The Metamorphosis
T r a v e l e r s
by
Nightjar
Pain. Of course he had to feel pain. It's not like he hadn't had enough of it already. I'm gaining consciousness. Why, in the name of Tartarus, am I gai— A sudden jolt went through the upper half of his spine and decided to explode in his brain. Vigil let out a mix of a whimper and a growl as his body tensed up, causing him even more anguish. You know what, Universe?, he mused in his head, Forget it. I'll just have to except that you hate me enough to let me die painfully. He let out a stinging sigh and opened his eyes.
He was looking into the crown of a weeping willow and, though the leaves blocked the view to the outside, the canopy was still holey enough to let through some rays of sunlight which played on the tree's bark and the vegetated soil. This sight propagandized tranquillity.
"If you wanted to make me feel better you should have taken the pain away. With this, you're just mocking my throe and my struggling to stay alive." He cleared his throat and continued with a higher pitched voice.
"Oh, Vigilance! You don't have to writhe in agony. Just look! Look around and see the beauty of nature. Take in its soothing presence and calm your heart. You won't need it that much longer anyway. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath and let go. There won't be sorrow nor happiness, no right or wrong. There will only be existence and infinite contentment. My flank!" With the last sentence, he dropped the voice and just gave a frustrated sigh. Which hurt his throat.
"Who is there?", a female voice rang through the dome of foliage and his eyes widened.
Of damn course! Did anypony ever tell you that you're incredibly vindictive, Universe? That's not a good trait!
"Hello? Trixie heard you and she demands that you show yourself!"
Did she just...? Oh my gosh, she did. Vigil tried to move but that only lead to grunts and twitches. As the hoofsteps approached him there was only one thing he could do. He closed his eyes in concentration and thought of a pony. A pony he was very familiar with since he was born as said pony.He used his magic and let it fuel that image and soon he felt—a hit to the head and lost consciousness.
»ʔ҉ʕ«
It was cold. Despite the slight heat, he felt on his face. He opened his eyes just a crack and noticed the glint of a campfire a few paces away. Behind it he could see a small wooden caravan with a weird contraption attached to one side. He glanced around a little bit more.
Okay, I am not under the willow anymore. Then he noticed something surprising. His body didn't hurt that much anymore. He looked down and found that he was bandaged and his right foreleg was splinted. And he was bound. Vigil tried to use his magic but suddenly felt very dizzy. What did she do to me?
"Don't try to escape! Trixie made sure you can't use your magic. Her vast amount of knowledge in every field of magic gives her the ability to control your bodily functions!" Said showmare emerged from behind him to stand in front of him. Oooohhh! Theatricals!
"Ignoring the fact that that sounded like the long version of 'I will use your body in any way I want.', could you please stop speaking in that way? It's grinding on my brain and I really like my brain. The effort is just lost on me since – and I think you can understand – I surely won't applaud you and adore you for keeping me captive." He deliberately ignored the evermore squinting eyes and growing frown as he spoke.
Eventually the blue unicorn let out a frustrated groan and, with an eyeroll, turned around to sit on the other site of the fire.
"Though, nevertheless, thanks for taking care of my injuries. And kudos for the drama. It's astonishing how you keep it up even now: Letting your face only be illuminated by the flickering light of the flames and casting a threatening, wide-eyed glare so full of hatred. Really, nopony would dare to set you off in any way. Though the twitching somehow kills it for me because that indicates that you're straining to control yourself which indicates that you have self-control which again means that you don't want to hurt and thus it gives you an if not likeable but at least reasonable flare and destroys the whole 'You're at my mercy'-act. But all-in-all you are doing better than—."
"Shut up! Just close that damn trap of yours and stop making sound! Just! Shut! Up!" Trixie had jumped onto her hooves and her face was now closer to the campfire. The heat hurt her eyes and reflexively she turned away and blinked rapidly to re-moist them.
Vigil just shook his head. "See? That's what I meant. You can't sustain the show. You really have to work on your endurance."
Trixie scrunched up her face and suppressed the urge to scream. She took several deep breaths and eventually calmed down. She slowly walked up to her captive and sat down in front of him.
"Why were you hurt?"
"Playing twenty questions? Why not. Well, you see, the Power of Love decided to show up during an inconvenient moment and thought it a great idea to beat the mind out of me." Whoa, bitter much? "Now it's my turn. What are—. No, wait. What is your profession?"
Trixie wore a lopsided frown in combination with a lifted eyebrow. It suited her perfectly and got the point across. "Don't play games with Trixie. She knows that you made up this rubbishy stuff to upset her. She can assure you; it's working. Anyhow, she doesn't really care what hurt you so the next question is: Where is the rest of your group?"
Now frowning, too, Vigil gave a huff and answered in a hurt tone. "At first: I don't play games. Don't you read the newspapers? Second: You still are talking that weird way! Is that your way of torturing? Third: Why do you assume I'm in a group? Again I have to ask: What about the newspaper? And finally point number four: Do something with your mane and tail. You're an attractive mare and I can imagine that this only will increase that trait."
Trixie was about to say something impolite but was caught off-guard by the last statement. Not missing that he insulted and complimented her at the same time. It wasn't often she was called attractive. Though what was wrong with her mane?! And why was she complimented that rarely?!
"Oh and fifth: You haven't answered my question."
She was at a loss for words. This changeling was unbelievable! This was not the way things had to work! In desperate need to let off some steam, she smacked him up the head. Even though she had to bend her leg in a weird way to accomplish the task, the 'Ow!' of that guy was deeply satisfying.
"So now you're going for physical torture? Well, that's a step back. Psychological torment is way more artfully and cruel. While the physical one can do some mental damage, too, it won't be as severe as the direct approach."
Trixie was tempted to slug him again but instead bit on her tongue and thought. "Then where did the 'Power of Love' come from?" Heh. How did I think of that one?
Vigilance blinked. "Ooohhh! That's a great question! Well, I'll just assume that you don't like the newspapers and tell you a little bit. So," he cleared his throat, "Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there lived three princesses. Two were destined to rule the empire, for they were granted the divine sway over the celestial bodies, su—"
"Come to the point.", Trixie decided to interrupt.
"No. So, where was I?" Trixie rolled her eyes in annoyance and had to restrain herself from growling. "Oh, yeah! Sun and Moon! Well, let's continue. But what did the third princess do? Well, she actually lived up to that title and did nothing else than meeting friends, go to parties, do the occasional courtesy visits and spreading love with that being her special ability as an alicorn.
As it is proper for princesses – at least the ones who don't own that title as a symbol for pseudo-humility – she fell in love with a commoner and national hero and the 'prime'-princess, as benevolent as she had to appear, approved of the relationship and soon the date for the wedding was set.
At the same time the kingdom which was called by its citizens The Hidden Realm, has been stricken with famine and disease. The rulers of that kingdom abandoned all rights of their status to help their subjects but it wasn't enough. Soon they themselves were in great plight and had nothing to give. Though to save his wife, the king transferred all his remaining virtue to the queen and thus gave his life for hers.
The queen mourned over her loss but for the sake of her husband's sacrifice, for it to not become naught, she looked for ways to save her nation.
And she found one as her eyes fell onto Equestria. She stopped at nothing to accomplish her plans and even took the princess of love as captive and took her place. As the day arrived at which her plan was about to come to fruition, the worst possible thing happened: she was revealed. Luckily she was able to gather enough strength to even take on the embodiment of the sun and thanks to the fact that the other one was occupied otherwise, she successfully could back up on plan B and spread the most of her energy resources to her subjects and gave the order to attack." Here Vigil stopped for a dramatic pause and looked directly into the eyes of the enraptured Trixie.
"And then the Power of Love decided to show up during an inconvenient moment and thought it a great idea to beat the mind out of me."
It took a while but then he was rewarded with another smack onto the head.
Author's Note
Just so you know: I'll use this story to get my mind off of Creation so I don't drive into the infamous wall called writers block. What does that mean for this story? Well, let's just say that it won't be the best of my work and chapters will be submitted sporadically.
The Metamorphosis
T r a v e l e r s
by
Nightjar
He awoke to the glaring light of the morning sun despite it having yet to rise and the bawling of the birds. He rolled on his side and slowly opened his eyes again only to find a blade of grass stabbing and slicing at the one further from the ground. The other one received a load of half frozen morning dew.
He jumped to his hooves, yelping, and wildly shook his head while clenching his eyes closed. Still hissing in pain he sat on his rump and tried to rub his eyes. As soon as he lifted his hooves off the ground — entangled into his blanket and stripped off of his sight and thus its input used for his sense of balance — he fell forward and straight onto his nose. Which hurt. Equilibrioception! Why you betray me?! He tried to stand up but was again reminded that he had manacled himself. Once more rolling he laid on his back and looked himself over. Yup, that's a blanket... Where did it come from? He remembered last night and the rather unprofessionell interrogation. He recalled that after that second hit he had decided to sulk and eventually laid down for sleep. There was no blanket in that memory. Well, that's...rather...kind, I guess. He looked up and towards the stage caravan.
»ʔ҉ʕ«
Trixie had one of those weird dreams in which you ask a mirage of yourself 'Who are you? And if yes, how many?' and all the while you are standing on a pond, trees sprouting from your ears and you have wings made of wallpaper. And it all makes sense. Totally. However, suddenly the pond disappeared and she fell down and down and down, the trees slowly grinding away on the lithic walls. Panic began to rise and she grit her teeth and clenched her eyes shut while repeatedly thinking only one word that steadily grew louder in the corners of her mind. No!
She awoke with a gasp and frantically looked around the room while regaining her sense of orientation. She caught a glimpse of sunlight that broke through the gaps between the window frame and the shutter. The voices of songbirds chimed into the wagon. And another morning in Equestria. And it seems to herald a good day. When I bring the changeling into the next tow— That was when her eyes went wide and she tumbled out of bed. The changeling! I should have given him a dose of that damned potion hours ago! Oh, hopefully he doesn't find out and is still asleep. Who knows what he'll do? She was about to throw the door of her caravan open but stopped herself before she could. This would have surely awoken him if he was even still asleep. Trixie didn't want that. No, no, she had to do this slowly, cautiously.
Trixie crouched, unbolted the connection between the top and bottom parts of the door and slowly pushed the lower one open.
She was very proud of her new wheel estate since it had taken nearly all of her reserves and had to pull out all the stops of her bartering skills. That's why she always held it clean and in top condition which included coating the wood with linseed oil, scrubbing off graffiti and lubricating the hinges.
That was the sole reason the first step of Trixie's plan worked out as the door swung open soundlessly. Suddenly she smelled toast.
»ʔ҉ʕ«
Now only filtering this through the cloth and voila. Ponykinds greatest invention. He backed away from the folding table and admired his fine work. He had accomplished to create a decent breakfast despite the unsatisfying supply of food in the captivator's resources.
"Is that coffee?"
Vigilance jumped at the sudden voice behind him. As soon as he recognized it he regained his composure and turned around with a smile on his lips. "Indeed it is."
Trixie's confusion showed on her face as she asked a simple question. "How?"
"Well you see," Vigil began, "I tried to make a proper breakfast but as I looked around your stash I just couldn't find any coffee. So I found a solution."
Trixie patiently waited for the explanation to continue. As it didn't she already plummeted with frightening speeds towards frustration zone again. "And what was that solution? Did you go off and stole some coffee?"
Vigilance reeled in shock. Probably. "I am wounded! Of course not! There is no other pony around for at least five miles!"
Trixie blinked. That's his reason?! One of her forehooves gradually found his way to her face to massage the bridge of her nose.
"No, no. You see, I just looked around for dandelions, dug them out, roasted the roots et cetera and now we have coffee and salad. Bon appetit." With that Vigil sat down at one side of the table expectantly looking towards his captor.
Trixie on her part lowered her hoof again, sighed and eventually took her seat after a few second. She dumbly looked over the assembled foods. "I..." After carefully thinking about the situation she came to a conclusion on what had to be asked. "Thank you...but... Why?"
Vigil tilted his head in confusion. "Why what?"
Trixie grit her teeth. This changeling is unbelievable! "Why are you still here? Why would make breakfast while you could have just run away?" she hit the tabletop with a hoof. "Why in the name of Celestia do you behave like a pony?! More or less..."
While the mare let out her frustration one of Vigilance's brows lifted higher and higher. When Trixie finished he lowered it again, blinked a few times and gave his answer. "...meh..." And with that, he grabbed a slice of the crispbread and began to make himself a sandwich.
Trixie's eye twitched. "Okay, you know what?! I don't care! I can't believe it! It's too early for something like that." She grabbed her mug of dandelion coffee and took a long gulp. Huh, nutty.
»ʔ҉ʕ«
A loud gasp was heard. Trixie looked up and at the changeling at the other side of the table. His plain blue eyes were even wider and stared at her in disbelief. "What?" The slightly annoyed undertone was clearly perceivable. They had sat in silence for a while now and were nearly done with their meal.
"You..." He gulped. "You spoke in first-person!" Trixie was about to open her mouth to answer but was cut off by Vigil. "However." His expression became blank. "What are you planning on doing with me, now?"
Surprised she closed her mouth and blinked rapidly. That's actually a really good question. "Well, I wanted to hand you over to the guards in the next town." It took her a few seconds before it registered on her that she had just said it out loud. "Ehm, I mean of course...erm..." She wracked her brain for a solution to her slip and stared with growing apprehension at the changeling on the other side of the table.
Said bug-pony just swallowed his latest and last bite, emptied his coffee and then just sat staring down. Finally, he voiced his thoughts. "Well, okay." He raised his head and locked eyes with Trixie. "It's not like I have anything better to do." He stood up, took his plate in his mouth and made his way over towards a bucket, leaving behind a gaping showmare. He spat the plate into the water and looked over his shoulder to observe his host. "By the way," he said with a raised eyebrow, "you ought to brush yourself. You have an awful bedmane."
Trixies mouth snapped shut at that comment and she shot a glare his way while a slight blush rose on her cheeks. Her glare never wavered while she retreated into the wagon.
»ʔ҉ʕ«
Trixie laid down her currycomb and reached her mind towards her brush. She thoroughly smoothed her body hair just so it wouldn't look scruffy while still maintaining a pleasant degree of fluffiness. Then she came to her mane and tail.
As she looked into the mirror and watched as her silver crest was brought into the well-known shape she remembered the words of her captive from last night. Trixie bit her lip and stopped the brush. Why am I even contemplating his opinion? Though maybe a change wouldn't be so bad? However, if I do this then it shouldn't be something too big otherwise, he might think that he was the one giving me the idea. And that is definitely not the case! Ridiculous! She smirked at the hilarity of the notion and set herself back to work. Maybe a little bit wavy-er?
»ʔ҉ʕ«
Author's Note
I'm somehow inclined to exchange the Advendure tag for Slice of Life. They might be travelling but there is not a grander purpose as of why except for earning money for a living in the case of Trixie...
Well, we'll see...
