CiderCon Chronicles

by SSCiderConOfficial

Chapter 15: Larger World

The next few days could be described as a blur, but that would make them seem hectic. Nevertheless, one leisurely, carefree day melded seamlessly into the next. P'tach, Warm Welcome, and Bramley spent their days in quiet, unhurried leisure. They ate. They slept. Bramley and P'tach played, and explored.

To top it all off they knew they didn't have to hide anymore. It was a relief for all of them, but for P'tach most of all. For P'tach to know that he had made an ally of not only the Constable, but all the ponies at Warm Welcome's brunch was an incredible weight lifted from his shoulders. To know that he was staying here with the full support of the pony who enforced the law was beyond amazing to him.

At the end of the week, Warm Welcome approached him at breakfast with a proposition:

"How'dja like to go into town with me n' Bram?"

To any other pony it wouldn't have even been an issue, but to P'tach it drove home the truth that he wasn't "just another pony". He wasn't afraid per se, because he knew that if push came to shove the Constable would protect him. He was just worried about making trouble in town and disrupting the peace. They had purposely waited a week to go into town so as to give plenty of time for the stories to circulate. That way nopony in town would be taken completely by surprise when a changeling showed up trotting down Main Street.

"Well, " he thought, "gotta do it sometime." He looked into Warm Welcome's eyes, smiled, and said: "I'd love to!"

********************

As P'tach stepped out the front door, it seemed for a moment like the world around him instantly grew larger. Something in his understanding clunked into place, and the realization that this was the first step in an entirely new existence washed over him. Whether it was life in the hive, the covert nature of a changeling's life, or his time on the run, until now his life had revolved around hiding and skulking. From this day forward, he was free to step out of the shadows and walk in the sun.

As if in affirmation, he stepped out of the shadow of porch into the cool grass, and the morning sun shone brightly in his eyes.

Perhaps it was something energizing about the combination of cool grass and warm sun, or perhaps it was a manifestation of the renewal he felt within, but something overcame him, and before he knew it, he was trotting. He drank in the world around him. He felt a smile split his muzzle, and he broke into a gallop. The freedom that he felt within poured into his legs and carried him across the yard and into the open con grounds beyond. The smile became a laugh, and he launched himself skyward. He buzzed through the morning air , laughing all the while, in a looping aerobatic display of the freedom he felt within. He spun and wheeled in the crisp morning air, basking in the sun, reveling in the ability to just simply be.

To be himself and not have to hide: it was such a simple pleasure that nearly everypony took for granted, but to him it was something to be treasured.

He heard something below, and looked down. It was Bramley. The little colt was galloping, bucking, and whooping, sharing in his friend's obvious jubilation and adding some of his own. Warm Welcome, for her part, was following at a canter, watching their celebration with a smile the brightness and warmth of which rivaled the sun.

The changeling landed near Warm Welcome, and smiled up at her. Bramley galloped over and skidded to a halt next to them.
P'tach looked from Bramley to Warm Welcome, and simply said "Thank you. For everything."

"Sugar, we're jus' glad its all turned out." Warm Welcome replied. " 'Sides, after savin' Bram n' all, we owe you a thanks
o' our own. I'd say we're 'bout even."

Warm Welome reached out with her forehooves, and drew the two colts into a hug, and held them there for a moment.

Soon, Bramley's muffled voice came from under Warm Welcome's hoof. "Muhmuh! Yuh smoofin'me!" She realized how tightly
she had been embracing the colts, and let go.

"Well, we'd better get a' goin'", she said, straightening her shawl to hide her embarrassment, "I'm sure there's gonna be lots o' people that wanna' meet you."

At that, the trio set off down the path toward town, chatting amiably as they went.

********************

The walk into town took far longer than it ever had when it was just Bramley and Warm Welcome.
Another facet of P'tach's newfound freedom was the desire to explore and learn all the things he'd never had a chance to
before. Every hundred hooves or so, something new would catch P'tach's eye, and the changeling would dart off to inspect
it and ask Warm Welcome and Bramley questions about it. Trees, flowers, bugs, rocks, animals, nothing escaped his curiosity.
Bramley enjoyed it because it was a chance for him to share the things that he knew with somepony that was truly interested.
Warm Welcome watched the two of them, occasionally adding to or correcting what Bramley was saying, and thought about how
much this reminded her of Bramley when he was younger.

Although the trip took longer than normal, they did eventually get to town. Following P'tach's lead, they stopped on the outskirts for a moment.

The changeling's thoughts were racing. As excited as he was to learn about the flora and fauna on the way, they paled in comparison to a city.

He had, after all, been outside before. He had walked through forests, and seen trees and flowers, and
bugs. He had never been in a position to explore a city before, and, for a moment, was overwhelmed by the thought of
everything new to take in.

"You alright?" Warm Welcome asked.

"Yes ma'am", replied the changeling without taking his eyes from the weekend bustle of the town, "it's just so overwhelming."

Warm Welcome smiled. She had felt the same thing a few summers back when she had been gone to Manehattan to visit a friend.
She had stood at the train station much the same way that P'tach was now, and just let the enormity of it all sink in.

After a few seconds more, P'tach turned to his companions with a delighted gleam in his eye and simply said : "Alright."

The changeling walked on, his companions a few hooves behind, ready to see what this new life had in store for him.