//------------------------------// // Trouble at Home part 3 // Story: Imprisonment of a Changeling // by Southern Wing //------------------------------// Sev and Rainbow Dash were fighting. They’d fought many times before, but never on this scale. “Sev Divine, when will you pull your head out of your plot and realize changelings are evil!?” “For bucks sake, Dash. Not all changelings are evil! Winter isn’t!” “Hmpf, must be the half pony in her,” Dash grumbled. “Don’t even bucking start with that Rainbow, Spectrum Dash!” Sev snapped. “Shake off that damn spell Wing put you under already!” “Wing didn’t put me under any spell!” he corrected. “Why can’t you see what he’s doing to you? That’s the only way you’re acting this way.” “Why can’t you see I’m choosing to do this on my own free will?” Sev retorted. “No, there’s no way that’s possible. I’ve been around enough changelings to know that--” “I don’t have time for this.” Sev turned and walked to the door. “And where are you going?” Dash asked. “Out, I need some air from all the bull you’re spouting.” “This isn’t over, we’re not finished yet!” Dash shouted as Sev walked outside, slamming the door behind him. “For now it is…” Sev muttered. Sev took off flying for Fluttershy and Wing’s cottage. The air smelled of cookies. “Cakes must’ve just pulled a fresh batch from the oven,” he thought. The smell reminded him of when he, Shy, Wing, Derpy and Dash were younger. All the times they’d spend together, hanging out. The thoughts brought a tear to his eye as he sighed. He continued flying over the town, watching the various residents go about their day. Derpy was off doing her mail route, Bon Bon and Lyra were sitting on a park bench, having lunch. Sev also noted the Apple family selling apples in the market. The flight was short, but when he arrived. he saw something that nearly made his blood boil. Fluttershy was outside with a sponge and a bucket of water, while Harry and his cousin Ivan stood watch. “CHANGELING LOVER.” “HALF BREED HOUSE.” were among the words spray painted on the cottage. The two bears noted Sev coming in, Harry tapping Fluttershy gently on the shoulder to let her in on who was coming. “Oh! Um… hi Sev…” Fluttershy meekly mumbled. “Who… did this?” Sev asked, his rage at the graffitti clear. “I don’t know… I only found it like this after coming home from shopping.” “Fluttershy…” Sev trotted over, hugging his friend. Harry joined in on the hug. “I just want to things to get back like they were!” Fluttershy cried. “I know, Flutters, I know.” Sev hugged tighter. “Just remember that I’m here if you need to talk.” “I… I know.” As Fluttershy sighed, Harry wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thanks Harry.” The bear softly growled and nodded his head in response. “Don’t worry, I’m gonna find whoever did this and give them a piece of my mind. You can count on that.” “Sev, don’t make me use the st… oh right.” “Forgot that it doesn’t work on me for a moment there, eh?” Sev chuckled. “Um, yeah.” “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna hurt them… much…” “Sev, I don’t want you getting in anymore trouble. Besides, you promised Wing you’d take care of me.” “And I am!” Ivan gave a supportive growl. “See! Even Ivan agrees with me!” “Sev…” Fluttershy sighed. “I know that sigh. I won’t get caught. I never do.” “Stay for a while?” “I will keep an eye open while you are cleaning.” Sev started scanning the area, keeping an eye out for trouble. Harry gave a growl and started helping Fluttershy while Ivan helped Sev keep watch. As Sev kept watch, he heard someone singing. It only took him a moment to recognize the mare seeing it, and he recognized the song as one Wing would sing when he was feeling sad. ♫I call upon a new day ♫ ♫ The warmth pushing back the darkest blight ♫  ♫ I feel the light's wings around me ♫   ♫ At last the light is bright ♫ ♫ To dance in dawning light ♫ ♫ Flowers sways in fields of green ♫  ♫ So let, the sun rise upward ♫   ♫ I am safe and sound, upon a new day ♫ ♫ Oh, won't you take my hoof, and fly away? ♫ ♫ Our spirits soar from the eyes of blight ♫  ♫ As clouds draw away to clear the blue sky ♫   ♫ Lift our hearts and be free ♫ ♫ Though we know strife of life will bring dark ♫ ♫ Shadows below, dark as they may seem ♫  ♫ They show us time, ticks on hours passing, as night comes, ♫   ♫ Now is the time to love, is the time to forgive, is the time to heal ♫ ♫ We call upon a new day ♫ ♫ The warmth pushing back the darkest blight ♫  ♫ We feel the light's wings around us ♫   ♫ We are safe and all is right... ♫    ♫ Because... this whole world... has healed... ♫ Ivan softly growled something at Sev. “I’m still angry, Ivan, but I’m keeping my cool for Fluttershy.” Ivan nodded his head as the two continued watching her sing. As they kept watch, Winter and Rain were walking home as they normally did at this time of the day. “At least Pip and Rumble stood up for us…” Winter murmured. “Yeah, and the other three idiots,” Rain replied, thinking of the CMC. “Why do we let them boss us around, again? We have all the smart ideas!” “Because they’re older than us? Then again, even if they’re older, we’re smarter than them.” “Got that right!” “Yeah, stupid Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.” “‘Hi, I’m Diamond Tiara. I’m rich I can do what I want!’” Winter screeched. “Heh heh, good one!” Rain high hoofed Winter. “Thanks!” Winter replied, returning the high hoof. “Wish she was here to hear that though.” “Diamond Tiara? You’d have to pull me off of her, since I’d be kicking her flank.” “Good point, Winter, but she deserves it.” “Yep.” “So how are things at home?” Winter asked. “Mom and Dad are bickering more than usual. I hate that,” Rain grumped. “Yeah, Mom’s been sad, but she hasn’t showed it.” “I understand. Like you, I just want things to go back to how they were.” “Even though it’s impossible?” “Yeah…” Rain and Winter hugged each other.  “Stupid lovists.” “I agree, but remember, not all lovists are bad.” “I know that, Winter.” The two friends were silent for the rest of the walk to Winter’s house. Upon arriving, they found Rain’s dad and Fluttershy putting some buckets away. “Hey, Uncle Sev!” Winter said. She rushed up to hug Sev. “Hey, Dad!” Rain said. “Hey, sweetie. Hey, Winter,” Sev greeted them. “How was your day, sweetie?” Fluttershy asked her daughter. “Meh,” Winter mumbled. “Same old.” “Same,” Rain countered. “Look on the good side, at least it wasn’t horrible. How about you two go play in Winter’s room, Rain? I’ll bring you some milk and cookies.” “I guess that sounds good,” Winter replied before turning to Rain. “What you got to play with?” “I know you have a board game or two we can play. Let’s do that!” “Oh you are so going down!” Winter laughed as the two friends ran off to Winter’s room. Sev chuckled at the two girls as they ran off. “Seeing those two is like looking in a mirror.” “Yes, it is,” Fluttershy smiled. “You and Wing were… are still such troublemakers.” “Indeed,” Queen Chiton chimed telepathically in with a chuckle. “Heh, we set the record for most times sent to the principal’s office,” Sev chuckled. The sound of laughter soon filled the house from another room. “Sounds like the girls are having fun.” “Yeah. I’m happy that despite these trying times, we can still laugh.” “Me too.” “I should go get the treats for the girls.” Fluttershy trotted to the kitchen to get the milk and cookies for the girls. “I know things are rough for you and Dash right now…” “Rough? More like I’m wasting my time talking to a brick wall,” Sev scoffed. “That mare’s so thick headed, it’s frustrating!” “Yes, Dashie can be…  hard at times. But that doesn’t mean she won’t come around. She’s a good pony at heart. We know that better than anypony else.” “Look, Fluttershy, I know you’re trying to help, but you don’t live with her all the time. Sometimes, she just drives me crazy!” “She can be stubborn sometimes, yes, but she will never let you down in the end. It’s why she has the Element of Loyalty.” “I know, Fluttershy. I know.” “Would you like some tea?” “That sounds very nice right now.” -------------------------- As Fluttershy and Sev were talking, Rainbow Dash visited Twilight at the library. “Come on, Twilight!” “No.” “Really? You’re really doing this?” “Rainbow Dash, you might have a good reason to be worried about Fluttershy and Sev. But I have no reason to believe they’re under any kind of spell!” “You never even checked to see if they were!” “I…” Twilight was about to say something, but stopped herself. She never actually did check, and knowing Rainbow Dash, she would find somepony else to check if her final answer was no. “Fine, I’ll check,” she forced herself to say after a moment of silence. “On we go!” Rainbow declared, grabbing Twilight and racing off to Fluttershy and Wing’s cottage. “I only hope that this is the right choice. If not, it could hurt our friendship with Fluttershy,” Twilight muttered under her breath. ----------------------------- “How’s your tea?” Fluttershy asked Sev. They were kicking back in the kitchen not long after. “It’s very lovely, thank you,” Sev replied “You’re welcome. I find a nice cup of tea very relaxing.” “I guess it can be nice.” “Maybe you could talk to Wing about what’s going on?” “What can he do? He’s in Canterlot and I’m here.” “I know, I just hope Wing is alright.” “I’m sure he is. He can take care of himself pretty well.” “I guess.” Fluttershy hung her head. “Do you think…” A rapping at the door interrupted her thoughts. The door suddenly flew open. Rainbow Dash stood in the doorway, staring at the two. “Rainbow Spectrum Dash! What the buck are you doing?!” Sev shouted. “I’m here to make sure you two aren’t under some kind of spell!” Rainbow shouted back. “Oh, for the love of Faust! We’re not under any spell!” Sev shouted back at Dash. “Rainbow! You’re not making things any better!” Twilight butted in. “We just need to make sure first.” “Twi! You’re really buying this?” Sev squaked. “You know Wing! He’d never do this!” “Sev… I’m sorry. I just need to make sure.” He scoffed at that. “Make sure of what? That we’re telling the truth like we’ve been saying?” “Sev, let her do it.” Fluttershy’s voice was barely heard as all eyes turned to her. “Fluttershy! We can’t just let her do this!” “If it helps clear Wing’s name sooner, I’m willing to do it.” Sev was silent for a few moments. “Fine. I’ll do this for Wing.” “Well, here goes nothing,” said Twilight. She touched her horn to the heads of the two ponies nearby as a vast array of images flashed before her. She saw images of a young Wing and Sev,. the bonds they made, and the challenges they overcame. She also saw the blossoming relationship of a young Fluttershy and Wing. The image almost brought her to tears. They were right, they’d been telling the truth all along. As her horn stopped glowing, she looked to Dash. “They are not lying. Everything they said was true.” “What do you mean they’re not lying?” Dash gasped in shock. “Just as she said. We haven’t been lying to you. You know, what we’ve been saying the whole time,” Sev grumbled. “That’s impossible!” Dash shot back. Another knock at the door interrupted the argument. Fluttershy trotted over to the door and opened it. She saw two royal guards standing in the doorway. “Mrs Wing?” one of them asked. “Oh, um, yes?” Fluttershy replied meekly. “Princess Celestia requests that you and your daughter come to Canterlot.” “And why is that?” Sev shouted. “There was an incident in the dungeons with her husband. The princess wants to make sure Mrs. Wing and her daughter are safe.” “What?” Sev’s eyes went wide with anger. “Did somepony make a threat?” “The pony responsible is in custody, and the princess has extended her invite to you as well, Mr. Divine.” “You’re damn right I’m coming along. I’m taking my daughter Rain with me.” “Our daughter, Sev,” Rainbow Dash snarled. “Rain’s spend most of her life hanging around with Winter. I’m making sure she’s safe,” he pointed out. “Fine.” Rainbow Dash seemed to be giving in. “But if anything happens to her…” “Dash, don’t do this right now.” Sev and Dash butted their together heads in rage. “Sev! Dash!” Twilight yelled, trying to seperate the two. “Maybe some time away will do good. Cause you to come to your senses,” Dash snarled. “I could say the same about your blockheadedness,” Sev retorted. “You know what, if you wanna go, then go. I’ll be waiting to hear from you that you were wrong.” Rainbow Dash flew past the guards and went on home. “Sev?” Twilight walked over to her old friend. “Are you going to be alright?” “I don’t know, Twilight. I just don’t know.” Sev saw that Fluttershy had begun packing, then realized that Rain and Winter had been watching the whole event in the hallway. “I’m sorry you had to see that. We’re both on edge over Wing. We need to go right now.” “Yes, Dad.” There was a twinge of sadness in Rain’s voice. She hated seeing these events tear her parents apart. The flight home was silent, as neither had much to say. The two arrived at their place, with Rain and Sev going to their respective rooms to pack. Dash was watching the TV in silence in the living room, trying her best not to lose her cool even more. The sounds of the show Ancient Humans drifted through the cloud house. Sev brought his suitcases into the front room and set them down. He trotted into the living room, Dash barely noticing his presence. Later on, Scootaloo came to visit Rain. “So you and Dad are going to Canterlot?” “Yes we are.” Rain replied. “Can I come? It’s been a while since I’ve been to Canterlot.” “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Mom wouldn’t like it.” “Oh yeah. I saw her coming in, never seen her like that. Is it because of Uncle Wing?” “Yes, Mom seems to think all changelings are evil now.” “But that’s just wrong! I wouldn’t say Winter is evil… most of the time.” “Oh yeah? Remember when you thought Uncle Wing was a spy?” “Don’t remind me.” Scootaloo got an embarrassed expression on her face. Rain finished packing and hugged her sister. “Take care Scoots. Dad’s not telling me when we’re coming back.” “You too, Rain.” Scootaloo returned the hug and helped Rain with her bags to the door. Sev and Dash were now staring at each other in total silence, over by the front door. “Dad, I’m ready to go now.” Rain said breaking the silence. “You two take care of yourself. And Sev, let me remind you. If anything happens to Rain…” Dash started. “Nothing will. I’ll make sure of it,” Sev cut her off. “Take care of yourself and Scoots.” Dash only nodded her head in response. Sev and Rain exited the cloud house with their luggage. The two met Winter and Fluttershy at the train station with the guards. The group was quiet as they climbed aboard. In fact, the rest of the trip to Canterlot would be quiet.