A Change of Scenery - FiMFetch.net (2024)

It had been a week since Turrok started living in Ponyville and things were going well. He and Rarity got along fine, the town had grown accustomed to seeing him around and his persona made him part of it. Changling sightings were minimal and none warranted more than a simple warning to send them away. Things were going well.

Turrok woke up in the guest room as he always did and ventured downstairs to make some breakfast. Unlike most mornings, it was silent. Normally, his host was either running around her shop filling orders or simply enjoying a cup of tea at the table.

"Rarity?" he called. She never sleeps in and she's not here. She might have some business in town, probably left a note before leaving. Nothing to warrant concern at the moment. Of course, the minute he entered the kitchen, there was immediate cause for concern. Sitting on the table was a dagger with a piece of parchment underneath it's blade.

The solid black dagger was pushed aside and the letter was pulled up to eye level. The note itself was written in a language that was unknown to any who was not changling. It read:

Mr Galvann,

You've caused quite a stir in the capitol in the passed week. Your bounty has increased tenfold and I wish to collect, alive, if you could simply cooperate. As for the mare you have quartered with, I do not intend to hurt her. I simply wish to speak like the civilized beings we are. Meet me at the inn, top room to be exact, so that we may discuss the situation in closer proximity. Do this, and the mare will be released without a hair our of place. Good day, and I will see you soon.

The note dropped lazily to the floor as the changling holding it felt numb, before succumbing to a primal emotion. He took her... and I intend to punish such a mistake. His eyes rested coldly on the dagger, consuming it in a green aura and picking it up. He couldn't fight the sinister grin pulling on the corners of his mouth. A foolish mistake, with most dire of consequences. But first I need a plan before going after a trained assassin. He looked around and found a pair of pure white saddlebags with Rarity's mark as the clasps. Perfect.

He placed the bags on his back and slipped the knife in the left side. Before leaving, he quickly wrote a note and placed it on the table in the kitchen. With a deep breathe, his body was consumed by green flame and 'Sand Shifter' left the boutique. Usually he enjoyed the sight of Ponyville, but this time, he knew that returning would be an impossibility. There was no turning back, nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. But, he was done running and he was done hiding, he could only submit.

At a brisk pace, he walked through town toward with one thought in mind. I have to keep her safe. He approached his destination and put on a calm demeanor before entering.

"Hello, can I help you?" An older mare asked in an annoyed tone, not even bothering to look up from her cup of tea.

"I was told to come visit a friend in the top room."

"Go right ahead, just know that the window up there is broken."

"Thank you," he slipped up the staircase quickly and found himself at the front door. He placed an ear against the door and listened.

"You know that you've dug your own grave here, right!?" Rarity shouted.

"Miss, please silence your tongue. Or must I silence it for you?" A cold voice replied.

"Don't you touch me!"

"Miss, I have no ill will toward you, but I will do what I must to collect my pay."

"So you are one of those so-called 'bounty hunters'?"

"I prefer the term 'assassin.' Only if the target can be taken alive, I spare them."

"Oh, please forgive me 'assassin'," she spat. "I had no idea I was talking to an even lower form of filth!"

"Miss, you force my hoof."

Not wasting a moment, Turrok pushed the door open, breaking the lock as he did so.

"Don't you dare touch her!" He warned.

"Turrok!?" Rarity cried from the corner of the room.

"Ah, I assume you are Turrok?" The owner of the mystery voice replied, he didn't even bother with a disguise.

Turrok dropped his own disguise. "Yes, now release her."

"Now, now. There is no need to be so crass, in due time my friend." The door shut behind him and the assassin sat down at a table. He invited his target to sit on the opposite side.

Hesitantly, he dropped the saddle bag next to the chair and sat down. "What is the point of this discussion?"

"Please, must we be so hostile?"

"You have Rarity here against her will, 'hostile' would be putting it lightly."

"Fine, fine, I suppose we can get right to the point. Now, the reason for this little meeting is to show you that I am not a 'bad guy' here. I am just doing my job."

"Some job, chasing pennies for those who pull your strings like a marionette. You must be so proud to be in this field."

"Oh, you misunderstand the nature of my work. I catch criminals and enemies of the state that would otherwise be free to do as they wish."

"And yet, here you are."

"Here I am, with an enemy of the state."

"Oh really? An enemy of the state? Wow, I am honored to see the state lower itself so much to call me an enemy. Tell me, what 'war crimes' have I committed?"

"Let's see: desertion, conspiring with the enemy and espionage. You have betrayed your country in many ways and the council simply cannot allow you to continue to live freely. Do not take this personally, I'm simply doing my job."

"So, you have me, what now?"

"Now, we leave and I take you to the capitol to answer for your crimes."

"I'm not going anywhere until you release Rarity."

"Who? Oh yes, that mare there, of course." With a flare of his horn, Rarity jumped to her feet.

"I should teach you a lesson you ruffian!" She would have jumped across the table if it wasn't for Turrok.

"Rarity, please, go home,"

"I am not leaving you here!"

"Rarity! There's nothing you can do and I will be responsible for you getting hurt! Just please listen to me," he begged.

"My, my, such a touching scene. You should listen to him you know, I am much more skilled than the two of you."

"When will you be coming back?" she wrapped her hooves around his waist tightly.

"I'm not Rarity," he replied wrapping his hooves around her neck gently.

"Hush! Don't talk like that!"

He kissed her forehead and spoke softly. "It's okay, I'm done fighting this. It's only going to put you in danger and I can't let that happen."

"I can handle myself," she replied.

"That's not the point, Rarity. I won't put you in harm's way, I won't. That means I have to go, no matter how much I want to stay here, with you."

"Does that mean?" she was on the verge of crying.

"Yes, I figured out the answer. All the more reason for me to do this. Just go, and don't waste any tears for my sake."

Clap... clap... clap. "Bravo! Encore! Encore! You two are really too much! Now I have a schedule to keep, so if you don't mind."

"Goodbye, Turrok. I'll never forget you!" She kissed him on the cheek before leaving.

"Well, now that, that is settled. Shall we be off?"

"You first, I insist," he picked his saddlebag before following his captor out the door. Step one, complete.

The two put on disguises, Turrok went with his Sand Shifter persona and the assassin went with a unicorn look with a night black coat with a steel colored mane and tail. They left town quickly and slowed their pace once on the outskirts, Turrok hung his head low.

"Chin up, Turrok. Soon you won't have to worry about that mare or anything else."

"Easy for you to say, do you even know what an emotion is?"

"Clever, I hope you weren't thinking that would wound me."

No, but I know one thing that can. When we make camp at nightfall, then I will wait for my opportunity.

"Excuse me! You two!" A very familiar voice called. No...

The assassin turned around to confront the owner of the voice. "You wish to speak with us?" You idiot! What do you think you are doing!?

"Yes, if I could have a moment of your time." I have to do it...

"I suppose, but we do have to get moving." One...

"Thank you, I promise to be brief!" Two...

"Now, what can we do for you?" Three! "AH!" The assassin keeled over and Turrok ran.

"Turrok, wait!" The calls fell on deaf ears, he just kept running. They'll forget about me, eventually. I'm just glad that step two out of the way. That one was the hardest, three won't be so bad because it's the last step.

***

"Wow, you're learning faster than I thought! A few more of these lessons and you should be one hundred percent ready!"

"Thanks, although, it's a lot more taxing than I thought it would be," Dusk replied, slightly winded.

"Hey, you wanted to learn so badly!" Twilight retorted.

"I know, but I don't care how hard it is, it might be necessary in dire straits."

"That's true, now take a breather. We will pick back up with teleporting objects once you feel ready."

"Sounds... good!" he walked over to the nearest chair and slumped in it.

"So... how are things with Fluttershy?"

"Umm... fine," he answered simply.

"Really? Just 'fine'?" Twilight gave him a skeptically.

"Is it so hard to believe?"

"Dusk, it's either been amazing or strained. And right now it's not amazing."

"It's nothing."

"What's wrong? Trouble in paradise?"

"It's just... everything's been put on hold."

"What do you mean?"

"Two weeks ago we were planning on meeting with caterers and looking at candidates for the song bird choir. Now, everything's been halted because of these changlings!" He threw his head back and groaned.

"You two seem a bit in a hurry."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"You two dated for about three months and then you proposed to her. Now you two want the wedding to be this spring. Shouldn't you two slow it down a bit?"

Before he could retort the door was practically torn off it's hinges. "Dusk! I need your help!"

"What happened this time Rarity?" he asked in annoyance. Last time she asked for his help they searched the town for their changling guest when it turns out he just went to the market for her groceries.

"No time to explain just read this!" she pulled out a piece of parchment with a bunch of random symbols.

"Uhh, Rarity, unless you are a good translator this isn't going to help us."

"What?" she looked at the note before balling it up and throwing it across the room. "Read this note!"

This time the note could be read:

Dear Rarity,

I hope you can forgive me but I need to do this. Turns out that bounty had gone up quite a bit recently and now trained assassins seek to collect. I have one option, turn myself in. If these so called councilors are at all true to their word you should have a hefty sum sent to your home. Don't worry about my captor, I have a plan for him. But know that I can't return, not unless I am released by the council and let's face it, that will never happen. Just know that my capture secures your safety. I love you Rarity, I really do and I wish it didn't have to be this way. Just take care of yourself, okay? And don't cry over me, you don't look as pretty when you're crying.

Love, Turrok

"Twilight, you said a few more sessions would get me to one hundred percent, but what about now?"

"Now!? Dusk that's a very stupid idea!"

"What other option do we have!? It's either I do this or he walks right up and fits himself for the noose!"

"...Fine. Just don't lose focus okay? Can you picture the edge of town? Right where you came in?"

"Yes," Dusk closed his eyes and visualized it.

"Good, now just like I taught you."

His horn gave a white glow and his hooves left the ground. In an instant, he felt the grass on his hooves and opened his eyes. I did it? Ha! I did it! But celebration can wait! Scanning his surroundings he spotted a dark blue pegasus and a solid black unicorn. That's them alright, but I need to get in close.

A less thoughtful part of his brain decided to shout, "Excuse me! You two!" Darn it, why did I do that? Whatever make it work!

"You wish to speak with us?" The black unicorn turned around, Turrok just froze in place.

"Yes, if I could have a moment of your time," Dusk called walking slowly towards them.

"I suppose, but we do have to get moving." the unicorn said impatiently.

"Thank you, I promise to be brief!" he was within range to strike, but didn't want to risk it yet.

"Now, what can we do for you?"

Before he could come up with a convincing lie, he was Turrok turn around and strike the unicorn with something small. He gave an audible cry of pain before keeling over. Meanwhile, Turrok bolted of down the path.

"Turrok, wait!" Dusk shouted in a useless attempt to get him to stop. He knew full well that nothing was going to stop him.

"H-help me!" The former unicorn shouted, a black dagger halfway sticking through his shell. He left me to clean up this mess? Turrok I'm going to kick your sorry flank when we get you back here! Mark my words, you will pay for this!

"Oh, I'll help you. After you agree to a certain set of conditions."

"A-anything!"

"Excellent, first you will tell me everything you know."

"O-of course!"

"Second, you are at my mercy, I hold your life in my hooves."

"O-obviously!"

"And thirdly, you are going to help me get Turrok back."

"N-no way! I am not helping a traitor!"

"Aw, don't look at it like that. Look at it like you are helping literally the only pony willing to save your sorry shell. But, if you really want to chance it..."

"Okay, okay! I'll help you!"

"That's all I needed to hear," Dusk smirked before levitating the changling and sending him away in a flash of white light. Now, let's see if I did this right? He levitated himself and repeated the process, and found himself back in the library with his new captive. Looks like I mastered it.

Well, this was faster than I expected. Ratings, comments, criticisms (constructive in nature) all welcome.