//------------------------------// // The Fateful Event: Back in Time // Story: Two-Sided Prequel II: Who You Work For // by FerociousCreation //------------------------------// Ch.36 ‘Why does nopony believe me?’ Forest Rain repeated to himself. He knew what he saw in the lake a few days before: a mermare. The stallion remembered how her eyes reflected light through her glassy spheres when he saw her under the water. Too bad the mermare startled him and caused her to dash back under the blue blanket. Forest walked back and forth along the edge of the lake, wondering if there were more under the water. He wondered if there was a civilization in the depths. He had to know. Looking back at his makeshift kayak, he grabbed the rope at the front and pulled hard. His crude vessel was not heavy; Forest was just eager to get out on the open water. Sure he knew he could fly above the water using a cloud, but there was a thick fog in the air. And clearing up a fog on his own would take hours. As soon as he got the kayak on the waters, Forest Rain hopped into it and grabbed hold of his two paddles and began to paddle toward the center of the lake. … … Two hours have passed since the pegasus has ventured onto the open waters. The fog had not yet lifted, impairing his vision to see no further than a few meters in front of him. Despite the search so far has bared no fruit, Forest Rain still remained active. He was determined to find a mermare, or even the mermare he saw a few days earlier. … … Sleep was beginning to creep up on Forest Rain faster than the fading light of day. But thankfully, the stallion was smart and brought a lantern with him so he could see through the night. Feeling he could rest his eyes a little, Forest Rain got into a slightly uncomfortable fetal position in his boat before closing his eyelids. He smiled as the ship began to rock slightly back in forth like a cradle. It was nice that the kayak was rocking. It began to sway more and more, but not too much. Then it hit Forest Rain. He sat up quickly to look in the water. Several pairs of eyes stared up at him. They were several merfolk just below his boat. The creatures were just as still as he was and the boat stopped rocking. A mare was close to him. The same mermare from before! The stallion felt he could try and be friendly with her. Reaching out a hoof, he submerged it underwater. The mermare looked slightly nervous at the kind gesture, almost looking at the hoof as if it was some alien limb. But with time, she too reached for his hoof. When hers did come in contact, Forest Rain smiled. ‘I can’t believe I found merfolk. I thought they were a legend; a myth!’ the pegasus thought happily to himself. As he spectated from the surface, Forest Rain saw the mermare glance around at the others. He noticed some of the stallions there were nodding to her and she nodded back. What did that mean? Without warning, Forest Rain was tugged and pulled under. Several arms grabbed him as he tried to squirm free. However, the numbers were against him. Bubbles shrouded around him but that didn't hide the angry eyes from some of the merfolk. Because of his exhausted strength, Forest needed to breath. But instead of moving up to the surface, the merfolk swam deeper away from the surface. The pegasus began to panic, worried if we would ever- KUGH KUNCK! The entire carriage bounced as it crashed to the ground. Coco was flung out of her seat and her book jumped up into the air. The moment the mare crashed to the floor, the novel fell onto her head. A chuckle came from Queen Chrysalis as she admired how silly her friend looked on the ground. “How do you manage to stay seated when Fang does his terrible landing?” Coco grumbled as she rubbed her injured cranium. “A question you have to figure out on your own,” Chrysalis commented. “Was my landing well my queen?” Fang asked as soon as he opened the door to the carriage. His answer was given to him the moment his eyes met Coco’s irritated gaze. “Heh, sorry…” Embarrassed, the pony simply got up, picked up her book, and sat down. “So-” Fang looked back and forth between both mares before continuing his statement, “-my queen, shall I be dropping you two off at the castle so you may be entering Coco Pommel’s outfits in the contest tonight?” “That is correct,” Chrysalis responded. “And remember to call me Your Majesty you two. If I am to be the princess of this contest, I am to be addressed as such.” The queen held her hoof to her chest, proud to boast about herself. She then caught Coco giggling at her, perhaps amused by the praise Chrysalis was giving herself. “Of course-” Fang looked around outside and then stuck his head back into the carriage, “my queen.” Looking to Coco, he grinned, “And don’t worry, there will be no more flying until this evening.” “Oh very funny,” the pony responded sarcastically just before the door was slammed shut. Even though Coco wanted to resume her reading, she felt that a good amount of small talk was in order. “So Chrysalis?” “Yes?” “Umm… what do you like most about your hive?” The changeling hummed as she leaned against the wall, thinking about the question. She stared up at the ceiling as she answered, “The unity we all share.” Chrysalis’ eyes then met with Coco’s. “You know the Harth’s Warming Eve story, correct?” “Of course I do,” Coco answered. “Earth ponies, unicorns, and pagusi relied on each other, but didn’t like one another. Eventually, they settled their differences to stop the windagos and their harsh winter.” “I may have not been around during the time of the windagos. But I do know that my mother, and her mother, and her mother’s mother, and so on, needed to stay close to one another regardless of what you are. Let the one in charge lead the way. And as a whole, do your part as to what is needed of you.” Coco Pommel was beginning to respect the changeling society a bit more based on that statement. “If only the entire world had your mentality.” “Perhaps that is why the changeling race has been able to live so well, despite our shortcomings… like food.” A sigh escaped Chrysalis. “But I guess our curse is to feed off of others’ happiness.” The queen broke her eye contact with Coco and leaned her head against the wall. “Life isn’t fair sometimes. And yet, you need to show life that you will not give up without fighting.” “I know that too well,” the pony admitted. “And I am glad you did fight until you improved your situation.” “Not really,” Coco shrugged. “Fang just happened to walk in and offered me to make a dress ‘fit for a queen.’” “Sometimes life gives you things you’d never expect, yes?” Chrysalis asked as she raised a brow. Something sparked in Coco’s mind. “And that makes for an interesting question Chrysalis.” “And what might that be?” Even the thought of the question was silly, but Coco still wanted to ask, “If you could go back in time and save your daughter, would you?” A serious, yet sad expression came across Chrysalis’ face. “What do you think? If life were to ever be that generous to me, I would do anything to obtain the ability to time travel.” Coco didn’t know why she had asked the question, but she just… did. It would be nice if Chrysalis could be reunited with her daughter, but what are the chances that were to happen? Coco then tells herself that she had asked one too many questions.