Oddball

by The Infinity Doctor

Chapter 7

I opened my eyes looked around the hut, Zecora was out cold on her bed, and Mirror was dozing next to me
'I wonder if you'll ever get to meet Elaine, or any of my family...'

I gently nudged her, waking her up
"Rise and shine" I whispered, not wanting to disturb Zecora
Her little mouth widened into a yawn as she sat up
"Good mowning..."
"Good morning"
She giggled and followed me as I got up and trotted out of the hut
"So...what should we do today?" I asked
"Expwore the fowest?"
"I don't think that's the best idea...Zecora's said this forest can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing"
"Okay..."

Then, I had an idea,

A wonderful idea,

An awful idea,

I got a wonderful, awful, idea

'Could I? Would I dare to? Would it even work?'

I looked to Mirror, then up to the sky in thought

"How would you like to visit somewhere comepletely new?"
"Where?"
"Ah, Ah, Ah, it's a suprise" I said, looking back down to her
I walked back into the hut and left a note for Zecora
Leaving it somewhere she could find it, I walked back out of the hut
"All ready to go?" I asked
"Yep!"
The portal of green fire popped into existence and I motioned for Mirror to go through
She poked a hoof through, as if she were testing water

Looking back to me for reassurance, she walked through, me following close behind

X X X X X X X

"Where is this pwace?" Mirror asked, donning the form of a young, human girl
"My world- or more specifically, my hometown"
She looked to me, then at the other people wandering around town
"Where you one of these cweatuwes?" she whispered
"I was human, yes"
"Why do you look so diffewent, then?"
"It's a long story..."
"Oh...so where awe we going?"
"To visit a friend of mine" I said, walking up the sidewalk to one of the houses
"Walking on two legs is tricky" she said, almost tripping
"Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah..."

We both stopped, and I knocked on the door
The door opened, and a woman stood there

"Sam? Is that you? Goodness, we haven't seen you in ages- Elaine's been worrying herself sick ...going on about aliens..." She muttered that last part under her breath "Won't you come in? I'll go and get Elaine for you"

Mirror and I stepped into the house, and stood in the living room

A short while later, Elaine and her mother came down the stairs
"S-Sam? Is that re-really you?"
"It is, Lainey"
"I missed you alot"
"I missed you too"

"I'll just be upstairs if you need me" Elaine's mother said, heading up the stairs

Elaine practically jumped across the room as she hugged me
"I was so worried, Sady explained everything they'd done to you...I thought you weren't going to come back!"
"What, and leave you behind?" I asked, returning the hug
She broke away and looked down to Mirror
"And who is this?" She asked, kneeling down to her
"Elaine, this is Mirror, Mirror, this is Elaine"

"Hello..." Mirror responded shyly
"Well aren't you just the most adorable little thing!" Elaine said, scooping up Mirror and hugging her

Mirror was squirming in Elaine's arms as she tried to pry herself away
"Uh, Elaine?"
"Oh...sorry, I can't help myself! You're just too adorable!" she said, setting Mirror back on her feet
It was Mirror's turn to blush as she backed away from Elaine and hid behind me

"So...now that introductions are out of the way, is there somewhere private we can talk?" I said
"Sure, we can go in the basement- is this about your, er...problem?"
"Yes, it is...and it's not a problem"

The three of us walked down the stairs to the basement, I had to carry Mirror since I was afraid she might trip like she did outside.

I wasn't sure how to start, so we sat in silence for a few minutes
"Would it be easier for you to be in your...real form? I guess you'd call it" Elaine asked

I nodded, the flames went up, leaving me in my Human/Changeling form
"So...how did...that happen?" she asked, gesturing to my form
"Do you remember our first date?"
"It's kind of hard to forget"
"I woke up before you did...and you were covered in cuts and bruises from the accident- that's the first time I met Chrysalis, the power she gave me helped save your life- and the rest is history"
"You're this way because of me?"
"You were hurt...it wasn't your fault, it was the only way"
"I-It was my fault!"
"No it wasn't! Elaine, I swear that you had nothing to do with what happened after the accident"
"If- If you say so..."
Meanwhile, Mirror was watching the conversation with interest

"C-could I ch-change too?" Mirror asked "It-It's kind of hard standing like this..."
"I'm sorry, of course you can" I said
She sighed with relief and green flames washed over her, reverting back to her normal body

"Goodness" was all Elaine could say

"You're not scared of me?"

"No...oddly enough, I'm not- your eyes are very pretty"

"Th-thank you"

The next few hours were spent talking with Elaine about what had happened since I'd first left for Equestria with Chrysalis, and naturally, I'd talked to her about what things were like in Equestria- her reactions were suprisingly calm throughout.

Elaine had gone upstairs a few minutes ago, and Mirror and I were sitting together in the basement

"So, do you like her?" I asked
"Yes, do you?"
"I do, very much"
"Is she your special somepony?"
"Special 'somepony'?"
"Sorry, someone?"
"I suppose she is, we like each other a lot"
"Do you love her?"
"See- the thing about love is...it's not as simple as that, love isn't something you can really explain- it takes time for it to happen"
"Oh..."

"Well, my folks are going to be out for a few hours" Elaine said, coming down the stairs "We've got some time to kill"
"What should we do until then?" I asked
"I think I've got something Mirror might like" she said, heading upstairs
Mirror and I followed her

Once upstairs, I noticed that all the blinds were closed
"Figured you didn't want to get captured again" Elaine said, noticing my confusion
"...yeah..."
"Wait, what capture?" Mirror asked
"I'll tell you later"
"You always say that"
I only smiled and ruffled her mane

"Here we go" Elaine said, carrying a box
"What's that?" Mirror asked
"A game called 'Monopoly'"
"How do you play?"
'This is going to take a while' I thought

X X X X X X X

"There!" Mirror shouted, slamming her deeds onto the table with her hooves
"Impossible..." Elaine said, jaw agape "You just made me go bankrupt!"
"Is that what I did? I'm so sorry!"
'My heart just might pop if she keeps this up' I thought
"No, no, no, that's the whole point of the game"
"Oh..."

As we talked, Mirror jumped up from the couch and into my arms
"What's the matter?"
"The scary thing is on the box!"
"What?"
I turned my head and saw that 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' was playing, it was near the end of the movie where Jack was fighting Oogie in his lair
"It's alright, it isn't real" I said, still holding her "Here, I'll show you"

Sitting on the couch with Mirror, I held her hoof with my hand
"Sam? Are you alright?"
"Yeah...I'm just trying to figure this out..."
"Well- try not to think about it, why don't we go show Mirror around town?"
"Really?!" she said excitedly
"Sure, as long as you're- disguised"
She nodded and transformed into the same little girl she'd met not too long ag

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that" Elaine said
"Believe me, I'm still not used to it"
"So...where should we go first?"
"I'm sure she'd enjoy going to the aquarium"
"What's an 'aquarium'?"
Elaine and I smiled to each other as I stood up
"How about we teleport there?" I asked, offering my free hand
"Are- are you sure?" she asked, unsure
"It's safe, I've done it a few times already"
She took my hand, just like Sady, she flinched when flesh met chitin
"Are you alright?" I asked
"Y-Yes, it just feels..."

"Weird?"

"Y-Yeah..."
My horn lit up and the three of us teleported to an open room
"Why is it so dark in here?" I asked, stumbling
"Sam? Mirror? Where are you?" I heard Elaine call
"Hang on" I replied

I cast an illumination spell, the light eminating from my horn Elaine jumped as the light came up

"Freaky...isn't it?" I asked
"Yeah..."
I turned and saw Mirror standing next to me
"So how do we get out of here?" Elaine asked
"The door is right over there" I said, pointing
"So how do we leave? We can't just go, someone would notice us"
I charged my horn again, and she and Mirror disappeared from my field of vision
"What did you do?" she asked
"Invisibility spell"
"Oh"

I slipped out of the room first, Mirror and Elaine following
"Can you take Mirror into the bathroom? I'll go into the men's bathroom and change, Mirror can do that in the girl's"
I whispered
"Yes, we'll be right back"

I heard them walk away, and I went into the bathroom
Heading into one of the stalls, I turned human and checked myself in the mirror
I walked back out of the bathroom and saw both of them waiting
"Ready to go?"
"Yep"

I paid for our tickets and we entered the aquarium, which was basically a long, twisting hallway filled with tanks of gallons and gallons of water containing fish and undersea life from different parts of the world.

"This is just like the hive" Mirror whispered, amazed
"Sort of"
Mirror was absolutely amazed at all the different kinds of sea life, some of her favorites being the electric eel, some sea urchins, and the jellyfish.

Her excitement left her, however, as we approached the gator habitat

"It's perfectly safe- see? They're all behind solid glass"
"Nu-uh! I'm not going in there!"
I sighed to myself and pinched the bridge of my nose
"Okay, if you really don't want to go in there, we don't have to"
"I really don't want to"
"Alright, that means we go backwards into the lobby"
She nodded and all three of us worked our way back to the entrance of the aquarium

X X X X X X X

About a half-hour later, we were back in town

I was napping on the couch when I felt Mirror hop onto my stomach
"Sam?"
"Yes?" I asked, cracking open an eye
"I've had something I've wanted to ask you..."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Can I- er, could I, um..."
"Is something wrong?"
"Not...exactly- Mommy told you that we were hatched, right?"
"Yes, you and your sisters were hatched from eggs she layed"
"...but we never had a daddy"
"So what's the- oh"
Her face turned a little red
"I'm not sure...do you really think of me like that?"
"Y-yes..."
"So what brought this on?" I asked, sitting up

She was silent for a few minutes

"We've just...been together since that first day you came to the hive...and- and-"
Her words soon descended into a string of stammers and mutters
"It's alright, you don't have to try and explain"
"I don't?"
"No, you don't-" I took a deep breath "If it's really what you want...then yes"

She gasped and wrapped her hooves around my neck
"Thank you..."
"No need to thank me" I said, returning the hug
"Can- Can I call you daddy?"
"Of course you can"

Elaine walked into the room, oblivious to the situation

"I hate to break you two up- but don't you think we should go tell your parents you're back, Sam?" Elaine asked
"Oh jeez! You're right! I totally forgot about them!" I said, almost throwing Mirror from the couch "We should get over there right now!"

A short trip later, we were at my house. I hesitantly knocked on the door, it opened, and I was immediately trapped in a tight hug

"Oh Sam...thank god...you're back! You're back..."
"I never thought I'd see you again either, mom"
"Is this your mommy?" Mirror asked as mom broke away
"Yes, she is"
Mirror charged mom

"Grandma!"

X X X X X X X

"Sam? Would you mind explaining?" Mom asked, a disguised Mirror still hugging her
"Er, maybe I should tell you inside"
"Oh, of course, please come in"

Mom let me into the house, and called for my dad and sister

As soon as they came into the room, I was tackled by both of them
"I missed you guys" I said
"Where were you?" Dad asked
"I was...I was in a different world"
"Do you really expect me to believe that?"
"Should I show them?" I asked, turning to Elaine
"Would be as good a time as any" she said

Mirror and I dropped our disguises

The emotion levels around them immediately spiked, all three of them not wanting to believe what they were seeing

"S-Sam? Is- Is that you?"
"Yes, mom, it's me"
"How- How- you...it just can't be..."
"Do you need some time to process all of this?"
"I think...yes, we do..."
"We'll just...wait up in my room"

I walked up the stairs with Elaine and Mirror

"Do you live here?" Mirror asked
"I used to, yes"
"This place is really huge"
"Well, for humans, it's just right"
"Oh..."

We headed into my room and I sat on the bed
"I missed sleeping in here" I sighed, flopping on the bed "Not that sleeping in the hive wasn't comfortable"

Mirror giggled
"What was it like? To live on that other world, I mean"
"It was like living here, except we had to disguise ourselves; basically the same"
"Wow..."
"Yeah-"

"Sam? Sweetie? Are you sure you're alright?" Mom asked, coming into the room, followed by Dad and Sandy
"I'm fine mom, really"
"We've got a lot to talk about, mister"
"I know..."

We all headed downstairs and I began to tell them all about what had happened after the accident
"That's...I can't even begin to-"

"I know, right?"

"Well, I think it's time we-"

*Ding Dong*

All of us froze

*Ding Dong*

Mom got up and went to the door

"Mom, I don't think you should answer that"
"Why?"
"I've just- just got a bad feeling"
"Emotion detector going crazy again?" Elaine asked
"Off the charts, it's like-"
"FBI! Open up!"
"How in the world did they manage to find us?"

Time slowed as six or seven armed guards burst into the house, grabbing Elaine, Mirror, and I.
"Let go! Let go!" Mirror shouted
"Scan the house and make sure there aren't more of them here" one of the guards ordered
"Yes sir!" another responded
We were led out of the house and into the back of a black van.

'...this isn't going to end well...'

Of course, of course, of course, the neighbors were out on the sidewalk, wondering just what the heck was going on
Some of the guys from the school just happened to be passing by, some taking pictures with their phones, parents were shielding their children from Mirror and I.

"What are they mommy?"
"Will they hurt us?"
"Where did they come from?"
"I'm scared..."

Through an arduously long trip in the van, we wound up in the same facility I was brought to the first time.

"W-Where are we?" Elaine asked
"This is the place I woke up in, when I was captured"
"Daddy? What's going to happen to us?"
"I don't know..."
'Wait a minute-'

'Chrysalis? Are you there?'

Nothing

'Hello?'

"I can't contact Chrysalis...we're stuck here..."
"Oh no..." Mirror whimpered
"Who's Chrysalis?"

I heard the door open

I looked to who it was

There stood Sady

"Sady? What are you doing here?"
"They brought me here- same as you..."
"What would they want with you?"
"I have no clue, ever since I quit, I've had nothing to do with this place"
The door opened again, and guess who?

James.

"So wonderful to see you again" he said sarcastically
"Elaine, you might want to restrain me" I said
"Why?"
"I don't want Mirror to see me wringing his neck"
"Well come now, we've got more testing to do"
"We're not going anywhere with you"
"Oh? I think you'll change your minds"

He motioned outside the room

I suddenly found myself staring down the barrel of a pistol
"Don't shoot, we comply" I said, raising my hands in the air
"Wise decision" he said, motioning for the guard to pocket his weapon
I walked out of the room, Mirror tried to follow me, but James slammed the door before she could reach the threshold
"You are a very, very, cruel man" I said, glaring at him

His only response was shoving me down the hall

"Here we are"

I was forced into the room and strapped to the table, much like before
The only difference being that there was a large, one way window on the opposite wall, with scientists waiting to record results, no doubt

"What are you hoping to accomplish by doing this?"
"I believe I told you on your previous visit"
"And I believe I told you that it wouldn't work"
"What do you know?"
"A lot more than you, buster"
He went from test to test, doing this and that

"There, finished"
"Can I get up now?"
"No, now comes the fun part"
"What would that be?"
"Oh, nothing much" he said, picking up a scalpel off the tray
"No. NO NO!NO!NO!NO! You are NOT going to just cut me open!"
"I agree"
'What?'
"That's what the sedative is for"
'Ohnoohnoohnoohnoohno'

He placed the respirator on my mouth, and I struggled to stay awake as the gas took effect

X X X X X X X

*Slap*

"Ouch! What was that for?" I cried, waking up
"Get up" James deadpanned

I tested my strength, and found I was no longer strapped to the table
I got off the metal table, wobbling as I stood up
I held a hand to my stomach, where several strips of gauze were wrapped
"I don't feel too good..."
James rolled his eyes and led me back into the hall

Once to my 'room', I discovered someone was missing
And by someone, I mean two someones
And by two someones, I mean a someone and a somepony

"What have you done with them?" I said, rounding on James
"I have no idea" he said inoccently
"I'm not playing around, where are they?!"
"I said I don't know"
"Tell me where they are right now, or so help me-"

*Fwip*

"Huh?"
I looked over my shoulder, a small dart was lodged in my back
"Whaaaatttt'sss goinnnngg onn?" I slurred
My vision darkened as the tranquilizer took effect

X X X X X X X X

"Ohhhh, my head..."
I sat up, finding myself in an even smaller room than before
"Mirror? Elaine?"

I growled, remembering they had been taken from the room while James pretended to have his Ph.D.

Walking to the door, I tried the doorknob
Imagine my suprise when it was locked

I punched the door out of rage, it collapsed under the force and fell to the floor

'Well...that worked out nicely'

Stepping out of the room, I crawled up the wall and to the ceiling, hanging upside down

'Now where are they hiding them?' I thought, searching the hall

The obligatory 'Top Secret: Keep Out' sign was a big hint

"Mirror? Are you in here?" I asked, pushing open the door
"Daddy?"
Mirror bounded over to me
"Are you alright?" I asked, inspecting her "What have they done to you?"
She broke down into sobs as she hugged me

She was beaten and bruised, covered in cuts, and her ribs were showing-
I felt my blood boil at the sight of what they'd done to her, I clenched my fists and tried to calm down, but with no success.

"Daddy? What's wrong?" Mirror asked, sensing my rage
"Sweetie, do you know where Elaine is?"
"I saw them take her down the hall" she said
"I want you to go find her, and both of you to stay put, okay?"
"Okay...but what about-"
"I'll be fine"
She took off, leaving me in the room

'James, you're going to pay'

X X X X X X X

James was gathered with a few of the scientists, checking the results of the latest exams

"Sir! Sir!"
"What is it?"
"There's been an escape"
"That thing got loose?"
"Yes, sir"
"Well don't just stand there! Go and find it!"
"Sir, it's-"

He didn't finish as the entire wall collapsed, revealing Sam

"Ah, just the guy I wanted to see" I said, cracking my knuckles
"Guards!" he called
An aura of golden magic went up, blocking the guards' entrance
"You're not hiding behind your guards this time..."

The other scientists were shaking in fear

I walked to James, and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt
"You give me one good reason why I shouldn't put you in a coccoon right now" I growled
"Perhaps we could talk about this like rational-"
"Rational? RATIONAL? You beat a poor defenseless filly! You call that RATIONAL?!"
"I-I-I-"

"I should-"
I was stopped as I felt something in my body shift, starting in my hooves- it came up to my chest
"What's going- going on?" I asked myself
I felt my bones pop, and a white-hot pain in my whole body
I didn't even have the will to speak, whatever was happening, I couldn't stop it

X X X X X X X

Chrysalis was awaiting the rest of her council to arrive, when she felt something in the back of her head

"Your highness? Is everything alright?" a changeling asked
"I- I am not sure"
"Mother? Are you feeling well?"
"No...I am not...somewhere, someplace...something is wrong, very, very wrong"

Author's Note:

I put a reference in this chapter, (fake) prize to anyone who guesses.

Comments

[The Infinity Doctor]

3739012 Eenope

[Thecoolguy1239]

oooooooo! In still lovin this! Keep it up!

[Deactivated27683799]

3739023 wait your not canceling it are you??? Don't its awesome

[Blazing Shadow]

Gary stu mcguffin the alicorn/changeling which used to be human but now he has a quest an the story has not even BEGUUUUUN!

[borgvicugna]

I am still reading this, despite disjointed story line and just plain missing dialog. It has a grade of about 60% and yes, there is some Gary-Stu. But, hey, I like Gary-Stu and Mary Sue! Only way you'll get better is by writing (or typing), so keep it up and keep honing your mind.

[The Infinity Doctor]

3739338 What makes you think I'm cancelling it? (I'm not, by the way)

[The Infinity Doctor]

3739371 Is that good or bad?

[Classy Toad]

"No...I am not...somewhere, someplace...something is wrong, very, very wrong"

Like... Every other dramatic scene ever written?

[The Infinity Doctor]

3739371 All changelings have wings and a horn...