The next morning was pleasantly comfortable. Ledger quite literally found himself buried in mares. At some point, all three had found their way atop of him, despite the ample room on the joined bed. Seeing as how Scope had in fact joined, the unicorn opted not to disturb the scene and just bask in it.
Somebuggy is putting up a very powerful front in public. I bet if it were just me and her, she’d be willing to talk with me...
At that point, he also felt a very powerful barrier go up around the entire building. Knowing who it likely was, Ledger sighed and lamented the fact that he couldn’t teleport. He would really have to get Scope to teach him one of these days.
Somepony was soon thumping on the door, and being at the top of the cuddlepile, Scope rolled off and onto the floor, grumbling as she tried to pat down her bedmane with a wing.
“I swear, I am going to eviscerate the being on the other side,” she muttered as she got closer. She was met by the chestplate of the local Guard, with an equally unamused stallion inhabiting said armor.
“We’re lookin’ for Leger, little filly. He in here?”
“And who’s asking, beefcake?” she snarked back. A sleepy Scope was an intolerant Scope.
“Only our boss, Shining Armor. Y’know, the Prince.” The stallion was trying to look around Scope to see if the unicorn could be sighted.
“I’m sorry, our trading hours are between 10 and 5,” she yawned and slammed the door in his face. “Bucking hell, I can’t believe I woke up for this crap.”
There was silence for a moment before the guard on the other side knocked on it again. “Open up, in the name of the Prince,” he insisted. Scope growled and she opened the door, her glare made the frozen tundra outside look like a tropical paradise.
“It’s seven. In the bucking morning!” she said with a eerily calm tone. “Level Ledger will come to the castle soon enough. Now you either leave and tell Prince Prickmore that, or I turn you into fucking canned food. Deal?”
“...The Prince is unwilling to drop the shield around the hotel until Ledger is in his custody,” the guard said, divulging the information under the pressure of that glare.
“Fffffffffuuuu-” Scope turned and stormed into the bedroom, grabbing Ledger’s leg and yanking him onto the floor. “Guards, Your problem. Deal with it!” she snapped before getting back into bed and snuggling Midnight.
Ledger blinked a few times before realizing he’d been drafted to solve...whatever problem there was at the front door. With a sigh of reluctance, the unicorn opened the door to see the guard in armor standing there.
“I assume you’re Level Ledger?” the weary guard asked.
“Yup,” Ledger said before yawning. “Can...whatever this is wait until after coffee?”
“I’m afraid I’m not to let you out of my sight...but if you brew me a cup, I’ll come in and watch and not mention it to my superior,” the guard said before barely managing to stifle a yawn himself.
“Cool,” Ledger said as he stood to one side to allow this latest development into the hotel room. The guard nodded his thanks and watched Ledger make his morning coffee, the smell wafting throughout the room and dispelling any guilt he had of acquiescing.
Unfortunately, the scent of fresh brew also reawakened the tiny demon. She stumbled into the room and her frozen gaze locked onto the guard again. “You’re bucking kidding me...”
“I’m not to lose sight of him, and he has coffee,” the guard said in his defense. “We’ll be out of your mane soon enough, little lass.”
“You fed ‘em, then they're your responsibility,” Scope said as she poured three cups. “Make sure you walk them, feed them and housetrain them.” She looked at the three mugs she poured and pointed at the bedroom. “You mind?”
“My orders are for him,” the guard said. “Feel free to go as you will.” Ledger poured another two mugs, one for himself and one for the guard, before nodding at Scope. When the guard wasn’t looking, he flashed his eyes at her, to get across what he thought this was about, then flashed them back to normal.
“Figures...” she muttered. “And I meant if you would mind floating those in? No magic remember?”
“Not a problem,” Ledger said as he lifted the cups and floated them in front of Scope, before they moved on to the bedroom. “I’ll hold ‘em ‘till I feel you moving them.”
Scope nodded and then an evil thought crossed her mind. She crossed the space between them and planted a light kiss on his lips. “And you were amazing last night~ I still can’t believe you took all three of us...” and with a light flick of her tail, she left the room.
“...Three?” The guard asked. “All to yourself?”
“She teases, it’s only two,” Ledger said as he sipped his coffee and hummed. “Mm, not bad, but not my best. Still, it’ll do. You?”
The guard blew on his own hot drink and gulped it down, eyes widening as he did. Once his throat was clear again, he coughed a few times before nodding. “That was some damn fine stuff. Almost wish I hadn’t done that, but time’s wasting.”
Ledger nodded and drank his own coffee at a more sedate pace. Soon enough, it was gone, and the guard was escorting him from the room.
Once the other mares had awoken, and Scope had been awake enough to be bothered to tell them what had happened, Midnight was already in her combat armour and heading for the door.
“Middy, do ya really think that’s necessary?” Cider asked. “Ah reckon that the Prince jus’ wants to talk with ‘im, otherwise, why would he leave Scopey here?”
“I’m not taking any chances,” Midnight said. Nopony messed with her family, not even her former Captain. Besides, this was waaay too much fun to pass up. Time to test the security of the Crystal Empire!
As she left, Scope just sipped her coffee and hummed. “Well, it sounds like this will be an all day thing. What do you wanna do in the meantime?”
“Ah have no idea,” Cider shrugged. “Wanna see what Fredrick and Captain Narrow are up to?”
“Hmm, I haven’t messed...seen them in a while. Sure.”
Ledger just sat in the throne room, in chains, waiting for Shining Armor to come up with an argument he couldn’t logically defeat so that the chains could be removed.
He was quite enjoying it, actually. Every time Shining tried to justify his paranoia with laws that didn’t exist, Ledger called him out on it.
“Those mares that are with you, how can I be guaranteed that you haven’t brainwashed them?” he said, leaning forward. “For all I know, Chrysalis is already in the city!”
“I’m willing to admit that I don’t know where she is either,” Ledger calmly said. “If only because if I knew where she was, I would be there, ripping her throat out.” He let that sink in for a minute before smiling. “And really, how can you tell you haven’t been brainwashed? You could be being forced to act this way. How would you know?”
“Ever since the invasion, the mental wards I place on myself are far more powerful,” he snapped. “A drone like you couldn’t hope to control me.”
“Kudos to you then,” Ledger said with a nod. “Still, we have the slight problem of you not trusting me when I say those wonderful, lovely mares are free to act as they well and choose to be around me, despite knowing who and what I am.”
“Excuse me if I find that very hard to believe,” Shining said with a curt tone. “Well, I’m sure you’ll start talking when you get hungry. This room is cut off from any outside force, and you’ll find no love in me for your kind.”
“Oh, dear Shining,” Ledger said as he let his eyes revert. “The only reason I’m not gone now is because I respect your wife more than I do you, and that she’d likely not appreciate the property damage I would cause breaking free.”
“You think you can take me?” he said in a wry tone. “I am very good at my spells Changeling. I could shield an entire city...or create one so small, you might not even see it. Like your heart for instance. Imagine that, even as I expanded it...”
“Shining, you said it yourself. This room is cut off from outside forces. I’ve been stocking up, no real need to burn all my magic and love at once. Do the math as to how much power love, willingly given, from two mares over the course of even one week, would give me.”
“I could raise and expand a shield in an eyeblink, you’d be nothing but a smear between it and the wall,” he retorted. “So tell me, who do you think is faster on the draw?”
“My weapon of choice is my mind, Shining. I prefer duels of wits with armed opponents, but you’ll have to do,” Ledger smirked. “In that scenario, I’d focus my power and ride your shield to the wall...and break THROUGH it with a big enough blast. I’ve already found at least two structural weaknesses in this room that’d serve for that. And really, you should open your ears and hear the words I’m saying sometime in the next decade-” He paused as a curious sound found its way to his ears.
It sounded like humming coming from the ceiling.
“What in Equestria is that?” Shining blinked, motioning for one of his Guards, an orange Pegasus.
Ledger discreetly looked upwards and had to suppress a laugh at what he saw. He forced himself to look at Shining before making an observation. “Tell me, Shining, do you know the one thing Changelings have in common with a species of pony, beyond form?”
Shining turned his attention back to the drone and frowned. “No, but I have the distinct feeling you’re going to enlighten me.”
“Mmhmm, has to do with Thestrals,” Ledger said, leading the stallion to the conclusion that was sticking to the ceiling.
“And what do Changelings and Thestrals have in common?” he asked, not noticing Flash disappear from behind him, the Pegasus guard muffled and strung up on the ceiling.
“We can both walk on walls,” the disguised drone said with a smile that was way too pointy. Shining blinked before he put two and two together...about a second too late. He turned to see Midnight Song hanging from the ceiling behind him in some sort of black bodysuit, wearing a think pair of goggles and smiling brightly.
“Sorry Cap~” she said chipperly and Shining was promptly dumped into Luna’s dreamworld. Once he was out cold, she spun herself around and landed on the desk. “I am here to rescue you Levvy~”
“Just get me outta these chains, if you’d be so kind,” Ledger said, the metal and awkwardness doing wonders for his control regarding Midnight’s...apparel. “Also, you’re wearing that to bed one night.”
“Can do on both regards,” she said with a roll of her eyes. Her right wing blurred and something glinted in the light before Ledger’s chains clattered to the floor in countless pieces...or around forty seven if one bothered to take the time and count. The unicorn got up and stretched, cracking a few joints that had gotten sore during his time being forced to sit still.
“I’m just glad they don’t have any anti-magic metal. That stuff itches like crazy when I touch it,” Level Ledger said with a shake of his head as he re-asserted all of his disguise. “Okay, I think we have one quick stop to make before we leave. You up for telling Cadance how her husband has been behaving?”
Midnight’s eyes widened as she didn’t respond, seemingly staring at something behind Ledger.
“She’s right behind me, isn’t she,” he deadpanned.
“That would be an accurate assumption,” Cadence said as she walked past the Changeling and over to her husband. “Could somepony please explain three things to me. One, why is my husband unconscious. Two, why is Flash Sentry doing a remarkable impression of a pinata. And three, why is the kitchen barren of all mango products?”
Midnight gave a quiet burp.
“I think the answer to all three of those things is easy enough,” Ledger said, pointing a hoof at his marefriend.
“Well, it would seem so,” Cadence sighed.
“What?” Midnight huffed. “Rescuing is hungry work, and those chefs left perfectly good mango cupcakes out in the open like that.”
Shining groaned as he lifted his head and slowly opened his eyes. “Uhh, honey? Morning already?”
“Yes, and you have caused quite a bit of trouble dear,” Cadence said sternly. “Honestly, arresting a perfectly innocent Changeling like that. What sort of example are you setting for our kingdom?”
“But. He-”
“You and I are going to talk. Over tea and cake and these two shall join us.” She looked at Midnight and Ledger. “On behalf of the Crystal Empire, I would like to extend my deepest apologies for any harm you may have been caused.”
“It was all psychological stuff, I didn’t let it get to me,” Ledger brushed off. “And even if it did, I get the feeling you’re about to repay him tenfold.”
“Tartarus hath no fury like an angry wife,” Midnight giggled.
“Indeed, I shall show you to a room in which you may freshen up. I will also send for your other partners and we shall have a nice chat over some tea. Won’t we Shiny?”
“......”
“I said.” the Alicorn stepped closer and everypony could swear that it got a few degrees colder in the room. “Won’t we Shiny!”
“...Yes dear,” he mumbled as Cadence smiled chipperly once more.
“Good, then we shall see you in a bit.” Her horn flashed and Midnight and Ledger found themselves in a very nice room somewhere in the castle.
“So, not that I’m not flattered,” Ledger said as he eyed Midnight’s form. “But is there a reason for your choice of apparel?”
“Scopey says it’s a must when mounting a secret rescue mission,” she said, before blushing lightly. “And I have the sinking feeling that she’s messing with me now.”
“You really should have chosen something that would have helped you blend in a little more,” Ledger observed with a nod...before drawing close and running a hoof over the outfit. “That said, I find it...quite enticing, seeing you like this.”
“Oh?” Midnight smirked as she turned slowly, the skintight cloth hugging all of her luscious curves. “And what is so ‘enticing’ about it hmm? Perhaps you should show me~?”
“Let’s just say, I can see everything,” Ledger said as his hoof moved to caress her flank. “Everything. And I like what I see. How hard do you think it’d be to get Cider in one as well?”
“I think she can be convinced,” Midnight giggled. “Ohh, two secret spies caught by the villainous mad scientist Level Ledger~ I wonder what naughty punishments await our sexy heroines?”
“Why don’t we get a preview?” Ledger said as he advanced to caress the joints where her wings met her back.
“Mmm, it’s been a while since it was just the two of us, and Mr. Ledger! Are you suggesting we do something naughty in the palace of a Princess!”
“I rather think that I am,” Ledger said as he pulled the thestral mare close enough to kiss, but didn’t. “Let’s be late to tea - I guarantee that Shining and Cadance still won’t get there before us. And I missed out on my physical breakfast, so I think I’ll have a snack of Thestral~”
“Oh nooo,” Midnight said in a very poor dramatic tone. “I have rescued my Ledger too late, and now he is a lust-crazed demon. Whatever shall I doooo~”
“The same thing we do every other night,” Ledger said as his fangs reappeared, using them to nip at her neck. “Try to buck each others’ brains out.”
“I can roll with that,” Midnight giggled as she pounced on him...
Brunch was...awkward. If Awkward could be distilled into a physical thing, then brunch at the Crystal Palace had been infused with it.
On the one side, you had three mares, all of whom were trying their hardest (or not, in some cases) to act like Shining Armor hadn’t seriously abused his power, just to satisfy his paranoia.
And on the other side, you had Shining Armor, who had been scolded quite severely by Cadance and threatened with a lifetime of sleeping on the couch if he didn’t at least try to make nice.
The pink Princess and Ledger sat at either end of the table, acting as mediators to make sure all the comments that were said weren’t too barbed.
“So...” Midnight began, even as she was smoothing down her mane after her ‘interrogation’ with Ledger. “I guess I’ll start with... What the absolute living fuck Captain Shining!?”
“My default reaction to ‘There is a changeling in the vicinity’ is ‘interrogate it,’” the white unicorn said. “It wasn’t your wedding they crashed, Agent Song. The scars of that day are more than physical.”
“As Midnight could attest to,” Ledger interceded, causing Shining to clam up as he remembered who he was talking to.
Midnight gave a brief shudder and stood up. “I think I need a minute,” she said quietly before walking briskly from the room. Ledger just shot a glare at Shining in response.
“Seriously. You forgot what happened to her.”
“It’s been a busy day, and it’s not even noon yet! I just forgot!”
“Forgot what?” Cadence asked, concerned for the Thestral mare. She seemed quite distraught. “Did something happen?”
Shining nodded at first, but shook his head soon after. “Something did happen, but it’s not my place to say what.”
Ledger just sighed and looked at Cadence. “She was attacked the day of your wedding. By the worst example of our kind. One that tears love out of others and feels none of the positive emotions others do.”
Cadence gasped as she looked at the door the batpony had exited from. “I hope she’s okay...”
“Midnight’s tough, she’ll live,” Scope said. “And honestly, I think this whole thing is stupid. Prince Shining Armor could have acted a lot worse. Ledger and myself could have been executed on sight for all we know. So personally, I think Captain Armor acted well within his jurisdiction. Still gonna remove his leg for upsetting Mistress though.”
“And it’s ponies like you two that make the species gap nigh-insurmountable,” Ledger sighed. “One doesn’t listen to reason, and the other purposely antagonizes the other. And some days, you switch roles!” After that, Ledger looked at Cadence and grinned.
“And no worries, once we figured out what happened, we began trying to help heal her,” the disguised drone told the Princess of Love.
“Because that worked sooo well,” Scope snarked. “But yeah, the most you’ll have to be worried about is being pranked. Pranked hard. Tell me Prince, what’s your public image like?”
“Something tells me it’s about to take a dive,” Shining observed as he pulled his tea and cake a little closer to himself. “Look, nopony told me about there being different sorts or colors or what have you of changelings. Nopony really told me anything about changelings until last night. I thought Chrysalis was the norm, not the aberration. Can I get a little slack for that?”
“Just enough to hang yourself with,” Scope said all too calmly, only to receive a light smack upside the head from Cider. “Ow!”
“Scopey, play nice or I’ll take yer toys away,” Cider chided her and bowed her head. “Ah sure no...well, minimal disrespect was meant yer Highness. This family an’ any form of authority mix like cider and mud.”
“Considering the way half of us were raised…” Ledger trailed off as he sipped at his tea.
“Half?” Shining said, his head tilted to one side as he thought about the idea.
“You do that on purpose, don’t you Ledger?” Cider deadpanned. “Please don’t antagonize the husband of the one of the four Princesses.”
Ledger just put his tea down and fired on maximum snark. “Well golly, I sure wouldn’t want to upset the stallion that only had me dragged from a nice, warm cuddle-pile before I could even have breakfast, now would I? That would just be rude.”
“....Guess ah walked into that one,” Cider sighed. She gave up.
Scope on the other hoof, decided on a different tactic. She had moved around to Shining’s side of the table, staring up at him with her sparkling sapphire eyes.
“Mr Shiny? Why’d ya kidnap Ledgie?”
Shining Armor had a little sister. It should have inoculated him to this level of cuteness. Hay, the filly had been snarking at him a moment ago!
Sadly, he had not prepared for Scope’s sheer adorableness. With a soft coo, the stallion moved to hug the little filly close.
The was a blue flash, followed by a second flash and Scope had squirmed from his hug and returned to her seat. Midnight Song stood nearby holding a camera and the picture it produced. One of Shining Armor hugging a Changeling.
“Oohh, this is one for the scrapbook.”
Shining just looked from the picture to the little filly and back again, his brain trying and failing to process what he’d just been presented with. “You....and that...and what…”
“I think you broke him,” Ledger said with a too-cheery smile. “Somepony get a stick, I want to poke him with it.”
“Are you all quite done?” Cadence sighed. “I’d hate to have to find a new husband. This one took long enough to take the hints.”
“You must admit, he deserves a little torment beyond what you did,” Ledger pointed out. “I’m sure your retribution was fair and just, but it wasn’t you he wronged.”
“But what will this gain? Besides more bad blood between us?” Cadence said in that motherly tone of hers. “Shining Armor, are you sorry for what you have done?”
“...Yes,” he replied. “I could have handled the situation better, but let my fears get the better of me. I am sorry Chan-Level Ledger.”
“Good, and do you accept his apology Level Ledger?”
“Provisionally,” Ledger said with a smirk. “The provision being that this doesn’t ruin the night on the town he planned, then yes. I can accept his apology. It’ll be a novel experience, and I’d rather not have it ruined because somepony kept glaring at me.”
“You...still want to do that?” Shining blinked in surprise.
“I didn’t go out drinking, despite living in Las Pegasus,” Ledger said with a shrug. “Losing control wasn’t something I went out to do on purpose. Plus, I was sorta living in constant fear after my boss learned the glamor-breaking spell and found out my secret, then decided to use it against me. So...yeah, I could do with a night on the town.”
“Alright then,” Cadence clapped her hooves and giggled. “Then you boys shall go out and have fun. And meanwhile...” She smirked as she looked at the three mares. “We will have a girls night here in the castle~”
“Remember Midnight, no property damage, we can’t afford to replace anything,” Ledger said as he winked at the thestral mare.
“Oh ye of little faith,” Midnight waved a hoof as she moved next to Cadence. “Don’t worry Shiny, I’ll take good care of your little wife here~”
“I can trust you two to keep her in line or keep up with her?” Level asked Scope and Cider.
“Ah make no promises,” Cider shrugged as she sipped her tea.
“Yup, keeping Mistress in line is your duty. You want to go out, then what she does is on your head.”
“Aw nuts,” Ledger said as he sighed dramatically. “I guess I can look forward to coming home to some sort of situation and having to deal with it before I can snuggle anypony.”
“I trust you will not do anything untoward with my wife, Specialist Song?” Shining said in a low tone.
“I promise that I make no promises,” she giggled, hugging the Alicorn. “If she falls for my charms, then I cannot be held accountable for her excellent tastes.”
“Well, I think that’s a mutual agreement to get in trouble from our significant others, or at least mine,” Level Ledger said as he looked at Shining Armor. “And now I think I need that drink, to cushion the blow of whatever they’re going to get up to.”
“Agreed,” Shining asked. “Now...where do you suppose Flash Sentry got to?”
Cadence shrugged, wondering just what she’d gotten herself into.
“It might be a bit too early to go out drinking just yet,” the disguised drone observed. “But I’ll gladly walk around town with you until the bars open.”
“Well, we need to find Flash first...” Shining nodded. “Well, up and at ‘em then Ledger. Let’s see if a Changeling and myself can get along without killing one another.”
“We’ll just have to see,” Ledger said, smiling his pointy smile. “So long as you keep yourself in line, I promise the same.”
Shining gave a curt nod and the two left the dining room, leaving four mares to conspire amongst themselves.
“So...wanna place bets on how long they’ll last?” Scope shrugged, stealing the cake that Shining left behind.
Back in the room Shining had used to interrogate Ledger, a disdained orange Pegasus swung slowly from the ceiling.
“I hate my life...”
“You’re...sure about this place?” Ledger asked, eyeing the establishment that Shining Armor had eventually taken him to.
The earlier parts of the day had been filled with questions regarding changelings, naturally. Ledger was surprised at how Shining had managed to keep the terms pony-friendly when he could, and his tongue in check until he no longer needed to watch out for others listening in. Just as surprising was Level’s ability to respond so quickly to the day-long question and answer session, in ways that thankfully didn’t clue anypony in to his actual nature.
Flash Sentry was just confused as all get out. While his captain had rescued him...eventually, he was now friends with the Changeling? And they were all going drinking now?
“What is my life?” he muttered.
“Considering how badly you got rejected, I’m surprised you’re still as much of a stallion as you are,” Shining chuckled. “But, you’re not the first to fall on that front. That is a wall that cannot be scaled.”
“And I’ll do my best to keep Midnight from trying to ‘complete the set’ of Alicorns she’s kissed,” Ledger assured. “Besides which, if we spent any time in Ponyville to begin with, I just know something crazy would happen. And that’s the last thing I need right now.”
“That town is a magnet for trouble,” Shining sighed. It wasn’t his sister’s fault...most of the time. “And I would appreciate that, but I think even Midnight would meet her match in Twilight.”
“You’ve met Midnight, right?” Ledger deadpanned. “I went from being nearly asexual, to being Songsexual, to being flat-out straight again thanks to her.”
“And yet, I am still confident that Twilight would even barely register her existence,” Shining sighed. As a big brother, he was glad he would probably never have to deal with his little sister getting her heart broken. But it also meant that his mother was putting all her ‘I want grandfoals’ pressure on him and Cadence. Twilight Velvet already saw her daughter as a lost cause.
“You know what?” Shining smirked, getting a most evil idea. “I bet you a hundred bits that Midnight Song has no chance.”
“Hmm,” Ledger said as he rubbed his chin. “I’m technically good for it...once I get back. Y’know what, I’ll take that bet. I’ll bet a hundred bits that the day she meets Princess Twilight, she manages to shove her tongue in Twilight’s mouth. And if I win, you have to pay Midnight, and tell her why.”
“Deal!” Shining smirked as he shook Ledger’s hoof. Flash just shrugged and kept walking towards the bar. It was karaoke night tonight and he wanted to be plenty liquored up before trying that.
“So, this’ll be a new experience for me,” Ledger said as he neared the door, casting a look between it and Shining. “Care to give me some pointers so I don’t look like a complete moron?”
Shining and Flash shared a smug smirk and shook their heads.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Flash laughed. Ledger just sighed and opened the door with his magic: it was unlikely he would get any answers from them, so best to dive in.
It wasn’t quite as bad as he expected. There were only a dozen or so ponies in the bar when they arrived. Several took notice of the new patrons, but paid them little heed. Shining would come here often, so there was little fuss about the Prince of all ponies turning up to wet his lips on a brew or two.
The bartender was a rather shapely mare. She had a silvery-crystal coat and fiery red hair. She looked at her new customers and gave them a wink.
“Ohh, hello there boys~”
Ledger forced his attention to Shining and quirked an eyebrow, as if to ask a question. It was probably something along the lines of ‘what do you recommend’, but in the latest context, it could also be taken as ‘she do this often?’
“Given I am not psychic,” Shining chuckled as he sat down. “You may have to actually voice your concerns. Also, Ruby Daze, this is Level Ledger, my new...acquaintance.”
“Well he’s a real cutie,” Ruby giggled. “Nice to meet you Levvy!”
“Why do mares seem to always call me that?” Ledger sighed as he took his seat. “What do you think I should try, Shining? I’ve not done this before...unless getting drunk in a truth-or-dare game counts.” Or the time with Cider, but that’s not something to say in polite company...
“What are you, five?” Shining snorted as he ordered his usual. “I believe that was the last time I played that game,” and he was not going to admit that Twilight won. “Hmm, well, start him out light Ruby. He’s probably a light weight.”
“Can do Prince,” she smiled as she poured a clear liquid. “Crystal Clarity, basically slightly alcoholic water.”
Ledger sniffed the glass, found nothing amiss, then raised it to his mouth and took a sip. Upon finding nothing too displeasing with the drink, the unicorn drained the rest of the glass on his next go ‘round and nodded. “Well said,” he said. “And for your information, I was attempting to distract Midnight from climbing up the walls. It’s a long story, but I had a bored bat and needed a not-bored one. That game worked.”
“Well, then it’s her age that’s up for question then,” Shining laughed as he downed his shot. Ruby refilled both their glasses as Flash chugged back his tankard of ale.
“Pwah! Now that’s the stuff!” he smiled, wiping his mouth with a forehoof. Ledger raised his glass in preparation for a toast and looked at Shining Armor. The Prince blinked, before smiling and raising his glass.
“To knowledge,” Ledger said as he clinked his glass with the Prince’s. “The basis for understanding, the foundation for friendship, which is in turn the beginning of peace. Everything is possible if you know enough.”
“Knowledge is power, but it’s still power that must be wielded wisely,” Shining nodded as he tapped the glass with his own. “While I hold no forgiveness for Chrysalis or her brood... you’re alright Ledger.”
“Mm,” Ledger said as he downed his shot. “Really tells you something when you mention her name and other changelings express a desire to rip her apart.”
“I’ve been thinking on that,” Shining nodded as he downed his shot. “If you guys hated her so much, why didn’t you do anything to stop her? Or at least come forward and publically disown her.”
“She’s...the changeling equivalent of Prince Blueblood,” Ledger sighed. “Nobuggy believed that when she stormed off vowing revenge that she would do something like...that. She preyed on the less fortunate to recruit them into her ‘army’, and by the time we pieced together what had been going on…”
“It was all over,” Shining sighed. “Well, whatever. The past is the past and Chrysalis won’t be able...to...” Then he realised one massive fact about the drone before him. The fact that he was even sitting here in the first place. “How did you even get in the city?”
“Your shield is meant to keep out dark forces, right?” Ledger said, and the Prince slowly nodded. Ledger just nodded once, sharply, with a smile. “Well, there you go then. I may have had dark thoughts and desires around those that have exploited me...but I’m no darker than you, Shiny.”
Shining looked at his pristine white coat, then to Ledger’s much darker one, before smirking at him.
“You know what I meant,” Ledger sighed as he rolled his eyes. “I may not be the best example of a pony or a ‘ling, but I’m no Chryssy or Sombrero either.”
“Well, I am aware of that now,” Shining said as he got his third glass. Ledger’s was filled with something a little stronger this time. A pale pink liquid.
“Siren’s Kiss. Something with a small kick, but it might sneak up on you later,” Ruby giggled. Ledger brought the glass close and sniffed, finding a new medley of scents teasing his nose. The brown unicorn gave the drink a sip and nodded before wincing at the kick he’d been warned about.
“You weren’t joking,” he observed, giving the drink another sip and bracing himself. “Still, not bad at all.”
“It’s no ‘Emperor’s Curse’,” Ruby smiled as she downed her own shot. “But it’s not bad for beginners.”
“It’s nice,” the unicorn observed a few staff members setting something up on the stage. “Um. What’s going on?”
“Ohh, the karaoke contest starts soon~” Ruby Daze hummed. “Maybe you should sing something? If you sing as good as you look~”
“I have...a song I could sing,” Ledger hummed. “It was sung...fairly often around the home. And it applies to my life more often than I’d like. But you all might not like it.”
“Nonsense!” Ruby said adamantly. “Let’s hear it Equestrian-stallion!”
“I’ll let somepony else go first with a happier song,” Ledger insisted as he took a sip of his drink. He got his wish when Flash Sentry wobbled up onto the stage and grabbed the mic.
“Alright, Imma sing sumthin’!”
“Oh, this promises to be interesting,” Ledger said as he drained his shot glass and put it on the bar, eyes riveted to the orange pegasus.
The Pegasus opened his mouth and a really sappy heartbreak song started flowing out. The crowds reactions were varied, but Shining Armor just sighed and applied his hoof to his face.
“So we get Sad Flash again?” he muttered. “Oh yeah...Monday.”
“I said a happier song,” Ledger said with a smirk before giving Flash a slow applause. “Still, nice singing.”
“Wait for it...” Shining said as two ponies pushed a crash mat in front of the stage. At the end of the song, Flash attempted an air guitar solo, despite the song never calling for it. Instead, all he did was topple over and fall onto his back on the mat.
“I take it he’s done this enough to warrant those precautions?” Ledger asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Every Monday and Thursday,” Daze sighed. “Poor guy. He needs a mare... or a stallion. I don’t judge.”
“Fair enough,” Ledger said with a nod as he looked back at his shot glass. Ruby had apparently refilled it, but with something new again. It was an amber liquid this time, something called a ‘Ditch Digger’. A potent whiskey that burned going down and burned coming out.
Ledger did his best to hold his breath and down the thing in one go, without smelling or tasting it. At that, he succeeded...but it still burned when he took a breath, causing a small coughing fit to seize his form.
“That...kicks pretty hard,” Ledger managed to wheeze out.
“Like an ornery mule,” Ruby giggled as she gave him a glass of water. “You okay there little colt?”
“Just gimme a moment,” the stallion said as he sipped the water. “Mm...that’s better. And wow, I can see what you mean by the drinks sneaking up on me.” Ledger was definitely swaying in his seat now.
“Heh, is that all you got?” Shining smirked. “I bet Chrysalis could drink you under the table.”
“I never was one for drinking,” Ledger said as his body stopped swaying for a moment. “Was more interested in living to see the next day...in fact…”
With that, Ledger took the stage and began to sing a very sad song, indeed. At least, if you had any frame for context. And something had to be said, for Ledger’s singing voice.
While normally, he would be incapable of singing more than a few bars, he did at least remember how the songs sounded when he heard them.
When he was drunk, however, he was far more easily influenced to replicate the songs, and unless they involved high notes, he could usually do so with what courage the liquids he’d been drinking gave him.
Shining just watched and listened. To the lyrics he sang to the tidbits of information he had heard about the Changeling. “Well...damn...”
The song eventually ended, and while Ledger had been tempted, very tempted, to unveil himself during the latter part to make his words sink in a bit more...he restrained himself and just slowly walked back to the table. “Well Captain? Am I worth it?” he asked with only a little touch of bitterness to his voice. Apparently, Drunk Ledger was Emotional Ledger. As in, his emotions were all over the place.
Mind you, everypony present was reading from the wrong context as Shining blushed lightly when the whispers started. “Sit down you idiot,” he whispered. “Or else ponies will get the wrong idea.”
“I think they already have, but okay,” Ledger giggled, actually giggled, before retaking his seat and looking at Shining Armor. “Y’didn’t answer my question,” the brown unicorn observed aloud.
“You’re a fine stallion, but embarrassing as all get out when drunk,” Shining shook his head as Flash finally returned, draping himself over Ledger’s back.
“I love you guys,” he sniffed. “But...nopony loves me....”
“I’d offer to share, but I don’t live here, and I think they’d take issue if I did it without consulting them first,” Ledger said as he used his magic to help him gently shift Flash off his back.
“Sucks,” he muttered. “You got three mares...an’ I got none...”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Shining chuckled as he downed another glass. “You’re a lucky stallion Ledger.”
“Only sometimes,” Ledger said as he chuckled. “Three times the mares, three times the mare problems. And keeping up with all three of them is draining. I’m lucky I’m a ‘ling, I can convert the love they feel for me into enough energy to avoid whiplash.”
“Maybe if I was...” Flash leaned closer to Ledger and smiled waaaay too widely. “Hey, hey Ledger...make me a Chang-cham...one of you!”
“Noooot possible,” Ledger managed to slur out. “You’re either born one or aren’t. Sorry.”
“Then tell me your secrets Magic Man!” Flash shook him. “I waaannaaa get a mareeee!!”
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, the pinnacle of the Crystal Guard,” Shining facehooved.
“Flashy, if I knew why they liked me,” Ledger said, throwing a hoof around the guard’s withers and drawing him close. “Then I’d tell you. As it is, I think they’re all somewhat crazy.”
Three mares all shared a sneeze as they looked at one another and giggled.
“Aw mannn,” Flash pouted. ‘S’not fair...why didn’t she like me guys?”
“Because Twiley has all the social graces of a rock,” Shining nodded. “No mare or stallion has a chance, so don’t feel too bad Flash, you’re simply the latest in a looooong list of ponies that have tried, and failed.”
“Like that’s gonna stop Middy,” Ledger boasted. “She’s kissed all the other Princessesssessses...heh. Little bat’s gonna get yer sister, jus’ you wait…”
“We’ll see Ledger...we’ll see,” Shining smirked, especially if he gave his sister a heads up. What? Ledger never said he couldn’t.
“So how’s my favourite trio?” Ruby Daze walked over to the table they had taken to sit at. “You boys need anything else from me?”
“I’ll take another,” Shining smiled. “And maybe a cart to haul these two home in.”
“I can walk,” Ledger said as he made to stand up...and greeted the floor with his face. “I could walk if the floor wasn’t being so pushy. Stupid gravity.”
Ruby giggled as she helped him up, placing Ledger’s hoof over her shoulder. “Oh dear, and you never even started on the heavy stuff. You gonna be okay there wondercolt?”
“Jus’ fine,” Ledger said as he focused on what was going on. “Just need ta...compensate. I don’t drink a lot, so...this is new to me.”
Ruby smirked, “What’s new? Drinking? Or compensating~?”
“Ruby, he’s taken...by a few,” Shining sighed. The last thing he needed was getting yelled at for Ledger making a pass at a shapely bartender.
“Mm, pity,” she sighed, putting him back in his seat.
“‘Sides, I doubt...you could make the trip to home often enough,” Ledger pointed out. “Not that you’re not pretty, just...it wouldn’t work.”
“Wow, this is the first time a drunk stallion has put me down so gently,” Daze laughed. “This one’s going in my diary.”
“I think three is his limit, both in mares and in drinks,” Shining laughed as Flash tried to stand, and kept wondering why he was still sitting.
“Yeah, but Middy keeps tryin’ fer others,” Ledger sighed. “Really...gets to me sometimes. I love her, but her eyes keep strayin’...”
Well this was an interesting turn of events. Shining saw opportunity and leaned over the table. “Look Ledger, I’ve known Song for a while. If she’s still with you after all this time, she’s not going anywhere.”
“...thanks,” Ledger said with a smile. “I...needed that.” Indeed, he seemed to be a bit more at ease now that Shining had shared that news.
“Meh, what are frie- acquaintances for eh?” Shining still couldn’t quite admit that he was becoming friends with a changeling. Mutual drinking buddies. That sounded better. “Still, I can’t help but wonder what our mares are up to right now.”
“I know my mares,” Ledger said with a shake of his head. “You dun wanna know. Fer all you know, they’re teaching Cadance about herding. And that’s the best outcome.”
“That...that’s the best outcome?” Shining paled, making his white fur somehow whiter. “Stars above...just who did I leave my wife home alone with?”
“My herd,” Ledger replied with a nod, as though that simple answer explained everything.
Apparently it was. “I think we need to go home soon,” Shining gulped as he downed his shot. Maybe he should get something with actual alcohol in it this time?
“If the palace isn’t on fire by now, then it’s not gonna be anytime soon,” Ledger said with a wave of one hoof. “We don’t need to rush…”
Flash looked at the two, then at his own hooves, then back to Shining. “Heeyyy Cappy?”
“Yes, Flash?” Shining said.
“How come you ain’t dr-dun-...like us?”
“Maybe I can hold my liquor better,” he shrugged.
“It’s probably that,” the brown unicorn agreed. “So...what next? Got any more questions, mister Paranoid Armor?”
“Original,” Shining replied. “But I think I’m fine. Unless you know where Chrysalis is?”
“Ohh, who’s Chrysalis?” Ruby said from behind them as she placed three more drinks on the table, accidently giving Ledger Shinings water. “A jilted lover?”
“WHAT?” Shining flushed a deep crimson. “Not in the slightest!”
“Just a jerk,” Ledger said as he took a sip of the water and frowned. “Miss Ruby, there’s somethin’ wrong with my...drink…” He trailed off as he looked at Shining Armor and chuckled. “Actually, you may be right about the jilted lover thing…”
“Ledger,” Shining warned as he sipped his drink and coughed slightly. This wasn’t his...
Oh.
“Okay Ledger, let’s not say anything we’ll regret now yes?”
“I’m jus’ saying,” Ledger said with a smirk. “How long was she pretendin’ to be Cadance? Long enough fer her to earn that lover thing?”
Shining...actually looked ashamed, “I said drop it Ledger.”
“...You didn’t,” Ledger said, leaning forward. Okay, now he needed to know.
“That time...it’s still a blur,” Shining said quietly as Ruby slipped away. This sounded like it wasn’t for her ears.
“I don’t know...if it was her or not,” he admitted. “But...I think it was. I cheated on Cadence...with that-that THING!”
“Look on the bright side,” Ledger pointed out. “She shifted. No way for her to be pregnant with your kids. Shifting rearranges that…” Then Ledger’s mind went to a place he didn’t want it to go to. “Unless…”
Shining paused. No. There was no WAY he had just hinted at that. “Unless what? Ledger.”
“Unless she never shifted and was only using illusions the whole time,” the drone admitted after a moment. “Then...well.”
“No!’ Shining shook his head. “The shield that Cady and I made, she took that at point blank range. There is no way she could have concentrated on keeping her transformation with that.”
“Unless she never transformed,” Ledger pointed out. “There are...those of us that simply can’t. They rely on illusions alone to replace somepony.”
“So...I bucked...when she looked...” Shining put a hoof to his mouth and ran for the bathroom as Flash just looked back and forth between the pair.
“Uh, what jus’ happened...?”
“Shining could already be a dad,” Ledger said with a shake of his head. “Wonder how that’d go over with the parents.”
Flash never heard him, as during Ledger’s reply, his head had hit the table and he was now snoring peacefully.
“Well, guess we’re done here,” the unicorn said as he raised a hoof to flag down Ruby. Somepony needed to pay for the night...and get Shining out of the bathroom. The Captain returned of his own accord soon enough, wiping his mouth with a hoof.
“Well,” he said in a flat tone. “Tonight has been enlightening. Thank you Level Ledger...”
“No problem,” Ledger said as he poked Flash’s form. “What say we get him back and see what the mares have been up to?”
“We will, but first...” Shing slammed the table, waking Flash with a jolt. “Miss Ruby, three ‘Emperor’s Curse’s’ if you will.”
“Uh,” Ruby blinked. “Are-Are you sure about that Prince-”
“Not a Prince, I am a customer that would very much like to forget the last ten minutes of my life. And these two will be my companions into drunken oblivion.”
Ledger just shrugged, figuring that whatever she gave him to drink wouldn’t be as bad as having to fight the Black. Or working under Toll Taker. Or…
Or a lot of things he’d been through, really. Yeah, he could really use that drink now.
Soon enough, three shots were placed gingerly on the table as everyone in the bar all stared at the three brave souls...well, two brave, one was too drunk to know better.
The glass was filled with a dark liquid, one that seemed to swirl like an angry storm cloud. And...was that some sort of dark aura?
“Bottoms up boys!” Shining grunted and downed his shot. Ledger took his up and held his breath before attempting the same feat. Keyword: attempting. He did not quite match Shining. Meaning he got to taste the thing before it affected his senses.
Imagine swallowing darkness itself, coupled with a kick that felt like Celestia herself had just bucked Ledger in the brain. He moaned as he gripped his head with both forehooves, letting the last of the drink in his shotglass that hadn’t found it’s way into his mouth spill onto the table.
Flash was just staring off into the distance, like he had reached enlightenment and was ascending to a higher plane of existence. Until the drink kicked in and sent him right back down to earth, courtesy of gravity and the floor.
Shining blissfully waved goodbye to the soon-to-be-destroyed memories. “Ahhh...much. Better.”
“Sweet...Celestia,” Ledger moaned. “I thought...life couldn’t...surprise me. What the buck...was in that?”
“Nopony...knows...” Flash spoke quietly. “Ruby...never...tells.”
“S-State sec---sec...not tellin’” Shiny replied as he stood up, wobbling slightly but still standing. Several patrons cheered and whistled, as Ruby sighed.
“Great, he stood up. So he gets it for free.” She smirked at Ledger. “What about you? Think you can stand cutie pie?”
Ledger put his hooves to the table and pushed away, falling to all four hooves for a moment.
Then the moment passed, and a light breeze knocked him over. “I’ma just stay here,” the unicorn called from the floor. “Izza comfy floor you got here miss.”
“Well, we have one winner at least,” she beamed. “And as winner, he gets to pay for all your drinks.”
“Aw dammit,” Shining frowned as he forked over a small satchel. “Well, I was already gonna anyway...c’mon you guys...gotta go home and...do stuff. I dunno.”
“Yay, stuff!” Ledger mumbled into the floor. “...Wake me when gravity stops workin’, that’ll make going places easier.”
“Still need that cart?” Ruby giggled.
“Yes ma’am,” Shining nodded as he looked at the two. “Whelp, this’ll be fun!”