A Changeling's Confession [Concluded]

[Ciraxis]

The shadowy observer continued to witness and hear the turn of events. The accusations, the defenses against it and all that came with it. Even through his position he could see only Spring and her coltfriend, stallion could recognize some of the other voices. One of the famous heroine Applejack. Other was of the Prince Blueblood, apparently yet again a little wiser then the last time he meet him. And the third one was...Flux.

 

What was she doing here? Did she too came here today to demystify others about her true nature? Oh what he was thinking, one couldn't even say that she was hiding anything at all....apart from the chitinous bits but that's it. Flux was Flux and despite - or maybe because - her memory problems the spirited changeling always had her heart on the sleeve. But she still hid her true appearance which unicorn found wise course of action. By Spring doing so instead, Flux could measure of what to expect if she herself decided to do the same. Although cloaked stallion doubted she thought in such categories. She will still in the end drive to the correct conclusions sooner or later, and that what was important.

 

And speaking of important, a few moment later Spring decided to drop her disguise. If anypony had any suspicions that all of this was some elaborate prank, it was dispelled right now.

Prince Blueblood particularly handled this badly. Leaving his hideout to have a better view, cloaked pony could see him trembling. 

"The memories of this day must haunt him still. But the Hive will pay dearly for their deeds back then." vengeful thoughts passed through pony head as he now stood over Flux cradling. The magical nature of his clothes still prevented others from being able to acknowledge his presence, yet he felt that group needed something to uplift their spirits...and to distract them while he had to briefly speak with one who was the most important.

The horn under the black hood shined and all could see as the single word is carved on the nearby wall.

 

                                                                              F I D U C I A R Y

 

And now that everypony was properly distracted, unicorn approached the bush, behind which disappeared causer of all of this drama. Cloaked pony almost stepped into mess made by changeling emesis. Stress clearly caught up with Spring. Doubly checking that nopony else would see him or her he whispered.

"I am not sure what to think Spring Breeze. I am torn between respect for your courage and determination to reveal yourself like that...." he started

"Or to chew you out, that you did it with so little thought or preparations. But I see you already started to realize some of the consequences of your actions even without that. Even if you aren't as half worried as you should be." now that he spoke to her directly, Naj could see a cloaked figure beside her. The voice was obviously masculine but clearly distorted by magic. The same sorcery must had replaced the face under the black hood with a shadowy haze. Before stressed changeling could say anything a concealed pony lifted his hoof to stop her.

"Do not speak to me, just listen. Right now only you can notice me, be it by eye or ear, and last thing this town needs is thinking you mad on top of being the changeling. When the time comes for you to leave this town we will speak longer and in bigger detail. Right now make sure that nopony follows you beside your lover...and maybe your friend Flux. I myself will make sure that you departure will proceed safely. Remember, despite everything you still have allies out there Spring." without further words Naj could feel that something was forced into her hoof. It was a gold brooch, a stylized 'E' letter. E like Equestria. Or E like 'E.P.I.C'.

Before she rose her sight from it the stallion on black cloak was already gone, leaving her with a few more questions.

[PyroBlaze]

Flux continued to rub the unicorn's back gently and make comforting noises until she felt Blueblood begin to move. She released him and stepped back a little as he got to his hooves again. The disguised changeling didn't say anything to him as his gaze drifted over her, but she did give him a smile.

After that, though, her attention was drawn to the sound of barfing, and she tilted her head curiously at the sight. Why was Naj doing that? Was she catching a cold?

Regardless, her attention was once again diverted as she caught sight of the word that had mysteriously appeared in the wall. She blinked a little before moving closer and squinting as if that would help her understand it. She even began looking at it from different angles, though they of course didn't help matters at all.

"Fi-duck-e-airy?" She said, obviously confused by the word itself on top of where it came from. "What does that mean?"

[RedCedar]

The Prince seemed to recover from his episode soon enough, quickly enough in fact that he went immediately back to berating his aide, to which Red could only give a sympathetic smile of gratitude to Psmith for making the noble attempt. Whether or not it resulted in an actual conversion of thought for Blueblood remained to be seen, but perhaps this was the first step necessary.

 

With that, his attention turned to Naj, or rather, to the fact she was no longer nearby. Neither was that pegasus, though that was more of a relief than anything. A few quick moments of scanning around and he soon found a familiar changeling shape at the bushes, and that position she was in could mean only one thing. Missing the words written on the nearby wall, he trotted over to Naj, kneeling closeby. Placing a hoof on her back gently to let her know he was there, he said, "Hey, it's me. Are you okay? The Prince is going to be fine, don't worry about him. One or two like him were to be expected, really, I just didn't know it would be here and now."

[DerpRavener]

This might have pushed Naj to the breaking point, if she wasn't already there.  If anything, this now came as a sort of relief, after the scrutiny of the crowd and discovering a loyalist.  I almost reminded her of the stories she read sometimes.

The pony- or at least it looked like a pony, though it was hiding it's voice and features- spoke almost as if they knew Naj, or at least knew a lot of her.  It was a little disturbing, to be confronted with somepony who knew her when by all accounts she didn't know them, but at least the pony seemed to be friendly.  Naj had a blank expression on her face as the pony explained that they would meet later, and asked that she make sure no one but Flux or Red was with her, before passing a broach into Naj's hoof and then disappearing back to wherever this mystery pony had first emerged from.

 

Naj stared at the object in her hooves for a moment, her brain sluggish.  She did in fact, know of one organization in great detail which both was both sufficiently clandestine and might be represented with an E.  She recalled a conversation a few weeks ago, in which she let slip that she was thinking about what she was currently doing.  That conversation hadn't gone the way she'd expected it to, and a brief argument had broken out about how much attention should be given.

That was as far as her thoughts made it though, before once again it became to much.  Loyalist changelings, possibly EPIC, just how many spies were at this gathering?  Naj didn't think her announcement would be easy, but she at least expected it to be simple: make a statement, answer any questions she could, then either leave willingly or get run out of town.  Trying to work out who much be watching her to what degrees was too much for her already overloaded mind.  She slumped down again, hooves at her temples, missing everything that occurred around the crowd that had gathered.

 

"Hey, it's me. Are you okay? The Prince is going to be fine, don't worry about him. One or two like him were to be expected, really, I just didn't know it would be here and now."

Naj wearily looked over, and for a moment she smiled.  “...Oh.  Hey, Red.”  With a little help from him, she rose unsteadily to her feet, and wiped a fleck of pile off her mouth that she finally seemed to notice.  It took her a moment both to realize that she'd been asked a question and given a bit of information.  “...S'good to hear.”  She didn't know he was a prince, and idly wondered how Red knew and just what the prince was doing here.  The important thing was that he was alright, though she decided to put her 'Spring Breeze' appearance back on anyways.  There was a flash of green, and she was a maroon pegasus once more.  “And, maybe,” Naj blurted out, after a moment, finally getting around to answering the question.  She didn't want Red to worry, and a part of her was adamant that she could overcome any such challenge, but she soon admitted, “...probably not.”  She looked right at Red, suddenly more serious though she couldn't muster up a lot of passion at the moment.  “...There was another changeling here...loyal to Chrysalis.”

 

Naj leaned against Red, using him for support, and started to walk forward.  She felt drained, but she still had to get her announcement properly finished before she'd feel alright leaving to curl up in some corner.  On the way there, she remembered.  “...Oh, and some...pony,” she stumbled over the words a bit, “wants to talk to us as we're leaving.  You, me, maybe Flux.”

 

Arriving back at the square a few moments later, she waited until a good portion of the crowd had turned back to look at her, before she spoke  “...Everypony!”  She tried to make her voice heard, though she could only manage up to a certain volume, and at this point she was more concerned with saying what she felt needed saying than making sure the crowd actually heard.  “...I think I've said what I need to say...so, thank you for listening.  If there are questions I could try to answer them, if not...I'm feeling a bit tired...”  She didn't want to discourage any questions, but she wasn't sure of her capacity to provide good answers, particularly at the moment.

It would be an odd note on which to end things, but probably appropriate given how everything had turned out.

[Blueblood]

Even though Blueblood wasn't about to throw up, he almost wished he was.  It would have been an extremely effective way of getting his point across to Psmith.  "You... didn't even give me some kind of warning about the stunt you and your... friends... or colleagues, were pulling here!"

 

Psmith wasn't a pony to flinch, though he did blink in acknowledgement of the blow.  "I... don't recall that you informed me as to the extent of your trauma, sir."  The little word 'sir' indicated quite a lot, as far as Psmith was concerned.  He very rarely used any honorific besides 'comrade,' socialism being something of an affectation to that particular aristocrat.  "Had I been aware, I most certainly would have handled it differently."

 

"I should hope so..."  The Prince growled, before sighing.  There was no point in being angry now.  He'd already humiliated himself in public.  Again.  He barely spared a glance to the summoned word upon the wall.  What good did that sort of thing do, anyhow?  Such trickles of absurdity did not heal a soul or mind.  Only time could do that...

 

Well, it seemed that Naj had finished her little display.  Blueblood turned to his secretary, "Are you done here now?  Because I am.  I'm going home."  He had little enough dignity to carry off the village square, but what little he had, he put into his walk.  

 

Psmith stayed a little longer, walking up to Naj and saying softly, "Well... it could have gone better or worse, I suppose.  I shall continue to do my best on my end, in the assurance that you will do so as well.  Good luck, comrades."  And with a nod to her and Red, he followed his employer.

 

((Exit Psmith and Blueblood))

[PyroBlaze]

Well, nopony had given her any kind of response to what she had asked, but that was alright. She supposed that the word, whatever it meant, wasn't really the important thing here. The disguised changeling turned back to face the stage as Naj climbed back onto it and addressed the crowd once again, asking for any questions.

 

"Ooh! Just remember, I'm always willing to help out a friend if you need it!" Flux chirped, smiling widely at her friend as she hopped up onto the stage as well and gave Naj a hug. "Revealing myself isn't what I would have done, probably, but I'll support you through whatever is to come whenever I can." She added as a whisper before backing up out of the hug with a smile still on her face.

[RedCedar]

“...There was another changeling here...loyal to Chrysalis.”

 

Red frowned a little at that. He quickly darted his head around, scanning through the crowd, but of course, he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. If that were the case, he probably would have changed to a different form altogether to look like somepony who hadn't been there in the first place. With a sigh, he returned his attention to Naj, rubbing her back gently. "Come on, they can't do anything to us in plain sight," he said, hoping to be a bit of comfort. It probably wouldn't work for long, though. Naj was the type who would have this in the back of her mind for a long time. Just to put her at ease, though, he thought maybe their route home would involve a couple nights' rest in a nice hotel in Balitmare first, just to misdirect some who might be watching where they went after they left town.

 

He wondered, however, what pony had said they wanted to talk to them. He didn't see anypony make such a request. Regardless, he walked back with Naj to where she had made her announcement, quietly saying, "Thank you, for all the efforts." to Psmith before he was dragged out for what was sure to be a berating by the Prince. He smiled as Flux came up to give Naj a hug. As far as anypony else was concerned, Flux was a pony, so seeing one accept a changeling so eagerly was probably a good thing and he wasn't about to let that cat out of the bag. He scanned the remaining crowd for their reactions, pausing briefly as he noticed a wall nearby. "Fiduciary?" he said quietly to himself.

[DerpRavener]

"Come on, they can't do anything to us in plain sight,"

Ever worried about her, Red tried to comfort Naj and allay her concerns.  It sort of worked.  He was right to a degree, infiltrators wouldn't just charge them out in the open, but it didn't change the fact that they had the pair was now known.  Infiltrators would be nothing if not patient.  Naj just had to hope that she didn't prove that significant for them...She set it aside for the moment, deciding that she could afford to worry about it later.

The back rub was nice, and Naj found herself subconsciously leaning into Red's hoof.  “Thanks...” she mumbled.

 

Naj only briefly watched the alabaster unicorn leave.  She was in truth glad to see him, not so much because she disliked him, but because his presence seemed to make everything more complicated.  While that unicorn was here, Naj felt like like her every action was a risk.  Once he was gone, the changeling wouldn't have to worry about what she might be doing to him, and in turn the backlash that could have fallen on her as a result.

 

Naj did respond to Wordsworth after he approached, though not much.  She nodded in agreement at the statement, she likely couldn't have put it better herself.  On one hoof ponies could have been more prepared to welcome a changeling, but on the other she didn't get run out of town, and she'd even survived her encounter with Applejack.  If this were a spar, it would be a stalemate, and she could accept that.  She didn't envy her friend's position though.  “Good luck to you too...” she managed to mutter out just loud enough to be heard, before Wordsworth turned and followed after the retreating form of the unicorn.

 

Naj was jarred out of her train of thought by a sudden hug, and her first instinct was to throw the pony off.  She almost tried, before she realized it was just Flux.  Naj was almost thankful for her own sluggishness, but then if she wasn't feeling exhausted she might have realized soon.  Naj wasn't sure how to react to the grinning 'unicorn', but the cheer was a little infectious.  She couldn't help a small grin, and gave a quiet reply.  “Thanks...I'll try to keep it in mind...”

 

Most of the crowd had dispersed by this point, having started to leave the moment Naj made that last statement, though whether it was because they wanted to give her space or just didn't have many questions Naj couldn't tell.  In other circumstances she might have been disappointed, but at the moment she only felt relieved.  The hardest part was almost over, it seemed.  There was a question from a lingering pony about how she fed, which prompted a short explanation by Naj of the way a lone changeling could easily survive off of the ambient love in a place like Ponyville.  Although it was clear that the pony wanted to ask something more, Naj had reached her limit for answering questions for the day.  She promised to come back some day and answer any other questions he had, though she couldn't way when that would be and doubted it would be soon.

With the only question answered, Naj thought she was ready to leave.  In a moment of quiet reflection though, she realized something.  “If this is the last time I'll come here,” she said her thoughts aloud, for the benefit of Red and Flux nearby, “there's something I want to grab before I leave.”

 

---

 

It was a short journey, as Naj knew the route fairly well.  She returned back to the decayed cottage at the edge of town, which she'd used as a makeshift place to live for about half a year.  A part of her almost missed it: of course she knew her current accommodations were far better, and she would always choose to spend a night with Red over not doing so, she appreciated the anonymity of it and felt a certain fondness for the old structure for keeping her safe for so long.

 

Naj wasn't here to reflect, but to grab a memento.  Poking around at the floorboards for a minute, she soon found it and retrieved it from where it was stashed away: an old, tattered blanket, which was the first and only material thing she ever picked up in Ponyville.  It wasn't much to look at, but much like the shack itself it held a lot of sentimental value to her, having kept her going on a number of cold nights.

Draping it over her shoulder, Naj was ready to go.

 

Ponyville wasn't an especially large town, so it only took a few minutes for the group to get to their destination, the train station.  As Naj approached the structure however, she turned, and sat down heavily on a nearby bench.  Though the walk had helped clear her head and relax a bit, she was still feeling drained.

That wasn't the only reason she stopped however, Naj couldn't leave without first meeting the mystery pony.  Naj motioned for Red and Flux to sit as well, and then tried to get comfortable.  She didn't know how long they'd be here.  “Now, we wait.”

[Ciraxis]

"No. No you wont." said the undefined male voice immediately after Naj's own word. After the three surely jumped on their hooves, they were able to now see a stranger black coat standing behind the bench. His shape looked pony alright, however the magic of his clothing prevented them from guessing who or what he was.

"I thank all of you for coming. Especially you Spring. I know how hard it must been to trust the words of the stranger who didn't even shown his face. Especially today when you was given so little trust yourself." cloaked stallion started.

"I also want you to know that you shouldn't be...surprised by harsh reactions of Miss Applejack and Prince Blueblood. They both been in this town during that infamous Nightmare Night. Applejack herself was kidnapped, drained of love and replaced by impostor - as were her closest friends. Worse then that, when participants of the holiday her little sister Applebloom ended up with two of her legs broken. I was there when that happened and seen how filly was injured."

Stallion paused for half of the minute, to give all three of them time to ingest this information.

"Prince Blueblood had gone through similarly traumatic upheaval. I know not what happened to him and I had enough tact not to ask, but apparently his captor was very sadistic kind of fiend. And while both Prince and Apple sister recovered, the experience was expectedly scarring. Miss Applejack was former wilder of Element of Loyalty and this event didn't really helped her view towards any kind of deception, even if done in good faith."

Cloaked pony sadly shook his head before continuing.

"But enough about that for now. While I promised you Spring that I will answer all given questions along with those from your companions, this is still not very appropriate place to do so. You were leaving anyway and I would say that train wagon would be much more suitable and secure for that. Especially since one is already prepared for this."

With those words the stranger in black turned away to walk towards the station. In a far distance a train whistle was heard.

"You coming? You're better do.  Your transport will be here shortly, and it would be a shame to waste those." he added before letting three first class tickets levitate towards them. One of each for Cedar, Naj and Flux.

[PyroBlaze]

Flux smiled widely at Naj's response, tilting her head to the side slightly. As the others left, she followed after her friends, blinking at the shack that Naj led them to. Is this where she used to stay? Well, it was better than nothing, she supposed. Still, it wasn't long before they set off once again for the train station.

 

"I guess so." Flux said, looking around the train station as she stood near the bench. They didn't wait at all, as a voice suddenly addressed them and drew her attention to the cloaked pony. Really, that was about all she could tell for sure was that it looked like it was a pony. The disguised changeling listened to the stranger speak with her head tilted to the side and a small frown on her face. She really wasn't sure what to make of this pony.

 

"Ooh! A train ride! Yay!" Flux chirped as she took the ticket in her own magic and bounced in place excitedly, momentarily forgetting that the strange pony was still there. When she realized that fact, she calmed down a bit and looked at the pony. "Thanks, whoever you are." She said with a wide smile at him.

[RedCedar]

Red took a moment to gaze around at the old cottage Naj had been hiding in during her time in Ponyville. He had never seen it before, and was curious about it after Naj's description. It turned out to be pretty accurate, too, as it was about as unpleasant as he had imagined. He could see the visible water damage from a leaky roof and only wonder at the integrity of the beams that held the roof up still. He doubted any builder with a lick of sense would even consider it salvageable in this state. Despite her valid reasons for doing so, he couldn't have been happier that he had given her a far better place to call home.

 

With a smile, he watched as she retrieved her old blanket that, like the house, looked like it had seen better days. Still, he could certainly understand the sentiment of keeping hold of a few things that had meant a lot, no matter what the object itself was. If having it again helped her sleep in his guest room all the more soundly, he'd have been happy to tuck her in with it himself.

 

Red had barely settled onto the bench at the train station when the mysterious pony in the cloak all but suddenly appeared in front of them, indeed causing him to start. Much of what the pony had said he hadn't entirely heard, as he had been trying to study this odd individual as best he could, given the all-concealing cloak around him. Looking skeptically at the ticket levitated towards him, he held back long enough to whisper, "Naj, who is this?"

[DerpRavener]

No sooner had the words left her mouth than the stranger seemed to appear behind the three of them.  He didn't introduce himself, which Naj supposed shouldn't come as a surprise, but he did greet them in a friendly manner.  Between this and the fact that he wasn't taking advantage of opportunities, it was just enough to convince the changeling that this pony likely didn't intend to harm them.  Though she still wasn't entirely happy with the situation, and was a little on edge.  It was only her exhaustion that was preventing her from taking a more defensive stance, it would take a more immediate emergency to get her motivated.

Naj shrugged in response to the stranger's first statement, though she never took her eyes off of him.  “It could have been worse.  Despite everything I wasn't run out of town.  I'm calling it a minor victory.”

 

The stranger offered an explanation for Applejack and the unicorn, Blueblood's behaviour surrounding the announcement.  Applejack's story she'd sort of known, or at least heard enough of it that she could fill in the gaps.  Naj knew exactly what she could expect from the farmpony.  If anything, it was a surprise to her that everything resolved as peacefully as it did.

Blueblood's story was new information, although at this point it didn't seem like it would matter too much.  “If only I could've known that beforehoof...” she muttered with a sigh.  Though she couldn't really blame the stranger for that one.  For that matter she herself had never seen this Prince Blueblood before, so she doubted there were many ponies who could reasonably have solved that particular problem.  Though apparently this stranger was one of them, which seemed to raise more questions than answers.

 

"Naj, who is this?"

Naj leaned in and replied with an equally quiet tone.  “I have no idea.  Or at least, I don't think I know him, though he seems awfully familiar with me.”  She gingerly took the offered ticket, almost like it might suddenly turn and bite her, not completely sure whether it was genuine or some kind of ploy.

And then Flux bounded past, overjoyed that she was going to ride a train.  Naj found the joy infectious, and grew a small smile herself.  It took her a moment, but she soon decided that the stranger seemed honest enough.  She was too tired to be properly paranoid right now anyways.  “Thanks,” she said to the stranger, before turning to Red and starting to trudge toward the train station.  “No sense letting them go to waste, right?”

 

Once they were on board the train and had located their cabin, Naj all but pulled Red onto the bench as she curled up on it herself.  She snuggled up against his shoulder and let out a breath as her eyes closed, finally feeling like she was getting some much needed rest.  Her ears kept twitching and swivelling around however, indicating she was still listening to what was going on around her.  When they were all settled, she finally got around to asking a question of their new companion, half-mumbling out “Mmh, I don't suppose you'd answer the obvious, and tell us who you are?”

[Ciraxis]

Cloaked pony didn't answered Naj's question immediately. When other took seats he didn't followed them. Instead the mysterious stranger walked towards the window. It was almost as he was making sure that no one was watching them. Whatever was the results in the next moment the curtains in the cabin was magically pulled to shroud the cabin in darkness. From the sounds coming from the corridor the Naj, Cedar and Flux could guess that the same was done in the whole wagon if not in train.

The dark was dismissed somewhat when four dimly glowing stones flew from under stallions black coat. They rose into an air and formed a slowly turning halo near the cabin ceiling. They shone with weak, sliver blue light, giving somewhat unreal vibe.

"You suppose correctly Spring. I am a pony that is dead to the world, both by the choice and necessity. I am a member of 'Organization' , just like you, and my membership is the reason for this....secrecy." he started. However feeling that the changeling would not be satisfied with just that he continued.

"I am too well known in some circles. The Equestria needed me and I wanted to help, but that was not possible if I did so just like that. To...protect those who are important to me I agreed to 'perish' so that I could act unhampered. You know against who we stand aren't you? I am not naive Spring, I don't expect such masquerade to last. But while it does I will make the best use of it. At least I am sure that sure that those important to me are not endangered." stallion said.

"The sentiment that you too I believe, will share as of today." he added. Unicorn (for he had to be unicorn) gave the trio a look (the could assume) before continuing.

"Because I came here to talk about you, and what you did today Spring. You do not yet realize your importance. If you did them maybe it would take more time to muster that.....confession of yours. If you would decide to make it at all." cloaked stranger said. He suddenly turned his head towards the other changeling.

"For that reason I asked for Flux here to also be present. If you decide to repeat your friends...feat Flux, it would be better for you to do so with full knowledge of what it could bring on your head." stallion said. His words clearly marked that he knew that Flux was changeling herself.

"And before you ask, no my presence here is not Silverbeak idea. True, he gave me notice about your...plans, during my recent visit in Saraneighvo. But my involvement today was of my own volition."

[PyroBlaze]

Flux smiled as she got into the train car and took a seat, looking around excitedly as the others spoke. In truth, she was only half-listening, and only looked over when she heard her name.

"What do you mean?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. She hadn't really caught the implication that the stranger knew what she was, so she showed no reaction to it.

[RedCedar]

Red let himself be pulled by Naj onto the seat easily enough for her to curl up against, but he remained quite tense as he crouched on the bench beside her. The very notion of a pony who had faked his own death didn't sit right with him, no matter what the justification. If nothing else, it would have been as hard on the loved ones he claimed he was protecting for them to think that he was dead as it would be for them to take any sort of precautions against whatever supposed danger he perceived. In any case, it was a little too secretive for his liking to just be in this pony's presence.

 

Nevertheless, he spoke up as the cloaked pony started discussing what Naj had done. "You're right, she is important." he emphasized. "She's the first changeling to be granted citizenship in Equestria, and she could be instrumental in fostering better ties between ponies and changelings. That's why she did what she did, and that is the best reason for it, too."

 

Whether or not the pony in the cloak believed him, at this point, he didn't care. The opinions of a pony who couldn't do what Naj had just done, even to other ponies, carried little weight in his mind.

[DerpRavener]

Barely opening her eyes, Naj watched as the curtains were closed, and then listened to what sounded like the several other apertures closing throughout the train car.  The absence of any ponies audibly annoyed or frightened by the commotion lead her to the conclusion that aside from the four of them, the car was empty.  Or, if anyone was there, they knew what was going on.  Naj muttered, “what, did you buy out the whole car?”  Not that she wouldn't make use of the fact, but that seemed like a lot of resources spent on what would probably be an uneventful trip from point A to point B.

 

Buck it, Naj thought to herself, she was feeling completely drained.  If the four of them were reasonably alone, she was going to take advantage of it.  She grunted, and shifted a bit, before dropping her disguise in a brief flash of green fire.  She gave a contented sigh, for a brief moment not having any immediate stresses.

It didn't last long.  She still had a mystery pony to talk to, after all.

 

The pony wouldn't tell his or her name, which elicited a muttered “figures” from Naj, but he (Naj decided the voice probably belonged to a stallion) was willing to give them a few details.  EPIC was the only organization Naj was really a part of at the moment, so that was likely what he was referring to.  What's more, he faked his own death.  This was probably a big hint, but right at the moment Naj couldn't work out what it signified.  So she focused on the more immediate topics of discussion.

 

The stranger suggested that maybe if Naj had a better understanding of her own importance, she might not have tried anything like the announcement.  Red responded by saying that her importance was her public joining of Equestria, which implied an amount of interacting openly with the public.  Naj nodded agreement with the latter, though she also felt ponies were overestimated her importance.  “There are only two reasons I might important,” she said. “Those are being Red's marefriend,” which admittedly would only count in the eyes of few ponies, “and a willingness to be open with Equestrians.  Anything else could be easily replaced.  Besides, I'm not worried, anyone who would attack me because of what I'm doing risks making me a martyr.  No one with half a brain would try it.”

 

With her piece said, Naj snuggled up against Red once again.  She could tell he was tense, but she wasn't really in a state where she could do anything about it.  He didn't seem panicked, just on edge.  Which might even be appropriate, strictly speaking they didn't know who this pony was they were talking to.  Naj just pulled him a bit closer, hoping that her presence with could do the same thing for him that his was doing for her.

 

Even as she listened though, that one detail was still bothering Naj.  The stranger said he faked his own death.  This meant that, from Naj's perspective this would be someone who died.  What's more, he apparently knew Flux as well.  So, somepony who knew both Naj and Flux, and who is dead as far as they know.  Who could that possibly apply to.

 

All of a sudden Naj groaned, and pressed harder against Red.  There was in fact, a pony who knew the two of them and had died, at least according to the papers.  She made an attempt to bury her muzzle against Red's chest, and as such her voice came out a little muffled.  “If that's who I think it is, I can't deal with him yet.”  The pony she was thinking of could be pretty intense at times, and in her current state there was no way she could keep up.  Her next question was directed at the stranger.  “Hey, if I asked you not to break any ceilings, would you know what I was talking about?”  It was a way the pony in question could confirm her guess, if she was right, while not completely giving away who he was if he wanted to keep some things sort of secret.

[Ciraxis]

"You will see soon enough. Listen carefully Flux. Whatever will be said may as way apply to you....with an exception that you don't remember your time in the Hive." if that wasn't an answer that  confirmed that unicorn knew that Flux was a changeling, then nothing was.

 

"I couldn't risk anypony interrupting us." cloaked stallion said, confirming to Naj that yes, he indeed bought the whole car just for this conversation.

 

Mysterious stallion patiently listened to both Red and Naj before growling at them.

"You two still don't get it!" he barked towards the two in frustration, for the first time a crack appeared on shroud of stoicism. Crack big enough to chew both of them.

 

"First you Cedar. You given changelings as a whole a benefit of doubt. A admirable trait that very well may be a reason why we all here today." masked unicorn started. Now that both were up close, both changelings could see that cloaked pony was Red's equal in height. "However there is a shade of naivety in it. You weren't in Canterlot. You wasn't in Ponyville during that Nighmare Night. You did not see what fiends members of the Hive can be. And after meeting Spring you unconsciously downplayed the rumors you heard. This is not the case. These two ladies here are more of estimable exceptions to their kind then a picture of it.

The shadow of Changeling Queen looms over the whole species Cedar. It corrupts and twists them into something similar to her. The worst of all that they don't have a choice, and they honestly believe there isn't one. Exposed from the birth to this belief, this conviction that only means of existence is being the locust that scourge other nations means that even if given a choice they wouldn't take it. If you truly want to help built a bridge between ponies and changelings you have to first save future generations of the later from Queen's influence. Most that belong to current ones are beyond hope, being little the extensions of her ideals. If you do, prepare to share the heavy burden that your beloved will carry."

 

After giving Cedar quite mouthful of words, hooded visage turned to do the same for Naj.

 

"And you Spring. For all you growth, all your time spent in Equestria, you still think like a simple drone soldier. You cannot be replaced! As Cedar said, you are important, you no longer a cog in the wheel. What you do matters, but not because you are changeling, but because you made a choice. You may think that your situation that you are right now is matter of lucky circumstances. That's not the case. True, your exile may be not your wish, but everything afterwards was. It was you who decided to show your true self to him. You who decided that you would integrate yourself into society instead of being repulsive parasite like Queen servants. You who decided to make it official. In reality you were honest with someone who matters most. Yourself."

Clocked pony poked her chitinous chest with his hoof for emphasis. He wasn't however done yet. Starting trotting back and forth he continued.

"What neither of you understand is that's no longer a case of just society. It's also politics now. As you know firsthoof Spring, Chrysalis rules by using three great leverages. First her unrivaled magical might within the Hive. Second her charisma and cunning. And third, promoting belief that changeling way of life as it is now is the only possible one. And what you did today was undermining that last one." stallion in black explained.

"This is a blow, a savage blow directed at Chysalis that neither Princess Cadance, Celestia or Twilight Sparkle could make. Simply so because they don't have chitin they could call their own. Oh sure Hive knew about earlier renegades, but they pretty much believed that they live at bare bottom of the barrel. Scrapping for whatever amounts of love they could find. The majority of the changelings thought that it serves them right, while those few who are...different were assured that trying to leave is hopeless." unicorn wasn't shy from words to describe complete picture of the situation.

 

"And suddenly you did what you did today. Changeling, in the happy relationship with a pony, sated with love, granted citizenship! Not pummeled to smear on spot after dropping a disguise! When the news about this will reach the Hive questions will start to pop up. Questions inconvenient for Chrysalis."

Cloaked stranger stopped his pace and leaned directly towards the Naj.

"Chrysalis may had a few mistakes or overlooked few things in the past but she is no fool. Or rather, she's specific, dangerous kind of fool. You not material for a martyr Spring. Not yet, Queen will know it from the start. A true martyr have some kind of authority or fame, and you have neither now. As far as Equestria is concerned you are still a curiosity, a footnote. And within the Hive you will be viewed first as a dead-wish at best, and traitor at worst. "

Mysterious stallion wasn't sparing any unpleasantness from mixed species couple.

"And all of this because of you Spring, because of you. By the simple fact that you were first. Because of that and only that. It however makes you pioneer, a daredevil who dared to give Queen reign a challenge.  In time - leader."

Stallion made a long pause after all this talking. Clearly to allow his words to sink in.

"Notice that I said at first. The longer you are in one piece, the less advantageous will for Chrysalis to turn you into bloody stain. She too knows this, and thus she will try you removed out of the picture quickly. That said, it doesn't mean she will stop afterwards. As I and you know , she made mistakes in the pasts. You very well may be the next."

 

 

Next words of Naj, a seemingly innocent mention of ceiling made the stallion give her a long studious look. Even through she couldn't see his eyes, it was obvious that he was piercing her with it. And the with almost agonizingly slowness one hoof moved towards the black hood and slid it down. A impressive and long emerald mane cascaded on the stallion back and shoulders, encircling a head with a orange coat.

"I guess that this charade is unnecessary now." said Swift Squall, his keen gaze still glued to Naj.

"You have a good memory...Spring." praised her, seemingly dead pony.

[PyroBlaze]

Flux tilted her head at what the pony said next, saying that this could apply to her too. This pony knew what she was? Had they met before? The disguised changeling blinked a little bit in confusion, tapping her chin with a hoof as she thought about who it could be that they were talking to. At the same time, she was partially listening to what was being said, though she wasn't exactly directing all her attention to it. At the moment, she could only really think of one pony that talked like this pony, but he was dead...

 

When the stallion revealed himself, Flux looked over and gave a happy squeal. The next thing he would know, he had been tackle-hugged by the exuberant changeling, and was now in a very strong hug for her.

 

"Squally! You're alive!" She said happily, not letting go at all for now. "How did you come back? Are you a zombie? A vampire?"

[RedCedar]

As the cloaked pony rose from his seat, Red's whole body tensed up, from the shoulder Naj was leaning against to his flank as though ready to spring. Had Naj not been leaning against him, he may well have risen up to stand face-to-cowl with... whoever this was, but instead he just glared under the fabric as best he could.

 

Naivete? Really? Exactly how was he supposed to discount rumours of what happened in Canterlot and Ponyville when he was living with a changeling who had been at both, and had fought on both sides? Fiends? No matter the methods used by the changelings, they at least tended to keep their enemies alive. That was more than could be said for the barbarian caribou he and Naj had encountered in the Crystal Empire. Nothing was likely to strike Red as being any more fiendish than that for the rest of his life.

 

Red was about to forcefully voice his rebuttal when Flux bounded in and gave the pony a massive squeeze as he unmasked himself upon Naj's recognition of him despite the cloak. While at first it seemed out of place, Red had to admit Flux's attitude to most things had a way of diffusing tension like nothing else. That, combined with a certain amount of relief at being able to at least see the face of the pony who had been talking to him, led him to a deep chuckle that soon turned into a hearty laugh for a good few moments, until finally Red composed himself again to look at Squall.

 

"You're going to have to do a lot better than that in order to intimidate me into changing my thinking." he said.

[DerpRavener]

It turned out Naj's guess was right, and not only that but the stranger picked up the hint and decided it was enough to reveal his identity as Swift Squall.  Naj looked over, once he removed his disguise, and her expression softened a bit.  After giving him a moment to get used to the resulting surprise-hug from Flux, Naj spoke.  “It's good to see you again, I was...a little sad to hear you'd died.”  Granted, her emotions on the matter were a bit general.  She never really felt like she knew him personally, but he was recognizable enough that there was a small but very present sense of loss at his apparent passing. “Unsurprised mind, but still sad.”

Pleased as she was, Naj was still in no state to be trying to keep pace with Squall, and she buried herself into Red's side once more as she considered the arguments presented.

 

“You said it yourself: Chrysalis is a fool,” Naj muttered after a moment.  “She's too vain to consider me a threat.  And even if she did, you really think she of all changelings could get a strike group all the way here without notice?”  Naj shook her head.  “I still gotta worry about wandering scouts, true, but that's been the case since the start of my exile.”  And she wasn't too worried about that either.  Any changeling with the necessary training to get close without Naj's noticing, was bound to be a weaker combatant than her.  She hugged Red closer.  “I know I can keep us safe.”  Even though the phrase was half mumbled, Naj was very confident about it.

 

She almost fell silent after that, but she remembered one last thing wanted to say.  “Ponies aren't that different from changelings, you know.”  She didn't explain herself, leaving it to the listener to piece together which comment she was talking about.  “Remember the Crystal Empire attack?  The warband I fought was led by a unicorn.  Y'can't call a whole species evil just because some of them are.  You can't condemn a whole species just because they have a dung-headed queen.”  She practically spat the last few words.

 

“Still,” she mumbled, closing her eyes.  “You're not all wrong.  Still gotta be careful around other changelings.”  She didn't say who needed to be careful, because she was pretty sure that by now the statement applied near equally to all of them.  “And something does have to be done about Chrysalis...someday...”

[Ciraxis]

"It takes more then single skirmish to do me Spring. But...thank you. And it's good to see you too." Squall said. There was something...different about him since their last face-to-face meeting.  While noblepony still seemed incredibly tenacious Swift also spoke...softer, almost reassuring. Before he could add anything else Squall was glomped by now ecstatic Flux. Unicorn raised unconsciously raised his hoof to deal with 'attack'. It wasn't often that he received such signs of of affection.

"I...didn't needed to Flux. And if I were any kind of undead I would certainly be paler." he reassured the quirky changeling, while tentatively returning the hug.

On 6.02.2016 at 8:18 AM, RedCedar said:

"You're going to have to do a lot better than that in order to intimidate me into changing my thinking." he said.

Squall freed himself from Flux embrace before he could respond to those words.

"It's not me or my words that you should be wary of Cedar, for I am you and your sweetheart ally." he avered the other stallion. "Believe me, if I wanted to bring harm to you or Spring, combined efforts of you three wouldn't be enough to stop me." he added in impassive tone.

On 12.02.2016 at 9:37 AM, DerpRavener said:

“You said it yourself: Chrysalis is a fool,” Naj muttered after a moment.  “She's too vain to consider me a threat.  And even if she did, you really think she of all changelings could get a strike group all the way here without notice?”  Naj shook her head.  “I still gotta worry about wandering scouts, true, but that's been the case since the start of my exile.”

"Complete idiot's don't remind in charge despite so many setbacks Breeze." unicorn replied, slightly annoyed that Spring downplayed the danger the was looming over her.

"And even if she would dismiss you, she got allies now. Allies that may be more provident then her, the one's behind recent assault on the Crystal Empire. Changelings will scout you and others will do dirty work. Stalliongard is industry city, it wouldn't be so hard for some mercenaries to pretend being workers in nearby factory or shipyard. And that's just one possibility Spring." swordstallion warned.

On 12.02.2016 at 9:37 AM, DerpRavener said:

“I know I can keep us safe.”  Even though the phrase was half mumbled, Naj was very confident about it.

"..........." Squall's meaningful prolonged silence was enough to show what he was thinking about such bold claim.

On 12.02.2016 at 9:37 AM, DerpRavener said:

She almost fell silent after that, but she remembered one last thing wanted to say.  “Ponies aren't that different from changelings, you know.”  She didn't explain herself, leaving it to the listener to piece together which comment she was talking about.  “Remember the Crystal Empire attack?  The warband I fought was led by a unicorn.  Y'can't call a whole species evil just because some of them are.  You can't condemn a whole species just because they have a dung-headed queen.”  She practically spat the last few words.

"Indeed they aren't . You're among those who taught me that Breeze." Swift admitted. "And I recall that day clearly as well. After all I 'died' there. Is your kind evil? No, not in itself. I am sure that changeling raised from birth away from the Hive would turn as any other Equestrian would. I met one already to confirm this."

Squall turned back, staring at the empty car's corridor. "It's culture of your species itself that's poisoned, and as long as that cockroach is in charge and current changeling generations  arealive it will not change. You do remember Spring don't you? Your compatriots from back then? I can bet that they didn't had any kind words directed towards the ponies, aside the context of the meal that is. To be blunt, Flux here could be someone entirely different, perhaps it is a blessing that she lost her memory, a second chance most changeling's doesn't get."

Noblepony turned around and looked gently at back to that moment overlooked changeling.

"Pleased don't take it to personaly. You may not know who you were before Flux. Maybe a saint, maybe devil, maybe someone inbetween. It doesn't matter. All I know that you're a friend here and now and that's all that counts. Don't chase phantoms of the past Flux, build a new life for yourself, as you see fit." Squall encouraged Flux with few gentle words.

But seconds later his attention was back on the Naj.

"Assuming that Chrysalis would be deal with, what then Breeze? Who would appoint new Queen? Princesses? Changelings themselves? If the former Hive would revolt eventually, if the later she will most likely continue the same course of leadership. Think about it for a while, you don't have to answer Spring."

Swift felt silent for a moment before he continued.

"But I strayed from the topic. If I would have to guess about your reveal and time of news about it reaching Chrysalis or WRAITH.....I would assume that you have time to next Summer Sun Celebration before they will send someone."  Squall theorized.

"As such my advice for you two would be to stay hidden and move from place to place, only appearing at public to rise awareness about possible integration of our species."

Unicorn paused and gave  heavy sigh. "But that would contradict what you did today isn't it? Very well then, I have little choice." 

Squall stepped back and slowly drew his sword - until now hidden under his cloak. The atmosphere in the dimly lit cabin got a whole lot thicker. But before any of the three could say anything more Swift  rised his weapon....

And planted it in the floor, before Cedar and Naj,.

"The only way to not get yourself killed is to train you. Yes you heard that right, train you Spring. And possibly you too Cedar if you wish so. You think you can deal with Chrysalis goons? Perhaps, perhaps not. But before you ponder rejection, don't you have other obligations beyond protecting yourself and your love? You already chosen where you homeland is." noblepony reminded the changeling, with his hoof pointing the 'E' shaped badge that was still in her grip.

"I traveled the whole known world Spring. From the frozen wastes of the north, to the scorched sands of Saddle Arabia and everything in between. I been at gloom swamps of Soggalong, unforgiving jungles of Unyasi, barely explored islands on the east ocean and mountains so high that you can barely breathe there. I seen that and many more, as well as dangers that lurk in such places. The duty you and I took upon our shoulders can take you to any of those places. I can teach how to be prepared for that and to make Changeling Queen finest soldiers look like amateurs, but nothing without you consent Breeze."

With that offer Swift kept looking at Naj, waiting for the answer.

 

[PyroBlaze]

Flux tilted her head a bit as Swift responded before returning the hug and breaking it rather quickly. She supposed he was right though, most undead creatures seemed to be much paler than normal, for whatever reason. The disguised changeling sat there, watching in silence as she listened to the others speak. She still wasn't entirely sure why they had wanted her to come along, but she didn't mind one bit. She got to see her friend again, and it sounded like things were going to get even more exciting!

"You're going to teach them to fight? Cool!" Flux said, bouncing in place a little bit before abruptly stopping and tapping her chin with a hoof. "What about me though?"

[RedCedar]

Red shook his head. Clearly, Naj knew this particular pony much better than he did, but even so, he wasn't making a great first impression in Red's mind. Squall came across as arrogant to the point of being cocky, and that didn't sound like a good combination in a fighter, either for him or for anyone anywhere near him.

"If I decide to get any sort of training, I think I'll find someone else to do it," Red said simply, without explaining his reasoning. "But I agree with Naj. The best way forward is to be in plain sight as much as possible. It will eventually make ponies question their fear of changelings and changelings question the motives of their queen." He curled a hoof around Naj's shoulders. "And that would be the best we could ask for."

[DerpRavener]

"It's not me or my words that you should be wary of Cedar, for I am you and your sweetheart ally.  Believe me, if I wanted you or Spring harm combined efforts of you three wouldn't be enough to stop me."

Naj felt her blood start to boil at the statement.  Whether or not he meant it to be, what Squall just said was a threat to her and Red Cedar.  It indicated, at the very least, a measure of indifference toward hurting the two of them, if it suited his interests.  Naj could handle threats to herself.  As a soldier, that was almost the job description.  But a threat to Red...that struck a nerve.  She was suddenly much more awake, and glaring daggers at Squall.  “I would appreciate you not threatening my coltfriend,” she said coldly, after a moment.
She took a breath, forcing herself to calm down and remember that Swift Squall was still a friend and trying to help, even if he had an...odd way of showing it.  Threatening him back wouldn't be very productive, and wouldn't leave Naj as any better a person.  The changeling did have another option, however.  As she calmed down and felt the tiredness return, she snuggled back into Red's side, and off-hoofedly said “s'not very Equestrian of you, Squall, using threats of force to make a point.”

Squall spoke to, and about, Flux for a bit.  Naj wasn't sure what she could add to this, and for the most part stayed quiet, although she tried to look supportive and nodded in agreement when phrases such as 'you're a friend here and now and that's all that counts'.

Naj listened quietly as the unicorn detailed his thoughts, including when he thought assassins would come for her and Red, through his recommendation that they go into hiding and start moving around, before Squall himself finally concluded that such a course of action would be counter to what they really wanted in the long run.  He concluded his monologue by drawing his sword...before planting in in the floor, and offering to train the two of them.  “...More property damage?...” Naj mumbled out, before she could stop herself.
The offer wasn't a bad one though.  She understood Red's refusal, Squall wasn't really trying to make the best impression to somepony who didn't know him, here.  And Red wasn't wrong: Naj herself thought Swift Squall was too reckless for his own good.  All the same, she'd also seen his drive, and his capability.  He certainly could accomplish something that he set his mind to, and Naj was certain she would learn a thing or two from his instruction either way.  Besides, her own fighting style tended toward more subdued openings and catching the enemy off-guard.  It would be nice to learn a style she could use when she didn't have that element of surprise.  Naj grinned.  “I'll take you up on that, I bet there's a lot I could learn.  And you let me worry about Red, we've talked about this before.”  It was a conversation she thought the two of them would have to revisit at some point in the future.  She shifted a bit.  “Later though.  M'tired now.”

Yet again, she was about ready to stop talking when one more thing crossed her mind.  “Squall, I don't suppose you visited the 'culture fair' that happened a little while ago, were you?  There was a changeling, uh,” she needed a moment to think of the right word, eventually settling “ 'section' there.”  Before she got into a full explanation, she wanted to see how much he knew, and to see how he reacted to this information.

[Ciraxis]

On 14.03.2016 at 9:43 AM, DerpRavener said:

“I would appreciate you not threatening my coltfriend,” she said coldly, after a moment.

"I did not even begun." replied the stallion bluntly. There wasn't a hint of boasting in his tone, only stating a hard, cold fact.

"To threat, is to tie up the crook and dangle him over the rooftop edge until he starts cooperating to give the example. Or break one of the legs and promise to do the same with other three if he or she doesn't talk." Swift explained to his now surely horrified traveling companions. Their expressions made him feel that he needed to clarify. "I don't deal with nice ponies Spring. I deal with the lowest of lowest, you three should realize that. The scum, the sociopaths, one's who would sell their mother for a nickel and slit the throat of papa for the other. Like those sadists that tormented ponies during that Nightmare Night. Or caribou thugs who slain innocents during the Crystal Fair. The fear and force are the only language they all understand. You three? You are as far from them as it can possibly be. I couldn't imagine a situation when I should have to threaten any of you."

On 14.03.2016 at 9:43 AM, DerpRavener said:

 As she calmed down and felt the tiredness return, she snuggled back into Red's side, and off-hoofedly said “s'not very Equestrian of you, Squall, using threats of force to make a point.”

"No! Not to make a point. Never to just make a point, we are different from them!" noblepony exploded with a sudden outburst. Apparently something in Naj's words that touched the not-so-stoic stallion's nerve. His jade eye's glowed with emotion and magic, and somehow that simple stare gave bigger sense of danger then any of his earlier words. Unicorn gazed at the three in silence before emerald light died out and he asked. "I ask you this then Spring, what is Equestrian way then? Those 1000 years of apathy that's behind us? Turning another cheek again and again? Pretending that nothing ever happens and keep being carefree and ignorant?" he questioned before pausing. When he spoke up again his emotions were again under the wraps. "Fear is a powerful weapon Spring, one that shouldn't be wielded lightly. Such as Sombra and Changeling Queen know about it well and they abuse it. Terror can paralyze your mind and body, making you easier to be dealt with, question if what you do is really worth it. I don't believe into 'eye for an eye' philosophy Spring, but for far too long we left that sword unused. It's about time for the wicked to feel the cold breath of dread on their neck, before it's followed by fiery justice. If I have to use icy blade of fear to allow one of steel to remain sheathed....then so be it." Swift expressed in a solemn tone.

On 14.03.2016 at 9:43 AM, DerpRavener said:

“...More property damage?...” Naj mumbled out, before she could stop herself.

"I always pay for what I break Spring, being able to buy whole railroad company notwithstanding." Squall answered, as deadpan as Naj herself.

On 13.03.2016 at 7:17 AM, RedCedar said:

"If I decide to get any sort of training, I think I'll find someone else to do it," Red said simply, without explaining his reasoning. "But I agree with Naj. The best way forward is to be in plain sight as much as possible. It will eventually make ponies question their fear of changelings and changelings question the motives of their queen." He curled a hoof around Naj's shoulders. "And that would be the best we could ask for."

"It's your choice Cedar. But I implore you, don't simply surrender yourself to the turn of event's or others whim. Some things have to be met head on, and the only thing evil need is for the good ponies to do nothing." apparently Swift didn't felt insulted at all with earth pony blunt refusal, instead offering some words of advice instead.

On 5.03.2016 at 2:28 AM, PyroBlaze said:

"You're going to teach them to fight? Cool!" Flux said, bouncing in place a little bit before abruptly stopping and tapping her chin with a hoof. "What about me though?"

"........" noblepony was silent for a moment after Flux question. But when it seemed that he will ignore it he spoke up again.

"You're eager to take up the sword. But I ask you this Flux. What for?" Squall followed with question of his own. "I kept an eye on you from a distance as well. And to be honest Flux there is nothing constant in your life. Up until now you been searching for yourself moving from place to place like as a vagrant. If I were to train you you will have to make a choice. Perhaps more then one."

Squall made a half-turn to look directly at the quirky changeling. "First, I outright refuse to teach someone who will turn against Equestria. Or help it's enemies for that matter. Second...I can only be in one place at a time, and there is a lot on my shoulders. If I were to teach you as well you would either to find a place for yourself in Stalliongrad, Fillydelphia...or stick with me as much as possible. At least until we will be done with training that is." he explained. "If you worried about the price of house or apartment I can easily cover it."

On 14.03.2016 at 9:43 AM, DerpRavener said:

Yet again, she was about ready to stop talking when one more thing crossed her mind.  “Squall, I don't suppose you visited the 'culture fair' that happened a little while ago, were you?  There was a changeling, uh,” she needed a moment to think of the right word, eventually settling “ 'section' there.”  Before she got into a full explanation, she wanted to see how much he knew, and to see how he reacted to this information.

"Should I?" Swift answered in that non-committal way he often did. When it became clear it wasn't an answer Naj's was expecting he elaborated. "It would be yes and no Spring. I wasn't aware that changeling's had one until Expo was over. And the reason for that ignorance..." Squall gave a heavy sigh "....is that despite everything I still try to have as much life as I can."

Squall paused for a moment before speaking again. "Tell me Spring. Do you remember your parents? And whenever you do or not, would you think they were happy in the Hive?"