//------------------------------// // Turn to face the strange // Story: Integration - Part Two of A Changeling's Story (Cancelled) // by CoAlFire //------------------------------// “Okay,” Twilight huffed as she came back into the library, “I managed to find Fluttershy, and I explained the situation. She said that she understands, given the circumstances, Echo.” “That makes things easier, Twi,” Echo sighed, “thank you. Did you apologize for me?” “Yes, Echo, she understands.” “I don't see why you should have to apologize,” Chrysalis said, “it was a wonderful display of her powers.” “Chrysalis, Scootaloo doesn't have control over her transformations yet. It was mean of you to scare Fluttershy like that!” Twilight was getting upset again, and Echo decided that she should stop the confrontation from escalating. “Here's an idea, ladies. Why don't Chrysalis and I spend some time teaching Scootaloo about what she's going to have to deal with?” “That sounds fine to me. Let's begin,” Chrysalis smiled that half-evil smile that she sported all too often, and Echo was quick to interrupt. “Not here, Mother. I was hoping that Twilight would know some place we could go where we wouldn't be likely to draw any attention, or to … you know, make important things explode?” Echo nodded to the books around them. “I agree!” Twilight squeaked, eyes wide at the thought of her precious books exploding. “Why don't you try Zecora's place out in the Everfree?” Scootaloo, still in Fluttershy's body, shuddered at the thought. “The Everfree? That's kind of dangerous, isn't it?” “How remarkably in character, Scootaloo. Maybe you'll be better at this than I expected.” The queen was having far too much fun with this. “Here I thought you were just a chicken, with a beak and feathers and those little three-toed legs. With bravery like this, though, you're much more of a rooster.” As Scootaloo contemplated the queen's description, her demeanor changed. She was about to lash out when another flash of green flame erupted from her hooves, and dissipated to reveal a rooster sitting in the center of the room. “MOTHER,” Echo had finally had enough, “STOP IT, NOW.” The changeling queen didn't hear her enraged daughter through her own cackling. She had rolled over onto her back and was wiping tears from her eyes as she laughed. Echo made a split second decision and fired a quick blast of magic to the queen's rear end. The monarch yelped in pain, and then, infuriated, stood tall and shouted in a voice that rivaled the Royal Canterlot Voice, “HOW DARE YOU!” A green glow worked its way up the queen's horn, but once again purple sparks flew as it was about to crest. The queen fell unconscious in the center of the room. “Hey, Twi,” Echo chuckled, “do you have any red ink?” The two mares and the rooster giggled as Echo dipped the feather end of the quill into the well of red ink. With great wide strokes she painted the queen's face. Her snout was turned a bright red, and she bore rings of red around her eyes. Her lips had been colored as well, as though to imitate lipstick. Echo was beginning to work on the fine details when the first stirrings of consciousness returned. Echo discarded the quill and everypony pretended that they didn't notice the changeling queen returning to her senses. “Child,” the queen growled, “you have no idea how lucky you are that Sparkle has put this damnable spell on me.” “Oh, you're awake. Good. I was just talking with Twilight about where we might be able to give Scootaloo her lessons.” The rooster bawked happily, and then became visibly annoyed at the sound which escaped its throat. Its eyes closed and it nestled down into a sitting position. After a moment, it changed in a flash back to Scootaloo's changeling body. She still sat in the center of the room breathing rhythmically. “Scootaloo,” Twilight cooed softly, “you changed back. You can stop now.” “Huh?” Scootaloo's eyes shot open and she looked at her hooves, “awesome, I did it!” “Way to go, feather-duster,” Echo laughed, “anyway, Twi, you were saying?” “Yes, I was saying that I believe Zecora would be willing to give you the use of her facilities until Scootaloo has her powers under control.” “Excellent,” Echo beamed, but her smile disappeared as she realized something, “who's Zecora?” “Oh, I keep forgetting that you haven't met Zecora. She's a zebra that lives in the Everfree. She can be a little scary at first – ” Twilight paused when Echo raised an eyebrow, “– right, stupid statement – anyway, she's really nice and I'm sure she'd be willing to help you three out.” “Excellent, a strange zebra, whom I have never met, living in isolation in the middle of a hostile forest. What could go wrong?” Chrysalis said flatly. Twilight turned to Chrysalis to say something, but had to stuff her hoof into her mouth to stifle a laugh at the sight of the queen's clown-ish makeup. “What?” Chrysalis glared at Twilight, “am I funny now?” “No,” Twilight struggled, “not at all. Why don't you go see Zecora. Here's a map.” She levitated a map from a desk in the corner of the room and into Echo's saddlebag. Echo gave Twilight a crimson smile and said, “thanks, Twi. We'll be back soon.” Twilight squeaked and nodded her head, taking care not to look at the flabbergasted queen. “Wait, Mom,” Scootaloo called, “I look like a changeling. What if I scare somepony?” “That's right. You should probably pick a disguise, Scoots.” “What do I choose?” “That's up to you. You could just be Scootaloo, if you want,” Echo smiled softly. “Or you could exercise your power as a changeling and be anypony you want.” The queen said, sounding quite aloof. “I – I think I'd rather just be Scootaloo.” The filly said demurely. “Of course, hon,” Echo sat on her haunches in front of her daughter, “just think about the way you looked back then. Think about that orange coat, and that awesome purple mane that looks just like Rainbow Dash's.” “I still think she should exercise her rights as a superior being,” Chrysalis stated plainly. She glanced at Twilight, who gave a dirty look from the corner of her eye, and finished, “no offense.” “Just relax, Scoot,” Echo continued softly, ignoring her mother's heckling, “and think about it.” The filly breathed deeply a few times, and just like before, the green flames began to encircle her. They licked up her sides as though Scootaloo herself were physically on fire, but they emitted no heat. As they reached halfway up her body, she began to lift off the ground slightly. “Mom?” Scootaloo called through her trance, “mom, what's happening?” “It's okay, Scoot, just relax!” Echo said as calmly as she could. In truth, she had no idea what was happening. A wind began to come from some unseen source, whipping the new changeling's membrane-like mane and tail into a flurry. The flames formed a sphere around her, and they crackled and sizzled in a crescendo with the roar of the wind. The entire room was bathed in a green luminescence, and the roar died down as the flame dissipated. Scootaloo came floating gently back down to the ground, her usual orange coat and purple mane restored. She opened her eyes, and they were the solid purple eyes of her changeling self. The color dissolved from the sides of her eyes slowly and reverted to her normal pony eyes. “I don't understand,” Scootaloo said, looking at her hooves and her wings, “I just changed back. That never happened to me before. What was it?” “I don't know, Scoot. That's never happened to me.” Echo admitted. “I think I know, Scootaloo,” Twilight gasped. She moved up behind Scootaloo and put a foreleg around her neck. She smiled warmly and said, “look at yourself a little more closely.” “What do you mean, Twilight?” Scootaloo looked herself over again, from her hooves, to her forelegs, to her wings, her mane, her tail, her blank flank – which was not blank. Where once there was nothing, there was now the image of a single red primary feather. She had gotten a cutie mark. “Oh my gosh, I got my cutie mark!” Her excitement seemed to be unbridled, but was dampened as a thought occurred to her. She turned to Echo with dejection in her eyes and asked, “Mom, how can I have a cutie mark if I'm a changeling? How do I know that it's real and not just me being a changeling?” “Scootaloo, sweetheart, I have never seen anything like what just happened to you. So, either you have already discovered and mastered a power the likes of which neither myself nor my mother have ever seen, or you just got your cutie mark.” Her enthusiasm resuscitated, she bounced around the library. “I wonder what it means? A red feather. I wonder if it means that I'm good at flying? I wonder why it's red? I thought I'd know what my cutie mark meant when I finally got it. Oh, who cares, I got my cutie mark!” She stopped in her tracks and gasped. “But what about the girls? The other Crusaders! What will they do now that I have a cutie mark? Will we have to break the club up?” Tears started to fill her eyes as the thought of losing her friends crossed her mind, “what if they don't want to hang out with me anymore? What if they get mad at me because I got my cutie mark before they did?” Echo was about to step in and comfort Scootaloo when Chrysalis walked over and knelt down in front of her granddaughter. Her eyes held a softness that Echo had never seen before as the queen spoke, “Scootaloo. You are, I think, the sweetest changeling who ever lived. You're kind at heart, you're generous of soul, you are loyal to your friends, honest with yourself, and you certainly make your mother happy. I'd venture to say you've got some magic in there, too. If your friends desert you because of this, then they were no friends to begin with. Your power is not to be understated. It isn't the same raw power that your mother or I possess, but it's true and strong. Don't worry about losing your friends. They aren't that stupid.” Although her speech finished on a distinctly changeling tone, Echo couldn't help but be floored by the queen's outburst of emotion. Her jaw dropped in astonishment, and fell farther as the queen wordlessly pulled Scootaloo in close and hugged her. After a few moments, the queen released Scootaloo and returned to her regal attitude. Twilight stood on the opposite side of the library from Echo, sharing her astonishment at what just happened. Scootaloo stammered as she sat on her haunches. “What,” the queen said in her usual mocking voice, “have I rendered you all mute? Let us go on to see this 'Zecora' mare.” Without another word, Chrysalis moved to the door and walked ahead, not waiting for her company. Used to the changeling attitude, Echo followed. As she passed by, she picked her daughter up in a soft green glow and put her, still stammering, on her back. The queen opened the door just as Echo had trotted up next to her, and a tomato flew past Echo's ear close enough that she could feel the wind from it. Outside the library there was a congregation of ponies, all seeming enraged. They shouted various profanities at the changelings in the library's door. At the head of the pack was Filthy Rich. “You changeling filth! You should just leave that poor filly alone and stop trying to indoctrinate her into your horrible ways!” “If I may,” queen Chrysalis said, unaffected by the hostility, “to what ways are you referring?” “Your barbaric love-stealing and pony-killing. The way you behave is monstrous, and that makes you no better than monsters yourselves! You're raising that poor innocent pegasus to be a monster, too.” The queen stepped forward calmly and stood in front of Filthy Rich, looking down at him without tilting her head whatsoever. “Are you implying that my granddaughter is going to be a monster if left under the charge of my daughter?” “I should think so!” Filthy Rich stated simply, showing remarkable bravery in standing up to the queen. “Oh, well, in that case,” the queen began, “I should think that you would be grateful I cannot use my magic to tear your limbs from your body and beat you senseless with them, since under any other circumstance, that would be your position at this point.” She said these words with the same tone that one might order food at a restaurant. Filthy Rich swallowed once before he puffed out his chest, “Get out of our town, filth!” “I find it ironic that you, Filthy, are calling us filth.” Just then, a unicorn came out of the crowd holding a pitchfork in the glow of his magic, and thrust it toward the queen. Barely casting a glance from the side of her eye, the queen ripped the weapon from the unicorn's grasp and incinerated it. “Oh, look at that,” she said cheerily, “I can still use combat magic against non-living things. Lovely!” Without even looking at it, she set Filthy Rich's tie aflame. In the ensuing chaos, she called to Echo telepathically, “fly now, while they're distracted.” The three set off in the direction of the Everfree. As they flew away, Echo could hear Filthy Rich's cursing. “You're all trash, and you don't belong here! You're poison, do you hear me? Poison!” Zecora's hut was nestled in a relatively peaceful part of the Everfree. Scarcely any predators were ever found in the area. Zecora said this was because any predators that came near her quickly learned that her magic was not one to be underestimated. Despite lacking a unicorn's horn, her pyrotechnic displays could make timber wolves shake the bark from their hides and cockatrices wish they could turn themselves to stone. Her ability to defend herself was rivaled only by her ability to rhyme all of her words. So, when two changelings arrived in her clearing carrying a single pegasus filly, she rushed to rescue the helpless child. “Stop right there, take another step if you dare! Leave that filly on the ground, or in the morning your heads will pound.” “She's a queer one, isn't she?” the queen said idly. “Zecora? Twilight sent us. She said you would be willing to let us use this space to teach my daughter, Scootaloo.” “Daughter, you say?” Zecora began, “I never thought I would see the day! Very well, if Twilight sent you, then the use of my home is within your purview. However I will observe, for although I trust you this situation does disturb.” “Yeah,” Echo mumbled to Chrysalis, “she's a bit odd.” “One more thing, the effects of those flowers might sting. I do not know how it will affect you changeling folk, but the plants upon which you tread are poison joke. It would seem as though for you,” Zecora motioned to Chrysalis and giggled, referencing the ink on her face, “to its name the plant has been most true.” “What are you talking about, you strange little mare?” The queen seemed irritated at the Zebra's constant rhyming, and even more irritated at the laughter that Echo and Scootaloo were repressing. “Unless you are a clown, I fear that your reflection will make you frown.” Zecora pointed to a pond that was on the edge of the forest. “Go on, look down.” Chrysalis walked over to the pond and stared down. Her body tensed for a moment, and Echo was sure that she was about to knock herself out again in an attempt to cause some form of harm to her. However, to Echo's great surprise, the queen began to laugh heartily. “Joke's on you, Echo” she said, “the poison joke just made me go blind!”