A wise mare once said, "Treat others as you would like to be treated." But what if that pony (or in Applejack and Apple Bloom's case, changeling) tried to do you harm?
Apple Bloom just wanted to go to Zecora's so she could try to earn her cutie mark in potion making. She never imagined that she and Applejack would end up dragging an unconscious changeling to their farm.
The plan was to secure it and report it to Twilight, so that it could be turned over to the Royal Sisters. But with the return of the Crystal Empire, the Apples are now stuck with this changeling until Applejack gets back.
Can these farm ponies keep it contained until then? And why is this changeling white?
“Come on Sis! I’ve been to Zecora’s a hundred times before!”
“Yeah, but that was before the wedding!”
As much as Apple Bloom hated it, the only way Applejack would allow her to go to Zecora’s was if she was escorted by either her or Big Mac. Applejack, along with her other friends, were still paranoid about the changelings.
“Applejack, the changelings are gone. You, Twilight, and the others sent them to Kingdom Come.”
“Apple Bloom, it doesn’t hurt ta be cautious. We don’t know for sure that they’re all gone.”
“Come on! Even if we came across one, I bet ya I could teach it a lesson it wouldn’t forget.”
Applejack just had to laugh at that statement.
“And I’m sure ya could. But that doesn’t change that fact that ya need a bigger pony ta watch yer back.”
Apple Bloom grumbled in frustration.
I'm not a baby anymore. Why do you keep treating me like one?
“GET DOWN!!!”
“Huh?! What?!"
Something was rustling in the bushes in front of them. Applejack quickly put herself between Apple Bloom and whatever horrible creature was hiding in the bush.
She crouched down, furrowed her eyebrows, and leaped into the bush!
Not amused, Apple Bloom walked around the bush to see what Applejack caught this time.
“Oh, I am so sorry.”
“Way ta go Sis, ya caught a bunny. Hurry! Let’s lock him up before he tries ta suck the love out of us!”
“Ha, ha, you’re hilarious. Sorry there little fella.”
The bunny got up, brushed off his coat and gave a ‘humph’ before he hopped off. Applejack turned to face her sister, who was now giving her the *seriously?* look.
“Okay. Maybe I’ve been a little jumpy.”
“A little?”
"Let’s just get ya to Zecora’s" Applejack said in an annoyed tone.
They continued walking on, believing that that was the biggest scare they would experience that day. But Applejack was right to be cautious. They were being followed.
“Apple Bloom! Stop going so far ahead of me! Zecora’s hut isn’t going anywhere!”
“I wouldn’t be so far ahead of you if ya weren’t so slow!”
“Well, pardon me! It’s not like I did a whole lot of apple-bucking today! Oh, wait! I DID!!!"
Applejack heard a snap of a twig behind her. She stopped and turned around to see what it was.
Nothing.
The path was clear and everything was quiet, but something didn't feel right.
“What’s the matter Sis?! Is it another bunny?! No, wait! Maybe its a squirrel!”
Applejack turned around to face her sister.
“Ha, ha! Maybe you should get your cutie mark in stand-up comedy!”
There was a loud hiss as something jumped out of the bushes and tackled Applejack. They rolled off the path and went deeper into the Everfree.
“Applejack!!!”
Apple Bloom ran as fast as she could to get to her sister. Once she made her way through the bushes and branches, she saw a white creature on top of her sister, trying to pin her down.
Apple Bloom watched in horror as her sister fought back.
Applejack tried to strike the creature’s face with her forehooves, but she was blocked every time she tried. During this frenzy of battering forehooves, the creature caught hold of her left foreleg and pinned it to the ground.
Applejack grabbed the creature's foreleg and tried to pull it off of her pinned leg. But when she did, she was surprised to see (and feel) that this thing had holes in it's leg.
While she was distracted, the creature grabbed her mane with it's teeth and yanked.
"Ow!"
She let go of its leg and grabbed her mane to ease the tension. This only helped the creature so it could grab her other foreleg and pin it to the ground.
It released her mane, letting her head drop back to the ground.
Applejack opened her eyes to see that she was right. Its eyes and skin were the wrong color, but it was a changeling.
It laughed sinisterly then said: “Maybe next time you’ll watch your own back instead of your sister’s. Oh wait; there won’t be a next time.”
The changeling’s horn began to glow. Applejack looked down to see that a green aura was beginning to cover her body. Once it had enveloped her, she felt her strength being sucked out of her.
She looked back at the changeling, finding it harder to stay conscious. Her breathing began to slow as her eyes started to shut. But just as she closed her eyes, she felt a sudden jolt of pressure from where the changeling was pinning her. Her strength was returning and the changeling was screaming in pain.
Opening her eyes and gasping for air, Applejack saw that Apple Bloom was on the changeling’s back. The filly had one of its ears in her mouth and she was pulling it hard.
“Get off my sister!” she shouted through clenched teeth.
She gave it another good tug, bringing the changeling on its hind legs. She did her best to keep her balance as the changeling stumbled backwards.
Underneath Apple Bloom’s hind hooves, she felt the changeling’s wings start to buzz. She looked down to see that the changeling was taking them high off the ground. She quickly wrapped her forelegs around its head and held on tight. The changeling hovered as it tried to shake Apple Bloom off its head, but then it stopped and began to fly forward at a fast speed.
Apple Bloom looked up to see that the changeling was planning to ram her into a branch. She was too high to jump, but an idea crossed her mind. Before the branch could hit her, she dropped to the changeling’s left side, hanging onto its ear for dear life.
The changeling screamed in pain, its trajectory changing as the filly hung from its ear.
Apple Bloom was happy to see that they were getting closer to the ground. Her plan was working perfectly, right up until the changeling slammed into a tree. The whiplash sent Apple Bloom flying, and then rolling six yards away. When she recovered she noticed that she had a horrible taste in her mouth. She spat something out, and what it was made her gasp.
It was the top half of the changeling’s ear!
Apple Bloom heard an angry hissing sound coming from behind. She quickly turned around to see that it was the changeling. Red blood dripped down from what was left of its left ear. Lips curled back, revealing all of its sharp-pointed fangs. And it had its red eyes locked on her.
Letting out a loud attack hiss it charged. Apple Bloom ran away as fast as she could, but she could tell that the changeling was gaining on her.
Jumping through some bushes, Apple Bloom skidded to a stop. Large rocks stood tall in front of her, and they were too steep to climb. Turning around, she found that she was cornered. She backed up and whimpered in fear as the changeling slowly closed the gap between them.
It opened its mouth wide, bringing its fangs closer and closer to the filly's face. Apple Bloom turned away and closed her eyes tight.
“STAY AWAY FROM HER!”
Apple Bloom opened her eyes, just as the changeling drew back, and turned its head in the direction of the sound.
Applejack, charging at an incredible speed, tackled the changeling. They flew five feet, before they made contact with the ground. They found themselves rolling down a steep hill. Along the way down, they got separated, but that didn't stop them from rolling; and sometimes bouncing.
Applejack finally stopped herself from rolling, and was now sliding on her back. Looking down, she saw that she was sliding towards the edge of a cliff. Flipping herself around, she dug her hooves into the soil. Slowly, Applejack skidded to a stop, her lower half hanging over the edge.
When she saw that she was safe, she turned her head around, to see that it was only a twelve-foot drop. There was a lake at the bottom of the cliff, and something big had fallen in recently. She could only assume that it was the changeling.
“That was close.”
She pulled herself off the edge of the cliff. As she dusted herself off, she heard somepony shouting.
“APPLEJACK!”
Applejack looked up and saw her sister running down the hill. Once Apple Bloom got to her, Applejack received a tight hug from the small filly. She looked down to see that her sister was crying.
“I was so scared. I thought you were... were... I thought I lost you.”
Applejack gently stroked her sister's mane.
“It’s okay Apple Bloom. I’m here. I’m here.”
Applejack was enjoying this tender moment, when something loud made them jump. It was the sound of screaming and splashing. Applejack and Apple Bloom both looked down, and saw that the changeling was still alive.
“He’s drowning!" Apple Bloom shouted. "What do we do?!"
As the changeling continued to thrash, Applejack turned to her sister then back at the changeling, trying to decide on what she should do.
This thing had attacked them, so maybe she should let it drown; let it get what it deserved. But... how could she tell her sister that they should let it die? She was just a filly.
As Applejack continued to think, she remembered something that her parents told her, so many years ago.
If somepony is in trouble, and you have the ability to help them, then it is your duty to help them.
Having made her decision, she turned to Apple Bloom and said:
“Stay here!”
“What?”
Apple Bloom turned just in time to see Applejack throw off her hat, and dive into the lake. Nopony was a better swimmer than her sister! Apple Bloom smiled, knowing that the changeling was in the best of hooves.
No! No! It can’t end like this!
These were the thoughts that were going through the changeling’s head as he continued to struggle. He was now below the surface, sinking slowly to the bottom as he continued to thrash. After a while, he finally stopped and accepted defeat.
Just as he closed his eyes, the changeling felt something wrap under his front legs and around his chest. He started freaking out, believing that some sea monster had grabbed him. But when he looked down, he saw a couple of hooves.
What?
He turned his head around, to see that it was the older earth pony. She had her eyes up, kicking her back legs, bringing them both up towards the surface.
Apple Bloom looked down at the water, waiting for Applejack to resurface.
“Come on, Sis. Come on.”
Applejack burst out of the water with the changeling in her arms! The changeling coughed and gasped for air, as Applejack kept their heads above the water.
“Yeehaw!!!”
Apple Bloom jumped with joy. Her sister had made it! After finding a safe path, Apple Bloom ran to the water's edge, quickly turning back when she realized that she forgot her sister’s hat.
Applejack began to tow herself and the changeling to shore, using one of her arms to stroke. She smiled when she saw Apple Bloom bouncing by the water, waving her hat in the air. As she continued to tow, the changeling tried to make sense of Applejack's actions.
Why did she save me? I tried to suck the love out of her.
Before he could find the answer, the changeling felt his hind hooves touch the ground of the shallow water.
Land! Sweet land!
But he could not stand up and dance with joy, because the earth pony was still dragging him, standing on her hind legs as she did.
Hey! I'm not a defenseless grub!
How dare this pony treat him like one. Wanting to save some of his dignity, he slapped Applejack’s hoof.
"Ow!"
Applejack dropped the changeling into the shallow water. He quickly brought himself back up, coughing out water he had just inhaled.
“What was that for?!” shouted Applejack.
The changeling looked back at her angrily.
“To get your filthy hooves off of me, that’s what!”
Applejack couldn’t believe her own ears.
“I was just trying ta help!”
The changeling splashed water in her face, then walked past her back onto the shore. After he shook himself dry, he said smugly: “Help me? Ha! You should have let me drown!”
The changeling let out a yelp of pain. Somepony had kicked him; really hard too.
“Hey! She saved yer life! You should be grateful!”
Applejack was shocked by what her sister was doing, and so was the changeling.
“Grateful? She was the one who knocked me in there!”
“She only did that because you were gonna hurt me!”
“Yeah, probably because you, oh, I don't know, TORE OFF MY EAR!!!
Apple Bloom’s ears fell back with guilt. Even though he was a changeling, she felt awful. She’d never hurt anypony like that before.
“I didn’t mean to. It was an accident. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, you’re sorry? Here's an idea; how's about I tear your ear off and then I'll go around saying: I’m sorry!"
Applejack quickly put herself between her sister and the changeling.
“Stay back Changeling!”
“Heh, what are you going to do if I don’t?”
Applejack answered his question by giving him a right hook to the face. The changeling fell to the ground, knocked out cold.
Apple Bloom stepped forward slowly and prodded the changeling. Seeing that it was unconscious, she turned to Applejack and said:
Inside the Apple Family barn, a white changeling started to regain consciousness.
“Ow… that mare’s got quite the arm.”
The changeling shook his head, but when he tried to move he realized that he was tied to a post inside a wooden structure with hay all over the floor.
Great! Bested by two ponies and now I’m locked in some kind of cell. Can this day get any worse?
The changeling heard a creaking sound and looked up to see some big wooden doors open. The sunlight came in, causing him to flinch. Once his vision cleared, he saw the little filly that tore off his ear.
You! You’re lucky that I’m tied up otherwise I’d… wait a minute. This is my chance to escape!
Grinning, the changeling tried to turn into Apple Bloom so that he could slip out of the ropes. But for some reason, his powers weren’t working.
Huh? Come on. Change!
There was no response.
What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I…
Then a thought occurred to him.
It must be these ropes; they must have been enchanted to keep me from changing.
And the changeling was correct. Applejack had gotten the rope from Twilight two weeks ago. Twilight had spent most of her time after the wedding learning new tricks and spells that could counter changeling magic. Applejack figured an enchanted rope would be a good investment.
Looking up, the changeling saw that the filly was carrying a water bucket in her mouth and balancing a small glass on her head. After she was three feet in front of him she set the bucket and glass down.
Even though he was staring daggers at her, Apple Bloom wanted to try and make up for ripping off the changeling’s ear. She started by saying:
“I came in because I thought maybe you’d be thirsty.”
“Come again?”
“Don’t changelings need water?”
“Of course we do kid! What living thing doesn’t need water?”
“I wasn’t sure!”
The changeling rolled his eyes. He just wanted to get whatever this filly was trying over with.
“What’s the catch?”
“Catch?”
The changeling exhaled in frustration.
“What do you want in exchange for the water?”
"Huh?"
“Is this your first interrogation or something?!”
“Interrogation? I didn’t come in to interrogate you. I just wanted to offer ya some water.”
"Yeah, right."
“I’m serious. No catch.”
Apple Bloom picked up the glass, dunked it in the bucket and presented it to him, giving a smile as she did.
“Here ya go.”
The changeling was hesitant at first. Leaning forward, he sniffed the cup and then dunked his tongue into the water to test it. Looking back at Apple Bloom, he searched her for any traces of deceit. After he determined that the water wasn't drugged and that the filly was being sincere, the changeling thought:
Eh, your foolishness is my gain.
He grabbed the glass with his fangs and dumped the contents down his throat. He still found it surprising that this filly was giving him cool, clean, fresh water. Back at the hive, changelings only gave their best water to the queen.
“Would you like another glass?”
“Uh… sure?”
Apple Bloom refilled the cup and gave it back to the changeling, who stared at her skeptically before he drank.
What is she trying to do? Win me over with kindness? Clever tactic. Well, nice try! But just because you’ve given me water and… patched up my ear?
He just barely realized that they had bandaged his torn ear.
Well... regardless! You’re not going to break me that way! You can’t butter me up.
After the changeling returned the cup, Apple Bloom asked:
“What’s yer name?”
“Huh?”
Apple Bloom pointed to herself and then the changeling for emphasis.
“My name’s Apple Bloom. What’s yer name? You do have one, right?”
Ok, I’ll play along Ear-Biter.
“4-8-2.”
“What?”
"Four... Eight... TWO!!!"
“I heard ya the first time! I’m just surprised that ya have a number for a name.”
“Well, it’s hard to make good names for all your sons, when you have over a million of them.”
Apple Bloom’s eyes shot wide open.
“You have over a million brothers?! That’s a lot!”
Yeah, and even one is too many. Getting separated from those jerks was probably the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I mean, true, hunting for love has been harder doing it alone, but at least I...
Looking down, 4-8-2 noticed that Apple Bloom was staring at him curiously; and he didn't like it one bit.
“What’s the matter?! You’ve never seen a changeling up close before?!”
“Actually, I’ve never seen a white changeling before. I thought y'all were supposed to be black.”
4-8-2 glared angrily at Apple Bloom then turned to the left, giving her a partial cold shoulder. He couldn't give her an actual cold shoulder since he was tied to a post.
Gee, some changeling's sensitive about his color. But why?
“Did something happen to ya, or were ya always white?”
“Hey Red-eyes! You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”
“Nah! He just needs to lie down. After all, he’s looking a little pale!”
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”
“Hey, come on guys, give the grub a break. Marshmallow's too soft for those jokes. You might make him cry!”
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”
“None of your bee's wax!”
“Okay! Sorry!”
Somepony woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Hmm... wait a minute. Maybe he’s just hungry?
It would make sense. Apple Bloom has seen her friends when they’re hungry, and boy, do they get grumpy when they’re hungry. But how could she be sure?
“Are ya hungry?”
“Noooo, I just tried to suck the love out of your sister because I was bored. Yeah I’m hungry! What’s it to you Apple Blob?”
Eeyup, he’s hangry. But how can I feed him?
Apple Bloom sat down to try and think of a solution.
Come on Apple Bloom, there’s got to be a way. Remember that one book Applejack borrowed from Twilight? The one about a pony dating a bat pony, who satisfied his hunger for blood by sucking it from livestock, rather than ponies. What was the name of that book again?
Apple Bloom shook her head to refocus her attention on finding a love substitute.
Okay, changelings feed off love, but it weakens a pony when they do. Can they suck love from something that isn’t living?
Then an idea crossed her mind.
Wait! We put a lot of love and care into our apples! Maybe he could suck that love from them!
“Don’t move! I’ll be right back!”
Apple Bloom ran out of the barn, leaving the doors open as she did. The changeling rolled his eyes and thought:
Ha. Ha. Very funny.Well, at least now I can finally enjoy some peace and qui-
4-8-2’s train of thought was interrupted when he heard something barking from outside.
What was that?!What kind of animal makes that sound?
4-8-2 prepped himself for whatever was coming. He watched as a small furry critter, with brown and white fur, ran up to the open doors then stopped, staring at him curiously.
What is that thing?
Winona, the Apple family’s Border Collie, decided that she wanted to get a closer look at this strange bug-like-pony. As she approached him, 4-8-2 thought:
Hey, I don’t know what you are, but that’s close enough!
4-8-2 hissed angrily, hoping it would scare off the creature. He succeeded in making Winona jump back a little, but she only paused for a moment before she proceeded to close the gap.
Seeing that his hiss failed, 4-8-2 tried to free himself from the ropes.
Come on, stupid rope! How can ponies even tie good knots with only hooves?
He felt pressure against his chest. He slowly turned his head towards what he knew was the creature. It was two inches away from his face, panting as it looked at him.
Oh flip.
Apple Bloom gathered the best apples she could find, from today’s apple bucking. She figured that she would try four apples first, to see if her plan would even work. She had just finished tying up her sack, when she heard a noise coming from the barn. It sounded like… screaming?
“Ahhh!!! Ew! Ew! Ew-hoo-hoo-hoo!”
Apple Bloom ran to the barn, carrying the sack of apples in her mouth. When she got to the doors and saw what was going on, it took everything she had not to fall down onto the floor laughing. Winona was standing on her hind legs, leaning on the changeling and licking his face repeatedly.
“Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!”
Once she got control of herself, Apple Bloom whistled for Winona. The loving dog ran to her young owner, who gave her a nice belly rub for her obedience. 4-8-2 was busy spitting out dog drool.
“Her name’s Winona. She seems to like you.”
“Yay, lucky me.” said 4-8-2 sarcastically.
Apple Bloom picked up her sack of apples and walked up to him. Setting the bag down, she untied it and presented the first apple to the changeling.
“Here ya go.”
Staring at the apple, and then at Apple Bloom, 4-8-2 said:
“What is this, some kind of joke?”
“No, it’s an apple. I thought that sense my family and I put a lot of love and care into our apples, that maybe you could suck that love from the apple.”
After a short pause, 4-8-2 was laughing his head off.
“Ha! Ha! Ha! You think…Ha! Ha! ...that an apple… Ha! Ha! …will satisfy my hunger…Ha! Ha! …like it does for you ponies?! Ha! Ha! Ha! I’m a Changeling! Ha! Ha! We feast on the love you have for ponies, not fruit! Ha! Ha!”
Apple Bloom waited patiently for the changeling to stop laughing. Once he was done, she asked:
“Well, have you ever tried it before?”
“Tried what?”
“Tried sucking love from something other than ponies?”
“No. But why would I? There’s no need.”
“But what if it works? Wouldn’t it be easier than sucking love from a pony?”
“Seriously? If it were that easy, don’t you think changelings would have discovered that by now? We’re not stupid.”
“I never said y'all were. Even us ponies can be so set doing things a certain way that we forget that there are easier ways to do things.”
“Heh, I still think your idea is pathetic.”
Okay, that was it! Apple Bloom had just about enough of this changeling's mean attitude. Setting down the apple, and furrowing her brows, Apple Bloom pointed her hoof at the changeling and shouted:
“You said you were hungry, and I’m trying to be nice! So you're gonna try it, NOW!!!”
4-8-2 was speechless. The only other creature that had ever given him orders like that was his queen. And even though this filly was about half his size, he was actually intimidated by her. Not wanting to know what would happen if he said 'no', he decided to give it a try.
Closing his eyes, his horn began to glow. As it did, a green aura surrounded the apple. Slowly the apple shriveled up until it was just a rotting apple core. Apple Bloom’s face lit up as she watched the apple shrivel. Once the magic had ceased she asked:
“Did it work?”
4-8-2 opened his eyes and looked up at Apple Bloom. His expression changed from astonishment to frustration.
(Sigh) “Yeah... it worked.”
“YEEHAW!!!”
She had done it! She found a new way for changeling’s to eat!
Wait until I tell Applejack! She’ll be so impressed!
Apple Bloom let out a gasp as she quickly spun around, looking at her flank.
Did I get my cutie mark?! Is it a “genius” cutie mark?! A “bright ideas” cutie mark?! What did I get?! What did I get?!
But to her disappointment, there was nothing. She was still just a Blank Flank. Even when she did something good she still had nothing to show for it. Ears drooping, she sat down and started kicking at the dirt in frustration.
“What’s your problem?”
“Huh?”
Apple Bloom turned around to see that it was 4-8-2 who asked the question.
“You were all excited, and now you’re upset. Why?”
“Oh, nothing. I just thought maybe I’d finally earned my cutie mark.”
“Cutie mark?”
“It’s a mark that we ponies get on our flanks when we discover our special talent. It shows us what makes us special and what we’re good at.”
“Really? Huh... I always thought they were just tattoos.”
“Ha! Ha! No, they're not tattoos. I’m surprised though. I thought y'all would know what a cutie mark is, considering y'all change into ponies all the time.”
4-8-2 gave a small chuckle to that statement.
“You don’t know a lot about changelings, do you?”
“No, not really.”
“Well, okay. I’ll tell you this…”
It’s not like she can destroy the hive with this information.
“…changelings can take the form of any creature that they see in front of them. They don’t need to know anything about what that creature is, or what it can do, because our magic allows us to turn into a perfect copy of that creature.”
“Wait a minute. Are you saying that you have to see a pony in order to change into one? What if the pony isn’t present?”
“Then we can’t. Why else would my queen kidnap your pink princess rather than kill her?"
"Princess Cadance!"
"Okay, Princess Cadance! Sheesh. Once a changeling changes into that pony, they can stay in that form as long as they want. We keep the ponies we impersonate as prisoners for two reasons:
1-We don’t like food to go to waste.
2-Because our queen will sometimes use more than one form to deceive a kingdom. She needs the original to change back into them.”
"Okay, but if you can become a perfect copy of the creatures y'all impersonate, then why didn’t y'all use Twilight’s magic or Rainbow Dash’s speed during the invasion of Canterlot?”
“Most of us haven’t studied magic. You can’t cast a spell if you don’t know how to. As for the speed, well... have you ever put yourself into somepony else’s body?”
“No.”
“It’s kind of like trying to ride a unicycle. The unicycle has the ability to carry you around, but only after a lot of practice.”
“That kind of makes sense.”
Apple Bloom waited patiently for 4-8-2 to continue, but after a moment of silence she realized that he was done.
Too bad. It was quite interesting learning about changelings.
"Uh, Apple Bloom?"
"Yeah?"
"Can... I have... another apple?”
What are you doing Blockhead?! Changelings don't give prisoners more food if they ask nicely! Why would it be any different with ponies?
“Are ya sure we shouldn’t tell Granny about the changeling?” Apple Bloom asked Big Mac.
“Eeyup.”
Big Mac and Applejack thought it was best to keep the changeling a secret from Granny Smith. She hated snakes, so seeing a changeling would have probably given her a heart attack. Currently she was sleeping in her chair out back, where she had been enjoying some sun and fresh air.
Big Mac and Apple Bloom were waiting for Applejack, who went to the library to see what Twilight would want to do with their captive. She had been gone for almost two hours now.
What’s taking you so long Sis? Did ya go all the way to Canterlot to bring back the royal guard or something?
Finally the front door opened.
“I’m back!”
“Finally! We’ve been waiting forever.”
“Sorry ‘bout that. Something came up.”
It must have been something big for her to have taken that long.
“What does Twilight want to do with 4-8-2?”
Both Applejack and Big Mac looked at Apple Bloom in confusion.
“What?”
“You know; the changeling.”
Applejack’s eyes shot wide open.
“Oh, pony feathers! I forgot to tell her.”
“What?! How could you forget? That was the whole reason why ya went to the library.”
“That’s cuz I never made it to the library.”
“What?”
Applejack had just finished telling her siblings the story of how the element bearers and she were summoned to Canterlot. They were currently on a mission to save the Crystal Empire from dark forces. The only reason she was here was so she could get some supplies and to let them know that she’d be gone for a little bit.
“How long are ya gonna be gone?” Big Mac asked.
“I don’t know. Two, maybe three days. Until then, can I count on ya to keep the changeling secured?”
Before he could answer, Apple Boom said:
“Know worries Applejack! Big Mac and I will take good care of 4-8-2 while you’re gone!”
“4-8-2?”
“4-8-2; that’s the changeling’s name.”
Applejack gave Apple Bloom a stern look.
“And how do ya know the changeling’s name?”
Apple Bloom giggled nervously.
“Well… I may have gone inside the barn to visit with him while you were gone. But… great news! I’ve discovered that changelings can feed off of our apples!”
This didn’t change her sister’s mood.
“And what if that thing fed off you instead?! Did ya stop to think about that?!”
“But Appleja-”
“That changeling is dangerous! Those monsters would have wiped out all of Equestria had Shining Armor and Princess Cadance not stopped them!”
“It’s not like I was in any danger! He’s tied up. He couldn’t do anything to me even if he wanted to.”
Applejack slapped herself in the face and sighed angrily.
“Look, I’ve got to go and get ready to leave. Big Mac will take care of the changeling until I get back. I don’t want you anywhere near that thing from here on out.”
"What?”
“And as for what you did, you’re grounded for the rest of the night.”
“What?! But that's not fair! Nothing bad happened!”
“Apple Bloom! Go to your room! NOW!!!”
Giving an angry whinny, Apple Bloom stomped to her room.
I’m not a baby, Applejack. I can take care of myself.
Applejack didn’t like the idea of leaving after a fight with her sister, but she needed to go. She decided that she would make up for it when she got back.
“Big Mac, can I trust ya to keep a sharp eye on that changeling?”
“Eeyup.”
Beads of sweat started to fall down his face when he noticed that Applejack was giving him the angry-eyes.
“And I’d better not come back and find that ya let another pony near that changeling. Got it?”
Big Mac gave a quick gulp.
“Eeyup.”
The next day in the CMC Clubhouse, Apple Bloom sat quietly with her friends as they tried to come up with ideas on how to earn their cutie marks.
“Ooo! Ooo! Ooo! I’ve got an idea!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.
“What is it?” Scootaloo asked in a deadpan tone.
She was getting tired of all these dead-end-ideas. And she didn’t think Sweetie Belle’s fifth idea was going to be any better than the last four.
“We could become: Cutie Mark Crusader Doctors!!!”
“That’s a great idea!”
“Really?”
“Just one problem.”
“What?”
“If we weren’t good at fixing a broken table, what makes you think we’d be better at fixing sick ponies?” Scootaloo said with an annoyed expression.
“Oh come on! At least I’m trying to come up with ideas! Where are your great ideas?”
“They’ll come when I think of good ones. I don’t just shout out every idea that pops into my head.”
“Hey!”
“What about you Apple Bloom? Any bright ideas?”
Apple Bloom didn’t hear her friend's question. She was too busy thinking about how upset she was with Applejack.
What’s next Applejack? Are ya gonna ground me after riding a unicycle just because I could have crashed? Scuba-diving was more dangerous than feeding a tied up changeling and ya didn’t ground me for that.
“Apple Bloom!”
“Huh, what?!”
“I said do you have any bright ideas? What’s up with you?”
“It’s nothing girls.”
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo knew that was a lie. Something was bothering her, and addressing that was more important than coming up with ideas to earn their cutie marks.
“It’s something alright, and it’s going to bug me all day unless you tell us.”
Apple Bloom remained silent. But two minutes of them staring at her, waiting for her to tell them what was going on, finally got to her.
“Fine! I’m mad because Applejack grounded me yesterday for something I did that wasn’t even that dangerous!”
“What did you do?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Well I… I… "
Apple Bloom nearly forgot that she wasn’t supposed to tell anypony about the changeling.
“Come on Apple Bloom. You did what?” Scootaloo asked impatiently.
I guess it won’t hurt nopony. They can keep a secret.
“I fed a changeling without asking Applejack for permission.”
“WHAT?!” shrieked her two friends, staring at her as if she had lobsters crawling out of her ears.
“Let me explain...”
“That’s AWESOME!” said Scootaloo.
“So yeah, we’ve got a changeling locked up in our barn, and Applejack grounded me yesterday because she says I could have gotten myself hurt.”
“That does stink. Hmm... but this might make ya feel better. I’ve got an idea.”
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gave Scootaloo their full attention.
“We could become: Cutie Mark Crusader Zoologists!!!”
“Ya lost me. What?”
“Think about it. Nopony knows a lot about changelings, other than they can change shape to look like other ponies and that they feed off of love. We could be the first ponies to learn everything there is to know about changelings. Imagine it, history books teaching future fillies that it was the Cutie Mark Crusaders that discovered the secrets of the changelings!”
“Just one problem, Scoots. Applejack told me that I can’t go anywhere near that changeling.”
“We could do it in secret, she’d never know.”
“But Big Mac has the barn doors locked up. He only unlocks it when he goes in to feed 4-8-2.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. I happen to have lock picking skills.”
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom stared at Scootaloo with raised eyebrows.
“What? I tried to get a locksmith cutie mark before I met you guys. And to think I thought it was a waste of time.”
“This is a bad idea Scootaloo” said Sweetie Belle.
“What’s the matter? Too chicken to see a changeling up close?” Scootaloo teased.
“No!”
“You totally are!”
“AM NOT!!!”
Scootaloo than started to cluck while doing the chicken dance in front of Sweetie Belle, mockingly.
“Ok, I will!”
Oh mane. Rarity’s gonna kill me if she finds out. Darn you Scootaloo!
“So what do you say, Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo said, giving her a reassuring smile.
Apple Bloom knew that she shouldn’t, but she wanted to get back at Applejack for treating her like a foal. And once she was famous for discovering the secrets of the changelings, she could rub it in her sister’s face.
“Meet me outside the barn at two. Big Mac will be in town selling apples, so that will give us a couple hours before he returns.”
Scootaloo couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Sweetie Belle was wearing a hoofball helmet, knee pads, and she had two pillows strapped to her body for protection. After a few seconds, Scootaloo fell to the ground and burst out laughing. Apple Bloom joined in as well.
“Hey! I just want to be prepared in case something goes wrong!”
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom got up and wiped away their tears.
“Whatever. Did you bring the journal and pencils?” Scootaloo asked.
“Yep” Sweetie Belle said as she pulled them out from her armor.
“Uh…Scootaloo?”
“Yeah Apple Bloom?”
“What’s in the box?”
Scootaloo had brought a pink box with her.
“Since you said changelings can feed off the love of things ponies love, I figured the top seller on Mr. and Mrs. Cake’s menu would convince him to work with us.”
“You mean the Double Rainbow Pastel?” Sweetie Belle squeaked.
“Yeah!”
She opened the box, presenting the masterpiece that was the Double Rainbow Pastel, worth five whole bits per box!
“I even showed it to some ponies on the way over here. Let them stare at it. Smell it. Heck! I even made their mouths water. I bet this thing is overflowing with love!”
“Good idea Scoots!”
Apple Bloom was impressed with her friend’s initiative. Maybe they would get their cutie marks in zoology.
“Zoologist Cutie Marks, here we come!”
Scootaloo took out two paper clips from her mane and began to work on the lock. She was a little rusty, but luckily this wasn’t a tough lock to crack.
After a click and minute of removing the chains, they opened the doors and entered. 4-8-2 sat quietly, staring at them as they walked up to him. When he noticed Sweetie Belle’s getup, he burst into laughter.
“Ha! Ha! Ha! That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life! Ha! Ha!”
Sweetie Belle’s cheeks turned red as she frowned at the changeling. Fed up with being laughed at, she took off her body armor and tossed it aside.
If we don’t get our cutie marks in zoology, I vote we try getting our cutie marks in changeling knee kicking!
4-8-2 gave himself a minute to catch his breath.
“What do you fillies want?”
Scootaloo stepped forward to answer the question. She figured she was the best when it came to introductions. Go to one of her 'Rainbow Dash Club Meetings' and you’ll see.
“My name is Scootaloo. This is Sweetie Belle, and you already know Apple Bloom.”
How could I forget? It’s not every day that a pony rips off my ear.
“We, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, wish to interview you, 4-8-2, to benefit the ponies of Equestria by helping them to understand the changelings and their culture!”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders? Are all fillies in Equestria obsessed with cutie marks?
“Sorry, but I don’t do interviews.”
4-8-2 might have hated his brothers, but he knew better than to give out all the information of the changelings to ponies.
“Gee, that’s too bad, because I came all this way with this delicious source of love to offer you as a reward.”
Scootaloo opened the box and waved it slowly in front of the changeling’s face. 4-8-2 raised an eyebrow in confusion.
“And you expect me to believe that this thing is a great source of love?”
Scootaloo was surprised to hear that.
“Can’t you smell the love on it?”
“No.”
This didn’t make any sense.
“But... the other day! Apple Bloom told us that you fed off the love from an apple!”
“Yeah, so?”
“Couldn’t you smell the love from that?”
“No, because apples don’t have feelings! And I doubt that your…whatever that is, has feelings either.”
This complicated things. How were they supposed to bribe him now?
“I’ve got an idea, Scoots.”
Apple Bloom stepped forward and scooped up a hoof-full of the Double Rainbow Pastel.
“We’ll let ya sample a bite. That will show ya it’s a great source of love.”
4-8-2 debated on whether he should or not. What if it was a trap?
Hmm... heh. What harm can come from trying one bite?
4-8-2 lit up his horn and enveloped the scoop in his magic. All Crusaders watched closely; smiling as the pasty treat changed from colorful to brown.
Once the magic disappeared, they looked up to see that 4-8-2 had the same look on his face that most ponies had after drinking a cup of the apple family cider.
Wow! That is some good love right there.
4-8-2’s expression quickly changed when he saw the grins on the fillies’ faces.
Oh no. I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have done that!
“It can all be yours. All you’ve got to do is answer our questions.” said Scootaloo.
Come on 4-8-2. Don’t do it!
His mouth was beginning to water.
Don’t give in! Don’t give in!
“Well, if you don’t want it, I guess me and the girls can eat it. Right in front of you. Slooowly.”
4-8-2 narrowed his eyes at the young pegasus.
You wouldn’t dare.
Scootaloo’s grin widened in response.
“Guess the Double Rainbow Pastel is all ours!”
“NO!!!”
4-8-2’s cheeks turned bright red when he realized how loud he shouted.
(cough) “I mean…no you will not, because I accept your deal.”
“There’s a good changeling.”
This is humiliating.
“Ready to write down the answers Sweetie Belle?”
Sweetie Belle opened up her notebook and got her pencil ready to write.
“Mm-bf!”
“What?”
Sweetie Bell spat out her pencil.
“I mean, ready!”
“Excellent! Okay, first question: How long have changelings been around?”
“In Equestria?”
“No, this planet.”
4-8-2 gave Scootaloo a dead-pan look.
“We’re not from outer space if that’s what you’re thinking. We’ve been around as long as you ponies.”
“Okay. Next question: Are there other changelings besides the ones that invaded Canterlot?”
“There used to be, not anymore.”
“What happened to them?” Apple Bloom asked.
“For changelings it's survival of the fittest. We travel from land to land absorbing all the love that there is. Once it is gone, we move on to a new land. With limited love to feast on, no two swarms can live in the same land. Only the strongest swarm survives.”
And Apple Bloom thought that the fragile unity between ponies before Equestria was established was bad. But a whole species that was willing to wipe out others like them in order to survive, that was horrible.
“So there aren’t any other queens out there?”
“We haven’t seen another queen, or swarm, for over five thousand years. I believe we are the only survivors of our race.”
“Your over five thousand years old?!” Scootaloo asked.
“No.”
“But you just said that you haven’t seen another swarm in over five thousand years.”
“My swarm hasn’t seen other changelings in over five thousand years.”
4-8-2 could tell by the confusion on their faces that he needed to give them more details.
“Here’s how it works; every swarm has its own queen. She gives birth to all of the drones in that swarm. Drones can live for sixty to eighty years on average. A queen can live for hundreds of years.
The queen will give birth to many generations of drones. Before the queen is too old to produce eggs, she will give birth to a new queen. The new queen is taught everything the first queen knows. Close to the time that the new queen can give birth is when the old queen dies.”
“Did you get that Sweetie Belle?” Scootaloo asked.
“Mhmm.”
Seeing that she did, Scootaloo continued.
“So then, how old are you?”
“Twenty-five.”
“Wow!” Apple Bloom said. “Yer about as old as my brother, Big Mac.”
“That huge stallion I saw this morning?”
“Yep.”
“So you can eat food, but it doesn’t satisfy your hunger?” said Scootaloo.
“Nope.”
“Then why even eat it if it does nothing for you?”
“I never said that. We can’t produce our slime without ingesting something first.”
“How does that work?” Sweetie Belle asked.
She wanted to make sure that they understood the changelings’ anatomy and how it works.
“Let’s see, you ponies eat food, it goes down into your stomach, and then your stomach breaks it down into energy for the body.
Changelings have a slime sack where your stomach would be. The food goes into the slime sack, it’s broken down, and then converted into the slime we use to ensnare and cocoon our prey.”
“Where is your stomach then?”
“Just above the slime sack, underneath the back shell.”
“How does love get to your stomach?”
“By absorption through our horns.”
“Wow.”
Sweetie Belle was starting to see why Twilight loves research.
“Are there some foods that changelings hate?” Scootaloo asked, wondering if changelings hated broccoli like she did.
“Crystals, frogs, and…ugh…CUPCAKES.”
“Seriously, you find cupcakes disgusting?” Apple Bloom said with disbelief.
“Yeah, they just have so much sugar.”
“But I thought bugs love sugar.” Sweetie Belle said.
“Do I look like a bug to you?!”
“…”
“Okay, we have a lot in common with bugs. But we have a lot of differences too! We don’t like sugar, we are not attracted to heat and light, we are not tiny, we don’t pollinate flowers, and we most certainly don’t eat poop.”
The CMC were both disgusted and relieved on hearing that last part.
4-8-2 found this whole questionnaire odd. These weren’t the type of questions that he expected from these fillies. Why weren’t they asking for changeling weaknesses? Or changeling battle strategies? That would have been the smart thing to do.
After a few more questions regarding changeling body parts, Apple Bloom remembered 4-8-2’s ear.
“How good are changeling healing abilities?”
“Knock out a fang, it’ll grow back in a few days. Crack our shells, they’ll amend in a few weeks. Rip off a leg, it’ll grow back in two-months-time.”
“Cool!” Scootaloo said, while Sweetie Belle did her best not to throw up.
“And what about ears?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Huh?”
“Will your ear tip grow back, just like your fangs and legs can?”
There was a moment of silence as the changeling stared at Apple Bloom with confusion.
“No, it will not.”
“Oh.”
4-8-2 was surprised by Apple Bloom's response. He should have been happy that this little filly felt awful for what she had done; but he wasn't. He knew that Apple Bloom didn't mean to rip his ear off. It really was just an accident.
“It’s... not that big of deal. Battle scars are a good thing amongst changelings. It makes us look tough.”
Apple Bloom looked back at 4-8-2, surprised by what he had just said. Did he actually try to make her feel better?
Paying no mind to it, Scootaloo said:
“Speaking of legs, why do changelings have holes in their legs?”
4-8-2 looked down at his hooves and shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you have holes in your legs?”
“We need to go now Scoots. My brother will be back any minute now.”
“But we haven’t finished all of our questions yet!”
“We can finish those tomorrow.”
(sigh) “Fine.”
Seeing that they were getting ready to leave, 4-8-2 said:
“Can I have my reward now?”
“Okay, you’ve earned it.”
Scootaloo slide the box over to 4-8-2, who immediately lit up his horn and enveloped the cream pie with his magic. As the changeling absorbed the love, Scootaloo watched in awe while Sweetie Belle cringed in disgust as the Double Rainbow Pastel shriveled into a moldy, brown blob.
Once his horn stopped glowing, the changeling let out a loud burp.
“Nice one!” Scootaloo said, offering her hoof for a hoof bump. But after remembering that he was tied up, she brought her hoof down and gave an embarrassed smile as she picked up what was left of the dessert she had bought and made her way to the door.
Sweetie Belle grabbed her makeshift armor and followed Scootaloo, leaving Apple Bloom to close the barn doors. But before she did, Apple Bloom gave 4-8-2 a warm smile, waved good-bye and said:
“Thanks for answering our questions, 4-8-2. We’ll see ya same time tomorrow.”
After the doors had closed, 4-8-2 was left alone, wondering why he tried to make Apple Bloom feel better when she was sad.
Big Mac was relieved to be back after a long day of work in town. Usually Applejack would take care of selling the apples in town; mostly because she was better at the whole talking thing. But since she was out on one of those ‘Save Equestria Missions’, he would just have to get out of his comfort zone for a little bit.
He pulled the wagon to the back and parked it next to the barn. Once he unstrapped himself, he saw Apple Bloom playing ball with her friends. This brought a smile to his face. He thought they were still scared of playing that game, after that whole ‘Twilight freaking out over a deadline’ incident.
He couldn’t blame them. Seeing her in a fritz like that was just scary. Not as scary as actually walking up to her and telling her that he thought she was pretty. How her mane in the wind gives him goosebumps. How he would be the luckiest stallion in Equestria if she would go out with him.
This crush was driving him crazy. He knew all of the right words he wanted to say to Twilight, but every time he tried, all that came out was ‘Eeyup’ or ‘Nope’.
I wonder if Fluttershy has any suggestions. She’s good at expressing her emotions. Right?
“Big Mac, Apple Bloom, dinner is ready!” Granny Smith yelled from the window.
Just in time. I’m starving.
Once Big Mac was out of ear shot, Scootaloo whispered:
“Good, he bought it.”
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom let out a sigh of relief.
"I guess I’ll see you girls tomorrow.”
“You bet!”
“See you then Apple Bloom!”
With that, both of Apple Bloom’s friends ran off back towards Ponyville.
“I’m telling ya Sweetie Belle, I’ve got a good feeling about this one!”
As Celestia’s sun started to rise the next morning, the Apple Family Roster gave its routine wake-up call to the farm and its occupants. One of those occupants was not a big fan of it.
“Ugh, shut up! I just want to sleep! Can’t you at least give me that?!”
The poor roster was surprised to hear that. He thought everypony loved his good old fashion wake-up calls. Whoever this pony was, he figured that he must have been new.
Well, your loss! thought the roster.
4-8-2 didn’t care if he hurt the roster’s feelings. He was sick and tired of this whole thing. It was hard enough trying to sleep tied in a sitting position. How could these ponies allow some bird to crow so loudly every morning? What could they possibly gain from that?
4-8-2 tried to go back to sleep, but it was a near-to-impossible task. There was nothing soft to lean his head on, the ropes were uncomfortable, and to top it all off, he had an itch on his nose that he couldn’t reach!
Why couldn’t they have locked me up in a cage instead?!
Half an hour later, 4-8-2 heard somepony unlocking the chains from the door. He looked up as Big Mac entered in, looking at the changeling with disgust and anger as he did yesterday. Big Mac didn’t like that they were housing a changeling, especially when he knew that this ‘thing’ attacked his sisters.
Just another day or two, and you’ll be out of here and out of our lives, you disgusting, over-sized bug.
Big Mac brought in 4-8-2’s daily serving of apples and water. As 4-8-2 ate and drank, there was nothing but silence between the two of them. Big Mac didn’t speak to 4-8-2 and neither did 4-8-2 speak to him.
4-8-2 felt that there was no reason to talk to the pony, especially since it was clear that Big Mac didn’t like him. It didn’t bug him though. He took pride in ponies either fearing him or hating him. It was the only thing that made him feel like he was a changeling worth respecting in the hive.
When 4-8-2 was done, Big Mac gathered the rotten apples and carried them and the water bucket out of the barn. He was about to close the doors when Winona ran past him towards the changeling. He reached out his hoof and shouted:
“Winona, Stop!”
But she kept running towards the changeling. 4-8-2 looked up and thought:
Oh no, not again.
Big Mac was expecting the worst, that the changeling would rip their dog into pieces. But to his astonishment, the changeling didn’t attack her. It just closed its eyes as Winona licked its face, like she did whenever she met a pony she liked.
Not wanting to take any chances, Big Mac ran forward and pulled Winona away from 4-8-2. Winona was surprised that her owner pulled her away. She didn’t feel like she was in any danger.
Big Mac carried Winona outside of the barn, and closed the doors so she couldn’t get back in. As he locked up the doors, he thought:
That was lucky. For a moment there, I thought she was a goner.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
Why didn’t it attack her? Do changelings fear dogs or something?
Meanwhile, back inside the barn, 4-8-2 thought:
Sheesh, what does that animal even see in me? I’m a freak! I even attacked her owners! Does she not know that? What did I ever do to win her affection?
(Two hours later, in the Apple Family kitchen.)
“Might I ask who we’re making this pie for?”
Apple Bloom had asked Granny Smith to help her to bake an apple pie for 4-8-2. The only problem was, she didn’t tell her that they were making a pie for a changeling.
“Uh…it’s for somepony who’s new to Ponyville.”
“Really, is he a cute colt?”
Ew! More like the complete opposite.
“No, he’s around Big Mac’s age. I wanted to make him a pie because…”
Come on Apple Bloom. Think of something.
“… he seems kind of… grumpy all the time. I thought one of yer pies might put a smile on his face.”
“Well isn’t that just the kindest thing to do. I’m proud of you Apple Bloom.”
If ya knew I was lying and disobeying orders, you wouldn’t be.
“What’s this feller’s name?”
“Huh?”
“What’s this feller’s name? He has one, doesn’t he?”
Yeah, but ponies don’t usually have numbers for names.
“His name is…”
Apple Bloom looked around the kitchen for something, anything she could use for a fake name.
“…it’s…”
Then, she saw what she figured would work.
“Fruit Blender. Yeah, his name is Fruit Blender.”
“Oh, so I take it that this pony likes fruit?”
“You could say that.”
“Well then, let’s get this here pie in the oven and make somepony’s day.”
Or somechangeling’s day. Ha, ha, ha.
A couple minutes before two o’clock, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were going over the things they would be discussing today as they walked to Sweet Apple Acres.
“What’s the first question for today Sweetie Belle?”
“Let’s see. Do changelings see in color?”
“That’s a dumb question; of course they see in color! How else are they able to change into an exact copy of a pony if they can’t see what the pony’s color is?”
“Hey, my parents told me that you should never dismiss a question just because you think it’s stupid. What if they don’t? Maybe they see in black and white.”
“Dumb question" Scootaloo said mockingly.
“Hey! We got to ask all of your questions yesterday!”
“Ugh, fine!”
This is going to be a long interview.
Apple Bloom waved to her friends as they came into view.
“Hi girls!”
“Hi Apple Bloom!” both said in unison.
“Did you bring the love source?” Scootaloo asked Apple Bloom.
She had volunteered to do so yesterday, which was fine by Scootaloo. After all, she only had so many bits left in her piggy bank. Trying to find your special talent can be expensive.
“Yep! Fresh from the oven too.”
“Makes me wish I was 4-8-2 right now” said Sweetie Belle.
There was no pie like an Apple Family pie.
Scootaloo eyes narrowed in determination as she said:
“Let’s do this thing.”
“Cutie Mark Crusader Zoologist!!! YEAH!!!” they shouted as they jumped up and did a group high-hoof.
To the CMC’s surprise, they opened the doors to find 4-8-2 sleeping.
“What should we do now?” Sweetie Belle whispered.
“We’ll just politely wake him up. We did tell him we’d be back this time yesterday.” Scootaloo whispered back.
The three fillies walked up to the sleeping changeling. Scootaloo took the initiative to wake him up.
“Hey 4-8-2, it’s time for our interview.”
No response.
“4-8-2. It’s time to wake up.”
Nothing.
Scootaloo gently kicked one of his hooves.
“Wakey, wakey!”
(Grumble)
“Come on 4-8-2, it’s time for our interview!”
“Mmmmm.”
Scootaloo kicked his hoof again.
“Come on! Wake up!”
“Ugh…”
Scootaloo backed up a little as the changeling began to stir.
“… I don’t want to do an interview now. Come back later.”
“We can’t come back later! Big Mac will be back in a couple hours! This is the only time we have to do this!”
4-8-2 figured that maybe if he ignored them, they would go away. So he gave Scootaloo the silent treatment.
“Hey! Did you even hear what I said?”
Just ignore her. She’ll break eventually.
After a couple minutes of failed attempts to wake him up, Scootaloo turned to Sweetie Belle and said:
“Sweetie Belle, give him The Lullaby.”
The Lullaby? I’m no expert on pony culture, but I’m pretty sure that a lullaby is used to help ponies fall asleep. What are they trying, reverse psychology or something?
Grinning, both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom covered their ears as Sweetie Belle cleared her throat, walked forward and sang:
“HUSH NOW!!! QUIET NOW!!! TIME TO LAY YOUR SLEEPY HEAD!!! SAID HUSH NOW!!! QUEIT NOW!!! IT’S TIME TO GO TO BEEEEED!!!”
WHAT THE-?!
“DRIFTIN’!!! OFF TO SLEEP!!! EXCITING DAY BEHIND YOU!!! DRIFTIN’!!! OFF TO SLEEP!!! LET THE JOY OF DREAM LAND FIND YOOOOOOU!!!”
IGNORE HER!!!
“HUSH NOW!!! QUIET NOW!!! LAY YOUR SLEEPY HEAD!!! HUSH NOW!!! QUEIT NOW!!! IT’S TIME TO GO TO BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!!! OW!!!"
“ALRIGHT!!! JUST STOP SINGING!!!”
“Good changeling” Scootaloo teased.
These fillies are worse than that morning bird!
4-8-2 exhaled in annoyance.
“What’s the first question?”
“Ooo! Ooo! Ooo! Ooo!” Sweetie Belle shouted as she raised her hoof.
“Just ask the question!”
“Can changelings see in color?”
“Yes.”
Scootaloo gave Sweetie Belle a smug face as she said:
“Told ya.”
“Hey! It’s still my turn!”
“Fine, continue.”
I swear! These fillies are this close, this close, to pushing me over the edge!
“So if changelings can see in color, do changelings have favorite colors?”
Scootaloo smacked herself in the face.
“Seriously Sweetie Belle? Quit asking questions that have obvious answers! Of course changelings have favorite colors! I mean look at him! Clearly his favorite colors are White and Red. Why else would he choose to be those colors?!”
The CMC were almost scared out of their skins when 4-8-2 shouted:
“I DIDN’T CHOOSE THESE COLORS! I HATE THESE COLORS!”
The CMC hugged eat other as they coward from 4-8-2’s outburst. After a minute of silence, each one peeked up. 4-8-2, seeing the fear in their eyes, turned his head away in shame. They were the only ponies that were ever nice to him. Annoying? Yes. But still nice.
Apple Bloom saw that there was a tear in 4-8-2’s eye.
“4-8-2? What’s the matter?”
The changeling closed his eyes tight, trying to contain the tears that were coming.
“Nothing. Just move on to the next question.”
Apple Bloom stood up, put her hoof down and said:
“No! Not until you tell us what’s wrong.”
4-8-2 looked down at Apple Bloom, with a look that would scare even Celestia’s greatest soldier.
“Wrong? You want to know what’s wrong?”
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle crept up behind Apple Bloom, ready to pull her back, fearing that the changeling might actually try to attack them.
“I’m what’s wrong! I’m a freak! A bad egg! A disgrace amongst changelings! That is what’s wrong!"
Apple Bloom gave 4-8-2 a confused look. What was he talking about? Why would he say such horrible things about himself?
4-8-2 exhaled in defeat, then continued.
"A white changeling in a swarm is a defect amongst drones. Sure, I can shape-shift, but no matter what I do I’ll always be the bad copy of the pony I impersonate; a white copy!
What use is there for a changeling who can’t become the perfect copy of another?!
I’m just the ‘butt’ of every changeling joke. My brothers mock me, they laugh at me. My own queen… my own mother… she could care less if I died in the failed invasion of Canterlot.”
4-8-2 could feel the tears streaming down his cheeks. Trying to control himself, he turned away from them and said:
“Consider yourselves lucky. At least you’ve got those that love you. No one loves me.”
4-8-2 closed his eyes, his lip quivering. He again felt like the sad little grub he was so many years ago, when he learned the truth of why his hive treated him like garbage.
4-8-2’s ears went up in surprise when he felt something furry touch his leg. He looked down and found Winona. She was looking up at him with a sad face. He didn’t think that this animal could feel sorrow.
4-8-2’s astonishment grew as Apple Bloom and her friends walk up to him and gave him a hug. Their eyes were closed, and he saw that tears were escaping their eyes too.
“What are you ponies doing?”
“This is what ponies do to comfort the ponies they care about.” Apple Bloom said as she hugged him tighter.
What? No! It’s a lie! They’re just trying to win my trust. They don’t care about me!
But he found that he was wrong, because there was a strong aroma of love in the air. It wasn’t romantic love, but it was love. Not for each other, but their love was directed at him; at him.
No. This isn’t real! It can’t be!
But as the fillies tightened their hugs, the scent of their love grew stronger.
4-8-2 couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. Years of keeping his sorrow bottled in had finally escaped. But strangely, he felt himself gradually feeling better as the tears came out.
“It’s okay. Let it out.”
After a few more minutes of crying, 4-8-2’s tears finally ceased. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo looked up and gave him a smile, and he smiled back.
After releasing him from their embrace, Winona got up on her hind legs and proceeded to lick away the tears from 4-8-2’s face. Unlike the last couple of times, he didn’t mind that she was licking him.
“I was gonna save this for later, but eating something sweet always makes me feel better.”
Apple Bloom slid her apple pie forward for him to absorb. Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, 4-8-2 proceeded to enjoy the pie with his magic. As he absorbed the love, he noticed that the love tasted different. It was sweeter than the apples and double rainbow pastel combined.
Later that evening, Apple Bloom was enjoying dinner with Granny Smith and Big Mac. Granny had steamed up some fresh peas and carrots. It was nice to enjoy some of the vegetables that they grew.
"Things go well selling apples today Big Mac?" Granny Smith asked.
"Eeyup"
"Talk with any of them cute mares?" (Wink)
Ugh! Not this again. "Nope"
"Gosh darn it Big Mac! Do ya plan to stay single forever?"
(Annoyed exhale) "Nope"
"Well then, quit yer lolly gagging! Live a little! Go on a date every once in a while. What in tarnation is holding ya back?"
The fact that my crush is Princess Celestia's star student and Savior of Equestria; twice! I'm just a simple apple farmer. What would I even say? "Howdy Twilight. I may not be smart, or a unicorn, but would ya like to go on a date with me?" That would never work!
Big Mac chose to just shrug his shoulders to answer Granny Smith's question. He doubted that she had any advice that could help him with his situation.
"What about you Apple Bloom? Did Fruit Blender like the apple pie ya made him?"
"Sure did! I think it made his day."
Big Mac raised an eye brow upon hearing that.
"Who's Fruit Blender?"
"Oh, uh... he's a stallion I met this week."
"Never heard of him."
"That's because he's new to Ponyville."
Big Mac found that suspicious. New stallions in Ponyville were about as rare as visits from Princess Luna. And nopony mentioned anything about a new stallion this week.
"Where's he from?"
"From... Canterlot."
"What was the pie for?"
"I wanted to see if I could make him smile, like Pinkie Pie did when she met Cranky."
Since when are ya into making new stallions smile?
Quickly Apple Bloom tried to think of something to include to make her lie more believable.
"I also... thought that maybe it would help me to earn my cutie mark. A welcome to a new town cutie mark."
Hearing that, Big Mac gave the whatever-shrug. After all, he'd seen Apple Bloom try weirder things to try and earn her cutie mark. He still remembers the time when she tried to earn her cutie mark in dog whispering.
("What's that Winona? Mhm. Uhuh. You don't say.")
Seeing that her brother looked convinced, Apple Bloom let out a sigh of relief.
That was a close one.
Late that night, in the city of Canterlot, Princess Luna was in the middle of one of her dream meditations. It was how she was able to venture into ponies' dreams. To help ponies to overcome the fears they faced in their nightmares.
These past couple of weeks, most of the nightmares ponies had were about the changelings. Parents dreaming that their children were trapped in sickly green cocoons. Fillies and colts dreaming that they were being chased by hundreds of drones. And in the case of Twilight and Applejack, the Changeling Queen had come back and had their loved ones in her magical clutches.
Luna may have missed all of the action before her niece's wedding, but the more she saw these changelings in ponies' dreams, the more she found that she despised them.
I swear if I ever get my hooves on one of these love-sucking parasites, they're gonna wish that they were sent to the moon for a thousand years!
Nothing mattered more to Princess Luna than her little ponies. That was one of many things that she and her sister had in common. To hurt any one of their subjects was like asking for a death wish.
Suddenly Luna could sense that a nightmare was stirring in the mind of a young filly at Sweet Apple Acres.
"Leave him alone!"
Luna could hear somepony shouting in the distance. She was somewhere in Ponyville and there were dozens of ponies heading to the center of town. She followed the crowd, knowing that they were moving towards the sound of the screaming.
"Please, stop!"
Luna rounded a corner with the crowd and saw that they were gathering around a cage that was being pulled by four of Celestia's royal guards. All of the ponies in the crowd were shouting in anger. Some were even throwing rocks at the cage. Taking a closer look, Luna saw that there was a changeling inside the cage.
She knew that it was a changeling because of it's signature holed-hooves and wings, but she was surprised to see that it was white with red eyes. In none of the nightmares before had ponies pictured changelings in colors other than black with blue eyes. Why was it the case with this one?
"Let me go!"
Luna turned in the direction of the shouting and saw that it was Apple Bloom who had been shouting. She was trying to break out of Applejack's hooves, trying to defend the changeling in the cage. But why? Why was Apple Bloom trying to defend this changeling? Did she not know what this thing was or what it could do?
There was a flash of light. Luna turned to see that her older sister had appeared before the ponies and the changeling.
"Changeling! For crimes against the ponies of Equestria, I sentence you to the dungeons of Tartarus, for the remainder of your days!"
"NO!!!" Apple Bloom shouted as she reached out towards the changeling with her hoof. And after a blast of Celestia's horn, the changeling was gone.
Luna wanted to speak to Apple Bloom, to see why she cared so much for this changeling, but she couldn't. The nightmare had ended and the filly was awake.
Apple Bloom woke up in a cold sweat. It had all happened so fast. To her relief it was only a nightmare. But as she lay there, she started to wonder if that was what would happen once Applejack got back. Would Celestia send 4-8-2 to Tartarus?
It was a prison for all of the worst monsters in Equestria. Discord and Luna were not sent there, but it was only because Celestia knew them personally, before their crimes. Apple Bloom knew that it wasn't going to be the same for 4-8-2. Changelings were a threat that Celestia didn't know about until after the wedding.
4-8-2 didn't deserve a fate like that. She didn't want him to be sent to Tartarus. And even if he wasn't sent to Tartarus, she didn't want him to spend the rest of his life in a cage, with nopony to talk to. Everypony thought that the changelings were all just heartless monsters. But 4-8-2 wasn't a heartless monster; she knew better.
I've got ta do something.
Apple Bloom quietly sneaked into her brother's room. She was starting to regret not asking Scootaloo to teach her how to pick a lock. It would have been a lot easier than trying to find where Big Mac hid the key to the pad lock. Hopefully he was a heavy sleeper.
Okay, if I were Big Mac, where would I hide a key to something important?
She decided to start with the dresser drawers. Being as quiet as she could be, she began to look through Big Mac's shirts and bandanas.
Why hasn't he worn these?
"Howdy there Miss Sparkle."
What the hay?
She turned around to see that it was Big Mac who was talking; he was sleep talking?
"I was just in the neighborhood and I thought I'd come over to rent a book. And... to say that... yer looking... mighty beautiful today."
Ooooo! My brother likes Twilight! My brother likes Twilight! Wait... what am I doing? I gotta find that key.
Twenty minutes of endless searching and Apple Bloom still couldn't find the key.
Come on Apple Bloom. There's gotta be someplace ya haven't checked.
"Why thank ya kindly. If you want, I could bake ya one of my world famous Apple Dumplings."
Apple Bloom couldn't help but shake her head in amusement. This had been going on the whole time that she had been searching. She figured that Big Mac was now on his third date with Twilight in Dreamland.
While she was thinking about Big Mac, a thought crossed her mind. Maybe the key was under his pillow. That would be an ideal hiding spot. She only hoped that she could sneak her hoof under his pillow without him feeling it. Sneaking quietly, she tip-toed towards her brother.
"Ya know, the stars sure look beautiful tonight."
For a pony who doesn't talk much, ya sure do talk a lot in yer sleep.
Getting up on her hind legs and leaning over the bed, Apple Bloom slowly stuck her right hoof under Big Mac's pillow.
"Ha, ha, ha. Nope, I think it's cute when ya name off the star constellations. It helps remind me that yer the smartest pony I know."
Come on. Where are ya?
Making contact with something small and made of metal, Apple Bloom beamed with satisfaction.
I got it!
"Nope I'm serious. Yer the smartest pony I know... and the most beautiful too."
Apple Bloom slowly pulled the key towards her, but paused when she heard something strange.
Wait, what is that sound?
Apple Bloom turned in the direction of the sound to find
KISSY FACE!!!
Before she could retreat, she received a big kiss on the nose.
Ew! Ew! Ewww!
Apple Bloom pulled back, glad that nopony else saw that, and happier with the fact that it was just her nose and not her lips.
Ugh.
Just the thought of that made her shudder.
4-8-2 had been sleeping ever since Apple Bloom and her friend's last visit. But a jiggling of the chains on the barn door caused him to stir then wake. He was just glad that he had gotten some decent sleep before 'whoever it was' decided to come and visit him. He yawned and opened his eyes as the barn doors opened.
"Apple Bloom?"
4-8-2 was surprised to see that it was her. He had been expecting Big Mac. And from what he could tell, it was the middle of the night. Why would she come this late?
"Shh. I'm gonna bust ya outta here" Apple Bloom whispered as she walked around the changeling to get to the knot.
"Wait, what?"
"Shh! I said, I'm busting ya outta here."
4-8-2 was starting to wonder if this was a dream. What Apple Bloom was doing was not the wisest of moves. How could she be sure that he wouldn't suck the love out of her once he was free?
But to his surprise, the ropes dropped down to his hooves. Seeing that he was free, he decided to take advantage of the situation and stretch his legs. He had never missed having the ability to move so much in his life. When he was done stretching, he decided that it was time for some answers.
"Why are you letting me go? Couldn't you get in trouble for this?"
"Yes, but you've got to leave. If ya stay here and my sister gets back, they'll turn ya over to Princess Celestia, and then you'll be locked up forever. I don't want that to happen, do you?"
"Well no, but-"
"Then come on! Lets go!"
Apple Bloom quickly made her way to the barn doors, but as she was about to open them, 4-8-2 quietly shouted:
"Apple Bloom! STOP!"
She brought down her hoof and looked back at the changeling with confusion.
"What? What's wrong?"
She waited patiently for 4-8-2 to answer, but he did not speak. He looked hesitant and scared; but what could this changeling be so scared of?
"Don't worry, my brother's asleep and so is my grandma. Nopony is going to spot us if we're quiet."
"I'm not worried about that."
"Are ya worried that my family is going ta punish me bad? The worst thing that they've ever done to me is make me go to bed without supper. I'll be fine."
"I know you'll be fine."
"Then what's stopping you? Why don't you want to leave?"
4-8-2 turned away, not wanting to make eye-contact.
"Because if I leave... then this is goodbye."
Walking up to 4-8-2, Apple Bloom gently placed a hoof on his foreleg and whispered:
"This isn't goodbye forever 4-8-2. Listen, I'll take you back to the Everfree Forest. That way you can hide from my sister and brother, but still be close enough that me and my friends can come visit ya. I'll even bring ya a slice of pie each time we do."
She grinned at the changeling, knowing how much he liked that pie she made for him. 4-8-2 gave a hopeful smile, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
"But... what if you can't come. Your sister might-"
"4-8-2, I'm giving you a Pinkie Pie Promise. Do ya know what a Pinkie Pie Promise is? It's a promise between two friends that nopony can break once it's made. I cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, that I will come ta visit ya."
4-8-2 thought the promise and the gestures were ridiculous and weird, but he could tell that Apple Bloom was serious, which gave him the faith to trust her.
"Okay. Let's go."
"Great!"
Apple Bloom turned around and was about to open the door again, when 4-8-2 whispered:
"One question though."
"Yeah?"
"You're not gonna actually put a cupcake in your eye later, are you?"
Chapter 7: Looks like the changeling’s out of the barn
Apple Bloom slowly peeked her head out of the barn. She looked around to make sure that none of the farm animals were awake. Seeing that the coast was clear, she signaled 4-8-2 to follow.
Following Apple Bloom's lead, 4-8-2 tip-toed out of the barn. The filly and changeling slowly moved towards the apple orchard. According to Apple Bloom, the Everfree Forest was not all that far from the edge of their farmlands. She just hoped they could make it to the orchard without waking up any of the animals.
They were about half-way to the orchard when, all of a sudden, the night sky became a little brighter. Apple Bloom and 4-8-2 stopped in their tracks. They looked up and beheld a night sky full of rivers of dancing light.
Apple Bloom could not believe her eyes. If she had words to describe it, she felt that those words would not do it justice. It was perhaps the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her life. But she was not the only one taken back by the beauty of the night sky.
4-8-2 had been to a few lands before Equestria. Each one had something unique and special about it, but he had never seen anything quite like this before.
They would have probably stood there for hours watching the colorful lights, had it not been for the cow.
Bella to be exact. She was always an early riser here at Sweet Apple Acres, and because of the bright lights in the sky, her brain was telling her that the sun was rising. She opened her eyes, not only to find that it was still night, but to find a-
Uh?
She didn't know what to call it. But it had long fangs and piercing red eyes, so she did what any cow would have done.
SCREAM AND FREAK OUT!!!
Bella's screaming woke up the pigs, the chickens, and the sheep. And within seconds, ever animal on the farm was screaming and shouting; even the rooster, who had never been woken up by the other animals before.
"RUN!" shouted Apple Bloom.
Both she and 4-8-2 ran as fast as they could, hoping that they could get away before anypony saw them.
Stupid Pretty Lights! 4-8-2 thought as he ran.
(Not too long before the ruckus.)
"Twilight, these last two months with you have been the best two months of my life" Big Mac said as he slept.
In dreamland, he was sitting on a hill with Twilight Sparkle, watching the sun set.
(gulp)"Uhm...Twilight?"
"Yes Big Mac?"
"I have an important question to ask ya. And I just want ya to know that I'll respect yer decision, no matter what it is."
"Big Mac, is everything alright?"
Dream Twilight turned to her right to face Big Mac, and found herself speechless as he knelt down on one knee and presented to her a diamond ring.
"Twilight Sparkle, will... will you marry me?"
With a smile on her face and tears in her eyes, Dream Twilight said:
"MOOOOOO!!!"
"Wait, what?"
Dream Twilight was now screaming like a whole chorus of farm animals, causing Big Mac to wake up with a start.
"What in tarnation is going on?!"
Big Mac threw off his covers, jumped out of bed and ran to his window. Looking out, he could see the white changeling that was tied up in their barn; only it wasn't tied up anymore.
It's loose?! How?!
Big Mac gasped in horror. His little sister was running into the apple orchard with the changeling hot on her tracks.
Oh no ya don't! Ya ain't gonna hurt my sister!
After two minutes of running nonstop, 4-8-2 shouted:
"How much farther?!"
"We're about a fourth of the way there!"
"ONE FOURTH?! DAAW!"
This is taking forever! If only you were a pegasus, like Scootaloo, then we could fly there.
4-8-2's right ear twitched when he heard something coming from behind.
What the-?
He turned his head around to see that it was Apple Bloom's brother, Big Mac. The big red stallion was gaining on them, moving faster than any earth pony 4-8-2 had seen before; and 4-8-2 did not like the look on his face.
Yep, time to fly!
Buzzing his wings, 4-8-2 took off. His first instinct was to fly past the branches and make as much distance as he could away from the ground. But then he remembered that he needed Apple Bloom for directions.
Swooping down like an eagle, 4-8-2 snatched the young filly up from the ground, causing her to shriek in surprise. She looked down in horror as she saw the apple trees shrink below her.
"4-8-2! Put me down!"
"Your brother is gaining! I've got to put some distance between us!"
After putting a good thirty feet between himself and the trees, 4-8-2 shouted:
"Where to?!"
No response.
"I said, where to?!"
Looking down, he saw that Apple Bloom was covering her eyes with her hooves.
"Apple Bloom! Open your eyes!"
"Not until we're back on the ground!"
Sighing in frustration, 4-8-2 decided that he was going to have to just guess. Maybe the Everfree was on the other side of that hill to his right.
"Yes!" 4-8-2 shouted when he saw the borderline, where the rows of organized apple trees ended and the Everfree forest began.
"Apple Bloom! I see it!"
That did not seem to brighten the filly's spirit, who was still oblivious to her surroundings, due to the fact that she was still covering her eyes.
Okay, time to put you down.
With all of the distance that he covered by wing, and knowing that Big Mac would be slowed down by the hill, 4-8-2 flew down gently to the edge of the Everfree. Hovering a few inches off the ground, 4-8-2 said:
"It's okay Apple Bloom, you can open your eyes now."
Peeking with one eye, Apple Bloom looked to see if 4-8-2 was telling her the truth. Seeing that he was, she let out a sigh of relief as she let her hooves fall limply down from her face.
"Please, don't ever do that again."
4-8-2 chuckled to himself as he set the filly down.
Brave enough to take on a changeling, but too scared to look when she's thirty feet in the air? Now that's ironic.
"Well, I guess this is where we part."
"Just until my friends and I come to visit ya. Be careful 4-8-2. The Everfree can be a dangerous place at night."
"Ha! I'm a changeling. The ultimate predator. Top of all food chains. What do I have to fear?"
To his surprise, 4-8-2 heard hooves running towards them, coming from the hill. He turned his head to the right to see that it was-
Big Mac?! What?! How?!
Doubting that the stallion would tell him before pummeling him, 4-8-2 decided that it was time to fly now, solve mystery later.
As 4-8-2 flew into the forest, Apple Bloom ran forward, putting herself in front of Big Mac's path and shouted:
"Stop!"
Big Mac did falter for a second, but regained his determination, increased his speed, and leaped over his sister. Sticking the landing, he continued his chase of 4-8-2 into the Everfree Forest.
No matter how many times he tried, 4-8-2 could not shake off Big Mac. He had tried serpentine, up and over the bushes, he even tried the old grab the branch and let it swing back to hit them move, only to see it snap like a twig as it hit the red stallion.
Come on! I don't have your sister anymore! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!!
4-8-2 couldn't fly over the trees like he did before. There were too many branches and the forest was so thick. He had to give up flying a while ago just to avoid the branches. He was starting to get tired, and it didn't look like Big Mac was going to give up anytime soon.
Panting as he ran, 4-8-2 licked his lips to keep them moist. Once he did, he remembered something that he should have tried a long time ago.
I'm such a Bone-head!
4-8-2 flipped himself around and skidded to a stop. With Big Mac in his sights, he hacked up as much slime as he could.
TAKE THIS YOU OVER-SIZED PONY!!!
4-8-2 spat out the sticky projectile at Big Mac. Seeing it coming, Big Mac jumped out of the way just in time to miss the slime ball.
Apple Bloom, who had been chasing Big Mac, was not so lucky. The slime ball hit her front legs, sending her falling head over heels and landing on her rump hard. When she tried to rub her sore flanks she found that her front hooves were stuck to the ground right in front of her. She got up on her hind legs and tried to pull herself free, but she couldn't. This stuff was stronger than the tree sap that she and her friends fell into that one time.
Seeing that he hit Apple Bloom, 4-8-2 smacked himself in the face.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm a Bone-head.
Just as he remembered the fact that he missed Big Mac, it was too late. Big Mac tackled 4-8-2, knocking him off his hooves and slamming him into the ground, knocking the air out of the changeling in the process. As 4-8-2 gasped desperately for air, Apple Bloom shouted:
"Don't hurt him!"
Big Mac looked over at his sister with a surprised look on his face. Furrowing his brows, he turned back toward 4-8-2. He grabbed the changeling by the shoulders and slammed his back against a nearby tree. Looking him directly in the eyes he shouted:
"Undo yer hex, now!"
(Grunt) "Hex? What are you talking about?"
Big Mac pulled him forward and slammed him back against the tree.
"Yer mind control spell! Undo it!"
"Are you crazy?! Only the Queen knows that kind of magic! I don't even know how-"
He was brought forward and slammed back into the tree again.
"Yer lying!"
"I'm not! I swear!"
Again 4-8-2 was slammed against the tree. At this rate, he figured that he would have a major concussion in the next five minutes.
"I'll ask one more time changeling. Undo yer spell on my sister."
4-8-2 brought his head up, struggling to stay conscious, and was about to respond when he caught a whiff of something awful in the air. He turned his head to the left, in the direction of the smell, and saw something lurking in the shadows; making it's way towards Apple Bloom.
"Big Mac! (Grunt) Save Apple Bloom!"
"What?"
Turning around, Big Mac saw the creature. It had green glowing eyes, and there was a foul stench coming from it. Thanks to Granny Smith's stories, he knew what it was in an instant.
Timber Wolf!
Big Mac dropped 4-8-2 and ran as fast as he could, to intercept the beast before it could get to his sister.
Seeing the horror in her brother's face, Apple Bloom turned to her right and saw the wooden beast closing the gap between them. Even with the new motivation, Apple Bloom couldn't pull her hooves out of the slime trap. She screamed in horror as the timber wolf leapt at her. But before it got to her, Big Mac bucked the beast, launching it into a nearby tree. The timber wolf shattered into dozens of pieces, scattering all over the ground.
Turning to his sister, Big Mac gave her a reassuring smile. Apple Bloom returned the smile, but her expression changed when she saw another pair of glowing eyes, charging at Big Mac from behind.
"Look out!"
Had Big Mac turned around any later, the timber wolf would have had a clear shot for his neck. Instead, he caught the timber wolf as it tackled him. They rolled a couple of times before the timber wolf pinned him to the ground. Big Mac held back the timber wolf as it snapped it's jaws inches away from his face. Bringing back one hoof, he slugged it in the eye. The timber wolf whimpered in pain as it stumbled to the side.
Bringing himself back up, Big Mac crouched down into an attack position, keeping the timber wolf right in front of him. The wolf growled angrily, glaring at him with it's one good eye. Apple Bloom cheered loudly for her brother.
"You got this Bro! Smash 'em to pieces!"
Because she was cheering, Apple Bloom didn't hear the timber wolf that Big Mac had shattered putting itself back together. The post-shattered timber wolf got back onto its feet and locked its eyes on the pony that kicked him, growling angrily as it prepared to attack.
The one-eyed timber wolf lunged forward at Big Mac, receiving a strong uppercut to the jaw. One-eye stumbled backwards on his hind legs until he finally fell on his back.
"Yeehaw!!!" shouted Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom felt the rush of wind in her mane as Post-shatter leaped over her. Before she could even respond, Post-shatter clamped his jaws onto Big Mac's hind leg.
"NOOO!!!"
Big Mac screamed in pain as he felt the splintery teeth sink into his flesh. Post-shatter swung around and threw Big Mac towards Apple Bloom. The red stallion skidded to a stop in front of his sister. One-eye, having recovered from Big Mac's punch, joined Post-shatter as they advanced towards the two disabled ponies.
Just when Big Mac and Apple Bloom thought it was the end, 4-8-2 jumped in front of the timber wolves, blocking the path of these wooden beasts. 4-8-2 hissed angrily, giving them a fair warning to go away.
One-eye and Post-shatter did hesitate for a moment but resumed their advancement. It was two against one, and this strange creature wasn't as big as the pony that Post-shatter took out. There was a flash of green fire. 4-8-2 was gone, and in his stead was a white timber wolf with glowing red eyes.
In timber wolfish, One-eye said to Post-shatter:
"It can turn into one of us?!"
Speaking in their language, 4-8-2 said:
"Yes, I can! And I can turn into a lot of creatures worse than you! Like a manticore!"
The two wolves took a step back, 4-8-2 stepped forward as he continued to speak.
"Or a hydra!"
Both wolves shook in fear as they took another step back.
"Or a dragon!"
Gulping nervously, teeth chattering, they took two more steps back.
"I can even turn into...
A whole!
Swarm!
OF!!!"
Fruit Blender gave a dramatic pause, grinning as he heard them whimper in fear.
"TERMITES!!!"
Post-shatter and One-eye immediately turned tail and ran off, screaming like little fillies. Flashing back into his natural form, 4-8-2 chuckled to himself.
Suckers.
4-8-2 slowly turned around to face Apple Bloom and Big Mac. He stood there quietly, not sure if Big Mac still wanted to pummel him or not.
"You...you saved us. Why?" Big Mac asked.
4-8-2 took a moment to think of the best way to answer that question. When he saw Apple Bloom smiling at him, he knew exactly what to say.
"Because Apple Bloom is my friend."
4-8-2 gave his best smile, hoping to show Big Mac that he meant what he said. Big Mac stared at him for a moment, but then Big Mac remembered that afternoon when Applejack dragged 4-8-2 to their farm; after he had just attacked her and Apple Bloom.
"Your friend? Is that what you call the ponies that you plan to suck the love from?!"
4-8-2 took a step back, surprised to see the conversation take a turn for the worst.
"Big Mac, I-"
"You tried to suck the love from my sister, Applejack! You tried to hurt Apple Bloom! And now you think you can call her your friend?!"
"I... I-"
"Get out of here! Get out of here you love-sucking, two-faced cockroach!!!"
4-8-2's ears fell back and his eyes began to tear up. Big Mac was right. How could he call himself Apple Bloom's friend after trying to hurt her? He tried to hurt her and tried to suck the love from her sister. He didn't deserve her friendship, or her love.
Why didn't you just let me drown in that lake Applejack? It would have been better for everyone.
"STOP IT!!!"
Both Big Mac and 4-8-2 turned their attention to the filly who shouted.
"I swear, if you call him that one more time, I'm gonna kick ya so hard, it's gonna hurt worse than that timber wolf bite!"
Big Mac couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Apple Bloom!"
"He just saved yer life! He just saved my life! And this is how ya repay 'em?! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
"But, he's the reason why we were even out here!"
"No, he's not! I'm the reason why we're out here!"
"What are ya talking about?"
"I let 'em loose!"
"What?! But why would ya even do that?"
"Because he is my friend! Not because of some mind-control hex, if that's what yer thinking."
"Prove it!"
Apple Bloom gave her brother a deadpan look as she said:
"Ya still sleep with Smarty Pants every night. No mind-controlled zombie would know that."
Raising an eyebrow, 4-8-2 asked:
"Smarty Who?"
"THAT IS NOT FOR YER CONCERN!!!" Big Mac shouted defensively.
"Remember the stallion I met, Fruit Blender?"
"What does that have to do with-"
"4-8-2 is Fruit Blender."
With a confused look, Big Mac looked back at 4-8-2, who shrugged his shoulders in response. He didn't know what Apple Bloom was talking about. Out of all the nick names he had been given, Fruit Blender was not one of them.
"My friends and I secretly met with him while you were selling apples in town."
"But the lock!"
"Scootaloo knows how to pick locks, but that's not important right now. The point is, I released him because I didn't want you and Applejack to turn him over to Celestia. He's not a monster like you think he is. He was just doing what he was taught to do. He's nice once ya get to know him."
Big Mac gave her a skeptical look.
"If ya want to be mad at somepony, be mad at me. Don't take it out on 4-8-2, he's been through enough already."
At the corner of Big Mac's eyes, he noticed that 4-8-2 was smiling again. He had tears rolling down his cheeks and he was sniffling. 4-8-2 never thought that he would ever make a friend growing up in the swarm. But now he had somepony standing up for him, like his feelings actually mattered. What more could any creature want?
When he noticed Big Mac starring at him, he quickly turned away and wiped away his tears.
Come on 4-8-2! Don't let the stallion see you cry.
Seeing 4-8-2's reaction, and seeing the sincerity in his sister's eyes, Big Mac figured that there were only two possible explanations. Either changelings were better liars than he thought, or this thing was actually friends with his sister.
Having made up his mind, he turned towards 4-8-2, and said:
"I'm sorry."
"What?"
"I said that I'm sorry."
The changeling stared blankly at the stallion, finding it hard to believe what his ears had heard.
Okay, am I dreaming? This can't actually be happening.
"I'm sorry for calling you a love-sucking, two-faced cockroach. I'm sorry for beating you against that tree. And... thank you, for saving my sister and me."
Sleeping peacefully in her small secluded hut, Zecora the zebra began to stir when she heard a loud knocking at her door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Zecora! Zecora! It's Apple Bloom! I need yer help!"
Zecora yawned as she began to rise. Why would Apple Bloom come to her hut at such a late hour? Either her little friend was in desperate need, or something posing as her friend didn't know that Zecora was a night sleeper. Zecora got off her bed and walked up to the door.
If it was a changeling, Zecora would know. Only Apple Bloom, Applejack, and Big Mac knew the password to enter. And worst case scenario, if a changeling did know the password, she had a mystic salve that would reveal a changeling's true colors.
"If it is indeed you, my friend Apple Bloom, the password you must say, only then shall I make room."
Putting her ear against the door, Zecora waited for the answer.
"I am a changeling."
Zecora smiled upon hearing that, the first test had been passed. Grabbing the bowl of salve and keeping it close, Zecora opened the door. She was not surprised when she saw Apple Bloom, but when she saw 4-8-2 standing behind her, Zecora dropped the bowl and screamed as she slammed the door.
"You cannot enter my hut you creatures of deceit! You might as well go home and admit your defeat!"
"Zecora! This isn't a changeling trap! I really am Apple Bloom! This changeling is my friend, 4-8-2!"
Zecora raised an eyebrow upon hearing that. Apple Bloom, friends with a changeling?
"How am I to believe such a story, when secrets and lies are a changeling's work and glory?!"
"Zecora, remember how my sister and her friends thought you were an evil enchantress before we met? How they thought that you were trying to cook me in a stew, but you were just preparing a cure for the poison joke?"
"Apple Bloom? Can it really be you? But why would you be friends with a changeling named 4-8-2?"
"It's kind of a long story..."
"... and that's why we were out there."
Just as Apple Bloom was finishing her story, Zecora had finished patching up Big Mac's leg. He was lying on the zebra shaman's bed as she worked. 4-8-2 was sitting next to the door. He figured the best thing he could do was to give the zebra her space. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable while she was working on healing Big Mac.
"I can understand the reason for your actions, my dear little youth. But all of this could have been avoided had you just told your brother the truth."
(sigh) "Yeah, I know. Sorry Big Mac. I should have just told ya the truth. Can you forgive me?"
Big Mac was upset that Apple Bloom disobeyed Applejack's orders, and that she lied to him and Granny Smith. But he couldn't blame her for the timber wolf incident. Nopony could have saw that coming. Well... except maybe Pinkie Pie.
Besides, this was his baby sister. He couldn't stay mad at her.
"Eeyup."
Looking up, Apple Bloom saw that her brother had his arms wide open for her. With a smile and a leap, she was in her brother's arms, hugging him tightly around his neck.
4-8-2, who was watching from the entrance, found himself wanting to sample some of the love that they had for each other; the smell of it alone was heavenly. But knowing how it would affect them, he forced himself to stay back.
Huh, I never thought I'd see the day where I would put a pony's needs before my own. How did you do it Apple Bloom? How did you change me?
After they finished their hug, Big Mac set Apple Bloom down and got up on his three good legs. Turning to Zecora, Big Mac gave his thanks.
"Thank you for yer help, Zecora. Now that I'm patched up, I think the three of us should get back to the farm."
"The three of us?" 4-8-2 asked in confusion.
Did Big Mac not know how to count or something? Him and Apple Bloom made two ponies.
"Eeyup, the three of us."
All eyes were now directed at 4-8-2. When he turned around and saw that there was nopony behind him, 4-8-2 realized who the third pony was.
"What?! You mean me and the two of you?"
"Eeyup."
"But why?"
"Why not?"
Seriously Apple Bloom? You can't just answer a question with a question! Besides, there's plenty of reasons why I shouldn't!
"I'm not a pony."
"So? We've got lots of animals on our farm that aren't ponies. Like Winona."
"I've done terrible things!"
"You've done some good things too. You saved my brother and me."
"But I... I..."
"4-8-2, we want ya to come back with us. Isn't this what you've always wanted? To belong somewhere? I know that our farm isn't like the hive, but it's our home, and it can be yours too if you want."
To belong.
Apple Bloom was right. All 4-8-2 ever wanted in his life was to feel like he belonged somewhere. He could never find that in the hive. Yes, they were his family, but they never loved him. They never even wanted him. But now, this little pony was telling him that he was wanted and that he could belong with them.
"I... I don't know what to say."
"SAY YES!!!"
The little earth pony was giving 4-8-2 the cutest, pleading smile he had ever seen. He turned his attention to Big Mac and Zecora. Both gave him a smile and a reassuring nod.
This is for real.
Smiling, he turned back to Apple Bloom, the pony whom he could now call his best friend, and said:
It was getting close to dawn when Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and 4-8-2 finally made their way out of the Everfree Forest. As they walked threw the apple orchard, Big Mac thought it would be a good idea to create a plan on how they were going to present 4-8-2 without causing another panic. He was mostly concerned with how he was going to explain things to Granny and Applejack.
"Now listen, if we want to do this right, I think it would be best if ya let Apple Bloom and I explain everything to Granny before ya show yourself."
"Fair enough."
After seeing Zecora's reaction, how could 4-8-2 argue with that statement. Sure, the zebra shaman accepted him in the end, but this was a better plan. In his experience, elder ponies scare easier than younger ponies. Probably because they know that they can't run as fast.
"Ya think Applejack will be back by the time we return?"
Big Mac took a moment to think about Apple Bloom's question. If his hunch was correct, those beautiful lights coming from the North were a sign that Applejack and her friends succeeded in saving the Crystal Empire.
"Maybe."
Feelings of dread quickly entered 4-8-2's mind when Big Mac said that. He had almost forgotten about Apple Bloom's sister.
Applejack. The one pony in all of Equestria that probably hates me the most. (sigh) Can't say that I blame her. I tried to suck the love from her, and I was a jerk after she saved me.
Seeing 4-8-2's expression, Apple Bloom figured that he must have been worried about how her sister would react when he showed himself to her. Patting him on the shoulder she said:
"Don't worry about Applejack. If she was willing to save ya from drowning, I'm sure that she'll be willing to forgive ya if you apologize."
"You think so?"
"Eeyup."
That made 4-8-2 feel better, knowing that both Apple Bloom and Big Mac thought that it would work out. Still, he felt really bad for what he did to Applejack. If he was going to apologize, he was going to have to make it good. But how?
"What if I ripped off one of my legs, as a punishment for my crimes?"
"Nope!"
Big Mac didn't care if changelings could grow their limbs back within two months time, the last thing he wanted to see was a changeling ripping it's leg off. He figured Applejack would feel the same way.
"Yeah... I think a simple sorry will do" Apple Bloom said, smiling as best as she could. She could tell that 4-8-2 was just trying to make things right between him and Applejack; but that was taking it way too far.
Huh. I guess inflicting pain on one's self isn't respected amongst ponies. Works in the hive.
Just as Big Mac and the others suspected, the farm animals were still in a panicked state when they returned. It looked like none of them were able to get back to sleep after last nights incident. At least they weren't running around screaming. Right now they were just stiff as statues, staring at 4-8-2.
As Big Mac and Apple Bloom left the shade of the trees, 4-8-2 remained where he was, just like they planned. If he didn't come any closer, the farm animals might see that he meant them no harm.
When Big Mac and Apple Bloom put some distance between themselves and 4-8-2, the silence was broken by Winona. She came running at them barking excitedly. Apple Bloom soon found herself lying on the ground with Winona on top of her, licking her face repeatedly.
"Ha ha ha! Stop Winona! Stop! That tickles! Ha ha ha!"
Lucky for Apple Bloom, Big Mac giving Winona a good scratch on the back was enough to get her to stop. 4-8-2 shook his head with amusement as he enjoyed the show from afar. Winona was definitely an affectionate creature. Maybe a little too affectionate.
When Winona saw that 4-8-2 was hiding within the trees, she barked happily and started running in his direction. At the speed she was going, 4-8-2 slowly began to realize that she was intending to tackle him like she did Apple Bloom. Raising his hoof up, he tried to make it clear to her that he didn't want any of that.
"Winona!"
"No!"
"NO!"
"NO!"
In hindsight, he should have flew out of reach. But no, too late. He was now the one being smothered to death. Apple Bloom and Big Mac laughed as they watched 4-8-2 struggle to try and get Winona off of him. They turned around and noticed that even the farm animals found this amusing.
Looks like they had Winona to thank for assuring the farm animals that 4-8-2 was a friend.
Lifting Winona up away from his face, 4-8-2 gave Winona a frustrated look. Winona didn't seem to notice as she barked happily back at him. Seeing this, 4-8-2's frown slowly dissolved and was replaced with a smile.
"You're lucky that you're cute."
Entering Granny Smith's bedroom, Apple Bloom and Big Mac were surprised to find her still sleeping soundly.
"Ya think she didn't hear the ruckus last night?"
"Maybe?"
Gently tapping her shoulder, Apple Bloom whispered:
"Granny. Granny."
(SNORT!) "Yeah-what?! Is it morning already?"
"Eeyup" said Big Mac.
(Yawn) "Well, I guess I better get breakfast up and running for ya Whipper-Snappers."
"Wait, Granny. We need to tell you something."
"Tell me what?"
"Well, ya see Granny, we-"
"Sweet Celestia! Big Mac! What happened to yer leg!"
"Uh..."
"The timber wolves did it." said Apple Bloom.
"Timber wolves?! But timber wolves don't leave the Everfree Forest!"
Hearing herself say that, Granny Smith realized what was up. Looking at them angrily, she asked:
"What the hay were you two doing in the Everfree Forest so late at night?! Don't y'all know how dangerous it is?!"
"We know Granny! That's what we needed to talk to you about!"
Folding her arms and sitting back down on her bed, Granny Smith said:
"I'm listening."
4-8-2 waited nervously outside for Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this nervous. Sure Apple Bloom said that he could live with them on the farm, but she was not the head of the household. If Granny Smith said no, then it wouldn't have mattered that Apple Bloom said yes.
His fate was in this old mare's hooves.
He felt better, having Winona to keep him company. Hopefully Winona's trust of him would help persuade Granny Smith that he was a good changeling. Still, he couldn't be sure.
His ears perked up as he heard the back door open. Looking up, he watched as Apple Bloom and Big Mac stepped out of the house. Moving slowly to the right, they made way for Granny Smith, who was wearing a stoic face as she looked at him.
Even though she was easy prey, as they would call old ponies in the hive, he felt as nervous as a drone standing before Mom after failing a mission. Changelings didn't believe in death executions, but only because they knew that there were fates worse than death.
Winona got up from where she was sitting and walked over to Granny Smith, who took a moment to smile as she scratched Winona's head.
As Granny Smith returned her gaze to 4-8-2, her smile disappeared and she was now looking at him with the most skeptical eyes he had ever seen. He gulped as he struggled to remember what he was supposed to do. Was he to wait for her to speak first? Or was he supposed to start the conversation? Luckily, Apple Bloom made it easier for him.
"Go on, say hello."
Come on 4-8-2! Just say hello!
"He... he... hello."
Yeah, that was real smooth. Way to go, Bonehead.
"My grand-kids tell me that yer not a bad changeling anymore. Is that true?"
"Yes."
"And that you wish to live here because you've got nowhere else to go?"
"Yes."
"Can you give me a good reason why I should allow you to live with us?"
4-8-2 struggled as he tried to think of a good answer to give. He tried and he tried, but he couldn't think of a good answer. In all honesty, he didn't think that he deserved this.
Yes, he wanted it, but he feared that that wasn't enough. He did save Granny Smith's grand-kids, but maybe that wouldn't count since they saved him first.
Closing his eyes and sighing in defeat, he gave Granny Smith the only answer that he could think of.
"No. I can't give you a good reason why I should be allowed to stay. I want to, but... I attacked your grand-daughters, nearly sucking the love out of one of them. And my family and I tried to conquer your homeland.
"Yes, I did save your grand-kids from those timber wolves, but since Applejack saved me, I guess that makes us even. You don't owe me anything, and I don't owe you anything. Except perhaps this; I'm... sorry. I'm sorry for all of the wrongs that I have brought upon you, your family, and the ponies of Equestria. I'm sorry, and... I understand if you don't want to forgive me.
"Whatever you decide, I will respect your decision."
He knew that he didn't present himself in a way that would make him look good, but he didn't want to lie to Apple Bloom's grandma just so that he could stay. Not after everything Apple Bloom had done for him.
"I accept yer apology."
4-8-2's eyes shot wide open with glee.
"You mean...?"
"Eeyup. You can stay here on our farm."
Jumping forward and hugging Granny Smith tight, 4-8-2 shouted:
Quickly realizing that he was hugging her, he jumped back, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment for that whole display.
"Heh heh. Sorry."
Apple Bloom and Big Mac laughed to themselves quietly.
"I have two conditions though."
Standing up tall and strong, 4-8-2 said:
"Name them!"
"If yer gonna stay with us, you've got to help us with the chores around the farm."
"Of course! I wouldn't have it any other way!"
"Second, I ain't gonna call ya 4-8-2. That there is a number. I think ya ought to have a proper name if yer gonna live with us."
"Uh... okay. Just as long as it's not something like Red Eyes or Marshmallow!"
"Ha ha. No, I was thinking something more along the lines like Fruit Blender."
"Fruit Blender?"
"Eeyup, it was the name that Apple Bloom gave ya when she told me who she was baking that apple pie for yesterday."
4-8-2 smiled as he remembered the love that he absorbed from that apple pie. It was by far, his favorite love source yet. Thinking about that and knowing that Apple Bloom came up with that name, 4-8-2 said:
"Fruit Blender it is!"
It was now close to dinner time, and Fruit Blender had already gathered lots of apples from the orchard.
Big Mac was in town selling the apples that they already had. When ponies asked him about his leg, he told them that he just hurt himself.
The Apples decided that they needed to take things slowly with letting Ponyville know that they had a changeling on their farm. This was still a delicate situation since ponies were terrified of changelings. Hopefully they could come up with a good plan once Applejack returned.
Apple Bloom was in her room, sharing with her friends what all happened last night. Granny Smith was in the kitchen, getting supper ready for when Big Mac got back. And Fruit Blender was in the living room, taking a look around and admiring the decor.
He had never seen the inside of a pony's house before it was trashed by his brothers, so this was a neat experience for him. He paused to take a close look at an old family photo that was hanging on the wall. He recognized two of the four ponies in this picture. Applejack and Big Mac.
He still found it crazy that that little red colt would grow up to be Big Mac.
Wonder what they called him back then. Little Mac?
Looking at Applejack, he was surprised to see that she wasn't wearing a hat like she did now. She wasn't even wearing a bow like her sister.
Looking at the other two ponies, Fruit Blender noticed that one was a tall stallion, wearing a nice cowpony hat. Fruit Blender guessed that this was Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Applejack's dad. It had to be! He had the same fur color as Apple Bloom. Which means that the mare standing next to him was their mom.
He had to admit, he could see why their dad went for this mare. She was beautiful. She had the same mane color as Applejack, same eye color as Apple Bloom, and had a red coat similar to Big Mac's. They all looked so happy together.
Where are their parents anyway?
Looking to his left he noticed the same cowpony hat, that the stallion was wearing in the photo hanging on the wall. That hat sure made the stallion look cool. Curious, Fruit Blender decided that he wanted to try it on, to see how cool it would make him look. Putting it on, he smiled and thought:
Wait until Apple Bloom sees this.
Suddenly, he heard the front door open with a loud thud.
"I'm home everypon-!!!"
Applejack lost her words when she saw the changeling she had captured. Free of it's bindings. Standing in her living room. And wearing her daddy's hat!
Fruit Blender had seen Applejack angry before, back when he tried to attack Apple Bloom, but this was worse. She was growling like an angry timber wolf and her blood was boiling to the point that it made her face red with rage.
Okay, I know that I tried to suck the love out of you, but your acting like I desecrated somepony's grave.
Fruit Blender's eyes shot wide open when he realized why Applejack was so angry. It was because he was wearing her DEAD father's hat!
Uh-oh.
Fruit Blender smiled nervously as he slowly backed up. Maybe he could try to reason with her. After all, ponies prefer talking over fighting. Right?
"Now Applejack, we can talk about this. Be nice. Be nice!"
Screaming at the top of his lungs, Fruit Blender turned tail and ran up the stairs, with Applejack in hot pursuit. He had to get to Apple Bloom. She could calm down her sister. At least, he hoped she could.
"And that's how Fruit Blender got his name." said Apple Bloom as she concluded her story.
"I like it. It's a good name for him." replied Sweetie Belle.
"I still think you should have named him Wolf Bane. I mean, seriously! He scared off two timber wolves without using a pot and pan! That's almost Rainbow Dash cool!" Scootaloo said, throwing her hooves in the air for emphasis.
"What are you gonna do when Applejack gets back?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Hmm... I haven't thought that far ahead. Maybe I should try-"
"APPLE BLOOM!!!"
The Cutie Mark Crusaders all turned toward Apple Bloom's door and shouted:
"UH-OH!"
Applejack must have gotten home sooner then they thought. Why else would Fruit Blender be screaming in terror like that?
Apple Bloom and her friends ran as fast as they could to the door, hoping that they could get to Fruit Blender before Applejack did. But just as they were about to open the door, it slammed them flat against the wall as Fruit Blender barged in.
"Apple Bloom! Sister! Angry! Help!"
To Fruit Blender's dismay, and horror, Apple Bloom was nowhere to be seen. He couldn't even find Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle! Knowing that Applejack was close behind, he went for the next best thing.
The window.
Quickly knocking off the cowpony hat, and buzzing his wings, Fruit Blender flew towards the window, ready to smash through it with his horn. He felt bad that he was going to have to break Apple Bloom's window, but desperate times call for desperate measures; especially if that desperate time includes a mad mare!
Applejack seeing the changeling take flight and aiming for the window, she increased her speed; moving 20% faster!
Come on! Come on! Come on! Fruit Blender begged as he closed his eyes.
SMASH!!!
Yes! I made it!
Fruit Blender only made it five feet before he felt somepony grab his hind legs.
Oh flip.
Unprepared for the extra weight, Fruit Blender crash landed into the pig pen, splashing mud everywhere in the process. The poor pigs were all running and screaming.
Quickly wiping the mud from his eyes and yanking his hooves out of Applejack's, he started crawling away as fast as he could toward the fence surrounding the pig pen. Thanks to all of the mud, his wings were now too heavy for flying.
The changeling may have slipped through her hooves, but Applejack was not going to take failure as an option. Nopony ever beat her in a mud race, and she wasn't going to let this changeling be the first.
Just when Fruit Blender thought he was going to make it, Applejack body slammed him into the ground. Quickly recovering from the impact, Fruit Blender used his legs to launch himself off the ground and on to his back; crushing Applejack with his body.
Taking advantage of Applejack's loose grip, Fruit Blender rolled away as fast as he could from her. But once he was up, Applejack grabbed his head and slammed it into the mud.
"Mmh! Mmhmmh! MHMMHMM!!!"
Fruit Blender's legs kicked around frantically as Applejack pressed his head deeper into the mud.
"This is for touching my pa's hat!"
In an act of desperation, Fruit Blender flapped his wings as hard as he could. Doing so sent the mud flying into Applejack's face. She stumbled backwards, cringing in pain, as she tried to wipe away the mud from her eyes.
Fruit Blender gasped for air when he finally got his head out of the mud. But when he opened his eyes, he found himself nose to nose with Applejack.
Definitely not the first thing he wanted to see.
"I'm gonna knock ya into next Tuesday!"
She brought back her right hoof and tried to punch him in the face like she did before, only to have Fruit Blender block it with his right hoof. She went for a left hook, but Fruit Blender caught her left hoof with his own. She tried to pull back her hooves, only to learn that changelings have strong grips.
"Applejack! Will you just stop and listen to-"
POW!!!
Fruit Blender couldn't finish his sentence, because Applejack gave him a strong head-butt to the nose. The changeling screamed in pain as he fell onto his back. He pressed both of his hooves against his nose. He wasn't sure if it was broken, but it was definitely bleeding.
Applejack walked around to the changeling's head. Gearing up her right leg, she was ready to buck this thing's head, like a club to a golf ball.
"APPLEJACK!!! STOP!!!"
Applejack stopped and turned towards the barn in confusion. She saw Apple Bloom, running towards her with the other Cutie Mark Crusaders. Granny Smith was walking as fast as she could behind them, panting as she did.
Why is my sister trying to defend this monster?
Applejack quickly came to the conclusion that those ponies in front of her were actually changelings. It was the only explanation of why this thing was loose in the first place.
Pulling Fruit Blender off the ground and putting him a chock-hold, Applejack shouted:
"Stay back! Or this changeling gets it!"
Apple Bloom and her friends skidded to a stop. Applejack smiled smugly when she saw that they wouldn't approach her. This meant that she had leverage.
"Now, where's my family?!"
"Applejack, we're not changelings! It's me, Apple Bloom!"
"Nice try, I ain't gonna fall for that dumb old trick!"
"This... (pant) isn't... (pant) a trick! (pant) Applejack... (pant) it really... (pant) is... (pant) us!" said Granny, having finally caught up to Apple Bloom and her friends.
"Prove it! What's my favorite color?!"
"Red!" shouted Apple Bloom and Granny Smith in unison.
Lucky guess.
"What's my favorite game?!"
"Horseshoes!"
Okay... well... that's a popular game! I'm not the only pony that likes it!
"What's my favorite tree?!"
Applejack was confident that she had caught these changelings now. No changeling could get that question right. A changeling would say that her favorite tree was an apple tree, when in reality her favorite tree was-
"Bloomberg!"
"Huh?!"
They got it right? But... that's impossible! Only my friends and family know that! Does that mean-? NO! It's not them! The changelings got them to talk somehow! But... how in the hay would they know to ask about Bloomberg?
"Applejack, it's us." said Granny Smith gently.
Both she and Apple Bloom gave her a reassuring smile. The type of smile that Applejack knew a changeling could not mimic.
This was her grandma and sister.
"Then... why in the hay are y'all trying to defend this monster?"
"He's not a monster! At least, not anymore." said Apple Bloom.
Applejack raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Will somepony help me to make sense of all of this?!"
"Applejack, we will explain everything. But first things first, would ya kindly let Fruit Blender go?" Granny Smith asked, pointing at Applejack's hostage.
"The changeling?"
"YES! ME! PLEASE LET GO!!!" said Fruit Blender, struggling to breathe.
Realizing that she was holding him tighter than she thought, Applejack quickly released Fruit Blender, who fell flat on the ground, coughing hard as he tried to get back some air.
"Sorry about that."
Which part? Chocking me, or trying to beat the living daylights out of me?!
Back in Ponyville, Big Mac was getting ready to call it a day. Aside from ponies asking him how he hurt his leg, it was just another average day selling apples.
"Have a nice day Big Mac!" said Lyra Heartstrings as she walked off with her new batch of apples.
"Eeyup!" Big Mac said, waving as she left.
Big Mac closed his eyes, inhaled, and exhaled slowly with a smile on his face. He was looking forward to dinner and bedtime. Luna knows that he needed the sleep after what happened last night. He had just opened his eyes when-
"Hiya Big Mac!"
"WAAAHH!!!"
The big red stallion fell backwards, hitting his head against the apple cart on his way down. Recovering from the blow, he sat up and rubbed his head gingerly. Opening his eyes, he found that the culprit who scared him half to death was
"Pinkie?"
"Oops. Sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you."
Big Mac furrowed his brows in frustration. This wasn't the first time that Pinkie just appeared out of nowhere and shouted 'hi' to his face. Three inches away from his face!
Seriously Pinkie, do ya even know what personal boundaries are?!
He got back up on his three good legs and started to dust himself off when he realized something important.
"Wait a minute! Yer back?!"
"Of course I'm back silly! So's Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Spike. Wait until I tell you all about the Crystal Empire. You're gonna love it! They- "
To Pinkie Pie's surprise, Big Mac wasn't in front of her anymore.
"Huh?"
She turned her head right to see Big Mac running towards Sweet Apple Acres at a fast pace.
"Hey! You didn't give me a chance to tell you about the Crystal Empire yet!
"THEY'VE GOT FLUGEL HORNS!!!"
With Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to keep him company, Fruit Blender sat patiently on Apple Bloom's bed as they waited for Granny Smith to return. They had managed to stop the bleeding by stuffing some tissues up his nose, but to reduce the swelling Granny Smith needed something from downstairs.
As they waited, Scootaloo noticed that Fruit Blender was mad about something. Maybe it had something to do with them leaving him alone, with nopony to vouch for him when Applejack returned. Wanting to resolve the problem, she decided that it was time she apologized.
"Sorry Fruit Blender."
Fruit Blender turned his attention to Scootaloo and gave her a confused look.
"What?"
"I'm sorry that we weren't there when Applejack returned. She might not have attacked you had we been downstairs with you."
"It's okay."
He said that it was okay, but Scootaloo saw that it did nothing to improve his mood. In fact, he just shrugged off her apology and continued to stare angrily at the wall.
Why is he still mad? Hmm. Wait a minute! Sweetie Belle!
Scootaloo lightly smacked Sweetie Belle's shoulder. When the little unicorn turned to smack her back, Scootaloo leaned her head towards Fruit Blender, hinting to Sweetie Belle that she didn't apologized yet.
"Oooh. (cough) I'm sorry too Fruit Blender."
"It's fine."
This time he didn't even turn to look back at them. Scootaloo was beginning to think that he was really mad at them.
"We're really sorry Fruit Blender! Please don't be mad at us!"
Fruit Blender's anger turned into confusion as he turned his attention back to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
"I'm not mad at you two."
"Then why are you upset?"
Fruit Blender sighed in frustration before he answered her question.
"Because I'm a freaking idiot!"
"Come on Fruit Blender. You're not an idiot." said Sweetie Belle as she patted his knee gently.
"Yes I am! First I slap Applejack's hoof after she saves me, and what do I do when she returns?! I put on her dead father's hat! What part of that isn't idiotic?!"
"You didn't know. How could you? We weren't there to tell you not to touch it." countered Scootaloo.
(sigh) "Still, I probably ruined any chance I have of her forgiving me. I might have even ruined my chances of living here."
"Now don't be ridiculous. It'll take more than touch'n an old family heirloom ta get ya kicked outta here."
They all turned around to see that Granny Smith was back with the ice pack that she was looking for. Fruit Blender was surprised to see that she wasn't mad about the whole hat thing like Applejack was.
"Wait a minute, your not mad that I wore your son's hat?"
"Hats are for wear'n aren't they? Heh heh heh! Joking aside, nopony told ya about how my son and daughter-in-law passed away. I can't be mad at a pony, or changeling, who did something like that out of ignorance."
"I don't know... maybe I deserved this." said Fruit Blender, pointing at his nose.
"That happened because Applejack didn't know the whole story. Had she known, I imagine the end results would have been much different."
"Yeah!"
"Totally!"
Fruit Blender smiled, seeing that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo agreed with Granny. He still felt bad about how he treated Applejack after she saved him.
First thing I'm gonna do when I see you, I'm going to treat you with the honor and respect fit for a changeling queen.
"Speak'n of which, let's get back to fix'n that nose of yers."
"Okay. Uh... this isn't going to hurt, right?"
"Nooo. Might be a little cold at first, but it ain't that bad."
"How cold?"
Granny Smith figured that the best way to answer that question was through experience.
Every fiber in Big Mac's body was telling him to stop. He had been running nonstop since Pinkie Pie told him that his sister was back. He was sweating from every pore, his lungs were on fire, and running with just three legs did not make it any easier.
But he had to get back to the barn!
He had to get there before Applejack!
Fruit Blender's very life was on the line!
*Mental Slap*
Get a hold of yerself Big Mac! Applejack's not that kind of pony!
Still, remembering how he treated Fruit Blender last night (back when he thought that the changeling put a hex on his sister), he figured that he better get home before Applejack introduced Fruit Blender into a world of hurt, population: 1.
Taking only three minutes (maybe four) to get there, Big Mac hung his body on the front door, gasping for air as his lungs tried to catch up. That run was by far the fastest two-mile, three-legged race of his life. But now wasn't the time to celebrate. For all he knew, maybe he was too late.
The stallion looked up, and to his surprise the living room was all spick and span. No furniture was broken, no books or antiques on the floor, no banged up walls. Heck, there wasn't even a drop of blood on the floor.
Did... did I beat her here?
"AAAHHHH!!!"
Nope!
Quickly getting back onto his hooves, Big Mac stumbled as fast as he could up the stairs. Running into Apple Bloom's room he shouted:
"APPLEJACK STOP!!!I can explaaa... Huh?"
Applejack was nowhere to be found. The only ponies (plus changeling) were Granny Smith, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Fruit Blender. All eyes were on Big Mac, starring at him as if he was the weirdest thing in the room.
Upon closer examination, Big Mac noticed the ice pack in Granny Smith's hoof. Looking at that and Fruit Blender's swollen nose, Big Mac realized that Fruit Blender didn't scream because Applejack was in the process of beating him up; it had already happened and it was the ice pack that caused the changeling to scream.
Scratching the back of his head, his face forming a grimace, Big Mac said:
"I'm late, aren't I?"
With a angry, nasally voice, Fruit Blender said:
"Eeyup."
Out on the edge of the barnyard, Apple Bloom had just finished telling Applejack the part of the story where Fruit Blender saved Big Mac and her from the timber wolves. She was about to continue her story when she was interrupted by Fruit Blender's scream, followed by Big Mac's late outburst.
Giggling to herself, Apple Bloom said:
"Sounds like Big Mac is home."
"Good! I've got a bone ta pick with that stallion!"
This caught Apple Bloom by surprise.
"Huh?! What for? It wasn't his fault that Scootaloo knew how to pick locks."
"Not that. I'm referring to the fact the he went chasing after a changeling into the Everfree Forest, when he could see that you were no longer in it's clutches."
"Oh... yeah." Apple Bloom giggled nervously as she scratched the back of her head. "When ya put it that way, it does sound rather foalish."
"Foalish?! Ya both could have died!"
"Yes, but we're still here! And you have Fruit Blender to thank for that."
Hearing that statement, Applejack looked away in frustration.
Thank him? Hmph. That varmint didn't thank me when I saved his life. Why should I thank him?
Apple Bloom could tell that her sister was still mad at Fruit Blender. She couldn't blame her. After all, Applejack had more reason then the rest of them to hate Fruit Blender. But she knew that her sister was capable of forgiving him. She had seen it!
"Applejack, I know that Fruit Blender has done terrible things, but can't ya find in yer heart ta forgive him? Ya did the same thing for Princess Luna."
Applejack turned her attention back to Apple Bloom, her expression softening as she did.
"Spike destroyed half of Ponyville last year, but you forgave him too."
That was true. What might have happened had she and her friends not forgiven Spike? Things might have ended different if he wasn't there to help save the Crystal Empire.
"And ya forgave me... even after my friends and I wrote that lie about ya in our Gabby Gums column."
"..."
Okay, now Applejack knew that she was gonna have to forgive this changeling. Maybe he didn't deserve it. Maybe she didn't want to. But if she didn't forgive him, how could her sister believe that she had truly forgiven her?
(sigh) "Apple Bloom, can ya go get Fruit Blender? If I'm gonna forgive this changeling, I gotta be able to look him in the eyes as I do."
Smiling with satisfaction, Apple Bloom gave her sister a quick hug. After releasing Applejack, the little filly ran for the barn house as fast as she could.
(sigh)
Celestia give me strength.
You can do this Fruit Blender. You can do this.
Following Apple Bloom's lead, Fruit Blender left the safety of the barn house and started to slowly make his way toward Applejack. The changeling swallowed nervously when that said mare turned her head in their direction (having heard the door behind them close).
This is it. No turning back. Time to do or die.
Applejack stood and waited patiently as her sister and the changeling closed the gap. What caught her attention was how Fruit Blender was approaching her. He was marching at her like one of those stoic soldiers in Celestia's army; emphasis on the stoic part.
There was no emotion on his face whatsoever.
Is he even sorry for what he's done? For a changeling who wants my forgiveness, ya have a funny way of showing it.
Applejack's disgust did not go unnoticed.
Uh-oh. The angry eyes. Why is she giving me the angry eyes? I'm doing exactly what 3-9-5 did when he stood before Mother; and she went easy on him.
The thing is, in a changeling swarm, giving a stoic face and standing tall was expected from a changeling queen. It was a way of showing that you were not going to deny your failings and that you would except whatever punishment was given. Sure, he didn't do this when he apologized to Granny Smith nor Big Mac, but he wanted to make this apology better. Applejack was the one whom he had wronged the most.
When he was a pony's length away from her, Fruit Blender came to a halt. Both he and Applejack stood there quietly, waiting for the other to speak first.
Remember Fruit Blender, she speaks first. It's custom to let the queen speak first.
Applejack didn't take it kindly.
What?! Yer not even gonna apologize for doing the things that ya did ta me and Apple Bloom?! Yer the biggest jerk that I've ever met! I should have expected this after the way ya thanked me when I saved yer life!
Apple Bloom could see the anger growing on her sister's face.
Come on Fruit Blender! What are you doing?! Say something! Please!
After two minutes of tense silence, Applejack was the first to break it.
"Fine! Be a jerk! I don't even know why I bothered trying!"
Applejack stomped past Fruit Blender angrily. Before she got far, Fruit Blender reached out and shouted:
"WAIT!!! What did I do wrong?!"
(tire screech)
If Applejack wasn't angry before, she was certainly angry now.
Why you no good, rotten, son of a cockroach!
Turning around, she shouted:
"What did ya do wrong?! I sent my sister to bring ya out here so that I could accept yer apology! And ya don't even have the decency ta say a simple, YER SORRY?!"
"I was waiting for you to speak first! It's respectful!"
"Respectful?!Everypony knows that the pony who's apologizing speaks first!"
Oh flip! I forgot. Ponies have different customs than us changelings. Bone-head! Bone-head! Bone-head!
"Wait! I'm sorry! Really! I forgot that your not a changeling!"
"What does that got ta do with anything?!"
"Changelings do what I did, when they're apologizing to their queen!"
There was a small pause, as Applejack took a moment to process what Fruit Blender just said.
"Wait, y'all don't just say yer sorry?"
"We do, but not until after our queen chastises us. She lists off all of the things we've done wrong, so that we can then accept that we have done those things and accept her punishment."
That made things a little better for Applejack. But if she was gonna forgive this changeling, he was gonna have to apologize their way.
"That may be the case for you changelings, but for us ponies if ya don't look sorry, then it's only fair to assume that yer not sorry."
"I am sorry! Honest! Just tell me how you ponies apologize to your queens and I'll do it!"
Now he was really starting to annoy her.
"I AM NOT A CHANGELING QUEEN!!! GET IT THROUGH YER THICK SKULL!!!"
"I KNOW THAT! I'm just trying to make this apology better than the others, okay?!"
Wait... what?
"Why does mine have to be so special?"
(sigh) “Because I have wronged you the most."
Apple Bloom smiled, happy to see that they were now making progress.
"Because ya almost sucked the love out of me?"
"No."
"HMM?!!"
"I MEAN, YES!!! I'm sorry for doing that! But the reason I tried to make your apology special was because I wanted to make up for treating you like trash."
Seeing that she wouldn't respond, Fruit Blender hung his head in shame as he continued to speak.
"You were the first one to ever show me kindness. You saved my life, and I spat in your face. I thought I was pathetic because I am the defect of my swarm, but I'm pathetic because I'm an ungrateful jerk. So... I'm sorry. Really, truly sorry. And... thank you... for saving my life, even though we both know I didn't deserve it."
Applejack didn’t know what to say. She was surprised by Fruit Blender's shame and self-loathing. Before she left for the Crystal Empire, she would have liked nothing more than to see this creature suffer for his crimes. But seeing him like this, all she wanted now was for the pain to go away.
So, placing her hoof gently on the changeling’s shoulder, she waited for him to look her in the eye. When he did, she gave him a warm smile and said:
Overcome with emotions, Fruit Blender pulled Applejack into a tight embrace.
"Oof!"
Apple Bloom did her best to stifle a laugh. The scene in front of her was both cute and funny. Cute, because Fruit Blender was hugging her sister. And funny, because he wasn't aware of how tight he was hugging her.
"THANK YOU APPLEJACK!!! THANK YOU!!!"
"Yer... mhm... welcome."
(pop)
Applejack rapidly patted Fruit Blender's back and squeaked:
"TOO TIGHT!!!"
Oh crap!
Worried that he might have squeezed the life out of her, Fruit Blender released Applejack and dropped her onto the ground.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"Don't worry..."
Applejack raised a hoof up assuredly, then brought herself back onto her hooves.
"... I'm fine."
"You sure?" Fruit Blender said, taking a step forward, wondering if he needed to carry her.
Seeing that Fruit Blender was acting like a worry-wart, Applejack chuckled as she made a gesture for him to calm down.
"Relax. I've survived tighter hugs than that."
Apple Bloom giggled to herself, knowing who gave those hugs.
"By the way, I'm sorry too."
This caught the changeling by surprise. "You're sorry? But I'm the one who did all of the bad stuff."
"Didn't I lose my temper and bust yer nose?" Applejack said with a smirk.
"Oh... right." said Fruit Blender, blushing as he rubbed his nose.
"I take it that y'all worked things out?" Granny Smith asked as her grand-daughters and Fruit Blender entered the kitchen. She had been working on getting the vegetable soup dished out for everypony and changeling. Big Mac and Apple Bloom's friends had just finished setting the table.
"Yes Granny. We're good." Applejack answered.
"Glad to hear it."
Grabbing her hat, Applejack said:
"Well, I better get these two fillies home before it gets really late."
She began to corral Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo towards the front door. She had only gotten them into the living room when Granny Smith called out from the kitchen doorway.
"Now hold on there, Applejack. Not until they get something ta eat first."
(sigh) "Granny, under normal circumstances I wouldn't be against the idea; but the last thing we need is for their parents to come looking for them and possibly seeing Fruit Blender before we get a chance to explain things."
Applejack was opening the top-half of the door, to make sure that the coast was clear, when she turned back to Granny Smith and said:
"Trust me Granny. The last thing we want to do is to cause a panic."
"Cause a panic, how?" said a new voice.
Uh oh.
Applejack knew that voice anywhere.
"Pinkie?! What are you doing here?!"
"It's a funny story really. Big Mac left his apple cart back in Ponyville, before he ran off for some strange reason. And wanting to be a good friend, to one of my best friend's older brother, I thought I'd come and return his cart, so he wouldn't have to coming looking for it later.
"I was about to knock on the door when you opened it and said something about not wanting to cause a panic. And then I got to thinking, what could Applejack have to say that could possibly cause a panic? Maybe something like, the world is coming to an end on the year 2012?"
Hearing herself say that, Pinkie gasped in horror.
"Wait a minute! Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding was on April 21st, 2012! Or was it the 14th? Either way, 2012 is here! WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?!!"
"Whoa! Whoa there, Sugarcube! Relax! The world isn't coming to an end."
The pink pony gave a heavy sigh of relief.
"That's good. For a second there, I thought we weren't gonna make it to season fo-"
Pinkie Pie's eyes widened with shock as she gasped again. Applejack turned around to see what she was looking at. It was a grimacing Fruit Blender.
In his defense, he only came in because he wanted to say goodbye to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo before they left. He didn't know that there was a pony at the door.
"AHHH!!! A ghost! A changeling ghost! SOMEPONY CALL THE GHOSTBUSTERS!!!"
With that, Pinkie Pie turned tail and started running back to Ponyville screaming.
"Pinkie! Wait!"
Just as Applejack was about to give chase, Fruit Blender beat her to the punch and flew after the screaming mare.
"FRUIT BLENDER!!!"
Stupid changeling! Yer making it worse!
Fruit Blender's plan was simple:
1-Catch the pony.
2-Pin her to the ground.
3-Explain himself and then release.
Yes, his plan wasn't the best, but Fruit Blender didn't have time to make a better plan. The last thing he needed was an angry mob coming after him.
The pony he was chasing was fast, but no runner can outrun a flyer. Once he was close enough, he dived in and tackled Pinkie Pie. They rolled a couple of times, but Fruit Blender made sure to end it with him on top of her. In a desperate attempt to save herself, Pinkie Pie started sissy-slapping Fruit Blender's face.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Would you- Ow! STOP THAT?! Ow!"
Seeing that he couldn't get through to her, he caught her hooves with his and pinned them down to the ground.
"No! No! HEEEEELP!!!" screamed the captured mare.
All of a sudden, a blue aura engulfed Fruit Blender's body and yanked him away from Pinkie Pie, levitating him in the air.
What the-?
The magical field turned Fruit Blender around, bringing him face-to-face with the caster of the spell. To his horror, it was an alicorn; the deadliest prey.
"Eep."
Fruit Blender shut his eyes tight and covered his face the best he could. He was a goner. Only changeling queens could take on an alicorn alone, and that was a deadly game. Fruit Blender trembled as he waited for the worst to come. But strangely, nothing happened.
Slowly opening his eye and peeking through one of the holes in his legs, he could see that the alicorn was no longer glaring at him. She was looking at him curiously, kind of like Winona did the first time they met.
Fruit Blender slowly brought down his hooves as he began to relax. If the alicorn wanted to kill him, it would have done it by now.
"Are you a he?" the alicorn asked, causing Fruit Blender to raise a confused eyebrow.
"Uh... yes."
"Who lives here?"
"Huh?"
"Whom resides on this farm?"
Why would she ask him that? He wasn't a local.
"Apple Bloom, her sister Applejack, her brother Big Mac, and her grandmother, Granny Smith."
The alicorn paused for a moment then asked:
"How did you learn those names?"
"Apple Bloom told me."
After he said that, the alicorn set him down. Once she had landed, she turned her attention to somepony behind him and said:
"I don't believe you have anything to fear, Pinkie Pie."
Fruit Blender turned around to see that the pink mare was still there. Why didn't she run away when she had the chance? And how did this alicorn know her name? She didn't look like a pony of noble blood. Before he had a chance to ask, he was interrupted by somepony from behind.
"Princess Luna! I can explain!"
It was Applejack. Standing next to her was Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Fruit Blender was happy to see them; and a little mad too.
What took you so long?!
Before Applejack could speak, the alicorn raised a hoof and said:
"There will be time for explanations. But first, I have a question for your sister. Apple Bloom?"
The little filly stepped forward.
"Yes, your highness?"
"What is this creature to you?"
"He's... he's my friend."
Princess Luna smiled. At last, Apple Bloom's dream made sense.
Fruit Blender had no idea what was going on. Why didn't the alicorn vaporize him first and ask questions later? And how is it that a farm pony like Applejack is on speaking terms with a creature of noble blood?
He was brought back to reality when somepony tapped his shoulder. He turned around to see that it was the pony named Pinkie Pie.
"So, you're not a ghost?"
"No."
"And you're a changeling?"
"Yes."
"And you're friends with Apple Bloom?"
"Yes."
There was a small pause, then the pink pony furrowed her brows and began to walk forward. As she moved forward the changeling moved back, creeped out by her glaring eyes. To his dismay, Fruit Blender backed up into a tree. With nowhere to move, the pony got up in his face (nose touching nose) and whispered with a slight angry tone:
"Well then, I guess I only have one thing to say, changeling."
Fruit Blender gulped nervously then asked:
"What?"
With a cheery grin, Pinkie Pie slid to the left, revealing her welcome wagon.
Wait. Where did that come from?
Pinkie Pie pressed the button, causing the wagon to open and play the music to her signature welcome song.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome! A fine welcome to you!"
"Welcome, welcome, welcome! I say, how do ya do?!"
(BLARP!!!)
"Welcome, welcome, welcome! I say hip-hip-hooray!"
"Welcome, welcome, welcome to Ponyville todaaay!!!"
What the heck was-
"Wait for it!"
Fruit Blender was then blasted in the face with hundreds of tiny pieces of paper, followed by something gooey blasting out of the tubes and landing on him and Pinkie Pie.
"Oops. I must have put the confetti in the oven and the cake in the confetti canons; again. Ha ha ha ha!"
The next day in Ponyville, Rarity was happily trotting back to Carousel Boutique with Spike in tow. He was carrying a tall stack of materials that she had just bought, and was doing his best to keep up without collapsing. Rarity paused for a moment, to take in the sweet morning air and sighed:
"Oh, Spikey-Wikey. Isn't it a lovely day today?"
"It... sure... is."
Rarity turned her head to look back and asked:
"Are you sure you don't need any help with those?"
"No worries! I got it!" he said, smiling as confidently as he could.
"It was very nice of you to help me, Spike."
"Hey, what are friends for?!” Spike gave a grunt then asked, “what are these materials for anyway?!"
"I'm glad you asked. I've been meaning to make a new line of hats more fitting to compliment the beauty of the crystal ponies. They deserve more than just my hay and drinking straw hat."
"I'm sure your straw hat was the best thing they've seen in centuries."
"Aww, thank you, Spike."
As she turned around to continue walking, Rarity saw Applejack pulling a cart of supplies.
"Applejack! What a surprise!"
Rarity trotted off to visit with her apple-farming friend, leaving Spike behind with the heavy stack of materials.
"Oh, uh... hi Rarity. How are you doing?" said Applejack, doing her best to keep up a natural, non-suspicious smile.
"Wonderful, Darling. I just finished some shopping for my next line of fashion."
Looking back at her cart, Rarity noticed that Applejack had bought some wood, a mattress, some bed sheets, and a tooth brush.
"Hmm? I can see that you've done some shopping yourself. Is one of your cousins moving in?"
"Well... uh... no. I mean... somepony is moving in, but... he's not family."
Rarity noticed that Applejack's face was getting all sweaty, and that she had that nervous smile on whenever she was trying to hide something. Thinking that she knew what was going on, Rarity gave a mischievous grin and said:
"Ooooo. Is he somepony special?"
Applejack's face turned bright red and she shouted:
"What?! No! It's nothing like that!"
"Well if it's not one of your cousins, and he's not a colt-friend, then who is it?"
Applejack took a quick glance to see if anypony was eavesdropping. Seeing it was safe, she brought Rarity in close and whispered:
"Look, I can't talk about it here with so many ponies around. If ya want ta know the truth, I can show ya, but it has to be at Sweet Apple Acres."
Rarity gave Applejack a skeptical look. Looking her in the eyes, Rarity whispered:
"Party?"
Applejack knew what Rarity was doing. She was testing to see if it was really her and not a changeling. Giving a reassuring smile, Applejack whispered back:
"Bonanza."
Rarity gave a small sigh of relief.
"Sorry Applejack. I was worried that maybe you were a changeling."
"Uh... funny you should mention that, because... this involves the changelings."
"Really? How so?"
"Like I said, I can't tell ya here with so many ponies around. I don't want to start a panic."
"Very well, Applejack. Once I get these materials to my house, I'll go gather the girls and we'll meet you at Sweet Apple Acres."
Nodding her head, Applejack replied:
"Much appreciated. I'll see ya in a little bit."
"See you later."
Rarity watched as her friend departed and said:
"Looks like my hats will have to wait, Spike."
To her surprise, he didn’t respond.
"Spike?"
Turning around, Rarity saw her pile of fabrics, but no Spike. Using her magic, she lifted her materials and found him; disoriented and flattened underneath.
"Uh... how's about I carry these the rest of the way?"
"Okay” he said in a dizzy manner, giving a thumbs up.
Having found everypony but one, Rarity led Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy to Sweet Apple Acres. According to Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash was visiting her Grandpa Quick Silver for the weekend. Even now, Pinkie was going on, and on, and on, about how amazing this stallion was.
"... Did you know that it was Grandpa Quick Silver that told Dashie about the legend of the Sonic Rainboom?! Apparently it was his grandfather who created the first one! And he was the soul witness. Grandpa Quick Silver spent his entire life trying to convince everypony that the Sonic Rainboom was real, but nopony would believe him; not even his own parents and kids!
"Can you imagine how happy he was when he saw Dashie's first Sonic Rainboom? Everypony thought she was just making it up, to make her cutie-mark story sound all the more awesome. But Grandpa Quick Silver believed her. He told her that one day, she would be the greatest Wonderbolt Equestria has ever seen! Isn't that sweet?!"
"He is very nice." said Fluttershy, having met the stallion a few times before.
"Fascinating story Pinkie" said Twilight. "But did Dash tell you when she would be back?"
"Hmmmm? I forgot to ask!" said Pinkie, smiling as she did.
Twilight shook her head with amusement. All that information, and the one thing she wanted to know Pinkie Pie forgot to ask.
"Oh, look! It's Applejack! Hi Applejack! We're over here!"
Applejack chuckled softly as she watched Pinkie Pie jumping up and down, waving her hooves in the air as the gang and her made their way through the orchard towards the apple farmer. Pinkie wasn't the Element of Laughter for nothing. Hopefully being the Element of Honesty, she could convince her friends that Fruit Blender had really changed.
Applejack kind of wished that Apple Bloom and her friends didn't have school today. Having them here would have made things easier. She couldn't count on Big Mac because he was selling apples in town again, and as for Granny... she was in the middle of one of her naps. Best not to disturb her when she's napping.
"Hi Applejack!" said Twilight. "Rarity told us that you have somepony living with you now. And you say that it has something to do with the changelings?"
"It does, but... where's Rainbow Dash?"
Pinkie Pie took in a deep breath and was about to go into another long discussion of where Rainbow Dash was. But not wanting to listen to that story again, Rarity quickly shouted:
"She's at her Grandpa's!"
Pinkie gave Rarity a confused look, but then smiled and said:
"Yeah, what she said."
Applejack gave a sigh and said, “alright, I'll have ta write her a letter or something."
"So where is this stallion, Applejack?" asked Rarity. "I hate to imagine the kind of trauma he's going through, having lost his home to the changelings."
"He didn't lose his home to the changelings. And... he's not a stallion."
"Is he a buffalo? He's not a griffon, is he?"
"You'll see. Just... promise me that y'all won't freak out."
Everypony gave Applejack a nod. Once they did, Applejack turned her attention to the branches on the tree next to her and said:
"You can come out now!"
With that, Fruit Blender dropped out of the tree and landed on the ground with a thud, next to Applejack. All of her friends gasped in fear. All except Pinkie, who was happy to see him.
"CHANGELING!!!"
Fluttershy quickly dropped to the ground and covered her head with her hooves, whimpering in fear with her eyes shut tight. Fruit Blender raised an eyebrow and thought:
Sheesh. What did my brothers do to this poor pegasus?
Having recovered from the initial surprise, Twilight lit up her horn, and aimed to fire. But before she could, Applejack put herself between them and Fruit Blender shouting:
"Wait! Don't!"
Before her magical blast went off, Twilight quickly brought her head up, her magic missing Applejack but severing a tree branch which landed behind the farm pony and changeling. Seeing that she didn't hit Applejack, Twilight let out a sigh of relief then shouted:
"Applejack! Are you crazy! I could have hit you!"
"Sorry Twi, but I couldn't let ya hurt him."
"Wait, what?"
Stepping to the side so they could all see him, Applejack gave a wave of the hoof and said:
"Girls, this is Fruit Blender."
Mustering all the courage she could, Fluttershy opened her eyes. To her surprise, the changeling wasn't snarling and hissing at them like the ones before. It was smiling nervously as it waved its hoof slowly at her and her friends. This had a calming affect on Fluttershy. In a way, this changeling's approach reminded her of the first time she met her friend, Harry the Bear.
"Morning Fruit Blender." said Pinkie as she waved. "I hope you slept well last night."
"Last night?" said a surprised Twilight. "You knew about this changeling?!"
"Yup! Gave him the whole welcome song and everything last night! I wanted to throw a welcome party as well, but Applejack told me that it was kind of late for a party. Then I said: That's okay, I'll just throw him a welcome party tomorrow. But then Applejack said that we had to take things slowly, which made me sad at first, because I really, really wanted to throw a party for Fruit Blender, especially since he's never had a party before. But hey! Then I thought, once we let everypony know that Fruit Blender's a good changeling, then I can throw him a Welcome to Ponyville Party."
Twilight's expression quickly changed from shock to anger.
"You knew that there was a changeling in Ponyville, and you didn't you tell us?!"
Pinkie Pie giggled, finding Twilight's reaction amusing.
"Silly Twilight. That would have ruined the surprise. But now that you know, isn't this great?! Huh?! HUH?!!"
Pinkie smiled as she waited patiently for her friends to respond. Twilight looked at her with uncertainty, trying to decide if Pinkie Pie had been brainwashed or if she was being serious. Fluttershy stared at Fruit Blender with worry. Something about the changeling was bothering her. In the end, it was Rarity who broke the silence.
"Are you crazy Pinkie Pie?! This isn't some lost puppy that we found on the street! This is a changeling! A LOVE-SUCKING CHANGELING!!!"
"Not just any love-sucking changeling." Pinkie said in a sing-song manner, before she started hopping around Fruit Blender singing:
"For he's a jolly good changed-ling! For he's a jolly good changed-ling! For he's a jolly good changed-liiiiiiiiiiiiiing! A bad guy he is no more!" (squee)
Looking around, Pinkie Pie saw that everypony was staring at her blankly, including Fruit Blender.
"What?"
Paying no mind to Pinkie's question, Fluttershy took a few steps forward and said:
"Um, Applejack?"
"Yeah Sugarcube?"
"Is Fruit Blender sick? He doesn't look so good."
"Huh?"
Applejack turned to look at Fruit Blender, raising an eyebrow as she tried to figure out why Fluttershy thought he was sick. After a couple of seconds it clicked.
White skin. Red eyes. These colors didn't match those of the changelings they've faced before.
"Oh... he's not sick, Fluttershy. He was born with those colors. He's a... he's uh..."
Applejack paused as she tried to think of the right words to finish that sentence. Fruit Blender said he was a defect, but she didn't like that word. Just because he was different, it didn't mean that he was broken. But how else could she put it?
"An Albino Changeling." said Twilight, both astonished and fascinated. Applejack turned towards her and said:
"Albi-what now?"
"An albino changeling. He has a rare genetic disorder that causes the skin, hair, and eyes to have little or no color. Amazing! Who would have thought that a shape-shifter could be susceptible to such a mutation?!"
Grabbing Twilight's face and turning it towards her, Rarity shouted:
"Twilight! Does it really matter what color this thing is?! It's still a changeling! And clearly it has brainwashed Pinkie and Applejack!"
Slamming a hoof to the ground, Applejack shouted:
"I ain't brainwashed, and neither is Pinkie!"
"Which is exactly what a brainwashed pony would say!" shouted Rarity, as she pointed an accusing hoof at Applejack.
"Girls! Stop!" shouted Twilight as she used her magic to separate Rarity and Applejack. Seeing that see had their attention, Twilight continued to speak.
"Look, I know a spell that can free a ponies' mind if they have been brainwashed."
"How do you know if it even works?" asked Rarity.
"Candance used a similar spell to free my brother from his trance. I know that it works."
In a flash, Pinkie Pie was in front of Twilight, hopping up and down with excitement, saying:
"Do me! Do me!"
Fruit Blender rolled his eyes and thought:
The white one's right; this mare's crazy.
Closing her eyes and focusing her magic, Twilight cast the spell. A little pink orb of light floated from the tip of her horn and flew gently to Pinkie Pie's forehead. As it made contact, Pinkie Pie giggled.
"Hee hee hee! That tickles!"
There was a bright flash of light. When everypony recovered from the flash, they all turned their attention to Pinkie Pie. The pink pony sat there on the ground, her head swaying back and forth as her eyes rolled around in circles.
"Pinkie, are you okay?" said Twilight as she steadied her friend. The earth pony shook her head vigorously. When she stopped, she gave a bright smile, saluted and said:
"Yes, indeed-e-doodle!"
Twilight sighed with relief.
"Okay Pinkie, now tell us... is this changeling on our side?"
Looking over at Fruit Blender and then back at Twilight, Pinkie Pie said:
"He's not on our side."
"I KNEW IT!!!" shouted Rarity, grinning with confidence.
"He's on Applejack's side, over there." said Pinkie as she pointed at Applejack and Fruit Blender, who then facehoofed himself.
Crazy and stupid.
Sighing with annoyance, Twilight changed her choice of words.
"I mean, is Fruit Blender a good changeling like you said?"
"Yep! If he's not a good changeling, I don't know what is."
Twilight and Rarity stared at Pinkie Pie, dumbfounded by her words. On the other hoof, Fluttershy was happy to hear that she didn't have to be scared of Fruit Blender anymore.
"How do you know he's a good changeling?" said Rarity, still not convinced that it was true.
"Easy! He saved Apple Bloom and Big Mac from a couple of mean timber wolves!"
"Timber wolves?!" said Twilight.
"Oh, my. Are they alright?" asked Fluttershy with concern.
"They're fine." said Applejack as she patted Fluttershy's shoulder. "Big Mac's leg is a little torn up, but it could've been worse."
Rarity gave Fruit Blender another skeptical look and said:
"And how do we know that those were actual timber wolves? What if those were just changelings in disguise. Maybe they're using this changeling to spy on us, to learn all of our secrets."
"Rarity, if the changelings wanted ta spy on us, couldn't they just send a changeling disguised as a pony ta do that?" said Applejack.
"Well... uh... maybe.... it's all just part of their new plan! Yes! To make us think that there are good changelings, and then strike us when our backs are turned!"
"Yeah, I don't think so."
"And what makes you so confident that that's not the case?!"
"If they wanted to do that, then Fruit Blender wouldn't have attacked me the first time we met."
There was a small pause.
"Wait a minute. First you tell us that he saved your brother and sister from some timber wolves, and now you're telling us that he attacked you? I'm confused." said Twilight.
"Let me start from the beginning... "
"... And then I gave him the Welcome Song and got us both covered in cake batter." said Pinkie Pie, giggling. Applejack told them most of the story that Apple Bloom told her, but when it got to the part where Pinkie Pie came in, the pink earth-pony begged Applejack to let her tell that part of the story.
"You should have seen it! He was all like 'ew' and I was like 'ha ha ha ha ha' then he was like 'grrr' and then he assaulted me with a cake batter ball, so I was all like 'Cake Batter Fight!!!' It was so much fun!"
Speak for yourself.
Yes, Fruit Blender threw a cake batter ball at her, but he wasn't trying to start a game. He just wanted to stop her from laughing at him. Had he known that she was going to start tossing cake batter at him at inpony speed, he would have bit her instead.
"Okay Pinkie. Anything else you wanted to add?" said Applejack.
"Nope."
"Anyways, Princess Luna told me that she would explain everything to her sister, leaving me in charge to tell y'all (along with the rest of Ponyville) about Fruit Blender."
"So who all knows besides us?" asked Twilight.
"Just my family, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo."
"Speaking of which, when I get home, my sister is going to get it!" said Rarity angrily. "Breaking and entering is bad enough; but risking her life getting near one of those vicious, horrendous, disgusting-"
Rarity paused when she noticed Applejack frowning and Fruit Blender snarling angrily.
"Um... no offense."
If you weren’t Sweetie Belle’s sister...
"Either way, she's in big trouble!"
"Calm down, Rarity." said Applejack, gesturing with her hooves to bring it down a notch. "I wouldn't be too hard on her. I already sent her and Scootaloo home without dinner last night."
Taking a deep breath and composing herself, Rarity said:
"I guess that will do. But I'm still gonna have a stern talking with her tonight."
"Fair enough."
"So, how are you going to tell the rest of Ponyville?" asked Twilight.
Applejack sat down, rubbing her shoulder as she stared at the ground, wishing that she had the answer to that question.
"That's why I wanted to tell y'all first. I don't know how I'm gonna do it. Sure, telling a few ponies is easy, but a whole town? How am I gonna do that?"
Everypony took a moment to sit down and think. What should they do? Pinkie Pie gave an excited gasp and shouted:
"Let's sing a heartfelt song! One with words like: why can't we imagine a changeling can change?!"
As Applejack and her friends thought of the best way to let Ponyville know about Fruit Blender without causing a panic, Princess Luna had finished telling her sister about the white changeling and how he desired to live among them in peace. Celestia had been silent through most of Luna's tale. Even now she was silent as she thought of what they should do.
"Sister?"
"This isn't going to be easy, Luna."
"What do you mean?"
Celestia gave a sad sigh.
"Many ponies here in Canterlot want justice for what the changelings have done. I cannot give this changeling a full pardon without upsetting most of our citizens."
"But, Sister, he saved two of our own!"
"After they saved his life, Luna. He owed them a life debt. Everypony will believe that's all it was. But now that they are even, there is nothing to stop him from doing that which is bad."
Furrowing her brows in anger, Luna said:
"Nothing but the Magic of Friendship."
Celestia gave her sister a surprised look, then hardened her expression and said:
"It's not that I don't have faith in the Magic of Friendship, Luna. But answer me this; would you have believed that a changeling wanted to be friends with a pony if you had not seen the things that you have seen?"
Luna wanted to give a good comeback, but slowly looked away in shame knowing full well that such an idea was unbelievable.
"Besides the Apples, nopony has seen anything to convince them that changelings are capable of friendship and love. All they would have to rely upon is our word, and even we can be wrong. (sigh) I should know."
Celestia still blamed herself for what happened on the day of Cadance's wedding. She knew her niece better than anypony, and yet the changeling queen fooled her and her kingdom. Twilight saw past that creature's lies, but Celestia put her faith in it over her most faithful student. What kind of leader does that?
The bad kind.
Luna noticed the regret in her sister's eyes. She knew that look all too well.
"Tia, it's not your fault that the changelings almost won. We were not prepared to face a foe like that."
"I was too trusting, Luna. I refuse to make that mistake again."
Taking a moment to think, Luna smiled and said:
"Then don't."
Celestia raised an eyebrow as she looked at her sister skeptically.
"What are you saying?"
"We don't need to lock him in a dungeon to keep everypony safe. He is just one changeling, and right now he is under the watchful eye of Applejack; one of the element bearers. They defeated a hundred changelings all on their own during the invasion. Who better to safeguard a changeling than them?"
"..."
"Please, Sister. Give him a chance like you gave me."
Against his better judgement, Fruit Blender went along with the plan that Twilight suggested. Apparently, they were going to present him to the mayor of Ponyville, who would then assemble a town meeting to present him to the whole town.
Currently, he was sitting patiently under Applejack's hat in the form of a little chick. All he could do was listen to the noises around him, since Applejack's hat wasn't the most transparent. When Applejack came to a halt, Fruit Blender assumed that this was their first stop.
"Big Mac."
"Eeyup?"
"I need ya ta come with us."
"What? Where?"
"Ta Town Hall."
"Fer what?"
"We need you as physical evidence to support Fruit Blender's case." said Twilight.
"Huh?"
"Yer timber wolf bite. Mayor needs ta see that, so we can show her that Fruit Blender is on our side." said Applejack, to help clear things up.
"But don't we need Fruit Blender for that ta work?"
"Which is why we brought him." said Pinkie Pie.
Taking off her friend's hat, Pinkie Pie revealed that said changeling for Big Mac to see. Taking a closer look, Big Mac said:
"Whoa, Nelly! I didn't think a changeling could change into something that small."
Normally changelings don't. Changing into something small ran the risk of making yourself easy prey. Fruit Blender's brother, 7-2-2, learned that lesson the hard way.
Poor 7-2-2. Every changeling told him that changing into a mouse was stupid.
That was the reason why Fruit Blender didn't want to go along with Twilight's plan at first, but Fluttershy assured him that he had no need to fear. Apparently the predators in Ponyville were reasonable to work with, being domesticated and all. Fruit Blender still wondered if Fluttershy having a pet grizzly was true or just a bluff to make him feel better.
"Isn't he so adorable?!" said Pinkie Pie, who then proceeded to tickle Fruit Blender with her hoof, wanting to get some cute little chirping noises out of him. All she got in return was a weak slap from a small wing and some mad chirping noises that made Fluttershy gasp in horror.
"Fruit Blender! Such language!"
Sheesh. Its not like I said *buy some apples!*
Putting her hat back over the changeling, Applejack said:
"No worries, Fluttershy. I'll have a talk with Fruit Blender about his language. But right now, lets get him over to Town Hall and explain things to Mayor Mare first. Rarity? Could you watch the apple cart while we're gone?"
"Of course, Darling."
With that, Applejack and the others made their way to Town Hall.
Meanwhile, two unicorn stallions from Celestia's army were completing an enchantment spell on the front doors of Town Hall.
"There. No changeling is going to get through these doors without revealing their true selves."
"What a relief. Thank you gentlecolts for all of the hard work you've done." said Mayor Mare.
"Your welcome. Though, most of the credit belongs to your local hero, Twilight Sparkle. It's thanks to her enchantment spell that all of this is even possible."
"Alright." said a repair mare, who was now exiting the building. "I've got your emergency button installed. If you've got changelings invading, just push the button and you'll have both the Royal Guard and the Wonderbolts here in two shakes of a leg-bone."
"Perfect! Thank you so much."
"Now..." said the Royal Guard. "... do you have the list that we asked for?"
"Yes, right here." said Mayor Mare, presenting a scroll to the two stallions. It was a list of all the ponies who wanted the same enchantment cast on their doors. "I apologize that it is not yet complete. Some of the ponies haven't responded to my letters yet."
"That's okay. We'll start casting spells on the houses that have given us permission to do so. Just send us word once the others have responded."
"Very well. Good luck to you."
After she gave a wave to the stallions and mare, Mayor Mare went back into Town Hall, ready to get started on today's paperwork.
"Raven?! What is next on our list today?"
"Well let's see... " said Raven Inkwell. "... we still need to review what will be discussed in tomorrow's town meeting."
"Ah, yes. Well... we will be discussing the buddy system, and what to do if any pony suspects that their friends have been replaced by a changeling. Have there been any reports of suspicion since the wedding?"
"Not as of today, Madam Mayor. In fact, my sister tells me that there hasn't been any reports in Canterlot either."
"Speaking of which, how is your sister doing?"
"Much better. She tells me that she hasn't had a nightmare since Princess Luna's dream intervention last week."
"It's funny to think that Princess Luna used to be the same pony that tried to bring about the eternal night. I'm just happy that she is on our side now."
"Me too, Mayor Mare. Me too."
"Okay, there is also-"
"Mayor Mare?" said Twilight as she entered Town Hall. "We need to talk."
"Ah! Twilight Sparkle. Just the pony I wanted to see. How can I help you?"
"Well, you see-"
"Uh, Twilight?!"
Turning around, Twilight could see that Applejack's hat was glowing green and that it was shaking vigorously.
"Oh no."
"Fruit Blender! It's too soon! Don't change!" shouted Big Mac, trying to force down his sister's hat and keep the changeling at bay. But it was no use. Something was compelling Fruit Blender to return to his true form and he couldn't stop it.
"Pinkie! The doors!" shouted Twilight.
Pinkie Pie quickly slammed the the doors shut and Twilight used her magic to close the window blinds. And not a moment too soon; just as they had closed the doors and shut the blinds, Fruit Blender burst back into his true form, fell onto the ground, and hissed angrily as he held his aching head with his forehooves.
"Cha-ch-ch-cha-cha-CHANGELING!!!" shouted Mayor Mare and Raven in fright.
"Mayor Mare! Wait! We can explain!" shouted Twilight as she took a few steps forward.
"Stay where you are!" shouted the mayor, putting herself next to the emergency button. "I touch this button, and all of Equestria will know that you are here!"
Twilight took a couple steps back and said, "Okay, calm down. Let's talk this through."
"What's there to talk about?! I know why you changelings are here! I will not let you make a meal out of everypony here!"
"Mayor Mare! It's me! Twilight! I'm not a changeling! The only changeling in this room is Fruit Blender, and he's not gonna hurt you!"
"Lies! You're not going to fool me!"
"Wait! Ask me something only I would know!"
There was a short pause before the mayor spoke.
"Okay... what was I wearing on that night when Nightmare Moon tried to cancel Nightmare Night?"
"You were wearing a clown costume. And it wasn't Nightmare Moon that tried to cancel Nightmare Night, it was Princess Luna. The elements of harmony had already changed her back to good."
"Which Winter Wrap Up team are you a part of?"
"All three of them. You gave me the position as the All-Team Organizer on my first Winter Wrap Up here in Ponyville."
Okay, one more question. Mayor Mare knew that it had to be something that nopony else would know except Twilight.
"How many books are at Golden Oaks Library?"
"224."
Leaning over to Raven Inkwell, Mayor Mare whispered:
"Is that correct?"
"I don't know. I'd have to check the records."
"Quick then! Go check. I'll keep them here while you search."
Raven quickly made her way down to Town Hall's records room. As they waited, Mayor Mare kept her eyes locked on the potential threat. Twilight stayed where she was, not wanting to provoke the mayor in any possible way. Everypony else turned their attention to Fruit Blender; who was up, but still rubbing his head.
"Are you alright?" asked Applejack.
"Better than your hat. Sorry I destroyed it."
"Its alright. I'm just glad ya didn't singe my mane."
The door to the stairs soon swung open, and Raven came in with the file she was looking for.
"Okay Raven, how many books are at the Golden Oaks Library?"
After looking quickly through the papers, Raven smiled and said:
"224."
"So how did y'all sneak back, without anypony seeing ya without yer disguise?" asked Apple Bloom as she sat with Fruit Blender in the living room.
"Applejack's friend, Fluttershy, went out and brought one of her bird friends for me to use as a template. Before I changed, Big Mac and the others acted as a pony shield so I could exit the building without anypony seeing me."
"Did them doors hurt ya when ya left the building?"
"No. I'm guessing it only does that when I'm in disguise."
"Which is good." said Applejack as she entered. "I'd hate for ya ta get a migraine every time ya pass through a doorway."
"Heh. Me too." said Fruit Blender.
"Come on ya two, dinner's on."
Apple Bloom and Fruit Blender got off the couch and made their way into the kitchen. As they made themselves comfortable, Applejack started dishing out the flapjacks onto everyone's plate. Most ponies would have been against having a breakfast food for dinner, but not the Apples.
As they ate their food (or in Fruit Blender's case, absorbed the love) Applejack said, "Just so ya know, Fruit Blender, I was able ta change Big Mac's bed into a bunk bed while you were working out in the orchard, so ya won't have ta sleep on the couch anymore."
Fruit Blender's eyes shot wide open with surprise.
"What?! Won't that be awkward for Smarty Pants?!"
"Say what?"
"You know, the mare that Big Mac sleeps with every night."
Everypony stared at Fruit Blender with confused looks, but after a moment they started laughing their heads off; all except Big Mac, who was covering his face with his forehooves, wishing he was dead.
"Why is everychang- I mean pony laughing?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Fr-Fruit Blend-er! Ha ha! Smarty Pants isn't a mare!" Apple Bloom said, finding it hard not to laugh as she spoke. "Ha ha ha! Smarty Pants is a doll! Ha ha ha!"
Raising an eyebrow before putting on a smirk, Fruit Blender said, "Wait. Big Mac sleeps with a doll?!"
Within a few seconds, he was laughing his head off just like the others.
And I thought Sweetie Belle's armor was funny.
Giving Fruit Blender the angry-eyes, Big Mac said, "Laugh it up, Bucktooth. Just wait until I learn your embarrassing secrets."
"Pfft. I don't have any embarrassing secrets."
"Really?"
Fruit Blender didn't like the way that Big Mac was looking at him, or the others for that matter. He made a mental note to himself to be careful what he did and said around them in the future.
Apple Bloom was teaching Fruit Blender how to properly wash and put away dishes, when there was a knock on the back door.
(Knock! Knock!)
"Quick!" said Applejack as she entered the kitchen. "Make yerself scarce!"
Taking a quick sniff of the air, Fruit Blender smiled and said, "No need. It's a friend."
Raising an eyebrow, Applejack went over to the kitchen door to see who it was. As she was doing this, Big Mac and Granny Smith came into the kitchen. Once she saw who it was, Applejack opened the door and bowed before the alicorn in front of her.
"Your Highness."
"I'm surprised, Applejack." said Princess Luna, before she entered. "I was expecting a test to see if it was me."
"No need, Princess. Fruit Blender here caught yer scent."
"Really? I didn't realize that changelings were kind of like bloodhounds."
"More like bloodhounds are kind of like us." said Fruit Blender with a confident smirk. Apple Bloom giggled, finding Fruit Blender's pride amusing.
"So, I take it that yer sister knows about Fruit Blender now?" asked Granny Smith.
"Yes." said Luna with a nod.
"What did she say? Can Fruit Blender stay?" asked Apple Bloom, who was very anxious to know.
Turning her attention to Apple Bloom, Princess Luna gave a small smile and said, "Fruit Blender has permission to stay."
"Yee-haw! Thank you, Princess Luna! Thank you!"
"Ha ha ha. Your welcome, Apple Bloom."
After Princess Luna had left, Granny Smith gave the order for everyone to go to bed. They all had a big day tomorrow and they needed to be well rested for tomorrow's town meeting. They weren't sure what to expect, but hopefully the rest of the town would be willing to give Fruit Blender a chance.
Before they made their way upstairs; Applejack, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom gave Granny Smith a hug and a kiss goodnight. Fruit Blender didn't wait up for them, figuring that all of that affection was for family members only.
It didn't take Fruit Blender long to find Big Mac's room. There was only one bedroom with a bed on top of the other. On closer inspection, he noticed a raggedy pony doll on top of the bottom bunk. This had to be Smarty Pants. Looking at it now, he finally got the joke of why it was called Smarty Pants.
Why ponies even wear clothes, I'll never know.
Fruit Blender took a closer look at the doll, trying to figure out why Big Mac found this doll so appealing. It wasn't exactly an eye pleaser, so there had to be another reason why. Poking at it, he got it to squeak. He then picked it up and gave it the sniff test. Once he did, he grinned as he came to the conclusion why Big Mac liked this doll so much.
Hearing hoof steps, Fruit Blender quickly put the doll back and buzzed up to the top bunk, pretending that he was getting ready to sleep. As he was doing this, Apple Bloom walked in and said, "Fruit Blender. You forgot something. Come down here."
Fruit Blender found that statement odd but complied. Once he made contact with the ground, Apple Bloom wrapped her front legs around his neck and hugged him tight.
"Goodnight, Fruit Blender."
He was surprised at first, but after he got over the initial shock, he returned the hug and said, "Goodnight, Apple Bloom."
While they were hugging each other, Fruit Blender noticed that Big Mac and Applejack were standing at the doorway, smirking as they watched. He quickly gave a straight face and looked away, trying not to blush.
After releasing Fruit Blender, Apple Bloom gave Big Mac a hug goodnight and made her way to her room. As both of his sisters left, Big Mac took off his yoke and hung it next to the door. As he got into bed, Fruit Blender followed suit. Once he was comfortable, Big Mac blew out his candle and went to sleep; or at least he tried before his new roommate disturbed the peace.
"Psst. Big Mac!"
(yawn) "What?"
Giving a mischievous laugh, Fruit Blender whispered, "How long have you had a crush on Twilight?"
Or read?
