Author's Notes:

A quick chapter:

Also for a certain muffinlover- this chapter is for you, because it again has no HOOMANS in it. You will either give it another 0 or a higher or lover score for whatever reason. Or maybe even none and add some weird commented instead. OR you will say nothing.

Anyway, this is just one of those chapter to brake the monotony. Just to have a break from the kings none sense and focus more on the background character and the day to day life they have when the king isn't around.

Have fun.

Bakuss followed Farries towards the direction he assumed was the source of whatever it was he felt minutes ago. It was quite the trot, breezing through many pedestrians and streets, squeezing through tight alleys and crowded places.

Bakuss was slowly questioning Farries’ accuracy as they continued to go through yet another side alley, which must have been the 6^th one in row as far he was concerned.

Bakuss panted. “Are you aware of where you are even going? How far was this aura anyway? I thought that the spell of your only has a limited pulse range, yet we have been cantering through these streets for over 15 minutes.” He complained.

Farries just looked over his shoulder with a frown. “Well, if you haven’t been leading the two of us in the completely opposite direction for the last 5 minutes then we would most likely have been at the source by now. Especially when the target suddenly began to move the moment we trotted back to where we started.” He fired back as they rounded another corner.

Bakuss just grumbled to himself. Truth be told he was kinda right, if he didn’t feel too awkward and embarrassed by the old potter’s comment then the two might actually have reached their target long ago, a situation that was only made worse when Farries suddenly proclaimed that the source was moving around. Rather quickly as well.

Again, Bakuss wasn’t really sure if Farries was just leading him into a wild goose chase or actually doing what he was supposed to do. He still didn’t trust the stallion to save his life, let alone go against his own kind.

Granted, he really isn’t, but still. Why suddenly help the very enemy that he was supposed to go against in the first place? Sure, the tradeoff for that was pretty apparent and rather enticing on his part, but he even killed one of his own kind before Bakuss could subdue him for the gods’ sake.

Either way, he was stuck with him, whether he liked it or not… which he didn’t, to be honest.

Farries eventually halted. “Wait. I think they are just around the corner.” Farries exclaimed much to Bakuss’ surprise.

“Really, now? Well, that is quite sudden, I have to say.” Bakuss replied, sounding a bit skeptical to those who paid attention.

Luckily for him, Farries wasn’t. “Well, that is because they are galloping right towards…” He was about to say more before a mass suddenly smashed into him, causing both him and the object to fall down on the ground with both an audible thud and groan from both parties.

Bakuss, on the other hoof just looked at the unexpected development with surprise before he suddenly realized who this stallion that bumped into Farries was.

“Wait a second. Najero, is that you?” Bakuss questioned, both surprised and somewhat agitated.

It was then when a second Zebra suddenly came running from around the corner and almost stumbled on the two downed stallions. She managed to halt herself just in time, enough for Bakuss to notice her well as he frowned.

“Okay, what the hell is going on here and what the hell are you two up to once again?” He demanded from the shocked mare in front of him.

“Well?” Bakuss pressed on as he was getting impatient with all of this.

Nami was about to reply when all of the sudden a third set of hooves came clopping closer in break neck speeds, before yet another body crashed into the scene, this time right on Nami as the two tumbled and rolled past the still-disoriented studs before crashing into an opposite wall of another alley to Bakuss’ right.

To say that things were starting to become rather ridiculous and confusing would be an understatement, especially when a fourth figure suddenly showed itself galloping from around the corner.

At this point Bakuss had enough and immediately confronted the newcomer, grabbing him by the neck with his hoof and forcing him against the wall with one mighty shove. The stallion grunted, before opening its eyes and staring down the angry eyes of the captain, which was all he could see thanks to the helmet and face guard.

“Okay, one more time. What in the gods’ name is going on here? And I am NOT going to release you until you start telling me EVERYTHING I want to know.” He demanded which in turn caused the Zebra’s eyes to go wide. The sudden scare that Bakuss gave him was apparently enough to engulf him in yellow flames and to revealing his true form to him.

Bakuss blinked in surprise before his gaze returned to the full steel glare it had since the beginning.

“So, a changeling, huh? Seems Farries was on the right track after all.” Bakuss commented out loud.

That comment was laid on deaf ears though as the rest of the party were still struggling on the ground. Farries trying to push the stallion on top of him off while said stallion was busy trying to get his spinning head under control.

Same with the mare and the second changeling most likely, both having rolled off into another alley and out of sight from the rest of the group. That didn’t matter though, as Bakuss had his hooves full.

He focused back at the changeling at hoof, quite literally in fact. “So tell me, who are you and what is this commotion all about? You better tell me now before I increase the pressure to your throat.” Bakuss threatened.

The changeling was shocked, nodding his somewhat restricted head before replying.

“We… we caught these two stealing oranges back at the stall, we just ran after them after we caught them doing so. We swear that we had nothing else in mind. We just wanted to catch these thieves and then perhaps hand them over to the guards.” The changeling answered quickly.

This caused Bakuss to think. “I guess the account of a changeling living among the populace is actually true. Two changelings casually working as orange vendors at the market, certainly something I would have never guessed if this whole changeling debacle didn’t start back at the run-down pub.” He thought.

With this information out of the way he began to lessen his hold on the changeling for the sake of calming him down, though not fully as he still had other questions to ask and things to get straight. Though not until looking back to the now-recovering Farries and Najero behind him. The latter was actually giving the changeling a heated glare which Farries returned in kind.

Bakuss decided to grab their attention before things could get ugly. “Quit it, you two! “He shouted which did the trick, as both lessened their glares and looked up at the Captain. ”Farries, just go into that alley over there and make sure that the mare and the other changeling are doing fine. Also…” Bakuss began before his gaze hardened at Najero. “… the two of us still need to have a little talk. You may be in the King’s grace, but that doesn’t mean the two of you are above the law. Not to mention the fact that the two of you just randomly disappeared after the capture of Farries over here. You certainly have some questions to answer when this is done.” Bakuss added with a visible frown.

Najero just kept his glare, not feeling the slightest bit intimidated by the young captain. Farries on the other end did as Bakuss requested and quickly went over to the side alley the captain pointed at.

With Farries doing his thing, Bakuss went back in addressing the still-intimidated changeling in front of him. He allowed the changeling to get back on his haunches as he released his grip on him, though he still kept a close eye on him.

The changeling rubbed his neck before looking back up at the captain with fear in his eyes. “What are you going to do now? We are not monsters, if that’s what you think. We have been living up here with your kind for over two years now. Both me, my mate and my little nymph daughter.” The changeling explained, trying to plead to the captain for his mercy.

Bakuss quickly shook his head. “No need to worry, I have no ill desires for you or your wife and child. I just want to have some information from you, how many of your kind perhaps exist within the city and how most of you changelings live among Zebra kind. If none of it is ill founded, then you have nothing to fear from me or the rest of the guards.” He assured calmly.

The changeling relaxed with a sigh at that before fully getting back on all fours while continuing to rub his sore neck. His wings buzzing a bit, thanks to the… unexpected excitement.

Bakuss continued while he still could. “Anyway, about your side of the story.” He requested, which again caught the changeling stallion’s attention.

He looked back at the captain. “Well… uhm. “ He began, sounding quite young, just like himself now that Bakuss was at ease enough to recognize that. “As I said, my partner and I have been peacefully living among your kind for over 2 years, acting as simple orange vendors back at the markets to make a living, even though most of it really just goes into more merchandise, tools and furniture rather than sustenance. If you already know of our kind then you probably know how we changelings sustain ourselves. Not quite similar to most surface dwellers, I am sure.” The changeling explained, which in turn made Bakuss nod to his question.

“Well yes, your kind feeds off the positive emotions of others such as love and things like it. Quite a… unique diet to have, but who am I to judge the course of nature?” Bakuss responded.

The changeling just awkwardly gazed over to the side and rubbing the back of its chitin-covered head with his hoof. “Yeah, pretty much. Again I am sure that this concept might sound very alien for you surface dwellers, maybe even scary or revolting to some.” He commented, which again caused Bakuss to shake his head.

“Not really, it’s just that it is….” Bakuss was about to respond when Najero found it wise to intervene.

“I think that it’s pretty strange, if you ask me. How can something even feed on emotions? I can certainly imagine how someone could feed of love though.” The elder sibling commented, adding a somewhat sly smile towards the changeling which in turn made him blush a bit.

Bakuss rolled his eyes. “Yeah, quite the interesting insight coming from someone who fiddles around with his own sister.” He rebuked.

This triggered something inside Najero as he glared over at the captain. “Hey, for one, she actually had some of that nasty changeling goo stuck up her rear that your new friend over there encased us with, and second, me and Nami had NOTHING but each other for pretty much most of our lives. We trust one another, so far in fact that we are perfectly fine in helping each other with more… personal matters. It also helps that the two of us are obviously very close as well, something that you can’t comprehend as you don’t have any siblings of your own… or rather haven’t gotten through the lifestyle that the two of us had to endure.” He retorted before looking off to the side with a grumble.

“Relax, relax. I wasn’t particularly critical about the relationship between you two, and you are right, I do have no personal experience when it comes to siblings, let alone a life of poverty.” Bakuss answered with a sideway glance towards him.

“But that still doesn’t mean you two are off the hook for again being little market thieves. In fact, what the heck is taking Farries so long?” Bakuss added.

Najero just shrugged.

Bakuss, in turn, just mumbled something to himself before focusing back at the ‘ling in front of him. “You come along. I am obviously not risking myself by leaving you unwatched, not matter how true your story is. Go up in front and I will follow, just head into that alley over there where your other half and the mare have disappeared to.” Bakuss instructed.

The changeling nodded before doing just that, leading the way in front the captain.

Bakuss followed the changeling, passing by Najero and entering the side alley where Farries disappeared.

What he saw left him a bit annoyed. “Farries, why have you been standing there this entire time without doing anything?” Bakuss questioned as he and the other ‘ling approached him.

Farries looked over his shoulder. “Well, what the heck I am supposed to do when both of them are knocked out on the wall over there? I certainly don’t know any medical or healing related spells if that’s what you are thinking.” Farries responded, which caused Bakuss to sigh.

“Ugh… for the love of…” He mumbled as he looked over at the two still, mangled and unconscious forms.

How could you run and crash into someone so hard that it caused both parties to be knocked out cold in the first place? Well, hitting the end of a wall might be the trick. Plus both where mares as well, easily distinguishable from the somewhat suggestive posi…

Bakuss blinked, before looking away with a facehoof. “You know, it’s rather perverted to stare down at two unconscious mares’ flanks like that. At least now I bloody know what actually took you so long.” Bakuss commented out loud.

Farries just rubbed his head awkwardly with a sheepish smile while the other changeling was glaring at him with great disapproval, especially given that it was HIS mate that this random changeling was staring at. His best source of love, both literally and for food.

“Hey, stop staring down at my sister, you freak of nature.” Najero also added after hearing Bakuss’ comment himself.

This caused both of the two still-standing changelings to glare at him instead.

“What?” Najero flinched back, which in turn just made Bakuss to hold his face with a groan.

“Even without the king around, chaos and utter nonsense still seems to find its way regardless of his presence. I wonder what else could just go ridiculous for no good reason.”