//------------------------------//
// A Call to Jury Duty 
// Story: Urohringr 
// by Imploding Colon 
//------------------------------//

	"Lookie!" Props shouted, pointing a hoof at the peak of the maelstrom.

Several of the survivors swiveled away from the Tarkington, squinting up at the rainy sky.  In thin threads of winged flight, several black bodies lifted from the large central structure and vanished amidst the gray malaise of Stratopolis.

"Is it another wave of undead?!" Prowse exclaimed.

"No," Josho said, shaking his head.  "It's the changelings."

"Where in the heck are they going?!" Seclorum exclaimed.

"Their work is done here."

Everypony looked at Belle.

She stared back at them, speaking, "They're no longer bound to the same hive mind."

Several ponies exchanged nervous glances.  Arcshod silently fumed while Seclorum held his breath.

Josho looked past Belle's shoulder.  Eagle Eye was gone, and in his place was a changeling with a familiar scar across its back.  He turned to squint at Belle in particular.  "You've known all this time...?"

Belle didn't respond.  She kept her position in front of the shivering cluster of changelings atop the platform.

Josho took a deep breath. His brow furrowed.  "Belle..."

"They've released us, Josho," she quietly said above the pitter-patter of rain.  "It's time we released them."

Silently, Josho turned to look at Seclorum and the others.  Arcshod was frowning, but at the shuffle of hooves, the large Xonan stepped aside.  Lasairfion stood in the midst of the group.  She looked at Belle, then at Josho, and slowly nodded.

Seclorum closed his eyes.  After a deep breath, he turned towards the changelings and spoke icily, "The longer you stay here, the greater the odds of all of you being skewered alive by crossbolts."  He sidestepped several feet.  "Now scram."

The changelings' fangs rattled.  In frightful flits of dragonfly wings, they all took off, soaring into the swirling clouds beyond.

Prowse and Props watched, standing side by side in the continuous drizzle, until at last Props tapped on her uncle's side.  "We gotta get the crystals in place!"

"Right.  After you, lass."

Belle slumped back, exhaling with relief.  She looked over at Elma—only for an obese figure to block her vision.  She looked up into Josho's serious face.

"And the real Eagle Eye?  Is he..."  The stallion lingered, clearing his throat.  "Do you know if he is safe?"

Belle bit her lip.  "I hope so..."





Hoof after lavender hoof, Eagle Eye climbed up into the cockpit of the Noble Jury.  Once he reached the top, he leaned against the wall—stagnant—his face very pale and distant.

Floydien sat at the controls with Zaid leaning on the back of the elk's chair.  Outside, Stratopolis reeled and pivoted beyond the ship's windshield.

"Cheese and crackers, ya space moose!  How can you control this thing so well?"

"Nancy knows when she's in the grip of her lover."

"So you're saying that the reason I could only fly us in useless circles is 'cuz I suck at foreplay?"

"Annoying boomer sucks at many things.  Floydien is too busy to make a list."

"Now that's just a lazy excuse—even for me."

Lightning flashed, piercing the murky heavens with strobes of bright blue illumination.  The clouds were getting darker, and it was obvious that the Sun—wherever it was beyond the depths of Stratopolis—was starting to fade away.

"Eugh... it's getting worse out here!" Zaid exclaimed.

"Boomer has a point of stating the obvious."

"Goddess, I'm so glad only one of us speaks in third pony or else all of our collective heads would explode."

"Enough with the gas gas and help Floydien find the others."

"Where else is there to go?!"  Zaid pointed over Floydien's sparkling antlers.  "There's that bigass building in the center where we dropped off Rainbow Dash and the others!"

"Floydien can hardly see through this mess mess.  Is annoying boomer sure they would still be there?"

Eagle Eye lethargically spoke up, "I'd go searching over there."

Zaid spun around.  "Huh?"  He blinked.  "Over where?"

Eagle pointed with a limp hoof, barely tilting his head up.  "Where the changelings are fleeing from."

Floydien leaned forward in his seat.  "For the love all that glimmer spits..."

Looming ahead, floating a reasonable space from the central structure, was a platform engulfed in rain clouds.  A patch of shape-shifters flew from the sight, flitting away into the dense murk above.

"Reckon it's worth checking out," Zaid said.  He turned back to Eagle Eye with a smile.  "How'd you spot that, anyway?"

"You do remember my name, right?" the unicorn muttered.

"How could I forget?  It's so marketable."  Zaid squinted.  "You okay, buddy?  How's Ebon?"

"Fine."  Eagle Eye looked up.  He gave a tender smile.  "We're b-both fine..."