//------------------------------// // 76- Iktomi // Story: Changing Expectations // by KKSlider //------------------------------// ‘My thestral story isn’t going to cut it here, is it? Christ on a cracker, I’m going to have to pull out plans B through Z to survive this.’ Captain Lance gave me a nod before leaving the room himself. The fact that I heard the door close behind him did not fill me with confidence. “Act as if nothing is out of the ordinary.” The changeling blinked suddenly, but otherwise acted as neutral and calm as they had when they first entered the room. “What’s with the, uh… collared pony?” “I am the one asking questions here, Specialist Far Sky. Please keep quiet unless answering one of my questions.” The collar was small, maybe about three inches tall. It was very thick, a solid inch protruding from the changeling’s neck. The exterior was covered in glowing blue etchings. Runes or something similar, I guessed. Cogent produced a box from a pair of saddlebags on her barrel that I hadn’t noticed and placed it on the bed. She pressed a button I couldn’t see and the box started glowing a pale blue color. “Let’s get started.” She took a deep breath and rattled off what had to be a prepared, standard procedure speech, “By the authority granted to me by Her Highness Princess Daybreaker, I conduct this investigation with all rights withheld in accordance to Ordnance Sixteen Thirty-three, Sections fifteen through thirty-five. Subject of investigation is Specialist Far Sky, member of Hoofervill’s Specialist reserves, contracted as per the city’s allotted quota. Subject is a brown unicorn stallion, blonde mane, orange eyes and magic, Cutie Mark is a single yellow star. Time of day is Six seventeen P.M., Wednesday, August sixteenth, year one thousand. “Now, Mr. Far Sky. Where were you born?” “Fillietown.” “When?” “October eighth, nine seventy-eight.” “What speciality is your Cutie Mark in?” “Astronomy.” “When did you first arrive in Hooferville?” “July third, I think.” “You think?” “I lost track of the date and was barely conscious when I arrived. There should be a newspaper that gives the–” “When did you become employed by the Hooferville Guard?” “Uh… the sixth?” “July sixth?” “I think so.” “What was your occupation prior to this?” “Didn’t have one.” “Were you in education, training, or otherwise occupied?” “No.” “For what reason did you come to Hooferville?” “To find a job.” “Why did you leave your hometown of Fillietown?” “To find a job.” “Where were you on June twentieth?” “Outside of civilization, on my way here.” “Where exactly?” “How should I know?” “Mr. Far Sky, do not answer a question with a question. If you do not know the answer, say so.” “I don’t know.” Cogent Flourish paused and looked over at the changeling. He glanced at her before returning his steely gaze to me. “Hey, who is that guy and why does he have a collar–” “Mr. Far Sky, do not speak unless answering a question.” “Now hold on now–” “That was not a request.” ‘Seriously. Why the hell is that changeling in a fucking collar? Is he some sort of slave? That will not do. Not. One. Bit. I will not stand it. Not for a second longer than absolutely necessary.’ “Eyewitness accounts report that you demonstrated knowledge of high level combat spells and techniques. Is this accurate?” “I don’t know.” “You don’t know if you possess high level combat spells and skills?” “I don’t know if what I know is considered combat stuff.” I had to focus on not clenching my jaw. ‘A slave. They made my people into slaves.’ “Is it true that you used Folk Lore’s Blades of Cutting today during the incident at Hooferville?” “I don’t know the name of the spell.” “Would you say that that is its likely name?” “I have no idea.” “Where did you learn this spell?” “Why is that pony collared?” “Mr. Far Sky, I will not remind you again of the rules of conduct that this questioning must follow.” ‘Screw plan A, I’m going straight for B. If that doesn’t work, then things are about to get messy.’ “... You will be free by the end of this conversation. I swear it.” “Mr. Far Sky, answer the question. Where did you learn this spell?” “I learned it while travel– while in Fillietown.” Cogent checked back on the changeling, but still got no response. “Who taught you this spell?” “My uncle.” “Who is your uncle?” “What’s the purpose of that collar?” “... For failure to adhere to understood rules, you will receive a fine of two-hundred bits. Do not sway from the conversation, Mr. Far Sky. Who is your uncle?” I smiled. “Why are you here, Cogent Flourish?” “You shall receive a total of two, two-hundred bit fines. Who is your uncle, and why did they teach you combat magic?” “He was a guard. He taught me to defend myself.” “What is his name, and current station?” “He’s dead.” “What is his name?” “Gemstone Vambrace.” “This will be investigated further. Teaching civilians combat magic is a serious breach of the Harmony Protocols. What was his rank before passing?” “Does it matter? He’s dead.” “Since you clearly have a problem with authority, I will cut you a deal. You will spend a week in jail for obstruction of justice for every question you ask.” “Why are you here?” “Four weeks.” “Why is she here?” The changeling blinked but kept quiet. “To look for changelings and traitors?” “He was a Captain.” The changeling slowly nodded. Cogent saw the movement and thought for a moment. “Can you restrain her and stop her from casting by hitting her horn on my order?” “Why did you leave Fillietown if to join the Guard division of another town if you already had high connections in Fillietown?” “I wanted to travel first.” The changeling nodded again. “Where did you travel to?” “Canterlot.” “On my mark, you will strike her horn and clamp her muzzle shut.” “When did you visit Canterlot?” ‘It would be so easy to order the changeling to just let my presence slide. I bet that the– what is essentially– worship that royals are given would allow me to essentially throw him under the bus and save myself. But damn them all, I will never allow one of my subjects to be enslaved. I would burn the entire town to the ground to free a single ling.’ “Just before coming here.” “What date would that be?” “The Summer Solstice.” “You were there during the invasion, despite having claimed otherwise?” “Of course, I led it.” “Now!” The changeling swung a hoof at the unicorn’s head the same moment I charged and fired off a stunning spell. Cogent Flourish immediately started to build a shield spell to defend herself from the sudden sight of my horn lighting up. Her eye darted to the side where she saw a hoof coming down upon her. She snarled and started to turn towards the changeling. That was when my stunning spell hit her in the chest, causing her to give a low grunt and seize up. Then, the changeling smacked her horn and clamped her muzzle shut. Within the span of one single second, Cogent Flourish had fallen, having been caught between reacting to the two simultaneous attacks. I got up off the bed and calmly walked over to where the changeling was holding her tightly. On the way, I stopped momentarily to pick up the box and utterly crush it within my telekinesis. I had not detected any long-range mana fluctuations or transfers, so the odds of it transmitting any data to anywhere outside of this room was zero. That was why I basically admitted to being Prince Phasma before I attacked. “Now, it’s my turn to ask the questions.” I glanced at the door. It was shut and the shades were drawn on the little window at the top. I guess little miss inquisitor didn’t want her official work to be disturbed. “We don’t have much time, the spell to blow the collar is quick to activate,” the changeling whispered. “Hmmm. No questions then, just action.” I built a spell in my mind and started casting it. It took half a minute to get it right, but thankfully I managed to pull it off. I immediately felt the drain that the spell took on my relatively depleted mana pool. Unlike during the invasion, I was essentially running just above the bare minimum amount of food. I would have a minute at most to do what needed to be done. Thankfully, I accomplished what I needed to do with the first sentence. For unlike during the invasion, I had successfully managed to cast mind control. “You will cease struggling and forget ever having this conversation, Cogent Flourish.” Her wide, angry eyes took an orange tint. She went lax in the changeling’s vice-like grip. She mumbled something through her shut muzzle. ‘Well well well, would you look at that. Practice does make perfect! Thank Panar I don’t have to go with plan B, I don’t think I could get the collar off if the spook is dead.’ “Your conversation with Mr. Far Sky went without note, and all details concerning his origin in Fillietown and backstory checked out thanks to a following investigation.” More mumbles. “Your changeling died during the unfortunate attack on Hooferville. You were momentarily sad due to the asset’s loss but quickly got over it. You recovered his collar and burnt his useless body. Also destroyed in the attack was your recording device. It was destroyed in a panicked stampede of ponies.” The changeling let go of Cogent at the same moment I started feeling a powerful pull on my horn. The mana drain of the spell was getting intense. “There was nothing suspicious about this investigation.” “... Nothing suspicious about this investigation.” “You will not report to your superiors until your next assigned meeting, or a week from now, whichever is later.” “... Whichever is later.” “You will leave this hospital with me and travel alone to wherever you are staying, citing the need to question me further if stopped. You will also follow any orders I give.” “... Any orders you give.” “You will remove the collar on the changeling.” Teal magic enveloped his collar and the etchings faded before the entire thing popped off into three segments. I let go of the spell before it drained me completely. I grabbed the collar off the ground and placed it in Cogent’s saddle bags. “Th–Thank you so much, My Prince!” “Shh. I will get us to a safe place to talk. For now, act the role.” He nodded and I turned around back to the remains of the box. Picking it up again, I compressed it down into a small cube with an audible CRUNCH. “Thank Panar Cogent told the hospital staff to not get involved, no matter what they heard,” the changeling mumbled. “Ah. That would explain that.” Cogent Flourish blinked her eyes rapidly and the orange tint faded. ‘The mind control spell should last at least a month before it decays away. But I’m sure her superiors will have noticed the discrepancies long before then. There’s no way with my luck that this Division-P will not notice that something happened. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.’ “It’s time to leave Hooferville.” ‘It’s been nice staying here, but it’s time for me to go.’ “Lead the way, Cogent Flourish.” Her head swayed side to side for a few seconds before she shook it vigorously, and turned to leave the room. “We will talk soon, friend. What can I call you in the meantime?” “My codename that these ponies gave me was Onyx.” “Onyx. Got it.” Cogent led the way out of my room. I pulled an IV out of my right shoulder and the magical machines that kept track of my heart rate started beeping loudly. Grabbing my prosthetic foreleg in my magic, I followed Cogent and Onyx out of the room. Out in the main room of the floor, several nurses had gathered and were looking right at us when we left. They were visibly relieved– and their emotions tasted relieved, of course– when they saw me walk out alive, in contrast to what the audible machines were beeping loudly about. Then they realized that the teal unicorn was staring at them, and they made themselves scarce. The exit from the hospital was thankfully uneventful. The receptionist looked at us with equal amounts of confusion and worry, but made no motion to stop us. When we stepped out into the street, I called out to Cogent. “Stop. Give me your bits and then continue to where you were going to stay for the day.” Cogent paused, retrieved a brown coin purse from her satchels using her magic, and levitated it over to me. I grabbed it from her magic and Cogent Flourish started walking away. “Come on Onyx, I need to run some errands before we leave Hooferville.” ‘After today, the world might never see Far Sky again. So I best empty my bank account and turn in my resignation. After all, it would be rude of me to disappear without saying goodbye to the squad. And maybe snag a bonus from the Captain…’ After telling Onyx to wait at a random cafe, I had purchased a large set of saddlebags and emptied my bank account. The clerk was suspicious but when I said that I was leaving town, they nodded and got their manager. Having overheard a conversation Sergeant Quick Search and I had when I made the account, the manager was aware of my vagrant past and understood my desire to leave. With saddlebags full of bits, I met up with Onyx and told him to wait for me as I stashed the bits in my room and to wait for me to say goodbye to the Guards. He tried to thank me for freeing him, but I told him to wait until we went to a meeting at midnight before talking freely. Then, I went and found Captain Lance, who was in his office at the Guards barracks, working his way through a tremendous pile of paperwork. “Specialist Far Sky?” He asked as I walked in. “Hello Captain.” “I’m surprised they let you out of the hospital so quickly. And I’m glad to see you’re still in one piece after being interrogated by that Canterlot prick. I am sorry you went through that.” I blinked at the pony’s sudden usage of vulgar language but ignored it. “Yes. I understand that this was above your paygrade and station. However, I am turning in my resignation as of this moment. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a warning or fill out the paperwork beforehoof.” He leaned back in surprise. “... You’re not running from the law, that’s for sure. If she suspected you in the slightest, you’d be in cuffs on your way to Canterlot by now. So why the sudden departure? If it’s because of your horrible treatment, I swear that I’ll never let another Canterlot Hornhead– sorry, forgot you’re one of ‘em– bother you again.” “She asked some very personal questions that made me realize that I still had to help my family back in Fillietown, even if they don’t deserve it.” “Back in…? Nevermind, that’s none of my business. Are you sure I can’t persuade you to stay? I can truthfully say that having you on the reserve will help ponies sleep better at night around here.” I shook my head, “I’m afraid not. We all have duties that go above us personally, and mine is to my family.” He sighed, “I can understand and respect that. I am sad to see you go. Mind if I buy you a round tonight before you leave? The local tavern's closing next week, so this is our last chance at celebrating. You deserve to be there with the rest of the guards.” “I’m planning on hitting the road tonight…” “I see… Say… Would you be interested in a… contract, of sorts?” “I’m leaving tonight, Captain Lance.” “I would pay well. Very, very well.” “I’m also still injured.” He bent over beneath his desk for a moment. I heard a lock being undone and a drawer being pulled. Captain Lance then sat back up and placed a vial of red liquid on the desk in front of him. “Should you take the job, that won’t be an issue. This here’s a healing potion, straight from the alchemy labs in Canterlot. Extremely rare and expensive, but if that’s what it takes to get you for the job… Look Sky, I’m going to be honest. This contract? I need your skills. We all saw you wipe the floor with those overgrown varmints. The only other pony in this town that can match that is me, and I’m stuck here filling out blasted blanks on bucking hundreds of pieces of paper.” “... What’s the contract?” “Today was the first breach in Hooferville’s walls in over two-hundred years. Something happened to make them attack. I want a team to investigate what those things were, where they came from, and why they attacked. If we can put a stop to the cause, we can stop further attacks and potentially save lives.” “... They are called Lavellan, and they are subterranean in nature. Something forced them out of their caves, likely.” Captain Lance waved a hoof in the air. “See? You even know what those critters are! You’re the perfect stallion for the job!” ‘If it’s a lot of money, that can very easily help out tremendously with the next step of my exit plan.’ “... How much pay are we talking here? I’d want it in hard bits all paid up front. I won’t be returning here once I leave.” “Hmm. Normally I’d call you crazy for wanting that and that I’d ever trust somepony with the entire pay upfront and in coin, but given your heroics today, I know yer not going to just disappear into the night. Alright. Here’s what I’m offering….” After negotiating with Lance and agreeing that I would accept the pay tomorrow and head out on the contract, I stopped by Sergeant Search’s office. Search, Bray, and Dew were finishing up the last of their work inside before heading out for the day. “Hey! If it isn’t the badflank himself!” Search cheered as he saw me enter. “Sky!” Bray exclaimed. She rushed over but I levitated my unattached leg between me and her. “No touching, I still have a few broken ribs.” That wasn’t completely true. My chest was tingling from Lance’s healing potion that he gave me, but I wasn’t sure how long it would take for the potion to take effect. Hopefully before the morphine in my system wore out. “You’re out from the hospital already?” Search asked. “Yeah. I, uh… Listen. I’d like to thank you all for your help and support. But I’m… moving back home.” That caused them to freeze. “What?” All three of them asked at the same time. “Back to where you nearly died?” Bray asked. “To where your family was murdered?” Search questioned. “Away from here?” Dew said quietly. “Yeah. I’ve got a duty to help out my family, even if I die trying. So, this is… goodbye.” “You’re leaving? Right now? Just like that?” Bray was looking at me with her big puppy-eyes. “I’m sorry I couldn’t teach you any magic. Maybe if we see each other again in the future. Keep your ears out, I’m sure eventually you’ll hear my name.” “... Why? Why now?” Was all Search could ask. “A unicorn from Division-P came and asked me some questions.” Dew squinted and stared at me. “What did they do?” “They asked me questions. A lot of them. I don’t want to stick around, in case they come back and ask more.” “Did you hurt them?” “What?! In the middle of a hospital? No!” “... So you wouldn’t do it with witnesses around?” “... You’d be saying the same if she interrogated you. She got under my skin and asked all the wrong things. Look, the point is that that conversation made me realize that my family needs my help. I know I can do good and help them, so I have to.” Dew seemed satisfied with that and so he nodded. “When are you leaving?” Bray asked, still right in front of me. “Tomorrow. Captain Lance wants me to do a dangerous contract with him and a special team. I won’t be returning after that.” Behind Bray, Dew and Search nodded to each other. “When will I see you again, Sky?” “Bray… I don’t know. If things become stable in the future, I guess I can reach out and contact you three. But for now, this is goodbye.” ‘Don’t get emotional Phasma, you’re the one who blew your own disguise the first chance you got. This is your fault, so just keep moving forward.’ Bray sniffed, “Oh. Okay then. I guess. Can we at least hang out until you leave?” “We’ve got a lot of work to do still, Bray,” Search answered. “No, we just–” “Bray. We have a lot of work to do.” She opened her mouth, and then closed it. Then Bray sighed. “Look, we can say our goodbyes tomorrow, but I need to prepare to leave tonight.” Bray smiled at me, “You’ll write often?” “I can try, if you want. Don’t know how often or if I can even write at all, but I’ll try.” “Good. Because you still have to teach me the mysterious thestral magic that you know.” “Sure Bray. I’ll see you tomorrow. You too, Search and Dew.” “Yeah, see you tomorrow Sky,” “See you later.” And so, with a wave, I turned and left Quick Search’s office for the last time.