Internal Changeling Affairs

Chapter Four:

Find Out Whodunit

“Attention, security”  the voice from the mare at the receptionist desk blared from the intercom.  “we have five mares at the lobby causing trouble.  They are demanding to see a heavily guarded patient.  I need guards sent down here to remov-…hey!  Give that back!”  there was a pause.

Again the receptionist’s voice blared.  “This blue Pegasus mare with a rainbow colored mane is getting belligerent”

Suddenly there was a high pitched metallic screech caused by interference with the intercom.  After the brief and unpleasant din, a familiar voice began to speak.

“Hey Twilight!  It’s us!  Where are you?!”  the voice yelled.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight gasped.  “my friends came to visit my brother with me!” she exclaimed now emitting tears of joy.  “Princess Celestia, please tell the guards to allow them to come up here.”

“certainly Twilight” the princess answered.  She then levitated the hospital  room’s telephone with the magic from her horn to page her guards.  “security, disregard that last message” the princess’ voice was now echoing throughout the entire building over the loudspeakers.  “instead, please escort those five mares up to room 211”

“on second thought, Twilight” Princess Luna said softly.  “I think it’s time we all get going and let your brother continue to rest.  The hospital will let us know if there is a change in his condition.  We will meet your friends half way”.

Princess Celestia then said “I agree, sis.  I don’t think right now is the best time to have ten visitors at the same time”

Twilight Sparkle then out of nowhere said “I will find out who did this to you, Shining”.  she was standing at the side of her brother’s bed, her eyes tightly shut and her right hoof shaking like a fist.

The other three noticed her, understanding what she was going through.

“Twilight, I think we should all go now” Princess Cadence said concerned that her sister in law would have a brain aneurism if she didn’t calm down soon.

Twilight then abruptly turned to Cadence her eyes now glowing with rage.  “I’m dead ~squee~ing serious!” Twilight cursed, surprising the other three whom had never heard her use such language before.  “if anypony thinks I’m going to let this crock of ~squee~ go unpunished, they are sadly ~squee~ing mistaken!”

"Twilight, please!"  Cadence begged her.  "That vein in your forehead is about to burst!"

“we need to get her out of here.” Celestia said.  “she’s seen enough for now”

The four ponies made their way out the door Twilight last in line behind Cadence.  She looked back at the door being slowly shut by the guard standing next to it staring at her brother lying on the bed until the door was closed and he was out of her sight.  They proceeded to the elevator at the end of the hallway.  As Princess Celestia reached for the button to call the elevator, it opened before she could press it revealing it’s occupants.  From left to right was Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and a guard.  The guard who was with them sported a more decorated uniform than most of the others indicating he must have had a higher rank.

“did you want me to bring this purple lizard thingy up too?” the guard said with a tone of rude sarcasm as he lifted spike up by the tale with his wing.

“I told you like ten times already, I’m a dragon!  Put me down!” spike demanded, showing he was angry but at the same time in pain.  The Pegasus guard let go of the young dragon’s tail in midair letting him hit the floor with a loud thud.

“Sergeant Goldstripe!” Princess Celestia yelled mortified at how the usually kind guard was treating spike.  “what has gotten into you lately?!”

All eyes were now glaring at the sergeant.  Rainbow Dash began to sweat profusely putting in her best effort to keep herself from leaving the building with a felony assault charge while Rarity held spike in her fore hoofs rubbing his back in attempt to comfort him.

“uuhh actually guys” spike said apparently enjoying Rarity’s embrace.  “I feel fine just as long as I get to stay right where I am.  No harm done”

“Listen, I don’t have time for this ~squee~”  Sergeant Goldstripe said, seeming like he couldn’t care less.  “I’ve got ~squee~ to do and I’m not waiting here all day”

“now you listen here, pal”  Rainbow Dash said still shaking from controlling her urge to throttle the uniformed officer.  “I've already got two strikes on me now but the more you talk, the less that fact is starting to matter to me"

“I think you had better leave right now, Sergeant” princess Celestia said.  “And I swear if you don’t shape up I will personally see to it that you are demoted to handing out tickets at parking meters!”

“all right, Princess” the guard replied.  I’ll get outta your hair, but before I do, I got some words for you kid” the officer said turning to Twilight Sparkle.

“me?” Twilight said surprised.

“yeah you” the guard replied.  “in the case of your brother, I understand that you may want to try to find answers here, right?”

“ you got that right and nothing is getting in my way” Twilight retorted.

“well if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay outta my way.  Watch your bac-”

“GO!” Princess Celestia cut him off.

Without saying another word, the guard finally left bringing much needed relief to Rainbow Dash.

“I would say that he’s a mean ‘ol meaniepants”  the normally talkative Pinkie Pie stated finally breaking her long silence.  “but I think that’s an understatement.  I’ll try to think of something to call him that would suit him better”

“how about one lucky ass~squee~” mumbled Rainbow Dash under her breath.

The group all entered the elevator and made their way down to the lobby.  The door slid open revealing the mare sitting at the front desk glaring at Rainbow Dash.  As they all walked towards the exit the mare’s eyes were following Rainbow the whole way.

“uhhh, about earlier, miss” Rainbow began, seeming apologetic.  “I’m sorry I took the microphone from you and smashed it.  I just wanted to be here for my friend”

“eh whatever” the receptionist replied.  “it’s not like it was mine anyway.  The hospital will pay for a new one so it won’t be coming out of my saddlebag”.

As the group walked out the door, Princess Celestia Remembered something that she had forgotten to mention.

“Twilight Sparkle” the princess said softly.  “you and your friends are more than welcome to stay at the palace while you are all investigating this case.  I don’t care what the sergeant says.  We’ll need all the help we can get and I can’t ask you to not intervene”

“thank you Princess” Twilight replied.

“certainly Twilight.  But um.  There is one problem here”

“what’s that?”

“well lets see” the princess began counting all the ponies in the group.  “we don’t have any way to transport all ten of us right now.  The palace is on the opposite side of the city and the stretch coach that princess Luna and myself used to get here had to be towed to the repair shop because the engine overheated.  the abnormally hot weather we've had lately hasn't helped it."

“you mean I have to walk the whole way?” Rarity whined.

“Oh heaven forbid she has to use her hoofs fer the very reason she has ‘em”  Applejack said sarcastically.

“I think I’ve got this covered, girls” Twilight said.  “all I need to do now is go to that payphone and make a call.  I’ll be right back”

As Twilight trotted over to the phone booth to arrange transportation for the group, Princess Luna pulled her elder sister aside to speak in private.

“now, about Sergeant Goldstripe, sister.  Aside from his attitude being different from the norm, I noticed something else.”

“what’s that, sister?” Celestia asked seeming confused.

“well, I always thought he had amber colored eyes.  Why are they green now?”

End Chapter Four