The next morning
“There’s the bug, look at him sleeping so soundly. Twilight's probably under his spell, I think we should beat it out of him,” A voice, almost tomboyish, said.
“Rainbow Dash, we've already settled on talking it out, there’s one of him, and five of us anyways,” A voice, perhaps an imitation of Canterlot’s accent, replied.
Rainbow Dash? Sky thought to himself before opening his eyes and the sight before him both excited him and terrified him. The Elements of Harmony, minus Twilight were around his bed in the… basement? He thought of this room as a basement at least. Anyways the Elements of Harmony were around his bed and not looking happy.
“There you are, you varmint. Now we are going to ask some questions,” Applejack said to him. The apple farmer was probably the most sane of the five ponies around him, at least that’s what Sky thought.
“Who are you and what have you done with Twilight?” Rainbow Dash said aggressively. The pony on whom Sky had a crush. Even when angry at me she’s beautiful, he thought. “What are you smiling at? I’m being serious here!” RD yelled snapping Sky out of his thoughts.
“I-I don’t know what you are talking about, I have done nothing to Princess Twilight,” Sky replied.
“That’s a lie and you know it! Twilight would never let a free changeling into her castle!” RD stubbornly said.
“I-it’s true though, I've done nothing,” Sky said feeling threatened.
RD was about to say something when an orange hoof stopped her. “Alright, that’s enough from you Rainbow,” AJ said. AJ then turned her head to Sky, “Alright, let’s start at names. I’m Applejack and these ponies are my friends, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity, we are the Elements of Harmony and now that we have introduced ourselves, I reckon that it is time for you to introduce yourself before we begin questionin’ you.”
“That’s not exactly fair, I already knew all of your names,” Sky replied.
“Please darling, you are not in a position of power to make any complaints,” Rarity then said.
Sky couldn't argue with that power, especially as his fear grew of what could happen in these ponies just left him in the room with RD who looked ready to beat him into a pulp. “M-my name is Sky Sprinter,” he then said.
“Sky Sprinter? The same pony who modeled my stallion clothing for a short time while my manikins were unavailable?” Rarity asked.
“Um, yes, Miss Rarity,” Sky replied.
“I would have never thought that such a nice stallion would turn out to be a changeling!” Rarity said loudly, “Who knows who else out there could be a changeling.”
“Wait, so you modeled for her?” Rainbow asked before starting to laugh.
“Oh come on, Rainbow Dash, modeling isn't all that bad, scary perhaps, but still,” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Fine, now that we know his name, what do we ask him now, hmm Applejack?” Rainbow Dash then stated.
Before Applejack could reply though, Twilight entered the room, and not looking happy. “What are you guys doing in here?” she asked demanding an answer.
“We heard about your predicament and decided to help you, darling,” Rarity answered.
“Predicament? What predicament?” Twilight asked confused.
“Um duh, this changeling here has tricked you into letting him stay here so he can get you by surprise,” RD answered.
“Rainbow, I’m not being controlled by him. Trust me, he does not have the ability to do such a thing anyways. His magic levels are very low and his overall knowledge of magic can’t be much higher,” Twilight explained.
“Hey, I know.... stuff… about magic,” Sky tried to defend himself before realizing that she was right.
“He could be messin’ with your instruments, Twilight,” AJ pointed out...
“Spike could back up my claims, and he seems fine with the arrangements and believe me, I’d know whether Sky messed with something of mine,” Twilight answered.
This seemed to convince everypony except Rainbow Dash, “I don’t believe that this changeling is what you are saying he is,” she said before flying out of the room.
“Rainbow!” Twilight tried to call before RD left but it was too late. She then said to the group, “Alright how about you guys get back to your homes or anything else you guys have planned, I have a full schedule today and no time for anything else. Spa day is gonna have to wait Rarity,”
“Oh alright, darling, I guess it’ll just be me and Fluttershy this week,” Rarity replied.
The remaining 4 ponies then took their leave and left Twilight and Sky in the room. “Sorry about my friends, they can get quite a bit overprotective at times. But I guess they have good reason, a year ago, even a week ago, I wouldn't have thought that I’d be having a changeling live in my home. They simply don’t know you nor have heard your story,” Twilight said to Sky.
“I guess. I just hope that everypony could see that I’m not malevolent at all,” Sky replied.
After a few moments of silence, Twilight started to leave but said, “Breakfast is ready, Spike made pancakes.”
10 minutes later
Sky was in the dining room slowly eating pancakes while Spike was thoroughly eating his own and Twilight was in the middle in terms of speed of eating. “Sky, I have an idea for how to get my fellow ponies to be less ignorant and more knowledgeable about you,” Twilight suddenly said.
“Really? How? What is it?” Sky said hoping for some way to be more known about and have other ponies be more sympathetic rather than the xenophobic attitude that Equestrians, or at least Ponyville’s residents, seemed to have.
“The best way for ponies to know about something when they want to or need to know is by reading books. There are few books about changelings and most of them were written after the Canterlot Invasion so they usually were incredibly xenophobic and racist in nature. I think that the best way to reverse this xenophobic attitude is by writing a book based on the facts. The biggest reason for the xenophobia is that ponies don’t really know anything about changelings except for the invasion and small bits of knowledge beforehoof. The best way to get such a book out is to learn the facts, and the best way to learn the facts is from a primary source,” Twilight answered.
“Whoa whoa whoa, you mean you are gonna study me? For a book about changelings?” Sky asked not knowing whether to be frightened or excited.
“Yes, I am. It’s for a good cause and it’d be just like a doctor’s examination, except a bit more poking and prodding and tons of more equipment,” Twilight answered, “It’s the best way for other ponies to know more and after the physical parts it’ll all be questioning and answering.”
“How much more poking and prodding?” Sky asked.
“That depends on what I find, could be little to none or the majority of the time would be spent poking and prodding,” Twilight answered.
Sky felt a bit uncomfortable about that possibility but he couldn't deny the good that such a book could cause. He would have liked a bit of warning before she asked the question but it was too late for that now. “Alright, I guess if this book would help then I guess I have no reason to to say no,” he finally said.
“Terrific, and don’t worry, you’ll be fine and it’ll help out everything that may occur in the future,” Twilight promised.
“I’ll hold you to that promise,” Sky said smiling on the outside, meanwhile his insides are churning in nervousness.
She promised that it’ll be alright, she wouldn't lie, right?