//------------------------------//
// Swtch 
// Story: Book 1 - The Behemoth came to Canterlot 
// by Equimorto 
//------------------------------//

"Oh." Starshine rolled onto her back. "Fun."
"Oh, that's a bit odd. I suppose it's still wobbling some in places," the Charioteer said.
"What?" Starshine looked up at him. "Is something wrong?"
"Don't worry about it." The Charioteer shook off his perturbed expression from his face. "It's nothing important for you. I will be going in a bit, by the way, so if you have any more questions you should ask them now. I feel I've wasted enough time here already."
"If you were so bothered by it you could have just not talked to me," Starshine said with a pout, rolling back to a more comfortable position.
The Charioteer rolled his eyes. "I wasn't talking about mine, dear. Anyway. Is there anything you would like to know?"
Starshine put a hoof under her chin, pondering the question. "The meaning of life?"
"Understandable. I'm afraid I can't help with that, unfortunately." The Charioteer gave a brief, blatantly faked cough. "Anything else? Anything more immediate and practical and less existential?"
"Well there go most of my other questions, I guess," Starshine said. "Hmm. How's the creature who stole the scales from the laboratory doing?"
"They're doing well," said the Charioteer.
"Well, that's unfortunate, I suppose."
Stella threw a poisonous glare at Starshine, but didn't do anything else.
"If it's any better, they are extremely frustrated at the present moment," the Charioteer added.
"That's something, I suppose." Starshine stood up. "I'm almost done checking the town. You won't tell me where they are, right?"
The Charioteer nodded. "It would be too easy that way, yes. I need to have some amusement while I watch you creatures try to prevent the end of the world."
"You'd think watching us try to prevent the end of the world would be entertaining enough," Starshine said. "You don't need to add all these other complications to it."
"I just like to remain a neutral figure, as much as possible." The Charioteer bit the inside of his lower lip for a moment. "As much as I can force myself to. I do still go out of my way to mess with you all for fun, admittedly, sometimes. But can you blame me for it?"
Starshine looked at him flatly. "Yes. Yes we can."
The Charioteer pouted in response. Then his eyes drifted only slightly towards Stella. "Well, you can't blame me if someone thought the oncoming end of all things was a good time to cause more trouble. It really makes you wonder about how rotten inside some creatures are, when even the prospect of assured destruction is not enough for them to collaborate."
"I suppose you have a point." Starshine lowered her head.
"Oh well. I'll be going now." The Charioteer waved at Starshine. "I've got an improperly clothed stallion to pay a visit to."
"See you... around, I guess." Starshine waved back.
"Say hi to your dad for me. And tell him he's doing a great job with you, that should mess with him in amusing ways."
"Will do."
The Charioteer smiled, then disappeared.
Starshine too disappeared a moment later, leaving Stella alone in the ruins.