The Strange and Abusive Tale of Defect Reject

It was one year later and all of Defect Reject's wounds had healed, they had actually all healed six months ago but he'd come to enjoy the lull of the secluded briar patch. The animals had come to accept him only two weeks in that he wasn't a threat to them and just wanted peace. A peace they could only bring for so long sadly. While he had truly loved living among the animals here interacting with them becoming friends with them, especially the rabbits after having lost Fluffy Bottompants they made him smile. At least Fluffy couldn't be hurt anymore and was in a better place. He loved all the animals here they helped him and he had helped them in return, they had made it so much easier to endure the pain of recovering and once he could, he helped them with any problems they might have.

He looked around at all the animals he'd made friends with while he'd been here and smiled at them enjoying the sounds of the birds and the beauty of the lake. He was going to miss all of them, but he knew in his heart this wasn't where he belonged. Whomever had made that rainbow burst from the sky somehow... somehow he was connected to that, he wasn't sure how or which pony had done it but he knew. For all he knew maybe it was a group of ponies that wanted to be his friend! Better then the alternative... he had to fight them due to them being a plague on pony kind or the world. He chuckled to himself. Ponykind. He didn't think any of them would accept him... a changeling. But he had to try and he was going to start with that rainbow explosion. If only he knew where it had come from originally... he knew the rough area but not exactly where. Somewhere in Celestia's kingdom someone would like him for whom he was... even if he was a changeling.

But that didn't happen to matter at this moment he said coming back to reality as he smiled at the bears he was helping. They'd needed some help collecting some berries for a feast they were having that night and he was more then happy to help them out. He'd gotten to know all the animals here pretty well and hoped that other animals were this easy to communicate with as well outside the briar patch, but he really had liked helping the animals so he figured he could help them as well as any ponies that would let him. He knew tonight would be the last night he'd see these animals for a while or possibly forever so for now, he was content with helping them. They may not be the friends and family he was looking for but they were surely better then his last one.

He looked around at the animals while he kept helping them, he had to leave tonight while they were all asleep he thought as he sniffed back a tear. It had been a good year and he wished he could bring all of the animals with him but... it'd be dangerous out their. Especially since he knew he wasn't too far from changeling territory still, he had to leave not only so he could find ponies to belong with but to save the animals here. Queen Chrysalis didn't know he was alive yet and he wanted to keep it that way... if she ever found him here... well... this wouldn't be a secluded paradise anymore. He tried to make sure to be extra happy around the animals today so they'd be less likely to know his sadness. He'd had to pull back from shedding a tear a time or two while singing with them or talking to them.

The day kept going and whenever he had a chance he made sure to pet the animals or rub the ones he knew best in the places they liked best. He gave the bear he liked most a nice long back massage with his hooves and scratched under the foxes chins where they liked it best. Trying to make this an almost perfect day he kept helping the animals out however he could, until it was time for the sun to start setting. The animals started to wind down for the day as the sun came down and the moon began to rise. He went over to his little hut he had made out of sticks over the last year and started to gather his supplies. His cape was mainly all he had still but he did have a small supply of food and plants that could help him if he got hurt. He hadn't had to use those on himself due to injury from someone else for a long time now, and he was proud of that.

As the moon started to come to it's peak he knew it was time to go as he put the bags of supplies over his back and threw his cloak over his back. He didn't know for certain but... he was pretty sure a lot of ponies wouldn't accept him for whom he was. Even if the cloak was old, ratty, and full of holes it should help him a little bit from a distance so as to lower suspicion. He looked around at the animals sleeping one more time and shed a few tears as he prepared to exit the briar patch the same way he had come in. Just as he was about to start his trek through the briar patch back outside he heard a rustling from behind.

He turned around and looked behind him to see what the rustling noise was and saw all of his favorite animals behind him. He saw all the animals he'd been helping that today all in a big group, some of them with tears in their eyes as the sheep brought forth a new cloak for him. They had even managed to dye it black with the plants they had that way it would help conceal him a little bit more, especially on dark nights. He looked back at all his friends and smiled while he used his hoof to wipe away a tear. "I should've known I couldn't keep a secret from any of you" he said as he went around giving them hugs. He enjoyed all the animals here but these ones were the one's he had gotten closest to and befriended. "I... I don't want to say this will be goodbye forever" he said while he held back his tears looking at all the animals. "But... it may be as well... you've all been great and I want you to know that" he said smiling at the rabbits, bears, chickens, foxes and any other animal that had come. "I don't think I would've lived without finding this place. I know I wouldn't have. I'll always remember all of you but... I need to be with my kind... whatever that is." he told them as he walked past all of them as he finished his hugs for them "But... I think somewhere out theirs a pony... or maybe two that will be my friend." he said smiling at them "And... it's for this reason I must go" he said as he got to the sheep and gave them all a hug as he put on their gift.

"You'll always be my friends" he said smiling "But I must go now" he said looking at all the animals fighting back tears so it wouldn't be any harder for either side "So... this is goodbye my friends. I hope we meet again." he said as he turned his back on the animals. He knew he couldn't look back now or it'd be even harder for him to leave. He knew the road ahead was harder than the life he currently had... but he believed it was a life worth finding and living for. He crouched down to the only opening in the briar patch and started to crawl "Goodbye everyone!" he said choking back tears as he waved his back hoof at them in a final goodbye. He was happy he had gotten to know the animals here he thought to himself as tears dripped down his face. He had learned that their was good in the world... he had always thought so but living among Changelings... sends worries to a different type of changeling.

He finished his crawl out of the briar patch making sure to be careful now to poke any holes in his new cape and checked his surroundings before exiting. He poked his head out quietly... even though no changeling or pony else had found this secret sanctuary yet he wanted to make sure he didn't give it away as he slid carefully and silently out readjusting all the briars as best he could without hurting himself to much. He crawled out and pulled the cloak to his hood over his head. He had a long journey to find what he wanted. He'd better get started now.