My Sweetie

Eyes Everywhere

Kuray trotted back into town with Sweetie Belle close to him. The wind had died down so it was a lot more pleasant to walk around but it was still incredibly cold and just  getting colder as the sun descended in the sky. “It was nice just relaxing today. It’s been crazy recently.” Sweetie said resting her head on his shoulder. Kuray chuckled a bit. It had been quite hectic as of late and it was nice just to relax with Sweetie.

They rounded the corner and started down the street where the boutique was being rebuilt. It was looking pretty good with the structure of the lower floor nearly completed and construction on the second had just begun. Rarity was lying on a massive sofa with a with a ridiculously large sunhat lying on her head even though it was near freezing.

“I don’t know how you ponies manage to lift such heavy things.” Rarity called up to Rainbowdash as she heaved a large piece of wood onto her harness and started flying up to the second floor.

“Because some of us pick ourselves up off our lazy flanks and help out!” Rainbowdash yelled down the annoyance clearly evident in her voice.

“Now Rainbowdash has a point Rarity. Celestia gave ya yer’ horn to be used.” Applejack called from around the back side of the building. She had been painting the building but that wasn’t the easiest thing to do when she couldn’t fly or use magic. Rainbowdash flapped her wings harder but her years as a stunts pony had caught up with her and her wings couldn’t lift her with that much extra weight. Right when her wings were about to give out, a green aura surrounded the piece of wood and lifted it out of the harness.

Kuray lifted the piece of wood to the top of the building and hammered it into place effortlessly with his magic while Sweetie Belle picked up a paint roller and joined Applejack on the other side of the building. “I thought you two were taking today off?” Rarity asked from her sofa.

“It’ll get done faster if we help.” Kuray said.

“Hey, I had everything under control!” Rainbowdash protested as she picked up a smaller piece of wood.

“Of course you did.” Kuray said. Rainbowdash huffed and lifted the wood.

“So he looks at the nurse and starts clicking.” Kuray said. Sweetie Belle burst out laughing while the rest of the ponies at the table just looked at her, confused.

“Okay, ah give up. What’s so funny?” Applejack asked.

“Clicking is one of the few things a changeling can do in our disguises as well as our regular forms.” He explained..

“Okay, but ah still don’t get what’s so funny.” Applejack said taking a swig of her drink. Kuray parted his jaws and made a clicking  noise in the back of his throat that sounded kind of like a bird and a grasshopper. realization dawned on Applejack and she burst out laughing and Rainbowdash quickly joined her. Even Rarity chuckled slightly.

Sweetie Belle let out  a massive yawn and stood up from the table. “Thanks Applejack for the cider, but I’m exhausted.” Sweetie said walking towards the door. Kuray stood up and joined her.

“I’ll be back in a bit Sweetie.” Rarity said as Sweetie pushed the door open.

“I’ll keep an eye on her.” Kuray said. Rarity nodded and Kuray stepped out of the barn and shut the door behind him.

“Man that cider was, *hic*, good.” Sweetie said.

“Because it had alcohol in it.” He said with a laugh. She started down the dirt road in the direction to Ponyville, stumbling slightly. She wasn’t totally impaired, but it would be better if her head was cleared. He put a hoof on her shoulder and she stopped walking. He let some of his emotional energy flow into her and remove some of the fog caused by the alcohol.

“What happened.” She said shaking her head.

“We were just heading home from Applejack’s.” Kuray said stopping the energy flow.

“What were we doing at Applejack’s?” She asked rubbing her head with a hoof.

“Just talking.” He said starting back down the road. She walked next to him in silence. Her head was clear now so she wasn’t stumbling all over which made it easier to walk through town. Sweetie Belle pulled out her key to her apartment and pushed open the door. She walked in with Kuray behind her and he shut the door, but something didn’t feel right. He turned from the door to the rest of the house, scanning it silently, keeping the lights off.

“Umm, Ku-” He cut her off.

“I think somepony else is in here with us.” Kuray whispered in her ear. “I’m going to go take a look, I’ll be back in a minute.” He said taking a few steps forward. He could feel the fear on Sweetie Belle and he was scared as well.

Sweetie Belle yelped behind him and he quickly jumped around, his horn already charged and ready to fire. He saw a green pair of eyes, changeling eyes, look back at him and he fired the magic out of his horn. It streaked across the room and collided with the changeling, throwing it off of Sweetie Belle. “Kuray! Behind you!” Sweetie Belle yelled. Kuray started to turn but felt a piece of metal press against his wings and he froze. He put his hooves up in the air in defeat.

“How did you find me?” Kuray asked.

“Oh Kuray my dear, we always watched you. And all the other changelings that are out amongst ponies.” The changeling’s voice made his blood turn to ice.

“Sister, is that you?” Kuray asked the changeling behind him. “I don’t understand.” He said.

“And you probably never will.” His sister said. She flicked the switch on the metal device and Kuray felt it stab into his wing. He felt it draining the energy from his body through his wings. As the last bit of energy was sapped from him, he looked down at Sweetie Belle. “I’m sorry.” He croaked. The last bit of energy drained out of him and the device withdrew from his back and he fell on his face. Sweetie Screamed and fired a bolt at the changeling which it easily dodged and fired back with a bolt of its own which caught Sweetie in the chest. Her body convulsed for a moment and then went limp.