A WAY OUT
by GeodesicDragon
The three fillies sitting in the middle of their clubhouse looked around dejectedly at each other, each one doing her best to avoid eye contact. The atmosphere was as thick as the treacle on Pinkie Pie's treacle pie. But unlike said confection, the silence was broken by somepony clearing her throat and speaking timidly.
"Well our latest Crusade may have been a bust," she said, "but at least we ain't covered in tree sap this time! Surely that's gotta be somethin' good, right?"
"I dunno Apple Bloom," Scootaloo retorted, "I think being covered in tar is much worse than tree sap."
"Yeah," Sweetie Belle chimed in, "I'd rather have the tree sap. Rarity is going to flip when she sees me like this. I'd better get home and have a bath before she gets back from the spa."
"Same here," Apple Bloom replied as she flicked tar from a hoof, "because Ah don't think Applejack would like it very much if'n Ah trailed tar all over tha harvest. Ah'll see y'all tomorrow girls."
The three fillies said their goodbyes and went their separate ways, Apple Bloom heading for Sweet Apple Acres and Sweetie Belle heading for the Carousel Boutique. Scootaloo watched them leave before letting out a pained sigh.
"Finally," she muttered, "I thought they'd never leave. Now I can enjoy my evening in peace."
She poked her head out the doorway and looked around for a moment. Satisfied that she was alone, she closed and locked the door. The small room filled with a green light and soon Scootaloo found herself touching the ceiling. She ruffled her chitinous wings and groaned.
"As much as I hate to say it," the changeling said, "those two have grown on me. Though I'm still not inviting them to join me in my little pastime, even when they are old enough."
She walked over to the corner of the room and tapped a hoof into the floorboards. The appendage fit perfectly into a small groove and, with a click, opened a secret door in the wall. Inside lay nestled items the changeling deemed to be important.
Chief among these was the object that Scootaloo sought. Licking her lips, she reached into the alcove and removed a small barrel. She set it down on the floor before reaching in again and grabbing a small mug.
"Oh precious cider," she cooed as she caressed the barrel with a forehoof, "how I've missed you. Just what I need after a hard day of... ugh, 'crusading'."
She popped the lid off the barrel and used the mug to scoop up some of the precious liquid. She brought it to her mouth hungrily and downed every last drop. Letting out a belch, she smiled.
"I don't know how these ponies make this stuff," she said, "but I'm glad they did. A lot of love clearly went into this small barrel, and that's all I need for me to enjoy it."
She scooped up more of the cider in her mug and raised it to the air, toasting a non-existent entity. Her smile became a grin, and she uttered two simple words.
"Flanks up."
***
The sunlight streaming in through the window hit Scootaloo's eyes, causing her to hiss and bat a hoof at the air. She attempted to roll over but found that she couldn't move her hind legs.
"Huh, what the—" she groaned as her eyes flickered open.
Scootaloo took stock of her surroundings warily. She was no longer in the familiar wooden clubhouse. Instead she found that she was surrounded by ornate gilded marble. She stifled a gasp as she pressed her forehooves to her temple.
"What in the name of Chrysalis happened?!"
"I was hoping you could tell me that," a voice said, "changeling."
Scootaloo froze as the voice addressed her. It sounded familiar, yet she refused to believe that it was real. She knew that the pony to whom the voice belonged had left Ponyville many months ago to pursue a new career.
"Twilight," she asked nervously, "is... is that you?"
The changeling's vision filled with purple as somepony stepped in front of her. She looked up to see the regal purple alicorn looking down on her. Her expression was neutral, and showed no signs of sympathy or hostility.
"I guess my reputation precedes me." Twilight replied, "After all, it was my brother who helped thwart your Queen's attempt to take over Equestria."
"Twilight," Scootaloo pleaded, "it's me, Scootaloo. You have to believe me when I say that I never took part in that attack. Besides, how could I have when I was cowering under a table with the other Crusaders?"
"I know it's you Scootaloo," Twilight said softly, "and I believe you. The Royal Guard were alerted by Applejack, who said she could hear somepony in the Crusader's clubhouse. After entering the building, you were found to be asleep with a mug next to you.
Scootaloo groaned and brought a hoof to her face. Twilight let out a small laugh and continued with her story.
"The Guards brought you here, under restraint, whereupon I used a memory spell on you to see if you had any information. I apologise for that, but in our defence we thought you were a spy. So we had to be sure you didn't know anything you shouldn't. Thankfully, all I found were memories of the Crusaders. I saw Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom but not you... so needless to say it didn't take long for me to realise whose memories they were."
"I'm not here to hurt anypony," Scootaloo replied, "I'm just here to make friends and put my past behind me."
Twilight nodded in understanding.
"Tell me Scootaloo," she said, "why did you come to Ponyville? I always thought changelings were part of a single hive mind, and were therefore incapable of showing any free will at all."
"We are," Scootaloo replied, "but very rarely does a changeling manage to break away from the hive. In my case this happened when I was given an assignment to spy on Ponyville to determine what, if any, kind of assistance could be sent to Canterlot. It didn't take me long to realise that there wasn't a Royal Guard presence in the town, therefore the inhabitants would be unaware of any attack on the city, unless of course a messenger got out."
She let out a heavy sigh before continuing.
"I had only been in the town for less than a day and already my mission was complete. But when I saw how much love there was in the town, I suddenly changed. I came to realise that I was merely a tool, a pawn on Chrysalis' twisted little chessboard. She was using me, indeed all the changelings, to pursue her own dreams. She didn't care who had to get hurt, as long as she got want she wanted. We were just insignificant specks of dirt on her hoof."
"Suddenly, I no longer heard her voice in my head. I was free and able to think on my own. And think rationally. I knew that Chrysalis would send agents to look for me. Everypony thinks that changelings can detect each other through some kind of pheromone. The truth is, we can be just as clueless as anypony else when trying to locate each other while disguised."
Scootaloo's laughter echoed around the throne room as Twilight listened, her facial expression still neutral and absolute.
"Rather than disguise myself as an adult, I disguised myself as a foal. Foals are much easier to create cover stories for, as most of the time nopony would bother to check up on you. So I merely assumed the name 'Scootaloo' and said I was an orphan. And that was that. Granted I was placed into an orphanage, but that was a small price to pay for my freedom."
The changeling looked at the alicorn intently.
"I soon made friends and, well, you know the rest. As for my real name... I'm not even sure I remember it any more. But that, Princess, is my story. And I thank you for listening. You may now do with me as you wish."
The faintest trace of a smile graced Twilight's lips as she stepped towards Scootaloo, who stood with her head held high. The changeling was unsure of what to expect, but resolved that she would accept the consequences no matter what.
"Thank you for telling me your story Scootaloo," Twilight said, "and thank you for being honest with me. As for what I'm going to do with you... well, I'm going to offer you a way out."
Scootaloo shrank back at the words as her ears folded against her head, the steely determination in her eyes replaced instead with an eerie sense of foreboding.
"A... a way out?" she repeated, "I-I'm not sure what you mean, Princess. Could you elaborate?"
"First of all," Twilight replied, "stop calling me 'Princess'. We're friends, so you can call me 'Twilight'. As for what I meant, I assume that now you have been discovered to be a changeling you fear that the rest of the hive will find you?"
Scootaloo gasped.
"I never thought of that." she said glumly, "Word will no doubt reach Chrysalis of my capture, and she will send some drones to either capture me or kill me. And if they can't find me..."
"... they'll take your friends instead." Twilight finished. She wrapped a wing around the changeling, who had failed to notice that she was shaking like a leaf.
"This 'way out', as you put it..." Scootaloo said as she leaned in closer to the hug, "... what does it involve?"
"As you know," Twilight replied, "I was the Element of Magic before I became a princess. I was often told that I was a very powerful unicorn. Ever since my coronation, my powers have increased ten-fold, and I now possess many more spells. Including one which will give you a new body."
Scootaloo mouthed the last three words to herself repeatedly as Twilight folded her wings back and walked around the room.
"We give you a new body and simply spread the word that you fled the area. Of course, this means you would have to leave Ponyville and start a new life elsewhere. So I guess you have a choice, Scootaloo. Do you make new friends, or risk losing the old ones?"
Scootaloo gulped nervously. Touching a hoof to her face she realised that she was crying.
"I like my life in Ponyville," she replied, "and I love my friendship with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. What do I tell them? How do I explain that I have to leave and can never see them again?"
"You tell them the truth." Twilight replied, "They will understand. They will see that you have to leave in order to protect yourself as well as to protect them and their families."
Scootaloo scuffed a forehoof along the ground idly.
"Okay," she said softly, "I'll tell them. But I don't want to risk going back into Ponyville. Could... could you bring them here? At least then I'll know that we can talk in private, away from prying eyes and twitching ears."
Twilight nodded.
"I'll see to it immediately." she replied, "In the meantime you should get some rest. You have a long day ahead of you."
With those words she undone Scootaloo's restrains and trotted out of the room, leaving the changeling with her thoughts. She lay down on the floor and wrapped her wings around her body before drifting off into a quiet slumber.
***
"What's goin' on Twilight," Apple Bloom asked as she and Sweetie Belle followed the princess through the twisting palace corridors, "an' why did ya have ta take us outta school?"
"Is it about Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked, "Because she didn't come into school today. She's not in trouble or anything is she?"
Twilight shook her head.
"I'd rather she explained it to you herself." she replied, her soothing tone calming the two fillies nerves, "She's in here."
Twilight indicated a door and motioned for the two Crusaders to walk through it. They did so warily, unsure of what they were going to find within the dingy room on the other side. Twilight smiled sweetly at them as they stepped inside, their small eyes struggling to adjust to the low light level.
"Hey girls," a voice said, "it's Scootaloo. Before I come out, you have to promise me that you're not gonna freak out. This is hard enough as it is without you two going all crazy on me."
"Scoots?" Apple Bloom said, "What in tarnation is goin' on? Why on Equestria is it so dark in here? What do you mean by—"
"Please just promise me," Scootaloo interrupted, "then I will explain everything to you. You deserve to know the truth."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged a worried glance before raising a forehoof in the air.
"On our honour as Cutie Mark Crusaders," they said together, "we promise not to freak out."
Although they couldn't see it, Scootaloo smiled broadly.
"That's good enough for me." she replied, "Okay Twilight, you can turn the lights on now."
The room filled with light, forcing the two Crusaders to shield their eyes from the sudden brightness. As their vision began to clear, they each became aware of a black blob in front of them. They soon realised that the blob was in the shape of a pony and was in possession of ragged wings, a horn — and a set of fangs.
"CHANGELING!" they screamed, holding each other for comfort. "What did you do to our friend, you no-good bug?!"
"Girls," the changeling replied in Scootaloo's voice, "you promised me that you wouldn't freak out."
Two sets of jaws hit the floor as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gaped at the creature speaking to them in their friend's voice. Sweetie Belle took a tentative step forward and held a hoof out towards it. To her amazement, the changeling allowed the filly to place the appendage on its chest.
"Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked, "Is that really you in there?"
"Yes it is," Scootaloo replied, "and this is no trick. I really am a changeling. I've always been one."
"Ah don't believe it," Apple Bloom snarled, "ya were lyin' ta us tha whole time we knew ya!"
"Yes," Scootaloo said dejectedly, "I lied about what I was. But I never lied about who I was. I know you've heard a lot of bad things about changelings, but I can assure you that I am not like them. I am one of a kind, a changeling who doesn't follow the Hive. I am independent, and capable of making my own decisions — like staying in Ponyville and making friends."
"Ya ain't an orphan," Apple Bloom shot back, "so ya did lie about who ya were."
Scootaloo sighed.
"Changelings who defect from the Hive are often hunted down and terminated." she replied, "So I had to disguise myself in order to avoid detection. Disguising myself as an adult would raise suspicion in town, so it was easier to disguise myself as a foal and claim to be an orphan. I knew that nopony would check up on my story. I only lied to protect myself. And now I have to leave to protect you."
Apple Bloom's demeanour softened and she joined Sweetie Belle next to their friend. Both of them looked at the changeling with tear-filled eyes.
"Protect us?" she asked softly, "But how?"
"Now that I've been discovered," Scootaloo replied with a grimace, "word will no doubt reach Chrysalis, and she will send some of her agents to find me and drag me back to the hive for punishment. But if they can't find me then they'll start harassing my friends instead, and I care too much about you to risk that. Twilight has a spell which will give me a new body, but in order for it to be of any use, I need to leave Ponyville... forever. And never come back."
Both fillies gasped and wrapped their forelegs around Scootaloo's, nuzzling her chitinous outside warmly. Scootaloo's own demeanour was one of despair as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.
"I felt that you should both know the truth before I left." she said, "I didn't want to just suddenly disappear, leaving you to think that anything bad had happened to me."
The two Crusaders didn't reply, preferring instead to sob uncontrollably into the changeling's legs. Using her magic, Twilight gently prised them away and placed them in the middle of the room. She then walked over to Scootaloo and laid a hoof on her shoulder in a comforting manner.
"Are you ready, Scootaloo?" she asked, "Because once I cast this spell you will have no memory of your previous life, as well as a brand new body to go with it. Only the three of us will have any memory of any of this."
Scootaloo lowered her head and nodded. Twilight returned the nod and turned to the other two Crusaders.
"Say your goodbyes girls," she said, "because this is the last time you will ever see Scootaloo in her old body. Might I suggest that you make some new memories? Because you will not get any more chances to do so again."
Sweetie Belle was the first to approach Scootaloo. The changeling gave her a comforting smile as the unicorn filly floundered while trying to find the right words.
"I... the thing is..." she sighed, "... I'm gonna miss you Scootaloo. You may be a changeling, but you were also a great friend. And the fact you are willing to give up your old life to protect ours makes you an even greater friend. Rainbow Dash would be proud of your loyalty to us."
A small blush crept onto Scootaloo's cheeks as Apple Bloom stepped forward.
"Sweetie Belle is right," she said, "ya are a great friend. Ah'll never forget tha day we met, when ya told Diamond Tiara an' Silver Spoon off. And Ah'll cherish tha memories of every day since then fer the rest of mah days."
The two of them wrapped Scootaloo in another hug. To their amazement, she hugged them back.
"Ah thought ya didn't like hugs?" Apple Bloom asked sweetly, "Ah seem ta remember ya strugglin' somethin' fierce when we did this."
"Hugs are a form of love," Scootaloo replied, "and changelings feed on love. I had to pretend to hate them because a filly wanting hugs all the time would just attract unwanted attention. I may not have shown it, but I assure you that I appreciated every hug I got."
Her words were rewarded with an increase in pressure from the two fillies attached to her legs. Scootaloo let out a small laugh as they pulled away from her, going back to their previous positions in the middle of the room as Twilight approached.
"Do you have any idea what you would like your new body to be like?" she asked, "Because I can give you any body you'd like."
Scootaloo placed a hoof to her chin in thought.
"It doesn't really matter," she replied, "because at the end of the day I'd still have to start a new life. So I'll let you choose. You always did know what was best. Except maybe for those times when you went a bit crazy."
"Ah remember that too," Apple Bloom chipped in, "because Ah had a bruise on mah face for two weeks afterwards from when Sweetie Belle punched me."
"Are you ever going to drop that?" Sweetie Belle groaned, "I was under a spell Apple Bloom, so I had no control over what I was doing. Besides, a single bruise is nothing compared to what some ponies did to each other."
"I still can't believe Derpy attacked the Mayor." Scootaloo chuckled, "But what amazes me even more is the fact that she was able to do it without missing. She misses the mailboxes in town, yet can land punches just fine? It's rather worrying."
The four ponies chortled merrily at the memories. Their laughter echoed around the room and down the empty halls of the palace. Eventually it faded, leaving the four of them standing in silence. Sweetie Belle's face lit up as she had a thought.
"Twilight, do you have a camera in here?" she asked, "Because I want to get one last picture of our friend before she leaves. You don't mind, do you Scootaloo?"
Scootaloo shook her head and ruffled her wings.
"I don't mind at all." she replied, "In fact, I would relish the chance to take one last photo. But I don't think Rarity or Applejack would understand if you two each went home and showed them a photo of you standing with a Changeling."
Apple Bloom laughed.
"Yeah," she said, "AJ would probably think Ah was under a spell. Either that, or Ah was a changeling as well."
"I will explain everything to them later." Twilight interjected as she held a camera in her telekinesis, "In the meantime we have a picture to take. So if you'd all be so kind, gather around."
Scootaloo's body was enveloped in a flash of green light, and soon the orange pegasus filly Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had come to know and love was standing before them. She buzzed her tiny wings and took pride of place between her two friends, draping a forehoof around each of their necks. They returned the gesture and soon three little fillies were beaming in the middle of the room.
"Ready?" Twilight asked as she held the camera up.
The three Crusaders nodded and put on their biggest grins.
"Okay. Three, two, one... say 'cheese'!"
"Cheese!"
The camera clicked, forever capturing the moment. Twilight was wearing a grin similar to the three fillies as she lowered the camera and took the film out.
"I'll get this developed as soon as I can," she said, "and get a photo sent to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. But I'm afraid to say that the time has come. Scootaloo, we really need to do this."
Scootaloo removed her forehooves from her friends' necks and nodded. She turned back into her changeling form as the two fillies moved away and stood on the other side of the room.
"Okay Twilight," she said curtly, "let's do this. Girls, it has been an honour and a privilege to have been your friend. I wish you both all the best for the future, and the best of luck in getting your cutie marks. My only regret is that I won't be there with you."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle each gave the changeling a salute.
"Once a Crusader..." Apple Bloom said.
"... always a Crusader." Sweetie Belle finished.
Tears welled in all four pairs of eyes as Twilight began charging the spell. Her horn glowed, and the room began to fill with a purple light. Scootaloo stood strong and allowed the spell to take a hold of her body, lifting her into the air. She offered one final wave to her fellow Crusaders before a small explosion rocked the area, followed by the light building to a blinding level.
When it cleared, three ponies were left to rub their eyes and Scootaloo was nowhere to be seen. Twilight sighed and turned to the two fillies who were left.
"It is done," she said solemnly, "Scootaloo will be starting her new life, and we won't have to worry about Chrysalis any more. I'm sorry she had to leave girls, but you understand why, right?"
The two Crusaders nodded, their eyes red and puffy. Twilight wrapped a wing around them and allowed the two to bury their muzzles into her fur. The three of them stood motionless, the only sounds being the quiet sobbing of two crushed fillies.
***
Fluttershy flitted back and forth as she fed the animals in her care, all the while humming merrily. A small smile was fixed on her face and she was lost in her own little world. As she put down the last pile of bird seed she let out a small sigh of relief.
"There you go my little friends," she said, "you now have enough food to last for the next week. But do be sure to let me know if you need anything else, okay?"
The animals responded with a variety of sounds and chirps. Fluttershy squeaked in delight and landed on the ground, trotting back towards her home.
As she opened the door, a faint noise reached her ears. She stopped and looked around. Her eyes soon fell on a small orange bird standing a few hooves away.
"Oh hello there little friend," she said, "and welcome. If you're hungry, I just put out some more food."
The bird took a few steps forward, allowing Fluttershy to get a better look. It was a bright orange and yellow coloured chick with three large feathers on its head and a small tannish beak. At its side were a pair of small wings.
"I've never seen a bird like you before." she said cheerfully, "Oh, but where are my manners? My name is Fluttershy. What's yours?"
She held a hoof out towards the bird, which studied it curiously before extending a wing. It looked Fluttershy in the eyes before chirping out a reply.
"Torchic."
Author's Note
A lot of the stories I've seen in the featured box lately have used one or more of the following:
* Cider
* Twilacorn
* Scootaloo
* Changelings
* Pokémon
So I decided to write a story using all five of these. At first I couldn't come up with a title for it, so I asked my followers for suggestions. This is what they came up with. Thanks everyone, and I'm sorry for not using any of them!
Vexy: Feature Me, Drunk Chickens And Princesses and Torchic: Scootaloo on Fire!.
derpyhuman: Scootaling The Drunk Torchic.
Vellik: Scootaling's Drunken Escapades and "Why Am I A Fire Chicken?!".
Skullman846: Scooting Towards Change.
