//------------------------------// // Retribution // Story: Harmonics // by ezra09 //------------------------------// The harsh winds and rolling thunder echoed through the caves, bouncing off walls and filling the darkness with a steady pressure. Scootaloo tossed, covering her head with a hoof and pulling her wing over her body. The storm had started in the early hours of the morning, waking her from her already uneasy sleep. At least she was surrounded on every side by thick stone walls. When thunderstorms had come in while she was a filly, they’d terrified her. It was worst when she was still living in the clubhouse, alone, with only thin wooden walls to protect her. Of course, she was in more danger in the changeling hive than she’d ever been back then. The thought ruined her attempts at getting back to sleep and she sat up, rubbing at her eyes. “Good morning.” “Son of a buck!” Scootaloo swore, jumping back in surprise. “Oh, sorry,” the changeling said, smirking. Scootaloo could barely see her in the dim light coming from the hall. “Mimic? What the hay are you doing here?” “Well, you mentioned that you didn’t like storms, and they echo through the entire hive, so I thought you’d be having trouble sleeping.” “And you just felt like having a chat at... whatever time in the morning it is.” “It’s just before sunrise,” Mimic said. “I’m leaving early this morning with a group to collect food. There’s some wild vegetation a few miles East of Cloudsdale that we harvest from time to time. Since I was already up and ready to leave, I thought I’d come see if you were awake.” “Uhuh. How long were you sitting there?” “Only a few minutes. You looked restless, so I decided to wait and see if you’d wake up.” Scootaloo shivered. “That’s really creepy.” “Creepy?” Mimic asked. “Like, weird,” Scootaloo said. “Odd? Disturbing?” “I know what creepy means,” Mimic said. “Why is it creepy.” “Well, you don’t just watch ponies sleep. It’s just creepy.” Mimic gave her a confused look. “Why? Is sleeping something ponies find embarrassing?” “Well, not really,” Scootaloo said. “Then why is it creepy?” “It just is.” Scootaloo shook her head. “Just before sunrise? So I’ve been here for what, thirty six hours?” “About,” Mimic nodded. “It feels like longer,” Scootaloo said, yawning. “I don’t suppose you have any of the Daring Do books?” “Of course,” Mimic said. “Let me just run to the local library, we have all the books by bestselling pony authors to read in our endless free time.” “A simple no would work.” Mimic grinned at the look of annoyance Scootaloo threw her. “I wouldn’t complain about being bored if I were you. There’s plenty of work around here we could have you doing.” “Is that what you would have her do?” A voice said from the back of the room. Scootaloo and Mimic stiffened. Lirean entered, eyes bright in darkness. “If it were up to you?” “Oh, Queen Lirean,” Mimic stammered, turning and bowing. “It’s a good idea,” Lirean continued, gliding closer. “We’d certainly get more use out of her while she’s here. Mimic, isn’t it?” “Y- yes, Your Highness.” “And good morning, Scootaloo. How did you sleep?” “Go throw yourself under an ursa, you overgrown cheese grater.” Mimic turned toward Scootaloo, jaw slack and eyes wide as Lirean looked down at her hooves with a small pout. “Well, I was hoping we could all be civil here.” “Civil flew out the window when you threatened my friends,” Scootaloo said. “You’ve got all your plans set up, and nothing I say is going to change them, so don’t expect me to play whatever screwed up game you’re planning.” “My, aren’t we defiant today?” Lirean turned to Mimic. “Perhaps putting her to work would be too lenient. What do you think?” “Uh, me, Your Majesty? I don’t really think I’m the right changeling to be making suggestions on something like—” “Nonsense, little one. Who better to ask than someone who’s lost as much as you?” “None of which had anything to do with me,” Scootaloo said dryly. “It’s like you changelings live to take excessive revenge on imagined insults.” “None of which you...” Lirean trailed off, frowning. Scootaloo caught Mimic out of the corner of her eye, giving her a worried look. After a moment, Lirean’s face spread into a wide smile. “Mimic, just what were you doing in here?” “I, uh, I was just...” Mimic trailed off as Lirean walked around behind her. Lirean leaned over her, uncomfortably close, putting a hoof on her head. “I’m surprised. You come in here, look at this pony, and despite everything you must be feeling, you still remain so calm.” “You promised that she’d be safe,” Mimic said, voice shaking, though she didn’t dare shy away from the queen. “It’s not my place to go against your wishes.” Lirean moved away. “Of course. Such an obedient child.” Lirean frowned. “But surely you want to take matters into your own hooves? I know how you must feel. This pony took my only family, exiled her forever, and I hate her for it.” Mimic didn’t answer. She ducked her head a fraction of an inch and held her body rigidly. Her obvious discomfort was starting to get to Scootaloo, making her nervous. She didn’t understand what was wrong, but she was sure there was more to the conversation than she was catching. “Of course, you never liked my sister, did you?” Lirean asked. “I am loyal to the hive and my queen,” Mimic said. “How I feel about them is irrelevant.” “Such an obedient child,” Lirean said again. “A good little changeling to the end. But you can be honest with me. Chrysalis is to blame for your parents deaths, isn’t she?” “Queen Chrysalis did what she had to for the good of the hive.” “But...” Lirean said, dragging out the word. Mimic lowered her eyes, resigned to the fact that she wouldn’t get out of saying it. “I- I did blame her for what happened to my parents.” “Was that so hard?” Lirean asked. “We both lost loved one’s to another’s foolishness. And now, here’s the pony responsible. The pony who took our closest family. What do you think should happen to her?” “I told you already,” Scootaloo said, glaring at Lirean. “I had nothing to do with what happened to her parents. Stop trying to—” “Shut up!” Mimic snapped. Lirean smiled approvingly behind her. “She has a sister,’ Lirean said softly. “An older sister waiting for her to come home, worried that she might never return. They’re the only family each other has left.” Scootaloo could barely make out Mimic’s expression in the dark. She was rigid, and her eyes were screwed shut. “We could show her how it feels to have her family torn away,” Lirean said. “Bring her sister here, and let her watch while the changelings drain her life away.” “If you even think about touching her,” Scootaloo shouted, shoving against the bars of the cell. “You’ll what?” Lirean asked. “Yell at us from your prison cell?” “You aren’t the first Changeling Queen who tried to hurt my friends. Maybe you’d like a family reunion of your own.” “But you don’t have your precious princesses to clean up after you this time,” Lirean said before turning to Mimic. “She’s so protective of what little family she has left, isn’t she. It almost makes me feel bad. I couldn’t do anything to protect my sister.” Mimic said something too quietly for Scootaloo to make out, but Lirean’s smile widened. “Oh, poor girl, don’t be so hard on yourself. There was nothing you could have done to save any of them.” “I- I could...” “Could what? It’s too late for that,” Lirean said. “All that’s left for you is retribution.” “But I... I don’t...” “I won’t even stop you,” Lirean said, “if you want revenge right now. I could always use more changelings who aren’t afraid to get their hooves dirty.” Mimic blinked in surprise, turning her head toward Lirean. “But... you said...” Lirean leaned in close again. “True, I’d like to have my fun first, but just look at her.” She gently pushed Mimic’s chin, turning the smaller changeling’s head toward Scootaloo. Scootaloo still stood at the front of the cage, a mixture of anger and fear on her face. “She’s defenseless. She has no magic, she can’t even fly or run.” Scootaloo met Mimic’s gaze. The changeling looked confused, angry, and miserable all at once. Her hesitation confused Scootaloo. Mimic seemed crazy at times, but she didn’t believe the changeling was actually violent. “You hate her, don’t you?” Lirean asked. Mimic nodded in reply. “She’s an enemy of the hive, a personal enemy to you. She holds knowledge that would endanger everything we’ve worked for, and the princess trusts and listens to her. She’s a danger.” Something changed in Mimic, something Scootaloo couldn’t put her hoof in. Something set in her posture, in the look in her eyes. The change made Scootaloo truly afraid for her own life. “Go ahead, little one,” Lirean urged her on. The excitement in her voice chilled Scootaloo. All the patience and foresight the changeling queen had shown before was gone. She wanted blood. “No,” Mimic said. Scootaloo and Lirean blinked in unison. “It’s too easy,” Mimic said. “I want her to know what it’s like to lose her sister.” Lirean grinned. “Yes, that does seem more fitting, and we can always kill her later.” “Your Highness, may I make a request?” “Of course.” “I want to go. I want to go to Canterlot and help bring her sister to the hive.” Lirean’s smile only widened as she turned away. “I would expect nothing less. I will put together a group to leave today.” She left the room, leaving Scootaloo and Mimic alone. Mimic turned back toward Scootaloo the second she’d left. Scootaloo glared at her, every line of her body rigid in fury. “If you think for one second that—” “Shut up and listen,” Mimic snapped. “Is it true that Princess Celestia listens to you? That she actually trusts you?” “Go buck yourself. I have nothing to say to—” Mimic reached through the bars to push Scootaloo’s mouth shut. “There’s a chance your sister will get a warning and escape before we can capture her, but only if you shut up and answer my questions. Does the princess really trust you?” Scootaloo brushed Mimic’s hoof away. “Yes.” “Enough to do you a favor?” “Probably.” “Good,” Mimic said. “Because I need one.” “In case I wasn’t clear the first time, go buck yourself.” “Queen Lirean is sadistic and crazy,” Mimic said. “The only reason you’re alive and in one piece right now is because I reminded her of a way to hurt you even more.” “By pointing her at my sister. I hope you aren’t expecting any thanks,” Scootaloo snarled. Mimic glanced over her shoulder. “I can keep your sister safe, but you’re going to have to return the favor.” “Return the favor?” “If a changeling’s exiled from the hive, they’ll have no place to go. We’re considered criminals in Equestria. It’s even worse if they can’t change their shape to hide. A changeling without magic would be reduced to a life of running and living in the wilderness until they starved to death. If you asked, would your princess be able to protect a changeling like that? At least give one of us a place to live and some protection?” Scootaloo took a deep breath and tried to keep her anger under control. “Maybe. If I vouched for the changeling, and he wasn’t a threat to anypony, then yeah. Hay, I released Discord and turned the princess to stone and she still did that much for me.” Mimic gave a sigh of relief. “But I can only ask her if I get out of here,” Scootaloo ventured. “I know,” Mimic said, looking over her shoulder again. “I’ll have to get you free.” Scootaloo’s mouth hung open as she tried to find some way she must have misunderstood. “But understand one thing,” Mimic said. “If you go back on your end, I’ll kill you myself.” Scootaloo flinched at the sudden anger in Mimic’s voice. She sounded like... like Scootaloo had felt when they’d been threatening Rainbow Dash. Between the anger, her questions, and the sudden change upon hearing that Scootaloo might be able to help, the answer was obvious. “You have a sister,” she guessed, “and she’s been exiled.” “A brother,” Mimic said. “I just know I’m going to regret this.” “Not if you get to keep him safe,” Scootaloo said. Mimic nodded in agreement. “He’s the only family I have left.” “What’s his name?” The question hung in the air for a long moment. “Effigy.”