//------------------------------//
// Persuasion 
// Story: Today We Summon Unity! 
// by Chemtest 
//------------------------------//

I walk into the enclosed room, and see the black insect pony there. Some rush in, bringing my tools, and strapping the thing to it's chair. I smile as they bring in the supplies. Water, rags, spears, and much more. I nod towards the men, "Leave the room now, leave me with this thing. We'll march by the time night falls once more, if all goes well."

The soldiers salute, and walk out of the room. They are replaced by a group of six familiar ponies. Twilight looks at the creature that's tied up, "You found a Changeling?"

I nod, "Harry has gone missing, and this thing was where he was. I'm going to find out where Harry is."

She nods back, "Well, we're going to help you. We need to make this room brighter, having it this dark will make us seem unequine. We also have to untie it."

I shake my head, and hold up my hand, "No, no, no. You are not going to interfere. This is my job."

She looks around, "But the setup is wrong! Much too dark, and damp. How is he supposed to have a comfortable conversation if the room is like this?"

I move closer to the Changeling, "We aren't planning to have a conversation. I suggest you all leave. This work is not for the light hearted."

Three of them leave the room, leaving just Rainbow, Applejack, and Twilight, "Well, I have to study this new method of information extraction. Is it some type of magic?"

I darkly smile, "I do love to work my magic. Now, it's not the type of magic you might know. And I really say you should leave. But, lets get started."

The Changeling looks at me as I approach, "You'll never get anything from me."

I laugh, "You'd be surprised. Now, where is Harry?"

They shake their head, "I will never tell you."

I nod, "Then let's do this the fun way. Would you rather have your teeth pulled out, or drown?"

They consider the question, "Have my teeth pulled out."

I kick the chair down, so the thing is gazing at the roof, "Drowning it is then!"

They slightly laugh as I grab a rag, "You won't do anything."

I wet the rag, and put it over the creatures mouth. I grab my jug of water, and turn to Twilight, “If you’re writing this down, make sure you get the name right. This is called Waterboarding. Quite the effective strategy, leaving very little physical injury.”

“Physical injury?”

I take the water jug, and pour some right onto the rag. Immediately, the creature starts to gag and choke. I take the thing off as soon as the oxygen runs out, “Where is Harry?”

It takes gasping breaths, “I will never say!”

I shrug, “If you really want to continue. I know that what I’m doing is unknown in your world. You have no idea the pain I can bring.”

I put the rag back on, and pour the rest of the jug on it. I repeat the cycle, taking the rag off. The creature gasps again, “This is monstrous!”

Twilight steps up, “He’s right, Atreyos. This is wrong.”

I ignore their words, “Hoof or hide?”

The creature catches onto my game, “Hide.”

I grab the spear that’s been waiting in the coals and embers. I smile, “Hide it is then.”

I take the red hot spear, and shove it against it’s hide. A permanent brand is burned in as the creature screams.

I pull the creatures head forward, to look me in the eye, “Wing or horn?”

The creature cries out, “Please, don’t!”

Twilight shouts out as well, “Atreyos, you can’t!”

I look it right back, “Then both.”

I grab it’s horn, and pull with all my might. It breaks off at the base, looking more like a jagged knife in my hands than a horn. I take it, and saw it against the wing. With a single slash, the wing is chopped off. The creatures screams fill the air.

I shout at the creature, “Where is he!?”

It starts to break down, “Why!?”

I punch it’s face, sending it off to the side, “Where is Harry?! Where did you take my father!?”

I take out my sword, and aim for the other wing, “No wait! Please!”

I look it back in the eye, still threatening the wing, “You have a change of heart?”

It lowers it’s head as it cries, “He’s in the crystal caverns in Canterlot! Our Queen kidnapped him to use as leverage against you! Please, just stop the pain.”

I nod, “Your wish is my command.” I flip the sword around, and cut it’s head off with a single slash. I wipe the green blood on the body before two soldiers come and take it away.

The silence from the spectators is deafening. Until one of them speaks, “What the hell did you do?”

I look to see Applejack speaking her first words to me, “I granted him mercy. Generously granted him what he wanted.”

Rainbow stares at the horn still in my hand, “Dude, that’s fucked up in so many ways.”

Twilight is frozen, “You killed him. You gave him excruciating pain before killing him. Are there not laws against that where you are?”

I nod, “There was. They called it the Geneva Convention, an ancient treaty made by our ancient ancestors. They tried to create rules, and they ended up killing each other. Centuries pass and we reclaim the old land, with new rules. Anything goes. There is only one thing we don’t use, and that is the old artifacts. Old books tell of the destruction that destroyed Earth before it became Inamorta, and we vow not to ever use that power. We use what would be archaic weapons to them, to maintain prosperity. That Convention made rules, they broke them, and we discard them. If I need to get info from that fucker, I will.”

She is still shocked, “But, why so brutal?”

I start to walk out of the room, “They kidnapped one of us, they declared war. And they chose the wrong person. They kidnapped my father, and they will pay.”

I walk out into camp, and shout orders, “Everyone, gear up! We march against the Changeling scourge!”