Gleaner Chronicles

by sevenofeleven


Chapter Twelve, It's their funeral

Gleaner Chronicles

Lower Canterlot
Medical Tent Three

Medical Tent Three had just a few ponies resting on clean white-sheeted beds. On one bed, a pink unicorn with a blonde mane and tail thrashed her legs and opened her grey eyes. A changeling was sitting across from her on another bed. When Margot woke up, she found herself looking into the green eyes of Nga'Devro.

The changeling bowed. “Nga'Devro is pleased that you are well.” He wrinkled his muzzle and Margot was reminded that she needed a bath or at least a shower.

“I need to take a shower or a bath. Do you know where I can go?” Margot said.

“Nga'Devro doesn't know, but he can find out for you,” Nga'Devro said while looking around.

Margot sat up. “Do you know if Rainbow Dash is okay?”

“Nga'Devro overheard some doctors. Ms. Dash was close to death, but she has recovered,” Nga'Devro said while watching a nurse approach. Margot watched the nurse canter over to her bed.

The nurse had a white coat with a pink mane and tail. Her cutie mark was of a red cross over a heart. She wrinkled her muzzle. “Well, Ms. Summercolt, the doctor says that you’re in good health. He suggests that you get some more rest and some food. A shower or a bath would be good for you too.”

Margot’s eyes narrowed for a second then they went back to normal. “Its Summerholt, not Summercolt.”

The nurse shrugged. “We’ll need that bed now.” Margot climbed out of bed.

“There are signs pointing to the showers, please follow them,” The nurse said.

While Margot and Nga'Devro headed for the showers, he stopped Margot with a raised fore hoof. “Rital’Harak has a request that you join him at a LeaveTaking. It’s a changeling ritual that honors those that have passed.”

“I would be honored,” Margot said. Then they continued to the showers. Nga'Devro stayed outside while Margot went to the Mare’s section. A few moments later, Skybreeze trotted by.

“Excellent. Applejack has called a strategy meeting. She wants you and Margot,” Skybreeze said.

“Nga'Devro wonders about a Strategy meeting,” Nga'Devro said.

“Actually, Applejack called it a stratergizin meetin,” Skybreeze said. Nga'Devro nodded. They waited for a few moments until Margot showed up.

“Well, is it nice to be finally clean?” Skybreeze said. Margot nodded.“Applejack has called a Strategy meeting. There will be food and drink,” Skybreeze said.


Lower Canterlot
Royal Meeting Tent

Applejack sat on one side of a long beige wooden table. Far, Skybreeze, the SHC, Nga'Devro and Margot sat opposite her. The tasty lunch was done. Applejack fixed Margot with a green gaze. “Ah know in your vision you saw Fluttershy. Do you know her exact position?” Margot shook her head.

“Can you do a spell to locate Fluttershy? The Everfree is a large forest full up with ornery creatures. I reckon that wanderin around will get us in more trouble than we need,” Applejack said.

“I need something of Fluttershy’s or something off of her body. Without that I can’t do a location spell,” Margot said. The sound of approaching squeaking wheels made everypony look at the tent entrance. Then the door opened and Rainbow Dash appeared in a wheelchair pushed by an annoyed nurse. “AJ, do you have some oil?”

A smile covered Applejack’s face. “Rainbow Dash, you ornery mare! You’re supposed to be resting in bed!”

“Well, I would but somepony forgot that other ponies might want some books,” Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack looked away for a bit then she looked back. “Well, I kinda forgot to mention that there’s a regular library.”

Scootaloo broke in. “Tell me what books you want and I’ll get them for you!”

The nurse sighed. “Ms. Dash, why don’t you do your business so we can go back to bed.”

“Well, you can go back and go to bed, I’m gonna work with AJ. Can you wheel me closer to the table?” Rainbow Dash said.

The nurse made another deep sigh then she pushed the squeaky chair next to Applejack.

“Could you go get some oil for the wheels please?” Rainbow said while smiling. The nurse’s eyes narrowed for an instant, and then she cantered off to the door. Applejack waited until the nurse left.

“Did I miss anything?” Rainbow said while looking around for something to eat.

“We were talking about locating Fluttershy. Margot said she couldn’t locate her. I’m thinkin we could use that spell that Scry used to see the past. Margot, can you lock the spell to a pony?” Applejack said.

“I guess so,” Margot said.

“Hey AJ, can you get me some food? Hospital food is nasty,” Rainbow said while making gagging sounds.

“Yeah, give me a sec,” Applejack said.

“How about asking Angel what happened? He’s Fluttershy’s pet,” Rainbow said.

Applejack grimaced. “Angel isn’t my favorite bunny. He’s too ornery for my tastes. I also don’t talk bunny. I don’t know how Fluttershy puts up with him.”

“Because she’s Fluttershy. Maybe there’s a pony in Lower Canterlot who can talk to animals?” Rainbow said.

“I think I know who could help. I heard a story about an earth pony named Beast Tongue. He can talk to animals,” Far said.

“Ahh yeah, awesome!” Rainbow said.

“Excuse me, but what will we accomplish by talking to a bunny? He may not know Fluttershy’s location,” Skybreeze said.

Applejack looked away for a second before she spoke. “I reckon that the Gleaners probably had some sort of trick to send Fluttershy away. I want to know how they did it. It seems that the Gleaners had a plan to isolate all of us.

“A strange pony came by Sweet Apple Acres, and told me that Braeburn my cousin was at Death’s door. He wanted to see me before he passed. I don’t know why I would just jump up and go. Ah was halfway there when I started having feelin’s that things weren’t right. Ah came back to the farm...”

Skybreeze nodded. “My condolences.”

“I was working hard moving some clouds---” Rainbow said but she was interrupted by a glare from Applejack. Rainbow continued with a sheepish grin.

“Okay, I was napping. My dreams had been pretty bad lately. Most of them were filled with dark clouds and shredding lightning. Anyway, this griffon named Airheart challenges me to a race. Hey, you know I love a challenge. So we race, she was pretty fast. I am having a pretty cool time but, then I notice that her feathers aren’t moving in the breeze. I’m like, what in Tartarus? This griffin is keeping pace with me, but her feathers aren’t moving. I get this chill down my back like I’m reading a Stephen Fang story. Except now I’m in one.

“Anyway, I’m thinking about stopping the racing and just flying back to Ponyville. Airheart gives me this smile. AJ, you should have seen it. I knew that I was in serious trouble. Then these green glowing things started swarming all over me. It took a lot of fancy flying to dodge them and get away.”

Margot looked at Rainbow. “The Gleaners have a boss, an Empress Razorhoof. I ran into her before we came to Lower Canterlot. She’s an Enchantress, a magic user that can make ponies see and feel anything she wants. I bet she made that griffin and that strange pony.”

“You know that would’ve been something we needed to know!” Rainbow said with narrowed eyes.

Applejack faced Rainbow. “Hush!” Rainbow looked away.

Margot faced Rainbow Dash. “I’m sorry. I was waiting for someone to ask me then I got caught up with other stuff.”

“How did this Enchanter work? Spells that alter ponies’ minds are on the proscribed list and are forbidden,” Skybreeze said.

“Well, I can’t do Enchanter magic. The Empress almost had me, but then another being helped me. I don’t know his or her name. The Empress also mentioned another pony is supposed to help out but she didn’t give me any details. I was with a group and she almost got me. I hope I don’t run into her again,” Margot said with drooping ears and tail.

“We need to tell the Princesses immediately. Enchanters can cause a lot of chaos,” Skybreeze said.

Applejack pointed at Scootaloo. “Scoots, please send a message to the Princesses so we can brief them.” Then Applejack pointed at Sweetie Belle. “Sweetie Belle, please tell the guard outside that we’ll need more food when the Princesses arrive.” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle galloped out the door. Rainbow started snoring. Applejack glanced at her and then at the ponies at the other side of the table.

“Ah reckon that we got a few hours before we get back to stratergizin. Don’t worry, Ah’ll send some ponies to git you when we’re ready. Y’all are dismissed,” Applejack said before she glanced at the snoring Rainbow.

---

Changeling enclave

When Margot followed Nga'Devro to the changeling enclave, she was surprised that she had to go through almost all of Lower Canterlot. The changelings lived next to the Commoner Section. Unlike the other sections that Margot had been in, it was noisy and crowded. There were fewer pegasus patrols. Homeless ponies with tired eyes watched Margot and Nga'Devro walk past. The few tents they saw were small. Even the ground was rough, just a few steps from just being dirt.

A few unfortunate ponies even asked Margot for bits or some food. It tore her heart to say no. Nga'Devro on the other hand just ignored them. Above the small camps of poor ponies, the Changeling Enclave towered. Margot figured that the shiny black towers were at least five stories high. She also noticed that none of the ponies from the commons camped close to the changeling enclave.

At the front of the Enclave, there were several changeling guards. They nodded at Nga'Devro and ignored Margot. Behind them, the door to the Enclave was open. Changelings walked through it on their own affairs. Margot followed Nga'Devro as he led her inside, their hooves clicked against the floor.

“Nga'Devro, what is the floor made of?” Margot said while she looked down at her reflection.

“It is called ‘tairu Yocu’ in the language of my people. The Enclave is built using different forms of ‘remgai Yocu’. Larvae excrete a soft substance that the Builder clan uses to make building material. Nga'Devro is glad you wish to learn more about my people, but we must not be late. It’s very disrespectful,” Nga'Devro while he started walking faster. Margot had to stop gazing at changelings flying up and down through holes in the ceiling. Black curvy sconces with flickering green flames lit up the area with a green glow.

After what seemed to be a few minutes Nga'Devro stopped in front of two changeling guards standing in front of a closed door. They nodded at Nga'Devro then their horns glowed. Margot watched as the guards moved to the side and the door opened. Inside there were low black shiny benches filled with changelings.

“When we get inside, Nga'Devro wishes for you to wait for an usher to seat you,” Nga'Devro said while Margot and Nga'Devro entered the room. Behind them, the black door closed silently. Two small changelings hopped and flew up to Margot and Nga'Devro. They seemed to be as old as fillies. One of them pointed to Margot and said “Follow me.” Margot followed her as she went up the aisle. Every few steps she would look back shyly at Margot.

Margot thought that Nga'Devro would be sitting next to her, but he ended up sitting in the back.

Her usher pointed to the seat. “Please sit.”

Margot nodded and took her seat. Even though the changelings sat on the benches with their hooves, the candles were black with green flames dancing above them. It felt like she was at somepony’s funeral.

There were no coffins up front, just a table with two ebony statues of Rital’Ric and Rital’Maya. Behind that, there was a black banner with what Margot figured was a clan sigil. Behind that were tables covered with lit candles. Margot saw doors on the left and right sides. A male changeling wearing a black cloak covered with symbols came through the door on the left side. He walked up to the table with the statues and bowed to them. “Rital’Ric ti Rital’Maya Subite nu ichezoku no temo ni kerera o atemishetu...”

For a half hour, Margot watched the ceremony. She could not understand any of the words but Margot could understand the gestures. There was no crying, but some changelings were sniffling. Then the changelings stood up like one and chanted “Heibo no taku no she!” Margot just sat on the bench and watched. The changelings sat down.

Nga'Devro walked up to Margot’s bench. “Nga'Devro and the Rital clan thanks you for your attendance. Nga'Devro urges that we head back,” Nga'Devro said. Margot followed him out.

“What was that chant about?” Margot said when they were outside.

“It’s a chant that affirms our commitment to defeating our enemies. Nga'Devro is unhappy that your treatment was so poor. Your grace has shamed me,” Nga'Devro said.

“Grace? Treated so poor? I don’t understand,” Margot said while they headed through the Commons. The sun was setting and she was starting to get nervous.

Nga'Devro sighed. “Nga'Devro is sad that some of our people still harbor a disdain for ponies. You should’ve had one of my people translate or cast a translation spell on you so you could understand what was being said. Nga'Devro is also sorry that he had to take you away from the ceremony early. Please accept my apologies. We need to gallop now to get back to the meeting.” Nga'Devro began to gallop, Margot had to run faster to keep up with him. While she galloped, Margot wondered what the meeting would cover now.