Two Legs or Four, There's Always More

by David Silver


3 - Arrival of Help?

"I can hear perfectly well, Spike. That wasn't 'nothing'."

"Oh, uh, they just got lost, ah heh. Nothing to be worried about. I pointed them right back at town and off they went."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah?"

"Then you won't mind my having a peek."

I heard rustling coming closer and knew Rarity was going to get there, Spike's assurances or no. What could I do about it? In a panic I tried to get my rebellious limbs working in harmony, but only managed to lift up into the air and come down on my side, sprawled out when Rarity's head poked free of the shrubs.

She shrieked in surprise at the sight of me and span around. "Spike! Why is there a changeling here?! Wait, are you a changeling?" She vanished back into the bush, but I could still hear her. "Is that why you wanted me to just go away?!"

"N-No! I'm 100% real dragon, promise!"

"Give me back my Spikey-Wikey this instant!" I heard a bit of a thud through the greenery as I struggled to at least sit up instead of being in a sprawled mess.

"Remember that time I got you this heart ruby and you gave it back to stop me from being a huge dragon?"

There was a brief pause. "Yes, of course I do dear... Oh it is you, Spike. Sorry for striking you."

"I've been through worse. Uh, so, we're heading back to town?"

"And leave a changeling roaming around so close to Ponyville? Have you gone mad?"

"I don't think it's roaming."

Rarity's head poked back out, looking at me. I was seated on my haunches, looking at her. Daring it, I raised a hoof and waved at her a little. She vanished back into the bushes.

"No, I suppose it isn't wandering much. That doesn't change the point! It's still a changeling, far too close to our dear town for comfort! You should be alarmed. Why aren't you bothered by this?"

Spike emerged from the bushes. "Look, come out here. We should just talk." He puffed out his chest. "Like mature ponies."

Rarity followed after him. "You are neither fully mature nor a pony, my dear dragon." She pointed a hoof at me. "So explain, please."

Being talked about as if I weren't present was, for some reason, kind of funny. It was like a performance put on just for my benefit. Still, I wanted more attention than that. "Excuse me? You know me." And I knew her. I remembered her quite well, especially in clear view.

"You do?" Rarity looked with brow raised, doubting. "The only changelings I recall meeting were during quite the brutish exchange."

Spike nodded quickly. "This is Noah, the human. He bought a few sets of clothes from you."

Rarity blinked softly. "You were a changeling the entire time?!" Her voice hit a shrill note, but she didn't flee, so yay for that.

"No, I promise. I was a human yesterday, and got changed, uh, into a changeling. I didn't even know what this is called until Spike told me." I tried to hold out both of my forehooves like I'd seen ponies do, and ended up flopping forward without balance.

Spike hiked a thumb at me. "If he is a changeling, he's not a very intimidating one."

Rarity glanced at Spike. "Have you been reading up on Twilight's books, darling? You do have a point though. As changelings go, this is a very sorry specimen. Why, he hasn't even tried to hide himself."

"Hide myself?" I sat back up. "I'm a big black bug pony. How would I hide? Behind a rock?"

Rarity shook her head, looking between me and Spike. "He's joking? You aren't joking... Dear me..." She stepped towards me hesitantly, Spike plodding beside her. "Look, I don't know whether you're telling the truth or you've woven a very clever cover story, changelings are good for that. Either way, I'd stay away from Ponyville if you don't want the likes of Twilight Sparkle to contend with." She made a soft shooing motion. "Go on, go find a hive or whatever changelings do."

Spike moved between me and her. "Hey, stop that! I believe him."

Rarity leaned towards him. "You are too trusting. But fine! Some things can only be learned by experience." She turned away as if ready to return to town. "Help me get the wagon back to town, then you can play with your new friend if you insist, but don't follow it anywhere dangerous."

Spike saluted sharply. "Yes, Sir! Uh, Ma'am!" He waved at me just as quickly. "I'll be right back, you just wait here."

I'd heard that before... Still, sitting up was hard, so I let myself flop back down and relax for a moment. "I should be here, unless something wanders by with a taste for bugs."

They went off together and I eventually heard wagon wheels being pulled off into the distance. Small ones, like a kid's wagon, not a horse-drawn variety. With them gone likely for a while, I decided to try the whole standing and walking thing out again. I fought up to my hooves and began making slow circles in pathetically tiny steps, but they were my steps, darn it. I'd figure this out. I wasn't going to be defeated by mostly-equine anatomy.

By the time I heard footsteps coming back, I was only falling over when I tried to turn sharply. I could even manage a little faster, if still kind of sad, speed. When Spike emerged from the bushes, I tried waving at him and balancing on the other three hooves. Mistake. I fell right over, crashing to the grass. At least the dirt and grass was softer than rocks.