//------------------------------// // Captured // Story: Body And Mind // by Starman Ghost //------------------------------// The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. —Eden Ahbez The searing pain that hit Pincer when he tried to stand alerted him that his back legs were broken. They looked fine at first glance, his black chitin merely as scratched and dirty as the rest of him, but somewhere beneath his carapace, the bones had snapped. His fall into the ravine had been every bit as bad as he'd feared, and now he was sprawled helplessly in the dirt. He could hear the water trickle quietly over the rocks in the nearby brook, but his view of the bed was obscured by the smooth, white stones of its bank, barely out of his reach. Soft grass brushed against his carapace and slipped into the holes in his legs. The sun directly overhead bathed the area in a comfortably warm light and splashed the small but healthy saplings scattered about. For most, it would have been pleasant and peaceful, but he was trapped by his injuries and the steep, rocky hills that towered over him on either side, cutting him off from the world outside. He thought bitterly that if anyone would end up in this situation, it would be him. His poor flight scores had finally caught up with him, resulting in the vicious tailspin that had led to his painful fall. It wasn't as though he could've expected the invasion to end the way it did, though. In the eleventh hour, just when it seemed everything had gone as planned and they would never have to worry about running out of love for the rest of their lives, the magic of Shining Armor and Princess Cadence had quite literally blown them all away. He didn't know if the others had fared any better. As far as he could tell, all of them had been as unprepared as he was and thrown into the air, sent flying far over the horizon, but he hadn't seen any of them spin and fall like he did. Presumably the others had managed to recover and land, if not cleanly, then at least well enough to avoid serious injury. He was sure his podmates were fine, at least. A quiet fear that had been lurking in the back of his mind burst into his thoughts: he could very well die here. There were no signs of pony or other sentient activity in sight. He didn't know how often, if ever, anyone came to this ravine. Even if any pegasi happened to fly over, it was a million to one that they would happen to look down and see him. He was sure that the Princess' guards would be out searching for changelings, but a lifetime of education had very firmly etched into his mind the knowledge that to remain here until he died of thirst would be preferable. Terror seized him as he realized the implication. He was going to die, whether here or in the dungeons of Canterlot. Whatever happened, he'd never see The Hive again. He would never again return to his pod after a day of training, feeling tired but accomplished, and settle into his bed for a good night's sleep. He had to swallow a lump in his throat, close his eyes, and take a breath when he thought of Scarab and his beloved Queen Chrysalis. After all, changeling drones weren't supposed to cry. Antenna. He would never see Antenna again, either. He'd known her since they were larvae, and they'd been friendly rivals ever since their first drills. It was his determination to prove himself to her that had led him to be one of the more formidable fighters in his pod, for all the good it had done him at Canterlot. The thought gave Pincer an idea. It was borne of desperation and highly unlikely to work, but it was also the only thing that might give him a chance of seeing his podmates again. He closed his eyes, clenched his fangs, and channeled magical power into his curved, needle-sharp horn. There was a flash and a feeling not unlike a mild electric current surging through his body. Pain shot through his back legs again, which his transformation could not mend, and he sharply gasped through clenched teeth — teeth that were now flat and blunt, like a pony's. His black, insect-like body had transformed into that of a stormy gray-coated pegasus stallion with a short, cropped, cloud-white mane and tail. His build was lean, similar to that of his true form, but his wings were now thick and downy. The cutie mark he'd chosen for himself was a rather unremarkable triplet of blue raindrops. Flogging his brain for all of his knowledge of Equestria, he carefully began piecing together a background he could use long enough to get treatment and get back to the Hive. He'd been the best in his pod, possibly even the best in his cluster, at taking the role of a pony. If a pegasus spotted him, he was sure he could trick them into helping him escape. If. Time passed tortuously slowly. As thirst began to gnaw at Pincer's throat, the trickle of the brook started sounding less like relaxing white noise and more like a painful mockery. There was little else to occupy his mind aside from the occasional peeping of a nearby bird. While he could not say for certain how long he'd been there, he knew hours must have passed. The sun had recently disappeared behind one of the rocky hills, and as the last of its rays faded away, darkening the valley like the door of a tomb shutting. He heard the Royal Guard chariot before he saw it. His prone position made it awkward to look up, and he was hurting badly enough without a stiff neck. There was no mistaking the source of the rhythmic flapping of wings and clatter of metal above, though. The beam of a searchlight mounted on the chariot began sweeping the ravine, turning its harsh white light on the rocks and trees. Pincer saw his chance. "Hey! Down here! I'm down here! Help me, please!" He found himself squinting as the blinding beam shone on him like a spotlight. His eyes stung and spots swam in his vision, but he was overjoyed. This was it! All he had to do was act convincingly, and he would be rescued! That much would be easier because, after spending the last several hours growing more convinced he would die here, he was genuinely glad to see them. All he had to do was swallow his fear, and Commander Formic had given him more than enough practice. Pincer heard the chariot descend, the outline of the beam trained on him growing longer and narrower against the ground and twisting about him as the chariot circled above. Finally, directly ahead of him, he saw a pair of snowy white pegasus guards with a small, roofless, cadet-blue chariot behind them, seating a pair of black unicorn guards. After a light touchdown by the pegasi, the unicorns hopped out and trotted towards him, looking down at him in concern. "Who are you? Do you need assistance?" asked the guard to his left. "Oh, yes, thank goodness you came!" Pincer said. "My name's April Shower. I spun out while I was flying to Trottingham and crashed here. I can't move my back legs. I... I think they're broken." The guard to his left nodded. "It's a good thing we found you, then." He turned to his partner. "Savior, get splints." His partner gave a brisk "yes sir" and trotted back towards the chariot, lifting a hefty canvas bag out of it. As he picked through the contents, the first guard turned his attention to Pincer again. "You don't need to worry," he said in a warm baritone. "My name is Mystic Saber, and my associate there is Daring Savior. Once he finishes treating your legs here, we will take you to a hospital in Trottingham to recover. How long have you been here? Is there anything else you need? Do you need us to contact anypony for you?" "It's been hours, I think. I know the sun was overhead when I fell. I'm sure my sister's worried. I was going there to visit her. I can write her once we're at the hospital. In the meantime, please, if you could get me some water?" As he said the last sentence, he put on his best wide-eyed, pleading look. "Certainly," said the guard quietly. With a glance over his shoulder, he ordered his companion to retrieve a canteen. Once he'd gotten another "yes sir," he looked at Pincer again. "Now, before we get started, I'll have to cast a spell on you. Don't worry, it will not take long. It's only to ensure you're not a changeling. After what happened in Canterlot, we're not taking any risks on that." Pincer's blood ran cold and a lead weight fell in his stomach. Chrysalis flay me, he thought to himself, I never had a chance! The guard's horn began glowing green, and panic took over.. "Wait! Look, you don't need to do that." To Pincer's immense relief, the guard's horn dimmed. "I don't want — please. Please, I need help. I'm really thirsty. I need water, now." The other unicorn was walking back towards them now, levitating a pair of white, padded splints and a disc-shaped, shining silver canteen in front of him. Pincer knew he had been clutching at straws, but he could still barely contain the terror when the unicorn who had been casting the spell shook his head. "Our orders are to scan everypony we find. This will only take a few seconds. Relax, you'll get your water." Pincer's breathing quickened and deepened, suddenly sounding deafening to him. If he'd had the guard fooled at any point, the unicorn's suspicious expression made him highly doubt that was still so. As the guard's horn once again glowed, he started sucking air as if he'd been suffocating and he felt his heart hammer against his chest. His podmates! He'd never even gotten to say goodbye! He— "I thought so." Pincer didn't have to look; he felt the difference in his body. Smooth chitin. Swiss cheese legs. Protruding fangs. Gossamer wings. He was in the form ponies had surely come to hate, alone, injured and exposed to Celestia's best. The unicorns were both in front of him now, frowning at him sternly, Savior's splints and canteen floating behind him. Saber said in a voice that had gained a hard edge, "as per Her Majesty's orders, you are now under arrest as a prisoner of war. We'll be taking you—" Pincer didn't want to hear any more. He lashed out, leaping and snapping at the guards. Their eyes widened as they stepped back from the reach of his knifelike fangs. He tried to charge them, but had barely started pushing himself forward when his back legs exploded in pain again. His head and front legs fell to the ground, and he groaned helplessly. The guards' expressions had already turned stern again. "Listen to me!" barked Saber. "You're in no condition to try to fight! All you'll do is hurt yourself! If you come quietly, you have my word as a royal guard that you will not be harmed! We just need to take you in for a few questions so we can protect ourselves from further attack by your queen. If you cooperate with us, you will probably be on your way home once you can walk." Pincer glared with all the hatred he could muster, but didn't make another move. Saber's expression relaxed. "Before we do anything else, though, you will receive full medical care. Once Savior applies first aid here, you will be taken to a secure hospital in Canterlot." He turned to Savior. "Treat his wounds." "Yes, sir." Daring Savior looked down at Pincer, letting the canteen float toward him. The cap unscrewed itself, and the lip of the container hovered directly under his nose. "Here. Drink as much as you need to." Savior's words, softer than Saber's, would have sounded reassuring had he not been a royal guard who knew Pincer's identity. Suspicious, he leaned down to smell the contents, then looked askance at Savior. Savior looked back at him expectantly. Finally, Pincer's thirst helped him decide that there really hadn't been enough time since his unmasking for the guards to tamper with its contents. He put his mouth over the rim, and Savior tilted it so he could gulp down the water. Even though it had come from an enemy, he savored the cool water as it went down his throat, and he had nearly emptied the container when he finally pulled his mouth away. He felt as if he should thank Savior, who was screwing the cap back on and returning the canteen to its bag, but realized that would be naive. After all, he'd only been given the water so he'd lower his guard and be more willing to tell them what they wanted to know later. Savior did not prod him to express gratitude, though. He simply guided the pair of splints in front of himself and approached Pincer's side. "I'll need you to lie still for this. You can relax. I'm trying to help you, that's all. If you struggle, you could very well make the fractures worse. If necessary, I can and will use a sleep spell on you. Do you understand?" Pincer nodded grudgingly. "Okay. Hold still — this won't take long." Pincer felt his left back leg being carefully lifted by a telekinetic force, followed by the first of the splints being eased into place. His leg was lowered with the same care it had been elevated, and the second one soon followed. He found himself surprised by how quickly and relatively painlessly the guard had done it. It hurt, yes, but it was nothing compared to the nearly unbearable pain he'd gone through when he'd tried and failed to attack them. Of course, that was part of the trick, too. He was more likely to give out information if he thought they cared at all about his wellbeing, so they acted the part. In fact, his legs hurt less now than before Savior had applied the splints. "Wait. What else did you do?" he snapped. "Why'd my legs stop hurting so much? Splints don't do that!" Savior raised an eyebrow. "I anesthetized them with my magic. That's standard procedure. It will wear off in a few hours. Are you honestly going to complain about your legs feeling better?" Pincer said nothing. "You can think whatever you like of us once your legs heal. For now, we'll be taking you to the hospital." He turned to the pegasus guards. "We're ready to transfer him." The two pegasi drew the chariot over to Pincer. Savior, grunting and straining from the effort, slowly lifted him off of the ground. Pincer panicked and flailed for a moment the pain in his legs subdued him again. Seeing that this accomplished nothing aside from (as well as he could hear) making Savior swear under his breath, he resigned himself to staying still. Once he was motionless again, Savior carefully laid him on the rear bench of the chariot. Finally, a pair of straps snaked out of the medical bag and draped themselves across Pincer, stretching taut and knotting to secure him. He'd barely had time to test the straps, which proved stiff and unyielding, before the unicorn guards clambered back into their bench in front of him. The backrest of their bench now blocked them from his view. "The prisoner is secure. Let's go." The chariot rolled and shook and the wheels squeaked as the pegasi broke into a steady gait. Pincer felt himself pressed against the back of the bench as the chariot began to rise. The squeaking of the wheels stopped, replaced by the quick, steady flapping of the pegasi's wings. The ground fell away, the walls opened up, and the trees disappeared beneath the chariot's side. As the ravine gave way to the pale blue, sun-blazed evening sky, Pincer did his best to brace for the charge into the dreaded unknown.