Episode 18: Dr. Whooves on the Daily Show

Never in her years did Zenith’s friend Ginger Snap ever believe she’d see the infamous Dr. Whooves again. She, as well as so many others, assumed that when he escaped the clutches of the oppressive government that struggled everyday to capture him that he would never return. And yet here he was.

Ginger Snap was present to witness the second coming of the most famous pony of not just her lifetime but many lifetimes to come and she was unable to express what this meant. But she did know one thing, she was happy. Surprised; but happy.

As was the case with her friend Zenith, who ignored the fact she looked and sounded as if someone was choking her, she eagerly sat back down in her chair and motioned for Whooves to do the same.

“Come now, Whooves sit, sit, sit,” he encouraged. “You gracing us with your presence is cause for celebration!”

“Uuuum?” Whooves verbalized, making sweeping gestures with a foreleg to demonstrate there were only two chairs available, both taken.

“Oh yes I see, well then... ah here we are. Ginger why don’t you get up and let our guest have your seat,” Zenith suggested, turning his attention back to his former student. “I’m sure she won’t mind standing for the duration of your visit.”

Usually Ginger Snap’s pride would have kicked in and she would scold Zenith for treating a lady with such discourteous etiquette, but she was still having trouble processing the fact that her once great idol was standing but a few feet away, just as well since in her continued shock she wouldn’t have been able to move out her chair at all. Fortunately the proper Whooves was there to show that chivalry was still alive.

“Oh don’t get up on my account Ms. Snap,” Whooves said as he placed his bag on the ground and plopped his flank along with it. “I’ll just sit here, it’s fine!”

“Unacceptable!” Zenith said. “I won’t have my most prized colleague sitting on the ground like some kind of... filthy barn animal! Here, have my seat then I’ll just--”

“It’s fiiiiine really!” Whooves assured him, reaching out to force him to sit back down. “I’m not staying very long so it’s alright, Zenny.”

“Eeh, very well then... a-and don’t call me ‘Zenny!’” Zenith grumbled. “Since you’re in a hurry let’s make the most of our time together, shall we? Ginger, pour our guest a spot of tea.”

When Ginger Snap didn’t do anything, or even look to have heard him, Zenith leaned forward to slam his cane on the ground to get her attention.

“Ginger!” Zenith yelled, now waving his cane in front of him for attention. “I said pour the young stallion a cup! We haven’t got all day!”

“O-oh, uh y-yeah sure,” she said, now having finally tore her gaze from the bowtie wearing Earthpony. “I’m... I-I’m sorry it’s just... you’re... you’re Dr. Whooves.”

“Argh, at this rate we’ll be here till nightfall,” Zenith grumbled, before taking a deep sigh and hoisting himself from his seat. “Fine, I’ll get the drink... and do stop glaring at our guest, you’re making him uncomfortable.”

“I’m used to it,” Whooves jested. “Even in the past where no pony knows who I am I still get the attention of young mares such as the lovely Ms. Snap here.”

While not one to be easily swayed by flattery, the long necked Unicorn found it difficult to not blush at Whooves’ obviously jesting, though still much appreciated, kind words.

“Aaaah youth, to be as arrogant and vain as you again.” Zenith sighed as he came back with a new cup. “Don’t get too big headed my young friend... why I’ll have you know when I was your age I was quite a hit with the mares myself.”

This statement alone was enough to break delusions clouding Ginger’s mind, like someone popping a balloon next to her face.

“Is that right?” She glared at him while he poured Whooves his drink. “Dr. Whooves pay him no mind, he’s just an old fool!”

“Ha ha! Just like always, huh?” Whooves chuckled as he took his drink from his mentor who shot them both dirty looks. “Duly noted Ms. Snap... and please just call me Whooves.”

“O-oh my!” she exclaimed at the prospect of addressing him so informally. “Very well but only if you call me Ginger.”

“Deal,” Whooves said, taking a sip of his tea which was a brand that didn’t exist back home. “So Ginger... how do you know my mentor?”

“Oh Zenny and I go way back, isn’t that right dear?” Ginger answered with Zenith refusing to do the same. “I’ve never known him as a colleague like you two... but nevertheless we’re old friends.”

“Is that right?” Whooves said, sounding surprised since this pony looked rather young compared to his mentor. “I had no idea Zenith had any friends.”

“Do you hear that? Do you hear the mouth on this one!?” Zenith said as he reached over to lovingly tussle Whooves’ mane as hard as he could.

“Oh leave him alone, dear.” Ginger chuckled. “Besides, he’s right in his assumptions.”

Leaning back in his seat, Zenith gave Ginger a dirty look like he smelled something off.

“So... am I to assume you’re the one making sure he stays out of trouble after I left?” Whooves asked.

“Trying to,” she said, sighing.

“Yeah, he’s a handful alright,” Whooves said. “When we were partners he worked such long hours I had to beg him to eat and sleep.”

“I know the feeling. Since he’s technically not suppose to leave this area of land I take it upon myself to bring him food and supplies every now and again myself,” Ginger said. “I’m here so often we practically live together and I find I have to coax him to take it easy as well.”

“Hey, hey, does he still do that thing where he gets mad if you leave the lights on but you’re not in the room?” Whooves asked.

“Oh lord yes!” Ginger blurted.

Both she and Whooves laughed at Zenith’s expense, forcing him to hammer his cane against the floor for attention, albeit not as hard as when he did so with Ginger.

“Alright children, shall we move the conversation away from me thank you very much!” Zenith announced, causing both his guests to chuckle. “This... momentous day is not... about me but rather… about the return of the greatest treasure known to us. The infallible genius who transcended being but a mere pony and instead became a symbol... for anypony, be they of the Earth or of the sky... a symbol as well as an eternal idea that we have it within ourselves to do the impossible and break free from our restraints passed down to us by an unjust system... the greatest pony to ever exist or ever will... Dr. Whooves.”

Ginger had this unspoken rule for when the two got together that if Zenith ever went past three sentences he’d talked too much, but she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by his quick speech. Growing up in a world where being different was cause for hatred and being governed by an evil being she knew all too well what Zenith spoke of. She could remember a time in Canterlot where the weak and strong were divided by net worth rather than ideas.

Overcome by his words she began to applaud him which reminded herself about how good her life was now thanks to the two Earthponies in this very room. Whooves on the other hand just buried his face into his own hooves as he arched himself back to let out a drawn out moan.

He hated when Zenith talked about him like this.

“For the love of... Zenith please stop!” Whooves begged.

“What? It’s the truth!” Zenith said, now turning to his long necked friend. “Did you know back when I was a professor I had open hours all day for anypony to see me and rarely did any of my students do so! And if they did it was to ask for an extension or see what their grades were. Whooves wasn’t even a student and yet he came to visit me everyday to discuss studies and theories that nopony else could comprehend... his thirst for knowledge was that strong!”

Nodding her head Ginger found herself expressly impressed. Whooves however was determined to keep his friend from glorifying him any longer, he knew that if he didn’t get him to quiet now he’d never stop

“Hate to break it to you my old friend but I was nine at the time,” Whooves reminded him. “I only came to see you because you always had that bowl of candy on your desk.” Ginger found herself giggling at his jesting while Zenith just shook his head.

“Do not take him seriously, Ginger,” Zenith advised. “Whooves here is the type to try and downplay his own intelligence for some reason... but in actuality he’s far more cunning than he’s willing to admit. Why I remember this one time where he--”

“Hey Zenith,” Whooves interrupted before he could open his mouth again. “If this is such a... momentous occasion why isn’t there any music?” Zenith was just about to take a sip of his drink when he lurched forward so quickly he almost spilled its contents upon himself.

“Good lord you’re right! I never did fix that damn record player!” he blurted as he struggled to get up despite Ginger begging him to do so at a slower pace. “Today has to go just right or it won’t be special! Everything has to be perfect!”

Before he could rush off, though at his age he could barely do that, Whooves reached out to address him, grabbing ahold of his bad leg by accident.

“Hey before you go Zenith I have something for you,” Whooves hinted. Reaching into his satchel bag he began to look for something. “I got this for you from my new time period because I know you’re a fan.”

“You... got me something from the past?” Zenith questioned. “Oh Whooves... f-far be it for me to lecture you on something like time travel but isn’t it a bit unethical to remove something from the day of old? I mean for all we know this could.... oh my God.”

Zenith found himself cutting his lecture short at the sight of what Whooves had pulled out from his bag. It was a square folder with a picture of a pony on the front and a vinyl record on the inside. Even a thousand years ago these were slowly starting to become obsolete so in this time period they were almost impossible to find. Which is why Zenith was stunned to see the image of a familiar looking Earthpony on the front cover, eyes closed as she worked her cello.

“Is that... i-i-is that an original Octavia piece!?” Zenith stammered.

“Sure is! Mint and first edition copy of her original symphony!” Whooves bragged. “I even got her to sign it for me.”

“You... you’ve actually met her!?” Zenith blurted.

“Yeah she’s actually my neighbor,” Whooves said in the most deadpan voice he could muster. “Nice girl but she’s kind of a prude... and her girlfriend keeps me up at night with her constant wubs.”

With all this information being hurled at him at once he found it difficult to focus on one thing. His mouth was moving but no words came out. This day was just getting better and better for him.

“I can’t believe... my greatest colleague not only returns to me... but also bestows upon me the most rare of treasures... an actual recording of Octavia herself!” Zenith finally said, quickly taking turns to look at both his guests. “She’s a legend you know! Greatest composer to ever live and she was an Earthpony at that! I grew up listening to her works and thinking how... h-how beautiful her rhythm was and... and... goodness this is just all too much! Her music is really a good representation of Earthpony culture you know. Like in the second act of her third symphony she experiments with the use of the crescendo which is widely believed to be an allusion of the trials and tribulations associated with having one's identity unfairly maligned with--”

“Zenny dear I believe our young friend would enjoy it better if you actually played the damn thing rather than talk about it,” Ginger said, shaking her head. Whooves found much enjoyment in her.

“Y-yes... yes you’re right!” Zenith blurted. “I’ll be right back! Y-you two stay here and get better acquainted while I go prepare the atmosphere… go ahead and… do whatever it is you young ponies do nowadays.”

As he exited the room Ginger picked up a throw pillow she usually kept behind her back and literally threw it at Zenith, purposely missing as she didn’t want to hurt him.

“Sorry about him... he can quite the handful,” Ginger said. “Though I don’t have to tell you that.”

“You know... I’m grateful that he has somepony to look after him but I must admit... you being here surprises me,” Whooves commented. “I was being facetious before but for him to have a friend like you... again it just surprises me.”

“Like me?” Ginger said in a high pitched declaration.

“A Unicorn I mean... let's not kid ourselves here, 'Zenny' doesn't like your type ” Whooves observed in a non-aggressive tone, as he could hear the sound of music playing from the other room. “I never knew him to be one to have friends, only co-workers you see... if that, and yet... there’s something about you most familiar... I can’t put my hoof on it.”

“My, my, my... as clever as always.” She sighed as she looked at Whooves with eyes that looked like they’d seen much. “It’s so good to see you again, Whooves.”

“Again?” Whooves echoed. “I’m sorry but... have we met before?”

“Oh yes, a couple times, but never in conversation. I visited your house a few times but I’m sure you don’t remember... you were about this tall at the time,” she explained, lowering her hoof to a few inches off the ground. “Goodness you were young back then... and now look at you all grown up... your parents were always so proud of you.”

“Madam I must say you have me genuinely surprised,” Whooves expressed. “I never forget a face and I certainly don’t remember you... and yet you know me and my family?”

Before she could answer she was momentarily distracted by Zenith’s limping back into the room while the sound of the music was more easily noticeable now that they weren’t talking anymore.

“Ginger... perhaps it’d be easier for our young friend to recognize you if you showed him what you used to look like,” Zenith hinted as he sat back down, letting out a large sigh of relief now that he could hear his music playing as he tasted his new tea. “Oh you’ll love this as well Whooves! Go on Ginger, show him! Show him your best parlor trick!”

“I hate it when you call it that,” Ginger snapped. “I’m not some kind of trained dog.”

“Well... you were that one time,” Zenith shot back.

“Yes and never again!” she commented. “You have no idea how disgusting it is when you’re--”

“As much as I find this all quite... fascinating,” Whooves interrupted, already guessing what was going on here. “I am in a hurry.”

This was a lie.

“Ah of course,” Ginger apologized. “Allow me to... show you an example.” Rotating her shoulders she let out a sigh and closed her eyes.

Without any noticeable effort thereafter Ginger made a bright green surge of energy appear around her midriff. Half of the energy escalated to her head while the other half shot down to her hooves. While this was happening the texture of her surface changed as did the color of her mane, eyes, and coat in conjunction with the energy flowing around her body.

In the blink of an eye Whooves found himself enjoying a lovely spot of tea with his mentor and a pony who looked just like him.

“Interesting,” Whooves said, admiring the exact representation of his person sitting just a few feet away. “You’re a changeling.”

“Well of course she is!” Zenith laughed. “Do you honestly think I’d willingly allow an actual Unicorn to set hoof into my house?”

“Oh Zenny dear don’t say such things!” she scolded, though now talking in a posh accent exactly the same as Whooves.

“Zenith never told me he was friends with a changeling,” Whooves added.

“I made him promise not to tell anypony,” Ginger said, giggling. “And in exchange I helped him out in life... whenever I could.”

“Yes, at the time I had no idea I was signing up for a full time committed babysitter,” Zenith sneered. “Honestly it’s not your job to look after me anymore, you know.”

“What can I say?” She winked as she took another sip. “Old habits die hard.”

“Exactly... how long have you two known each other?” Whooves asked.

“Oh many, many years,” Ginger cheerfully answered.

“Indeed, we first met back when... back when I lived in that dreary old Castle up in Canterlot,” Zenith revealed. “Back then however she went by a much different name, didn’t you?”

“I sure did!” Ginger said using her magic once again to change her appearance. This time she took on an entirely different look which consisted of a white body and a murky blue mane. She grew a larger than average horn and her muscle tone expanded but still kept a slender look. These features were difficult to notice what with the full set of armour she was now wearing which covered her Cutie Mark of two spears. “Lieutenant Silver Lake of the 23rd brigade at your service, sir!”

Again Whooves was surprised to find a strong sounding war pony now sitting in the room, her voice still feminine but roaring with proper authority as she saluted the two civilians.

“One of the Canterlot guards was a Changeling?” Whooves asked. “My, how... embarrassing for them.”

“Ye-heh-es, those idiots never discovered her true identity and to this day never had the slightest idea,” Zenith mocked with much delight. “Shows how... incompetent those in charge can be.”

“I may have spent most of my life serving the queen back in the colony but that doesn’t mean I was out of touch with your ways of life!” Ginger interjected, her voice still authoritative but not enough to get Zenith to take her seriously. “I liked to think they never found out because I’m a good actor.”

“You can’t be that good if a child found you out,” Zenith shot back as he idly swirled his beverage.

“Excuse me?” Whooves wondered out loud. “You did what now?”

“Ah yes, you see back when I worked for the Castle I was appointed as a soldier to work under Zenny’s father back when we were at war,” Ginger explained. “But during peace times I was assigned to the Castle where I was to protect the royal family... this was before Twilight and Chambermane got married so I got to know everypony.”

As she was explaining herself Whooves caught a glimpse of Zenith making a sour face at the mere mention of his mother.

“Why I still remember the day her majesty brought baby Zenny home from the hospital!” she squealed, leaning over to pinch his cheek. “You were soooo cute back then!”

With a grunt Zenith slapped her hoof away from his face as violently as he could.

“Finish the story!” he demanded which just made her chuckle.

“Anyway... when Zenny was five years old he discovered who I was,” she explained. “I tried my best to keep my mannerisms consistent with the norm but he still figured me out... clever boy. I begged him to not report me and to my surprise he didn’t. In exchange for allowing me to continue serving the family and country that I loved so I had to help him whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted.”

“Ah, and I can see why he chose to help you,” Whooves commented. “You weren’t the only one who felt like an outsider in the Castle.”

This was completely true. Growing up as a changeling trying to make a living in the world of normal ponies she always felt like an outcast, a feeling shared by a lonely Earthpony surrounded by royal Unicorns. This more than anything made Ginger appreciate and want to protect him even after neither of them were residents of the Castle.

“Please Whooves, do not mistake my actions for sentimental reasons,” Zenith implored. “I merely thought that having a shapeshifter in contacts would be a good advantage.”

“And was it?” Whooves asked.

“Was it ever!” Zenith answered. “Anytime I needed a quick decoy young Ginger here was... ready to assist. You see, since she was a royal guard she had no choice but to do what I asked of her.”

Looking over at the ageless insectoid Whooves noticed how she was shaking her head but at the same times sporting a weak smile, no doubt another trip down memory lane.

“It’s true... whenever Zenny wanted something which required him to be in two places at once he always had me change my appearance to look like him,” Ginger added. “I remember one night this little rascal stayed up well past his curfew to sneak out late so he had me roam the Castle disguised as him so no one would notice.”

“And no pony saw through your act?” Whooves asked with a raised eyebrow of slight doubt.

“Not a one. Even his own mother didn’t put two and two together whenever I did this,” Ginger explained as she now began to look guilty about this achievement. “Though it was easy enough to convince her I was her son, all I had to do was not talk to her while putting on a grumpy face whenever she was in the room.”

With no time to reflect on how sad her explanation was Zenith jumped right in to get to the point of what made her such a valuable asset.

“But the best use I ever got out of our deal was the day I ran away,” Zenith said. “When I fled the Castle my damnable mother paid no expense to try and bring me back... but the reason they never found me is because of Ginger here.”

Looking back at the armour clad Unicorn, Whooves was eager to hear this story.

“Yes well... before his escape Zenith approached me in private and told me his plan point for point. He then told me he was cashing in one last favor right there and then,” Ginger recalled. “You see, when he left her majesty sent out many scouting squads to cities all over the world to find him. I was one of the ponies assigned to do this. The plan was every time I was sent to a far off land I would transform myself to look like Zenith and purposely be spotted to throw everypony off... nopony suspected he’d be in Ponyville right under everypony's noses.”

“And you were okay with this?” Whooves asked. “Deliberately deceiving the royal family that you loved oh so much?”

With a tilt of her head she looked over to Zenith to give him a smile.

“If it was for Zenny I was okay with it,” she said with Zenith avoiding her gaze by taking another sip of his tea. “We didn’t see each other again till he returned several years later... at the time I was still employed by the Castle but when I heard he was back in town I quit the force, changed my appearance and approached him to give my support for his cause.”

“Yes, and if I’m correct this is where you know her from, Whooves,” Zenith added.

“Oh really?” Whooves asked.

“Yes quite right,” Zenith said. “Do you recall how hard it was for me to find an assistant back at the university?”

“Of course, everypony joked that you killed each and every one of them because they couldn't live up to your standards. I swear, the way you yelled and belittled them... you must have went through five aides a month,” Whooves recalled as something clicked in his mind while turning to face his new Changeling friend. “Oh yeah, before you there were so many like...‘Apple Cider,’ ‘Daisy Duke,’ ‘Silver Lining,’ ‘Keystroke,’ there was ‘Somersault,’ ‘Criss Cross,’ ‘Oven Mitts,’ ‘Stun Lock,’ and... and only now do I realize that they were all you.”

“Guilty,” Ginger chuckled. “Zenith never trusted any pony to get too close except for me.”

“Please woman, don’t act so high and mighty,” Zenith snorted. “I only settled for you because I knew if you ever went rogue I had your secret to keep you in line. I also had her change her appearance ever so often so ponies wouldn’t get suspicious. I wanted to maintain my image of being a tough boss.”

Looking almost proud of himself, Zenith leaned in to refill his cup. He didn’t notice Ginger adjusting herself in her seat so she could talk into Whooves’ ear.

“He likes to pretend that he doesn’t care but really he just didn’t feel comfortable working with somepony new,” she whispered. “He’d never admit to it but he wanted a friend constantly by his side.”

“And your constant changing of forms?” Whooves asked.

“He just had me do that because he knew I’d be helping him even now and he didn’t want to explain why he kept the same assistant for so many decades,” she whispered back.

“Oy!” Zenith blurted to the two, causing them to flinch. “What are you kids whispering about!?”

“Oh nothing! I was just explaining to Whooves here how uh... how one of my duties while I assisted you was helping spread your message and acting as an intermediary,” she explained before turning back to the younger of the two stallions.

“Ah yes, that’s right,” Zenith agreed. “Before I was known for my work I didn’t have numerous followers to organize events or charity drives like I do now. Back then I had Ginger run errands for me regarding my work.”

“This meant that I met with many important ponies and organizations who later supported Zenny in his cause and made donations,” Ginger added. “As a matter of fact I recall once acting as a delegate for a certain family after Zenny became famous... yours, the ‘Whooves family.’”

Taking a quick breath, the same green light shined around her, transforming her into a pink earth pony with green and red striped hair, thick black glasses, multiple freckles, and a frumpy turtle neck which covered most of her body but was short enough to show her cutie mark which was a notepad.

The way she balanced between wiping her nose with her oversized sleeves and constantly fiddling with her glasses was unmistakably familiar. Whooves immediately recognized her.

“You’re Rain Flower!” Whooves exclaimed. “I remember you! You used to come to our house back before we moved to talk to my parents.”

“Your father was a huge supporter of Zenny. Before he moved to Canterlot he’d either take trips over to meet with him or have me act as a messenger,” Ginger said, her voice now nazely like she had caught a cold. “Anyway, I’m impressed you could even remember that far back! You must have been two years old at the time, I’m flattered. To think I actually met you before you... I mean a-at the time I had no idea that you’d be so... so important! None of us did!”

“Yes, important enough for the Castle to try and capture him! Don’t get me wrong Whooves, what you did was spectacular and unlike anything ever accomplished but I still pains me to know that the Castle drove you away the way they did... with me I just got exiled to this field but you... they forced your hoof and now you life in another time,” Zenith grunted. “I swear Ginger, sometimes I envy you and your ability. If the Castle ever comes to arrest you for saying something smart you could just change your appearance and away you go.”

“Come now dear, the Castle isn’t that bad,” Ginger pleaded.

“Oh, is this some left over misguided loyalty for the royals I hear?” Zenith teased. “I suppose you can’t help yourself. From one corrupt monarch to another-- it’s all you ever knew.”

“No, it’s just... I did serve them for many years and I can tell you that whatever they do they do with the best intentions,” Ginger tried to say as tactfully as possible. “Forgive me Whooves for saying such things, I realize you and the Castle didn’t see eye to eye either.”

“By all means,” Whooves allowed. “It’s good to have a devil’s advocate.”

“All I’m saying is the Castle didn’t go after you and Whooves because they hated you,” Ginger tried to get him to see. “They were just... they were scared about some of the things you two experimented with as they didn’t know what it was.”

“You know... I suppose you’re right,” Zenith said, filling Ginger with a glimmer of hope before being completely dashed. “After all, how does that phrase go? ‘Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.’”

“Zenny please don’t say such things,” she pleaded. “Remember I used to work there and we all wanted what was best for you... especially your moth--”

“If you mention her name I’m throwing you out,” Zenith warned.

“Who, Twilight?” Whooves dared to say knowing full well that Zenith would never kick him out for saying anything. “Yeah if there’s anything he hates more than the Castle its his own mother. Hey Ginger, do you remember when the Castle tried to destroy all time travel spells?”

“Yes of course,” she answered while Zenith silently begged Whooves to stop this train of thought. “Zenny here was adamantly against it.”

“Yes but not at first, originally when we discussed it he was slightly in favor of the idea since it meant that those in power couldn't use it themselves… his exact words were ‘less magic in the world sounds like a good idea,’” Whooves imitated while Ginger thought about how accurate this also sounded. “But then when he later found out that the pony who orchestrated this movement was Twilight herself he did a 180... he hated magic yes but he hated the idea of being on the same side as his mother on an issue even more. That’s always been my acid test for determining where Zenith stands on an issue: ‘would Twilight approve of this? Yes? Zenith is against it.”

Covering his face by looking away and taking a sip, Zenith tried to hide his blushing.

“You see Zenny dear!” Ginger said. “It is possible for you and her majesty to be on the same side once in a while.”

“Not exactly the point of my story, Ginger,” Whooves commented before giving a shrug like he didn’t care. “But don’t let me stop you; keep on keeping on.”

“But it’s true!” she continued to argue. “You just need to give them a chance too--”

“Oh spare me your frivolous advice. Face it women, those royal types are all a pack of inbred morons just like their leader and you're still lingering sense of misplaced faith in them is ill put and idiotic,” he insulted. “Back when you worked for them... if they had found out you were a changeling they would have executed you on the spot!”

“Speaking of which, why aren’t you in your changling form now that we're behind closed doors?” Whooves asked to try and stop a possible argument. “I realize for a Changeling holding a form isn’t that much of a strain but it’d be more relaxing to let it all hang out... surely.”

This question was enough for Zenith to tense up and almost drop his beverage.

“My my, look at you with your knowledge on us Changelings,” Ginger complemented. “It’s true, Changelings do sometimes strain to hold a form, especially if it’s a complicated one. That’s why those who go around feeding are encouraged to go as children. The smaller size means less effort and kids are more likely to rake in the love and attention from adults.”

“So why not relax?” Whooves restated. “Throw your hooves on the table and let your wings stretch.”

“Because Zenith doesn't like me being in natural form,” she answered.

“Why?” Whooves asked.

“Because of this,” she said before quickly opening her jaw to reveal that, at the last second, she had changed the inside of her mouth to its original form, teeth and all; as well as adding a faint hiss.

“Son of a-- GOOD LORD WOMAN DON’T DO THAT!” Zenith roared as he grabbed his beating heart.

“He’s afraid of scary monster,” she added almost condescendingly. “Always has been ever since he was a child.”

“And what of your previous form?” Whooves asked.

“You mean this?” she said, turning back into her long necked version of herself. “I just wanted to try something new. Plus I never liked wearing the same outfit for too long.”

Even though she now looked the same as when Whooves first saw her she purposely kept her razor sharp teeth which, combined with her long neck, made Zenith extremely uncomfortable, like he was afraid she would easily lean over and bite him.

“For the love of God, put those things away!” he barked. “I hate it when you do that!”

“Oh really!? Well let me tell you what I hate, Mister!” she said, retracting her fangs. “I hate it when I come over after cleaning up your messes only to find this place is a pigsty again.”

“I never asked for you to clean up after me!” Zenith shot back. “In fact that’s another thing I hate! You always tidy up when I’m asleep and afterwards I can never find any of my stuff!”

“Well maybe if you organized your junk like I told you to this wouldn't happen,” she suggested.

“I told you I like it better when it’s messy, it helps me think more clearly!” Zenith proclaimed. “And another thing, this stuff isn’t junk!”

“Oh yes it is!” she argued.

“Is not!” he yelled. “Everything I have here is of the utmost importance!”

“Oh really!? Then how can you explain that half eaten potato I found on the floor this morning!?” she asked. “It was practically growing fungus on it when I threw it away!”

“That was you!” he barked. “I was saving that!”

“And another thing, a stallion of your age shouldn’t be eating such greasy foods!” she implored. “Disgusting! You need to eat more healthy products!”

“Oh what do you know about fine cuisine!?” he asked. “You’re a changeling, all you eat is love.”

“None of which I’m particularly feeling at this moment I might add,” she said, turning her head.

“Well excuuuse me but I find it hard to like you when you come over to wake me up at five in the morning!” he said.

“Sleeping in is also unhealthy!” she challenged. “If you don’t get up and walk at least half a mile each morning you’ll--”

“Okay you two, that’s enough!” Whooves yelled, silencing the two. “As entertaining as it is seeing you two go at it, and believe me it is... I did come here for a reason!”

After sharing a quick glare at each other with squinted eyes both ponies set aside their arguing for the good of their guest.

“Of course dear... please continue,” Ginger said.

“Yes my boy go ahead... just ignore her like I do and tell me what you need,” Zenith sneered, causing Ginger to do the same.

Feeling like he was an only child caught in between a divorced couple arguing for custody, Whooves let out a long and tired sigh before turning his head to Zenith, the pony he came here to see first and foremost.

“Okay... Zenith,” Whooves began. “What can you tell me about Clausus?”