//------------------------------// // 13 - Heart to Heart // Story: Clueless in Equestria // by David Silver //------------------------------// Two ponies entered with chef hats but carefully neutral expressions. They moved over towards the bound duo directly as Rough asked with pinned ears, "I don't suppose you're here to let us go?" One shook his head before they both picked up Rough Draft by either end, using his rope as a handle. "It'll be ok!" shouted David before clamming up, watching them withdraw beyond the door. It swung shut with a bang, leaving David alone in the kitchen. "Why did you say that?" asked a voice above him. He swiveled his head to see Nicole looking down at him from a table. "They could be dragging him off to kill him. How do you know it'll be OK?" "If they are... then there's no harm saying it anyway, but I'm hoping not," replied David, "I try not to panic about things I can't change. I'm glad to see you again." "Are you?" she tilted her head down at him before hopping down beside him. "You should be afraid, or angry." "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little upset about being tied up," he confessed, "but that's life. I did mean what I said." Nicole sat down beside David, "Which part?" She raised a hoof to poke him in the belly, making him squirm. Even bound that was a ticklish spot. David tried to point, but that wasn't to be, "You. You're a good person, I think, kidnapping put aside for the moment. Let's just review the facts." "Yes, let's," agreed Nicole, "I am something hunted. You knew what I was just by watching me. You could ruin my life with barely any effort at all. Even if I got away from you, you or something like you could spot me again." She poked him again with a hoof, "Is that a fair summary?" "It's a start," replied David, wriggling and trying to get upright. "It's odd talking with a pretty mare while at her hoof height." She rolled her eyes and her horn glowed its soft blue as David was turned to sit up. "Thanks. Now, from my perspective. You're a talented actress that uses her natural abilities to perform better. You don't hurt any ponies, and even act to make the world a better place. It sounds cheesy as hell but you deserve a medal, not to be hunted." Nicole's disguise sloughed off suddenly, leaving her as the black carapaced insect she was with bright green eyes. "Is this the face of a good pony?" she asked. David jumped with surprise, but not fear. "No," he said, "It's the face of a good person." She snorted at that. "You didn't already kill me or throw me in one of those pods--" She pressed a hoof against his chest. He noticed just then that she wasn't riddled with holes like the show. "How do you know about the pods?" "Uh, kind of a long story," said David. She shrugged, "You're not going anywhere. You know too much. Give me answers." David leaned back against the table he was beside, "Alright, well, to summarize then. I'm from another world where many of the details of this world are a work of fiction that has proven more real than not real, though not one hundred percent accurate. Like I expected you to have holes." She leaned towards him as her Nicole disguise returned, "Why would I have holes? I am well fed and..." she stopped, then nodded, "I see. You have just enough information to be dangerous, to yourself, and to me." She whipped her tail across his face, making him sputter. "You're a well intentioned fool. If you weren't feeding me, I would have lost patience." David raised his brows, "Huh, I mean, you're nice and all, but I didn't think it was quite love yet." She poked him on the lower belly with a hoof, "Think lower. Curious thing, you think I'm attractive, even having seen my true self? Would you do it, for your friend?" He flushed deep and grew flummoxed as the conversation went wildly into uncomfortable waters, "Uh, well. I'd rather it be after a nice evening, without veiled death threats..." "But you would?" Nicole huffed softly, "You're perverted to even consider it, biped. We're not even close to the same blood." She nudged him again, "But thank you. It's flattering, if disgusting." David's shame only grew deeper and his expression faded into a careful mask of neutrality he saved for when things became this special sort of painful. It only seemed to encourage Nicole, "Ah there. You can know anger, shame. I thought you may be hiding it away. Fear even..." She pressed close to him, her face hovering inches from his, "I choose to believe you, darling." Some of her more friendly accent returned to her. "Tell me whatever you plan to do." A loud sigh escaped from David as he nodded. "I'm going to tell you something that will sound bad, but hear me out first." Nicole raised a brow at him but said nothing. "OK, Luna knows there's a changeling around." Nicole smashed a hoof against his chest, knocking him back against the table, "What?!" Her shriek echoed off the walls, "Already? But how?" She sank then to her belly, "I'm doomed." David breathed painfully, catching his breath from the sudden strike as he looked down at Nicole, starting to cry and sniffle where she laid. "Calm down." Nicole shot an acidic glare up at him. "I'm serious. I asked her to give me a day. If you come with me willingly, then we can work something out." Nicole sprung up to her hooves, "Work something out? She'll throw me in jail for the rest of my life, and that would be the happier of the endings!" "She's just scared," argued David, "Like you are, kinda. She thinks you're a vampire preying on her people." Nicole shrank back, "I never hurt anypony..." "Besides me," said David with a smirk. She rolled her eyes, "But seriously... Give it a chance. I'll speak up for you." "Oh, fantastic. The word of some strange creature from another world." She threw a hoof up in the air, "Why don't I just put my neck on a chopping board and get it over with?" "I'll get Rough Draft too," said David, "And I think Luna knows that I know more than I should." Nicole raised a brow, then huffed a sigh. "Fine. I don't want to restart my entire career even if I did run away. Invite her royal executioner here and we'll talk. Either Nicole Foalman will mysteriously disappear, or we'll work something out. At least my legacy will live on." With a glow of her horn, the ropes fell away from David, freeing him to stand up. David clambered to his feet as various joints complained at the treatment. "I'm getting too old to be tied up on kitchen floors." Nicole looked him over, "How old are you?" David waved a hand, "Before we get into that. Rough Draft, where did your helpers drag him to?" Nicole gave a sharp whistle and the door leading to the hallway opened to reveal the cooks from before. Rough Draft was between them, still bound and wriggling. "Let him go, boys." Quickly, Rough Draft was released and rushed over to David's side. The two traded nuzzles and ear scratches a moment before Nicole cleared her throat, "Do what you're going to do. I don't want to wait too long to be killed." The two outside came in, clearly pouting. "Mistress," spoke one, "What do you mean by killed?" Nicole waved them off, "Luna is coming. Don't fight her. I don't want you two getting hurt." They shrunk in place a moment before they hurried up and surrounded Nicole, as if to protect her with their bodies. "We won't let her hurt you, queen." Nicole rapped the noggin of the closest, "I am not your queen, you lovable doofs." Rough Draft looked up at David, "What are they talking about?" David softly pet Rough on his head and looked up to discover another Rough Draft seated beside the first. The second nuzzled him and waggled his ears. The first looked at the second and jumped back, falling onto his haunches, "Dear Celestia!" David scratched the ears of the new Rough Draft to find a third and fourth Rough Draft had joined him. He was surrounded by Rough Drafts, all seeming to demand ear pettings. He went from one to the next, using both hands to satisfy two brown ponies at a time. "Rough Draft, meet Rough Drafts. Our host has a little secret." The original Rough Draft opened his mouth, closed it, then shook his head, "David, you are petting changelings like there's nothing wrong." "Is something wrong?" asked David. "Luna is coming, and she'll want our take on them." "Take?" asked Rough Draft Alpha, backing away from the others, "They foalnapped us!" "They were defending themselves," said David as he gave all the psuedo-RDs gentle pettings. He had no idea which was Nicole of the group and decided it didn't really matter. "We'll defend them, because that's what good adventurers do when they find misunderstood monsters." Rough huffed loudly, "You're... crazy... but right, I guess... Are you sure they aren't controlling your mind? I think they can do that." David shrugged, "I don't feel any different. They were a bit too happy to know I could have negative emotions to be controlling them. Alright guys." He stood up, "Back to your normal shapes." With puffs of green flame, Nicole and the two chefs returned. David asked while making placating motions with his hands, "Now this is just an idle curiosity. You can tell me to shut up, but, uh, do changelings have genders?" Nicole snorted out a half laugh at the question, "Yes, though it is more fluid in definition than you, oneflesh. So how do you summon Luna, Is it a magic spell?" David shrugged, "Just have to be asleep I bet." No sooner said than Nicole's horn flared green and David was allowed to crumple in place. Rough Draft hurried over to check him for harm and get him into a more comfortable position. "You should have warned him before you did that, sheesh." Nicole poked Rough Draft in the cutie mark, "I'm probably going to be killed within the next day, forgive me." she spun on her hooves and marched from the room, her two assistants trailing behind nervously.