//------------------------------// // Home on the range // Story: Sky's Changing Secret // by Sky Sprinter //------------------------------// Sweet Apple Acres, The next day “So working at Sweet Apple Acres is what you meant by probation?” Sky asked Twilight with some trepidation as the two walked towards the barn, “I don’t think I’m exactly built for farm work, especially in this form. “First of all, your probation includes that magic limitation ring, calibrated to keep your magic at bay. Second of all, I plan to have you work at different workplaces until we find something that fits your abilities as part of a whole ‘prove yourself’ type of program. It’s also kind of a plan to get you a job so that you can help provide for both you and your family after all this is over and done with. Finally it’s a terrific way to get everypony in Ponyville used to the presence of a changeling in their town,” Twilight replied. “Seems a bit fool-hardy, don’t you think? I doubt anypony would be comfortable working with, nor near, a changeling,” Sky then asked, “I ‘m grateful of the help and all about trying to find me a job after all this but wouldn’t this just add friction? “Trust me, I’m sure that the citizenry of Ponyville will be sated if an Element of Harmony were to keep watch over you, as well as an announcement by the Quadarchy of Equestrian Princesses in favor of you,” Twilight answered. “You and I both know you made that name up, Twilight,” Sky then said with a smirk. “Oh shush it, but I’m serious though. I know both Celestia and I both support you and I’m sure Luna would put her word in for it, considering her own experience with Nightmare Moon,” Twilight then stated. “That still leaves Princess Cadence, and she was the one whose wedding was almost hijacked by Queen Chrysalis,” Sky said not convinced. “Trust me, I will find a way to get her on board with this. My plan includes getting Mayor Mare on board of a city-wide bill to include a temporary writ of protection towards you so that you can experience full Equestrian-rights until Celestia and I can get a changeling rights amendment onto the Equestrian Constitution, as the current form only includes non-enemy races and unfortunately Changelings are on that list of enemy races,” Twilight began to explain. “I was born here in Equestria and yet still…” Sky said stopping for a moment. “I know Sky, like I said, don’t worry,” Twilight said, “The next part of my plan is finishing that book while setting up a campaign to get at the xenophobia to get de-facto Changeling acceptance. Once we get that, you won’t have to worry anymore.” The two ponies continued on their way to the house at Sweet Apple Acres. They passed a few working ponies on their way but they finally made it to the doorstep and Twilight knocked on the door. “Consarnit. On my lunch break?” Applejack said, as she could be heard from the room she was in. Lunch? It’s only like 9:00? Sky thought. A moment later Applejack opened the door and saw Twilight and Sky, so she said, “Twilight, what are-,” before she did a double-take and took notice of Sky, “Oh yes, this varmint. Um, Twilight, I thought when you told me this plan yesterday; I’d have thought you’d give me more than a night to prepare. We can’t just willy-nilly a random stallion into our workforce. It takes time to fully screen a worker to see what he is best at or if he’s even fit for farm work.” “It’s only going to be for today, Applejack. I’m trying to desensitize the public to him so that he can have his old life back,” Twilight explained. “Darnit Twi, fine, I have a position for him if it’s only for today, it’s not near any other worker, it’s just in my section of the trees. If your rules are needin’ to be followed then I ain’t goin’ to break ‘em. Even if it means giving a part of my grove to see if he bucks good,” Applejack resigned. “Thank you, Applejack, I’m going to go to Mayor Mare for the next part of my plan,” Twilight said turning to leave. “Darn her sometimes. Alright Sky, follow me to the grove so we can see how well you buck,” Applejack said after Twilight was out of earshot. Sky followed AJ to the grove and worried about how bad he’d do. He hadn’t done this type of physical activity before. He began to wonder about what his sisters were doing and heck he was wondering about his parents, they hadn’t heard from him in a while, and vice versa so he felt a bit worried. I need to get a hold of them at some point, especially Mom. “Alright Sky, first let’s see how well you buck compared to me,” Applejack said before bucking a tree. “Um, alright,” Sky said before trying and failing. “You’ve gotta build up more on that, the trick is getting your core bundled up so that when you release it, all that build-up just goes into the kick which knocks all the apples off of the tree,” Applejack explaining. Sky tried again and this time he got a few apples knocked down. “I did it,” Sky said happily. “Good job. Now, I’m going to be working so you keep doing that until Twilight comes back to get you, or supper for the workers comes around,” Applejack said before turning to go deeper into the grove. Several hours later and Sky was bucking one final tree before he decided to take a break but just as he bucked that tree he heard a loud scream a short distance away, he looked over towards the sound and saw Sweetie Belle run to behind a tree. He then heard hooves going to the area and instead of running away he cowered in Fluttershy position. He then heard some gasps, two of which were familiar, and then a call of Sweetie Belle’s name by Twilight’s voice. Sky then looked through a hole in his right leg to see what was happening and he saw AJ and Twilight talking to Sweetie Belle. He couldn’t hear what they were saying but at least it was just those two and not two random ponies, he’d have been run out of town had that happened. A few minutes later, AJ and Sweetie Belle left, leaving Sky, who had left the Fluttershy position by now, and Twilight alone. “Come on Sky, I think that’s been enough for today, tomorrow you’ll be working with Rarity, both she and I have come up with an interesting idea,” Twilight said motioning for the two to leave, “And don’t worry about Sweetie Belle, thankfully she seems on board.” Sky was thoroughly confused; surely it wouldn’t be that easy to convert anypony to their cause like that, right? Even a filly, despite the success with Celestia, Twilight, and Sky’s sisters, it still seemed too easy to convince Sweetie Belle.