//------------------------------// // 4: The Piano and the Changeling Interrogation. // Story: The Curiosity of Mr. Disc // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// Every evening right after dinner, I always set some time for creating art. But before doing that, I must do a kind of ritual, in that beforehand, I either listen to some music or play something that would inspire a kind of emotion. Tonight I would play on my stand-up piano that’s right on my front porch. I’m in the mood for something chaotic, loud and downright ugly for the entire world to hear. This is why I chose Beethoven’s great fugue for four hands. Now in any other situation when I’m alone, this would be impossible with two hands. But thanks to these powers; the piano is playing itself alongside with me. To be honest, banging out my most favorite piece of music of all time at eight o’clock gives me the chance to annoy my next door neighbors until one by one they all move away. The sadistic side of me couldn't help but laugh at such an idea. But tonight was business as usual for the idea I have in mind for a painting to prep for. It would be based on the darkest hallucination while I was in Equestria of being in that hospital of horrors. And what better music to inspire such unpleasantness then one of the worst pieces of music that Beethoven has ever written? “Hey Mr. Disc,” I looked up from my piano to the three crusaders. The three waved at me as they passed by, so I smiled and waved at them back while the music still played without me. “Evening girls,” I said as they went on their way and I focused back to the keyboard that’d been playing by itself. A moment later I heard the shaking of leaves coming from the unkempt bushes near the porch. I looked up to see that the bush had a lump that wasn't there before; along with a pair of shoes that I've never seen before. Raising an eyebrow, I got up from the chair while the piano continued to bang out the notes. It didn't help whoever it was that the guy was shaking, I suppose out of fear or something. I walked over to the bush and reached in to feel someone’s shirt and pulled the guy out. The fellow screamed, “Don’t hurt me!” At first glance, he looked like a student from the high school. But in the porch lights, he looks like something of a crossbreed of human and a kind of bug. For one, his eyes were solid blue without a single pupil in them. He was bald, had a kind of hard skin and looking at his short sleeve blue shirt I saw that his arms had more holes than Swiss cheese. The guy seemed clearly frightened at the sight of me as he tried to squirm out of my grasp. “Hey wait-a-minute,” I tried to get his attention until he broke loose and tried to make a run for it. He didn't get too far as I tied his legs with ropes, making him fall over. And with these ropes, I pulled him back onto my lawn. “You! Stop it right now!” I snapped at the stranger, this did the trick as he stopped struggling. “Are you ready to listen?” I asked and he nodded. “Now who are you and what were you doing hiding in my bushes anyway?” The Swiss cheese guy was shaking in the ropes, “P-Please Discord, I-” “Don’t call me that! Who are you?” I demanded. “C-Charlie.” “Alright, Charlie, what are you and what were you doing in my bush,” I stopped, I realized something. “Wait, how did you know my name?” “I-I… I've heard a-about you.” He said as he tried to escape in his binds, “You are the spirit of chaos himself are you?” I blinked, “Hold on, you’re not from Equestria by any chance are you?” “Uh… Y-Yeah.” I raised an eyebrow, “W-Want me to prove it?” he asked. I told him that it might help somewhat. The next thing I knew, the guy burst into flames. I jumped back, and then I reached for my pills because after the flames subsided, there on the ground still tied up was me. Instead of being the other me from Equestria, this one looks just like me, the human me. I demanded what he is, “A changeling sir. I’m a changeling.” “Can’t you… I don’t know, change back?” He did as I said, “Come inside, I want to have a further talk with you.” With a snap of my fingers, the piano stopped playing and the ropes made him stand up and he started walking towards my front door. I had him sat down at one of the armchairs I have around while I sat in the other. Charlie was still shaking. “Won’t you just calm down? I just wanna talk.” “I-Is that all?” he asked. “Why are you afraid of me?” “I’m not a fool! I know the stories. The mad spirit that turns everything inside-out and bends reality to your every whim; I-I've heard what you've done to us, Changelings.” “I think you've might be confusing me for the other me. I’m just an art teacher. But you sir still haven’t answered my question. What were you doing in my bushes?” At first, he didn't seem to say anything. That was until I snapped my fingers to levitate everything that isn't nailed down to float above his head. He saw the tables, the chairs; the heavy bookcases still contained my library, the kitchen wear, etc. Apparently, he got the message. “A-Alright! I’ll tell! I’ll tell!” he said. “I’m a spy for our queen Chrysalis to spy on the Crystal Empire! They've been transporting a crate from there to Ponyville and back in an armored train, so my mission is to find out what they've been caring. A-And I just fell through. Please, I don’t know where I am or what I've been changed into just please don’t crush me!” That was all I needed to hear. With another snap, I placed all the items back to where they were. “Thank you very kindly for telling me that,” I thanked him. And with a whistle, the ropes unwound off of him, much to his confusion. “W-Wait, y-you’re just letting me go?” I laughed, “Why Charlie, of course not! With information like that, I’m going to have to contact a few people. But while we wait,” I said, giving him a sadistic smile. “I’m in need for a model for several portraits. And don’t worry; I’ll come up with ways to make you look as ridiculous as possible.” He gulped; this is going to be fun.