//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine: Visitor // Story: Alicorn Kings and Better Things // by RandomCommentor //------------------------------// Focus: Vedaria “Hey Vedaria, wheres Rose?” Looking up from the book she was reading, she sees that Livar had come into her room. “I dunno, she and Ventian left about two hours ago.” Vedaria replies. “Oh, okay. Was just gonna ask her to show me that camo spell she told me about. I’ll ask later then.” Livar walks back into the other room, closing the door. Hmm… Im pretty sure Ventian is either wandering around the town right now, or he's with Rose. Not sure he can keep that secret, after all he did tell us that little thing about the dragons. Then again, he didn't seem to realize that was supposed to be a secret, and a changeling showing him their true form is a big deal. Im still on the fence about him, but at least I know that he’s trustworthy. Unless, of course, he’s able to fake his emotions, but not even a psychopath can trick a changeling’s ability to sense intent. Empathic sense may be able to be tricked, but intent is completely different. “I wonder whats really in that head of his…” Vedaria, thinking aloud, ponders to herself. Shaking her head, she goes back to reading her book. Focus Swap: Ventian Two hours later As he and Rose get back to the rooms, he sees Vedaria standing outside. Stepping forward, the blue alicorn speaks. “Ventian, Rose, I would like you both to come with me.” She then walks back into her room. “I wonder what this is about.” Ventian says. Rose doesn't reply. Entering the room, it seems Vedaria moved the table from the window to the center of the room, a big map laying across it displaying… quite a lot. That looks like a map of the kingdom, plus the surrounding areas, thats huge! I wonder where Vedaria even got that map. Talking over the map are Livar and Leva, conversing- more like arguing over where to go next. “But I wanna see the jungle! Ive never seen so many insects all at once before!” Leva shouts. “Thats because I’ve always deterred them for you! Do you have any idea how many diseases are given just by mosquito bites? Not that many, but all of them can be deadly! And thats not even mentioning the-“ Vedaria interrupts with a loud, exaggerated cough. “Alright then. If you are both done arguing, the other two are back.” She says, pointing out the two alicorns behind her. “Which means, we can vote now.” Livar groans. “Why cant we just go to the safest place first? And only there?” He complains. “Because its on the other side of-“ This time, Ventian interrupts. “Hey, sorry but, what are we talking about? Because I'm confused.” Vedaria looks at him, and points to a dark green colored location south-east of Adifoll. “We are trying to decide where to go between three places on this map. First and closest is the Medovari Jungle which I’ve heard rumors a new temple was discovered deep inside. Temples tend to either be empty glorified tombs or places of great treasure, so if we go there we may find some valuable items.” Pointing away from the jungle, and pointing west of the capitol, on the other side from where Adifoll is, is an ocean dotted with islands. “Over here, in the Obsidian Sea, are some people in need of weather control as their pegasi keep migrating away before Cyclone Season. If you don't know what that is, basically a hurricane hits the area twice a year, once in winter during Hail Season, and in the summer during Cyclone Season. We wont stay that long, but they do need some weather help.” Again, pointing far north of the capitol, the location seems to become icy and mountainous, judging from the key on the side that Ventian can see. “And this is basically the most dangerous and longest journey we could possibly make. The Windigo Mountains. Home to Ice Spirits, and yaks for some reason. Anyway, this place has a colony of earth ponies attempting to build a town or something up there. In my opinion, we aren't going there. Livar and Leva agrees.” Vedria finishes, looking back at the two. “So what do you two think?” “Huh.” Rose begins. “Ive been in a jungle before, and bugs don't bother me so I guess my vote is we go there.” Ventian ponders all this sudden information. Crazy earth ponies, I mean no disrespect, but thats basically impossible to build that close to ice spirits. The jungle sounds okay, but from what Livar said, I don't think he can deter however many bugs are in the jungle. Sounds like a lot. The ocean… I dont have any experience with weather work so I would just feel left out, so… Deciding, Ventian says “Im gonna have to go with the Jungle. Sorry Livar.” The unicorn stallion just sighs. “Its fine. I knew I was gonna lose anyway.” “We can go to the Medovari Jungle then.” Vedaria speaks. Suddenly, a knock can be heard from the door. Rose perks up, stares at it, and her eyes widen in fear. ”Oh… Oh no.”She whispers, Ventian barely hearing it. The others, not hearing this at all, stare at the door as Vedaria walks over to it slowly. “Who is it?” She says loudly. A male voice speaks from the other side. “Its Everfree, open up Vedaria.” Vedaria then opens the door swiftly and says “Everfree?! What are you doing here?!” The… wait. Thats not a pony. THATS HIM. THATS THE NOT-PONY I SAW THE OTHER NIGHT!! Wait, wheres the kitsune? “I was just passing by, and the clerk downstairs mentioned you were here so I thought to give you a visit. So, who's the new guy?” He says, looking at Ventian. Everyone then just stares at Everfree, not really wanting to speak. Ventian, oblivious to any of this, speaks up. “So… what are you?” Everfree chuckles a bit. “Heh. I used to be a pony, I assure you. I just got fused with a spirit is all. Happened a long time ago, I'm used to it.” “Oh cool, my names Ventian, nice to meet you!” Ventian lifts his hoof in a motion to shake hooves and the half-spirit does the same. “Nice to meet you too.” Focus Swap: Rose Approx. Ten seconds before door opened As Vedaria walked toward the door, life seemed to slow down for the disguised changeling. OHSHITOHSHIT,HESHEREOHSHITNONONO,WHYISHEHERENONOOHHHFUUUU- “Who is it?” Vedaria speaks, Rose not being able to tell her ‘no don't!’ The voice of a friend speaks up. “Its Everfree, open up Vedaria.” Oh No shes opening the door, please don't oh no. As the door opens, Rose look over at Ventian and sees his eyes widen a bit. Focus on other things. Why is Ventian surprised? Maybe because Everfree doesnt look like a pony? But then why is there a hint of recognition in his shock? No idea, I’m way too scared to focus, oh geez, oh no, oh crap- Not hearing them speak until now, she hears “So, who's the new guy?” She then looks at Everfree, trying her best to have a neutral expression. “So… what are you?” Ventian asks the person with the most hate for his family than anyone else in existance. “Heh. I used to be a pony, I assure you. I just got fused with a spirit, is all. Happened a long time ago, I’m used to it.” “Oh cool, My names Ventian, nice to meet you!” The male alicorn says, shaking hooves with Everfree. Oh no, he didn't. “Nice to meet you too.” Everfree says, letting go from the others hoof. “So… whats up with the map?” Everfree says, walking past the alicorn to the table. Vedaria swiftly moves over next to him and explains the situation. Meanwhile, Rose is still quietly freaking out. If Everfree ever learns- no, WHEN he learns that Ventian is the Prince, he's going to flip. Especially now since nobody warned him, because why would we? Before we knew him, maybe, but we actually like Ventian! And, for all we know, Everfree might want him dead for what his father did! Focus Swap: Vedaria As she finishes explaining to Everfree what the plan was, she adds on “We actually just finished voting on where to go, and we’re going to the Medovari, wanna come with?” Okay. I can work with this. Kinda freaked out, needed to buy time to think, but now I know what to do. I’ll just make Everfree and Ventian get along, and when Everfree learns the truth, the anger would be lessened by fact and logic. Plus, he’s going to ask Rose about Ventian’s intentions and Rose wont lie and neither will I. Its almost foolproof. As she thinks, Everfree nods. “Yeah I’ll come with, I’ve been there before too. The Medovari has quite a lot of snakes, most of which are venomous. Good thing I have magic that nullifies venom and poison, so bringing me with is a good idea.” Everfree states. “Hold on, wheres Almori?” Vedaria asks, just realizing that the kitsune isn't here. “Shes chasing a lead, oh yeah! I just remembered…” Everfree trails off, looking over at Ventian. Leaning towards her, he asks “Can we trust him? I don't want to give secret information if we cant.” Vedaria nods, whispering so only they can hear “Actually, Ventian discovered that Rose is a ‘ling about a day ago, and nothing bad happened.” “Hmm… what was his reaction?” He asks, intrigued. “He just asked questions. Not interrogated, just asked simple things about changelings, from what Rose said. It seems to me that he’s more the type to ask questions and make friends. No preconceptions with him from what I can tell.” Vedaria explains. “Interesting. Do the siblings know yet?” “No. I don't trust Livar with his fear of bugs, and I don't trust Leva to keep her mouth shut.” “Makes sense. Still interesting that you trust the new guy more than Livar, when did he become a part of the group?” “About a week or so ago. We just got to Adifoll from Deovardin.” “That place? Why were you in the capitol?” “Just business, we met him and he decided to come along.” Vedaria says, telling a half-truth. “Alright then. Anyway, what I was going to say is that Almori and I found something disturbing following us. A Blank Changeling.” Vedaria’s eyes widen. “Are you sure?” “Pretty sure. We captured it, tried to interrogate it but then it just attacked us, so we had to kill it. No words, just the typical hissing of a blank, mindless drone.” He says, grimacing at the memory. “Thats bad. I thought even blanks had enough intelligence to try and get away by using deception, but it just attacked? Thats not normal.” “I know. Almori is attempting to figure out where it came from right now. I wouldn't worry about her being left out of the trip to the jungle anyway, she can catch up. If she wants to.” Focus Swap: Rose/Petonia As the others talk, Vedaria to Everfree and Livar to Leva, Rose and Ventian just kinda stand there awkwardly. “Hey Rose? This is the guy you were scared of me meeting, right?” “Yeah. Just my luck that this happens almost exactly after almost slipping up about it.” “Why didn't you want to talk about him? He seems really nice.” “Well, lets just say that he has the most reason out of anyone in the world to hate the Deoniyas family.” She says, making sure only she and Ventian can hear. Focus Swap: ??? One week earlier… As the imprisoned queen lay on the floor of her cell, she could only think about the beings in her control. These blanks are so mindless. Sister wouldn't have even the slightest thought to use these things. Its disgusting, how easily I'm controlled just like how I'm controlling these things. I hate Aerlan, I hate Ponies, I hate Blanks, hate hate hate… Hearing the vault door past her cell move, she sees the king walk through the doorway, seemingly enraged by something. “Get up.” “What do you want, Aerlan Deoniyas.” She says more than asks. She knows better than to ask. “Send your blanks towards the area around Adifoll, and use a few to continue spying on my son and anyone following him. If you do this, I may let you feed again.” He demands. “I suppose you will only do so if you gain some information of use then.” She states. The King just replies “Perhaps.” “Fine. I’ll do what you say. Not like I have a choice.” The changeling says. “No. You don't.”