//------------------------------//
// Changeup 
// Story: Living Darkness 
// by vildtiger 
//------------------------------//

Note: Several have asked for this to happen and now it will. Also since so many of you like the Nightmare Night holiday, I decided to let it happen in that time.

This happens three weeks after the last chapter.

It is quite busy in Ponyville with the preparations for Nightmare Night festival and everyone wants it to be extra good after Major Mare announced that their princess of the night is coming on a visit and will be part of the show their very own party planner is preparing. Everyone is excited to see that particular show for the scariest time of year.

Scout is especially excited as he will be one of those standing for that very show and he can’t wait to show what he, Pinkie and several musical ponies have come up with. He still can't believe that Luna agreed on being part of the show when they asked her through a letter Pinkie sent her. How many can say they have done a show with royalty? None he knows of and that will make this is so awesome!
Doing the last checkups on the stage, Scout notices a familiar figure and is quite surprised to see Sniper come walking into town. “Yo Snipes!” He calls and tries to fly over to him but ends head first onto the ground. Every nearby pony looks at him with eyes wide of surprise. “I meant to do that.” He tells the surrounding ponies and gets up to speak with Sniper, the ponies slowly returns back to their own business with him leaving.
Getting over to Sniper, Scout remarks to the sharpshooter. “I wasn’t aware you were in Equestria, did you just arrive?” Sniper shakes his head and much to Scout’s surprise, the Aussie replies. “I have been here for a while, not in Equestria but in the lands of the griffins.” and to his bigger surprise, a child griffin appears beside Sniper with a joyfully: “Hia! Wow, you’re one weird looking pony, but I like weird!”
Scout stares at the griffin girl for a moment, but he does quickly recovers and smiles down to her. “Thanks, new in town?”

“Yup!" She beams. "I will be staying with Lawrence while I am here. He’s going to teach me a lot of new stuff! I’m so excited!” The girl squeals happily and jumps ecstatically around the two.

“Long story.” Sniper replies on the dumbfounded look on Scout’s face and leaves before he has to explain the deal he made with Gabby’s mother. “Come, I will show you what will be your room.” and she follows, does wave to the frozen in disbelief Scout. “See ya!”

Scout did recover fairly quickly over this slap to the face info and gallops after Sniper, he sees the sharpshooter and the kid fly up to the clouds Sniper used as his home the last time he was here. Scout tries to fly up to the clouds but no matter how much he flaps his wings, he always ends back onto the ground and loses more feathers. Not wanting to turn his wings bare, he instead results having to call for Sniper. The griffin looks down to him in confusion but does fly down, before Sniper can ask the question why he didn’t fly, Scout quickly asks his own. “Where did you get that kid?” Sniper shoots him a glare but he does not back off. “Where are her parents?” If she has any.

Not comfortable talking about this with so many ponies around, Sniper grabs Scout’s mane and pulls him away from the crowd, completely ignoring the half-changeling’s whining in pain. “Ouch, stop pulling my hair!” Scout glares annoyed at Sniper when he finally does let go. “What the hell man?!”
Spitting out the chunk of hair he accidentally pulled out and although he is aware Scout is possibly the worst person to tell this. He rather wants to reveal this than deal with Scout bugging him out for the info. “I don’t want Gabby or any other wanker to hear how cruel her mother was. She practically sold her daughter to me.” and the speedster’s anger deflates like a balloon.

“Why would she do such a thing?” Scout asks in disbelief, but all Sniper says to this subject. “That being a griffin I guess.” Not the answer he wants and it does not sound like a good excuse for a mother to give her child away like that. “And you’re okay with it?”

“Of course I’m not okay with it!” Sniper growls and asks with a nod to the cloud where Gabby is making herself at home. “But what bloody else was I suppose to do? Leave her?”

Okay, Scout sees his point, but he’s not sure if Sniper here is the best suited of being a parent. “Do you even know how to take care of a kid?” Sniper walks past him with a quite rude remark to his own father. “I am not going to abandon her as your old man did.” Scout scowls but the griffin completely ignores it by admitting. “I may not be perfect, but I am sure hell better than the bitch to her mother ever were.”
Scout must give him props for wanting to be a good parent, and Gabby do seem to like him. “So you’re pretty much her father now?” Never thought he would see the day Sniper taking the role as a parent with that antisocial behavior he has going. Sniper does not reply him, much to Scout’s annoyance but also amusement, as he gets the feeling Sniper does not want to get that title put on him and Scout just can't help himself. “Haha! Oh, this is rich, it’s only a matter of time before she starts calling you daddy and start talking like you!” He grins which turns into a yelp of both surprise and pain when he gets hit by a very sturdy bottle.

“Make yourself useful and deliver this to Zecora.” Sniper tells Scout hard and the speedster better gets the hint he is not in the mood for his teasing. The journey has been long and this new responsibility to Gabby has tired him out to mentally exhausting. She is a sweet kid but good god did he constantly have to keep his eyes on her thanks to that cat curiosity she has going.
Scout must’ve sensed this as he does not keep going with his teasing as he usually would, instead, the half-changeling grabs the bottle and runs off.
Relived that Scout has gotten way better at reading others, Sniper flies up to the clouds that is his home here in Equestria, inside he jumps onto a patch of clouds that works as his bed. He is so tired that he doesn't even bother unpacking his bags.
He feels Gabby jump up to him and has to tell her when she begins to crawl on his back. “I need some time alone.”

“Did I do something wrong?” Gabby asks worriedly that Lawrence might not want her around anymore. She did ask him a lot of questions on their travel, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Are you going to send me home?”

Sniper eyes the girl and can’t help but feel pity that was her first thought about him. “Of course not, you have been very good. But sometimes others need time alone to recharge.”

Gabby titles her head in confusion. “Recharge?”

“Yeah, like…” Sniper is not sure what he can use as an allegory she will understand. “Do you fish?” He asks and she nods with: “One of the few things I and Gilda did together.” Right, which means he can use this to explain why he needs alone time without making her think she did something wrong. “Right, then like the fish you and Gilda are catching. You know you cannot catch them all; if you do there won’t be more for later.”

“There won’t?” Gabby asks and Lawrence shakes his head, explaining. “I am sort of like the lake with the fish. If someone keeps taking the fish without giving me time to fill it with more, then sooner or later, I won’t be able to give anything.” Gabby has to take a moment to understand what Lawrence is telling her. If he is like the lake with fish, then it is okay she take the fish— take his time in Lawrence case— but like the lake, she has to leave him alone from time to time. Otherwise, she will just dry him up for fish and none of them wants that. She meets his eyes. “I think I understand.” and tells him the thoughts on how she consider him and the lake with fish.
He smiles and nods. “You got it, and right now.” He stretches out and when lying down again, Lawrence pulls his hat over his eyes. “This lake needs time to recover.”
Gabby nods and leaves him alone, she does ask as she is pretty sure she will get bored just sitting around and wait for him to recover. “Is it alright I go outside?”

“As long you stick to the town’s borders and under no circumstances wander into the dense forest without my knowledge.” Sniper replies, he hears Gabby replies. “Alright.” and the sound of her flying down to check out Ponyville. He is not worried she does that on her own, she’s a tough cookie and can handle the residents of Ponyville just find. But she better obeys his wishes of not approaching Everfree forest as she won’t stand a chance against the wildlife residing in there.

**Everfree forest, at Zecora's hut**

Scout hands the strange bottle Sniper threw at him to Zecora who will investigate what this potion property is after the celebration of Nightmare Night.
With his task done, Scout decides to hear from Zecora if she has anything to fix up his wings. “I have no idea why, but I keep losing feathers and now I can’t fly.”

Zecora puts down the strange bottle and gently grabs Scout’s wing, a large chunk of the tattered feathers are gone and the skin can be seen several places. “It brings me no pleasure I have no idea what caused the loss of your feathers.” She admits as she cannot see anything particularly wrong with his wings that would cause the feathers to fall off. Letting go of the wing, she suggests. “A portion of mine cannot fix this, I suggest we ask a doctor and hear what is amiss.”
Scout does not really agree on it and he quickly leaves with: “Nah I’m good, I probably just have been flying around too much. They need to grow out again that’s all.”
He’s gone before she can stop him.
Zecora stares deadpan after the young stallion, she does not fully understand why he’s so reluctant to see a doctor but from what Antoine has told her, Medic, their past healer hasn’t exactly been gentle when he fixed them up.
Zecora would’ve looked past this if she wasn’t together with his father, but since she is now Jeremy’s stepmother, she finds it’s her duty to make sure that her stepson is alright. She leaves the hut and heads over to where Antoine is with the two girls. She finds him being used as a climbing frame by the two girls and Zecora can’t help but laugh at how awkward her beloved looks in this very moment. “Of one adept to kill by stealth, two foals is where you have no strength.” She teases him.

“Being a spy is easy.” Spy admits and after have put Laverina down on the ground before he gets a heart attack if she ends up falling and possible breaks her neck. “Back there, I only had to worry about my own well being.” And it is hard to constantly have others safety on his mind, but watching Sauda who stares in a strange wonder at a flower. He is reminded it is all worth it, yet he could do without worrying all the time. “They haven’t made any sound reminiscing of words. Shouldn’t children have some words at this age?” He asks Zecora, worrying if he has done something wrong. “Scout could a few words at this age, should I have been talking more to them?” He asks as he hasn’t really been talking to the girls, he found that very hard since he knew they did not understand a word and wouldn't reply to him.

Zecora finds it sweet he cares so much about the girls, even if he thinks he is not doing a good job as a father. “They will talk when the time is right, so no need be so uptight.” She replies, nuzzling his face.
Spy sighs. “Alright.” The worried expression is gone, replaced with a controlled cheek and he kisses her. Zecora does indulge herself in the tender moment. She does, however, has to break it from the small concern she has with Scout. “I will leave you for a while, something wrong with Scout’s wings but to see a doctor is not his style, I will try to use my own guile and help him through this needless trial.”
Spy blinks and after have removed Laverina from the small herb garden. “What’s wrong with his wings?” He asks.
Zecora admits she is not sure. “But I do feel some fright he is not able to do any flight, I will get him to a doctor and see if they can tell us if this is an unhead blight.”

Just what he needed, more worrying. Spy is about to suggest he should talk with Scout but he stops himself, thinking that it’s best Zecora does this, more so when she does wishes to get to know her stepson better. “I will keep an eye out on fauteurs de troubles.” Nodding to the two girls running a tad too close on the herb garden. Zecora smiles and with a nuzzle, she leaves to find Scout.

Lavernia stops when she notices their mother leaves and does a few babbling that can be mistaken for the word mother. Spy eyes the girl. “She will be back ma fille, simply make sure your big brother Scout is alright.” The two girls look up to him but if they understood him is the question. Spy doubts they do, but he does think him talking to them eases their young minds.

Tracking down Scout is rather easy, he’s so busy preparing for the show that he’s not even worrying about staying hidden for the issue he has with his wings. Walking over to the scene, Zecora calls up to the young stallion “Scout, your time if you please.”
Scout hesitates but does walk over to her and tries to pretend nothing is wrong by smiling cheekily. “Sup, are you trying to get my autograph early?”
Zecora rolls subtly her eyes. “No, Scout, my reason here so you agree to go to the doctor and know your troubling wings is no disease.” Scout’s smile fades slightly and he casts a glance to his wings, there Zecora notices that he’s not only losing the feathers but his pelt as well, there is a bare spot right under his cheek.
“I know it’s a shocker, so let’s go see the doctor.” She tells him, softer this time.

Maybe this is more serious than he first thought, doubt Zecora would’ve come all this way otherwise.
Scout sighs. “Alright.” He agrees and calls to Pinkie Pie quickly. “Hey Pinkie, I will be gone for a while. Keep the fort down, alright?” Pinkie turns to him a bit confused but seeing Zecora, she nods with a smile and returns back to set up the lights along with a DJ unicorn named Vinal Scratch. Scout jumps off the scene and follows Zecora to the local hospital.

**Ponyville Hospital**

A male unicorn doctor investigates the lack of feathers on Scouts wings, the doctor first did some kind of magic but it seems like he didn’t get the result he wanted as the doctor takes a skin sample and his frowns deepen as he checks by a microscope. “So what’s the problem doc?” Scout asks as he would with Medic when that crazy doctor did a checkup on the team, except that man often got quite excited if he found one of them being sick as it meant he could do experimental testing on them. Scout sure hopes this is not the case now. Last time he ended up sick; Medic tried to replace his organs!
The doctor pony leaves the microscope and asks. “Have you been dealing with extreme itching?” Scout raises a brow but does answers. “Some itching but nothing over the ordinary.” And do remark of something he has taken notice. “But I am hungrier than usual.” It’s a wonder he hasn’t gained weight from how much he has been stuffing in his face lately.

The doctor pony steps over, does his tracer magic again but that only makes his frowns deepen. “Most curious.” He muses and can at least give this weird pegasus some good news. “Well, the good news is you’re not dealing with tapeworm. Bad news…” He shrugs. “I have no idea what’s causing your loss of feathers and fur. I found no sign of parasites and your skin looks healthy.” And looking at the patient, he gets the feeling this is not really a pony even if he has a cutie mark. “Your magic is acting strangely but it’s not pony related. I’m sorry but I can’t help you.”

Scout’s eyes widened slightly from the horror he feels hearing that whatever he’s dealing with has nothing to do with his pony side, does that mean this is changeling related? What if his mixed generic of pony and changeling is fighting against one another? That is a possibility, right?
He eyes Zecora and she has a frown of whatever thoughts is going through her, he can sense she is worried but not as much he thought she would be.
She thanks the doctor and they leave, outside she suggests. “I would like if you came back to the forest, I wish to make sure my theory are just.”
He’s not sure what she means but does follow Zecora back to Everfree forest. They find his father carrying Sauda inside the hut, and puts her besides Laverina in their crip.
Spy ears twitch and he turns towards them, he didn’t even bother to ask as Zecora already knows what he will ask about. “The doctor did not know what he was looking into but he only know ponies and thanks to him I have a clue.” She turns to Scout with a faint smile. “It is a bit strange but it’s clear you are starting to change.”
Scout blinks, not entirely sure what Zecora is talking about. “Uh what? Change? How am I going to change? Will I suddenly grow a horn like Twilight grew wings?” The last one he jokes, he’s fine to simply have the wings.

Spy understands what Zecora is saying but it does not make sense. “Scout, she means you will change as I did.” He explains his son and Scout jumps in surprise. “Wait what?! You mean I am going to look like you?!” Spy is not entirely sure and that’s what troubles his mind. “I don’t know what will happen. My metamorphic happened in a matter of minutes. How long have you been dealing with this?”
Scout hesitates a tad too long. “Jeremy.”

“I prefer Scout, it sounds weird when you speak my name.” Scout points out, besides, he likes his class name, it’s like a cool nickname. His father frowns deepens but does at least accept his wish. “Scout, when did all of this start?” He has to think for a moment on where he began to really feel hungry. “Um… I think a few weeks now, I’m not sure really.” Scout admits and he does not like the vibe he’s getting from his father. “Is that a bad sign?”

Spy exchanges a look with Zecora, she is probably the one with the most knowledge about changelings. Zecora is also a bit worried but fortunately the emotions he gets from her, it seems like she finds this normal. “I do not think there are need of thoughts turn negative, your slow change can be because of your pony and changeling heritage.” She explains Jeremy.
That can be it, being a half changeling might cause a long delay in the metamorphic. “Zecora has a point, you are an only half changeling and it’s not that long ago you united your two souls. That can have caused this slow metamorphic.” Scout does not feel very convinced, Spy does not really blame him, all this metamorphic stuff is new to him too and he went through the whole ordeal.

“So how am I going to change? Will I lose all my feathers and fur or what?” Scout asks, for as it stands now, it seems like it.
His father shrugs. “I don’t know, maybe at some point, it will just happen as it did to me.” Great, so none of them know when this supposed change will happen or if he’s even going through the same thing. For all they know Scout might just lose all his hair and feathers without any reason. “Great… and right up to Nightmare Night… I was going to perform beside Princess Luna!” He complains annoyed, not realizing he woke Lavernia and Sauda. “Do you have any idea how many people is allowed doing a show with a freaking princess? None that I know!”
Spy groans and Scout picks up a faint sense of anguish from him. “Scout, I know you really want to do that show but you can’t stop this whatever you like it or not.”
Scout tail twitches in his annoyance on how this change sounds like. “un-freaking-believable, don’t tell me this is like a second puberty...” He grumbles. First time was bad enough.
Zecora chuckles at this and remarks much to Scout’s annoyance of this news. “This change is much like an adult stage for the changeling, you have the right age, so endure the second puberty and stop your grumbling.”

Spy nods. “As Zecora said.”

Scout snorts and leaves, not really in the mood for them lecturing him this supposed change won’t be that bad. Like they know, they aren’t the one dealing with this annoying hair loss and the possibility of his hormones acting weird again.
He didn’t really want to think about it and so far he feels fine, a little tired perhaps but he’s sure most would if they have been preparing for such an important show.
Scout returns back to the stage, assures Pinkie what he did with Zecora is nothing to worry about and returns back to help her prepare for the upcoming show.
They did get the stage ready and he is quite satisfied when he returns to his apartment.

**the next day**

Getting up from bed has always been hard, even back at the War Games but up he got and after have pretty much emptied his fridge for food, Scout returns back to the stage and practice on the show.
During one of the reversals, he notices Sauda and Lavernia running around at where the crowd should be. Knowing those two won’t be here without a parent, Scout scans the place and his eyes lands on a dark blue pegasus that looks suspiciously like his father in human form. Ending the song for the show and leaves so Vinal Scratch can fine tune the loudspeakers, Scout walks over to Spy. “What are you doing here?” He asks suspiciously.

“Watching my son reversal for the big show tomorrow.” Spy answers smoothly, that is partly a lie, he came here to check up on Scout but from the emotions, he’s getting from his boy, it’s clear he better keep that part to himself. “As you said, it is very important to you.”
Scout narrows his eyes. “Uh oh.” He does not sound fully convinced but Spy won’t be much of a spy if he couldn’t lie even if someone can detect his emotions, so his son won’t be able to know he’s lying through his calm emotions. He is not really worried, now that he is somewhat aware of what is going on with Scout. Still, he does feel like it’s best he stay near in case the soon to be metamorphic won’t be like his, which Spy highly doubts. “Zecora and I agreed it will be best the girls saw the show outside Nightmare Night.” Both turn to looks the two girls, Lavernia is staring at the box filled with the Nightmare Night decorations for the stage and Sauda is already down in it, popping her head up and chewing on a spider plushie.
Spy lets out a small groan as he seriously cannot look away more than a minute before the girls are making trouble. He grabs Sauda and lifts her out from the box and must ask himself. “Why are all my children troublemakers?”

Scout laughs at this, it’s just so fun to know that his two sisters cause just as much trouble as he did. “Yeah, I do wonder that myself, you don’t look like the type who ever got in trouble other than stab people in the back.” And it takes him greatly by surprise that he does not get the smugness he thought he would from his father, he knows Spy is proud of his job, so sensing the pain of an excruciating regret truly catches him off guard. “What was that about?” He asks slowly and unsure about what this meant.

Merde, Jeremy sensed that. Spy curses himself for have thought about his greatest regret instead on what his son had really spoken about, but the way Jeremy said it, it just made him think about his greatest backstab… against his own family. “It’s nothing, a past no longer important.” He replies his son and in a tone, he does NOT want to talk about it. Spy knows he will never rid of the regret but at least he can feel warm again of his new family. That and knowing his younger sister had miraculously survived and found herself a faithful husband. For Francis sake; that man better has gotten his act together unless he wants a knife in his back for have hurt his sister.

“About the war?” Scout still asks, even when his father made it clear he did not want to talk about it. Spy gives an angry frown and Scout looks away, musing. “Most of you old folks are dealing with crap from the World War…”

Yes, and he is one of those people too. He was under Ace’s training at that time and the master spy did make him gather intel from both ally and the enemy. That’s why he knows so much and why he needed Mann’s Co. protection because he was found out by his superior at the France Government. Ace has a lot of enemies too but it never seemed to have bothered the master spy, not lot seems to have bothered that man in fact. Shaking the thoughts away from the war and his master, Spy admits slowly. “What I did in the World War was simply doing my job, the emotions you felt came from a time way before the war.” And that’s all he ever is going to tell his son.

“Scout, we’re ready again!” Pinkie Pie calls from the stage, Scout turns around and calls back. “Be there in a sec!” He eyes his father briefly before he trots back to the stage.

Spy removes the spider plushie from Sauda, she starts to whimper but one of the baseballs quickly made her forget about it and instead starts chewing on her and Lavernia's favorite toy.
He watches the two girls play around before him, does a few times glances up to Scout, then his gaze is averted by a spotted feline and Spy titles slightly his head in wonder. When did Sniper arrive in Equestria? He does get a better question when a child griffin appears beside Sniper and from how the child is sticking to him, it’s pretty clear she feels comfortable around the bushman and he does not look as awkward as he usually does. That is quite a surprise, one that perks Spy’s curiosity enough to investigate.
Well, usually his investigation involves with him being invisible and getting the information by watching someone without them knowing, but he can’t really do that for if he picks up another disguise, Sauda and Lavernia will just start to freak out and he rather not do that. So it seems he has to do this the boring way. Spy calls for the girls and they follow him over to Sniper who snaps his gaze over the second he notices them.

Sniper is admittedly very baffled to see Spook walk over to him like a normal person for once AND he has two toddlers that look suspiciously like Scout. Before he can voice his shock that Spook has gotten himself two kids with who he presumes is Zecora from the stripes they have- Gabby leaps over to the two girls. “Hi! Wanna play with me?” The two girls blink a bit confused but quickly snaps out from it when Gabby begins to jump around and giggling they follow her, trying to leap around as she did but they did not have a griffin’s grace and their attempt to hop makes it looks as if they are walking on hot coal.

Spy eyes follow the now playing kids. “Well isn’t she quick to make friends?” Before turning back to Sniper. “Where did you pick her up?”

“Her mother let her go with me in exchange for money...” Sniper begrudgingly replies he’s still angry that he did pretty much buy Gabby but he just couldn’t leave her there. Spy brow quirks as the only reaction to this and remarks with eyes on the playing Gabby. “She does not look aware she has been sold like an object.” and that’s the only thing Sniper will give the mother credit for. “Yeah, the mother was tactful enough not make the offer with Gabby around. Girl thinks she’s my assistance.”

The emotions he gets from Sniper does point the same way, and yet Spy can sense the bushman cares for this Gabby more than a mere assistance. “And what can she assist a bushman such as you may I ask?” Spy asks the griffin slyly. “Planning on teaching her how to hide in a bush? That will be like teaching Scout not to flirt with Miss Pauling.”
Sniper snorts in his small amusement of that last remark but is quickly back to be serious. “I'll teach her what she likes to learn about, other than that I merely make sure she keeps her nose clean— speaking of which.” Spy groans and automatically turns to check on the girls. “What are they doing now?” But they are not doing any trouble other than chasing the laughing Gabby around. He frowns annoyed at Sniper laughing at him.

“Where is the coldhearted Spook from the War Games? He would never have worried about two ankle-snappers.” Sniper remarks rather amused on Spy being a worried but also a quite caring father.
“You should ask Scout that question, all of this is his fault.” Spook replies sullenly and yet Sniper can hear the hint of pride in his voice. Smirking, Sniper gives the spy a light punch on the shoulder. “Whatever he did, it’s a change I appreciate.”

This does take Spy a bit by surprise, for since when has he and Sniper been having a friendly conversation?? “Who are you and what have you done with the filthy bushman I knew from the War Games?” Sniper barks a laugh of that comment. “People does act differently when they aren’t stuck in a war and paranoid getting a knife in their back.” Spy cannot stop himself for throwing that ball back to the sharpshooter. “I could say the same about that light from your sniper rifle. You have more than once ruined my kill streak.”

“So have you, Spook. But I didn’t start to cry to the heavens about it.”

“I did no such things.” Spy huffs embarrassed he actually had more than once lost his temper when he ended up headshot right before he would do a sweet backstab on some poor bastard. But so would anyone who has suffered under the harsh desert sun in a suit that wasn’t made for running around in the scorching heat and surrounded by manic mercenaries all day long.
Sniper laughs again. Grumbling Spy leaves and is a bit surprised he does not have the urge to kill the bushman as he did once. Maybe Sniper is right, their past hostilities were mostly because they both were in a war and he was more interested in doing his job than making friends.

Suddenly ponies at the large stage starts acting up, both Spy and Sniper snap over to the spot, seeing two ponies stand uncertain and worried around Pinkie who is close to tears and calling. “Scout, Scout wake up! What’s wrong? Please open your eyes!”

That puts Spy into action, he sorta knew something soon will happen but he didn’t think it would happen this suddenly. “Can you look after the girls?” He asks Sniper and before the griffin can reply, Spy jumps into the air and flies over to the stage. He gets past the two musical ponies and over to Pinkie trying to wake her partner. Scout's eyes are slightly open but he does not react to the world, in fact, if they were closed he looks more to be asleep. Well almost, his electricity-based magic is acting weird, making his body spark once and a while. Must be the closet a half-changeling can get to the magical cocoon. “He’s going to be alright.” He assures Pinkie and puts his son onto his back.

“He will?” Pinkie asks tearfully, so worried for Scout. He collapsed so suddenly that she thought for a moment he was pulling a prank, that until she realized he didn’t react on her.
Scout’s father nods. “Yes, but I need to take him.” Pinkie nods she understands and asks. “Can… can I go with you?” he hesitates but does agree, so Pinkie Pie follows the disguised changeling into the Everfree forest, in there she asks him. “What’s happening to him?”

Not even without his emotion detection ability, it’s clear that Pinkie is incredibly worried for Jeremy, she has never been good at hiding her emotions. “Remember how I changed?” She nods. “It’s happening to him now, but because he’s only a half changeling, it’s going slower.”

Ohhh, that explains it, but that does leave an important question. “Will he be ready for the show tomorrow?” Spy eyes her, it’s hard to know what he is thinking even when he has a pony face. “I highly doubt he will.” He replies calmly as always.
They walk into Zecora’s hut, here Spy briefly explains Zecora what is going on as he puts Scout onto the bed.
Pinkie is, of course, relived Scout will be alright but without him there won’t be much of a show and Pinkie just can’t cancel it, not only because it will make Princess Luna super sad, Pinkie is certain the princess of the night looks forward to it but so will all in Ponyville.
She tells this to both Spy and Zecora, and cries out in despair of this horrible situation she finds herself in. “What am I going to do?! I can’t do the show without Scout! And so many ponies are already talking about it, I can’t let them down!!” and she collapses onto the floor, headfirst.

Spy stares down to the pink pony and tries not to think about how she can bend her face to be completely flattened against the floor, instead he thinks about what she said and what he has gathered about her. Pinkie likes to make people happy and she does that by making parties, the longer the preparation the more important it is for her. This show is one of those Pinkie- along with Scout has been preparing for a while now. She won’t be able to get over it and knowing how much she does not want to let ponies down, Spy knows if this show gets cancel, Pinkie will blame herself for all the sad frowns there will be tomorrow for a very long time.
Oh, his master would be so disappointed if he knew how soft he has become, but he is the only one able to do this. “I can take Scout’s place.” He tells Pinkie, she looks up and he takes his son’s shape. “This won’t be the first time I have been pretending to be him.” But won’t tell her that the last time he pretended to be Jeremy, it was during the War Games where he did his utmost not to care for the boy, only pride in all of that was the BLU side of him pretended to be the RED Scout so well he even fooled himself.
Pinkie leaps up from the floor in a comical gasp, landing back onto the floor she asks him with wide eyes of tears. “You can do that? Oh thank you!” She hugs him.
Spy pushes her off, annoyed by her busting his personal bobble. “Yes, yes, I can do it, but no one will hear about this.” Can’t believe he will say this... “Pinkie promise me no one will hear I took Scout's place.” Pinkie does the whole song and dance of she promises not to tell anyone and out from her mane (not question why she had it in there) she pulls out the sheet with the song to the show.
Spy reads briefly through it and can see he’s going to need a lot of practice, but it’s nothing an adept infiltrator like him can’t handle.
He does snap away from the lyrics when Zecora asks worriedly. “Where are our two girls? With Scout down, I do not wish to feel further concerns.” Oh, he almost forgot about them, much to his embarrassment. “I left them with Sniper.” and the bushman better have kept an eye on them or he will return back to their old rivalry from the War Games.

Zecora decides to fetch the girls, Antoine will have enough to worry about with his act tomorrow.
Finding the girls are easy, they are oblivious to what has happened. Too busy to play around with a griffin cub. Sniper watches them nearby, he does look quite unsure about the sudden task he has been giving. She informs him she is here to take back the girls. “You are such a gem to have looked after them.” She thanks him and he pulls down his hat, musing. “It was the least I could do ma’am.”
She calls for the girls and brings them back home, it’s quite amusing to watch Sauda and Lavernia try and wrap their small heads around the fact they are seeing two of their big brother. Then, to both Zecora’s and Spy’s surprise: “Scout!” Lavernia calls out to their disguised father and Sauda points at the real Jeremy. “Scout.”

“Well, that was unexpected.” Spy muses and drops his disguise, beside him Pinkie Pie blinks as she does not understand why he took this as such a big deal. “I would’ve been confused too, not often you see two of your big brother.” and he explains to why this surprised both him and Zecora. “Their first word is their big brother’s name.”

Pinkie gasps, now in joy. “Reeeaaally?!” and she up beside the two girls “That calls for a celebration!”

Spy stops her before she pulls that party cannon out from who knows where. “Non, I need you to focus and help me with the show tomorrow.” Pinkie reluctantly returns back to him and the practice. Much to his relief as that firing that cannon inside the hut would make such a mess.