private Enigma's Mysteries (Private w/Illiad Easle)

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

Trace sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Fine, you know I can't take this all down myself right? I need to know which judges are clean, we need clean jurors, and we need clean cops to collect the suspects. We need ponies willing to testify. OR, you get the princesses involved, get the royal guard down here to sus them out, and this'll all be cleaned out quickly, and hopefully not resulting in another gang war during the ensuing power vacuum."

13 hours ago, Crescent Moon said:

"If you are wondering why i do not use an Ouija or Spirit board, it's because those things are fake.  They were always made by a game company. All the hype about them being able to 'contact' spirits is just that, hype, false information spread to increase sales"

The queen smiled, "If I recall correctly, I think it was a child of a sister of mine who invented them, wouldn't be surprised if Ouija was their name, their hive thriving on fear after all it seemed like a harmless way to cultivate it, much like the horror movies they make these days."

(You can put what appears according to how it works given the information in the OOC, but leave their talking to me.)

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

The governor nods "I'll send you the list right now. Lets just get this dealt with" he would say, hanging up and then texting him the list of suspects, the clean judges and guards and ponies willing to testify, with one on the end saying possibly, which was the mare he had just 'saved'. He made his way to the room where Hard was in and knocks "Miss?"

Enigma chuckles a little "It wouldn't surprise me" she would say as the visage of a ling would appear, and she would open her eyes "Miss Vængr?" she would ask

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

Hard would be lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling in meditation, he'd sigh at the Governor's call, "What is it now?"

Trace would nod at the list before turning back to the tied up stallion that Hard had incapacitated for him, "Looks like my little friend came through, now I can out you away for a long time, maybe forever, and maybe until they kill you. Or..." he'd pause for a bit, "If you were to, say, tell me everyone you've been working with and everything you know, I might be able to cut you a deal, you stay there only a few years, then you're back out on the streets and the cops look the other way for a bit."

The Queen looked confused as she saw the image, "No... that doesn't look right. Too tall, small wings. Looks like an earth pony predisposition, Vængr was predisposed pegasus."

The spirit itself looked confused, it didn't seem to understand what was happening.

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

The governor would walk in and sit down "It would look like you'll be able to leave sooner than I thought" he would say "my friend is just about to wrap up the investigation and infiltration" he says, "As of now, he's interrogating a stallion involved with the mob" he would say, "Once he gives me the go ahead I will personally drive you to whereever you want me to leave you" he would say. He'd rub his temples "I will be glad to have these mobsters and traffickers locked up in jail" he would say, before checking his phone.

The stallion that Trace was interrogating would shiver and look at him "W-what the buck do you mean?" he would ask defiantly, "I have no idea wh-what you are talking about"

"Well then, this is awkward" Enigma would say, then look at the vision "If you are not miss Vængr, then could you please kindly tell me who you are and why you have appeared when I had specifically summoned Vængr?"

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

Hard didn't look too impressed, but raised an eyebrow, "When this is over, you owe me four times what you promised for the arcade, hazard pay."

Trace would get in close, "Don't play dumb colt, you abducted the mare named Enigma, and were followed to a warehouse on the docks. Someone shot out your windshield, you fled to the bar. Then a saucy little filly catches your eye and you end up here. I've got enough to put you away, or you could always disappear like all those other fillies you nabbed. What's it going to be? You going to talk? Or will I have you learn why they call me body-trace at the station?" (Referring to the chalk outline they leave at a crime scene after removing the corpse.)

The spirit still looked confused, more at what Enigma was saying than the experience, "I, thought no one would know. Had to tell them. Vængr and I, thought we were close friends, died together, I can't remember. Ashes mixed, my Queen, she needs to know, so another can take my place. So they can stop looking..."

The connection seemed faint, perhaps figuring out more could strengthen the bond?

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle
 

"Of course" he would say, "Once I get the go ahead, I will send for you" he would say "I need to let the judges know..oh one more thing..would you be willing to testify against the mob and the ring?" he would ask "i have a few others, but the most recent would be very..valuable"

The stallion gulps "F-for i-immunity?" he'd ask "And anomalously, y-you have no idea h-how the boss punishes detractors" 

Enigma looks at the vision "Ashes mixed?" she would glance to the Queen, "Who are you, so we can let your Queen know?"

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

Hard would look over at the Governor, "Provided you do a thorough job, there shouldn't be any worry."

Trace leaned in, tilting the stallion's chair so his hooves couldn't touch the ground, "You don't get to offer, only choose. Besides, you shouldn't have to worry about your boss if you tell us what we need to know. We can't give you immunity no, you've done too much to allow that, besides it'll be much easier to keep you safe in a reformation prison while the rest do hard time on the island. But we could arrange for your testimony to be secret from the accused, provided of course you tell us everything you know."

He'd drop the chair, letting it thud back to its upright position, Trace now holding a pad and paper, "So tell me, who have you foalnapped, who helped you, who did you give them to, who do you work for, and where are they hiding?" (You don't have to spell out all the info, you can just say he gave a full or partial confession along with a number of names or identifying characteristics he gave.)

The Queen looked deep in thought, Vængr was sweet on a filly... a filly named, Lilac. Was Lilac a changeling too?

The figure reacted to that, "Yes, I remember Lilac, she was sweet on me too..."

3 hours ago, Crescent Moon said:

"Who are you, so we can let your Queen know?"

The figure looked puzzled, "I... had so many names, don't know which was mine. So many letters..."

Realization dawned on the Queen, "Polymorph! That was Permu's thing with the names and the letters!"

The figure smiled, "Yes, Permutation was my Queen. Tell her she can stop looking, tell her since I forgot myself, that another can begin."

The figure began to fade as the Queen lifted Vængr's candle out of it's place, "Funny, I should have noticed when I first lit it that the flame was different, yellower than the others." She sighed, "I'll have to talk to Permu about this, she'll no doubt be relieved, she may want to thank you personally."

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

The stallion would carefully consider his options but then sighs "A-alright, alright, I'll talk" he says, as he then begins to give Trace a full confession, including those he knows for sure that are involved in the ring and their usual hide outs and selling points, along with points of interest for where they usually 'pick up' the foalnap target.

Enigma would nod "I see, well thank you miss, may your spirit rest in peace" she would say, uttering the closing prayer before closing the circle and dismissing the spirit to move on. She would then clean up everything "I see..well that was a first that sort of thing has happened to me" she'd awkwardly admit

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

Trace would note down everything the stallion said as well as ensure the confession was recorded. Once the stallion was done talking he'd signal for the guards outside the room to take him back to his cell. "Good, get some rest. We'll speak again tomorrow, see if you remember anything else."

The Queen had been more focused on the candle, hardly paying attention as Enigma cleaned up, but was stirred by her words, stowing the candle away, "I can't say that in all my years I've seen anything like it either. We're usually so careful about this sort of thing." She shook her head, "Nonetheless, I'll inform my sister about this, she may want to thank you personally, and I wouldn't be surprised if she asked something of you as well."

With a wave of her hand Ra entered the room, "Would you take Enigma back to her room? Or wherever she'd like to go?" She turned to Enigma, "I think you've earned the answer to any questions about us you may have, if you so desire to stay with us you ought to be informed as to how we work."

The Queen would then leave the two of them behind as Ra bowed in greeting, "The queen is most impressed, I haven't seen her in such a mood in my whole life, though that isn't saying much."

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

The stallion could only nod as he was lead back to his cell. He'd lay down on the hard bed, staring up at the ceiling. "It's better than what I would have gotten if I were released" he says to himself with a sigh, because surely the boss would have severely punished him.

"Thank you, your highness" she would say and then look to Ra "I seemed to have cleared up a little bit of confusion" she'd say, following her "As for questions about...your hive..how well would they settle with me staying here? Like..permanently?"

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

Ra seemed intrigued by the question, "Truly? Such a thing has not happened in this hive before. I suppose it would take some getting used to, but we should adjust to it soon enough, provided you remain kind to us all." While she was stared at by every ling they passed, they were certainly all looks of curiosity, especially the younger ones, it didn't look like any of them viewed her with suspicion or malice.

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

"I couldn't even dream of hurting any of you, not even if I wanted to, which I certainly don't" Enigma would say with a small smile as she followed Ra "The hive is the closest thing I've ever had to a family in..well it's been so long I can't quite remember how long I had been alone for" she'd say, quite obvious in awe of how the hive worked, "Everything is so intricate, and yet you all seem to just..go about doing your work as if it's quite an ordinary thing..it's amazing to me.."

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

Ra looked around, "Well that's a bit... sad, that this is the closest you've had to a family. You haven't even been here a full day after all. I hope you don't mind my asking, but were you an orphan? That would explain this reaction."

12 hours ago, Crescent Moon said:

"Everything is so intricate, and yet you all seem to just..go about doing your work as if it's quite an ordinary thing..it's amazing to me.."

Ra smiled, "We start young, everyone is trained according to their predisposition, which is somewhat comparable to a pony's mark but evident from hatching. The immature ones, like myself, work inside the hive caring for the younger ones, making the gel, that sort of thing. Then once they've matured they are assigned a role, again according to their predispositions, to take in the outside world. They generate a unique identity and documents are created for them to 'move in' to town with." She thought for a moment, "If you want, I could show you a bit around the hive before going back to your room? But if you want to rest it can happen another time."

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

Enigma would follow her, then nod at her question "I..I was an orphan at the age of three" she would say "not really sure what happened to my parents, all I know is I was picked up and put into an orphanage" she'd say "Was always the odd one out" she'd shrug but then smile "Well, if I'm to be honest, I kind of like your company, so how about we go for the tour?" she would ask.

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

10 hours ago, Crescent Moon said:

"I..I was an orphan at the age of three

Ra looked like she was doing some quick math, "That's... oh, like being orphaned fresh out of the 'coon. At least you weren't abandoned, but that's very sad."

10 hours ago, Crescent Moon said:

"Well, if I'm to be honest, I kind of like your company, so how about we go for the tour?"

Ra perked back up, "Thank you! Here, let's go this way."

Ra proceeded down some of the less decorated hallways first into a room that looked like food storage or a wine cellar, the walls lined with large barrels. The open ones could be seen to be full of gel of similar color to the changelings, each barrel was labeled with a different emotion, most of them being Awe and Appreciation, though there were a few barrels of Joy and a small one of Love on a higher shelf. "This is where we store the gel after it's been charged until we need to eat it. You see, unlike what most think we don't just eat emotions, we have a body to maintain as well, so the gel is rich in nutrients and charged with the emotional energy we collect and store within ourselves, then once it's had time to cure we can eat it." She'd motion for Enigma to come closer, "Go ahead! Try some! I promise it's safe."

The texture of the gel ranges from jam to soft jello depending on how long it's cured, the flavor depends on the emotion. Eating the gel produces a slight emotional response in line with the contents, but the flavor is mostly nutty, like pecan or almond butter. Positive emotions are more sweet, angry emotions more spicy, sad emotions more muted. Special emotions like Love have their own rules.

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

Enigma would nod "To be honest, I feel like I was abandoned" she would say "Or like there was something about me that made them leave me there" she'd say, listening to Ra and looking around, constantly feeling amazement and awe, but there was something inside of her that was telling her that this was somehow all familiar to her. Once they arrived at the area with all the gel, she would listen and then take a small finger of it and licks it. At that moment, he eyes would widen and there was a soft aura around her, as her body changed and she was now in the form of the Changelings in the hive.. "I..I remember now.." she would say "Well part of it. I don't remember much before the orphanage, but I remember being bullied and teased about being a Ling there, so I changed form and..it just kind of stuck, I guess I forgot myself"

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

Ra looked extremely confused and surprised when Enigma transformed, "But how? I could feel you, can still feel you now! That's abnormal, I don't recall there aver being a changeling who could produce emotional energy as you do."

(This is of course assuming that her form is a human changeling like I described in the ooc and not an Equestrian kind.)

Ra would get rather close, feeling around certain areas, "There was no fire, you don't have wings or a horn, the last two aren't unheard of but are extremely unfortunate when they occur, they don't usually live long so deformed, but further your colors! I don't recognize them from any of the hives."

Ra would try to pull Enigma along, "Mother must know, must have seen something like you."

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

( yes human Changeling)

"I..Are you sure?" she would ask "I-I mean if she could shed some light onto..why I was abandoned at the orphanage, or who my parents were" she'd say, being dragged along by Ra "I-I mean I'd like to know more about my past" 

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

Ra was distracted as she hurriedly led the way forward, "Well, if you're anything like us, you'd only have one parent technically even if a king was present as they are not required nor common."

They would enter the throne room to find the queen, herself undisguised as she had been before, revealing that in addition to her alicorn proportions she had an extra set of arms and legs making her appearance almost spider-like. While her second legs were practically identical to her first ones, her second arms were more slender and delicate than the first.

The queen was surprised to see them enter so hurriedly, especially to see Enigma so changed. "Ra, what is the meaning of this?"

Ra bowed, "We were hoping you would know my queen, Enigma..."

The queen stopped her with a raised hand, "I suspected something was different yes, I thought there was more to her charm than she said, though I don't fault her for hiding it. It is a nature after all." The queen approached to examine more closely. "You feel the same, despite the change in appearance, making you quite the interesting changeling indeed. From where do you hail? And I must ask that you speak truthfully, or we won't be able to resolve this issue."

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

"Well.." she wold say trying to think back to where she truly came from "I'm from this place called Earth" she would say "It's not..all that much different from Equestria but..well ponies aren't sentient, nor are they even anthropomorphic" she would explain "In fact, they are feral, like a cow, cat or dog" she'd say "honestly, I can't remember much of my childhood there, but that is probably due to me blocking the memories out" she'd say to the Queen "And you are right, this amulet was actually given to me by the Princesses, to give me the appearance of a pony"

Edited May 26, 2020 by Crescent Moon

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

The queen nodded, "Indeed, that changes things. Being from another realm would explain why you are so different from us." She leaned back in her throne pondering, "I imagine that the princesses do not know? Given you yourself did not know of your true nature it seems likely that they two were unawares."

Ra on the contrary seemed fascinated about the whole exchange, but did not speak up to interrupt the queen.

The queen leaned back in to examine Enigma, "I can't say I've heard of any place called earth, though I would presume it has something to do with earth ponies, perhaps their ancient homeland?" she seemed more pondering than asking, she sat silent for a moment before she continued, "I suppose this changes nothing about our previous agreement, though I imagine that many will consider you quite odd or unfortunate given what they will assume are birth defects." She had a concerned look, "Unless this form is actually unnatural? In the which case I do apologize deeply."

She sighed, "Who's good with mind magic? I suppose that was Chryssi's thing, but she's gone now."

Ra would speak up, "We have a few immatures who are studying mind magic, perhaps they could?"

The queen looked unsure, but turned to Enigma, "I think the key to understanding exactly what you are will lie in your remembering these blocked emotions. I won't force you to, but I do recommend that you look into having those memories restored." 

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

"I..I do not think it is a birth defect" she would say "I do remember that I had to..change some aspects of myself, due to the bullying I was getting at the orphanage. i was also unfortunately one of the ones who never got adopted" she would say to her. "I uh..well magic was mostly a thing of fantasy or was called Witchcraft, back on Earth..which I suppose you could call a realm..but I knew it existed" she rambles on "I found this old mirror that brought me well, here" she'd say "But if you think unlocking my memories will help..then, I'm willing to go for it"

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

The queen nodded, "Having never seen another of your kind, we can only guess how your kind operates. We assume a similarity between us given visual appearance, but such assumptions may be false. Hopefully these memories can help you understand what you are, and how we can help."

Provided she didn't have any further questions for the queen, Ra would lead her away to another part of the hive, passing by large chambers filled with what looked like chrysalises each holding what appeared to be several changeling foals, to what appeared like an instruction area, the walls and rooms decorated like one would expect an elementary school. Notably there weren't any doors separating the instruction rooms from the hallways.

Eventually Ra stopped at one of the rooms where three changelings about Ra's height were sitting in a circle reading from books, they turned to face Ra and Enigma when they entered, most especially curious towards Enigma. "Odin, Huginn, Muninn, this is Enigma, she needs help with her memories."

The curious looks only increased as they picked themselves up off the floor, "This is Enigma? But we heard Enigma was a pony." "She certainly feels like a pony, though not really I suppose." "She looks more like us than a pony, only not."

Ra shooed them away from circling her with their curiosity. "Which is why she needs your help, she needs to remember her past in order to understand what happened."

The three exchanged looks, then turned to Ra and Enigma and nodded, "We're not professionals by any means, but we'll do our best miss."

They would motion for her to sit on the floor, the three of them taking seats around her, forming a ring around her by joining hands. They would all point their horns at Enigma and begin.

"Close your eyes, let's walk backward. What is the first thing you remember clearly?"

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,581]

@Illiad Easle

Enigma would follow Ra and look around, and they soon arrive where the others were. She would look at them. She closes her eyes and tries to think back "I remember..still being an infant, I was in a large house..it's all a blur though, there were others, but rushing about, there was lots of shouting and then..i was scooped up, and rushed over to another place, which turned out to be the orphanage" she would explain "It's all blury"

[Illiad Easle 3,175]

@Crescent Moon

"No no, that won't work." "Too weak to connect." "We need something you can remember clearly, something we can connect to and then work backwards from there."

Ra would interject, "What about the necklace Celestia gave you? That sounds like it would have been a potent memory, and it sounds like it came soon after your arrival."

The young changelings agreed, "That should work." "Once you picture that, and picture it well, we'll be able to enter and start working backward."