//------------------------------// // Chrysalis' Story Chapter 15: Hoofington's Boring // Story: Emblem of Harmony: The Blazing Sword // by icebraker //------------------------------// “Hey Gnoll can we go yet? I'm getting hungry!” Whined the bipedal creature as he rubbed a furry paw across his stomach. The response to this was a quick knock to the head. “That's why I toldja ta bring a damn sandwich or something. Now you'll have to wait until after pillaging cause the boss'll have our heads if we don't bring back anything," Gnoll said with irritation. "Do I still have to build the cage?” The other one asked pitifully, with his canine ears flat. “No you get to lay there doing nothing.” Gnoll said, frowning as he leaned on his large axe. “Really?” Gnoll knocked him upside the head again, even harder this time, "NO! Now stop whining and get started." ****************************************************************************************************** “That’s alot of stuff,” Gilda said as she sat alongside the cloaked yellow unicorn. Shortly after the four arrived in town, Crystal and Sugar volunteered to find someplace to stay and start making the changeling bait. Mark for his part decided to take this opportunity to sell the lances he scavenged as well as buy some useful supplies and had asked her to tag along. As usual for a marketplace, there were a variety of lines and stalls, bustling with ponies buying, selling, and haggling wares. In her opinion, it took way too long to find a blacksmith to sell the lances but at least Mark was a decent haggler. With a grunt Mark pushed one last time, successfully stuffing the pouches and objects he had been able to purchase. “Yup. It is a lot, but it’s also pretty important for traveling. I got some 'probably crushed' food, some cheap 'but used' iron weapons, and vulnerary,” He stated, tossing one of the pouches to Gilda who easily caught it. 'Would you stop bringing up what's wrong with the things I listed?' 'Make me.' “Am I supposed to know what the hell this is?” Gilda asked, looking at the pouch as Mark grumbled something to himself about a stupid voice. “It’s a poultice called vulnerary. I didn't know that it existed here in Equis, but apparently it’s imported from Zebrica. Rub some on your wing and it should help it heal.” Skeptically, Gilda opened the pouch and scooped a little of the poultice out. Carefully she began to peel the bandages off her wing revealing the scabbed area where the arrow had hit her as well as the surrounding dried up blood which stained her feathers. Extending her wing, she immediately pulled back as her face contorted in pain. “Let me help,” Mark said as his horn began to glow with a yellow aura. With a grimace, Gilda allowed the aura to slowly extend her wing before quickly reaching back and rubbing the substance on it. It started as a tingling feeling before going into full blown itching as the poultice sunk through the feathers, repairing the torn muscles and skin. “That’s...That’s weird,” Gilda mumbled what felt like an understatement, before giving her wing a quick flap. It still hurt, however it was a sore pain rather than a sharp pain like before. “Thanks.” As Gilda continued testing her wing, Mark noticed how she would stop every so often and practically growl at any pony that got too close. “May I ask you something?” “What?” “What’s your problem with us ponies?” “Other than your constant nambie pambiness, how about annoying, and uncool.” Gilda stated with a scowl. “I’m getting that nagging sensation that it’s personal,” Mark said, taking note of how she emphasized that last part. “And none of your business.” “Bad breakup?” He inquired anyways. Gilda gave the unicorn a cross look, “It wasn’t like that. We were friends. End of story. Now buzz off.” As the two continued walking, it occurred to her that Mark was no longer talking. Not that she was complaining, but back at the capital, a real conversation had been a bit rare for her given how others apparently didn’t like her attitude. Looking to her side, she saw the unicorn giving her a look of sympathy. Obviously coming to a conclusion, but not finding the right words to say aloud. “Stop looking at me like that, I don’t want your pity.” “No, you want a friend. Someone you can trust.” Gilda stopped walking and glared hard at the him. “Don't act like you know me.” “You're right, I don't know you. But I'd like to try,” Mark said, returning her glare with an even look. The two stared at one another in a battle of wills. Ice blue locked with yellow. Passing ponies averted their gazes, instinctively knowing that it was trouble to get involved. Gilda clenched her beak for a moment before letting out a low predatory growl in an attempt to intimidate the unicorn. Mark however, didn't so much as blink. Seeing it didn't work, Gilda raised her talons and brought them inches from Mark's face. He continued the stare without so much as flinching. Releasing a puff of air in defeat, Gilda lowered her talons and began walking again. "Why? I could have just killed you viciously if I wanted." "Because if I was wrong about you, you would have killed me….viciously. Besides I believe we have some common ground." Gilda blinked at that answer and frowned. “So you’ve been humiliated in front of a crowd of ponies and basically forced out of a town by your best friend?” She said sadly as the bitter and painful memories were brought up. Mark looked at her shocked before breaking the eye contact he had established. “N-no. No I haven’t. I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories,” He said apologetically. Gilda, to her disbelief, felt a wave of guilt as Mark sadly hung his head. “Look. You aren’t that bad but I don’t need any friends. As soon as I get my package back I’m heading straight to Canterlot and then back to my apartment in Beakfall.” Mark let out a sad sigh before shaking it off and looking back to the griffin, all business. “I understand. I’ll leave whether you want to be friends or not up to you, but remember that we did have a deal. A favor for a favor.” Gilda frowned, “You never mentioned what you wanted anyways. I swear if it’s something embarrassing or some kind of shit that gets me in trouble, I’m going to kick your ass so badly, not even your mother’s gonna recognize you.” Mark chuckled playfully, “First of all I don’t have a mom and second, I wouldn’t ask someone to do something they really don’t want to unless it was important or for payback like say.....laughing at my job.” Gilda’s eye twitched after hearing that and opened her beak to speak up but was quickly silenced as Mark deftly stuffed an apple from his saddlebag into her mouth. She looked at the tactician who smirked mischieviously, before breaking into a fit of laughter over the griffin’s dumbfounded expression. Though cross from the joke, Gilda felt like laughing as well. Her pride however, demanded payback first. Taking a bite out of the apple before tossing it aside, she began waiting for her opportunity as Mark started speaking again. “That being said. All I’m gonna ask you to do is help us find the rest of Crystal’s friends here in Hoofington. From what she told me, they’re waiting for her somewhere in town so it shouldn’t be too hard to find them and then you can be on your way,” Mark said closing his eyes when he shrugged. With a devious smile, Gilda saw her opportunity as she quickly wrapped her lion-like tail around one of his hind legs. The result was a surprised yelp before Mark kissed the ground. “In that case, I’ll be waiting at that meeting spot. See you there dweeb,” Gilda said wryly before snatching his saddlebag and walking ahead. Lizzy who had been in one of the saddlebag pouches, quickly hissed at the griffin before hopping out and shuffling back to Mark before doing a nose dive into the unicorn’s mane. ‘That actually went quite well. Or at least no worse than it could have been.’ ‘What happened to earning her respect?’ ‘I think I just did. A little... I might be misreading this.’ ‘Either way, whatever happens it doesn't look like you’ll be at each other’s throats.’ ‘And I have some time to kill.’ He thought picking up and dusting himself off. His vision was then impeded as a piece of paper flew up, smacked him in the face, and lead him into tripping again. This time over his own hooves. “Today is going to be one of those days isn’t it?” Mark mumbled irritably. Lizzy popped her head out of Mark’s mane and hissed in a high tone. He couldn’t tell if it was in agreement or scolding him for tripping. Ripping the paper off his face and looking at it revealed that the paper in question was a flyer with the silhouette of a sky blue pony with a starry cape and wizard hat on it. Skimming the text revealed that it was a magic show that was happening soon. ‘This seems interesting and I do love magic tricks.’ ‘You just want to figure them out and reveal them to the crowd if the performer is a jerk.’ 'Would you rather be bored?' '.....We have a show to steal.' ________________________________________________________________________ “Okay. Still trying to decide if it’s going to be one of those days,” Mark said aloud as he looked around once again, taking another nibble out a carrot. After finding the spot where the magic show was supposed to be at the edge of town, he had waited around ten minutes but neither the performer nor any audience, save for him, showed up. Even after leaving briefly and coming back with two carrots to snack on, the only indication that there was even supposed to be a show was the fact that there was the stage that extended from a wooden mobile trailer. “You should leave,” came a contemptuous and hostile voice. Turning around, Mark was surprised to find that it was the pony from the flyer. Unlike the flyer though, she lacked the wizard-esque clothing which revealed her horn and cutie mark of a wand and a starry moon. “I’m here for the magic show from the flyer.,” Mark replied calmly, showing her the flyer from earlier. To his surprise, and increasing irritation, the mare snatched the flyer from him, ripping into pieces with her magic. “Seems I missed one. The show’s cancelled. Next time I come here, you better not be around, or else you’ll regret it.” “Cancelled? Why?” He asked, putting the carrots in a cloak pocket. “None of your damn business. Now leave or do I have to make you?” The mare growled. “O-Okay,” He said, backing away slowly before running back towards town. With a malicious grin he then turned the corner of a nearby building where he was out of sight and went back to the stage, making sure to stay hidden in some foliage. ‘Maybe fate’s not such a dick after all. I haven’t felt the urge to prank someone this badly since Araphen. And with all the stress with changelings, I nee~d this.’ ‘I agree that it’s great to let off some steam but what’re we looking at here, the Coconut player? How about the Chili-butt special?’ With a wicked cackle, Mark imagined the mare’s reaction at both of those pranks that he had (badly) named. ‘I’m thinking Homestock surprise.’ ‘A good choice. Not too humiliating-’ ‘-But enough to get my point across.’ Poking his head out of the bush, he scanned the surroundings, making sure the mare wasn’t in sight. A couple of dives, rolls, and ninja poses later, he had made it to the trailer. Letting caution take precedence, he put his ear to the door and listened carefully. Silence. Slowly, he checked the door. To his mischievous glee it wasn't locked, so he entered and shut the door post haste so that any creaking noise would be short. However, his pranking mood was ruined by what he saw inside and caused him to immediately facehoof. 'Looks like we found where those changelings are staying.' Hanging from the ceiling over a bed was an all too familiar green cocoon. Inside was the same mare that he had seen just minutes before except she had a couple of purple bruises covering her body. Quickly, Mark began looking around for something, anything, to use. Preferably something sharp. All he saw was a couple of hoof-made posters as well as some coffee creamer and a letter opener. He grabbed the letter opener and began his attempts to slice into the cocoon. Unfortunately, it just bounced harmlessly off. He tried again, this time harder, but got the same result. “Too bad only changelings know how to open it.” Came an all too familiar, but clearly hostile, voice. Slowly, Mark turned to see the show-mare and a copy of himself, minus his cloak, staring straight back at him. Both grinning with wicked enjoyment. 'You should probably think of something before you end up in a cocoon like you did at the wedding.' "And you think you can, sexy?" Mark asked, addressing his clone. 'Narcissist.' "I've seen some things before, but never such narcissism and stupidity." The clone responded, contempt oozing from her tone. "Sooooo you can't?" Mark said mockingly, causing his clone to frown. "Of course I can, there's an opening on the side that you-" "Oh that's what that thing was! I thought that was how you filled these things up." Mark said, sticking his hoof in the opening and pulling what felt like a latch. The cocoon unfurled, splashing the floor and Mark's hooves with liquid before a resounding thump was heard as the mare landed on the floor. 'Really? You didn't catch her?' 'Hey, cut me some slack, I got her out of the cocoon.' 'With the changelings that put her there blocking the only escape route. Nice job.' 'I'll think of something, just have to stall a bit.' The show-mare clone facehoofed, "Idiot, do you have any idea how long it took me to do that by myself!", she shouted at her partner. "I'm gonna assume it's like folding a large soft taco… So maybe twenty seconds?" Mark cut in. "NO! Ten minutes. TEN! By myself! It's nothing like folding a taco at all," the show-mare clone said angrily. She opened her mouth to continue rambling on about the intricacy in making a cocoon but was stopped by the fake Mark. "You'll find out all you need to know soon enough," the Mark clone said, taking a threatening step towards him. 'Your stalling's not working.' 'At least I have a knife.' 'A letter opener's not gonna cut it....See what I did there?' 'Is now really the time for bad jokes?' 'No but I'll do it anyways.' Mark mentally kicked Brain. It wasn't until he felt something give him a slightly painful scratch on the back of his neck that he remembered a something he wanted to confirm. Horn aglow, he lifted a couple of pebbles out of one of his cloak's pockets and hovered them just above his mane. With a delighted hiss, the baby basilisk popped her head out and enthusiastically began munching on the treats. Though not a hundred percent sure it would work, he hid his unease behind his usual confident smirk, "I can't think of anything witty to say right now, but please leave a message after the burp." he said before taking the unfinished carrot out of his pocket and biting into it. "Burp? What are you talking about?" The fake ponies said, looking confused towards one another as Lizzy felt a familiar pressure begin to build from her stomach. ****************************************************************************************************** No creature could possibly comprehend the sheer joy Mimzy was experiencing right now. He bounced a couple of more times before finishing it with a belly flop, his face landing perfectly into the soft pillow. Turning over so he could breath again, he found he was panting from the exertion. He still couldn't believe it. Not only was Bastion nice enough to let him stay here, but even said that Mimzy would be safe and wouldn't be sent to any dungeons. It wasn't long before he found his second wind and started rolling around on the bed, ecstatic by how soft and warm it was. It definitely beat the sleeping pods back at the hive. Gripping the end of the comforter, he then wrapped himself into a blanket cocoon. His gleeful giggling not even ceasing when he rolled too far and fell off of the bed. Bastion, on his end of the apartment, sat quietly with a marker in his mouth whilst he stared at a heavily marked map. His focus was on the areas surrounding Ponyville that ‘Crystal’ could have taken Mark. Taking a quick glance down the hallway in the changeling's direction, he found that Mimzy was still rolling around giggling. It surprised him to say the least: how innocent Mimzy was. But for all he knew about changelings, it could be an elaborate act to lower his guard. Which was why even with his armor off, he kept his sword strapped firmly to his side. A firm knock at the door was heard. Setting the marker down, he cautiously opened the door. "Princess," Bastion said with a bow of his head as he stepped to the side. "I heard that there was trouble with changelings again.," Celestia said as she gracefully entered. The two guards who accompanied her halted just outside the door and stood in attention at the sides. "Yes, your majesty. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle, however, I should have been more attentive," Bastion replied. There was obvious regret in his tone, however, being a veteran, he knew that some things couldn't be helped. "And what of Mark?" The princess asked as she looked around the apartment. "I wouldn't have suspected he'd leave his apartment in such a clean state, given his room at the castle. "Still missing, however, I've narrowed down the top three most likely places nearby where he could be," Bastion said before releasing a tired sigh and walking back to his map. "Bastion....." "I don't want to make the same mistake again," Bastion mumbled, just loud enough to be heard. Celestia nodded in understanding, "I'm putting the word out for all guards to keep on high alert for him. But as Prince Shining Armor is still busy preparing defenses in the Crystal Empire, you are needed in Canterlot." Bastion continued staring at the map in silence. Even though he had narrowed the most likely locations of his protege, it didn't change the fact that he was grasping straws."....I understand.," He muttered in an emotionless voice as he started rolling his map back up. "I'm sorry. I know how much it means for you to have some certainty that he's safe, but I think you forget that he's made some good friends here in Ponyville. I don't see why they wouldn't be able to look for him in your stead." Bastion looked at the diarch, brightening up at her comment, "Yes, you're right. Thank you your Majesty, as soon as we return to Canterlot I'll get straight to work." "It's hard being a worried parent isn't it?" Celestia quipped. She giggled as she saw the pony's cheeks turn a little more red. Clearing his throat and trying to shake off his embarrassment, Bastion needed to address one more order of business as a small crash was heard in Mark's room. "I never thought I'd say this, but what do we do about the little changeling jumping on the bed?" ************************************************************************************************************************* "Let me get this straight. You were cornered by changelings, managed to turn them to stone with your lizard, rescued some random mare, and even found my bag?" Gilda asked very skeptically, still trying to figure out if Mark was lying. It was an unbelievable tale, but the bag in her talons was proof enough that he had at least found it. "Yup. Just me and these two bad boys," Mark said, grinning with bravado as he began flexing. The unimpressive bump of muscle that formed only caused Crystal to smile wryly and Gilda to laugh at the attempt to impress. Noticing Sugar's lack of reaction, he looked to her and saw her grumbling to herself while staring at a jar of what looked like pink-green jelly. Noticing Mark's questioning gaze, Crystal interjected, "Don't mind her. She's just a little upset that you had us make changeling bait and her hard work apparently went to waste. Give her some time to cool down." "Sorry about that. But it's not like I was expecting it to happen like that anyways." He said with a sheepish grin before his curiosity demanded he take a closer look at the jelly. "So what is "changeling bait" anyways?" "Just something I learned to cook up," Crystal replied vaguely, not that it was necessary given Mark's complete fascination with the undiluted love jelly that Sugar had spent energy making. On a side note, when she reclaimed her throne, she needed to consider renaming the delicacy since it's name sounded a little dirty when spoken out of context. "So what about the mare?" Gilda asked. "I did what any stallion would do if there was a mare lying unconscious in front of him," he said with a smile, before realizing how he phrased it. ".......Damn pervert," Sugar muttered under her breath as she continued her brooding. "Look. I asked around, she apparently had a family in town so I left her with them. End of story. No more talking about it. I'm not a pervert," Mark said with an exasperated sigh before turning to Crystal in hopes of changing the subject quickly. "Onto more important business, now that the changelings are taken care of we can focus on finding those friends of yours. Right?" ================A few hours earlier================ "Ah, I'm so glad love-struck ponies are so predictable. It makes feeding on them that much easier." Chrysalis said to herself as she entered the room and released her disguise. She had volunteered to find somewhere for them to stay the night, or in her and Razor's case, the perfect spot to leave Mark and the griffon. It had been relatively simple to find this quaint little inn and even simpler to use a mind-control spell on the weak-minded innkeeper for free room and board. Then after tasking Razor with making the "bait," it was the perfect opportunity to go around town and harvest some love. After all, staying in the same disguise got old. “My Queen, may I have a word with you?” Razor asked as she appeared out of the shadows of the room. Currently she was in her natural changeling form and using her magic to stir a viscous substance in a jar. "Speak," The changeling queen said with a nod. “It’s about that pony. The tactician,” Sugar said, pausing briefly as she considered the best way to state her point. “We are outnumbered and the only way we’re going to be able to succeed in our task is to be smart. Now that we know he’s a tactician, we can use him to-” “No. We don't need him,” Chrysalis dismissed a little too quickly. “Your Highness, we can’t hope to succeed unless there’s someone competent giving the orders in battle,” Razor replied, setting down the jar so she could give her full attention to the queen. Chrysalis' face went quickly from surprise to anger at her personal guard's disrespect. “I am fully capable-” “-Of thinking ahead in the long run," Razor interrupted, taking on a more caring tone before continuing, "Your highness is a strategist at best, able to chart our goals and know what is required to achieve them. However, a tactician will be beneficial in formulating a way to get it done. You and I both know that. So what is the real reason we are leaving that mare here?” The changeling queen stared at Razor without giving a response. It wasn't that she didn't have an answer. In fact, she knew perfectly well why she didn't want Mark to come and that leaving him here would be a tactical mistake. However, speaking of it was not something she wanted to do. She hated being wrong. “Whatever your reasons, it would only be a matter of time before he'd be involved anyways given your brother's ambition. Thus we should make use of him while we can.," Razor said in a matter-of-fact fashion. Chrysalis broke eye contact with a snort of irritation. She really, really, hated being wrong. Especially when it was her in a one-sided argument where there was nothing she could use to properly rebuff her opponent's points. "Fine, if it pleases you so much I'll find a way to bring him along despite my previous lie to him," Chrysalis conceded with venom in her voice. In most cases she would have tried to argue more, but she knew her personal guard well enough that if she didn't bring Mark along, then Razor would. Willingly or not. =============================================== 'I don't like this awkward silence.' Mark thought to himself briefly as he still awaited Crystal's answer. 'That's because it's usually bad news.' 'Well it's obviously not good news.' "Crystal...You're about to say something I'm not gonna like, aren’t you?" Mark asked, sighing when the answer he received was small nod of the head. "Whatever it is, just say it. I can take it." Crystal closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. This was the moment of truth after all, or at least a moment of truth. "The friends Sugar and I mentioned aren't in this town. I lied about them being here." "Where are they then?" Mark asked in a surprisingly calm demeanor. In a changeling outpost would have been her first choice of an answer. However, given that most, if not all, changeling outposts were hidden underground she decided to answer with the next best thing. "In a cave." Mark took a brief sip of his drink, clearly thinking about something before replying with another question,. "And where's this cave?" "Southeast, of here. Near Manehatten." Crystal responded, preparing to answer the why, how, et cetera questions that the unicorn obviously would ask. It surprised her when Mark, instead of asking those questions, turned to the griffon across table. "Gilda, I hate to ask you this, but since Manehatten is basically on the way to Canterlot, do you mind tagging along with us? It would be nice to have an extra sword around to help." He said in a friendly manner, but with a noticeable strain in his voice. The griffon messenger needed to think for a few moments as she weighed her options and the consequences. When she finished, she answered with her usual snide tone."Of course I mind. But you actually got my bag back so now I owe you a damn favor." "Thank you. In that case, I'll see you all in the morning, I'm retiring to my room for the night." Mark said, still sounding friendly as he pushed his plate away, still with some food on it. "You aren't gonna finish that?" Gilda asked, taking food from the plate she would actually eat before even receiving her answer. "Not feeling hungry anymore.," Mark responded abruptly before leaving the table and making his way towards his room upstairs. "I think she's pissed.," Gilda stated bluntly as she watched the unicorn leave. The only answer she received however was deep silence. Turning her head back to the table, she found that she was now alone, save two more unfinished meals. With a shrug, she continued eating. ================================================= Crystal waited a little longer as she heard several more thumps behind the door followed by a pained yelp and irritated, but indecipherable muttering. All changelings could sense emotions of love, as well as those related to it, such as affection and lust. Other emotions took specific training to sense; and even then needed to be focused on. Since her birth, Chrysalis was trained in all of them, however, it didn't take a genius to know that Mark had forced himself to remain calm before arriving at his room. From there, the disguised queen could only speculate that he had been throwing a tantrum and had somehow hurt himself just now. Bracing herself for the worst, she entered the room. To no great surprise the room was a mess, ranging from tipped chairs to scattered bed sheets. "You could have knocked." Crystal heard, it only took a moment of looking around to find it's source. Sitting against the window frame of the room was Mark, who after taking a glance at his visitor, returned to gazing at the nighttime sky through the opened window. "I came here to apologize." Mark didn't stop his stargazing. However the serene look he gave the sky didn't match the angry tone of his reply, "For what? Lying and keeping things from me when all I'm trying to do is keep you alive! I wonder if we're still even friends, because if this is how you treat me, than I can't even imagine what you must have done to get fucking changelings after you." Crystal cringed. She knew that she had that coming, and gave her apology. "I really am sorry Mark, but I have my reasons." "I don't give a flying fuck about your reasons.," He snorted in reply as he stopped his stargazing and met Crystal's eyes. His anger clear in both his expression and tone. "As soon as I find your friends, like I said I would, I'm leaving. I can't do anything for you unless you trust me, and apparently you don't if all you're going to do is lie, lie, lie." "It's complicated." "Complicated? Pinkie Pie is complicated. The deeper meaning behind our existence is complicated. Trying to understand why my last pillar of support, my best friend, left me five years ago is complicated.," Mark said, his emotions of fear, anger, confusion, and sadness from when she left him showing itself. He placed a hoof on his forehead and took a shuddering breath to calm himself back down. "My life practically craps out complicated, so don't play that card with me." Neither said anything after Mark's statement. He had said what he wanted to, and proceeded to avoid eye contact by staring at the floor and wallow in his mix of emotions. It wasn't fair to sequester himself in pity, he was smart enough to know that. But he didn't care. Right now there wasn't anything in the world that mattered... Until in a brief moment of reluctance Mark looked up, only to see Crystal's eyes streaming with tears. "You have every right to hate me Mark. You really do," Crystal said sadly, "It's funny really. How ironic my existence is. No matter how much I want to help, someone gets hurt," she added with a dry, pitiful chuckle that turned into a small sob. Mark watched this, dumbfounded, as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. With a defeated sigh, Mark reluctantly got up and hugged the crying pegasus. "You're such a cheater. You know that?" "H-H-Huh?" Crystal responded in confusion between sniffles. "Remembering that one of the things I hate most is a crying mare.," Mark clarified in an obviously forced, joking tone. It seemed only to add to her confusion before she just accepted it and began crying into his shoulder. Awkwardly, he began to gently pat her back. This went on for an undetermined amount of time before Crystal was calm enough to speak clearly again. "You're such a fool.," Crystal said as she rested her head on his shoulder. Mark rolled his eyes, "And why's that?" Crystal wiped the moisture out of her eyes, "Because you're too forgiving." "I haven't forgiven you yet. But seeing you cry, and being the one to cause it, doesn't sit well with me. Even if I don't know that bossy filly and “Princess of the Pillow fort” anymore, you're still my friend and I shouldn't make you cry." "Wow, the nosepicking colt from the street actually sounded mature.," Crystal teased. "Hey, I stopped that a LONG time ago!" He said mirthfully, causing both to laugh. When their laughter died down, the two stared at one another with smiles that turned to frowns when they remembered the reason they were in the room. Returning to his stargazing spot, Mark slumped back against the wall and looked to Crystal. "Should-" "You-" Both said at once before giving an awkward chuckle and waiting for the other to speak. Mark was first to take the initiative, "Crissy....." he muttered, giving her a resolute look. "I need answers to a shit-load of questions, but I'll start with the most recent. Why did you lie to me about your friends being here?" Crystal sighed before she sat next to Mark. "It was a ploy intended to leave you here in town," Crystal confessed in a factual tone. If Mark was surprised or angry, he didn't show it. "You're saying it in the past tense. What happened?" "You happened. The fact that you're a tactician convinced Sugar that we needed you. Your demonstration in the forest didn't help either," She said, looking him directly in the eye. The yellow unicorn gave his friend an arrogant smirk, "I get that I'm great and all, but what are you doing exactly that you need a tactician?" "I'm trying to stop the changeling's king." Silence permeated the room as Mark just stared gaping at his friend in surprise. He definitely didn't expect that answer. "That explains a lot.," Mark muttered to himself before giving Crystal a worried look, "Have you heard the expression ‘taking on more than you can chew?’ Why in Celestia's name are you taking on the head honcho of changelings?!" "Because if I don't, innocents are going to be hurt.," Crystal said with a bit of fear. Though she was really referring to her own subjects. It really didn't matter since Morphos wouldn't stop with just Equestria. "What are you saying exactly?" He asked, though judging from his expression, and the color draining from his face, he already had an idea as to the answer. "If he succeeds in his plans, ponies, griffons, everyone are going to be in danger." Crystal confirmed with a solemn nod. Mark began ruffling his mane roughly as numerous thoughts went through his head, "That is bad. That is very, very bad. Honestly, I thought those changelings would have learned better after their Queen got her ass handed to her back at the wedding." Crystal resisted the urge to smack him for reminding her of one of the worst moments in her life. "She wasn't in it for absolute conquest, she just got- she was...Carried away." Mark snorted, "Not from what I remember. She was pretty evil." "You didn't even meet her." "Yes I did, and I'll probably never forget. It was-" He stopped himself as he began sniffing with a confused expression, "-Do you smell smoke?" Both of them jumped when a distant explosion and screams outside were heard. "BANDITS! BANDITS! EVERYPONY RUN!"