Scootaloo couldn't be happier. No-Bark was gaining back his memory from hearing his story. Scootaloo walked over to No-Bark and hugged him. No-Bark smiles and hugs Scootaloo back, glad the filly was alright.

"Your memories seem to come back if you see something from your past." Scootaloo remarks as she kicked a part of the red carnivorous plant No-Bark cut up. "Maybe if we get you out of the forest, you can remember more."

No-Bark put away his blade and drinks from a canteen in Scootaloo's pack. "Maybe lassie, but we should focus on escaping those buggers before they go and make us inta dinner." No-Bark points to the main entrance they came in from. "We should head ta the exit, anywhere else ain't safe since we ain't sure what's where."

Scootaloo nods, hoping No-Bark knew what he was doing. She then goes into her pack and pulls out a switchblade she 'borrowed' from Big Macintosh on her last visit to Sweet Apple Acres, knowing she would need it against the homicidal changelings that were after them. The blade was a bit large for the small filly and made her off balance when she held the hilt in her mouth, but it was much better than nothing.

No-Bark then picked up Scootaloo and started to sneak over to the entrance as quietly as possible, considering he had a small pony on his back, but couldn't let her fall for another trap. Very stealthy, No-Bark and Scootaloo make it past half of the changelings who were search for them with only one time that No-Bark knocked out a changeling before it could alert it's kin.

Scootaloo didn't know where No-Bark learned his skills but made a mental note to ask him as soon as they got out of danger. Scootaloo wasn't very stable on No-bark's back, her pack made her lean in the wrong direction if No-Bark made a quick turn, but she trusted No-Bark to keep her safe so she just held on as much as she could.

Unfortunately, the canteen from Scootaloo's pack slips from Scootaloo's grip and bounces off the ground before tumbling into a bush, making a loud thud as it hit the ground. Three of the larger changelings, who were close by, heard the thud and went to investigate the noise as No-Bark tip-toed around them, hoping they didn't look up from the canteen.

Scootaloo really wished somepony would give them a break from all of this nonsense, it was really dragging her down and she had a small limp in her leg which she landed on when she broke into Twilight's and the Everlight Temple. Scootaloo however knew she could complain later, now was a time of movement and courage, two things she had less of each minute they stayed.

No-Bark noticed Scootaloo struggling to stay on his back and started to slow down so it was easier to stay on. No-Bark was also starting to feel a bit weak, his mind however pushed him to keep moving as stopping would mean instantaneous death. As No-Bark stepped closer to the gate, he noticed forms waiting right where they needed to go, which were changelings who blocked off the exit and held them in.

"Is there any way we can avoid them and go another way?" Scootaloo asks as they hide behind a large tree that No-Bark checked to be safe. Scootaloo got off No-Bark's back and stretches her legs in preparation for a possible fight, hoping her short lesson on butt kicking from Rainbow Dash would be enough.

No-Bark shakes his head quietly, his mind racing with the stress of his memories. "Nah, that exit is packed with changelings. The only way through is to charge them head-on, lass, I need cover while we charge. Use that there knife on anypony trying ta get close to us and make sure ya stay on my back. The buggers will strike ta kill, can ya defend yaself?"

Scootaloo couldn't believe that they were about to fight changelings, the things Rainbow Dash and the others fought off in the palace. Part of her was terrified, the other part was shaking with excitement for her first chance to be in real danger. "Yessir!" Scootaloo nods and grins.

"Alrighty then," No-Bark gruffly remarks as he puts Scootaloo on his back and lets her get ready. "Now listen here lass, if anything happens to ya, like fall off, ya need ta hide and run. Ya need ta get out of here more than me, do you understand?"

Scootaloo gives No-Bark a worried look. "No-Bark...?"

No-Bark growls and turns so he faces Scootaloo so he can stare into her eyes. "Promise me, if something happens, ya will run and won't look back no matter what. Promise me!" He hisses quietly.

Scootaloo looks at the changelings and back at No-Bark multiple times, his hardened look of seriousness burned into her mind, so unlike the No-Bark she first met. She hangs her head and looks away from No-Bark, unwilling to look him in the eyes.

"I promise."

*****

Windfelt checked the time, almost midnight, and glanced around at Everlight. He loved his home, to the point he would kill the brat and No-Bark and let his changelings starve in order to let them live another day. Those two would lead an army in and get them all killed the second they get out of the forest. Windfelt however was very surprised to find No-Bark was still alive after so long, that girlfriend's spell must've gave him a bonus on years in order to live this long. He felt very tempted to spike his tea back at his house but then the filly would've ran away and no one would know where she went.

Windfelt's thoughts were interrupted by a loud crazy laugh into the night, getting all changelings ready and looking for their prey. Suddenly from the far right, No-Bark charges with a scared stiff Scootaloo on his back charges at the exit.

"Keep together!" Windfelt yells as each changeling stands between No-Bark and freedom. All were nervous from the earlier charge and hoped they could hold them in despite the increasing speed No-Bark was gaining. No-Bark runs harder and faster before howling into the wind as he rams into the wall of changelings.

CRACK!

No-Bark gasps and coughs blood as he gets out of Everlight. He felt like he just snapped a couple of his ribs and cracked his skull, only adrenaline keeping him moving as they run. Unfortunately for No-Bark, the changelings changed into a brick wall at the last second. Not saying it stopped him, No-Bark smiles bloodily, but it seriously hurt him bad. At the most, he mused, he could make it half way to the forest exit before he dies from blood loss.

Scootaloo however wasn't allowed a moment to think, just after No-Bark charged the changelings and won, all the changelings from Everlight were right after them, most very shaken up by the muscled pony ramming them. She takes the switchblade and swipes at changelings trying to catch up to them.

The forest rushed by them as they kept running for what seemed like hours of torture for both ponies against the odds of death. No-Bark makes it around a large tree out of the changeling's sight before he gets a hoof snagged on the roots of a tree and launches them both into a nearby river. Scootaloo makes it to the surface watches the changelings go off in a different direction.

Scootaloo grins and quietly giggles in excitement. "Their gone No-Bark!... No-Bark?" Scootaloo looks around for her trusted friend but can't seem to find him. "NO-BARK!" Scootaloo screams as she spots him further down the river, slowly dragging himself out of the water. To her horror, his leg was bent in a way no pony's should.

Scootaloo swims to No-Bark's aid and helps drag him out of the water. "No-Bark...!" Scootaloo checks him over with teary eyes. "Come on! We need to go!" She nudges No-Bark with fear and worry.

No-Bark coughs up water and blood before he opens his eyes slowly. "Scootaloo...? Why are ya here? Ya promised..."

"Come on! I'll carry you, please stay with me!" Scootaloo begs as she tries to drag No-Bark to the exit.

"Scootaloo..." No-Bark says as he coughs up more blood.

Scootaloo sobs as she keeps dragging No-Bark. "Please don't do this, we have ponies who can treat you, you don't need to die here!" Scootaloo cries as she keeps dragging him, not willing to let her friend die.

"Scootaloo...! Please... stop..." No-Bark whispered as he smacks away her grip, shocking Scootaloo. "Run... please... leave...me. Live... and let an old pony... submit. Ya have yer own life to live... mine's done ever since Twin-Blade had me killed."

"You remember...?" Scootaloo holds No-Bark close, not letting go for a second as tears run down her cheeks.

"Yes... I even know my real name now..." No-Bark chuckles and forcefully coughs. " I remember... wanting so much for Clover... knowing she'd do great things." No-Bark looks over to Scootaloo and pats her head with an unbroken hoof. "Ya are a good pony... Scootaloo... one day yer gonna be known everywhere for ya deeds... I promise..."

Scootaloo then stands and rests next to No-Bark, weary from all that happened. "No-Bark...?"

"Yes... Scoots?" No-Bark replies with cough, now feeling his body go numb.

"What... what was you name? From before this?" Scootaloo asks with half drooped eyes, struggling to stay awake to be there for her friend.

"Heh...ya gonna laugh..."

"No... I won't..."

"Well... it's..." No-Bark coughs more, struggling to breath.

"It's what...? Tell me... please..." Scootaloo begs as she feels her body go limp.

"Des...tiny..."

Scootaloo cries after No-Bark goes limp and slowly closes her eyes just as changelings appear in front of them.

*****

Scootaloo gasps and snaps awake, looking around at her surroundings. She finds herself in front of the entrance, Clover's book right in front of her, opened at the first blank page. Scootaloo tries to figure out what happened and is hit by the loss of Destiny, making her break into tears over her lost friend.

"Ha, I finally found you." A familiar voice came from behind Scootaloo.

"R-rainbow Dash...?!" Scootaloo exclaims as Rainbow Dash lands beside her and is embraced in a hug by Scootaloo.

"Whoa, I guess you really regret taking the book huh?" Rainbow Dash pats Scootaloo's head.

"Oh Rainbow Dash! I missed you SO much after you left me in the forest!" Scootaloo cries into Rainbow Dash's mane.

"Left you in the forest? What are you talking about? I only just found you for the first time." Rainbow Dash looks at Scootaloo with confusion. "Spike got worried and sent me to find you before you did something really silly."

"What...?! But... but you stopped me in the forest... scolded me to leave." Scootaloo looks at Rainbow Dash with the same confusion.

"No I didn't." Rainbow Dash gives Scootaloo a weird look and glances over at the book. "You must've fallen asleep reading that thing."

"No... No I didn't!" Scootaloo nearly shouts, now angrily confused. "No! I went to Everlight... and... and fought off changelings! I did not make it up!"

"Fought off Changelings? What the hell is Everlight?" Rainbow Dash asks now completely puzzled.

So Scootaloo sat down and went through the whole thing, not pausing for a breath as she rants how she first went in, how she found Destiny as No-Bark to how she escaped Twin-Blade's temple and how she got out of Everlight. She even told Rainbow Dash Clover the Clever's story and how her and Destiny fell into Everlight's trap. With tears stinging her eyes she told Rainbow Dash about Destiny's death and his lasts moments with her.

Rainbow Dash was quiet the entire story and listened intently to every bit with mixed looks at each segment. Finally when Scootaloo finished with another set of tears, Rainbow moves next to Scootaloo and pats her back.

"Scootaloo..."

Scootaloo looks up to the gentle eyes of Rainbow Dash. "Y-yes...?"

Rainbow Dash hugs Scootaloo tightly. "Sweetheart... it was just a dream. I'm sorry but it was just a nightmare, although a vivid one at that."

Scootaloo looked down and remained silent, wanting Rainbow Dash to support her but knowing it was far-fetched.

"Look, why don't we head back to Twilight's? She's been worried sick about you, maybe after you can get some rest there, you'll feel better."

After a few moments, Scootaloo sighs and nods, picking up Cover's book and walking with Rainbow Dash back to Ponyvile. But in her heart she still remembered Destiny and refused to let him go.

Should we kill her? She knows too much, she could get us all killed...

Not yet, but if she returns, do it with no hesitation. Our Mother need her blood, craves it, we will give her relief. Some day... soon... Destiny's voice carried on the wind along with a cackle of laughter.

THE END?

Author's Note

So ends this tale, but what of Windfelt and his changelings?! What happened truly happened to Destiny?! Is Ponyvile safe?! Who is this 'Mother'?! We'll never know...

Or will we?