Unity

by Kieva Lynn

Chapter Eighteen

Twilight and Bert turned to look towards the main door of the small jail as it opened, admitting Sheriff Tucker, three of her pony friends, and a pegasus she didn't recognize. "I still don't see what this is about..." The sheriff was saying.

"You will soon enough." Rarity said. "Twilight, Mister Gumbal, you'll both want to be in on this."

"In on what?" Twilight asked.

"That's what I wanna know. This pony is insisting on being locked in a cell before telling me something." Tucker said.

"Trust us, it's a good idea." Rainbow said.

"It really is." The unknown pony agreed.

"Who are you anyway?" Spike asked. "I don't recognize you from around town."

"That's a part of what this is about." Rarity said. "She may not have to stay in the cell, I'm hoping she's telling the whole truth, but until we know for sure..."

As the new arrival trotted into the cell next to the one holding the Mor-tax, Tucker closed and locked the door. "Okay there. Now can someone please explain this to me?"

Rainbow said "She says that she's come here from the place that the fourth storm bought here. An Equestria/Gryphonica border town called Shetland Crossing."

"You don't say?" Tucker mused.

Bert said "Doesn't that mean new allies rather than enemies?"

"That's what I keep saying!" Pinkie said. "My Pinkie sense clearly says that they're friends!"

"Yes, why are we locking up a pony?" Twilight wondered.

From inside the cell, she was answered "Because I'm not a pony." Green fire flared around the pegasus, revealing a changeling.

Twilight gasped. Bert and Tucker cussed. Spike ran to place himself between the caged changeling and Rarity. Doctors in the cell next door gaped. Even the sick alien seemed intrigued.

"My name is Xix-xax." The changeling said. "I am a drone of Hive Xenax, who lives in Shetland Crossing along with about thirty others of my hive. I came here on the orders of our mayor, Steel Forge, to find out who or what was living here. I mean you no harm."

"Changeling... You mentioned these, magic shapeshifters of something?" Bert asked.

Twilight nodded. To Xix she said "How can we know you're telling the truth?"

"That is the trick isn't it?" Xix answered. "I... understand why you're nervous. Anycreature would be after what Chrysalis tried to do. But my hive has never been affiliated with hers. Our queen prefers coexistence... Honestly, we tend to think of Chrysalis as an idiot. I mean seriously, how much love was she gonna get from a conquered nation? Foolishness."

"But still... If you need to be parasites..." Nigel said.

Xix interrupted "Not really! Again, what Chrysalis did was foolhardy and pointless. Sure, we can capture other living beings and forcibly suck the emotion out of them-" (Here the humans present blanched) "-but we don't have to!"

"Hold on, explain that." Twilight said. "If you need love to live..."

"Whenever any living being feels an emotion," Xix explained, "The act of feeling creates an energy similar to Thaumic energy. It's a by-product, not actually needed by the being that created it, and under normal circumstances it just evaporates away. That's what Changelings eat: The by-product energy of love."

Pinkie asked "So, you don't need to hurt ponies to get it?"

"Shetland Crossing is home to more than two thousand ponys, gryphons, zebras, and minotaurs. The thirty of us living there don't even scratch the surface of the available energy. Our hive doesn't hurt others not only because we don't want to, but because we don't need to... I stay full just walking around town breathing in the love."

Bert said "Okay... Let's assume that you're telling the truth... How can we know that? Even if we send pegasai to spy out the town from above, and they see all these other species there... How do we know they aren't just disguised changelings?"

"It's a fair question." Twilight said.

Xix nodded sadly. "I know. Like I said before, that's the trick."

"Well...." Rainbow mused, "We do have Pinkie's word. Pinkie sense has never been wrong."

"Nope! One hundred percent accuracy!" Pinkie boasted.

"Is there any species in your town that a changeling can't disguise itself as?"

"No, sorry." Xix replied. "A full-size dragon is about the only thing out of our capacity, and none of them live there."

"Any spells for detecting changelings?"

Twilight shook her head. "Not really, at least not that are totally reliable."

At Tucker's motion to join him, the group stepped into his office and put their heads together. "What are the odds that she's telling the truth?" He asked.

"Well she did admit what she was to us when she wasn't able to run."

"And I have heard of other Changeling hives." Spike said. "It's supposed to be an open secret in certain remote towns and villages."

"I never believed those rumors." Twilight chuckled. "Looks like maybe I was wrong."

"But can we trust them?"

"Pinkie sense votes yes."

"Ahh heck, that's good enough for me." Rainbow relented.

"I think for me too." Reginald said. "But: I'd feel a lot better if we had a way to positively identify them no matter what they looked like."

Everyone agreed with that sentiment.

As they were preparing to go back into the jail, Deputy Virgil stepped in from outside. "Sheriff? You might wanna come out here... We've got a visitor..."

While Xix-xax was being led into the jail, Florence sat at a bench alongside the town's main street and opened her lunch. She had taken to eating lunch here whenever the weather allowed; it got her out of the stuffy diner for an hour, and it was fun to watch the hustle and bustle of town life passing by on the street. Across the road a series of storefronts were open for business, one selling tools, another food, the third Fallow Meadow's old arcade. A short ways down the road a Goblin was peddling his wares. Most of it was junk, but the merchant had also gotten ahold of some very high quality gemstones somewhere.

Florence smiled as she watched Goblin and Unicorn haggling over the barter price of a diamond; She still remembered the first Goblin she had met yesterday. The being had entered the diner and came straight to the counter. "This is food-makings place, yes?" he had asked. "Place for eatings and yum-yums?"

"Um... Yes?"

"Good! Good! I am being Bluffnix, and pleased to meet with new uplanders! Pleased to meet for tradings, yes?"

Herbert stepped out from the kitchen. "Maybe. What're you selling?"

"Ahhh! Bluffnix looking for food places, looking to trade clink-clinks for Goblin Cheese!"

Florence raised one eyebrow. "Goblin Cheese?"

"Yes! Yes! Is stinky-sweet secret recipe of Gobbie-folk, so good even Illuminati attack Goblins to steal! But kindly uplanders help Gobbie -folk keep secret, and now Gobbies here to trade!"

Bringing herself back to the present, Flo could only chuckle at the end results. No matter how good the Goblin's cheese might taste (A very big might, as no one had tried it), it stunk worse than all the sewers of hell. The diner had to be closed for airing out the whole rest of the day.

And so now, sitting on her bench enjoying the day, taking note of Macintosh and Bethany going into the arcade, wondering just how true the rumors were, her eyes suddenly went wide with a realization. She searched her memory of the Goblin's visit to the diner. "But kindly uplanders help Gobbie-folk to keep secret." he had said.

"Uplanders... That's what they call us for some reason..." Florence mused. "But the way he talked, it sounded like he was saying uplanders helped them out before they came here... Which would mean..."

In search of answers, Flo rose from her seat and walked to where the Goblin was haggling with the pony. "Shiny-stone worth twice pony's offer!" He was saying.

The pony scoffed. "Maybe where you're from." she said. "But here, not so much. I'll raise my offer by twenty percent."

"Seventy."

"No way. Thirty."

"Thirty not worth ending sleep-time for. Sixty."

"Thirty-five and not one percent more."

"Pony drive hard bargain. Forty-five, and Bluffnix throw in shipping-handling."

"Shipping and handling!?" The unicorn laughed. "I'm standing right here!"

"Forty?" The goblin asked.

"Well, all right... But this thing had better be as high quality as you say it is."

"Yes! Yes! Goblin goods come with Gobbiefolk seal of approval!"

Florence watched as the transaction was completed, then approached as the unicorn trotted away. "Excuse me? You're the one who came to the diner the other day aren't you?"

"Yes! Me Bluffnix, and remember food-place server! How Bluffnix help you today?"

"I was wondering about something you said..." Florence began, and explained her question.

Bluffnix nodded, and replied "Yes, many other races in land of Eorzea! Uplanders of many kinds, Hyur and Qiqern and Kitty-folk, many, many others!"

"Thank you, this could be important." Florence said. As she started to turn and go back to her meal, a shadow passed overhead, something flying rapidly. "What in the world?" Florence whispered as she looked up, and saw a creature unlike any in her experience...

Gerald Motto stood behind the counter of his shop, watching as a young man he didn't know played his way through world seven of Super Mario Bros. Since the three young fillies had first visited a couple of days before, word seemed to be getting around town that he had a working machine, and a lot of folks were dropping by to try their hand at the old game. The players were, thus far, mostly humans, though a handful of young ponies had came as well, and Gerald fully expected to see Scootaloo again after school let out for the day.

The bell over the door dinged, and Gerald looked to see something he hadn't expected: A young woman, and a very large red stallion who he recognized as being a part of the council, though he couldn't place the name. "Ahh, welcome folks! What can I do for you?"

"Macintosh Apple." the Stallion said offering a forehoof to shake. My little sister said I might wanna talk t' you about this place."

"Ahh yes! Apple Bloom isn't it? She's come in with her friends for a few days now."

"Eeyup. 'Bloom says you think these games could be good for morale, but you need more power t' get the rest of 'em runnin'. I know how important keepin' folks spirits up is, and good as she is Pinkie can only do so much. So, what exactly would you need?"

"Well, that depends on just how much we want to do. Getting the entire arcade powered would take as much juice as several homes, clearly implausible for now... Honestly, I was just hoping to maybe get nine or ten machines going." Gerald looked around the room. "Probably some of the classics at first, though I could also rotate on a daily or weekly basis."

"These things are really that popular?" Macintosh asked.

"Yes and no." Bethany said. "These days, back home, most people play on home machines. But arcades were huge before there were good options for that. And since we've got no options here... Yeah, I think this place would be packed if there were several games running."

"Tell you what," Macintosh said, "No promises, but we'll see what we can do."

Gerald grabbed Mac's hoof in both hands and shook. "Thank you! You won't be disappointed!"

Mac nodded and turned to leave, Beth close behind. As they stepped out into the sunlight a shadow rushed overhead, and they looked up to see a large winged creature flying towards the Sheriff's office. "What was that!?" Bethany exclaimed. "Did you see that!?"

"Eeyup. That was a gryphon..."

"Gryphon? Like the ones from your world? So that means the fourth storm..."

"I think so. C'mon, he was headin' this way!" They both ran after the gryphon's shadow...

Back at the Sheriff's Office, Tucker stepped out the front door, accompanied by the rest of the humans and ponies. Before him stood a tall, regal creature. Like ponies, it stood on four feet, though these were clawed three-toed talons. It was covered in white, gray, and brown feathers, and much taller than a pony; indeed, it's eyes were level with the Sheriff's. It briefly spread and flapped a pair of wings, then said “You are holding a creature under my command.”

“She surrendered herself voluntarily.” Tucker replied. “And I'll let her go as soon as I'm sure she's not a threat. From appearances I'm guessing that you're a gryphon... Can you prove to me that that's really what you are?”

“I'm not sure how.” The gryphon answered.

Then Rainbow Dash pushed her way into sight from behind the crowd. “Maybe I can handle this... You wanna answer me a few questions Gerolt?”

“Rainbow Dash!?” The gryphon exclaimed. “So this is Ponyville then.”

“You two know each other?” Twilight asked Rainbow.

“We might.” Rainbow turned back to the gryphon. “So, Gerolt.... If that's really who you are... If you're really you, I mean Ger- Ahh, you know what I mean! How did we know each other? Where did we meet, what was the name of your friend that introduced us?”

“Nice trick.” the gryphon chuckled, “Subtle, especially for you. It wasn't a 'friend' who introduced us, it was a relative. My cousin Gilda. And the where is in flight school, ten years ago.”

“It is you!” Rainbow cheered, and wrapped both forelimbs around his neck. “This is Gerolt!” She said to her friends.

The crowd let out a breath most of them didn't even know they had been holding.

“So, about Xix?” Gerolt asked.

“It seems she was telling the truth.” Rarity mused.

“Yeah.” Tucker agreed. “Vernon, let the Changeling out.”

“Hey wait! Where's the other Changeling?” Pinkie asked.

Gerolt answered “Bzzz? I sent her on back to Shetland Crossing to report in. I imagine Steel Forge will be coming here soon to make official contact.”

“Hold on.” Bert said. “The three of you flew here didn't you?”

“That's right, why?”

“Travel by foot in the forest is no picnic. The native wildlife is often aggressive and virtually indestructible.”

“Oh dear.” Gerolt said. “Although Steel is a Minotaur, and I'm sure he'll bring guards.”

“We should still send a few of our own to meet them.” Sword Breaker said.

Tucker nodded. “Put a team together.”

“In the meantime,” Twilight said, “We should talk. Care to join us for lunch?”

Gerolt smiled. “Gladly...”

xx

Xix-xax looked up as another human approached her cell, keys in hand. “The Sheriff says you can go.” He said, and unlocked the door.

“Thank you. I assume that Gerolt is here, but how did he convince you so quickly that he's not really a Changeling?”

Rarity stepped out from behind Vernon. “You can thank Rainbow for that. She knew him personally from back home.” She rubbed one hoof through her mane nervously. “Dear, I suspect I owe you an apology...”

“For what?” Xix cocked her head. “I'm a Changeling, it's only natural that you'd-”

Rarity interrupted. “Maybe. But still, the moment I saw I screamed, and I was doubting you up until the last moment, even after you allowed yourself to be locked up.”

“You're one of the element-bearers aren't you? You were there in Canterlot when Hive Chrysalis attacked? I get it, I really do. I just wish...”

“Yes?”

“It's like I said to Bzzz earlier... All I want is to be a part of life. Y'know, culture, civilization? But ponies are just too afraid, and I can't blame them.” Xix sighed.

Deputy Vernon asked “Why not just disguise yourself again?”

“Easy answer sure.” Xix answered, “But a lie.”

“Hmmm...” Rarity mused. She stepped forward and whispered something in the Changeling's ear.

“It's worth a shot.” Xix said. “Let's see...” Eyes closed in concentration, the changeling focused carefully on the shape of her magic and was soon wrapped about in a cloak of green fire. As it faded, a new form was seen: Xix didn't look like either her changeling form nor any pony disguise. Her black carapace was gone, replaced by a black pony coat with no holes in her body. Her horn was shorter than an adult unicorn's horn but not curved and jagged like a changeling horn. Her wings were still present, and still insectile, but looked more like the wings of a butterfly than a locust.

“Wow! I didn't know changelings could do that!” A voice called out. Xix looked to see the others returning, it was Rainbow who had spoken. “Mix and match, make up new looks, I mean.”

“The ones you fought in Canterlot probably couldn't.” Xix said. “Chrysalis doesn't give her drones much free will or intellect, so they can't pick and choose or create new forms on their own. All they can look like is what they've already seen.”

“This is perfect!” Rarity said. “Ponies can tell that you're different so you're not lying to them, but you don't look all that different so they should be more at ease.”

“Yes. I hope the other drones will agree to this as well.” Xix said.

“I dunno...” Nigel said. “You know, we humans have a lot of bad history with prejudices against others just because they look different. You having to hide your true form like this doesn't sit right with me.”

“Me either.” Bert agreed.

“But it's more than just that.” Gerolt said. “It's not that they're different, It's that they can look like anyone. It leads to some paranoia.”

Xix said “Exactly. Now, maybe with time, when everypony sees that we aren't like the others, we can go back to our true forms in public. But for now, if it makes the transition easier...”

“It'll take time, but it can work. The ponies who live in Shetland Crossing, who've known about the changelings in town for years, are fine with them.” Gerolt agreed. “Speaking of which, are you okay?”

“Yes, I'm fine. I was only in the cell about twenty minutes after all.” Xix chuckled.

“Good.” Geerolt sighed. “So, let's go get some lunch-” His gaze traveled into the next cell, catching his first sight of the Mor-tax. “-What the Maker is THAT!?!?!?” He shouted...