//------------------------------//
// Assimilation and cupcakes pt2 
// Story: Exiled 
// by EquestrianBros 
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	Fluttershy's cabin with the Main six and Shadow Spot at the table:

The entire conversation had been a constant back an forth between Rainbow Dash and Shadow, and Shadow didn't even talk. He was just happily munching away on the seemingly endless supple of biscuits set on the table, while Rainbow continued to question his story. It wasn't until Fluttershy spoke up that the seemingly hostile nature Dash was emitting got cancelled out.

"Um, Dash. He was in the lower level flying classes, so you wouldn't have challenged him because he was a relatively weak flyer like me at the time." 

Dash seemed to accept that response and stopped questioning the poorly threaded story, much to the changlings relief. Normal table talk took place with everyone involved, with the exception of the one stallion in the room. Who was still chewing on the biscuits much to everyone annoyance, as they tried to get him to talk more about himself. 

Eventually however he ran out of biscuits to use to shield away from conversation. Applejack was the first to speak after realizing that he had no more biscuits to hide behind, metaphorically speaking.

"So what's the occasion to visit little old Ponyville, Shadow?"

'What do we do now? We've run out of food.'

'I say we ask for some more.'

'But what about the question Applejack asked us?'

'Ohh, yeah. We should probably come up with a solution for that too.'

'Wha.....ARGGG! Never mind. I'll just wing it.'

"Do you really need an occasion to visit an old friend?" Shadow says as he scans the table for any more food, but just sees empty bowls and bread crumbs.

"I guess not, but it does seem kinda weird to visit out of the blue." Twilight says with a pondering look and tone.

'Shit, they're not gonna buy it.'

'What do we do? Their going to see right through us and we don't have anymore food.'

'Can you forget about the food for one second.'

'And what? Think only about our inevitable doom? I'll stick with the happy thoughts.'

"Well if you must know, I got disowned by my family," Shadow says twisting the truth of the recent past. Technically he banished himself so they wouldn't be tracked, but it's basically the same principal, "So I came to Ponyville to see the world a bit more," still technically true seeing as that was his first reason for coming here originally, "And by happenstance, I ran across Fluttershy. I wasn't planning on saying anything because It's really humiliating. Even she didn't know until right now."

'That was the best damn twisted truth I've ever seen you spin.'

'I try.'

Surprisingly enough the first person to respond was Fluttershy. Everyone else just looked to Applejack who gave a slight nod showing she saw no signs of deceit.

"You were what?!?!" Fluttershy's timid and craven demeanor gone as she head this. "Why didn't you tell me in the first place? I know you just meet me again," the first time meating was in the field so this wasn't exactly a lie, "But you could have still told me." She seemed visibly hurt, which was kinda strange seeing as she had known him for roughly a few hours, fewer if you count the time he was just wake. I guess it was that fact that it just went against her very nature to do something so unbelievable unkind.

"I just didn't really wan't anyone else to know." Shadow said. Considering not even his family knew, it was a safe bet to say that was the truth.

"I guess I could understand that, but I can't believe anyone would do something so cruel, harsh, nasty, heartless, uncaring, savage, inhumane, brutal, unfriendly, unkind to you." Yep, that was definitely against Fluttershy's nature, or she was by far one of the best actors Shadow had ever seen. Which isn't saying much because he's known only twenty two other changlings besides himself.

The room was filled with silence after that, everyone was just looking at the faded blue stallion as he gently pawed the spoon in front if him, not even sparing a glance to anyone else present. He was just so lost in his own thoughts. Mostly about his family, but some about why the bowl in front of him was empty. A few minutes past before the veil of silence was lifted by a gentle, curious voice coming from the most surprising candidate. 

"Why did they do it?" The poly chromatic mare asked. Her voice showed no intent to hurt him, or even agitate him. They were meant to just sate a curiosity, but also be a little bit comforting. Not by the words themselves, but by the way she said it. 

Shadow slowly raised his head to look her in the eye, everyone in the eyes, then just slowly lowered his head again. The despair and sadness radiating off of him was eminence. Even Pinkies mane was lightly depressed, not by much, buy you could see the faintest loss of volume. 

"I really, really don't want to talk about it." Shadow didn't have to twist the truth or think of some sort of witty way around the question, because that was the absolute truth. He had almost hurt the people he held most dear to him, even if he didn't intend to. He caused them to leave their home, uproot their lives, and leave. Possibly forever, because he didn't think things through. He put his own wants above every other priority. He could have stayed in the forest clearing and thought things through, or just not went strait home. Every other option but the one he choose seemed to have a better outcome.

No one responded to that, but instead Shadow silently excused himself and left the room. Left the house. Because you know what he had done? He had left his life.