//------------------------------// // Shut Up! // Story: Two-Sided Prequel II: Who You Work For // by FerociousCreation //------------------------------// Silky, Stitch, Knight, and Silver looked at Coco with confused looks. “What are you getting at?” Silky questioned. Coco smiled, “Forgive me, but I am not going to do what the queen asked.” Even though the pony wore a happy expression, she felt quite nervous about her decision. Instantly, all four tailors jumped away at hearing Coco's statement. Silver and Stitch held shocked expressions, Silky carried a bitter glare, and Knight wore a slightly creased her brow as they stared at the pony. “Did I... say something wrong?” Coco asked. Instantly, Silver flashed in front of the pony. “Of course you did! You are about to make the worst mistake of your life!” “Why would you put yourself in danger?” Stitch said as her snout nearly pressed against Coco's nose. “How could you defy the queen?!” Silky exclaimed as she stomped through the water, advancing toward Coco's position. The three changelings surrounded the now frightened mare. “Umm... umm!” Coco panicked. Why did I have to open my mouth?! At once, Silver and Stitch began to talk with a panicked tone, trying to convince the pony that she was about to make a horrible choice, while Silky began to swear and insult Coco, telling her that she is a fool to ignore what the queen has demanded. The volume from the three tailors was too much for Coco and she put her hooves over her ears, trying to mute the cluster of noise that was being exclaimed to her. No matter how tightly packed her ears were, the words from the three tailors crept into the mare's ears. All Coco could do was hold them tighter. But the tighter she pressed her ears closed, the louder their voices became. All of the yellings reminded Coco of her old boss, Suri, and how she yelled at her, screaming demands and insults. She hated the memories of being yelled at. She hated the memories of insults Suri barked at her. She hated the memories of how helpless it made her feel. Like a tightly sealed carbonated beverage after being shaken, Coco was about to burst. And she had just about had enough. “SHUT UP!” Coco yelled at the top of her lungs, hurting her throat in the process. Her voice echoed through the night, bouncing off of invisible surfaces that rested in the dark. Immediately, Silver, Silky, and Stitch became quiet. “What is going on over there?” said a voice from a distance. Everypony looked to see Fang leering at them. Seizing the opportunity, Coco quickly ran through the water as quickly as she could, escaping the surrounding changelings and went toward the waterfall. “Coco!” Stitch called out to the mare. But as expected, the pony did not look back. “Idiots...” Knight said with a shake of her head. Silky, Stitch, and Silver looked behind them to see Knight, who stood quietly behind them. “Who are you calling an 'idiot?'” Silky barked with her teeth bared. “Now now,” Stitch said as she reached out an arm to stop Silky from approaching Knight. “Did you three not see that you were making her uncomfortable?” Knight asked as she mimicked Coco by holding her hooves up to her ears. “She deserved it,” Silky snapped, turning her head toward the waterfall as she saw Coco hide behind the veil of water. “How dare she! Going against the will of Queen Chrysalis...” “You could have asked her 'why do such a thing' instead of insulting her, Silky.” “Alright, Ms. Mind Reader, tell us then. Tell us why she wants to betray Queen Chrysalis!” “She doesn't want to betray the queen,” Knight shook her head again. “Also, I think you need to talk to him first before you get anything out of me.” “Hugh?” Silky was confused for a short while until she turned to see a pair of burning eyes that would melt forged metal. “Perhaps you didn't hear me,” Fang said. His sharp tooth burned a bright red-orange as if it was pulled from a hot furnace. “What... happened...” Even though Silky glared at Fang, her heart began to race and her spine began to quiver. “She... was going to betray the queen by ignoring her request.” “Half of that is a lie,” Stitch Snitch grinned as she looked at both Fang and Silky. Instead of opening her mouth again, Silky remained silent. Very slowly, Fang came close to Silky, pressing his face against the tailor's face. Silky winced in pain as she began to feel a burning sensation on her forehead as Fang continued to apply pressure. “Stitch,” Fang asked as he continued to press against Silky. “Tell me what happened and why were you, Silver, and Stitch here were harassing Coco.” “We weren't harassing-” “I DON'T GIVE a flying feather about what you weren't doing.” Stitch then began to grin in pain as her forehead began to receive more heat. “Just tell him!” Silky yelled, hoping the pain would stop. “Say another word and I will burn a hole through your skull...” Fang warned. Stitch lifted her front leg, ready to help her friend in distress, but went against the idea. Instead, she continued to respond what Fang had asked. “Coco said that she was not going to do what Queen Chrysalis had asked.” “You're joking, right?” Fang asked as he rose his brow. “I-I'm not... I don't know why she doesn't want to do what she was told...” “I do,” Knight Cap interjected. Fang removed himself from Silky and looked at Knight Cap. Silky quickly retreated to Stitch and Silver as she rubbed her forehead. “Then tell me,” Fang said, “Why she does not wish to do what Queen Chrysalis had asked her?” “Go ask her yourself.” Fang glared at Knight, thinking she was trying to be sarcastic. “I may not be the best when it comes to helping a pony with their problems, but I can assume you are the only one she will open up to. Am I wrong?” No... You are right... “Then go talk to her.” “I will.” Fang's wings quickly came to life and lifted him from the waters. As he drifted through the air, Fang looked down at the four tailors. He saw Silky leer at him in his peripheral, but he didn't make eye contact with her. Turning through the air, Fang leaned forward and went toward the waterfall. Those idiots! If they expect any work from Coco, they should give her space and let her do as she pleases! Steam vented off of Fang as he continued toward cascading veil of water. Taking a deep breath, the changeling calmed himself and removed his frustrated expression. Fang reached the waterfall in very little time. He looked at the falling liquid, knowing the pony was behind it. But... why does she wish to not give into Queen Chrysalis' demands? Thinking about why questions were not going to get them answered. Slowly, he moved to the side, where the water wasn't falling. He saw a pony. A pony with a pair of gloomy spheres that looked down at the water. She was facing his direction and knew he was there, but ignored his presence. Fang frowned and went behind the waterfall, slowly descending to the mare. Touching the water, the changeling's wings slowly began to stop and Fang sank his body in the water. His heart began to quicken as he drew closer to the earth pony. The light beneath the water created a light-blue layer on both Fang and Coco as they remained across from on another. Calmly, Fang asked, “Coco, are you okay?” At a snails pace, the mare got up and wadded through the warm water, drawing closer to Fang. As soon as she got close to him, they both simultaneously sat down. Leaning her head forward onto Fang's chest, Coco Pommel quietly replied, “No...”