//------------------------------// // Ch. 1.75 A Buggy Interlude // Story: First Second Chances // by ninjanaut1000 //------------------------------// The front door closed with a click. Thorax went to take a step but paused, looking back at the door with a forlorn expression. A mental debate on whether or not he should stay raged throughout his mind. "You okay Thorax?" Twilight asked. "Yeah. I-I..." Thorax let out a sight, head and ears drooping, "No. No I'm not okay. We were all part of her deplorable actions. Supporting her all the way, even if the plans failed or not. Yet WE got second chances. WE were even given the 'You were just victims of her twisted schemes and didn't know better' card. We knew what we were doing! The morality of it not so much. But we knew 100% of what we were doing." "Are you trying to say that you didn't deserve forgiveness? That you and the other changelings were too far gone for forgiveness?" Twilight softly asked. "No! no. Not at all. I'm grateful that you guys were so forgiving. It's just that before she disappeared we tried to give her a second chance, and she threw it back in our faces. But when she finally broke and decided to start over, instead of kindness or at least reluctant assistance she was shown open hostility." "How would you know that she was shown hostility thorax?" Thorax grit his teeth. "You know darn well that over half of those cuts and lacerations were too clean to be simple scrapes. Those were made with well maintained blades. And did you think I didn't sent out scouts to follow the occasional lead that would pop up about her sightings?" "I. I'm sorry", Twilights jaw clicked shut. She took a deep breath before continuing, "It was wrong of me to have assumed you didn't. And as much as I hate to admit it, you're right. This just got a lot more trouble stacked on top of what's already going on. Under old, but still active Equestrian law, the moment she asked for assistance she fell under the protections of a surrendering enemy under a technicality. So now I have to track down multiple ponies across multiple towns for what equivalates to practically war crimes. That is, unless you don't want to press charges on her behalf?" "I do, seeing as she can't herself right now and we have no idea if she'll even make it. They need to be punished. They need to realize that their actions are not okay." Twilight used her magic to push her castles doors open. They quickly entered and closed the doors before too much snow got in. "Alright, well. I'll see what I can do. It might not be much, but I'll see what can be done. In the mean time, Did you need any help with making that love infused food?" "Yeah, I would appreciate it. It's been too long since we last got to do something together." "Alright. So what do we need to do first?" "One of the things we'll need is a container that can hold about a gallon or two of slime." "Easy enough." A kitchen cupboard opened up and a stock pot floated out, "I assume we'll need to prepare easy to eat foods like soups, Oatmeal, or similar items right?" "Correct." Thorax nods in agreement, "While you do that I'm going to produce the love infused slime." A soft pink glow emanated from his chest as he condensed love and fused it with the slime. Thorax let out a dry heave before expelling the contents into the stock pot. The pink glow returned as he repeated the process. Twilight tried to not pay attention to the sounds Thorax was producing but was failing. On multiple occasions she wanted to ask if he was okay, but had to stop herself knowing full well he was fine. Turning back to the stove she continued preparing the vegetable soup. Shortly after, she directed her attention to the other pans across her stove top. She filled two of them with water, Oats, and various fruits bringing them up to an almost boil. In the third, she put a instant potato mash in with some water and brought it to a boil. "The soups pretty much ready if you want to add the love fused slime in." Twilight mentioned as she moved her focus onto the oats. "Alright, let me get this pot over there." Thorax set the stock pot on to the counter and measured out four cups and poured each one in. The soups broth thickened and gained a slightly pink cloudy hue to it as the slimed slowly dispersed. They then portioned it out into containers containing two cups each. As the various dishes finished, They would get portioned out and stored with the rest of the items on the counter. Thorax looked out the window as he and Twilight cleaned the dirty dishes. "You know. I was planning on taking it over now, but I'm starting to think it would be better to just take it over tomorrow." Thorax said as he watched the flurry of snow being blown almost sideways. "Yeah, that would probably be best. It would be dangerous going out in that weather now. Plus they're probably all asleep by now." The last of the clean dishes were put on the drying rack, "Well, now that that is done, we should get some sleep. it's going to be a busy day tomorrow." They made their way out of the kitchen and towards their respective rooms. "Goodnight Twilight." "Goodnight Thorax, see you in the morning."