Chapters Consciousness didn't come easily for me. Every time I struggled to open my eyes, it felt like someone took wet burlap and smashed it into my face. It was hard to breath, and it felt like something had forced its way down into my throat and taken up permanent residence. Muted sounds filtered through the cotton in my ears and I began to pick out voices. Someone was out there. I began to gag on the object in my throat as I pushed my way further into the world of the living. I heard a voice call out for a doctor once I started to move. I panicked as I realized I was strapped down and unable to move to dislodge the thing in my mouth.
I struggled against my bonds, but managed nothing more than a weak writhing as I opened my eyes and looked around in terror. Standing in front of me was a pony, slightly taller than the bed I was laying on, with a cross cutie mark and a nurse's hat. She was yelling out the door for the doctor to hurry. To my right stood another pony, her wings clenched tight to her side as she hid behind her long pink mane. I tried to yell but it only came out as a raspy choking noise.
Finally the doctor appeared, his horn glowing and pulling the offensive device out of my mouth with a tingle of magic. I gasped for air and took several huge breaths as I was quickly offered a glass of clear liquid and a straw. I realized just how thirsty I was and took a long drink of, what I found to be, ice cold water. Once I began to slurp air, the cup was removed from my reach and I took another draw of air before coughing.
"Hello, sir, I'm Doctor Stitch. Now that we have that breathing tube out, you should feel better."
I nodded and managed to force out a few words. They came in a ragged whisper, as if I'd swallowed a glass of gravel instead of a glass of water, "Where... Where am I?"
"You're in Ponyville General. Do you remember what happened?"
I cast my mind back, trying to remember anything about what had landed me in this place. I remembered waking up, but before that, all was a blank void. I stuttered for several minutes before simply shaking my head. The next question out of his mouth made me feel even worse.
"What's your name?"
I tried to remember something, anything, but all I got was a sensation of terror. Everything about me was missing. All I had were the words that told me I was missing something important and the emotions that came with that realization, "I... I don't know."
"You don't know your name?" the yellow pegasus to my right said with a gasp, "That's horrible..."
I looked over at her, my left eye twitching slightly, "Yeah, you think?" I asked, as softly as I could without revealing the true depth of my anger. I should not have been angry with her. She was only voicing the feeling I was keeping inside. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting the feeling pass, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'm terrified."
The Doctor gave me one of those soft, condescending smiles his type are famous for, "That's perfectly understandable, given your situation. Can you remember anything at all?"
I thought for what felt like hours, but was probably only a few moments before shaking my head, "I can't remember anything..."
"Well, you still have your speech facilities intact. That's a good sign. You did take quite the knock to the noggin," he said.
"So," I coughed, my voice starting to give out on me, "What happened?"
I was given another glass of water to drink as the pegasus next to me spoke up, "Oh it was terrible... I was out tending to my animals when I heard a scream and saw you fly over the trees toward me. I ran inside, scared out of my mind, when you came crashing through the roof, my table, and landed in the basement. After I got myself under control, I brought you here."
"When she told us what happened, I was amazed you were still alive. You had a few broken ribs and your forelegs were broken on impact, but they've healed fine. We were mainly concerned with if you would wake up."
"H-how long?"
"You were in a coma for six months."
I had been in a coma for six months. I looked down at my limbs and realized I hadn't been strapped down, I was simply unable to move them because they had atrophied. When I thought of that word, I was briefly shocked that I knew it, but passed it off as something about amnesia I would never really understand. I looked to the pegasus and smiled as nicely as I could, "Thank you, Miss. I'm sorry about your house, I really am."
She smiled back at me, and I felt my heart soar for a brief moment, "It's fine, you couldn't help it. My name is Fluttershy by the way, if, um, that's alright with you."
My smile widened, "An angelic name for an angelic savior, I am in your debt, Miss Shy."
"Oh, no, Fluttershy is one word, but you can call me Miss Shy if you want..." she said bashfully, stepping back a little.
"Well, I'd love to continue this, but my throat is killing me."
"Ah, yes, that would be from the tube. Well, we have much to discuss, but I think it can wait until you've rested your throat a bit. I'll have Nurse Redheart here bring you some more water and maybe some soup."
"Soup would be wonderful!" I said, suddenly feeling an empty pit where I thought my stomach would be.
The nurse nodded and left, followed by the doctor. Fluttershy stood there for a moment before leaving herself. I managed to whisper a farewell before I lay back against the pillows and stared at the ceiling. Before I fell asleep from a combination of boredom and exhaustion, I continued to constantly attempt to move my limbs. I knew, deep down, that this was going to take a very long time to recover from.
I had come to realize over the past few days that I was an extremely light sleeper. The slightest out of place noise would wake me up instantly. Given that I was still in the Intensive Care ward of the hospital, this meant that every time an alarm went off in another patient's room, I was awake and groggy, wondering if it was my own. I told the staff, and was subsequently moved to an out of the way room on the third floor, where I could sleep and have easy access to the physical therapy I was going to be forced to undergo.
The first few months were simply strengthening spells and exercises to get my limbs back in shape, along with rudimentary magical training provided by the town librarian. Her name was Twilight Sparkle and she had taken an interest in my case. She was apparently the student of one of the rulers of the country, so I was quite flattered. This was also the time that I was told I was a unicorn, and that it was very odd for somepony my age to not have a cutie mark. In the back of my mind I knew what a cutie mark was, but had no idea what mine had been.
Staying in the hospital was boring, but luckily I remembered how to read, so I was able to blow through the entire stock of books the hospital had. I did not learn much, as most of it was fiction, but I was able to ask Miss Sparkle to bring me some nonfiction the next time she provided a lesson. I was improving rapidly, able to use my magic to levitate most every day objects I needed, but beyond that I didn't really try. I was more concerned with actually getting myself out of the hospital.
In all, it took another six months before I was cleared to leave, and I had remembered absolutely nothing. The doctors were hopeful that I would be able to regain my memory by doing rather than sitting in the same room I had been in for half a year. The first thing that occurred when I exited the hospital was a sudden flash of terror. I had absolutely no idea what to do. Standing there, looking around helplessly, I realized that I had no money, no home, and no job. I sighed and turned back, heading to the front desk, where Nurse Redheart sat.
"Excuse me, Nurse Redheart? I have a problem."
"You haven't even been gone for five minutes!" she said, looking shocked.
"No, no, not like that. It's just. I have no name, no job, no money, and no home. What am I supposed to do?"
"Oh, I hadn't thought of that. I'd suggest you visit the mayor, she may know what to do. If not her, try Twiilght Sparkle, she's the smartest pony in town."
"I'll do that, thank you," I said with a smile and turned to leave. I stepped outside and looked at the sky, smiling now that I had at least a temporary purpose. I had to speak with the mayor, and the librarian, and hopefully remember what my special talent is now that I'm out and about among hopefully familiar sights.
The strangest part of my day was a brief encounter I had with a bright pink pony wearing her mane like it was made of cotton candy. She spotted me across the market as I stood there appraising one of the fruit stands for possible later consumption, and ran up to me. She looked me over, sniffed my mane, narrowed her eyes and then gasped before disappearing off into the crowd once again. As I stood there, confused, the fruit seller smiled at me and laughed, "Ah see ya must be new, if Pinkie reacted that way. Alls ah can say is tonight ye're in fer a surprise."
"Well, I guess I must be... I was hoping Ponyville was my home."
The earth pony looked thoughtful for a moment and then flicked the brim of her hat with one hoof, "Ah! So ye're the unicorn who can't remember nothin that Twi's been on about. Pleasure ta meet ya. Mah name's Applejack, but my friend's call me AJ."
"Hello, Miss Applejack. I don't have a name, but it's a pleasure. How much are your apples, by the by? I have no bits to my name at the moment, but I'm going to be off looking for work after I meet with the mayor to find a place to sleep."
"Can't remember yer name, eh? Well, then ye definitely can't remember the taste of a Sweet Apple Acres apple, so have one on the house!" she said, tossing me an apple. I caught it in my magic and smiled, placing it back down.
"I really couldn't. I just ate at the hospital before they discharged me anyway."
"Nonsense, save it for later then. Ah won't have nopony goin hungry just cause they ain't got any bits."
I sighed and finally accepted the apple, "As you wish, Miss Applejack," I said with a little smile.
"No need for that 'Miss' there, Blue boy."
I chuckled, "Alright then. I'll see you around, Applejack. And thanks again for the apple."
"You just remember where you buy 'em from now on, ya hear?"
I nodded and trotted off toward the town center, following directions I had retrieved from one of the ponies that was wandering town. I held the apple next to my head, making a mental note that one of my first purchases should be a pair of saddlebags. It was a strange experience, walking through town with no memories.
As I walked into the town hall, I began to think about what to call myself. I did not have many defining features. My coat was a dark blue, with my mane and tail simply fading from the color my coat to a pale powder blue at the tips. My eyes were purple, a not uncommon color, and nothing about me really stood out. I suppose if I had parents or a special talent I would have a name related to one of the two, but at the moment nothing struck me. I wandered down a corridor when I heard the most atrocious sound coming from a side room. The only thing I could compare it to was a griffon and hydra in mating season fighting over a particularly whiny elephant.
I pushed the door open and found a trio of small foals trying, and failing, to play a set of instruments. I gaped at them in horror until they finally stopped.
"Sorry, mister, was it really that bad?" said the small white unicorn filly.
I could only nod, dumbfounded that an instrument could be played so badly. I took the saxophone she had been playing from her and sighed, looking it over for damage. Perhaps the instrument itself was defective. Seeing no obvious signs of damage I shrugged and put the reed in my mouth. Curling my lower lip into position and pressing several keys, I blew a perfect, resonate G. I blinked and began to move up and down the scale, testing the instrument as I tested myself. Something in me tingled in happiness as I slid into a tune that seemed familiar, even as it was completely unknown to me. I played it for several moments before stopping for air and blushing softly.
"I'm sorry, girls, I just wanted to make sure it worked. I guess it does."
The three fillies simply stared at me in shock before smiling and starting to dance around me. I was highly confused as I turned my head to watch them. Spotting something on my flank, I spun around like a dog chasing its tail before I finally got a good angle and noticed that my cutie mark had reappeared, or that a new one had sprung into being. It was an alto saxophone, like I had been playing with three quarter notes flowing out of the bell, "Oh! It's back!"
They stopped, "It's back? What do ya mean by that?!" the earth pony shouted, her bow bobbing as she stopped bouncing.
"Oh, I had lost my cutie mark with the rest of my memory..."
"So you're the nameless pony that everypony's been talking about!" shouted the pegasus, staring at me.
I just grinned and blushed, putting the sax back onto what I guessed was its usual stand before turning back to the fillies, "Yeah, that's me. I had no idea I could play that thing. Now I just need a name."
The three looked at each other, then back at me with a huge grin on each of their faces. I opened my mouth to ask them what they were thinking but was interrupted by the loudest noise I could remember hearing, "Cute Mark Crusaders Pony Namers, YAAAY!"
I feel onto my flank and shook my head to try and clear the ringing out of my ears. As my hearing cleared, I could hear them muttering among themselves with name ideas. I rolled my eyes and listened until I heard one of them say "Alto."
"Alto? I like that... Alto Sax sounds good to me, what do you girls think?"
They all beamed at me, and then checked their flanks with a frown before emitting a chorus of disappointed awws. I smiled and apologized to them for interrupting the musical escapades and excused myself before I could get roped into anything further. I realized I could only handle so long with a group of foals. Now, with a name and a talent, I proceeded to the mayor's office with a new spring in my step.
Meeting the Mayor & the party
At this point in my journey, I feel it necessary to state that I highly doubt I am insane in any meaningful way. Despite this admission, I found myself lost in the labyrinthine confines of the town hall. It did not seem this large from the outside, but here I was, wondering halls and finding doors to nowhere or endless filing rooms. It felt like I had been there for hours, so I had eaten my apple while taking a break and consulting a faded map on the wall. Applejack was right, they were incredibly tasty.
Eventually, I discovered the office of the mayor, nestled between Filing Room 113-A-6 and Filing Room 348-Q-1. Don't ask me how that made any sense to anypony other than the designer of the building. I knocked twice and entered when called.
"How can I help you?" asked the silver-maned pony seated behind the desk, surrounded by piles of paper.
"I... I'm the pony that was in the coma, with amnesia?" I asked hesitantly.
"Ah, yes. Have you had any luck remembering anything?"
"Just that I am apparently very skilled at playing the saxophone, so this lovely trio of fillies dubbed me Alto. You may wish to improve the sound proofing in the music room."
"Honestly, I didn't know we had a music room. So, Alto, what can I help you with?"
"Well, Miss Mayor, I have no home, no job, and no money. I was wondering what options there were."
"As far as I'm aware, we don't have any facilities here for temporary housing, but I'm sure one of the ponies in town would be willing to take you in temporarily. We're a very tight-knit and helpful community. As for a job and bits, Sugarcube Corner is always hiring, you can borrow that saxophone you were playing until you can afford your own and play in the park or along the market. If you're up to it, Applebuck season starts in three months, and the Apple family could always use an extra set of hooves."
I pondered this information for a moment before nodding, "Alright, thank you, Mayor. I'll definitely take you up on that saxophone. Is there any paperwork to fill out for that?"
"Luckily, no. I'm sure you're the only pony who can actually play that thing in town, and I have a good memory."
I chuckled, "Thank you again," I said, bowing and backing out of the office. I spent the next few hours navigating my way back to the music room and packing up the instrument in question before exiting the building into the cool evening. I worked my way over towards the bakery known as Sugarcube Corner, intent on securing a steady source of income. While I loved to play, I was sure it would not provide nearly enough regular income to allow me to live on my own. So, it would have to be a little extra trotting around money. I wondered why the bakery would be hiring constantly, but narrowed it down to either a problem customer or a problem employee. I would discover which of these very shortly.
As I approached, the sign on the door said "Closed for Private Party," with an arrow for official business to be directed to the rear. I wandered round back and knocked on the back door, only to have it swing inward slowly, with an ominous creak. I poked my head in, lighting my horn for light, "Hello?"
My call went unanswered in the darkness beyond the reach of my horn and, being not that brave, I determined it would be in my best interests to return at another time, preferably when the facilities were well lit. As I turned away, my vision was filled with a pink blur and then blackness. I struggled futilely as I was shoved inside and through another door. The blinding object was removed from my head and lights were thrown on to a loud shout of, "Surprise!"
I admit to the shame that I nearly wet myself in terror at first, before I realized where I was. It was a surprise party, for me of all ponies. A banner hung at the back of the room proclaimed that this was a "Welcome to Ponyville, ~~Nameless~~ Alto!" party. As my heart rate returned to normal, I was aware of a bouncing pink pony in front of me asking me if I was really surprised and saying things faster than I could process.
"I, yes, I'm surprised. Hello, everypony! I don't think I deserve a party."
"Oh, Alto, I'm Pinkie Pie! I give a party to every pony who's new in Ponyville, and you're definitely new to Ponyville! So of course you're going to get a party to welcome you to town and meet as many ponies as possible."
I blinked a few times, letting her speech filter, "Thank you, Miss Pie," I said with a smile, "I uh, am not really sure how to behave at parties."
"Oh, you just go out there and mingle and have fun!" she said before bouncing off to the other guests. I shook my head and made my way over to the refreshments, where I was met by a familiar purple unicorn, "Twilight! A pleasure to see you here."
"One does not miss a Pinkie Party," she said with a smile, "I also heard that you were looking for a place to stay? Fluttershy offered her spare bedroom, and Applejack offered her barn, so I figured I'd see where you'd rather stay."
"No offense to Applejack, but I'd prefer a bed to a barn. Where is Miss Shy anyway? I haven't seen her for months and want to apologize again for crashing into her house."
"She doesn't really like large crowds of ponies, so she decided not to attend. Anyway, I'd like to introduce you to some ponies. You've met Fluttershy, Applejack, and now Pinkie Pie, but I'd like to introduce you to the rest of my friends," Twilight said, leading me over to a corner where a rainbow-maned cyan pegasus stood arguing with a purple-maned white unicorn, "The pegasus is Rainbow Dash, and the unicorn is Rarity, both good friends. Girls, this is Alto."
The pegasus nodded and smiled, "Sup?"
The unicorn smiled and flipped her mane, "Charmed, darling! You simply must come to my boutique for a suit when you are discovered by the music industry."
"Oh, I have no intention of selling my soul for bits, Miss Rarity," I said with a small grin, taking a sip of punch.
I won't regale you with the conversation that ensued, but, suffice to say, I met a few other musically inclined ponies and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I also managed to secure an interview the following morning with the owners of the bakery in order to see about getting a job. It turns out they usually can't keep employees around because while everyone loves Pinkie's parties, she can be a bit difficult to work with, and some times the foals can be a bit loud while they rampage around upstairs.
I assured them this would be no problem for me, as I'd come to discover I'm relatively easy going. Exhausted from my first day of freedom, I took my leave of the party after getting directions to Fluttershy's cottage. I found it easily enough and was surprised at how well the damage had been repaired. Then again, they had a year to repair it between when I landed and now. I tentatively approached the front door and knocked softly. I was greeted with a soft eep before the door opened a crack and a familiar face looked out at me, "Oh! Hello, um, did you remember your name?"
"No, but I decided to use the name Alto for now, Miss Shy."
"Oh, that's very nice," she said, opening the door further, "Are you here about the room?"
"Yes, if you don't mind. I would rather sleep out here than in Applejack's barn."
She nodded and let me in, and I took in the view of the house. It was cozy with knick-knacks and decorations all over. The phrase "crazy cat lady" slipped through my head despite the complete lack of any felines, "The, uh, room is right back here," she said softly, leading me down a hall.
The room was indeed small, but more than enough for a homeless stallion like myself, "Thank you, Fluttershy. I promise not to be in the way, and get out of your mane as soon as possible."
She giggled, "Oh, no problem, Alto. You can take your time. Sleep well," she said, vanishing back down the hall.
I smiled after her before shutting the door and collapsing on the bed. It was far more comfortable than the one I had in the hospital and I stretched out, nuzzling into the soft pillow before sleep finally overtook me.
Waking up was difficult. I quickly came to realize that I was no longer sleeping in a bed. Instead, I appear to have been chained to a wall at some point in my slumber, and my forelegs hung above me in a rather uncomfortable position. I tried to shake off the rest of the cobwebs that I began to believe were caused by some kind of drug when I heard a voice from the other corner of the room.
"Finally awake?" the owner asked. The voice was... odd. It carried itself into my ears across the entire spectrum, with a slight buzz underneath, "Maybe now they'll believe us."
"Who... What?" I asked, trying to clear my vision. I was still seeing double when a creature emerged into the light that hung from the ceiling. It was as tall as a pony, but carried itself with a predatory air. Instead of a coat, it wore a jet black carapace that was filled with holes along its hooves. It had a horn, but it was bent and twisted, and tattered wings fluttered in annoyance.
"Damn vigilantes picked you up last night, thought you were one of us. We told them, several times, that you are not of the swarm."
"Who is... we?"
"We are Changelings. We assumed everypony knew that."
"Sorry, amnesia..." I said, grimacing as a twinge of pain jolted through my shoulders, "Can't remember anything before I woke up in a hospital a year ago."
"Hm, a common story we use. We see how they mistook you for one of us."
"Why are you here?"
"Because we are changeling. The ponies who imprisoned us believe we are a threat to them. We have tried, repeatedly, to explain that we are no threat, now that the Queen has been deposed, but they do not listen. They are blinded by hate, these ponies."
"Where are we?"
"We believe we are located beneath one of the bars in Ponyville. We smell alcohol, salt, and can hear the laughter of ponies when they open the door," the changeling said, returning to the shadows. Out of the corner of my eye I could see it curl up in the corner and almost vanish as it used some kind of camouflage to hide itself, "They approach."
The door at the opposite end of the cell slammed open and several inebriated ponies entered the room, "Well, looks like the little buck is finally awake," the lead earth pony slurred at me.
I swallowed some bile that had risen at the smell and the sheer rage I was holding at bay. I did not want to fight my way out, but I would if I had to. I tentatively tried to use my magic to shine some light on my captors, but felt a shock of pain through my horn that caused me to gasp involuntarily. The trio of ponies laughed, "Looks like he found the ring!"
"Heh, ain't using magic with that thing on, freak." the smaller one on the left said, laughing his flank off. I groaned and rolled my eyes before daring to speak up.
"Look, this is all some kind of mistake," I said, carefully choosing my words, unwilling to let the fact that my heart was about to beat its way out of my chest and bludgeon them all to death be revealed just yet, "I'm just a unicorn. Surely the fact that they let me out of the hospital is enough proof."
"Now lookie here," said the tall, absurdly muscled unicorn on the right, "He thinks he can get outta here with fancy words!"
"Sorry, let me put it some way you'll understand," I said, growing increasingly impatient, "You let me the buck out of here, right now, and I don't bring this cell down around our heads."
Silence greeted my ears for several moments. Apparently, ponies around here weren't used to such violent threats. I looked over into the corner where my changeling cellmate presumably still sat and made a quick jerking motion with my eyes towards my horn. I only hoped it could understand my meaning. I made other random jerking motions to cover it up after, hoping my captors wouldn't notice. I also hoped none of them could see that I was bluffing.
My answer came in the form of a powerful blow to my jaw. I heard a sickening crack and new that I would be seeing Nurse Redheart and Doctor Stitch much too soon. The pain blinded me temporarily, my world turning white, then black as another blow connected with my ribs. My attacker beat me for what felt like hours before letting up. Blood swam in one eye while the other swelled shut from a particularly vicious blow. I could taste copper and it was hard to breathe. The only thing that kept me conscious was sheer, unbridled rage. I was completely unaware of this aspect of my personality.
I could feel something in the back of my mind, like something boiling in my blood. My muscles were twitching, ready for action. I opened my one good eye and glared straight into the soul of the pony who had been beating me, and everything went gray.
The next thing I knew I was dragging the changeling and another pony out of a building that was engulfed in flames. I collapsed to the ground next to my former cellmate and coughed. Firefighters swarmed the building as a group of pegasi flew in a heavy rain cloud to douse the blaze. I was immediately encircled by a group of ponies who began to shout questions at me. I could hear nothing through a dark ringing in my ears, so I simply demanded a promise from the pony I identified as Twilight Sparkle that the changeling would not be harmed before allowing myself to succumb to my injuries and the blissful nothingness of the unconscious world.
I awoke an indeterminate amount of time later to blackness. I could feel pressure on my eyes and guessed that they had bandaged me up. I also felt that I was indeed tied down to the bed this time and a quick poke with my magic showed me that I had another magic suppressor on. I only hoped I was in the hospital and not in somepony else's basement. My testing of my bonds apparently drew some attention, because I heard an unfamiliar voice to my right, "He's awake."
"So he is," said a regal voice from the far side of the room, "Alto, is it? I have some questions for you. My name is Princess Celestia."
Oh, good. I appear to have angered the ruler of the country, "Yes, your majesty?"
"Shining, remove the bandages on his eyes, they should be healed by now."
I felt the familiar tingle of magic as the bandages were removed and I blinked as light poured into my eyes. I squinted over at the Princess and was struck by her beauty. Words cannot describe the radiance of her perfection. I simply let my eyes adjust and stared.
She was not smiling, and for this, I was saddened, "Two nights ago, you were found pulling a pony and a changeling out of a fire, do you deny this?"
"I do not..."
"You also then demanded that no harm come to the changeling, with no concern for the pony whom you also saved?"
"Yes, your majesty. It had told me what it was and we had some camaraderie in the cell."
"Cell? What cell?"
"They did not tell you?" I asked, honestly confused.
"The changeling has not spoken a single word and Caramel, the other pony, is still unconscious. He very nearly died from smoke inhalation."
"I hope he recovers soon. May I ask, why am I bound?"
"You are bound because you associated with and demanded protection for an enemy of the crown," said the unicorn to my right, "You are also a pony of interest in the structure fire you were involved in as well."
"I understand," I said, lowering my eyes, "After the welcome party Pinkie Pie threw me, I went to the house of one Fluttershy, who lives in a cottage on the borders of the forest."
"We know who she is."
"She had offered her spare room for me to stay in until I managed to afford a place of my own. Given certain issues I had, it seemed the best option."
"I am aware of your difficulties, please get to the events leading up to your hospitalization."
"I awoke in a cell beneath the bar that burned down. In the cell with me was the changeling. I had been captured by a group of vigilantes who were sure I was a changeling. They had me bound to a wall and suppressed my magic with one of these rings."
"Captain Armor, have an inventory conducted by somepony you trust," the princess said, the captain saluting and exiting the room, "Those bands are highly controlled. Each one is tagged and tracked. If one has gone missing we may get clues to your attackers."
"I surmise that what remains of them may very well be below the ruins of the bar. I do not remember what occurred after my beating and before I pulled Caramel and the changeling out of the fire. All I remember is magic and rage."
"So, it is quite possible that you started the fire, and possibly murdered several ponies?"
"In self-defense, I swear. I blacked out and was not in control of my actions."
The princess nodded, "You tell no lies. That much is clear. I will have an investigation conducted and see if we can't unearth your captors. With any luck, they have survived to be punished properly through the law," she said, stepping closer.
"What about me, your majesty?"
"You will be placed under house arrest with Twilight Sparkle, your magic suppressed, until such time as the investigation is complete. You will be allowed basic telekinesis and light spells only, nothing heavier than ten pounds," she decreed as she freed my legs from their bindings, "She is waiting outside. Should the investigation find you at fault for murder, you will be tried with no leniency. Your changeling friend will be interviewed by yourself and Twilight will determine whether or not it presents a threat to national security.
Should it prove to be, it will be executed. I do not wish ill on anypony in my country, but should those ponies have survived, they have much to answer to. Now, I do not know how long this investigation will take, but Twilight will make sure your needs are attended to, and you may still interview for the position at Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie is skilled at handling trouble so she will be able to handle you should you decide to do anything untoward."
"Princess Celestia," I said, standing carefully, "I swear by my horn and cutie mark, that I will bring no further harm to your subjects. What have I done, I cannot forgive myself for. I hope they are alive..."
She opened the door and I exited, flanked by pegasus guards and led by a sad looking Twilight. The conversation that would surely ensue once we arrived at her library would not be fun.
I followed Miss Sparkle into the library, my two loyal guards taking up posts outside of the door in case I tried to make a break for it. Honestly, did they think me dumb enough to try such a blatant exit? One of the upstairs windows perhaps, or out through the kitchen, but not the front door, "Twilight, I-"
She cut me off by raising a hoof in the air, "Not right now, Alto. I don't want to hear it. I just want to get this interview over so we can send this changeling on its way home or to the gallows. It won't talk to me, so maybe it will talk to you."
I sighed, heartbroken that she would use the word gallows, "Very well, where is it?"
"In here," she said, opening the door to a stairwell that descended into a laboratory. There were devices for recording information, chemist gear, and what looked like a cauldron off in one corner. Once we reached bottom, she knocked on the cell bars that were surrounding my former cellmate, "Alto is here, will you talk with him?"
The creature nodded as I approached, "You wear another binder? We thought you would be touted as a hero for what you have done. We are saddened."
"Please... stop saying we, you're reminding me of the borg."
"Borg? Sounds Wheatish."
I tilted my head, unsure where the word had come from myself, before turning back to the Changeling, "If you can, please use singular pronouns?" it nodded, "and do you have a name and ... well, a gender? It's awkward calling you 'it' all the time."
"My designation is Delta-365. I'm female," she said after a few moments of silence. Her manner was beginning to soften as well, at least, assuming their mannerisms were similar to the ones ponies had.
"Can I call you Delta?" she nodded, "Okay, well, Twilight has some questions, and will be using a truth-sight spell, so... Please answer her, otherwise we're both bucked harder than one of Applejack's trees."
"I've been through this a few times before. Ask your questions, Miss Sparkle, I won't lie to you."
"Well, if you do, I'll know."
I excused myself briefly to use the restroom upstairs and found that the pair of guards that had escorted us to the library were currently patrolling the yard. I waved a hoof as I maneuvered myself to use the toilet and was glad that the window itself was high enough that they could see nothing below my neck. Once I was finished with my business, I returned downstairs and found Twilight deeply engrossed in conversation with Delta.
"So a Changeling is given a designation based on the order they hatch and which egg cluster they are part of? Fascinating! I'll have to add that to my research notes. Now, you said you were initially sent to Ponyville to contact somepony, who was it?"
"I was sent to contact the stallion now known as Alto."
"Me? Why?" I asked, honestly dumbfounded.
"I suppose the proper way of saying is not that I was sent, it is that I came of my own accord after Queen Chrysalis was deposed by Princess Pupitea."
"You... what?" we both asked asked at the same time.
She sighed and stood up slowly, making no threatening motions, "Miss Sparkle, if I may use my shapechanging abilities once? I have heard of Alto's memory problems since my arrival and before my capture and... I believe I can help him."
"You may," the unicorn next to me said as I continued to try and process how I could have ever known a Changeling. Twilight briefly removed the binder from Delta and there was a flash of green fire. In the future, should you ever be around Changelings as they are changing shape, do not stare directly at them, it can blind you, as it did to me for a brief time.
It took me several moments to blink the basement lab back into sight, though the colors were still muted. My first vision was of Twilight looking shocked at something, so I turned to see what she was looking at.
My own mind very nearly exploded as I beheld the vision in front of me. She was tall, nearly as tall as Celestia herself, clad in soft home-spun silks of myriad colors. Her mane fell gracefully down her back, and was a vibrant red. The eyes that bored into my own were a piercing green, glittering like emeralds in the sun. Smiling, she took a single step forward and plucked the binder out of the air and placed it on one of her fingers as if it were a ring.
"You're..." I began, unable to choose between beautiful, stunning, and radiant.
"A human..." Twilight finished for me as she got over her shock.
"A what? What's a human?" I asked, confused.
Delta kneeled down, placing her face next to the bars of her cage, "Come here, Alto."
I was unable to resist, and Twilight prepared herself if I needed rescue. I did not, as the human pulled my face to hers and kissed me. I melted against her lips as I felt my body tingle in pleasure, then the rush of knowledge hit me like a sledgehammer, my eyes went wide and I smiled, breaking the kiss before looking over at Twilight.
"I remember..." I whispered before I passed out again. I wish I could stop doing that.
Author's Note
wargable. We're nearing the end here folks. This another one of the stories on my chopping block that have kind of gone haywire in my brainmeats.
