The Life of a Wanted Changeling (Comment Driven Story)

by Down with Chrysalis


[FIXED] Episode 61: This...This Is Not Good.

Fluttershy stares at you. You stare back.
"Um...hello sweetie?" you say, praying to Luna your reference isn't met with silence.
"Um...I understood that reference." Fluttershy mumbles. Your eyes widen.
"Was that...a reference to a reference?" you ask. OMG. The Avengers. She just referenced the Avengers.
"Uh...y-yes."
You hug her.
"I've missed you."

Fluttershy just stares at you and you can't help but think,

If this turns out to be like that incident with the buffalo back at Appleloosa, we're gonna be here for awhile...

With that thought in mind, you just continue too stare back at her...

And stare...

And stare...

Yup, it's Appleloosa all over again... I'm starting to really hate staring right now. You think to yourself in annoyance.

Deciding that you have had enough of the staring, you clear your throat and say nervously,

"Um... hello sweetie?"

As soon as you said that, your eyes widen as you realize that what you just said could be taken completely the wrong way. So you do what any self respecting bug would do...

You freak out!

OH SWEET LUNA NO! PLEASE GET THE REFERENCE, PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ONE OF MY FEW FRIENDS BECAUSE OF A MISUNDERSTANDING! PLEASE!

As you continue to panic, you don't realize that you are now physically freaking out. By that I mean you're shaking uncontrollably in panic and your eyes are twitching. Fluttershy, taking notice of your panicked state (the shaking, not the eyes cause, you know, hood), says nervously,

"Um... I... I understood that reference."

Your panicking stops as your eyes widen in shock and you can't help but think,

She... understood that reference- wait a second.

As you are thinking, you realize something. Deciding to voice your question you ask,

"Wait... was that a reference to a reference?"

You ask this because you swear you heard of this reference before. When Fluttershy nods her head yes, you remember where that reference came from,

Oh my Luna, she just reference the Avengers!... She's a nerd like me!... OH SWEET LUNA YES! ONE OF MY FEW FRIENDS IS A NERD! BEST! DAY! EVER!

Apparently while you were thinking, you started to jump around in circles like a little filly while saying "Yes Yes Yes" like a filly as well. You stop in mid air (somehow breaking the law of physics) when you start to hear someling giggling. You look down to see Fluttershy holding her hoof in front of her mouth while giggling. You chuckle nervously before you land on your hooves. You then say in a embarrassed tone while rubbing the back of your head in embarrassment,

"Hehehehe, sorry. I'm just excited to find out that one of my friends is a nerd like me."

Fluttershy stops giggling and gets a glint in her eye when you say that. You look at her nervously before saying,

"Ummmm, Fluttershy? Are you oka-"

Suddenly, Fluttershy does something unexpected, she...

Que Flutterglomp where she's glad you're okay (you also correct her that your name is "Bugze" and not "Hoody", but won't really mind if she calls you either).

Prepare for hugs. Fluttershy shows that she took your criticism on the train to heart by asserting that you were a hero in Appleloosa, and you deserve a hero's welcome.

Fluttershy jump tackles you, too suprised to teleport you scream:
"FLUTTERSHY USED TACKLE O' LOVE
IT IS SUPER EFFECTIVE!"
A strange voice echo's out across the land:
You caught a Fluttershy!
Metallic,disconected voice:
Fluttershy the Kindness Ponymon
It's shyness enables it to hide from many foes, but in combat its eyes can inflict paralysis from 20ft away.
Would you like to to nickname the caught Fluttershy?

Fluttershy's reaction to seeing bugze: Yay. :yay:

Tackle-hugs you! You give a pained "oof" as you fall down from the force of her impact. Suddenly, a loud voice screams out of nowhere,

"FLUTTERSHY USED TACKLE O' LOVE... IT IS SUPER EFFECTIVE!"

You start to (try to) look around to see where that voice came from. When another, more soft but still pretty loud voice says,

"You caught a Fluttershy!"

What in the name of Luna is go-

As you are thinking, another voice (this one sounding metallic) says,

"Fluttershy: The Kindness Ponymon... It is a Fairy/Kindness type. It's shyness enables it to hide from many foes, but in combat its eyes can inflict paralysis from 20ft away."

What the heck is going on!? You can't help but think in complete confusion. What is this Ponymon!?

Suddenly, another voice that sounds exactly like the first voice that shouted asks,

"Would you like to name your caught Fluttershy?"

All you could say is,

"Uhhhhhh... no?"

Then... silence. You look around all over, expecting to see where the voices where coming from, when Fluttershy asks,

"Is everything okay Hoody?"

"Oh, don't worry, I'm fine Fluttershy."

You decide not to tell her about the craziness that just happened because you're afraid she'll call you crazy... er then usual that is.

After Fluttershy stops hugging you so that you could both get back up, you say,

"Also, my name is 'Bugze', not 'Hoody'."

"Oh... sorry..." she says as she looks down timidly. Not wanting to see her upset, you quickly add in,

"But since you're one of my friends, you can call me either anytime you want."

"Oh, thank you. Do... you want to come inside?"

"I'd love to."

As you both walk into her home, you spot a very sick and very ugly bird. You look over to Fluttershy confused and ask,

"What is that?"

Fluttershy sighs and says...

Fluttershy tells you about how she "borrowed" Celestia's bird, Philomena and you tell her about your situation with the horde, the guardponies, and the "plot to foalnap Celestia and her bird" (for some reason, you may decide to leave out Nightshade, the dark whisper, and the whole "attempted castration" thing).

"Oh... She's Celestia's pet bird, Philomena."

That's a bird, looks more like a turkey. A very skinny and featherless turkey that is. And Philomena? I'm never gonna get Celestia's strange names for thing- Wait a minute...

During your thinking, you realize something and say,

"Wait, what is Celestia's bird doing here?"

"Well, she looked like she was in such bad condition that I took her so I could nurse her back to health. As a favor to the princess, who's obviously just far too busy to care for the poor thing properly."

You then begin to think bitterly,

Typical... Lets her own pets rot away while allowing her sister to go around hanging- Wait, WHAT?!

Having another realization, your jaw drops and you say to Fluttershy,

"Let me get this straight... You TOOK the Princesses pet?!"

"I couldn't just leave the poor thing there. I tried to nurse her back to health, but no matter what I try, nothing seems to be working..."

You decide to try to take Fluttershy's attention off of the (possibly) dying bird by telling her what has been going on with you since you jumped off the train; about how you acquired minions, your accidental plan to foalnap Celestia and her pet, your minion's capers (including their thefts and their capturing of a squad of Royal Guard), and your interrogation of Strong Head (you decided to leave out the parts about you almost ending the Diamond Dogs, your attempted castration of Strong Head, and especially Nightshade. For some reason you have the feeling that NOLING should find out about her. Just a gut feeling, but considering it (mostly) hasn't been wrong so far, you decide to listen to it). She was about to scold you for your treatment of Strong Head (the grey unicorn with a dusty-red tail, mane, and beard) until you told her about how he was acting towards his own stallions. As soon as you're done, she scowls and says to you,

"Hoody! Those are very bad things you are doing! Do you know how much trouble you've gotten yourself into? Do you know how much trouble you could get in if the princess found out!"

You respond with the classic snark,

"Yes Mom! Relax, I have everything under control... more or less."

You offer to take credit for snatching Philomena so Fluttershy can stay out of trouble, but she's concerned over how much trouble you've gotten yourself into already.
You ask her about the Grand Galloping Gala.

"Fluttershy, you're one of my few friends and I don't want you getting into trouble with the Princess. I'll just claim that I, The Hooded Offender, have snatched her bird and-"

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that! You're in so much trouble already, I couldn't allow birdnapping to be added to he amount of trouble you're already in."

You were about to say it would be no problem, but she then proceed to give you a worried pleading look (she is really good at doing that) so you just sighed and gave up. You then asked her,

"Oh, have you ever heard of something called, 'The Grand Galloping Gala'?"

She excitedly responds,

"Oh yes, its been my dream to go there. You see, it's not so much The Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance. The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom... and that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna. There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays and pink flamingos! Me and all of my friends have tickets and dresses to the Grand Galloping Gala! I'm so excited."

You couldn't help but sigh at that and think,

Why is it that were ever I go, those mares are one step behind me. *sigh* Looks like seeing Cadence again is going to be more of a problem then I thought it would be.

Fluttershy asks,

"Why do you want to go to the Grand Galloping Gala? If you don't mind me asking..."

You answer her with the truth,

"Well, you see. My very first friend is going to be there, and I haven't seen her in a long time. I figured that going to this Gala would be a great chance to see her again."

Fluttershy looks at you and says,

"Don't worry Hoody, I'll help you see your old friend, I Pinkie Promise."

Before you could ask her what a 'Pinkie Promise" is, you hear someling knocking on the door. Thinking quickly, you tell Fluttershy,

"I have to go, but if you need me, I'll be at a Zebra shaman's house in the forest." and with that you teleport away...

ONE TELEPORT LATER

you decide to pay Zecora a visit. An hour later you find Zecora's hut and knock on the door. "Ah, hello there frie-" she shuts the door before you could do anything. "My hooded friend, I've heard of the troubles you've caused. Why should I give a moment of pause? Have you come to my hut in seek of plunder? Go away or you shall feel my thunder!!!" She opens the door with sashes with various types of potions attached to them that your sure are lethal. "What? No! What they say about me are lies!! mostly. I've been doing more good than what people give me credit for, ask Fluttershy". You explain what you've been doing for the past few weeks. "I understand the troubles you heed. Now how may I help a friend in need?" You tell here that your minions require medical attention and ask her if she can treat their wounds or provide some healing potions.

Luckily your teleport works for ounce and you actually teleport right in front of Zecora's hut door. Unlike last time with Fluttershy, you're able to knock on the door this time. She opens the door and you say,

"Ah, hello there frie-" *SLAM* she slams the door in your face before you could do anything.

"My hooded 'friend', I've heard of the troubles you've caused.
Why should I give a moment of pause?
Have you come to my hut in seek of plunder?
Go away or you shall feel my thunder!!!"

She kicks open the door waering sashes with various types of potions attached to them that you're sure are lethal or at least REALLY painful. You jump back in shock and quickly say,

"What?! No no no no no! What they say about me are lies!! Mostly."

You then clear your throat and say,

"I've been doing more good than bad from what ponies give me credit for, ask Fluttershy!"

You explain what you've been doing for the past few weeks (leaving out the parts about Nightshade and anything relating to your seal including the Nightmare Cloak and the dark whispering voice in your head).

"I understand the troubles you heed.
Now how may I help a friend in need?"

You tell her,

"Thanks. I may or may not have some troublesome diamonds dogs that may or may not need some medical attention, so can you please treat their wounds? Or at least loan me some healing potions or anything like that?"

Zecora smiles and says

"Treating diamond dog wounds, I would not know,
but I have some things to help ease their blows."

She then goes back into her hut, and a couple minutes later she comes back out with a sash full of fancy bottles with red liquid in them. From what you can see, there are a total of four potions on it. You thank Zecora and you put the sash on. It feels very comfortable on you, even with The Inventory on.

Acquired "Potion Sash"
-Current Reserve: 4 Healing Potions

You thank Zecora and leave to go back to the cave. After walking for a few minutes, you suddenly hear,

"HOODY!"

You turn in the direction of the shout and see Fluttershy running right at you...

While you're there, she asks if you can help her with a very sick, very ugly bird.

She stops in front of you and says out of breath,

"Hoody... help... Philomena... missing..."

You can barely understand a word she is saying, but what you can understand, she wants your help finding Celestia's bird. You are about to decline even though it kills you on the inside to decline your friends' requests for help (you deem it WAY too risky looking for the bird in Ponyville while Celestia is in town), but you notice her giving you a desperate pleading look before you can say no. So you just sigh and say,

"Okay... I'll help you look for Celestia's bird."

Fluttershy very briefly mentions having a career as a supermodel (you didn't know about this because Appleloosa is pretty remote. Not only does it not receive most magazines, but their idea for an "early" newspaper is one that's already a week old and the local movie theater is just starting to show movies that we're already two years old at least) and you resist the urge to ask if she did any swimsuit shoots (cue nosebleed when she mentions being "Cover filly of the Month" for "Vanner's Secret". Stupid bug hormones...)

She smiles and says,

"Thank you so much! I haven't been this worried since the time I was a fashion model."

"Wait... you were a supermodel?"

Even though Fluttershy had a brief (but highly successful) career as a supermodel, you had no way of knowing this since Appleloosa was so remote that it doesn't receive most magazines, the local theater only played old black-and-white silent flicks (you and Nightshade quickly became huge fans of Buster "The Great Stone Face" Kimblewick), hay Appleloosa's idea for the early edition of the news was a newspaper that was already a week old. You think to yourself,

I mean, it's not COMPLETELY surprising since Fluttershy is pretty cute. I wonder if she did any swimsuit shoots- NO! Bad bug! Fluttershy is your friend! It doesn't even make sense! Noling wears clothes anyway!

"Yes. it was awful. All that constant attention and judgment... The worst was when Photo Finish took me to be 'Cover Filly of the Month' for 'Vanner's Secret-'"

*spurt*

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay?!" Fluttershy says in alarm as she noticed you just had a big nosebleed. You quickly respond,

"Oh, uh... Just an old injury! Don't worry, I'm COMPLETELY fine! Heh heh heh..."

Stupid hormones... you think in annoyance before you clear your throat and say,

"Okay... Which way is Ponyville from here?"

She points down the road and you thank her before heading off.

COUPLE MINUTES LATER

As you're walking back, you can't help but begin to doubt that you should actually help Fluttershy.

I know Fluttershy is my friend and all. And I only have very few of them. But... what if Celestia finds me? The last thing I want to do is go up against an all-powerful, millennium old, sun-controlling alicorn. Worse... if I go up against her and I turn into my Nightmare Cloak, I would be putting countless defenseless ponies in danger. Not to mention I might get banished to the moon for the rest of my buggy life (and that's just if I'm lucky)... I just don't know what to do...

"You know what you should do... run!"

You look over to your right shoulder in shock to see the chibi armored Luna lookalike from when the Ursa attacked Ponyville on your shoulder. She smirks before saying,

"You heard me, run! So what if you lose a friend? That's nowhere near as important as living to see another day."

You are about to agree with the chibi Luna lookalike, when you hear...

"Don't listen to her! Your friends are important! Abandoning them is way worse then actually losing them!"

You look over to your left shoulder to see the chibi Nightshade standing on your shoulder giving a mean glare to the chibi Luna lookalike. The chibi Nightshade then continues saying...

"You made a vow to help those in need. You need to help Fluttershy. You promised to protect and help all ponies in need no matter the cost!"

As you begin to think about what chibi Nightshade said, you don't notice the heavy glare that both chibis are sending each other. After finally reaching your choice, you say out loud,

"You know what, chibi Nightshade is right! I made a vow to protect those who can't protect themselves, and to help those in need. Even if it means being caught by the princess, if it means helping Fluttershy, then so be it!"

You hear the chibi Luna lookalike whisper,

"One mare gives you puppy eyes and you throw your life away? Why do you have to be such a goody goody"

You see them both disappear with a poof, and you see Ponyville in sight. You think to yourself,

Okay... The Horde is too preoccupied at the moment, both my coat and changeling form are far too infamous, my disguise spell is notoriously unreliable, and the whole town is out to get me. What to do- *ding*

You get an idea when you find a conveniently abandoned box next to the road. You run to the box and say,

"Yes! The almighty cardboard box! Unlike last time, I know what I did wrong and I'm NOT getting caught today!"

With that in mind, you put the box over you and go into Ponyville.

30 MINUTES LATER

Gah! I've searched over half of this stinkin town and there's still no sign of that stinkin bird! How hard is it to find a featherless dying turkey?!

You're currently looking in a alleyway when you notice that it's right across Celestia and the mares. You get a bit nervous when she briefly turned her head in your direction, but nothing happened. You hope to get done searching this alley and fast befo-

"!"

"Huh?"

Suddenly you and the box you're in are picked up by a golden aura of magic and the next thing you know, you're levitating to Celestia-knows-where. Just as suddenly, the box is removed from you and you're upside-down and looking right at the princess's face. She smirks and says,

"Gotcha."

You gulp in fear as you notice all the shocked, angry, or scared faces around you while the mares are just smirking in victory. You say in a panic,

"Bu- bu- bu- But... How?! I went by Assassin's Creed rules instead of Metal Gear Solid rules!"

Celestia responds,

"I'll let my student explain."

Twilight nods her head in thanks at the sun goddess before she smugly responds/explains,

"You see, based on your actions during Appleloosa and from what Applejack and Rarity have told me about their first encounter with you, it became quite obvious that you're somepony who plays a lot of video games. So, I had my friends put boxes near every entrance to Ponyville and had everypony on the lookout for moving boxes. Word of advice, boxes can't move on their own, let alone do parkour. Oh hey Fluttershy, you arrived in time to see our capture of the Most Wanted Pony in Equestria."

You turn your head to see Fluttershy with a look of shock, horror, and worry on her face.

"Oh my..."

At least Fluttershy didn't betray me...you think as you sigh and ask,

"Permission to speak your highness?"

She looks at you suspiciously before saying,

"Granted."

You nod your head in thanks before clearing your thought and screaming,

"CURSE YOU LADY LUCKKKKKKKKK, CURSE YOUUUUUUUUUU!"

What do you do?