The Friendship Initiative

by Jatheus

Lies

‘Dear Princess Twilight, I don’t know what to say. I really messed things up, and I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to get out of Ponyville since the town guards locked everything down. The rumors of a changeling uprising are all anypony is talking about, and I still can’t find Ash Eater or Seta. If there is anything I can do to be useful, please let me know. Scootaloo’

Scootaloo had never been bothered by heights. Pegasi were quite natural in high places, such as the tops of houses. Changelings, likewise able to fly, seemed to have a similar innate ability to take precarious perches as just another normal place to find oneself. That comfort didn’t make roofing houses more fun. The mare mused on such things as she wiped sweat from her brow.

Ash Eater worked alongside her, the two of them part of a team that was finishing up the exterior of a bungalow in Ponyville. They tended to do roofs in the morning, which was fine by Scootaloo, as the sun after midday could become rather punishing. It was in relative silence that they continued thatching to protect the rest of the structure from the elements. When they finished, the entire group took a break for a late lunch.

Scootaloo and Ash Eater sat by themselves, away from the other workers who didn’t like him. They prepared to feast upon what they had packed that morning: oats and dried beets, along with some hay that was hardly in better shape than what they had just used to adorn the top of the edifice they were constructing. Still, it would keep the belly from grumbling until dinner. The slight increases in availability of food had been welcomed, no matter what form they took.

Between bites of her provender, Scootaloo glanced up at the other workers. Even though she had been bringing Ash Eater along since she began working with the crew, they still eyeed him suspiciously. She had thought that would stop after he asked to help with the work, but after a full month, they seemed as ill at ease as ever.

The stag picked at his food a little more judiciously, almost as if he were distracted by his thoughts. She decided to not ask. With a mouthful of oats during a short break, it hardly seemed like the time to strike up a conversation.

“I was wondering if maybe Seta and I could have some time together,” Ash Eater broke the quiet. “She will be back in town in two days, and I was hoping we could get some... privacy.”

“Of course,” Scootaloo considered his question with a smile. “Were you thinking dinner? I’m sure I could get Pacer to sit a bit farther away.”

Ash Eater shifted uncomfortably, “No, I mean, privacy.”

Scootaloo stared back as he overemphasized that last word. He held her gaze as if she should take his meaning. She felt her face flush as the intimate implication became clear.

“Oh!” the mare couldn’t think of what else to say for a moment, nearly choking on her lunch.

Ash Eater said nothing, waiting for her to make a proper reply.

“How much, um, privacy do you need? I mean, did you have something, or somewhere in mind?”

“My room would do, so long as we aren’t disturbed.”

“Yeah, I don’t see, I mean, I don’t know why that would be a problem.”

“Okay,” he replied simply, seeming relieved.

Scootaloo felt rather embarrassed at the nature that the conversation had taken. There were so many questions flooding her mind that processing any of them became useless. Given what had happened with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo didn’t think Ash Eater was the one to answer questions about changeling mating rituals. Did they marry or have some other arrangement? She had no idea.

...

Ash Eater smiled nervously as Seta and Pacer entered the apartment. She returned the expression as everyone made their greetings. The stag suspected that the nature of the meeting, at least so far as Scootaloo and Pacer understood it, would preclude the likelihood of too much questioning.

The two ponies seemed to plant their hooves by the door through which the new arrivals had entered, talking to each other and quite intentionally avoiding eye contact with the changeling pair as Seta crossed the room. She again wore the light blue sheer silk dress that she had on their first ‘date’. She had taken care to add a traditional red velvet sash that was wrapped around her belly and tied in a long bow at her tail, where the ends hung loosely over her posterior and ended near the floor.

Seta must have made Pacer tie that on her. Even though it had somewhat fallen out of fashion in the last generation, it was still recognized ubiquitously in the changeling culture as a signal of a doe’s virility. She made to surprise Ash Eater with a kiss, a move he anticipated and thwarted by gently catching her face with a fore-hoof.

“Patience,” he spoke gently but loud enough for the ponies to hear.

The stag could see Scootaloo blushing at the interaction, and Pacer had a bawdy grin. Ash Eater guided the doe into his room and shut the door. The two changelings smiled at each other.

“This was far easier than I thought,” Seta whispered.

“I told you it would be.”

With a smirk she added, “You know, we don’t have to rush off to our next task. I’m sure we would have time to make proper use of the ruse.”

Ash Eater felt his pulse quicken at the suggestion, his disinterest in Seta notwithstanding. She presented her flank to him.

“Get out of that and get the bars off the windows,” he said as he untied the sash. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

“Have it your way,” she replied as she disrobed. “But you really don’t know what you’re missing.”

“Absolutely nothing,” he snorted. “You’re messing with me.”

Coming nose to nose, she winked, “You’ll never know.”

He stared back impassively, waiting for her to make the next move. With a flash of green magical fire, Seta became a wingless brown furry creature with a long tail and a hand at the end of each limb. She removed her dog tags and loped over to the window, stopping to dig some tools and a coin purse from hidden pockets in her discarded red sash. She worked quickly at the lock, and within short moments it gave way to her deft skill.

Ash Eater turned out the light. Seta posed triumphantly as she swung the iron shutter open.

“Well? Aren’t you going to compliment me?”

“I think you look better as a chimpanzee.”

“Please, I can smell your interest in me from a mile away.”

“That’s your imagination.”

“Also, chimpanzees don’t have tails.”

The monkey pursed her lips before the familiar green conflagration overtook her again, and in its place stood an exact copy of Scootaloo.

“You know, I could take on a more attractive form, if that’s what you’re into.”

Ash Eater wrinkled his nose in disgust, spitting on the floor at the thought of changelings being genuinely attracted to ponies. He stepped past her and out the window, his wings buzzing softly and bearing him up and away from the house in the warm evening air. Seta in the form of Scootaloo joined him a moment later.

“Did you close the window?”

“Of course. What do you think I am, some kind of idiot?”

He regarded her a moment, “Not bad, but keep your words few and small or you’ll give yourself away.”

“I know my part. You just make sure and do yours.”

The pair of changelings sped through the gathering darkness toward Canterlot.

...

Scootaloo was not at all happy to play host to Pacer, but she didn’t want to be stuck alone with the other two during their... privacy. The fact that Pacer had wanted to leave certainly played no part in Scootaloo’s insistence that he stay. She poured a glass of water for him as they took up residence in her undersized living room.

Having rarely anypony over certainly made it not seem cramped, but Scootaloo was beginning to miss the ability to have larger gatherings. As it was, she could hardly seat four without searching for chairs and cramming them into the space.

Her guest took a sip of the water, but in rare form said nothing. It was such a deviation from his normal style of interaction that Scootaloo felt concerned. Against her better judgement, she decided to ask.

“You seem quiet.”

“I guess so,” he answered listlessly.

As annoying as his typical sarcastic responses were, something was definitely wrong.

“Are you okay?”

“I’ll survive.”

Scootaloo felt her brow furrow as she spoke softly, “I know we’ve never been close, but if there’s anything I can do to help...”

Pacer slowly looked up at the pegasus, “It’s nothing. I just...”

Scootaloo maintained her concerned expression but opted to wait for the stallion to speak again.

“Did I ever tell you that I had a mate once?”

The mare shook her head.

“I didn’t think so. She died about a year ago.”

“Oh no. I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Considering Pacer’s personality, it was not surprising that he hadn’t brought it up before, especially considering that it would have happened not long before Scootaloo met him. She considered the possibility that the entire reason they had started off on the wrong hoof was because he was hurting.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you remind me of her a little.”

Scootaloo held his gaze, watching the pained expression in his dark green eyes before he looked away.

“I mean, you don’t look like her, but she also had a certain spunk and disregard for the rules.”

The pegasus couldn’t help but smile at that, “What was her name?”

“Sunflower.”

“An earth pony?”

“From the crystal empire, like me,” he nodded. “She used to call me Pace.”

A silence fell between them for a time while Scootaloo considered these things. She didn’t seem to know anypony who hadn’t lost someone during the war. It was the stallion that broke the quiet.

“I know this will be a weird request, especially considering we’re not exactly friends, but… could you do something for me?”

“I’d like to help if I can.”

“You don’t have to, but… since you sound like her… could you… again, you can say no, but… when I was upset, she used to hold me and rub my back, and say, ‘There, there, Pace; it’s going to be okay. We’ll get through it together.’ Would you do that for me?”

Scootaloo felt incredibly uncomfortable at the request, but how could she say no to something like that? All of her instincts screamed at her to walk away, but the vulnerability in Pacer’s gaze smashed through her defenses. She stood and crossed to him, sitting beside him on the couch. The stallion shut his eyes and looked away from her. Scootaloo watched him for a moment, his silver coat and red mane seeming far less pompous than usual.

The mare moved in, embracing the hurting stallion and rubbing his back, “There, there, Pace; it’s going to be okay. We’ll get through it together.”

He turned into her embrace and moved to kiss her. Sparring with Ash Eater had helped Scootaloo to keep her reflexes sharp, and while her evasion was not the most graceful move she had ever made, she managed to back away, only stumbling slightly.

Before she had a chance to say anything, Scootaloo caught the look on Pacer’s face. The sorrow he had been feigning was completely gone, replaced by a lecherous smirk.

“Oh, come on!” she shouted at him.

“Don’t be like that,” he pleaded. “Pretend to be my wife for a few minutes. I’ll be gentle, I swear.”

Scootaloo was fairly certain that Pacer had never actually had a mate.

“So, are you naturally a complete ass or did you take classes somewhere?”

He grinned, “I almost had you!”

“Yeah? Well let me make this easy for your tiny brain to understand. If you ever try anything like that on me again… No, if I even hear about you pulling a stunt like that on anypony ever again, I’ll track you down and give you the beating you’ve been asking for since we met. After that, I’ll make sure you get tossed in the darkest dungeon I can find before I throw away the key.”

“Quit denying your instincts,” he answered smugly. “You’ll really feel better if you just cut loose and have some fun.”

She glared at him, wanting something more scathing to say but coming up short. Scootaloo decided to let her threat be the last thing she said until she cooled down. She certainly meant every word, and hopefully he would consider them at least a little before returning to his old tricks.

...

Ash Eater slipped through the warm night air with Seta, still in the form of Scootaloo. The changelings drew close to Canterlot; the stag’s increasing heartbeat was all he needed to know that danger was nearby. There were many things that could go wrong and turn their venture to ruin.

“Remember, Scootaloo is direct, but not needlessly rude,” Ash Eater reminded.

“I’ve been watching her for months with this in mind,” she replied with a hint of annoyance. “I’ve got this.”

“So we just have to worry about the other two noticing we’re gone and sounding the alarm.”

Looking up at the moon, the faux pegasus considered this for a moment.

“We’ll have plenty of time to get through Canterlot before they suspect anything,” she smirked. “I may have given that idiot stallion some detailed information on how complicated and lengthy changeling mating rituals can be on a first encounter.”

Ash Eater felt his head instinctively tilt sideways at the statement. If there were practices as Seta had just indicated, he had certainly never heard of such.

...

Scootaloo wished for a way out of the awkward situation in which she found herself. She felt bored and was trying not to wonder how long the changelings would take to complete their... visit. She didn’t really want to think about it at all, but she couldn’t exactly leave.

Pacer being the only option for a distraction, she considered engaging in small talk. It had been nearly an hour since that had proved disastrous, but the silence was becoming more unbearable than his antics. She should have thought ahead and borrowed a book to read, as the stallion sitting across from her had done. She may have tried reading over his shoulder, had the title of his tome not been so salacious as to dissuade her from the attempt.

“I know I’ll regret asking, but is that any good?” Scootaloo broke the silence.

Her plan was to shift the conversation as quickly as possible once she got it started.

His gaze fixed on the page, Pacer answered, “I’ve read better. The author uses a lot of colloquialisms that I don’t know.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

He continued reading for a moment before looking up, “It’s not what you think.”

“Really,” Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. “With a title like, ‘A Doe in Heat’, how could it not be?”

Pacer grinned. The mare was fairly sure it was the first time she’d seen genuine amusement on his face that was untainted with lasciviousness.

“I thought the same thing when Seta recommended it,” he replied. “Unlike you, I wouldn’t have minded a trashy novel. It is a romantic tale, but the heroine in question is really searching for companionship, a kindred spirit.”

“Huh...”

“At least that’s what it is been so far. I’m over halfway through and no smut yet.”

Scootaloo couldn’t help but stifle a giggle. She was sure Pacer would ruin the pleasant interaction any moment, but she would try to enjoy the distraction while it lasted.

“Of course, we could always make our own,” he added.

Scootaloo sighed, “What is taking them so long?”

The question was in the air before she thought better of it. Pacer was bound to make some ridiculous boast or claim of some conquest of his own. To Scootaloo’s surprise, he looked up at the clock that hung on the wall and shrugged before returning his attention to the book.

“It’s going to be a while.”

Curiosity overwhelmed the mare’s caution, “What makes you say that?”

“On their first, let’s say, encounter, changelings have a specific and lengthy ritual they go through before the... well, the fun part.”

“Uh, huh...” Scootaloo nodded slowly as she processed Pacer’s words.

“They call it ‘the binding’, which is kind of like a marriage, or maybe their equivalent of the concept.”

“Okay, how do you know any of this?”

“Aside from the books Seta has given me, I asked her what tonight would be about when it first came up. Didn’t you ask Ash Eater the same thing?”

“No,” she answered a little too quickly.

The conversation was going somewhere she didn’t want to be. Any time amorous things came up with Ash Eater, what he’d told her that day on the battlefield came crashing back into perfect clarity. The changeling stag had claimed to have violated one of Scootaloo’s friends in the worst way. Though Sparklefly had given a slightly different account of it before she died, Scootaloo still didn’t know which version was accurate. Either way, remembering what he had done to her friend was nearly enough to dredge up an old toxic rage. As such, her feelings on the matter were complex.

She did not want to discuss any of that with Pacer for fear that more ponies would find out what Ash Eater had done. Sparklefly was widely regarded as a hero, and no doubt the changeling that tortured her would find himself at the ire of an angry mob.

“I guess I hadn’t thought about there being rituals with tonight,” she tried to steer away from her discomfort.

“Well, part of the point of this entire endeavor is culture exchange. Of course, we could always exchange a little culture if you know what I mean.”

Growling at his constant barrage of innuendo, Scootaloo returned fire, ”Pass, I’m sure it would be all too little.”

“Hah!”

“So, what kind of rituals are they? What do they do?” she asked before he had a chance to shoot back a bawdy reply at her insult.

“It starts with poetry, where they declare their love for each other. Apparently they do this while lying on the floor, nose to nose. Seta gave me the text of it once. It’s really long... and boring. A perfect recitation would take almost an hour.”

“What? An hour?”

“Yeah, it’s crazy. After that, they begin the chirapsia.”

Scootaloo felt herself frown, still curious, but afraid she would regret asking, “Okay, I don’t want... too many details when it gets to... you know.”

The stallion smirked a moment, but the expression faded as he continued, “Suit yourself. The chirapsia is basically a massage. They start on each other’s faces and begin working their way from there. This can take another one to two hours, and there is no talking during this part.”

“Huh, I guess they are still thinking about the poetry they just said?”

“Yeah, that’s the idea. Once they finish that, they separate and stare into each other’s eyes for a few minutes. Seta was a little vague on this point but said it could be anywhere from just a minute or up to a half hour. I guess it just depends on their mood? Anyway, after that is when the real fun begins, but I’ll spare you the details on that part. Suffice it to say, it works like you’d expect.”

Scootaloo stifled a giggle.

“After that, they have the embrace, which can last anywhere from minutes to all night if they fall asleep. Seta promised to keep that one to a minimum.”

Scootaloo was somewhat surprised that the rituals seemed so caring and affectionate. She wasn’t sure what she might have expected, not having given any thought to such things before. It seemed that the changeling’s social structure was more complex than she had assumed.