The Lost Changeling: Taken it Back

I wake up to a tap on the shoulder from a changeling laying next to me... Carve.

I must have gotten back to the hive so late last night, I hardly remember what I did and didn’t do.

“Hey, Chrysalis? What’s going on?”

I lightly chuckle, holding my mouth with my right hoof.

“Sorry, Carve. I must not’ve been quite myself last night when I returned from my day with Starlight Glimmer.”

“So, are you going to be doing the whole disguise thing every day? I have ponies that I live with.”

...right. That.

“Well, I would’ve done it, had you simply lived here. I don’t want you to end up homesick. Plus, you’d have to end up playing catch-up with where Rusty Flashlight and Pane Fall went if you were still here until I was done with building good terms with Equestria. There has to be a simpler way of doing this. Maybe...”

“Maybe Starlight will do the same as Trace Light did when I came back early from Akron. The fact I was depressed managed to get to Princesses Luna and Celestia. Maybe the same will happen with your-”

HELLO?!?

Carve gasps, likely in recognition of the intruding voice.

“Hold on, Chrysalis. I have to get down.”

A hole opens as Carve waves to me, allowing her to temporarily exit my throne room.

;=;

Shocked, I hover out of the throne room, landing in front of the source of the voice, finding out who it is to my shock.

“Trace Light, what’re you DOING here?!? This isn’t a place for little fillies like you to be visiting all willy nilly!”

“But this is my chance to impress all of the Foal Free Press AND all of Ponyville!”

“...and what do you plan on impressing the FFP with?”

“I overheard that Chrysalis is now on good terms with Starlight Glimmer AND the Great and Powerful Trixie!! Is it true?!?”

I sigh in slight frustration, putting my right hoof over my nose.

“Look, Trace Light. What you’re doing can actually be pretty risky. You might be tampering with the wrong changeling. You may want to check with whoever you live under first.”

“Aw, okay. Can I at least come back if I do get the go ahead?”

“If you do, then yes. But TRY to be very careful about it, okay?”

Trace Light nods and takes to the sky towards Ponyville.

“Bye Carve!”

I nod at her, ready to head back up to Chrysalis’ throne room.

;=;

Carve arrives back into the throne room after ending the conversation with the intruding filly.

“So, Carve, who was the source of that intruding voice?”

“It was just Rusty Flashlight’s niece. She wanted to see if she could help out the Foal Free Press with a highlight of you, Trixie and Starlight Glimmer.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I told her she’d have to see if whoever she lives with is okay with coming over here again. If she doesn’t come back, that means her guardian said no.”

“And who would be her guardian, Carve?”

“Her... her father, I guess.”

“Good. That is all I was wondering.”

Suddenly, something pops into my mind.

“Wait a minute. You told Trace Light to ask for her father’s permission to document my amends. He’s likely going to deny that permission.”

“So, uh, what’re you saying?”

“Welcome to the first lesson in ruling a hive, Carve. Sometimes, you have to make your own decisions, even though others won’t like it, even if it means you risk losing something close to you.”

“Just like what Correal did?”

“That is an extreme I would NEVER allow otherwise, but in the case that it played out, Correal permanently left the waking world because of the neglected issue of adjusting to my lack of presence, under a ruler I shall not name.”

“What do you think would’ve happened if I simply let her talk to you?”

“Chances are that the Foal Free Press would’ve been able to shine me in a positive light. There’s still a chance of it if Trace Light’s father grants her permission, but it’s pretty slim now. All we can do now is wait. I will wait for Trace Light’s return. You can reunite with Rusty Flashlight and Pane Fall if you want.”

“Really? Thanks.”

“However, I may need to send Cilia over to take you back over here tomorrow. It depends on whether or not I see Trace Light today. If she does, I’ll wait an extra day to move forward with plans.”

“Alright. We have a deal. I’ll see you tomorrow or the day after.”

I nod at Carve as she walks out of the throne room.

;=;

As I approach Rusty’s house, I look at the house’s shadow. It appears to be relatively long, but it doesn’t reach the stoop that Rusty has, giving me the hint that I’m just in time for lunch. However, when I try to open the door, it feels locked. Looking in front of my hooves, I levitate a welcome mat, only to see that there’s nothing under it.

I knock on the door a few times.

“Rusty? Can you let me in? It’s Carve!”

As a result of a knock, the corner of my right eye catches a descending note on the porch.

Carve,

If you are reading this, I’m searching for you all over Equestria, with Pane accompanying me. We departed on Monday night, and we don’t know when we’ll be back at Las Pegasus. We might need to look over at the hive... might. If you want to get in the house, there’s a key in the bottom mailbox. It should be the correct one.

Yours truly,
Rusty Flashlight.

Looking up from the note, I see two mailboxes. One shaped like a miniature locker, and the other under it shaped like a package. I quickly use my horn to open the bottom box, and successfully find a key in it. When I put it in the lock and turn it, a clack sounds, followed by a low pop, then a soft creak. Opening the door, I look at the living room, looking like it was when I first left to see Carina.

Then, I look over the kitchen, not seeing much about it that stuck out. Finally, I look over at Rusty’s room. It looks strewn with Power Ponies comics and a bunch of pens and blank papers.

“Wow. He really did leave.”

Suddenly, something comes up into my thoughts.

Sometimes, you have to make your own decisions, even though others won’t like it, even if it means you risk losing something close to you.

“So, Rusty went looking for me on his own accord, and tagged Pane along with him? Hmmm. I may find it a little disappointing, but I can understand where he’s coming from.”

It clicks. What Chrysalis said is true.

The proof is from what Rusty did.

No matter what I think, Rusty’s out there, looking for me.

At the very least, I can always return to the hive...

nmnmnmnmnmnmn…

Um, maybe I’ll want to find a neighbor to hang with first though.

...or maybe some of the food in the kitchen...