Tempest's Shadow (Closed)

[SteelEagle]

Sachadara was a very lucky Changeling. She could have been given any of the guests to learn about. Their entertainment would have been her fact-finding mission and the future they were given a simple matter of chance. Any of them would have been fine as all creatures knew fear. Even more than love, fear was universal and she knew how to feed well. But there was some truth to the fact that for all intents and purposes there was much greater joy when you fed on the strong than when you fed on the weak. There was more to it even than the challenge of discovering what made the strong tick and disconnecting the wires of their vast emotional defense, though she did so relish when they realized that there was nothing left but the despair of their failure. A filly's fear was delicious in its intensity of experience but the mother's was all the richer for the depths it could be exploited.

So she was very lucky because she was given a very strong pony to lean about. Her athletic prowess was well-known. Physically intimidating, an aura of swagger of dominance that radiated off of her with fierceness that was less her birthright and more taken by force. She was magically potent as well. Unstable, yes. But potent power was potent nonetheless. She was extremely capable in most ways that mattered to ponies. Sachadara respected that strength. She also liked the fact that she had a broken horn. Very chic and stylish, a good choice though she guessed it wasn't something she had a say in. And judging by her unflinching intensity she was more than certain that so much of her strength came from a lifetime of compensation for such a disability.

As someling that was disabled as well, Sachadara so enjoyed such things. So she would learn about her charge, play with her, get her small hooks in her, and return to her in due time to feed off of her. Tempest Shadow was a pony, yes, but ponies were food, and Tempest may not have known it just yet but her escort and playmate for the day looked at her the way that a cat looks at a mouse.

After all, sometimes cats play with their food.

“Let me show you to your room!” She said in her mature, lower toned voice, taking the form of a red and white unicorn with glasses and a cutie mark of three happy smiles. She thought it fit well with the theme of a pony who just wanted to make others happy, and was so happy to have found her cutie mark in it. A nice theme that even the pony guests, who knew that the Changelings were Changelings, could appreciate hopefully.

Doors opened to reveal a large single bedroom with a large bed, many comforters and pillows arranged next some dressers. They were empty with the exception of a book on Discord and another on interesting pro-Changeling news. The bedroom was separated from a slideable wooden wall from the living space that had massage setups, a bookcase, a fireplace, and closets full of various fun supplies. The bathroom had a Jacuzzi. You didn't need much more than that and the basic bathroom requirements which it came equipped with as standard. “Any questions or concerns you have, Miss Shadow?”

[Dusty]

Tempest took a short walk around the room, studying it with keen eyes for small and large details. It was a slow and deliberate search. Yes she was meant to have fun and relaxed but before she can she must take care of her instincts unless she wanted to feel paranoid. Her time with Storm King did little to loosen her up and her practises. If nothing he enforced them, seeing them as useful. Nether one trusted another and in all probability the outcome that came to be was… predictable. But one she sadly followed to the end in the desperate hope to heal her one weakness. Done with her search she removed her saddlebags and placed them on the floor and opened them to start removing what few belonged she took with her. Armor polish, two black bodysuits, basic survival tools, diary, two books: Caribou Faiths and Hoof to Hoof’ Experts Guide, Bits Bag and last to be removed was a small fragment of a black stone.

 

Done unpacking she finly addressed Sachi. “No concerns at the moment, but questions. First and foremost.” She looked over at the in room Jacuzzi. “How do you work that thing and how do I order room service? Much as I should… rush out and mingle as some may suggest I’d love some good ME time before I explore the island and what it has to offer. I did just get here from a long trip after all. Few days taviel on hoof, navigating to the docks, the ride. I think for a moment, I can do with relaxing.” She says looking over to the Jacuzzi. She so wanted to try that out, she’s never gotten to be in one before. Seen them when she was young, growing up in canterlot means you see plenty of well off families and as such… some friends had them. But she was too young to be allowed in them, to deep or something.

[SteelEagle]

The Jacuzzi was her fist concern? Unexpected but ponies often had unexpected desires. Indeed, much of what them fascinating meals were the myriad mental oddities found amongst them. Truth be told Sachadara hadn't known how Jacuzzis had worked until less than twenty four hours ago. It had never been an important part of her life and she looked a such luxuries as weakness. The world had many more bountiful and powerful ways of playing that wallowing in some hot water. There was a general belief that it must have felt amazing on a real pelt and not the near-run thing that Changelings approximated. But either way she cared so very little. Nonetheless, she would answer.

“Ah, yes. I thought you might like that, you look like a mare in need of some good and honest relaxation! There are two ways to operate it. The first is with a simple magical tuner device. You simple use this magical knob-” she indicated it, a red knob next to the Jacuzzi, “and turn it. Activates magical currents below. There are several settings next to it. The other way requires manual manipulation of the currents, which is used in case of a mechanical failing. Interesting factor, that- oh, deary me I need to stop talking so much! Haha, I get so caught up in mechanics that I lose track of myself. My apologies!' She trailed off, looking rather sheepish. She enjoyed this persona. Over-talkative geeks were a delightfully non-threatening guise.
 

“Room service wise, let me show you,” she said, trotting over to the desk next to the bed. On top of it were order forms. “Fill them out, leave them on the doorknob leading to the room. We have multiple attendants on each floor. At most a few minutes after you have placed the order it will be received,” she answered quickly. The mare wanted to relax before she went ou and mingled. That was good. She was carrying a lot of tension. If she would allow Sachadara in, then the deformed changeling could relieve her of all of it- along with her Ego and Id, but who was counting? “Feel free to take the time you need, Miss Shadow. If there is anything I can do to help, please tell me. Your travel has been long and hard. Here, you will find peace and comfort.”

[Dusty]

Tempest nodded as her guide speaks and looked at the Jacuzzi. Seems easy, so long as as this ‘magical knob’ can be used without magic. “Yes, there is something you can do. Rum, I’d like some as I get started on this hopefully wonderful getaway. About time I got one.” He says sitting down by the Jacuzzi and starting to undo the straps of her plating to strip down. Normally she’d never allow this to happen with another living thing around her but Sachi worked her and seemed to be nothing more than overly helpful worker. “Add to that, ice cream… Bite me, I may as well be fully indulgent here.” She says with soft chuckle as her back plates fall off her with a heavy thud on the floor betraying how heavy her armor truly was despite how easy she moved in it.

 

She did hold off removing her bodysuit until Sachi left the room to get the Rum and Ice Cream. It was not that she was shy to being nude, what pony is?it was more the fact that there was no… ‘nice’ way to remove it and not look like a fool as she wiggled and pushed. It was rather embarrassing and even worse when trying to put the bloody thing on. Oh how she’d love to just have some magic to pull it on and off but last time she tried she ripped it clean in half AND set it on fire. A lot of fun that was.

[SteelEagle]

Rum and ice cream, one of the many fall backs of the decadent Equestrian pony. Luckily this resort was made to cater to them, so they came equipped with it and much more. She bowed her head slightly. “Rum and ice cream? I can get that for you. I'll be back soon, Miss Shadow,” she said sweetly, her mellifluous voice lilting and calming. She gathered herself and trotted out to get the materials. The kitchen wasn't far from this room and she knew just what to get her charge for the evening. The resort was busy but most ponies were getting settled in and the kitchen wasn't busy. It wouldn't take her long to get back, even as she collected her own special materials.

While she was away Tempest went about disrobing herself. Sachadara was a little faster than Tempest would have liked however, arriving as she was in the middle of getting the bodysuit off. Well, that would explain her looks. Sachadara hoped she washed that thing. It looked awful, fit fit for somepony somewhat smaller than she was. Got that when she was just slightly younger, perhaps? Maybe she was growing a little lazy. Could also have been intended to be tight, nothing loose on her. Uncomfortable and somehow it made sense when you looked at the mare as a whole. It was a perfect opportunity to explore possibilities and avenues, was it not?

She put the rum and ice cream away where they belonged and after a moment started trotting forwards. “Oh, do you need any help? I would love to help you in any way possible!” she said chirpily, nearly frothing at the mouth internally at the possible reactions. There was no way to lose here. Revelations either way would allow her to see who this pony was. Strengths and weaknesses were equally effective pieces of knowledge and Tempest would reveal them in ways big and small, meaningless and meaningful, and she would costume them like a fire consumed a parched forest.

[Dusty]

Tempest was on her back, wiggling about as her front hooves try to push the last of her bodysuit off her flank. She stopped moving as the door opens and Sachadara walked in, for a moment her horn sparked as her face twitched with rage before relaxing as she let out an aggravated snort. If this was back on hir airship the one to intrude on her in such a moment will have been lucky if she only sent them face first into a wall, they learned fast to nock. But this was not her airship and that pony was not one of her grunts. She forced herself to relaxed as she watched the pony put down the Rum and Ice Cream. “Thank you, now pl-” Than the offer of help was given. “NO!” Tempest shouted by instinct as the sparking wild magic rushed back over her horn.

 

Like before she stops herself from doing more and the magic dies out with a few last sparks falling on the floor. “I am fine, just get the tub going or something.” She says in a tone bleeding with anger over how humiliating she felt, she looked like an utter fool as she pushed and wiggels her hips about and pushed off more of her bodysuit until it was on her rare legs. She gives them a good few kicks and the bodysuit is off as she rolls and stands up. “Knock next time.” She added with frustrated snort, her angry just barely held in check by her self control.

[SteelEagle]

Sachadara played at being taken aback, recoiling ever so slightly from the fire she was taking from the client. She played the part of a passive, sweet little mare well, one who was temporarily wounded. Inside however she was on the verge of great and sustained giggles. She was so easily perturbed. A real sore point- weaknesses. She hated feeling weak, helpless, not able to handle herself. A fear of being disabled, dependent, a need to be strong. It fit in rather well with what she knew of the mare's history. A commander of note, somepony with power and prestige. Perhaps from humble origins, maybe even disabled at a young age. A complex was always interesting to play with. Even as she recoiled, Sachadara was planning how best to turn the screws and produce the delicious rivers of pain, horror, and sadness that lay at the heart of all such prideful ponies.

“Oh, m-m-my apologies, Miss Shadow. I- I'll get started on your bath right away,” she replied quickly. The stammering a nice touch if she said so herself. She quickly trotted away to get started up with the bath. As she did so she made sure to place several moisturizers and creams into the water, including several of her own concoction. The water was soon flowing, warm and accepting. She trailed her hoof in there a bit to make sure she got the temperature just right. After a few more additions she had the water right. It was going to be a wonderful experience for Tempest and a great way for her to dig into the mare's mind. She yelled out from the bathroom when it was all said and done: “Ma'am, your bath is ready. Would you like to have a glass of rum while you bathe? Anything else I may do for you?”

[Dusty]

Tempest took the time before the bath was ready to claim the Ice Cream before it melted. She sat on the bed as she held it in her front hooves, licking the ice cream in the bowel as she cooled down from her small outburst. That was silly, the mare did not mean wrong. She needed to work on that, it’s ok to ask for help sometimes… Much as she hated that. Help with other things, never undressing. Before she knew it she was lapping up the last of the ice cream, it’s shocking how fast it can disappear when she was angry but she was feeling better now. Just in time as her helpful guide tells her the bath was ready. Getting off the bed she trots into the bathroom and stretched. “Thank you, yes Rum sounds good about now.” She hummed as she steps up on the Jacuzzi and puts a hoof in, happy with it she moves over and into the Jacuzzi, sitting down as she finds some nice jets to help her relax and loosen up. “Aahh..” She smiles and sinks down so just her head and neck was above the water. Now she was starting to feel like royalty! 

[SteelEagle]

Sachadara smiled as the mare went down into the water. Relaxation really was the name of the game, was it not? Defenses lowered. Passion was revealed. This mare still had some anger inside of her but for all of that she seemed to want to get back on track to the path to a vacation. Sachadara could almost see the steam of her anger melt in the water, and was pleased. She had made sure to use her special materials for the jacuzzi. The oil was a little obvious, a little thicker, but once it made contact with Tempest it felt silky smooth and warm. After a few more moments it would heighten the sensitivity of the nerve endings. A second part of it would trigger her pleasure centers, making the restful jacuzzi a delightfully pleasant experience- even more than usual.

Of course there was a more nefarious purpose behind the oil. A small percentage of the oil contained aether-sensitive chemicals that would blend in slowly with Tempest's own aether flow and her body. Over time it would acclimate and then reproduce in slow, non-noticeable ways. They would then over time migrate towards the brain where they would lay dormant, masked from detection, and reproducing at a low-rate. It would piggyback every part of the mare's body from there and await Sachadara's signal. When Sachadara triggered it, Tempest would be defenseless. More importantly, Sachadara would be in charge of her senses and would be able to turn her own magic against her. Tempest's perception of reality, time, her own personality, everything and anything, would be under Sachadara's control. No door to bar her. No defenses to stop her.

But that was months from now. Today she was a guest, and a guest needed to be taken care of. She wanted some rum and Sachadara's horn lit up. The bottle and a glass started to dance together in the other room, a minute later a full glass of rum. She levitated it to her relaxing guest. “Here you go, Miss Shadow,” she said pleasantly. “Is there anything else I may do for you? A nice backrub, perhaps, while you use the jacuzzi?”

[Dusty]

Tempest was enjoying herself, a rare feeling to have when she was doing nothing. But this was nice even if being walked in on spoiled the mood some. But as she takes the glass between her front to hooves and drinks the last of that worry passed. She was here to relax, take it easy and move on with her life. Maybe she will even take more than just the weekend off! Maybe. Odds are she’d not, she needed to visit Twilight before the mare drafted a book long letter to send in the mail about Tempest needed to visit and not be a stranger. Planning out what to do after this time off she hears the offer for a back rub. She thinks on it, it was someone she’s never gotten before. “Fine. That sounds good, never had one before.” She says sipping on her rum. 

[SteelEagle]

The sweet decadence of sensation was the easiest agent to turn, traitorous nerves and emotions plied so easily with deed and drink. Tempest was a mare of undeniable roughness but it was those ponies who had so harsh an exterior who were mostly easily brought low by the demons they fought so fiercely to safeguard. Some of her fellow Changelings shared her proclivity for the anguish of others but there was something fundamentally different. The majority of them did so out of a belief that they must in order to survive, strike fear so they may feed easier. Sachadara would have done this even if her unique needs didn't demand fear. It was a hoot and a holler, a grand old time to watch the husks as they trundled about her dungeon, blissfully vacant because any real sentient thought was a nightmare thricefold anything they could have imagined.

Which was a way of saying that as she went in for the backrub, her horn lit up and sent magical waves around where her hooves impacted. On the surface and under most inspections it would appear to ply the muscles easier, working the nerves alongside the muscle mass to make the backrub more delightful. And indeed that was a nice side effect. In reality the majority of the magic was there to mask several Trojan Unicorns, little magical hooks that would sit idly by and slowly work their way to Tempest's mind. There it would benignly collect information in secret. Inner thoughts, desires, fears. When Sachadara decided to make her move, it would act to muddy and disable defensive thought processes, confusing Tempest and short-circuiting any manner of defense until Sachadara had established control.

But for now, it just felt good.
“I hope you're enjoying this. You feel awfully tense! What do you do for a living, if I may ask?”

[Dusty]

Tempest never had something like this before, it was odd. But nice feeling. Maybe for one time in her life she can relax and be happy. It seemed so foren, so lost on how to do that. But as she relaxed in the hot water and felt her back rubbed it felt so easy. A few days of weakness can be ok. She flicked her ears as what she did for a living was asked. “As of now, nothing. But I am thinking of maybe starting a mercenary outfit. I miss leading troops, use to do that. Had an airship as well. It was nice. After you taste that power it’s like a drug. Seeing others bowing before you, shivering in fear and begging you to be easy on them. It’s a drug and one I shamefully seem… addicted to. I’d make for a fine mercenary as my ethics passed long ago.” She’d never be open like this, but this mare was so harmless. Just some hotel worker on land for removed from the eyes of others.

 

“I'm not haunted by the battles and flames. I miss it.” She says in a soft tone with the first real feeling of emotion behind it. “Life was easy. You planed, you moved… You look for the singel. When it comes, you go. You tear whatever part of the world that you've been pointed at apart, and you do your best to aim for things who aren't on your side. You stick to your orders, whatever they might be. Then I got to make my orders and give them. I even had guards, they painted up in my colors. I did not tell them too do that… they did it as they wanted to be like me and win my faver. But now? Life is very complicated now. There are taxes. There are houses. There are jobs… They think I can just jump in to it. Get a home, get a job and pay my taxes and make friends. I am trying, but… Well, for now I just wonder alone. Maybe I need a long talk with Twi… the sisters? Maybe I needed this more than I knew. Maybe I do need to relax, to live and just enjoy life.” Tempest ends it with short snort, not one of anger buy just a confused snort as she lays her head down on the rim of the hot tub. Life was messy now, confusing. She just wanted to be normal. Complete. Just another unicorn but it was to late now. Deep down she knows it. Even with a horn, full and working she is never going to just be another pony. She drank from glass of conflict and found it wonderful. How can she go back? “I am going to need more Rum…”

[SteelEagle]

Of course she would want to be a mercenary of some type. They weren't that rare outside of Equestria but inside of it? Well, they either seemed to get fat and lazy off of no real work or found themselves a real job. There wasn't a lot of fighting to be done and when fighting did happen the pony military either responded to it or the more esoteric and annoying defenses such as the Elements of Harmony or EPIC. Still, she should try. Failure hung over her in a threatening position. Salted with the stench of it, the meal called Tempest would be all the better for her sincere efforts. She continued her good work on the mare, assured of her success this day and all days to come. She knew all about how drugs could take hold of you, or at least something equally addicting and central it seemed to your lifestyle.

 

"I know a bit what it is like to feel an addiction to a lifestyle and all that comes with it, Miss Shadow. Every Changeling grapples with their base nature- to feed, to take, to rip and tear away from all hope and help and use as food and only that, those creatures capable of so much love. Fighting against one's nature is never easy. Luckily, our Queen has found a way for all of us to be happy and for ponies to be safe from the base elements of our nature. I think the idea of becoming an Equestrian Mercenary fits you- and, being Equestria, will perhaps save you from the darkest elements of your own character," she offered helpefully, slowly finishing her hoofwork. The mare asked for more rum. Sachadara smiled and took the glass, allowing Tempest some time to herself.

 

"I will get you some more, Miss Shadow," she said, trotting over to the nice and bubbly and pouring another glass.

[Dusty]

“I don’t know if it will ‘save me’ but it’s better than nothing.” Tempest says as she keeps her eyes closed, relaxing as she thinks. The hot tub was doing wonders to keep her relaxed. “So long as I do not end up in stone at least. I wonder if that’s true they do that. They did it to Discord so why not others? Odd where one's mind can go when you let it.” She opens her eyes and watches the pony fill up her glass with more rum, she found it funny why rum seemed to be so glued to only seagoing things. Her first taste of it was from an outlaw that never put one hoof on a ship, he was a cool pony… Had a nice bounty on his head as well. How long did she make the bits last? Weeks? She smiles, not all of her youth was to bad when she had some bits to make it easy.

 

“I never got to meet changelings. I don’t think they want to be around me for long, my love is shallow compared to the deep sea of rage and anger I hold. They’d get sick… do they get sick?” She asked arching an eyebrow. “Are you one? Some of the guests were talking about changelings being here or something. I’d not care if you are, just feel bad you’d not get much food out of it.” She added even if she did not feel bad for it. She really did not care at all for them… ok maybe she cared some, at least got the mare helping. The mare was nice to her.

[SteelEagle]

"Of course we're Changelings, silly. We all are here. Hence why we're in Discord's play area. Both to protect us from an attack and so he can ensure we aren't doing anything to you. He really is such a softie," she giggled, though truth be told she was unsure if Discord really did see everything that happened in his domain. She believed he did. She acted as if he did. Not that he'd know the ins and outs of what she was doing, of course. Discord was a being of tremendous magical power but he was limited in his ability to analyze the actions of others. He was more efficient as a fly in the ointment or in breaking the wheel than he was in investigating the spoke. Of course she was a little confused as to how Tempest could have failed to understand they were Changelings. Wasn't that part of the entire gimmick? 

 

Changelings fed on love. By doing so openly, ponies could be made safe. In order to relax them and make it easy on both sides, a vacation spot manned by Changelings was best. They could make the ponies happy and then they could feed. It was safe and easy for both sides. Of course some Changelings didn't approve. Not to mention the many ponies who probably found it funny. That was why they were all to be on their best behavior. It was why Sachadara's plans were to bear fruit months from now, not hours or days. They would be watched for now. But Equestrians, by and large, were largely lax in the realm of vigilance. This little enclave would fade from their mind in due time and then- then she would feed on a bounty. But for now, peace and love and all that stuff Equestrians seemed to crave. 

 

"We can get sick. Not from emotions, mind you. Not in the way ponies think. A pony with lots of anger or hatred is like...a wine that has been poorly seasoned. It is still wine. You can't have hate, shame, sadness or anger without love, of others or yourself. There is always a place to draw from. Speaking of," she said, hoofing over the rum. "How is the bath water? Do you need me to run it again?"

[Dusty]

Tempest blinked at the news ALL of them were. So she belived some of them must have been, but all of them? She was just thinking that was stupid rumors. A island of bugs. Funny. She takes the Rum and takes it to her lips, sipping on it gently. “I see. Thank you. So you can… be whatever you want? Well…” she flicks her ears. “Even gender? And the water is fine for now. I don’t want to stay in here to much, I may end up sleeping. But why don’t you show off them changeling powers? I have never seen one of you before so… I’d like to see what you can do.”

[SteelEagle]

She smiled. Well, the whole point of allowing guests to know they were changelings was to put their mind at ease. No trickery. And then whatever changes happened were done for their pleasure, were they not? Of course unlike her fellow Changelings, Sachadara never used her shapeshifting for fun. She was a business mare. That didn't mean she couldn't or wouldn't, mind you. Just meant that she had fewer tools in the tool chest to play. No matter though. If little Tempest wanted a show, she'd get a show. It would only make the other show that came later all the more delightful, after all. And she was nothing if not devoted to the art of delight.

“Well, I don't necessarily have the same range as others, but I think I have a few who could tickle your fancy,” she said, making sure to mix in a little bit of doubt in with the purring enthusiasm that rolled out of her with such ease. She stepped back and took a few deep breaths. What to do? Hmm. Well, she had first mentioned gender. That was always easy, and she had a good body for it, too. Her horn flashed and she started to change from the mare she was to a guard stallion (one of the few she had done well to keep mindless back in the dungeons of the Hive), whose broad shoulders and sharp chin spoke well of his breeding. The change wasn't as snap-quick as it would be for others.

“Gender change is pretty easy, really. I mean if you're changing the whole body, nothing can really prevent you from doing everything. Please step out of the bath before you prune too much!” He said, taking a towel. As Tempest gout out, he'd dry her out entirely. “This form is big and strong. Nice and good hooves. Of course, I find it a bit cumbersome. I prefer ones that are more lithe. Like this one,” she said, her horn lighting up- and in a few moments, there stood Twilight Sparkle right after she became a Princess, more lithe and smaller than she was now.

“Yes, this one is much more fun.”

 

[Dusty]

Tempest was impressed at the change, watching the help full mare become a handsome buck. She gets out of the hot tube and let's the now male pony help dry her off, it got a faint blush on her cheeks letting somepony else do something for her like that. But it did feel nice. “Not bad, nifty magic to have” She hums with a grin, she wished she had that power. The next change was more… odd for her. It was Twilight. Well a smaller Twilight but Twilight all the same. This got her to arch an eyebrow. Well she was not upset over this, she did not care in truth. It was a odd from to pick and it did make her think about the mare that saved her. Twilight was a good pony. Better than she’d ever be. “It is odd seeing that face more lower than mine. I know of that mare, Twilight saved my life. For that I am… thankful of her. But worry not, I am not one to get upset seeing you put that face on.” She says walking around the smaller Twilight. “Not a bad copy. If I was in to mares she’d not be bad one. But just between us, unicorns are not my type. Most of all super powerful ones.” She added with a short glace up, as if trying to look at her horn.

[SteelEagle]

Sachadara had to stifle a giggle. Of course she wasn't nto unicorns. They had to remind her, by their complete and whole existence, of that which she lacked. In the ways she had been damaged. Such a strange thing. Ponies of all types put such emphasis on their extremities. Their horns, their wings, their- well, the picture was clear. What happened to them when you removed it was...fascinating. Hard for any changeling to truly understand. Their forms were mutable, changing with the tides. A horn, a tail, some scales, they were all the same. They held no real import. Indeed, even Changelings in their natural forms took little of themselves from their physical forms. They spent so little time as themselves that the idea of...ownership of form was foreign. The attachment to flesh and bone and cartilage and tissue, so strange. Identity ran deep into the heart and soul with Changelings.

Maybe that was why ponies were such easy targets. For all of their grand depth of emotion and personality they were slaves to the concept of physical form. One broken physically could be more easily shattered mentally. Gaping wounds in the soul could be made with something as little as a rock, as simple as a swipe of a claw. Tempest Shadow had gaping wounds the size of valleys, the raging fie of her soul and the anger, the pain, the sorrow and the fury that resulted from it the mere bubbling residue of a broken spirit. How fitting that the obsession she had with horns, the motivating factor behind her decisions, would be the cornerstone of her demise. That was absolutely hilarious to Sachadara. She loved few things more than the strong and powerful being reduced by their own obsessions to mewling curs. If she was a lesser Changeling she might give in and start a nice cackle.

Luckily however she was not a lesser specimen of her species and maintained a friendly disposition. When Tempest finished speaking, Sachadara nodded her head. “Well, she is rather popular amongst ponies. Especially the younger set, she seems so...approachable,” she said, Twilight's voice brimming with all the positivity that radiated from the real thing. “What else would you like to see or do, Miss Shadow?”

[Dusty]

“She is an odd mare. So hopeful. So giving. So trusting. It’s hard to understand sometimes but I am thankful she did what she did. If not i’d not be here, buy smashed on some building. Rocks. Or something.” Tempest says as she thinks back on it, rolling her shoulders before walking over to the bed. “But let's move on… Here’s one. Can you do none pony?” She asked jumping onto her bed and laying down on it. She stretched out and rolls onto her back with a cut like purr. “Oh this bed is so soft. The one in my ship was nothing like this. I can lay in this for ages. heh.”

[SteelEagle]

Sachadara pondered. Yes, she could change into many creatures of the non-pony variety. After all, while ponies made for the best meals due to the great depth and width of their emotions, all creatures were prey enough. The catalogue ran deep. Who felt love the strongest? Fear? Distrust and fear were common in the southern lands, but anger? Anger was all the rage in the north. Love was Equestria's calling card, but the nations across the sea felt such sublime emotional wavelengths that it was impossible for any creature aside from a Changeling to truly appreciate it. Indeed, she doubted even most creatures of those lands understood how unique each and every one of them was to her kind as fine meals or snacks. Predators always had such view on prey.

Nonetheless, she did think of what Tempest would want. The weary, tension filled mare ventured herself onto the soft bed, but she was not a soft mare. She was a mare of hard-won desires. Her life had been spent sleeping on cots and in ships, on rocks and in cells. She may momentarily adore the softness of a bed but in the long-standing nature of things she would always go back to the rock, the cot, ship, the cell. And she knew of an entire species that had a similar. Mindset. “Oh, of course I can do non-pony creatures, Miss Shadow," Sachadara said as the mare laid down. Sachadara's horn lit, and she changed quickly.

Within moments Tempest Shadow would hear the heavy falls of the hooves of a large caribou. The denizens of the Frozen Continent, the belligerent vikings of the north. Violent, honorable, detestable, admirable, and sturdy in all measures equal, they sought out and thrived in harsh environments. In many ways just like Tempest. “Ha! Yes, the bed is mighty comfortable. Mighty soft,” Sachadara said in the harsh tones of a caribou bull, coming to rest nearby Tempest. “Is this more to your liking, pony?”

[Dusty]

Tempest watches on her back as a grin creeps over her face. “I’m fully impressed now.” She says as the bull sits down on the bed. She rolls onto her belly and sits up looking the bull over. “Never got to see one. Heard about them, reading a book all about them. I want to see them. This can do for now.” She gets up and moves closer as she takes in every small detail as if Sachadara was a fine piece of art displayed before a critic. She holds a hoof up, so close yet it pulls back before touching. Tempest’s face was awash in wonder yet never over powered. Just small twitches, soft changes. But the mare can not betray how fascinated she was. But if it was do to the shape Sachadara took, or her powers that made Tempest this excited was unclear at first.

“I respect them. The hardships. Power… History. They are wonderful. Beautiful. Forgive my gushing but I did not hope to ever lay eyes on one so easily, even if it’s fake. But art in a book is one thing next to a living painting of one. Fake all the same, but one fake bull is far more tangible than the other in its complexity.” She moved as she spoke, not staying put as she studys Sachadara with such care she’d put some spys to shame. But even if she seems close to tuching the fur and hide, she looks only with her eyes. “Well, we can not play with party tricks forever. I have some… Relaxing to go do or something. Maybe a nice run. Work out?” She asked to her self not the other mare... Bull in the room with her. 

[SteelEagle]

She shared Shadow's admiration for the caribou, though for different reasons. Everything she said was true but it had helped make them...coreless, to an extent. There was little you could threaten a caribou with. Even less you could entice them with as far as a Changeling was concerned. They wanted for nothing and excitedly looked to dangers and threats. They were poor food for the Changelings as a whole and for Sachadara as well. Only some rogue Hives in the north sought them out and truly understood the depths of their emotions. Attempts at integrating them into the Queen's own Hive had been...violently unsuccessful. They and the Caribou they fed upon deserved one another, it seemed.

Shadow wanted to run. Sachadara kept the demeanor of the caribou up but knew that this was not going to be fun. She was far from a physical specimen. Most other Changelings outclassed her in every way possible physically. In fact, she was borderline incapable of most physical feats beyond those required for day to day survival. Nonetheless, she would play her role for now. She lacked the impulsivity that drove other Changelings to break down their plans and fail at the peak of their success. It could even be a good little education for the pony. That way in the future she would know just how little any of it mattered when a being such as Sachadara was involved.

“If you so wish, pony. Though I must tell you,” the bull said, standing next to Tempest Shadow and stretching to begin, “that it is a simple misnomer that we take on the physical abilities of our disguises. A physically unfit Changeling will be not be any more fit for being a creature of stature and grace. Nor would one who is malformed and disfigured be any more capable as a caribou bull, for that matter,” the bull replied, having stretched as much as he could or felt like. Hard to tell. “I am here to do as you please, pony.”

[Dusty]

“I was not asking you to run with me.” Tempest says back to Sachadara with a roll of her shoulders. “You are just staff here. Well you may put on a good outfit, it’s just that. I’d be shocked if you even held up with me for the first lap of my run.” She waves a hood genty and looks at the door. “Now, i’m going to gear up. Meet you outside and you can lead me to a nice spot for an run. After that you can sit and watch as I know the big bad bull just what this mare can do.” She winks and grins as she walks over her to her jumpsuit and armor but did not try to put it on with Sachadara in the room. She just watches for her helper to leave.

[SteelEagle]

Sachadara made a play of looking taken aback with the bluntness of the answer, but only just. She was more than pleased by this outcome. She didn't want to run and Tempest got to make a more aggressively worded decision. Fit her well. Passive words and agreements matter little to beings of power and strength. “Understood, Miss Shadow. I have some ideas that might please you,” she said, her mind having cataloged several different escape routes earlier. They could always be re-purposed nicely for runs of any kind. With a bow and then a quick pep in his jaunty steps, the caribou bull led the unicorn mare out of the room and through the building before eventually ending outside.

“This is the best place I can think of,” she said, waving her foreleg out. It looked like a track. Of course in Discord's dimension the world around it was topsy turvy and strange, with sights and sounds defying description. Luckily Discord had made sure ponies would be safe here and it was unlikely that the track would vanish into oblivion. “Get yourself all worked up and sweaty. I'll get some more towels,” he said with a laugh. “I shall return- have fun out there,” he toodled on off, laughing as he did so. It was a good day for all involved.