My Sweetie

Someone Doesn’t Approve of the Changeling

Kuray opened his eyes and immediately wished he hadn’t. A white light from the sealing burned his eyes making him close them tight. A steady beep was present next to him so he figured he was in the hospital. That would explain the bed he was lying in and the intense lights. He cracked his right eye, trying to adjust to the lights and spotted Sweetie Belle asleep in a leather armchair next to the hospital bed.

He stretched out a hoof and rested it on her shoulder. Her head lifted and she looked around the room wildly.

“Kuray!” She exclaimed when she saw that he was awake. She jumped on top of the bed and wrapped him up in a hug that he could have swore cracked his shell. “I was so worried. After you saved me from that fire, I brought you here to the hospital. The doctors said they didn’t know enough about changelings so they didn’t know if you would wake up.” She said her voice cracking on the last bit.

“But I knew you wouldn’t leave me.” She said burying her face in his chest and beginning to sob. he ran his hoof through her mane to comfort her which did nothing more than make her cry harder.

“Sweetie, I will never leave you.” Kuray said. His voice was like gravel from just waking up and breathing in all that smoke from the fire didn’t help. “What day is it?” He asked her. the curtains that were pulled to block the window didn’t show any signs of light so it was either very early in the morning or very late in the evening. Sweetie Belle released him from the hug and squeezed in next to him. Her eyes were slightly red but otherwise she looked fine.

“Hearth’s Warming Eve.” She said. She felt, peaceful with him.

“Hearth’s Warming Eve! Well what are we doing here?” He exclaimed sitting up in the hospital bed, surprising Sweetie. He hopped out of the bed and landed firmly on his hooves, only wobbling slightly when he went to take a step. Sweetie Belle hopped out of the bed with a look of disbelief.

“But, you’ve been asleep for at least a week. How can you stand up and walk so quickly?” She asked staying close at his side incase his legs suddenly failed him.

“I’m a changeling, remember.” He said raising his greenish wings and waving them around. “I can heal off of love.”

“Even when you’re asleep?” She asked raising an eyebrow.

“Even when I’m asleep.” He said. Sweetie Belle nuzzled his cheek.

“Did I ever tell you about how awesome changelings are?” She asked.

“Many times. Now let’s get out of here.” He responded with a chuckle.

“Let’s.” Sweetie said. She felt one of his wings come to rest on her back and he drew her close to where her soft coat was brushing against his cold exoskeleton. It was a strange feeling, but it felt right to her.

As Sweetie and Kuray trotted past the Nurses’ station, they expected one of the nurses to stop them and demand why they were leaving the hospital but nurse Redheart just gave them a wave and went back to her magazine. Hopped on the elevator that took them down to the main floor and trotted out into lobby which was barren of any ponies except the guards and the two receptionists. They trotted past the guards who both muttered a farewell and into the snow.

The ground outside had a thick blanket of snow and small flaked were still falling from the sky. The streets were barren save the few ponies who were trotting home from late nights at work so they could be with their families. As they trotted, Sweetie Belle scooped up some snow and molded it into a ball with her magic, keeping it hidden from Kuray. As they rounded a bend, Sweetie raised the snowball above his head with her magic and released it. The powdered ice ball landed on his horn and showered him with small, white flakes that got caught in his green mane. He shook his head and looked at Sweetie Belle who already had another snowball ready to go. She smushed it in his face and jumped back.

Kuray picked up a snowball with his magic and flung it at Sweetie who retaliated with one of her own but both of theirs missed their marks. As Kuray was preparing another, Sweetie tackled him into the snow. After several minutes of them rolling around in the snow, each trying to get the upper hand, Sweetie managed to pin Kuray, a look of pure amusement on her face. Kuray struggled and tried to move out from under her hooves, but she was stronger than he thought.

“FIne, you win. Can I get up now.” He said. He couldn’t feel his wings anymore.

“Hmmm, maybe.”  She said scratching her chin. “Tell me I’m the most wonderful pony in all of Equestria and I might let you go.” She said with an arrogant smile.

“Sweetie Belle is the most magnificent mare in all of Equestria.” Kuray said emotionlessly.

“That’s better.” Sweetie said giving him a kiss and then taking a step back so he could stand up. The two of them dusted the snow off of themselves and continued making their way to Sweetie’s house. They rounded the last bend and Sweetie’s apartment came into view. Since the Boutique had burnt down, they had to rent two apartments and Sweetie had gotten her own and Rarity got the other one.

She produced a key and unlocked her door. It swung open without a sound. “So you finally got your own place.” Kuray said stepping inside with Sweetie close on his hooves. She closed the door and locked it from the inside.

“Yeah. Rarity is right next door but other than that, we have the place to ourselves.” She said with a wink. Kuray smiled as walked up to him and planted her lips against his right as somepony knocked on the door. Sweetie pulled away with a frown that matched Kuray’s. Sweetie motioned for him to stay right there. “I’ll be back for you.” She whispered in his ear and went to open the door. But on the other side of the oak slab were the last two ponies she wanted to see, her mom and Rarity.

“Sweetie Belle! Oh my it’s been so long.” Her mother said.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” Sweetie asked slightly annoyed.

“It is Hearth’s Warming Eve. We were just about to go to the hospital and visit you when we saw you and that little black pony walking back.” Her  mother said and Sweetie realized there was no getting out of this.

“C’mon in mom.” Sweetie said standing aside to let her mother and sister in. Rarity gave her a ‘I had nothing to do with this!’ look as she walked by.

In the sitting room, Kuray was listening in on the conversation and let out a sigh when he heard Sweetie invite who he guessed was her mom inside. He had changed to Night. He heard Sweetie’s mother trotting down the hallway and walked out to greet her.

“Hi there. You must be Sweetie Belle’s mother. It’s a pleasure.” He said holding out a hoof. Sweetie’s mother just stood there, her mouth agape.

“Y-Y-Your eyes.” She said. Night’s mouth went dry when he realized that he didn’t have his glasses and he still wasn’t able to disguise his eyes. Sweetie’s mother’s look of surprise turned to one of hatred. Her horn sparkled and a bolt of magic shot out catching Night in the chest. The blast sent him flying back a few feet and into the wall. His disguise shattered and he fell to the ground leaving an impression of his shell against the wall.

“You’re not a pony, you’re a bug!” Her mother shouted shooting another magic bolt. Kuray just managed to throw up a shield and block the magic. He didn’t want to get hit like that again.

“Mom! Stop!” Both Rarity and Sweetie Belle shouted. Rarity picked up her mother with her magic and held her in place. The pissed off mare managed to fire off one more shot, missing Kuray’s right ear by only inches.

“Do you want to explain to my why this, this thing is in your apartment!?” Her mother yelled. Sweetie Belle sighed.

“He’s my colt friend mother.” Sweetie said. The look on her mother’s face made Sweetie think that if she wasn’t incapacitated, she would have shot her just like she did Kuray.

“NO daughter of mine dates a bug.” Her mother said snootily. Sweetie Belle and Rarity were shocked by this statement. Rarity dropped her mother from her magical grasp.

“Mother, be reasonable. This changeling saved Sweetie’s life.” Rarity said.

“Did you forget what the changelings did in Canterlot. What they did to your father!” Her mother shouted still seething with rage.  She leaned past Rarity and fired off a final shot that slammed into Kuray’s chest where the other blast had hit him. Rendering him unconscious.

Sweetie Belle gasped and shoved her mother out of the way and ran to Kuray. Her mother just snorted and walked out of the Apartment.