//------------------------------// // Reunion // Story: A Changeling's Heart // by BlueHeartTattoo //------------------------------// This dungeon was almost the same as the one back in the Changeling kingdom. Same, dark cold stone walls, iron bars and the calm quiet air. It brings back the narrowing atmosphere of being buried alive under the earth and trapped within a small space—just enough to make any prisoners reflect on their life-long regrets or cause them to go insane. The only difference that is didn’t the moist green slime that bind the dark bricks of the castle and form wet moss on its walls. That and the fact that my mistake of being landed here is well justified. Since birth, our Queen would make us believe of the ponies’ ill intention to over-slave us and the way to stop them was to overrule them. And through that, we would always fear of being captured by the ponies if it meant giving them information that would brand us as traitors or torture us for the sake of revenge. My mistake of staying at that place and being myself caught seems like a fair excuse to punish me to act so bewildered and stupid. Nighttime had come after a long strand of time and the moonlight was creeping through the barred window that held just an inch below the ceiling. I was only conscious for a few hours- long enough for me to experience the late noon and the setting of the sun. Nothing much you can do within a cell other than to sleep and think. I might as well get used to it if they decide to keep me here forever—or until they gave me a sentence of some kind to seal my fate. The creaking of the door interrupted the silence and my thoughts, and I could hear the sound of the hoofsteps coming near my cell. Two white guards came in first, each one posting on each side of the cell—probably as a precaution for my possible escape. I was caught surprised by the third set of hooves that now made herself known and stood in front of my cell. “Nameless,” I bluntly said. The Pegasus flinched as she noticed my use of her old name in such a bitter tone. She breath slowly before she can respond, “Hello, Gypsum. You still remember me?” I scoffed, “How can I forget, after all these years?” “I never forgot you too.” She tried putting up a weak smile, even though I can sense her fear and uncertainty towards me. “I never doubted it. If you’re going to mock me in my failures, I suggest you make it quick.” “N-no, actually—I came to… ask you some things?” “You mean to interrogate me? Did the princesses bring you up to this?” “No!” she cleared her throat, “No. Nopony knows I’m down here actually. I just need answers from you.” I raised my eyebrow. I thought I would never see the day where Nameless would do something with discretion, as she was the most open pony I know—well the only one, I corrected. I still doubt she would do this without some benefit to win from—though I can let her play her game first. “What about?” Nameless grew nervous as she gathers the strength to speak out, “Twilight and the others—they believe you had something to do with that avalanche today. Is that true?” I raised my brow in confusion, “Why would they think I did it?” “T-Twilight investigated the mountain base where the avalanche started. She detected that the explosion was created from dark magic. And since we learn from the curse Chrysalis put on me that you all used dark magic, she made a convincing conclusion.” I didn’t exactly see the explosion in perspective as I dealt with my own personal problems. But hearing this, it seems that I was in more hot water than I thought I was. I did remember that night that our Queen showed the General, Nabis and I the dark room containing generations of potions, books and tools of dark magic and how our existence was created upon it. She never cared explaining why it was so as she was very persistent to answer my questioning about it. Even now, I still think about it—to which I realize now it always pushed aside by a small headache. Why am I suddenly thinking it now--! A quick ping of pain flash by my head and I groaned loudly. Nameless took notice in concern, “Are you alright?” I shook my head clear before I can give her any more reason to share some pity—not that I needed it. “I’m fine,” I stated rather bluntly, “anyways—Why would you care about it? Even if I do tell, how could you be sure I’m not lying? Or better yet— what if I were planning to kill you right here and now? Those guards look weak enough to be pushed around.” At the corner of my eye, I saw the backside of the guards’ head turn to each other in fear. Nameless, however, stood her ground. “I could easily call out for my fiancée,” Nameless stated in defense, “He’s not exactly happy seeing you again. Or maybe I can call the princesses for a real interrogation.” My eyes grew wide in surprise before I resorted into a smirk, “Ooh, Discord has certainly grown on you. You were never this confident back at the kingdom.” “Well, time can change. You did.” My smirk turned sour as the subject of our past relationship comes up. Rather to stay in an uncomfortable silence than what we need to be, I decided to tell straight up my view. Besides, it’s better than facing that monster’s wrath again. “No, I did not cause that avalanche.” Nameless seems to relax a bit after hearing it, though I didn’t care how she thinks. “I was only here for a field mission. After the… invasion,” I added as I didn’t want to think of our queen’s death, “The general enforced new strict rules on how we would feed on any creature from then on. We can only send out one changeling to one location at the time to stay and collect the amount of love we need without using too much of our magic. I’ve arrived here last night, so I can safely say that I was at the right place at the wrong time.” “I thought you were a private?” Nameless asked confused, as she knows that some enranked forces aren’t allowed to initiate a field mission without the queen. “No matter what rank, we still have to participate. These new missions can keep us occupied a few months at the time. Not only that, but with recent incidents, we’re forced to look into other lands. It’s been hard keeping us feed since you were awake.” Nameless looked away for a moment, her eyes filled with shame with a slight hint of pity. “I’m sorry things had been hard on you.” I said nothing on that. I don’t need her pity, especially since she is the one who caused our misery in the first place. Nameless spoke out again, “How’s Nabis?” After a side glance from me, I reluctantly replied back, “Same as always—naïve and foolish.” Another silence came over us, “Is that all you need to ask me? Because this pause and answer tactic is getting old.” “Sorry. Umm…” Nameless stammers for a moment before she can ask again. There goes that confidence she had before. “The princesses had been talking about you.” “Have they decided what they want to do with me?” I sneered. “N-not actually. We’re still trying to recover from that avalanche and Twilight plans to investigate the site even further. But until then, the princesses will have to keep you here until they can give you a hearing.” “Hearing? But I didn’t do anything wrong!” “It’s not that simple.” I can see that Nameless is trying her best to stay neutral over the situation and trying to be a mediator on both sides. A rather foolish thing for her to do. Even if she is on ponykind, she doesn’t know the pony conditions like the changelings do. I am not willing to believe any of their lies. Nameless continued, “The ponies are still traumatized from the invasion last year. Any rumor or news of another one would cause a panic and they will start accusing you and the kingdom. And Twilight wants to approach this peacefully.” “Peacefully? I think it’s a little too late for that,” I scoffed, “You have me locked here already. Why not go ahead and declare war on us again?” “That’s not what we want,” Nameless pleaded desperately, “I know you and the changelings haven’t done much against Equestria since then. It would be unfair for us to fight you with no reason.” “Even if it is the rational thing to do? After you had denied what is ours?” “Chrysalis wanted to enslave the ponies for their love!” “Because it is our birthright!” “GYPSUM, STOP!” Nameless’ cry soared through the halls and echoed until it was only a whisper. I hardly see Nameless this frustrated or mad from any of my time with her. It was hardly enough for me to have a taste, but it was an interesting sight, nonetheless. After a short, few breaths, she spoke again. “Look, I’m sorry—but the only way you can step out of this cell is to listen to us and not to do anything rash. Please. As soon as we can get this cleared, you can go back home safely, and we won’t bother you again. As long as you don’t give Twilight or the princesses any reason to hold against you.” “And what about your hubby?” I asked sarcastically. “Don’t worry about Discord—I can handle him well. You just take care of yourself.” Nameless slowly steps away from the bars as the guards took the signal to stand around her for protection. She turned back with a small smile, “I’ll visit you whenever I can.” She finally made her leave along with the guards. The hoofsteps echoed the hallway until it was ceased by the loud slam of the door shut and locked. I can only look with a sneer as I say under my breath, “Don’t even try. I don’t need you.”