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| Her Own Medicine; [4 Dec, 5150] | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 22 2012, 06:22 PM (625 Views) | |
| Princess Luna | Aug 22 2012, 06:22 PM Post #1 |
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The journey from Ponyville to Canterlot had taken significantly more time that usual, as Luna could not fly due to carrying Carapace the Changeling. As such, she was stuck walking, as were the guards with her. It wasn't really tiring so much as it was tedious. But she took the time to consider what was to be done with the Changeling, who was perhaps indeed a pony. When they arrived, she instructed the guards to, “make sure she's taken care of”, which she actually meant. The Changeling was in terrible condition, and Luna regretted having so much other work to do that she couldn't properly look after her herself. So it was that Luna left Carapace in the care of the guards, who didn't believe at all that a pony could be turned into a Changeling. They hadn't been living for long, and were not acquainted with the power of Discord. There were powerful magics in the world that most ponies couldn't understand and might never experience in their lifetime. Many of the guards, having been around for both times the Changelings tried to invade Equestria, were not very fond of the creatures. And in the depths of palace dungeons, nopony would be any the wiser... |
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| Princess Celestia | Aug 22 2012, 06:44 PM Post #2 |
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'Carapace' could barely think; her mind was still reeling from weeks of no food and so little sleep that- by all rights- she should have died. But there were no 'rights' where Discord was concerned, only lefts. Unless the lefts were what was needed, then they were rights; but that meant that- "Ugh." Celestia no longer cared to continue the metaphor in her head; Discord was best hated when one had a clear head and in their proper body. Granted, she could hate him pretty well even without the proper body, but she would still like it back. However, she had found a reason to hope; and a rather messed up reason at that. The looks some of the guards had shot her while bringing her down here had made their feelings known; they hated her, they didn't even know her and they hated her. It was something that she clung to desperately; it meant that not all ponies had been taken in by the lies the changelings had spouted, that not all were brainwashed. In that hatred of these monsters, she felt she could truly save her precious ponies and the kingdom she loved so dearly. Some time after her being 'escorted' to the dungeons, Celestia found herself joined by one of the guards that had looked at her with the most hatred, an earth pony that looked well into his fifth decade. His expression hadn't soften since that time, and she could almost swear it was harder than it had been. "Do you know how much I've suffered because of your kind?" It was the type of hatred that she was looking for, untouched and unbound by changeling magic; he knew what they were. "Yes." "NO!" He crossed the floor with impressive speed and kicked her against the wall. She cried out from reflex, but otherwise let it continue; none of the other guards seemed in a hurry to put a stop to it. "I was there, twenty years ago when you invaded Canterlot. My mother was separated from me, and when I found her again, she was one of YOU! My real mother died of a heart attack that day; she died of fright from YOU THINGS!" He kicked her again, she felt something crack but paid it no mind; he deserved this closure. "I'm going to show you just how much pain I felt that day, insect!" "I understand. Don't hold back." Her willingness just seemed to drive him into a rage, and all she knew after that was pain. Edited by Princess Celestia, Aug 23 2012, 12:39 AM.
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| Princess Luna | Aug 23 2012, 03:46 AM Post #3 |
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Awhile later, Luna was prepared to settle down for the night. She'd managed to reverse her sleeping schedule, seeing as she was taking over for Celestia, but she still felt out of sorts sleeping through the night. It was just one other thing that aided in her loss of sleep. But tonight, she had one focus. It was a relief compared to the other work she could be doing. Caring for Carapace would be easy in comparison. She seemed to hate Changelings, which was an indicator that what Dream Reaper said was correct. Or it was some spell of Discord's that had been placed on a perfectly fine Changeling to make them think they were really a pony when they weren't. It was hard to tell with his ways. Although tracking her down posed a worrying problem. She wasn't in the sick bay, nor in the kitchen or dining hall or Luna's personal chambers, nor Celestia's (though Luna couldn't imagine why she'd be there anyway), not in the garden, the lounge, the throne room... it was like she'd never arrived. Luna wasn't overly familiar with most of the guards, but in the past weeks she'd had to change that. With a little investigation, it didn't take long to find out where Carapace was. Nopony would dare lie to a princess... especially one with a reputation like Luna's. She raced down to the lower levels of the castle, to the damp and dark dungeons that were reserved for only the worst offenders, and prisoners of war. It hadn't been much used in recent years, due to Equestria favoring peace over war. Plus, with the kill order on Changelings, they weren't really taking any prisoners. She saw the guards before she saw the Changeling. “WHERE IS SHE?!” Luna rarely used her Royal voice anymore, but when she did, everypony knew she meant business. Serious business. Her powerful voice echoed in the underground chamber, shaking loose bits of dirt and rubble. One of the guards, his ears pinned against his head in fright like the others, managed to point to the chamber to Luna's right. She turned her head, her horn brightening the otherwise dim cell. She gasped in shock, her hoof flying up to cover her now open mouth. There laid a bruised, broken, and bloody Carapace, and there stood a shocked and silent Luna. “YOU!” she snarled, her demeanor changing in an instant as she whirled toward the guards. Her shoulders hunched and her head lowered so her horn was level with them. Her horn glowed brilliantly, which was a match for her now glowing eyes. She could disintegrate them in a second, or teleport them deep under the ocean to drown, or conjure a few dozen insects to slowly eat their flesh, or— Or she could handle the situation calmly and rationally. She could be the bigger mare here and do the right thing. With one swift motion, the door to the adjacent cell opened and the guards were tossed against the back wall. “I'll deal with you later.” she said with gritted teeth, slamming the door so hard it nearly came off its hinges. Much more gently, she opened the door to Carapace's cell. Luna may not have been fond of Changelings, but this one was innocent as far as she had seen. And perhaps seeing on down here, where she'd first given one of them a chance many years ago... struck a cord within her. She swallowed, trying to figure out what she could do that could possible make it up to Carapace. She was in charge, and therefore had to take the heat for anypony that broke the treaty. She should have never let Carapace leave her sight. The guards... they were still used to the old ways. Canterlot had been the first invaded in the original attack. Everypony else had the chance to leave the city and try life elsewhere, but she hadn't considered that being a royal guard was a job that couldn't be found in another city. It wasn't as easy as taking their trade or talent somewhere else. She was now even more glad that she hadn't acted rashly against them. Even if they hadn't treated this one with the kindness and respect she deserved, perhaps they themselves still had families to return to. It wouldn't be fair to them to dispose of the offenders so readily. “I—I'm sorry.” Luna stood over her, but she couldn't meet her eyes. She couldn't even look at her mangled body. This was all her fault. |
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| Princess Celestia | Aug 24 2012, 12:05 AM Post #4 |
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Carapace had long since lost track of time; the pain had just run together after while and blurred the passage of it. All she knew is that, suddenly, she was being addressed by a very familiar voice. Luna was here... and she was upset? "Why?" She finally spoke, struggling to her hooves in spite of all the broken ribs she was sure she suffered. Discord wouldn't let her die, but she knew she was going to feel pain, no matter what. "Why are you upset? Changelings are nothing but monsters and liars. They exist only to make others suffer while they feed on their emotions until they've killed the pony and moved on to the next one." She paused to cough; oh, how sick she felt. She hadn't eaten, and talking about what her body perceived as food didn't make things the least bit easier for her. "These ponies are only doing the jobs they should be out there doing; if you're apologizing for not letting them do their jobs and protect their homes, then you should be saying it to THEM!" |
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| Princess Luna | Aug 24 2012, 03:54 AM Post #5 |
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“Stop, you'll hurt yourself!” As if it was possible that Carapace could look any worse. Luna wanted to make her lay back down, or help support her, but she also didn't want to touch her and risk jostling her any and inflicting more injury. One thing was for sure, she certainly had a strong will. Any other creature might be dead, or simply blacked out, if they were lucky. But here Carapace was, trying to stand, even in her awful state. “Well, you're either insane, or you really are a pony inside.” Luna thought for a moment. “But why wouldn't you try to defend yourself as such? But I suppose nopony would listen anyway, would they?” Luna's stomach was in knots. She felt so guilty for allowing this to happen. She hadn't realized that there were still guards who held grudges... that's what she got for not being close to any of them. Celestia would have known, but then again... even with the treaty, would she have done anything to stop it? Changelings weren't very close to their own kind, and nopony else would notice if one went missing. Nopony would be any the wiser if there was one less Changeling around. “Maybe you forget that for the moment, there's a treaty in place between ponies and Changelings. Regardless of past wrongs from either party, which there are plenty of, it's my duty to make sure that all creatures in Equestria uphold it.” she took a moment to take a deep breath and calm her voice. She was tired of ponies disrespecting her just because she wasn't Celestia. “You seem to have a personal vendetta against Changelings, which I guess has made you blind to the crimes ponies have committed against them. The ongoing war between the species goes both ways. The long standing kill order, which you sound like you fully support, had no room for protecting innocents. Any Changeling that may have wanted to seek refuge or turn over a new leaf could not set foot in Equestria without fearing for their life, at least in their natural form. Leaving the hive meant death if they were caught by their own kind. The Griffons and Dragons certainly wouldn't welcome them either. So—“ Realization struck her as the words poured from her mouth. For all those years, she'd supported Celestia's decision for the kill order. Well, she hadn't opposed it, anyway, even though she was reluctant to agree as well. But taking a step back and bothering to look at the big picture, she realized that they'd both been sorely wrong. Sure, those responsible for the original Equestria invasion deserved to be punished... but what of those that came into existence afterward, or those not present at the battle? “—so they had nowhere to go. There was no chance, no way for them to change. Celestia would even give them the chance. It's not their fault they're born with the need to feed. Ponies have to eat, Griffons have to eat, Timberwolves have to eat... Just because you hate how they eat does not mean you have to hate the creature underneath that.” |
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| Princess Celestia | Aug 25 2012, 10:19 AM Post #6 |
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"Gryphons and Dragons don't hunt sentient species unless they're attacked by them first!" Celestia was getting angry, angry at the pony who meant the most in the world and all of creation. On some level, she was upset that she was yelling at Luna, but there was nothing for it; pain, fatigue, hunger and anger were all mixing to horrible effect. She could almost swear she heard Discord's laughter ringing in her ears. "Gryphons and Dragons don't pretend to be something else to lie and steal the life away from somepony just to eat, or even for fun! They haven't left over half a country traumatized and unable to even trust the ones they love for fear they're just something else pretending and sucking their very soul out! They never made children afraid their parents were really monsters out of their worst nightmare, or parents afraid their children had been spirited away to be something's meal and replaced by a creature using them for a meal. All that bucking treaty did was give them a free meal ticket!" She staggered, pain flaring as she did but still managing to stay on her hooves. She was hungry, so very very hungry; even the hatred around her was starting to look so very, very appetizing. NO! She forced the thoughts of stealing from the souls of her subjects from her mind; there had to be a work around, she would never be the monster that the changelings were. "And if you cared even an OUNCE for your subjects, you'd revoke that ticket; IMMEDIATELY!" |
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| Princess Luna | Aug 26 2012, 02:15 AM Post #7 |
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Luna could understand where Carapace was coming from, but she still considered some of her accusations unfounded. Obviously she'd had a terrible run in with Changelings in her life, much different from Luna's more positive or neutral experiences. “Maybe you've failed to realize that I am the ruling authority. Don't tell me how to run my kingdom.” Though Carapace was getting on her nerves, she tried glare at her or take a negative tone. She didn't know enough about Carapace to judge her feelings against Changelings, but no doubt she'd been a front line victim of the war. “Dragons and Griffons are far from being innocent of bloodshed, both of ponies and each other. Yet even after wars, we now coexist.” “Changelings are born with the need to feed. They don't have options, they don't have choices. At least not where their nourishment is concerned. But believe it or not, I'm just one of many ponies that have been willingly fed on. Changelings don't have to kill, but they do have to eat. No doubt the urge exists in you too, yet you have no desire to actually hurt anypony. Changelings don't have to destroy things in order to eat.” “Yet you suggest that they should all commit mass suicide because they can't help how they have to keep themselves alive. You call them unfeeling, yet you would have me destroy an entire race based on the sins of their leader. You'd have me leave you down here to suffer and die based on appearance alone.” “As for me, I'll let deeds dictate the fates of those under Equestrian rule. Not prejudice. Now try to be still. Please.” The last word was barely above a whisper. She disliked seeing Carapace suffer, and it was about time she did something about it. She conjured a stretcher using her magic, lifting Carapace gently onto it. Try as she might, there was no way to move her without causing more pain. She supported the underside of the stretcher with a manifested blue glow, being sure to keep it steady as it and Carapace floated along beside her. She slowly made her way out of the dank and dark dungeon, and into the light of day. Edited by Princess Luna, Aug 26 2012, 02:21 AM.
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| Princess Celestia | Aug 27 2012, 11:35 PM Post #8 |
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"I would destroy one race to save another from it!" She was having none of this blame-shifting, not even from Luna. "I would remove a stain on world from the taint of Discord! I would level mountains and forests and, if I need to, countries to protect this country! I will not allow glorified locusts to swoop in and take over while you sit on your plot and just let it happen because you're trying to be some visionary ruler!" That was cruel, she knew it was cruel, but anger and hunger forced things out of you that- even if you meant them- were worded to hurt as much as possible. Luna's next mistake was to not restrain her, thinking that her injuries would be enough to keep her in place. They certainly made what she was about to attempt much more painful, but she was rabidly becoming use to pain these days. It helped distract her from how impossibly hungry she was. "And I'm not leaving to be a political piece for you to try and force ponies to accept changelings by showing them a weak and broken one." While she may have had no love for the game of politics, she certainly knew how to play it. It was painfully obvious how an image of a changeling in her current, with the princess of the night introducing her as having suffered at the hooves of other ponies, would be useful for earning sympathy for them; she would have none of that. Not from her at least. "Those guards down there suffered more than any other pony when those monsters invaded two decades ago. If anypony deserves a chance to hurt a changeling, it's them. And I will not let you hurt them for it!" She began her long and painful march back to her cell. "They are guilty of no crime but protecting what they love." |
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| Princess Luna | Aug 28 2012, 04:53 AM Post #9 |
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It was almost amusing to Luna how one in Carapace's condition could speak so highly of herself. Leveling mountains and forests and lands. Who exactly did she think she was? Such feats would be difficult, even for an Alicorn, so why would a pony speak of such ventures? Not to mention all the bloodshed involved, not just of Changelings, but of the creatures that might inhabit the land this Changeling—or pony—would so readily destroy. She supposed it was admirable, in a way, how much she cared for her country. But it seemed Luna wouldn't be able to convince her that she was going about it in the wrong way. “I'm doing my best, alright?!” Luna had been agitated to the point of yelling, something she had tried to avoid with this one. She plucked Carapace from the ground with her magic, plopping her back onto the stretcher. She did it a bit more roughly than she meant to, and flashed Carapace a guilty apologetic look. But what she was not sorry for was placing a magical aura around the Changeling to hold her in place. It would have felt like being wrapped in a blanket—restraining, but not rough. Though Carapace seemed to mean her no ill-will, she was becoming quite a nuisance. “You should know that allowing yourself to be hurt like that is costing ME valuable time that could be spent looking after my subjects. Although I suppose you're one of them, anyway. But if you had enough consideration for others, you might've realized that now I'll have to spend even more time on you, rather than actually possibly seeking out trouble making Changelings. In fact, I'll spend more time with you then it's taken to deal with any law breakers in the past two weeks. You talk of saving Equestria, but you yourself are just—just SELFISH!” She didn't really want to be so harsh, but she wished that Carapace would just shut up and listen to her. Pony or Changeling, she was quite disrespectful of royalty. But Luna knew a night in the dungeon would only please Carapace, in some sick twisted way. She could only hope to break her with kindness. “And I wouldn't dream of using your situation in such a way. Maybe you should get to know me before you just write off my actions as unjust. I don't want ponies to accept Changelings because they have to. I don't want to guilt trip them into thinking they somehow owe it to them. All Changelings are going to have to earn their own redemption. They are in no way above the law just because they've suffered. Ponies have had their share of grief at the hooves of Changelings. But no matter how either side feels, there IS a treaty. I didn't elect it, but I will uphold it. Everypony knows the law, including those guards. Celestia might turn a blind eye to such treatment, but know this: I'm. Not. Like. Her.” Luna's expression hardened at these last words. “But I've harmed ponies too. No matter how much the history books try to sugar coat or downplay my actions, there will always be those that remember. Some might say I don't deserve my crown, because of my past wrongs. But there are those, like my sister, who think I deserve a second chance. I guess maybe that's why I sympathize with the Changelings. Even after all I'd done... I got a second chance. Maybe I don't deserve it... and I'll never be able to set things right... but I've been given the opportunity to try. Even if there are those who insist that I should still be locked away, and who fault Celestia for being merciful, she's taught me that same mercy. To maybe just be a little kinder every day. To give second chances, even when they aren't deserved. Even when the one at fault has hurt others.” Luna sighed, placing a hoof to her temple and shaking her head. “I don't even know why I'm telling you this. I guess I'll just have to accept that you'll never understand.” she grimaced. “The best thing we can do is to try to get you back to normal. I hope you realize that whatever form you're in, you'll sustain your injuries. If you really are a pony, your wounds won't go away just because you're not a Changeling. And believe it or not, Changelings can die. So you can choose to starve yourself and die alone as a creature you hate, or you could feed and allow yourself enough time to be turned back to normal so you can live out the rest of your lifespan. But, later.” They had arrived at the infirmary, which was all but empty save for a nurse who was looking uninterestedly at some documents. Luna placed Carapace on a nice soft bed, calling for the nurse to bring supplies. It was going to be a long night. |
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| Princess Celestia | Aug 29 2012, 07:00 PM Post #10 |
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"I never asked for special treatment." Celestia was getting rather annoyed at her younger sister; she might have loved her, but Luna's stubbornness had been the stuff of legends in the time before the... incident with Nightmare Moon. "I never asked you to take yourself away from what you should be doing! I never asked to be coddled and cared for like a foal! I wanted to be left down there in the dungeon for them to hurt so they could get some form of closure; not have them suffer for reacting like ANY NORMAL PONY WOULD!" Even in the binding of the spell, she still struggled. This was helping noting and no one; it was just wasting time. "And you should have. If you're going to play this game, then you need to learn how to work the political scene. Otherwise, ponies will call you a tyrant and try to stop you. That's just how it works." By the time that they gotten the infirmary though, she had managed to tired herself out. "I won't die... I can't die. He won't let me, it's his sick game." |
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| Princess Luna | Aug 29 2012, 10:08 PM Post #11 |
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“Well, like it or not, I'm going to treat you like one of my subjects. You'll get the same treatment anypony else in your situation would.” Of course, any normal creature wouldn't have just stood by and allowed several guards to beat them senseless. Not without a fight, anyway. And even then, surely they'd be eager to get patched up and healed, right? Something was certainly off about Carapace. “I guess I've always been better about looking after individuals than seeing the bigger picture. I don't usually have to worry about the multitude of Equestria. Only the rare few that come to me during my nightly watch. I give them each my utmost attention, so long as they'll let me. Always looking out for the underdog, because I'm one too. I don't play by the 'political rules'.” Now Luna was ready to begin healing Carapace. She gave a wide, not very princess-like yawn, but it wasn't as if there was anypony here to see it. So much for sleep. She grimaced again, looking over Carapace's body, silently planning out the task ahead. The Changeling was calm now, which was a relief. “I'd offer you something to dull the pain, but I have no idea if it would work seeing as you're a Changeling, and besides, somehow I think you'll enjoy hurt.” she looked sympathetically at Carapace, saddened by this creatures inability to grasp what was best for her. Luna's magic covered Carapace's form, searching for every break and bruise. She closed her eyes to better focus, intent on the task ahead. Slowly, through the night, her magic worked its way through her body, mending it little by little. She would be good as new by morning. |
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| Princess Celestia | Aug 30 2012, 12:53 PM Post #12 |
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THE NEXT DAY At some point in the night, 'Carapace' had passed out in pain. She might have enjoyed it when the guards were hurting her for the pain that the changelings had caused them, but that was long gone. Luna was doing this to make a point about ponies and changelings working together, not to hurt her. Plus, even enjoying the pain, there was only so much a body could take before it reached its limits. Now, it was pre-dawn and for a moment, for a brief, shining moment, Celestia honestly believed what she'd been through had been a nightmare. Something to be tossed aside and forgotten with the new day. But no, she didn't have that kind of luck. Instead, she was still an insect, still trapped and unable to act, and Luna was asleep on the bed when she should have been preparing herself to raise the sun. Not sleeping with a changeling! Stifling back a groan, the trapped Sun Princess made her way off the bed and through the ward. With any luck, she might be able to get down the the dungeon and release the guards that had assaulted her. What they did after that was up to them, she just hoped they'd be okay. |
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| Princess Luna | Aug 31 2012, 12:48 AM Post #13 |
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The hours of healing took a toll on Luna's already exhausted body. As soon as she was finished, she had laid her head on the bed next to Carapace, just to rest for a minute. She'd get up and move to one of the other infirmary beds, just as soon as she got her strength back... Instead, Luna went to sleep right there, the breathing of the two creatures the only sound that could be heard for the next few hours. But her ears pricked when she heard Carapace moving beside her head. She didn't want to get up... it was too early. Couldn't be time to raise the sun yet. She moaned lightly, forcing her eyes open. That was the first step to waking. It took a few seconds for her to realize that the Changeling was completely absent of the bed. Luna's head shot up as she looked wildly around, a little dizzy from the sudden motion. If any of the guards had something to do with— she gave a relieved sigh as she caught sight of Carapace heading for the door. She stood and stretched, rolling her aching shoulders. Her sleeping position had been a terrible choice, but she was glad for all the rest she could get. “Where do you think you are going?” Luna sauntered up beside Carapace. |
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| Princess Celestia | Sep 1 2012, 12:59 AM Post #14 |
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She couldn't stop herself, she turned a glare at Luna as she continued to trudge along. Right now, she didn't care what her sister did or thought. There were ponies suffering, ponies that needed her help. Even worse, they were suffering because of her; all because she couldn't help them like she should have. "Where I am going is down to the dungeons again. Then, I am going to find the keys and get those ponies you threw in there out of the cells. Since you never left last night, they're still there. I'm not having them suffer for trying to protect their home and their loved ones. And I am doing it whether you like it or not." |
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| Princess Luna | Sep 3 2012, 03:58 AM Post #15 |
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“Well, your legs seem to be working fine.” Luna lowered her head to examine the Changeling as she walked, making sure everything looked like it was functioning properly. Her steps were shaky, but that wasn't anything to do with her bones. Ribs were all aligned, and no open wounds. Good. She took in a breath while her head was still next to the Changeling, and scrunched up her nose at the smell. “Maybe it was just the time you spent in the dungeon, but, did anypony offer you a bath? Honestly, even when they're not trying to they treat Changelings poorly.” she sighed. “You know, ponies commit crimes too. Does that mean the whole race should be damned, as you would have me do to the Changelings? At least they aren't out killing ponies, as you adamantly seem to believe. The treaty doesn't allow that. I figured it would be obvious, but you seem to be set that Changelings are going to wipe out the pony population. Ponies still outnumber them. The Changelings know that if any ONE of them kills, it's all over for the rest of them. They've been pretty good about turning in any unruly of their kind.” “I can offer you a deal.” she grimaced, reluctant to try negotiations under the circumstances. But she was trying to be nice to this one, even if she didn't return the sentiment. “I'll set the guards free if you promise to be more cooperative.” There seemed to be nothing so far that would get her on the Changelings good side. |
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