Scootaloo trotted happily up the hill with Dreadwing not far behind. She began making her way up her usual tree, but stopped just below her hollow when she noticed something. While normally empty, a bird's nest now occupied the hole in the wood. Inside of it she could see a small clutch of eggs that gleamed in the setting sun, and she felt a strange twinge of joy. "Hey, come look at this," she called out to the creature.
Dreadwing floated up from his spot on the ground and raised an eyebrow at the sight. "Interesting. Would you like me to move it somewhere else? I can do so without disturbing them."
Scootaloo shook her head. "No, let's just leave them." She smiled as she began climbing back down to the ground. "I don't really need that hollow, anyway."
"Very well." Dreadwing followed Scootaloo as she walked back down the hill. "Where will we go now? The water underneath the bridge is no longer frozen."
Scootaloo shrugged. "I don't know. I guess we can just walk around outside of town for a while." She glanced at the sun, which had begun to sink in the evening sky. "I'm really glad I was able to make some new friends today."
Dreadwing nodded to her as he thought back to the events from earlier that day. She and another pony, Sweetie Bell, had stood up for a fellow markless pony named Apple Bloom. The three had instantly become friends, and Dreadwing was almost as happy about it as Scootaloo. "It's a good thing to have more friends, especially seeing as I won't be here forever."
"But why not?" Scootaloo asked with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Because I cannot sustain myself from the energy of a pony with a cutie mark, remember? Once that happens I will need to find a new host, otherwise I could end up hurting you or your friends."
"Oh. Right, I forgot." Scootaloo sighed and glanced out at the distant line of trees. "We'll figure something out, don't worry."
Dreadwing shook his head, but said nothing. With how Scootaloo had changed his pessimistic views, he wasn't sure he could carry on the way he used to. He honestly wasn't sure what to do when the time came for him to leave. Stealing the happiness from foals was an appalling idea to him now.
Scootaloo stopped walking when the reached the lake and craned her neck to look at a nearby tree. This one also had a cavity in it, albeit too small to accommodate a pony. "I'm actually kind of glad that hollow got filled. I don't have to go back there anymore."
"But why? It was a good place to rest," Dreadwing asked with his head cocked slightly.
"Because of the memories. I threw myself from it a couple of times, hoping I'd break my neck and not have to deal with my parents anymore. Luckily I survived, or none of this would have ever happened," Scootaloo said with a calm, blissful smile.
Dreadwing nodded. "I guess it is necessary to experience pain to know happiness. The two of us have had our fair share of the former." Scootaloo's smile deepened, but she remained quiet. After a moment they continued walking in silence, taking in the peaceful nature around them.
"It's almost strange, sensing so little distress in her mind now," Dreadwing thought. It had only been a little under a moon and a half, and yet the young filly was barely recognizable. He smiled to himself. Seeing her become so carefree had improved his mood as well, and he was happy to see her shift into the normal life she should have had. It was the first time he had ever felt fulfilled in life.