//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Cutie Mark Crusader Changelings // by Smiley216 //------------------------------// Scootaloo had been following the colt in silence for some time now. His longer legs kept a brisk pace that translated into a quick trot for her. She wanted to ask him more questions, press him for details. However, she was having trouble processing all the information he’d given her already. Combined with the nervousness of being in the Everfree she was having trouble forming thoughts into coherent speech. To say they continued on in silence depended on one’s perspective. The forest was surprisingly alive with sounds from a myriad of different creatures. Insects buzzed and clicked, reptiles gurgled and croaked, mammals grunted and groaned, while birds chirped and cawed all around them. Despite her eyes adjusting to the relative dark Scootaloo had trouble seeing any of the animals even though she knew they were close by. Every now and then she’d here a bush rustle or a branch shudder. She would see shadows flicker in the corner of her eye only to find nothing, not even a set of animal tracks in the soft dirt. The only things that seemed to not be shy were the insects that wiz-ed by their ears and eyes. Although the Everfree was probably the most un-natural place on the planet there was an amazing amount of nature living in it. The cacophony of animals may not have been loud, but it had a certain way of overwhelming her senses the way she suspected a PON-3 concert might have. Then, all at once, every sound in the forest went silent. “W-wha-” “Shhh” Scootaloo winced. The harshness behind the sound only compounded her rising sense of fear. She’d seen first-hoof how dangerous creatures in the Everfree could be. And the thought that one was dangerous enough to silence all the other animals was more than enough to make her knees quake. The colt’s peered into the surrounding foliage. His ears swiveled and turned, straining to listen for anything that could indicate danger. To his right he heard a high pitched grumble, not unlike the sounds a baby grub would make. However, that same creature’s sound was echoed by second … a fifth … a tenth … a twentieth. Whatever these creatures were there was an entire swarm of them and they were getting closer. He leaned closer to his charge and whispered, not for a moment moving his eyes from the approaching sounds. “Princess, we are going to turn around and start walking back. When I give the word, you will run back to town and you Will … Not ... Stop.” “But-” “If someling does not find you before the spell wears off you must hide until they do. Understand?” “But-” “Princess!” Though he didn’t raise his voice the colt’s tone was very grave. Scootaloo swallowed hard and nodded. So much had happened today that she just didn’t understand. But one thing she understood right now was that this colt … this changeling … was about to risk everything to get her to safety. And she hated herself for wanting him to do it. The pair slowly turned and began walking back to where they entered the forest. It took all of Scootaloo’s willpower to not run then and there as the sounds of several dozen creatures approached them. They went like this for several yards when three little ponies burst through the foliage. The colts eyes locked on the unicorn and went wide with horror as the din of the creatures subsided. “RUN!” Turning, he cast a spell that threw a blanket of sickly green flames at the forest behind him causing several screams of pain and terror to fill the forest around him. This caused many of the creatures to flee, but not all. Four little sprites, barely larger than an average hoof fell upon the colt. They gripped his body with their bat-like wings and sank their teeth into his body and withers. The fillies all screamed and ran. Scootaloo had the presence of mind to grab Pibsqueak from looking on in horror. “What are those things?!” “I don’t know! Just run!” she yelled. The four of them felt another wave of heat wash over them as another fire spell was cast. However, not all of the creatures had lost interest in the fillies. One managed to grab hold of Silver Spoon’s tail while another used its barb-like claws to latch onto Sweetie Belle’s flank. Silver Spoon was able to buck at the sprite holding her, sending it sailing into the burning treetops. Sweetie though, found herself screaming and stumbling as the fangs sank into her flesh. Scootaloo tried to swipe at it with her front hoof, but this only allowed it to target her now as it jumped over and latched onto her. As fang met flesh Scoots began to feel not only her energy fade, but also her will to resist. Why was she even running to begin with? There was no point in it, really. They’d get to town eventually. And if not, it really didn’t matter. In fact, a nap seemed to be a much better idea than running. And the blackness of the forest enveloped her world. ~~~~ “What are we going to do with her?” Scootaloo felt consciousness return to her in bits and pieces. “..don’t know..” For one everything sounded weird. Like everypony was further away and the room echoed more than it should have. “…say she changed when that thing attacked her.” Her eyes fluttered and she saw Twilight talking with a doctor in the doorway. A doctor? Was she in the hospital? Why couldn’t she move her legs? “…means she could be anywhere… … keeping it sedated for now.” She saw Twilight make eye contact before her horn lit up and closed the door. After that her eyes became heavy again and slipped back into unconsciousness.