//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Crashing the Party // Story: The Changing Heart // by TheChaosMage //------------------------------// Chapter 8: Crashing the Party ----- Para nodded a bright grin still plastered across her lips, “Uh huh, he didn’t mention you by name, but after seeing the way he looked at you all day I could just tell.” “W-why didn’t he tell me himself?” She asked her face still burning a bright shade of red. “Well my brother’s always been a shy little pony, so it took his sister to give him a little shove in the right direction. What do you plan to do Stormy?” She teased moving behind the mare. “I-I don’t know, though I can honestly say I need to lie down before my heart gives out.” She said putting her hoof to her breast and taking a deep breath, “Thank you for telling me Sparky, it was very nice of you to do that.” The mare ran past Para, galloping home as fast as she could. Getting to the door she stepped inside, her cheeks still burning hot from the information, her legs were shaking as she stumbled into her bed and sighed into the sheets, “Maybe there’s some hope, just don’t scare him off by being too forward and we you should be good Storm. Or maybe I should be more forward, hmm.” Tossing and turning in bed, her daydreams were interrupted by a knock on her door. Curious if it was Lucky she darted to the door. She opened it up slightly, only to be disappointed by a familiar dark blue pegasus stallion, “What’re you doing here?” She asked opening the door for him and letting him inside. “What, expecting some pony else?” He asked stepping inside looking at her with a soft smile. “More like hoping it was some pony else,” She grumbled checking outside before closing the door and turning to him. “So what’s up? What are you doing here for the second night in a row?” “I might have news on the changeling investigation and it involves your boss Neon.” “You think Neon has something to do with those escaped changelings?” “Yes, I think he knows something. Or maybe he’s one himself.” “What!? Runner do you know how crazy this sounds?” “Yes I do but just listen to me D. Last night I was on patrol and I saw some lights that looked suspicious coming from the Golden Elixir’s top floor windows. Now it was nothing solid but it looked like a flash of green, you know like a changeling transforming!” He said confidently. “Runner, you know I usually trust your judgment but couldn’t it have been some big misunderstanding?” “You would think, but when I flew down and asked to search his home he got really defensive and hostile. I think he has something to hide. So for the time being, I don’t want you working there.” “Hold on a second!” Storm shouted as she glared slowly approaching him, “Are you trying to control my life Runner?! When did I ever give you permission to decide where I work!?” “Why are you making such a big deal out of this? It’s just some stupid drink shop?” Her hoof smacked his cheek leaving a large red mark as she pointed to her door, “Get, out...” her tone dangerously low. “Storm I-” “I said get out!” She shouted tears running down her muzzle, “You always do this, and I’ve had enough, get out of my house!” The stallion gave her a wounded look and bowed his head in shame as he slowly left her home shutting the door behind himself. “I’m sorry D, I really hope you can forgive me for what I’m going to do next…” Flapping his wings he flew off to the castle. Storm stumbled back into her room and sat on her bed wiping her eyes, “J-Jerk...” ----- Much to Lynx’s dismay Neon was extremely persistent and even went as far as to tie the unicorn to a chair and make him wait. His ear’s perked up at a jingle and he saw Para walk into the door, “Please tell me my secrets safe!?” “Oh not a chance.” Para teased with a soft giggle at Lynx’s situation. Lynx’s head dropped a grim expression on his face. “Oh lighten up I’d day this is a good thing it is out in the open… And she might have actually liked the news ya know?” “Wait really?” Lynx asked looking at his sister sitting across from him. “Uh huh, a mare’s blush does not lie.” Lynx blinked a few times taking in what that meant. Suddenly his chair tipped back and he fell to the floor. “Lucky!” Para shouted rushing around to check him, “Lucky are you alright?!” “He’s fine, he’s just fainted.” Neon said smiling as he stepped out from cleaning the back. “Was tying him up really necessary?” “Yes, he got really feisty after you left. He even tried bribing, treating, and swearing fealty before trying to dig a tunnel out with a spoon.” Para giggled, “He actually thought that would work?” “Heck if I know it was just funny to watch.” he said laughing with her, “I’ll get him to bed if you want to call it a night?” “Thanks for the help Neon.” “Anytime, and I was just as eager to get the tension out of the air.” Para nodded trotting up the stairs and into her make-shift room to find the other sleeping bag empty. Rushing back down she looked at Neon, “Have you seen Thunder?” “Not since this morning, why?” “He’s not in his bed.” “He’ll turn up when he gets hungry.” “Oooo speaking of which, does this room get room service?” She asked giggling as she trotted down to help him. “I dunno about room service but I’ll see what I can scrounge up.” “Thank you very much Neon you’re the best!” Neon smiled and helped Para drag Lynx up the stairs and into his room before tossing him on the bed and going down to have dinner together. “So what’s the story with you three, it seems no ponies ever heard of you before?” “O-oh, we just lived really out of the way is all, our family likes its privacy.” “I see, so there’s more than just you thee right?” “You could say that.” She giggled taking a small bite of her food. “Well that would explain Thunder pushing you and Lucky to go back with him. But there is one thing I can’t wrap my head around.” “What’s that?” “Why you and Lynx are so eager to get out of the nest and start over, I’m sure your family is awesome, so why would you leave?” “Our mother’s a little controlling.” “What do you mean?” “It’s her house and her rule, Lucky was the first one of us to actually break the rules and step out on his own. Our mother likes all her family in one place so she can keep a close eye on us all. Lucky inspired me to do the same, to break free of that control and actually live like I should.” “And thunder likes living under his mother’s hoof.” “I guess so; I think he’s more in the camp of fearing change. He’s always known our mother’s control and I don’t think he understands how freeing being free can be.” “Well I’m sure with you and Lucky setting such good examples the rest of your family might someday follow in their shoes.” “I hope so too.” She smiled and looked down to discover she had eaten all her food while they were talking. “Thanks for the food and the nice chat but I think I should head to bed.” “Alright I’ll wash up, have a nice sleep Sparky.” “Y-you too Neon.” She smiled and trotted back upstairs and heading to bed. Watching the mare leave Neon collected their plates at washed then up with a soft sigh, “What a nice filly, I hope she sticks around.” Finishing up the dishes he went upstairs and crawled into bed. ----- The afternoon of the next day was chaos. Guards had stormed in and began questioning every pony on sight. And leading this investigation was Runner, who guarded the front entrance and prevented any pony from leaving. Neon Stormed up to them while they began scanning willing customers with the detection spell and letting them leave accordingly, “What is the meaning of this!?” “Stay back sir official royal guard business!” The guard raised his hoof to stop Neon in his tracks. “I own this place and I demand to know why you’re here disrupting my customers!” “Fine, have it your way, we have reason to believe that you are harboring changeling fugitives.” “This is ridiculous, why would I harbour changelings?” “I don’t know, but when one of our guards came by earlier this week he was met with hostile and defensive behaviour.” “It was in the middle of the night!” “No excuses Mr. Comet, now stand aside or I will have to arrest you!” Neon growled as he watched the guards scan all of his customers and let them leave before standing him and his employees aside while the searched the shop. Neon watched his anger boiling to a peak as they tore everything up searching for anything changeling related and even went upstairs where Neon hear plenty of crashing and banging. When the guards returned and shook their head they looked at Neon and his employee’s. “We will now scan you all, and if nothing happens then we will replace all your property. But if so much as one of you is a changeling we will arrest you.” Lynx and Para looked at one another, as they noticed four unicorn guards step up their horns glowing brightly. The sudden flash of light passed quickly as the spell washed over them. But much to the guards surprise none of them transformed into a changeling. Lynx and Para were not totally uneffected however, a burning sensation washed over their body with the light but they tried their best to keep their mouths shut and not show it. They tried to look as normal about it as Neon and Storm. The head guard looked surprised and turned to Runner a stone cold glare in his eyes, “I thought you said you were certain there would be a changeling here!” He growled. Runner gulped looking nervous, “B-but sir I actually thought-” “Thought what Storm Runner!? Thought that your word alone was enough to make the royal guard look like fools!? If the captain were here it wouldn’t just be your hide on the line but mine as well, do you understand!?” “Y-Yes sir.” Runner looked defeated once more as he looked at Neon and Storm. “I’m going to let you off with a warning but if this happens again I will personally make sure you are kicked out of the royal guard.” The pony then turned to Neon and sighed, “I’m sorry for the trouble, you won’t have any more problems and we will replace everything we damaged.” “Thank you.” Neon said with a small sigh watching the guards leave and looking around at his destroyed shop. “You guys start cleaning up, I’m going to check upstairs quick.” He said walking up the steps. Lynx, Para and Storm each grabbed a broom and dust pan from the closet and began to sweep up the floor. It didn’t take long for the trio to hear Neon scream like a little filly from upstairs. Coming down like he saw a ghost he looked at Lynx and Para, “Y-you two might need alternate living arrangements for a little while.” “What!? Lynx asked. “The upstairs is a total wreck and I’ll at least need a few days to get everything back to proper living standards. And I don’t want you guys living here while I get contractors in here to fix whatever else they damaged.” “You two could live with me if you like.” Storm spoke up, with a smile. “I have an extra room for you two and it won’t be any trouble for me to put you guys up while Neon gets this place back to normal. Besides it’s the Least I can do for my brother barging in here with the guard.” “That pony was your brother?” Lynx asked curiously. “The one that got in trouble? Yeah that was him.” “Huh, I don’t see the family resemblance, you’re so nice and he’s so... Troublesome.” “That’s my brother. So what do you say?” Storm asked getting right in Lynx’s face. Lynx blushed rubbing the back of his head, “Well that would be up to Par-” “Yes! We would love to stay with you!” Para interrupted. Storm and Para let out Squees of Delight as Lynx looked and sighed, “I’m doomed.” “Oh this is only the beginning my friend, only the beginning.” Neon said patting Lynx on the back. *** Giving the two her best hospitality, Storm showed them where everything was and how to find the things they needed. Lynx was the first to have a much needed bath while Para and Storm devised a plan of attack in the living room. After drying himself off he stepped out to discover the two mares in the living room and sighed, “So where am I sleeping?” He asked. Storm tapped her fore-hooves together, “Well, I have one spare room...” “There’s a but coming up isn’t there?” “Oh big time, please continue Storm.” Para interrupted with a devious grin. Storm blushed brightly, “But there is only one bed and Sparky already called dibs.” “So I get the floor, lovely.” “No! I would never let any pony sleep on the floor in my house. It’s just with mine being the only bed, I was kinda thinking you and I could...” She stopped and looked up to see Lynx’s bright red muzzle. Lynx was speechless; the mare of his dreams was actually asking him to sleep in the same bed as her. He was dumbstruck, he couldn’t even protest if he wanted to. His chest was tight, his heart beating like a drum. “I-It wouldn’t be like that or anything! Just you know, so you have someplace proper to sleep while you’re-” “Yes.” The words slipped from his lips accidentally, his heart was speaking for his non-functional mind. Her face lit up and his heart threatened to explode. Storm smiled walking to the bedroom, “W-well whenever you’re ready, No rush ya know?” Lynx nodded and waited for Storm to leave before planting his hoof in his face and listening to Para celebrate. “I’m a genius! Who’s a genius? I’m a genius! Can I match ponies or what?” Para teased walking to her room, “Good luck.” Lynx looked down defeated as he trotted over to Storm’s bedroom door opening it and peering inside to see Storm already in bed. With a gulp he slowly creeped inside, and crawled in on the opposite side and under her warm sheets. Taking a deep breath he relaxed slightly, and nuzzled into the pillow. Her bed was certainly softer than the one he slept on at Neon’s and the scent was much more pleasant. Rolling slightly to see the pegasus he blushed brightly, “Good night Storm.” “Good night Lucky, oh and one other thing I didn’t get to say earlier.” She rolled over to look him in the eyes as she blushed, “I love you too.”