!" Rainbow and Wildcard picked up speed, galloping into the shadows. "We gotta catch that bug!"