//------------------------------// // Part 10: BSBFF // Story: They Grow Up... // by overlord-flinx //------------------------------// Sooner or later, a child comes of age where mom and dad can no longer be trusted with their secrets. Of course this is untrue, but you try and tell that to the teenage mind and have them listen. Regardless, it is a time that effects all races, species, and the sort at one point or another. However, when this does happen, the child finds a new soul to confide in. This new confidant is either a best friend, a trusted teacher, a sibling, or someone they've known for as long as they can remember. Also, in a rare chance, it's someone who embodies all of the above in one. Scramble! That was all the changeling swarm was able to do at this hour of danger. Left by their queen to tend the colony and work on a nice dinner for when the family returned, they were not prepared for any great harm. Yet it came. It came from within the situated center tower of the swarm's empire. Dozens of changeling droves collected to secure the center tower, watching as bolts of lightning and cracking thunder erupted from every crack of the shattering structure. Their changeling limbs struggled to hold the tower together to allow the younger of the swarm to escape to a greater distance before the danger broke loose. One after another, changelings fell from the tower walls as bolts of energy cut against their wings and sent them hurdling to the barrens far below. The air hummed with the mixed sounds of wings fluttering together and the cries of frightened changelings; all of which were interrupted by the bang and roll of thunder echoing within the central tower. When the final few drones stood at the base at the tower alone, holding the main gate of the tower closed -their brothers and sister laying weak around them- the thunder and lightning within simmered down to nothing. Silence. An eerie, uncomfortable silence fell over the empire. Two of the changelings still holding the door shut looked to one another with wide curious eyes. One of them opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced himself when the door was blown off its hinges by a bright green light. What changelings remained -except for one- at the main door were knocked away from the door as well with the explosion. The last remaining guard struggled to get to his feet, the world around him shaking and turning to a shocked blur. All that he could make out before he passed out was the frightening image of a four legged demon stepping out from the destroyed tower door. When each changeling that fought to keep the tower in one piece awoke and saw that their efforts were for nothing, they cowered in fear at the demon that left the tower. This demon was to them the stuff of nightmares. A mane as bright and vibrant as the flames of the sun; green eyes that sent chills down the body. She was by far the most twisted and ruthless beast they had ever come to know. That is why, when she stopped and looked to the mass of them, they pulled away slightly in fear. Her eyes narrowed and she huffed a dry note to her dropped mane over her eyes. "...Are any of you going to tell me where my brother is, or not?" All at once, each changeling pointed off to Ponyville over the horizon. Sunset Shimmer, princess of the changelings, groaned and scowled at the information. "Great... More walking..." she muttered as she started her long trek towards the distant village. Watching her leave, one of the changelings shivered to himself. They all understood the protocol set by Queen Chrysalis, but still... No changeling enjoyed when the princess woke up with such a bad temper! That's how they keep losing towers for her! Pipsqueak and Sunset Shimmer. So different, yet fate gave them the cards that forced their lives together for better or for worse. Now, while one loved the idea of having someone to share and play with, the other saw it only as a bother. Yet, fate had a way of keeping everything in check... For better or for worse... "...I'm not even going to ask..." Sunset Shimmer shook her head from shame as she looked at "Disarm Honey". "Good, I didn't really feel like telling you anyway. I have a life outside of you," Discord snorted in reply. Together in an alleyway, Sunset Shimmer and this 'goat' had met up; against Sunset's will of course. On her trek to Ponyville, a manhole opened beneath her feet partway across the plains and sent her sliding through miles and miles of sewage to bring her planted 'safely' before Discord. Sunset picked the banana peels, tin can tops, and sludge from her coat and mane with her magic, groaning at each annoying process. "Anywho! I'm glad you're here, Shim-Sham, I need your hel--" A sickly grime crusted hoof planted against the goat's mouth, sending a gag through him. "Does this have to do with Pipsqueak?" Nod. "Is this a contest between you and the queen?" Nod. "Does she know I'm here yet?" Head-shake. "...Fine..." her hoof fell from Discord's mouth, leaving a trail of grime there in a hoof-stamp mark. "What's your plan...Dad?" For Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, the flight over Ponyville went pretty smooth after fixing themselves from Sweetie Belle's shot. Scootaloo didn't much mind the extra weight Apple Bloom brought to her back, and Apple Bloom didn't mind the somewhat ridged flying patterns of her pegasi partner. More over, Apple Bloom was still just lost in her thoughts about the "phases". "Scootaloo?" "Yeah? Wa'sup?" Scootaloo cocked her head back and looked at Apple Bloom, slowing herself down just a bit as she dulled her wings against the wind. Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo a moment, still gearing away in her mind about what was bugging her. Something wasn't right in her, but she just couldn't figure it out. She shook her head and rested her muzzle against the back of Scootaloo's neck, groaning into it, "Nothin'..." her muffled reply came. For the rest of their flight to a safe spot to land for the both of them, it went quietly. Apple Bloom's muzzle tucked against Scootaloo's neck and Scootaloo's wings jutting dull to the wind to stiffen her movements for a landing.