//------------------------------// // Meetings // Story: Imprisonment of a Changeling // by Southern Wing //------------------------------// Some time later, Wing arrived at a modest two story house. The curtains were closed to stop anypony from looking inside, even a peek. “Well, this is the place.” He walked up to the door and knocked on it. A few seconds passed, and then a green unicorn mare with a blond mane and hazel eyes cracked the door open a few inches. “Can I help you?” she asked. “Yes, I was told to come here. Kierzack’s expecting me,” said Wing. The mare looked off into the house as if she was looking to someone who was also watching their little conversation. She opened the door as if someone had given confirmation. “He’s waiting in the kitchen,” she commented. “Thank you, ma’am.” Wing gave a respectful bow and walked in. The mare closed the door and locked it tight. Wing switched to his natural form once the coast was clear and headed into the kitchen. Kierzack was there with his daughter, a half pony half nymph hybrid. “Schkitz, you’re just a bit early,” Kierzack greeted. “Hello!” the adorable little half pony nymph excitedly shouted. “It’s fun to see you again.” “Hello there, Sethina. How are you doing?” Wing responded. “Good, but the ponies at school are mean. I made a few friends, though, so it’s not bad.” “I know what you mean,” Wing chuckled, thinking back to his foalhood. “It really helps to have friends, trust me.” “What story do you want me to read you tonight?” Kierzack looked to his daughter. “A human story!” “Humans? I know a friend that likes humans. Do you know Lyra Heartstrings, by chance. Or watch the show she’s on?” Wing asked Sethina. “We occasionally watch Ancient Humans.” Kierzack answered. “How bout you head to the basement while I read to my daughter?” “Sounds good. I’ll meet you there.” Wing headed down to the basement and looked on the wall. The smell of sawdust permeated his nostrils as saws and woodworking tools were neatly stored in the corner. Hanging proudly on the wall were two flags one was a red flag with a gold outline of a hearth in the upper left corner, with a spyglass, spear, combination hammer, and pickaxe around the heart. The other was a white flag with a red heart in the center, the flag of home the red changeling hive. On the opposite side, a trophy hung on a display case that contained a blood red flag with a black heart in the middle. He took a book from his bag and started reading the book. The book was entitled ”The Stallion in the High Castle” by Philtrot K Dick. After some time, a few more changelings walked in, with Kierzack himself being the final changeling to enter. “Sethina always seems to love a good bedtime story about humans,” Kierzack chuckled. “Now then, shall we get to business?” There was murmurs of agreement amongst the group. “Is it true, Schkitz?” one of the few blue changelings asked Wing. “Are you really sure that you spotted Chrysalis’s presence?” “Yes, it’s true,” Wing replied. “And if she’s here, there’s no doubt that she has at least a portion of her troops here as well.” Kierzack rolled out a map of Canterlot for the group. “Now what are we to do?” “Move all the changelings we have available to the city’s shelters?” a second red changeling replied. “Yes, but then what?” a violet changeling commented. “We’d still have however many troops Chrysalis brought with her. You know she’s going to hit Canterlot with everything she’s got.” “We’d have to give what cover we can with covering forces,” Wing suggested. The table went silent at that suggestion. “Are you mad?!” a second blue changeling shouted. “Hey! That bitch is gonna be starting up the fighting again! We’ve run out of time to tell the princesses!” “Gentlelings!” Kierzack screeched in frustration. “This bickering is pointless! Especially when Chrysalis is right on our doorstep.” He sighed defeatedly. “If it comes to covering forces, then I volunteer as the leader of the red changeling infiltration forces in this base.” “As do I,” a violet changeling stood up and stated. “Count me in! If it means I get a crack at those damned lovists, I’m for it,” proclaimed another red changeling. “I’m in, and that probably’s for my bondbrother as well.” Wing said as he stood up. “I’m in,” said one voice. “So am I,” answered another. “If they’re in I’m in!” shouted one more. All eyes turned to the three blue changelings that volunteered. “You realize what will happen if Chrysalis’s troops capture you right?” Kierzack stated. They looked at each other before they turned back to Kierzack. “We do.” A couple more changelings volunteered, with the rest deciding to get to cover with their families. “Alright we’re decided. We all know where to arm up?” “Silver Bullet’s!” the group said in unison. “And for some more grim news...We have eighteen cargo ships heading for our hive from Japony,” Kierzack spoke grimly. “And since Chrysalis likely has her subs out, they’ll probably end up running smack dab into them before we can get escorts out to them.” The table went silent, knowing they were liable to lose half the ships when the fighting started, and there was nothing they could do about it. In the civil war. The lovist navy had sunk more cargo tonnage, particularly with their submarines, than Germaney had in both equine wars. “This situation is worse than when shkizvolt broke out of his stone prison,” One changeling commented. He'd used the word for discord in their language. Several changelings murmured in agreement to the comment. “Yeah and I faced off with him in a verbal standoff,” Wing said. “It wasn’t a fun experience.” “We’re all aware and happy he’s back in his stone prison,” Kierzack said as he looked over the map. “Schkitz, you and your bondbrother will be stationed near the chapel. Defend it however you deem fit.” Wing nodded his head. “We fancied ourselves as the schvoloks of ponykind...and now we’ve failed as shepherds.” “Yeah…” Kierzack agreed nodding his head. “You have a chance to make up for it here. Don’t forget that.” “What about everyling else?” one of the blue changelings spoke up. “Right...now as for everyone else…” Kierzack began giving the others their defensive areas. It was nearly eleven when the meeting finally ended, and all the changelings took up pony form again as they left the building. Wing walked out of the house and looked up to the night sky. It was best to soak in the quiet air when it was still quiet. After a moment, he took off to meet back up with the others at the castle. Sev was waiting for his friend, right outside the castle room the gang was staying at. He saw Wing coming up and went out to meet him. “Hey buddy, you are not going to believe what’s going on,” Sev said, rubbing his eyes from his recent experience. “Oh, geez what is it now?” Wing asked after he landed. Twilight noticed Wing arriving outside, and she ran out to meet him. “Hey, Wing, where have you been? You were just gone for a second there.” “Oh hey, Twi. I was just meeting up with a few old friends. I haven’t seen them since I went to J.R. high in Canterlot, so I felt like stopping by and saying hello.” “Oh. That sounds nice. But I really need your help! Something else is wrong with Cadence!” “With what?” Wing asked. He came over and opened the door to see what was up. “This is what I was talking about,” Sev said. He pointed a hoof to the other ponies in the room. As it turned out, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were all in bridesmaids dresses. “Seriously, why are you wearing those clothes? Those are for the bridesmaids!” Twilight asked. “Isn’t it exciting? Princess Cadence asked us to be her new bridesmaids!” Fluttershy elated. “New bridesmaids?! What happened to her old bridesmaids?” Wing questioned. “She didn’t say, but she said that she would love love LOVE it if we would be her new ones, seeing as we worked so hard on her wedding,” Applejack happily said. “And you had your doubts about her.” “Told you she was an absolute gem!” Rarity gleamed. “Are you sure this will work?” Rainbow Dash asked. She kicked around the back of her dress with a back hoof. “Doesn’t look all that aerodynamic.” “Hmmm, I’ll see what I can do.” Rarity replied as the two walked off. Wing walked over to Fluttershy once the room cleared out. “Can we talk in private, dear?” “Of course. Is there something wrong?” “Let’s talk about it upstairs.” Fluttershy and Wing walked to their room where they could have some privacy. Wing took Fluttershy to their room and shut the door after they were both in “What in Equestria is wrong with you!? Why did you say yes to being one of Cadence’s bridesmaids?!” “I only wanted to be helpful! She asked me to do it when her original bridesmaids left!” Fluttershy snapped back. “Do you know something I don’t?!” “Maybe I’m only worried for my wife, who is being the bridesmaid for the wedding of my ex fillyfriends foalsitter! She’s not the same mare I knew back then, and I’m really worried about you.” Fluttershy relaxed her eyes and sighed. “I know you want me to be careful. I am being careful.” Wing relaxed his eyes and sighed as well. “I only want to keep you and Winter safe. You two mean more to me than anything. I don’t want to do anything that could make you get hurt.” “I know.” Fluttershy walked over to Wing, gently nuzzling his snout. Wing hugged Fluttershy in response, and they cuddled for a while. Until, that is, someone knocked on the door. “Is everything alright, darlings? We heard shouting in there,” Rarity said out of concern. Wing walked over and opened the door. “It’s alright, Rarity. I...I just let my emotions get the better of me. I was really concerned for Fluttershy’s safety. I’m sorry,” Wing said. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Rarity repeated. “You don’t have to lie to me, you know.” “Yeah. Everything’s fine…” Wing replied reservedly. Fluttershy gave Wing a comforting smile and a kiss, before she left with Rarity and the others. That left Wing in the room alone with his thoughts. Sometime later, Sev came in there to check up on his friend. “You okay, buddy?” “Yeah, I’m just…” “Worried about tomorrow?” “Yeah.” “Me too.” “We got a long day ahead of us. We should get some sleep. If Chrysalis makes her move tomorrow, we need to be ready.” “Yeah. Take care of yourself,” Sev said as he left the room. “Yeah...you too…” When Sev left, Wing decided to call it a night. He tucked himself in the blankets and left some room for Fluttershy when she came in. He closed his eyes and soon drifted off to sleep.