Note: This happens a month after the last chapter.
part 1 of the episode "Hurricane Fluttershy"
Scout grabs a bag filled with food to rodents and trots outside to feed several of Fluttershy's animals, it's one of his duties as payment of staying with her. He must say that he doesn't really fancy sitting and cuddly animals, but Fluttershy does have a few cool animals such as that docile bear, several exotic birds, oh and that white rabbit there thinks it's the king of the hill. He like that rabbit, it has personality compared to the other rodents. Speaking of the rabbit. "Hi there Angel." He greets the impatient stomping white rabbit and pours down some of the rodent food. "Eat up slugger." Angel ignores the food, instead keeping on staring annoyed at him. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" But it's not like he can understand Angel's arm waving, so he shrugs and returns back on feeding the other rodents.
Angel rolls its eyes, run after Scout and kick his right hind-leg and gets the half-changeling's attention again. Pointing towards town where Rainbow Dash is leaving behind posters.
Scout at first does not get what the rabbit is trying to tell him, only when one of these posters gets taken by the wind and lands not far from the hut and Angel points angrily at it.
"Huh, what's this?" Scout wonders out loud and starts reading, it does take a bit longer since he has trouble putting the letters together in his head but what he did get from this paper is that Rainbow Dash wants all pegasi at the library tonight. "I wonder what she is planning- something cool I bet." He tells the rabbit.
Angel simply sends him a look before nodding towards Fluttershy's cottage. That message he understands. "What? No way! Fluttershy is too freaking shy about such things. She has SHY in her name for crying out loud!"
Angel jumps onto his back and pulls his ear, Scout isn't really bothered by the rabbit pulling his ear. Angel is after all only a rabbit and not very strong, but knowing this headstrong rodent. Scout groans. "Alright fine, I make sure she comes to the meeting. There, happy?" Angel smirks in return.
"Please don't tell me you can speak with animals as well."
Scout turns around and smirks to his old man, at the moment disguised as a male zebra. "If I could, Angel wouldn't have kicked me as much he does. Isn't that right slugger?" He asks said rabbit. Angel gives him an annoyed look, yeah, he got that right. Turning back to Spy. "You heard about the meeting tonight?"
Spy nods but he will not attend. "I need to stick to my disguise being a simple foreigner, it will be too suspicious if a new pegasus suddenly attends the meeting."
Yeah, he thought that would be the case, Spy did tell him that he will stay out from major events until the other stuck humans will return back to their own world. It kinda sucks Scout won't have long to learn about his father, but Spy has explained him and made it clear why he won't return back with him. His father is happy here; Equestria offers him a life without fear and a chance to live as Spy called it. Still, Scout does wish that his father would've been more part of his life. More so now that he is starting to see the real person behind that mask there is the Spy.
Sensing troubled emotions from his son, Spy has an idea what is causing them but he cannot (thankfully) read his mind. "What troubles you?" He asks Scout.
"It's nothing." Scout brushes off, angry why this bothers him so much. He has been living without a father before, didn't need him as a child, so surely he doesn't need him now. Scout can handle himself like he always has.
Sensing that his father does not believe him, Scout groans, annoyed by both their emotion detectors. "Fine, I wish you wouldn't leave again." Blinks when he senses surprise from his father, why is Spy surprised by this? "What?"
"Of all the things I have done to you. You still want me around?" Surely Scout must've picked up that he is not a good parent. He has no idea how to be one, less how to work up a better relationship with Jeremy. All he can give his son is love, but surely that can't be enough. "Why? You are aware if I return to the human world, you won't be able to sense my emotions and get the love this kind we have been turned into feed on."
"I know, but..." Scout growls annoyed he has no idea how to voice this. Unaware, he too feels like he is not a good child to have. His brother's sure hell made it clear that he is a nuisance. "Forget it, leaving everything behind is your status quote."
"Jeremy."
"...Like running is mine..."
This is the first time Spy has ever seen Scout show his vulnerability he has more than once sensed in him. What is the cause of it? Spy has no idea, but he dreads that he is partly the cause of it. He has, after all, more than once mocked his son's ability of speed and agility- his strength. He knows what he should do, but cannot make himself to move and give his boy the comfort he so clearly craves for. All he can do is watching his boy trying so hard acting strong, forcing back his own tears. It's heartbreaking really. Kicking himself, Spy finally makes himself move, he does hesitate for a moment but does— although awkwardly pulls Scout into a one-armed hug and shares the love in form of light magic with him.
Feeling his father's love once again, ensuring him this is no trick but genuine, Scout lets out a sob and with tears falling from his angry-looking eyes, although he is really far from being angry and closer to actually letting go of his anger. Scout learns up against his father's chest, getting a comfort he hasn't felt from anyone but his mother back when he was a small child. The moments of comfort from his mother were often short-lived though, partly because his brothers often mocked him about it but also because ma just didn't have time for him when he needed the comfort thanks to having so many other sons. Scout loves his family, he does not deny that, but life back in Boston was hard. Being in the war games was just as tough and at times mentally damaging and the others could be at times straight out cruel to him but Jeremy stayed because being on RED gave him a sense being part of something, not just the nuisance his brothers often called him. Coming here, feeling his father's, hell even the others true emotions. It made Scout realize that he not only wants to stick with the team but that he wants his father around. "I need you..." He whispers through his sobbing, it's embarrassing breaking down like this, but it feels like he is being flooded with anger and sadness. He senses again surprise from his father, and yes Scout does not see himself as a smart person but he thinks why Spy is so surprised by this. "I know... you're a crappy parent, but... fuck... I'm not exactly a dream child either... I..." How in the world can he explain to Spy that he wants him around? How in the wide multiverse can he say that without asking his father to abandon this place there offers him a better life- a life for all he knows he didn't get back in the human world.
But Scout didn't have to say it, the plethora of emotions Spy is getting from his boy is more than enough. He wonders if he ever could've formed a decent relationship— if Jeremy ever would've accepted him if it wasn't for the changeling ability sensing emotions. "If you still feel like this after you have mended your soul. I could find a house for you here in Ponyville." Spy suggests slowly, hesitant if Jeremy still feels like this when he retakes BLU Scout's soul, for that side still does not want anything to do with him.
Now it is Scout's turn to be surprised, he steps back and stares at Spy wide-eyed. "You mean that?" Spy nods, he wouldn't have said it if he didn't mean it. Lying to his boy in this world is impossible, so he doesn't bother trying. The confusions get replaced by sheer joy and before Spy can tell him to calm down, his mind gets assaulted by that strong emotion when Scout tackles him into a hug. "Calm yourself...!" He tells his boy stained, glad that it was a positive emotion his mind got blasted with. Still feels weird being happy, he is not used to feeling positive this often.
"Oh, lighten up." Scout grins at his bit uncomfortable father, it's weird Spy can be uncomfortable with positive emotions. He's weird that way. He does, however, let Spy push him off with his uncaring mask on. "I let you get back to work." But Scout can feel his father's true emotions and knows Spy is relieved about his response to that suggestion. It makes it way easier reading Spy, oh now that he thinks about it. "Hey," he swiftly flies over to Spy, landing before him. "You never told me your name." Spy's face is unreadable but his emotions make it pretty clear that he feels uncomfortable about this and somewhat forced. Like he is obliged to tell him. "You don't have to, figures you haven't told anyone about your name for who knows how long." Scout says, but still, "It just weird only knowing you as Spy, you know." He shrugs.
Yes, Spy does understand and he can see the reason to why Jeremy would like to know. What kid wouldn't like the name of their parents? But... last time he told anyone his name was his superior back when he got trained to become a spy, after that, it was drilled so hard into him that he never should tell anyone his name that not even the Administrator knows his real name, the one he gave her was fake. The only person who knows is Scout's mother since his superior back at France has been dead for years. "Saying my name is not that simple." He muses softly to Scout. "I have been trained never to share it, and I probably would've forgotten it if not your mother at times called me by name."
"Haven't you told Zecora?"
"I have, but only after a long argument of how important my real name is." Spy replies adding with a gleam in his reddish eyes. "Now she refuses to call me anything else. I swear, that zebra is going to be the death of me."
Scout chuckles weakly, he feels a bit awkward feeling the love his father has for Zecora. He gets the weird sense he is intruding, but it's not like Spy can put a lit on his emotions. Just thinking about Spy without emotions makes him shudder. But back to the main topic. "So, you're going to tell me or not?" adding "it's alright if you don't want to." But both he and Spy knows that is a lie.
Why does Scout still try? He should've known that lying is impossible to another changeling. Spy sends him a look and Scout groans in defeat. "Alright, fine, it will bother me." Spy can't help but smirk amused, his son is not the only one having it easier understanding the other with this skill. He truly has gone soft, and Spy is pretty sure that's the RED side of him thinking there. "Antoine." Scout head snaps up to him, giving him a very surprised look. Spy must say that it feels weird saying his name out loud like this. "Antoine Lachance."
Antoine Lachance, that's his father's name. Well, if the accent didn't incline it already then the name sure did— hold up. "Why don't I have your last name?"
"You had in the beginning, along with another name." Antoine explains, out of habit he checks the area for unwanted ears. "But when I left to keep you safe, your mother decided to give you another name and her former ex's last name."
Hold up. Jeremy isn't even his birth name? "What is my real name?" but Spy- Antoine shakes his head, musing. "It doesn't matter anymore. Your name is Jeremy now, no need changing it back." Perhaps and yeah sure he will stick to Jeremy, but he still would like to know what other name he could've grown up with. "I still would like to know."
He figured he would, Spy sighs. "Very well, your first name was Nathan."
Scout shrugs. "Could've been worse I guess." He wouldn't have minded that name either.
"It could." Spy agrees and with; "Try not spew out my name everywhere you go." He heads back into Everfree forest. He did not see Scout roll his eyes at him, but did hear. "I know that, sheesh, freaking Spy." He allows himself to smirk of his amusement.
**
(evening)
It took some encouragement and literarily dragging the horrified Fluttershy to the library for the meeting, but Scout managed and after (quite rudely) have made a few ponies move it so she can be at the front along with the shaking yellow pegasus. The two watches the small announcement on the huge screen Twilight has put up. As it starts, Scout cannot help thinking about the small films Miss Pauling made them see every time they got located to a new base.
"Every living thing depends on the life-giving nourishment of rainwater, and it is up to Cloudsdale to provide rain-filled clouds to every corner of Equestria."
Well, that explains why other ponies speak about the pegasi when complaining about the weather, he always found that a bit weird.
"But how, one pony might ask, does Cloudsdale gather all this extra water? Tornado power!"
Wait what? They can create tornados? Awesome!
"That's right, Pegasi-driven tornado power. A team of Pegasi combine their wing power to create a jumbo tornado, powerful enough to pull water out of the local reservoir and funnel it all the way up to Cloudsdale. Remember, Pegasi, your jumbo tornado must reach a minimum of eight hundred wing power to lift that water up to Cloudsdale. So, the next time you're wondering "Where does all that extra rainwater come from?", just remem–"
Scout and several other ponies start to wonder and voice their confusions of the sudden interruption of the mini film. Looking behind, it shows that Spike accidentally has messed up the film and thus put a stop on the last section of this explanation. The purple dragon laughs sheepishly to the several staring ponies before Rainbow Dash calls for their attention. "So, here's the scoop. Cloudsdale has chosen our own highland reservoir as a source of the rainwater they need for all of Equestria."
Rainbow must've been hanging around Soldier too much, she sure is starting to get his drill sergeant tone, for some reason the greatly amuses Scout. For now, he can't stop thinking of her having a way too big helmet over her head.
"And you know what that means. It means it's up to Ponyville's Pegasi to bring that water up to Cloudsdale."
The crowd starts to chatter excitedly, except Fluttershy, she is starting to get worried. Unaware that the colt beside her senses this, all she knows that she suddenly gets one of his dark brown and tattered looking wing over her shoulder. It doesn't calm her nerves but she appreciates Scout's rare moments of showing care.
"Not only that but Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, will be here to oversee the water transfer and record our top tornado windspeed."
Sounds like this Spitfire pegasus is one of the hotshots and with the name Wonderbolt, Scout knows that Rainbow will work extra hard to prove herself and get the attention of her idols. Wish he could do the same with his baseball idols.
"Now last year, Fillydelphia broke the windspeed record with a top speed of nine hundred and ten wing power. But I think we can do better. I think we can get a top speed over a thousand!"
Yup she is definitely trying to impress the Wonderbolts, but Scout is okay with that, it sounds awesome that he and everyone else in here will create a fricking tornado! His excitement does get knocked a bit out when he feels that Fluttershy is getting more scared.
"If each and every pony trains, and trains hard to get their wing power numbers up." Rainbow tells everypony in the room, she snaps her attention to the corner of the room when hearing coughing. She frowns deeply and points at the pegasus coughing. "That coughing better be from a popcorn kernel, Thunderlane. Nopony's getting sick on my watch." Thunderlane smiles weakly as pretty much everypony stares at him. Turning away from the dark grey pegasus stallion, Rainbow Dash asks everypony "So, are we gonna train hard?"
"Yeah!" They cheer excited for this huge project.
They better for this is very important, not only because of Spitfire coming to see how they are doing but also because the water they will bring will make the rain to ready the plants for winter but also be used for the snow for the next three months. "Are we gonna be strong?" She asks them, fiercely, for she wants them to be ready for this!
"Yeah!"
"Are we gonna be fast?"
"Yeah!!"
Scout looks worried down to Fluttershy, the pale pegasus now lying trembling in fear of the pressure Rainbow unintentionally puts on everyone.
"Record-smashing fast?" Rainbow asks the bulkiest pegasus in the room and the white pegasus shouts a loud. "YEAH!" Rainbow flies up before the screen showing how much wing power they need, asking the crowd loudly "Who is with me?!" and as hoped the whole crowd cheer that they are so much with her on this one. Satisfied by this, Rainbow turns her gaze down where she saw Scout bring Fluttershy, but she only sees the half changeling looking behind the cheering crowd, probably from where a certain pale pegasus is going. Rainbow frowns deeply, but she refuses to let anypony, not even Fluttershy skip this event.
**
The next day, Rainbow Dash has gathered any pegasus living in Ponyville, and puts Soldier's, well soldier attitude to good use as he makes everypony trot a good pace around the field. Thunderlane does lack behind, and she is about to tell him to pick up the pace, but Soldier does that for her.
"I have seen snails moving faster than that cadet! Get those twinkle toes moving!!"
Thunderlane picks up the pace, much to Rainbow's satisfaction. She praises a mare pegasus for her speed and does the same to Scout who has no trouble keeping the pace. But when seeing Fluttershy missing, she calls Scout and asks him annoyed. "Where's Fluttershy?"
"Hiding under her bed." Scout replies, he would've forced her with him but his emotions detection ability made him feel the full blast of her fear and insecurity that he just couldn't make himself force her. He did try to talk with her, but after getting the story of how she got bullied for her weak flying and is so terrified it will happen again. Well, he can relate to her on that part. Scout is fast, but he is not strong and his brothers- all who has a body build like Soldier have always mocked him being the runt of the family. They only gave him a break when he proved he could get to the fight first, he has always been proud of his speed. So when mocked by his speed- it really stings. He would've liked to tell Fluttershy to find use her strength to solve her flight problem like he did with him not being physically stronger than others, but he highly doubts her ability speaking with animals can solve this problem. "She was really scared doing this, told me what happened in flight school."
Rainbow can sort of see Fluttershy reluctance, and yet she cannot for what she remembers from flight school and Fluttershy being teased hadn't been that bad. "I better talk to her, whatever she likes it or not; I'm gonna need every last of wing power I can get." and flies off to get Fluttershy.
Scout watches her fly off before he returns back to the training.
Later that day and with every pegasi gathered, Fluttershy included. Twilight sets up a fan attached to a counter. Testing it to see if it works. Two pegasi walk over to her, with the one named Cloudschaser; a pale purple with a white messy mane asks a bit confused. "What exactly does this machine do?" and Twilight is so glad she asked. "This is an anemometer. It measures your accelerative velocity and translates it into wing power, thus gauging your cumulative H2O anti-gravitational potential. Any other questions?" She asks the pegasus smiling while tapping her hooves together.
Cloudchaser's twin sister, a same colored pegasus nods, turns to Spike and asks him the same question. Much to Twilight's annoyance.
Spike puts down the paper having every ponies name on so they can keep track on everyponies wing power and translates- what he calls Twilight's nerd speech. "It tells you how fast you're flying and how strong your wings are." That the two pegasi understand.
A sudden coughing snaps Twilight out from her annoyance and asks the dark grey pegasus annoyed as he has been coughing an awful lot lately. "Is that you again, Thunderlane? Please, we need to have a germ-free environment. Don't make me fetch one of our doctor ponies." She warns him, very aware that doctor pony will be Medic. But she prefers not doing as she figures he wouldn't want to waste his magical ability on something this minor, he is a pony who likes a good challenge after all.
"It wasn't me, it was Blossomforth." Thunderlane defends himself, which is true but he has also been coughing a bit lately.
Rainbow Dash doesn't believe him though and after have called him lazy, she calls him over. Annoyed Thunderlane flies over to the starting line and flies as fast as he can past that machine of Twilight.
Twilight reads the number and tells Rainbow Dash. "We have 9.3 wing power." Everypony praises Thunderlane for his speed.
"Not bad, not bad." Rainbow must say, Thunderlane seems to have good potential after all. She flies over to the starting line after have stretched out a bit, Rainbow flies so fast past the wing power monitor that she creates a strong enough wind to blow a few ponies off their hooves and mess up Twilight's mane.
"16.5 wing power!" Twilight declares highly impressed and the other pegasi cheer.
"Now listen up!" Rainbow calls for their attention, explaining the excited crowd. "If each of you can get your numbers up to at least 10.0 wing power by the end of the week, we'll no doubt set a new tornado speed record. We'll be number one!" And the crowd takes to the sky cheering. Rainbow is so caught up in the excitement that she did not see that Fluttershy stays on the ground, so nervous and scared that she cannot make herself take flight.
Getting everypony back onto the ground, Rainbow makes them all go into a line, letting Twilight and Spike write down each pegasi wing power. Most of them lie around the 7 to 9. The only one who is up the 10 is Scout, he is fast enough to reach the 12 wingpower, but Rainbow Dash sort of expected that from her fellow speedster. And tells him she wants to see him get this speed up to her, which a challenge he gladly accepts.
Soldier joins as well, he is one of the slower flyers but Rainbow is sure he can easily train himself up to the 10. Engineer is quite slow too, but she's sure he can reach the goal as well.
Looking up, she spots her Element of Loyalty partner slacking off by napping on a cloud, well not on her watch. "No slacking off Sniper!"
The griffin tense up for a moment, only signs she did catch him off guard. Then he turns to her, giving her a slightly annoyed look over his yellow sunglasses. "Last I checked, I am not a pony."
"Don't care, you have wings so you are joining in the wing power." Rainbow tells him hard and pushes the griffin off the cloud. "Now show me what you got."
Grumbling Sniper flies down to the starting line, he flaps his wings a few times to get the blood pumping and speed off.
"9,4 wingpower." Twilight declares and Spike writes both down Sniper's name and his wing power.
"Not bad after has slacked off all day." Rainbow mocks Sniper lightly, said griffin roll his eyes and goes back to sleep; she is sure he does that just to taunt her. She can always kick him into training when done with the wing power list. Everything goes well, that until it is Fluttershy's turn. She flies so slow that she doesn't get over 1. After a small argument with Twilight, Rainbow is forced to tell her; by trying to soften the blow. "Um... great job, Fluttershy! You measured, uh, uh, .5." Fluttershy smiles, but her small hope crashes down when Spike opens his big mouth. ".5? Isn't that like... less than one?" Twilight hits him over the head to stay quiet but the damage is done. Fluttershy runs off, almost running into Heavy who happens to pass by. Rainbow Dash follows, calling her to stop, but Fluttershy doesn't so she tries another tactic
"So some punks poked a little fun at you and you got stage fright, big deal. You aren't gonna go quit just because of that, are you?" She demands but she has clearly miscalculated her fellow pegasus low self-esteem as Fluttershy stops and turns, showing heavy tears from her eyes.
"Yes!"
Taken greatly by surprise but still wanting her to be part of this, Rainbow tells her a bit desperate. "But I need you...!"
But Fluttershy just can't risk another episode like back at flight school. "I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash, I just..." She runs away from the training grounds. "don't have the courage right now..." and heads into the forest to cry.
Quietly Heavy watches Rainbow Dash wants to follow that poor yellow pony but her duty for the other pegasi forcing her to stay. Frustrated, Rainbow kicks the ground before going back to the other pegasi, commanding them to return back to training. Heavy decides to follow Fluttershy as he does not have any duty in staying, besides, it is clear she needs someone right now.
Walking into the forest to find that yellow pegasus, Heavy notices that several of the animals are going the same direction. Knowing her strong connection to the wildlife Heavy follows them. He finds Fluttershy lying crying under a willow, surrounded by animals trying to comfort her.
A squirrel attempt in comforting her is handing her the acorn it brought.
He did not hear what she told it, only that the animals are trying to cheer her up. Walking over the stream of water, Heavy begins to hear what she is saying to her animal friends.
"I know it's important to have confidence in myse—"
A branch breaks under Heavy's hoof, revealing his approach for Fluttershy. The moment she spots him, she whimpers and covers away. Sensing her fear, the animals start to form a protective circle. Around their pony friend.
"Do not be afraid little pony." Heavy tells her as softly his deep voice will allow. He walks over to her and carefully not to step on any of her animal friends, he takes a seat beside the whimpering pony. "I will not hurt you." He blinks when a badger squeaks something at him, he has no idea what is saying but he can make a calculated guess it worries for Fluttershy. "They worry about you." Fluttershy nods slowly, still too afraid to look at him. The animals chitter while nodding as well. He does feel quite stupid but speaking with the animals is the only way to get through Fluttershy without breaking her, so he speaks to the animals. "Do you want to help little pony?" They nod and he asks them. "Can Heavy help little pony?" They hesitate and the badger makes what sounds like suspicious squeaking, followed by what sounds like laughing and pointing at something he cannot see. Is it asking if he will laugh and mock her? "I only call enemy baby, must say Heavy did think Fluttershy baby at first. She is weak, but sometimes I see strong heart." The animals all chitter in agreement that they have seen it too. A duck mother quack something, folding her wings around her ducklings. He presumes she asks him to protect Fluttershy like a mother would with her children. "Heavy will protect little shy pony." He promises the duck-mother, that job he is very good at.
Hearing this huge scary pony not only speaking with her animal friends but promising them he will protect her, Fluttershy is so touched by this that she finds the courage to meet his eyes. She does flinch when he meets hers with his strong and quite scary gaze. "If little pony let Heavy." She meets his grey eyes again, hesitates but does nod that she would like that. He nods in returns, the animals cheer and the birds encourage her to speak with him. Fluttershy is not sure what they should speak about, though. Maybe she can start with this: "Thank you."
"It no problem." Heavy brushes it off, glancing at his back and sees the tickle he felt comes from two squirrels has decided to take a ride on him. He lets them, even letting one of the squirrels crawl onto his head. It's not often he can get this close to critters like this without scaring them off, he hasn't told anyone but Medic that he really like small animals. A small giggle makes him turn his eyes back to Fluttershy, it is good to see she is less afraid of him. Pretty sure it's thanks to the animals now climbing on him. He lifts his hoof and bird lands on it. "What trouble you?"
Seeing her animal friends showing no fear towards this scary looking pony, Fluttershy decides to tell him about her fear of getting laughed at and how she has never been a strong flyer. She did dread he would start laughing at her, but all he does is listing and at times asking for details.
When finishing explaining her fears, Heavy says much to her surprise. "I do not believe you are bad flyer." She is about to argue, but the badger stops her and reminds her of the time it almost drowned when the river swelled and flooded its burrow. "Yes, I remember. You were really scared." It reminds her words to it during that episode. She nods to it that she remembers. "...Yes, I did tell you to never give up... and to believe in yourself."
"Little pony is strong when time call." Heavy says he has seen her do incredible things when the situation calls for it.
"You're right." Fluttershy nods, finding confident in her own abilities. "I shouldn't give up. I will get my confidence up and show everypony that I am a good flyer!" She takes to the sky, flying above the willow. "A great flyer!"
Heavy and the animals watches her from the ground, Heavy smiles seeing her getting a bit out from that shell. Now it is time to show others that Fluttershy has the heart of a mother bear and he will help her all the way.