Chapters Love At First Sight
Sweetie Belle walked down the hallways of Ponyville High. It was a nice school, though it took some getting used to after the small schoolhouses her and her friends had been taught in up until now. She carried a small slip of paper in front of her face with her magic.
“Locker 115, 115. Ahh here it is.” She mumbled to herself as she found her locker. She trotted over to it happily. She had never had a locker before. She entered the combination and pulled up on the lever and the locker creaked open. Inside was nothing, nothing at all. Just the way she wanted it. She pulled her saddlebags off and placed them in the locker. The bell rang as she closed the locker with her books in her magic. She hurried down the hall and began to cross the courtyard. She was almost halfway through when a familiar, and infuriating voice sounded behind her.
“Hey there, blank flank!” Diamond Tiara said behind her. She suppressed a gag. And turned around and glared at the filly and the large stallion standing next to her. “How do you like my new coltfriend. I met him this morning.” She said in her annoying voice.
“Did you already bang him?” Sweetie asked in a sarcastic tone. Diamond’s face screwed up in anger while the stallion just looked at her with indifference.
“If anyone has banged him already it would be YOU, slut!” Diamond yelled, rage taking over her voice.
“Oh, i’m the slut. You slept with half the colts in our kindergarten class before seventh grade.” Sweetie said, the sarcasm still in her voice. Diamond Tiara was seething with rage while her ‘coltfriend’ just looked on in silence.
“Make her shut up!” Diamond yelled to her boyfriend. The stallion grunted and scraped a hoof on the ground.
“Now now, you wouldn't hurt a lady.” Sweetie said. The stallion eyed her angrily.
“You’re no lady, you’re a slut!” Diamond screamed. The stallion was about to charge when another pony came up behind him and tapped on his shoulder. He grunted and turned. His eyes widened when he saw the pony behind him. He yelped and jumped back.
“I-I’m sorry.” The large stallion said.
“Now pebble, what did I say about the new ponies. I said we would treat them with respect and welcome them here. Not threaten them. And as for you.” The smaller, black stallion said turning to Diamond Tiara. He had been wearing a pair of sunglasses this entire time. “BOO!” He yelled in her face taking off the glasses and the immediately replacing them. She screamed and ran off. The black pony turned to look at the one he called pebble. “Get to class dude. And don’t let me catch you acting this way again, or they’ll be hay to pay.” He said.
“T-T-Thank you sir.” Pebble said. The black stallion held up a hoof.
“For the last time. Call me Night.” He said.
“Yes Mr. Night.” Pebble said running off. Night sighed and turned to Sweetie Belle. He didn’t get a chance to take a good look at her before, but she was beautiful. Her purplish mane fell in loose curls against her pristine white coat. She didn’t have her cutie mark yet, unlike night.
“Thank you.” She said snapping him out of his thoughts.
“It was nothing. He does that to everypony on their first day as a freshmare.” Night said thinking about the first day he had been here. ‘He looks younger than the other stallions here.’ Sweetie thought to herself. ‘Much younger than the other stallion.
“So, how old are you?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Sophomore. Little pebble is a senior if that’s what you wanted to know.”
“How did you get him to do what you wanted? He was nearly twice as big as you!” She exclaimed.
“Size and skill don’t always matter.” He said. The tardy bell rang signifying the first classes to start. Sweetie belle cursed herself. Now she was late. “What class do you have next?” He asked her. She peeked at her schedule.
“AP Algebra with Mr. McCarty.” She said. Night smiled.
“C’mon, i’ll walk you to class.” He said to her.
As they walked down the halls, Sweetie looked at the stallion next to her. He was taller than her by a half head as well as a pegasus. His coat was a jet black while his mane was a scraggly white. He wasn't a very impressive stallion in terms of build, he was muscular. But not a behemoth like pebble. It was the way he carried himself. He had an air of self importance around him. Like a shield of confidence and mystery. The mystery came from the pair of black aviators he wore over his eyes. ‘What are you hiding under there?’ She asked herself. He stopped at a door and turned the knob with his wing. The teacher, a brown unicorn, turned to look at who was disrupting his class.
“Glad to see you could join us Mr. Night. And who is this?” The unicorn asked picking up a clipboard.
“This is Sweetie Belle. We had some, problems with Pebble.” He said. The brown unicorn nodded.
“Alright, you get a pass, this time. Take your seats, we were just about to begin. Sweetie Belle sat down next to Applebloom and night took a seat next to a dark grey earth pony in the back of the class.
“So, are you two going out?” The grey pony asked.
“No, just friends Dusk. You know how pebble can get.” He said. Dusk nodded.
“She’s cute. You two would be great together you know.” Dusk said raising an eyebrow.
“How would you know. You haven’t even met her.” Night said to his friend. The teacher was writing something on the board but it didn't matter to Night or Dusk. They were required to take this class because they hadn't last year. The reason they didn't was because they knew everything the unicorn had taught them. so this lass was really just a get together period for the two friends.
But Algebra didn't come as easy to Sweetie as it did the stallions in the back room. She scribbled down notes in her books as the unicorn at the front of the room rambled on about triangles and Pythagorean theorem.Sweetie belle tried to pay attention, but she couldn't get Night off of her mind. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he commanded respect from everybody in the room. and most of all, the glasses that he wore. She hadn't seen his eyes once because they were hidden behind those black glasses.
Tutor
Sweetie Belle scribbled down notes as the unicorn talked. He drew a diagram of a triangle on the front board and marked off the sides of the triangle. Sweetie tried to focus, but she had other things on her mind. And her ADD didn’t help. She caught herself doodling a picture of sunglasses in her notebook. She flipped her pencil over and started to erase the drawing.
The bell sounded as she finished erasing the doodle and everypony got up from their desks and hurried towards the door. Sweetie flipped her notebook closed and picked up the rest of her stuff for the next class. She stood up and made her way to the door and into the writhing mass of bodies in the hallway. The loudness of the hallway with the non stop chatter and slamming of lockers made it almost unbearable. She flattened her ears against her head to try and block out the noise but to little avail.
Night followed Sweetie out of the classroom but lost her in the crowd. He had wanted to keep an eye on her after what had happened with Diamond Tiara and Pebble. He had seen ponies like that brat before and normally when they got that mad at somepony, they came back for a second round. He scanned the crowd and picked out the distinc white horn with the lavender curls. He rushed out into the crowd which mostly parted for him. Being respected and feared by one’s peers isn’t a bad thing at all. As he trotted down the hall, always making sure that Sweetie Belle was in his sight, he didn’t notice the other pony that was creeping up on him from behind.
As she approached her next class, AP Biology, she couldn’t stop thinking of Night. Why had he jumped to defend her, why had Diamond Tiara freaked out when he showed her his eyes, and why was he still wearing those sunglasses inside. Her thoughts were interrupted by an unsettling presence behind her. She turned and saw just the pony she wanted to see. “Hey Night!” She said happily.
“Oh, hey Sweetie, I didn’t see you there.” He lied. She blushed when he called her Sweetie, even if all of her friends did. “So, what class do you have next?” He asked falling in step next to her.
“Oh, Biology next. And you?”
“Same, wow, what a coinci-” He was cut off by another pony bucking him from the side. He stumbled a few steps but regained his balance and turned to face his assailant. Sweetie Belle gasped and took a few steps back. “Pebble, i’ll give you one chance, apologize and walk away now with a little dignity left.” Night said. He was obviously furious but he was able to keep his anger in check, for now at least.
“You can’t scare me again Night. Now fight me like a stallion!” Pebble yelled, spittle flying from his mouth and onto the floor inches away from Night’s hooves.
“So thats how this is going to go.” Night said cracking his neck and his back. “Well then, COME AT ME BRO!” Night yelled at Pebble. The bigger stallion hesitated for just a moment too long and gave Night enough time to land the first blows. But after a few jabs to the snout he regained his confidence. Pebble jumped at Night and bowled him over pinning him to the ground.
“Now i’ve got you, ye bastard!” Pebble spat in Night’s face and splattering his sunglasses with spittle.
“Now that’s where you’re wrong.” Night said. A confused look crossed Pebble’s face and then Night set his plan into action. He kicked forward with his right hind leg, in turn knocking Pebble’s left bind leg out from under him. The brute faltered for a moment and Night took advantage of this. He hooked his hoof around his shoulder and rolled him over. Pebble’s legs crumpled easily and in seconds, Night was ontop of him, beating him with his fore hooves while his back legs kept his waist pinned to the ground.
After a crunch from the last punch, Night removed himself from the barely conscious stallion. “Remember that next time you decide to come looking for trouble.” Night said trotting calmly away from the stallion and towards his next class.
Inside the classroom hid Sweetie Belle. She had never been one for fighting so she had retreated to the safety of her next class. Suddenly, there was cheering in the hallway and Night entered the room. She smiled at him and she waved him over. He took the spot next to her and sat down on the metal stool.
“You’re alright.” She said.
“Ya, he wasn’t much. I’ve fought worse.” He said. Sweetie Belle noticed that he wasn’t even breathing hard.
“Your glasses.” She said noticing a crack up the length of the right lense.
“Oh, pony feathers!” He exclaimed. “These were my favorite pair!” He said taking them off but Keeping his eyes closed. He ran his hooves over the crack and frowned. “Can’t fix that.” He said tossing the glasses aside. Sweetie thought he was about to open his eyes but he just pulled out a nearly identical pair out of one of his books and placed them on his face.
“Why do you wear glasses all the time?” She asked.
“I don’t have the prettiest eyes.” He said.
“Oh. c’mon, I wont laugh.” She said grasping the glasses with her magic. A hoof flew up to keep the glasses on.
“Sweetie, please, it’s not something I like to show people.”He said. Sweetie frowned and released the glasses.
“Alright.” She turned back to the front of the classroom as the teacher walked in.
“Good morning class, I’m going to skip the formalities and get straight to what we are going to be learning about today.” The mare said trotting to the back of the class and flipping the switch to kill the lights and turning on the projector. The small grey box on the ceiling hummed to life and shone an image on the wall in the front of the room. Night stiffened when he read the one line on the screen. ‘Changelings.’ There was murmuring around the classroom as the teacher trotted to the front of the room.
“Yes, changelings. They really are fascinating creatures, but not all are evil. No, most of them are peaceful. Now before we move any further, I want to show you something.” She said. The students in the class looked at each other. Suddenly the room was lit up by a green fire at the front of the class. As the light subsided the class let out a collective gasp. In the front of the class stood a changeling.
“And before you ask, yes, the school and the princesses do know about me and no, I won't hurt you.” She said, as the class let out a collective sigh. “ So now that you all know about me have a question, did any of you ever suspect me of being a changeling?” She asked the class. One of the ponies raised her hand.
“Um, how would changeling be able to if you were a changeling? How would anypony be able to tell?” The pony asked.
“Good question, and the answer is actually quite simple. You see, everypony gives off emotional energy, which is of course our sustenance, but changelings don’t. We can sense emotions and drew them in with this gland right behind our horns.” She said lowering her head and pointing to a greenish spot behind her horn. Another pony raised their hoof.
“Are there any changelings in here?” He asked. The teacher closed her eyes for a second and frowned. She opened her eyes and looked at the pony.
“Yes.”
More Than Meets The Eye
A deathly silence came over the class. All their lives they had thought changelings were evil creatures out to destroy the pony race, and now they found out that their biology teacher and a student in their class is a changeling.
"Well, who is it?" One of the ponies in the back of the room yelled.
"Ya, who's the bloody changeling?" Another pony who was sitting closer to the front yelled.
"Everybody settle down. As a part of the changeling code, I can't tell you who the changeling is. They will have to show themselves to you." The teacher at the front of the classroom said. "It would be best of they would reveal themselves, but it is up to them." She said.
Night gripped the pen he was holding in his hoof. 'Im screwed, they're gonna find out.' He thought to himself. He looked over at Sweetie who was looking right at him. 'She knows already. I have nothing left to lose.' He thought to himself. He stood up and walked to the front of the classroom. Every pony on the room let put a gasp as he removed his glasses revealing a pair of very pale turquoise eyes. A green fire lit up the room forcing every pony in the room to look away again. As the light subsided, a few ponies looked to the front of the classroom and gasped. Before the teacher and the rest of the class stood a smaller, but stronger looking, changeling with a red shell along it's back rather than the sky blue one on the back of the teacher.
"Ahh, Kuray. It's been a long time." The teacher said looking at the changeling that stood before her and seeming to forget about the rest of the class.
"Same to you sister. How long has it been?" Kuray said wrapping the teacher, or his sister, in a hug.
"Thirty years if my memory serves me." She said breaking from the embrace.
"Woah, woah, woah. Night is only 16 years old." One of the ponies said.
"Lesson one about changelings, we live much longer than ponies." Kuray said. "And as a changeling, I would appreciate it if you would call me Kuray."
"Alright, Kuray, how do we know we can trust you?" A mare at the front of the class said putting extra emphasis on his name and giving him a hateful glare.
"Because, do you see the shell on my back." He said turning around.
"Ya, so."
"Well, the colors of our shells show our jobs in society. Pony society. As you can see mine is red, the color of the guard. My job as a changeling is to hide amongst the ponies and protect you all. You see, since we feed off of the emotions of ponies, so without you we would die off." Kuray came to a finish on his long winded speech. The class just looked at him for a moment and then the bell rang.
Kuray morphed back to the form of Night and walked back over to his desk next to Sweetie Belle who was grinning widely.
"Someone's happy." He said as he picked up his stuff.
"Do you know how awesome you are?" She asked him.
"Ya, I'm pretty awesome." He said in a joking tone as Sweetie Belle and him started towards the door.
"I'm serious. Do you know ho-"
"I'd prefer not to talk about it in public if that's alright with you. How about I come over to your house today after last period and we can talk about it then?" He said. Sweetie nodded.
"Like a date?" She asked.
"Like a date." He chuckled. And with that they split up to go to their respective classes.
The rest of the day went by in a blur for them both. For Night, several of the ponies cast him wary glances but mostly they just nodded and walked by him like they normally did. For Sweetie the rest of the day was spent waiting for the final bell so she could be dismissed from their classes and free to go do what they pleased. Sweetie watched as the seconds ticked away like minutes, and the minutes like hours. She felt as if her own heart beat was matching the tics and ticks of the clock. Watching, waiting for the hands to align on the 2 and the 4. 'Yes, just one more minute. Just one more minute!' She thought to herself.
The bell sounded and Sweetie jumped up and ran out the door before the Reston her classmates even had a chance to stand up. She bolted down the hallway as it flooded,with students. She soon had to slow her pace to match the ponies around her. At a slow trot she made her way down the hallway towards the large double doors at the end of the hall. Then she head a voice that she hadn't heard since first period.
"Sweetie Belle!" She heard the familiar voice of Scootaloo yell to her down the hall bringing her to a stop as she let her friends catch up to her. "Where are you going, I thought we were going to hang out after class today?" Scootaloo asked her as they resumed their trotting towards the door. Sweetie silently cursed herself for forgetting her previous plans with her friends.
"I'm sorry Scoots, but in meeting somepony soon. I won't be able to." Sweetie said. Scootaloo seemed to accept the answer but decided to have a little fun with her.
"So which one is it?" She asked.
"What?" Sweetie asked Scootaloo her eyebrow rising.
"Which stallion is it. Do eh play hoofball?" She asked smiling as Sweetie's cheeks turned crimson under her white coat.
"I'm not meeting a stallion. Not like that at least." She said moving her curls to hide her blush.
"Are you gonna buck him?" The orange mare asked her giving the white mare a sly smile.
"No, no no no! Rarity would kill me if I bucked some stallion that I barely know." Sweetie said with a stunned look on her face.
"I'm just playing with you. I know you're not like that." Scootaloo said with a snort of laughter. Sweetie Belle walked out of the school leaving Scootaloo at the top of the steps.
Sweetie Belle stormed away to her sister's boutique where she would meet Night, or Kuray rather. As she walked past an alley way, she heard a soft thud. Like someone was hitting something, and hard. She peered into the alley way and saw several tall ponies, about eight by her count all standing around something. She took another silent step closer and noticed that several of the, we're standing on their hind legs and two were holding something against the wall of a building. The third standing pony brought a hoof back and slugged whatever it was they were holding against the wall, in the stomach. She heard a cough and the sound of somepony spitting and then the familiar voice she was looking forward to.
"That all ya got. My granny hits harder than you, and she de-" The voice Night was cut off by another slug to the stomach. Sweetie found her voice finally.
"Leave him alone you bullies!" She shouted. Her horn flowed blue and a blue bolt of magic shot out catching one of the ponies holding Night in the back. It scorched its back, leaving a large black mark on the otherwise clear, blue coat. Night took this chance to shake his hoof loose and punch the jock that had been abusing him, right in the jaw sending him back a few feet. He broke his other hoof free from the stunned hoofball player and slugged him in the gut, throat and delivered a quick knee to the chest, sending the pony to the ground unconscious.
He then turned to the other jocks who had been watching as he had been beaten up as well as the one who had been doing the beating. "Normally I'd give you a chance to walk away, but I'm not in the greatest mood today." He said. Suddenly the alley was lit by a green fire as Night turned to a changeling. The bullies all gawked at him and Kuray took the chance to cause some serious damage. With the horn at he didn't have as a Pegasus, he shot a green bolt directly into the first jock's chest sending him to the ground in a heap. His other six buddies looked sceptic as the obvious ring leader of the group ran forward at the changeling. Kuray delivered several quick blows to the nose and gut, sending the pony to the ground.
Two of the jocks looked at the leader and then to the changeling. They didn't hesitate a second to turn and run, but Kuray wasn't planning on letting them go so easily. He picked them up with his magic and slammed them together knocking the two out immediately leaving only two more which he quickly dispatched with magic.
All the while Sweetie just stood and watched him kick the other stallions' flanks. As he walked over to her, obviously tired from the magic he had just done as well as the beating he had received before, he changed back to Night. She noticed that he didn't have his glasses on, revealing a pair of pale green eyes that didn't look natural.
"So, you still want to talk about changelings?" He asked her. She didn't respond but just ran up and hugged him. He winced slightly but then relaxed. He closed his eyes as he drank in the emotions that she was giving him. He felt a warm feeling at the base of his horn and then spread through his body all the way to the end of his hooves and the tip of his nose. A new energy like none he had felt in a long time filled him. He opened his eyes to see her staring at him curiously. "Sorry, I'll explain at your place." He said and began walking towards the end of the alley.
The walk was silent which gave Night time to think about what he had felt when Sweetie had hugged him. He hadn't felt that way in a long time. That energy was different. He has grown used to the normal ones he felt. The less powerful ones like admiration, curiosity, fear. All of them he felt on a daily basis. But this was stronger and it took him off guard. Even now he could feel it on Sweetie. It was love, love was what he had felt. It took him a moment to remember what it was called but he was sure of it.
"We're here." Sweetie said happily, snapping Night out of his thoughts. She pushed open the door and walked in and night followed her.
Inside was a nice little dress shop with all kinds of garments hanging in the window as well as on stand scattered all around the showroom. Night would have liked to look around a bit, but Sweetie just kept walking towards what he guessed was the back of the lower level. One flight of stairs and a short walk way later they arrived on Sweetie's room. It was a nice little room with a little desk nestled in the corner next to the vanity with various small boxes and small jars in front of the mirror. Night raises an eyebrow when he saw the make up on the desk.
"Just for special occasions." She said blushing slightly and sitting down on her bed and curling her legs under her body. Night plopped down on his back at the end of the bed. His disguise shattered and fell away without the blinding flash leaving only the black exo-skeleton and the red shell. The shards of the disguise fell onto Sweetie's bed and then disappeared.
"So, changelings can do that without the flash?" She asked. Kuray sat up and smiled at her, his fangs glinting on the sun that was filtering through the window.
"Ya, most changeling's disguise dissolves into their body or leaves this goo, bit the flash destroys the goo leaving no trace of the disguise. But I'm part of the guard and we have to know how to destroy our disguises without a flash, leaving no trace at all. Say, if we're gonna talk about this, could we lock the door? I don't wanna run the risk." Kuray said. Sweetie's horn glowed and the door clicked. "So, what did you wanna ask?Ask me anything." Sweetie scratched her chin for a moment with her hoof as if thinking though Kuray could feel the anxiety on her. "Go ahead ask. Trust me, ou can't surprise me."
"What do you think about me?" She finally asked with a shy smile. Kuray looked slightly taken aback.
"Pardon?" He asked sounding like Applebloom.
"Me, what do you think about me?" She asked again more confidently.
"Well, I think you're funny, curious, brave and very loyal to your friends. I also think that you don't care weather or not somepony is a creature of mayhem or a pony to be their friend." He said smiling at her with the strange smile only a changeling could pull off.
"Is that all?" She said looking slightly disappointed.
"Well, I also think that you expect too much from yourself and work a little to hard for your own good." He paused and she hung her head. She couldn't see it but Kuray had stood up and started walking towards her. "But most of all, I think that you are one of the nicest and most beautiful ponies I have ever met." He said sitting down next to her on the bed. She looked up at him and hugged him tightly. He returned the embrace. Sweetie felt the cold hooves on her back, it felt strange, but comforting at the same time. She pulled her head back still holding him in her arms as well as her in his. He put a hoof under her chin and looked her in the eyes. "But mostly I think I love you." He said. He brought his lips forward and met hers.they both closed their eyes and lost themselves in the kiss. Both comforted by each other." Sweetie pulled her head back still locked in the embrace.
"I think I love you too." She said with a small laugh. Kuray smiled his changeling smile. She lied down on the bed and grabbed Kuray by the shoulders and pulled him on top of her. He looked her in he eyes with a questioning look in his eyes.
"Umm, Sweetie." She just grinned at him.
"Nothing like that, just cuddling." She said. He smiled and kissed her again, moving from on top of her to beside her, all the while not breaking the kiss. The two slid under the covers of the bed as the sun began to set outside of the window. The two turned to look at the giant ball of awesome as it descended down the sky and into the distance behind the houses turning the sky from blue to a bright orange with beautiful purple streaks.
"Are you sure you don't mind me being a changeling?" He asked her. She nuzzled his cheek.
"I wouldn't care if you were a griffon." She said. He wrapped her up in another hug under the covers.
"How did you know where I lived?" She asked after a few moments. "Have you been spying on me?" She asked mischievously booping his nose.
"I've always known you, and you've always known me. Remember Rumble?" He said a,idling at the look of disbelief on her face. "That was me. For the record, I always had a huge crush on you." The changeling said. "So you remember hearts and hoof day a few years ago, when you got that card attached to the chocolate bunny?" He asked somehow blushing through the black armor that came with being a changeling.
"Oh my gosh. That was you?" She asked a tear forming in her eye.
"And the one the year after that, and the one after that and the one after that. All the way until 'he' went to Ponyville High five years ago." He said smiling at her. A tear ran down her cheek at the memories of them all trying for their cutie marks, the cards and chocolate bunnies she had gotten every hearts and hooves day from a secret admirer that always made her tear up, the five years ago when he had gonna off to Ponyville High and then finally, last yea when he received his diploma and gone off to college in Canterlot.
"That was you the whole time?" She asked him as me memories all came rushing back to her of one of her best friends in the world next to Scootaloo and Applebloom. Kuray nodded and she hugged him tighter, almost squeezing the breath out of him. Had it not been for the shell, he probably would have been snapped in two. "Thank you. Thank you so much. That was a hard part of my life, but you helped me get through. I can't thank you enough." She said resting her head on his chest. He felt the warm tears run down his smooth shell. He ran a hoof through her curls.
"It's alright Bell, I'm here." He said adjusting his voice to match Rumble's and even using the pet name he had come up with years ago. She just sobbed harder until she finally ran out of tears to cry and just sat there, shivering on his arms. He brought his weighs out and wrapped them around Sweetie, bringing her closer than before. He could smell her sweet breath and the sweet, lingering perfume.
"How old are you?" She asked her voice cracking.
"Two hundred and fifteen years. I have about sixth left." He said. "I've been in this world for two hundred and fifteen years and I haven't met anypony prettier or nicer than you." He said. She leaned up and kissed him again as Luna's moon came over the houses in the east.
Monster On The Outside...
Monster on the Outside...
Kuray laid in the bed with his arm around Sweetie as she slept. Kuray had risen early like he did every morning. It was a bad habit of his. He hadn’t wanted to risk waiting Sweetie by getting up out of the bed so he just laid there in silence. He looked through the window of the room from the bed as Luna’s night yielded allowing Celestia to bring in her equally beautiful day. As the sunlight poured through the window, a horrible beeping began to sound from next to the bed. Sweetie jerked and opened her eyes. She slammed a hoof down on the alarm clock, silencing it. She sat up and popped her back.
“Morning sunshine.” Kuray said jokingly as Sweetie got out of bed.
“Same to you.” She said. Kuray got up and stretched like a cat, popping about every joint in his body. “Do all changelings do that?” Sweetie asked him.
“No, it just feels good to me.” He said smiling.
“Fair enough. You can stay for breakfast if you want.” She said walking into the bathroom and closing the door. “I’ll be out in a minute.” He heard her yell from behind the door. Kuray shifted back to Night and dropped down to the ground, his wings being the only thing holding him up. He lifted himself up, his hooves glued to his sides. He looked up when he heard the door unlatch and Sweetie walked out of the bathroom, looking no different than when she had entered a moment before. He stood up and walked to the bathroom. She gave him a kiss on the cheek as he walked by her.
He stepped onto the cold tiles of the bathroom and closed the door. He changed back to Kuray. Little known fact about changelings water melts a disguise. He turned the shower knob and stepped in. He couldn’t feel water temperature through his shell so he turned his back to the water as it warmed up. As he proceeded with his shower, he began to hum a tune that he had learned as a little larva and by the end of the song he was outright singing the song. He jumped when he heard a pair of hooves clapping next to him in the shower.
“Gahh! Sweetie, I’m taking a shower.” Kuray said calming his breathing. He didn’t like being snuck up on in his changeling form, or at all for that matter.
“You have a real great singing voice she.” She said stepping closer to Kuray and into the stream of water.
“Are you kidding me?” He said casting her a sideways glance. He didn’t really mind her in the shower with him. He wasn’t going to try anything and he was pretty sure that she wouldn’t either.
“I’m serious. You can sing Kuray, there’s no question about it.” She said taking another step closer to him. He felt her wet coat brush against the softer membrane of his wings.
“C’mon Sweetie, I’m horrible at singing.” He said kissing her forehead. She strained her neck up and kissed him on the lips.
“Will you at least sing for me?” She asked him.
“Sweetie for the la-” She looked up at him with puppy dog eyes. “I can’t say no to those eyes.” He said booping her nose and turning off the water. He stepped out of the shower with Sweetie next to him. She reached for a towel but Kuray stopped her. “Wanna see something awesome?” He asked her. She looked skeptical but nodded. He wrapped her up in a hug and shifted to knight with a bright green flash. When the flash subsided he released her and they were both totally dry. Even their manes and tails had been styled with their normal styles. Sweetie had her curls and Night had his messy white mane.
“That was awesome.” She said. Night opened his mouth to speak but Sweetie clamped his jaws shut when she heard a knocking at her door.
“Sweetie Belle! Breakfast is ready!” Sweetie’s sister said through the door.
“Crap, Rarity.” Sweetie said under her breath. “Go through the window. If Rarity sees you in here, she’ll flip.” Sweetie said. Night nodded and jumped out the window.
Forgetting that Sweetie’s room was on the second floor, Night didn’t open his wings when he jumped and landed on his hooves. He felt the impact jar up his bones. A burning pain emanated from his right fore leg. He put pressure on it and felt the pain shoot up through his leg. It was too much pain to bear. Luckily for him, he had wings. He spread his black, feathery wings. They felt different, heavier than the thin green membranes. But he managed to hover slightly. He fluttered around the boutique and knocked in the door all the while holding his hoof up from the ground.
As he knocked on the door, he heard a clatter from inside as well as a pair of hooves stomping towards the door. He heard the latch go up and the door swung open revealing frazzled, white mare with a swirling purple mane that was adorned by thin streaks of grey.
“Oh, good morning darling. I’m sorry but the boutique doesn’t open for a few more hours.” She said forcing a smile.
“Oh, actually Rarity, I was looking for Sweetie.” He said. Her eyes widened and she took a step aside.
“Well, in that case. Do come in darling.” She dropped the fake smile and put on a real one. He nodded to her as he fluttered by. “Oh, darling, could you please not fly in the boutique.”
“Of course.” He said. Inside his mind he flipped an imaginary table. He descended and folded his wings. He hid the immense pain behind his smile and winced with every step. He could feel the curiosity coming off of Rarity by his strange actions. He turned his head when he hear a pair of hooves descending down the stairs.
“Night!” She yelped in mock surprise. She jumped at him tackling him to the ground. He could feel the admiration mixed in with other emotions directed towards him. It filled his body with energy and woke him up better than any coffee. She leaned her head down and kissed him causing the pain in his right fore leg to ebb away to a dull ache and disappear all together.
“Ahh, young love.” Rarity said walking back into the kitchen(Please no jokes). Sweetie climbed off of him and let him stand up. He tested his hoof on the ground. He didn’t feel any pain at all.
“Enthusiasm, I like it.” He said. She swished her tail under his nose.
“C’mon, lets go eat.” She said walking into the kitchen with Night close on her tail, literally.
...Hero on the Inside
Four months had passed and Hearths Warming Day was approaching quickly. A lot had happened in those four months. The town had quickly come to trust him as a changeling as well as his sister. At first it was difficult but now he could walk around in full view of everypony in his changeling form. Even Rarity had warmed up to the idea of her sister dating a changeling, with a little convincing. And by convincing she had meant free labor. But it had all been worth it.
On this particular afternoon, Kuray and Sweetie Belle were lying in the snow and gazing at the clouds. It brought back memories for the both of them. For Kuray, ones of carefree days staring up at the clouds with his sister at his side. And for Sweetie Belle, days of going to the ends of the earth to discover her talent with her friends.
“So Kuray, how does it feel to be one of the luckiest changelings in the world?” Sweetie asked him in a joking tone.
“Like i’m king of the world.” He said kissing her. Over the months Sweetie and him had become increasingly close to the point of almost being inseparable. They slept together, ate together and just plain killed time together. The only time that you could catch them apart was whenever they were hanging out with their friends. Sweetie with the Cutie Mark Crusader and Kuray with Dusk and Sunburst.
“So, about Hearths Warming.” Sweetie began.
“Sweetie, you don’t have to get me anything. Being with you is the best gift I could ask for.” He said.
“I bet you got me something.” She said.
“Shhh, I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.” Kuray said. He looked over and gave her a tooth grin. His small fangs were just poking out of his mouth making him look like an amused bat. Sweetie Belle couldn’t resist the adorableness and cracked a smile.
“How do you do it?” She asked him changing the subject.
“Do what.” Kuray asked dubiously.
“How do you feed off of emotions? And how come I don’t feel drained like you’re sucking the energy out of me?” She asked him. He sent up a silent prayer of thanks.
“Well, feeding is a very, difficult, process. Most ponies give off stray emotions which is like a snack to most changelings but that’s not very sustaining. The way that I feed off of you is through your directed emotions.”
“Directed emotions?”
“Yes, those are the feelings you have towards me. The emotions you feel for me which I in turn use as food. As for you not feeling drained, emotion sucking is a very dangerous thing to do and should only be used in drastic measures. It is like forcing feeding yourself through somepony else, if that makes any sense.”
“Sounds weird, do it.” She said her emotions changing from one of curiosity to that f an anxious filly.
“Um, Sweetie. I don’t like to feed that way. I could hurt you.” Kuray said sitting up.
“C’mon, just a little. I trust you.” She said. She gave him the puppy dog face again.
“Alright, but only a little. Tell me if it’s too much.” He said. His horn started to glow as he focused on Sweetie’s mind. He closed his eyes for absolute concentration and reached into her emotions. Sweetie felt as if something was poking around inside her mind. Kuray found a small bit of stray emotional energy and focused on it. Sweetie felt herself tense up and her mind get fogg for a second. Then, just like that the probing feeling was gone, but not that feeling of exhaustion. Kuray opened his eyes and saw Sweetie panting as if she had just run a race.
“Sweetie, oh my Celestia, did I take too much?” He asked frantically. Sweetie put a hoof to his lips to stop his questions.
“I’m just a little tired all of the sudden. I think a nap would do me good.” She said. Kura nodded and stood up. He held out a hoof to Sweetie to help her stand up. “Could you carry me?” She asked giving him another puppy dog look.
“Alright.” He said picking her up and sliding her onto his back. He was a bit smaller than most changelings but his strength was that of three stallions and he carried her with ease.
He received several strange looks as he trotted down the streets of Ponyville with an unconscious Sweetie Belle on his back but he ignored them. He felt guilty for agreeing to have pulled the energy directly out of her. As the Celestia yielded and Luna’s moon took over the sky for the night, Kuray walked into the boutique and Rarity was immediately on him. Asking him questions about why Sweetie was unconscious.
“Rarity please, can I go put her in her bed and then I’ll explain everything.” He said holding up a hoof to stop the flow of questions coming from the White mare. She nodded and stepped aside letting him pass. He climbed the stairs which was challenging with another pony on his back but he managed not to drop Sweetie down the stairs. He placed her on her bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. After kissing her on the forehead and chuckling after she mumbled something about a unicorn with a cotton candy mane, he trotted back down stairs and was confronted by Rarity, Applebloom and Scootaloo’s questioning glares.
“You wanna explain yerself?” Applebloom asked, her thick southern accent making it all the more menacing.
“It’s a long story.” Kuray said.
“Talk fast then less you want me to buck you into the next town.” Kuray didn’t like the thought of Applebloom beating the junk out of him so he went to work explaining the situation about the energy sucking. After he finished, all three of the mares looked at him in shock.
“So, you sucked emotions out of my sister knowing that it would hurt her.” Kuray opened his mouth to defend himself, but he caught a whiff of something that smelled smoke.
“Rarity, I think your dinner is burning.” Kuray said taking another sniff of the air.
“I’m not cooking anything.” She said.
“Well then why do I smell smo-? Oh no.” He said as he ran up the stairs. And as he had feared, the roof of the boutique was ablaze. Kuray made a break for Sweetie’s room with Rarity and her friends hot on his tail. He heard a creaking from above him and a few burning timbers fell to the floor just behind Kuray. Cutting off the other ponies from Kuray.
“You three, get out of here. I’ll get Sweetie!” He yelled. He stood there, expecting some kind of protest but received none.
“Good luck.” Rarity said to him before running back to the stairs. Kuray nodded and galloped into Sweetie’s room. Her pristine white coat was stained black around her nose and mouth. He picked her up onto his back and looked for another way out of this place. All that he saw was the window. He grimaced at the thought of breaking his ankle, or worse. But it was the only way out. He summoned magic to his horn and blasted the window to pieces and jumped out.
He fell a few seconds before hitting the ground, surprisingly okay. He slid Sweetie off his back to check her over. The rise and fall of her chest had ceased and she was no longer breathing.
“Oh, no no no no no NO!” He said. Looking around frantically he saw that he was alone, again. There was only one option then. He brought some of his energy to his hooves and rubbed them together until the were charged. He brought them down on Sweetie’s chest and released the energy. Her body convulsed and then laid still again, she still wasn’t breathing. He brought some more energy into his hooves but could feel his strength failing him but he tried again but like last time, her body convulsed and then she laid still. He wouldn’t let her die. He put all of the energy he had left in his body into his hooves and put them on Sweetie’s chest and released it. She sat bolt upright, panting heavily as Kuray fell to the ground. Black spots danced in his vision as he tried to move his head. He groaned one last time before he lost consciousness.
Somepony Doesn't Approve of Changelings
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.
Hearths’ Warming Day
Kuray slipped back into consciousness and immediately wished he hadn’t. His chest burned fiercely but his head was surprisingly clear. He tried to sit up but felt a hoof on his forehead that pushed him back down.
“Easy darling. You took quite a beating.” He heard Rarity say. He opened his eyes to the weak morning sunlight pouring through the window. “I’m sorry about mother. I didn’t think that she react that way.”
“It’s fine.” Kuray croaked. “How long have I been out?” He asked looking out the window at the snow that had started falling.
“Not very long actually. Only about eight hours. You heal remarkably fast.” She said pulling the covers back a bit and examining the scorch marks on his chest.
“Changelings don’t heal like ponies.” He explained. “Love energy isn’t only food to us but it’s also our magical reserves and our immune system.” Rarity nodded in understanding.
“Sweetie went for Twilight, she understands magical wounds better than anypony in town.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” Kuray said sitting up without Rarity stopping him.
“I still think it best if she checks you over.” Rarity said. Kuray opened his mouth to protest, he didn’t really like checkups whether it was from a doctor or an ameature. During a checkup, he was more likely to be discovered. But since everypony in town knew he was a changeling already, he didn’t see any problem with a check up. He nodded and Rarity looked a little happier.
“So, what of your mother?” Kuray asked not enjoying the silence.
“She’s already on her train back to Canterlot.” She said. “Don’t take it personally Kuray, she hates changelings after what they did in Canterlot a few years back.” Rarity said resting her head on her hooves. Kuray nodded but wasn’t totally satisfied with the answer.
“What else happened?” He asked.
“Whatever do you mean darling?” She asked raising her head.
“Most ponies have moved past what happened in Canterlot. Your mother wouldn’t hate changelings so much unless something else happened.” He said. Rarity sighed and sat up again.
“As you know, some of the changelings took prisoners before they were ultimately thrown out of Canterlot.” She said. “Our father was one of those prisoners.” Rarity said. A tear escaped her eyes and ran down her cheek. Kuray reached over and brushed it away.
“I never knew.” He said sadly.
“I don’t blame you for anything Kuray.” She said.
“Does Sweetie know?” Kuray asked. Rarity shook her head.
“She was too young when it happened. We told her that he died of a heart attack and left it be. She was too young to understand what had happened.” She said. Kuray heard the front door of the apartment open.
“Rarity! I’m back with Twilight!” She called in.
“I’m in here.” She called back. A moment later, Sweetie walked in followed by Twilight.
“Oh Kuray, you’re awake!” She exclaimed rushing over to his side and giving him a kiss. “I was so worried. I don’t know why my mom would do that. I’m so sorry.” She said. Kuray and Twilight both looked over at Rarity. A length of silent dialogue passed between them.
“Sweetie, if you don’t mind, I need to check him over real fast.” Twilight said. Sweetie took a step back.
“Sweetie, I have something I need to tell you.” Rarity said. She walked out of the room and beckoned for Sweetie to follow her leaving only Twilight and Kuray in the room.
Like Rarity, Twilight had a few flecks of grey in her mane and muzzle as well as a tired look in her eyes. “Kuray, if you wouldn’t mind, could you get out of the bed. It would make it easier to check you over.” She said. Kuray nodded and hopped out of the bed. He was feeling better already from Rarity’s love energy rather than Sweetie’s. But her kind of energy was different. It wasn’t like Sweetie’s which was a mix of affection and admiration but that of protection. Like a mother would feel for her foal.
“Kuray, if you could stand on your back hooves that would be great.” Twilight said jerking him out of his thoughts. He obeyed and rocked his weight back on his hind hooves and stood like he had seen Lyra do more than a few times. Twilight examined the scorch marks on his chest. “Wow, I never knew she was such a powerful unicorn. I don’t think my magic is that powerful.” She said looking back at her wings.
After a few more moments of her pressing various cold instruments against various parts of his torso she took a step back.
“Well, Mr. Kuray, you’re lucky to be alive.” She declared. “Taking several magical blasts of that magnitude would kill any normal pony, twice. If you start to feel funny come by the Library.” She said handing him a card. Kuray nodded and followed her out of the room.
In the living are of the apartment, Rarity held a weeping Sweetie Belle in her arms. (As of right now, ponies have arms.) “Why didn’t you tell me this before now?” Sweetie Belle choked out between her sobs.
“Because I didn’t think you needed to know before now.” Rarity said quietly. She hated to see her sister cry but in this instance, it was probably best.
“And why did you suddenly decide to tell me?” Sweetie asked. Rarity didn’t really have a good answer to that.
“Because I felt it was time for you to know.” She lied. Sweetie didn’t seem to accept this answer but she was too worn out emotionally to ask any more questions.
Taking it Easy
A week after Kuray had recovered from his injuries without any problems and Sweetie Belle had come to terms with the truth of her father’s death, life for everypony involved went back to normal. On this particular afternoon, Rarity was overseeing the rebuilding of the Boutique while Rainbowdash and Applejack did most of the actual work. Which for Kuray and Sweetie Belle meant they had the day to themselves. The only problem was, they had no idea what to do with a day off. They had been helping Rarity all week to rebuild the Boutique and didn’t really have any plans.
“We could go cliff diving.” Sweetie said looking up at Kuray who was holding her close to his chest.
“Cliff diving, seriously? In this weather?” He asked motioning out the window to the frigid outdoors.
‘Yeah, maybe not the best idea. How about a picnic, just you and me. In The Green Sky Meadow?” She said. Kuray opened his mouth to protest, he was enjoying just laying here on the couch cuddling with Sweetie Belle, but a picnic did sound nice.
“That sounds brilliant.” He said kissing her horn which made her shudder.
“You know I love it when you do that.” She said sitting up and stretching. Sweetie hopped off the couch and into the kitchen(No kitchen jokes please). Kuray stood up and joined her.
“So I was talking with Dusk the other day and he told me something, well, interesting.” Kuray said, using his magic to get down stuff that was too high for her to reach. She wasn’t the best magician but Kuray on the other hand had practiced for more than a century.
“Well, don’t leave me hanging, tell me the news.” Sweetie said.
“Apparently, Filthy Rich found Diamond Tiara bucking one of the Hoofball players.” Kuray said hardly keeping a straight face.
“Didn’t I say that would happen! Ha Ha, yes!” Sweetie said just a bit too excitedly.
“But wait, it gets better.” Kuray said doing his best to suppress a laugh. Sweetie turned to him in disbelief. “Apparently, she’s pregnant as well.” Kuray said and Sweetie completely lost it. She collapsed to the ground in a fit of laughter.
“Oh man, I can just picture the look on Filthy’s face when he found that out!” Sweetie said.
“It probably looked something like this.” Kuray said as a green flame lit up the room and he turned into a copy of Diamond Tiara’s father with his face screwed up in disgust. At this point Sweetie was laughing to the point of tears and Kuray was even laughing pretty hard.
“We’re horrible.” Sweetie said trying to control her laughter.
“Even if she deserves it.” Kuray added walking over to the half finished sandwich and finished spreading the peanut butter.
Kuray and Sweetie Belle trotted down the street. The brisk wind blew against their faces.
“Told you a scarf was a good idea.” Sweetie said through her purple and white scarf that was wrapped around her face.
“Stallions don’t wear scarves.” Kuray said pulling himself into his hoodie.
“Oh really. How about him.” She said pointing to a stallion that was walking through the park with an orange and brown scarf around his neck.
“Changelings don’t wear scarves.” He corrected himself.
“Touche.” She replied. “So, about changelings, have you heard anything about other changelings in Equestria?” She asked.
“Oh there are hundreds of changelings all over Equestria and twelve in Ponyville by my count.”
“Oh really, who are they?” She asked excitedly.
“Now that I can’t tell you. Changeling code prohibits me revealing another changeling by name.” He said.
“Oh, is that why your sister said that you would have to reveal yourself?” Sweetie asked as they started down a small dirt road to The Green Sky Meadow.
“Exactly.” They walked in silence for a few seconds before Sweetie Belle had another question.
“What are the other parts of the changeling code?” She asked.
“Well aren’t you eagre to know more about changelings today.” He joked.
“I just like to know more about my Coltfriend’s species.” She said nudging him.
“Well, there are twenty seven different articles of the changeling code, but most of them fall under the first three: Don’t reveal another changeling, If another changeling approaches you in need of assistance, you must help them as long as you don’t endanger other changelings.” HE paused for breath.
“And the third?” Sweetie asked. Kuray didn’t agree with the last article, but he had followed it all his life.
“If another changeling deliberately breaks one of the major articles, then they are no longer considered a changeling, but an enemy that should be killed.” Kuray said. He hated that last one. So many of his kind had been put to death because of that last article.
“So, you’re saying...” Sweetie Trailed off.
“I know, the last one is terrible. But I don’t have anything to worry about as long as I don’t break the code.” He said with a forced smile.
“Even if you did break the code, they wouldn’t be able to take you from me with an army.” She said drawing close to him. He put a wing over her back and held her close as they walked down the dirt road to the meadow.
It was amazing. The meadow was everything he had thought and more. Despite the temperature, the grass was still a lush green.
“Wow.” Kuray said in awe.
“C’mon.” Sweetie Belle said grabbing his hoof and running into the grass.
Youtube Video
(Yes, this song is appropriate. Thanks Robert for bringing this song to my attention. You’re awesome man)
The grass felt amazing under his hooves after the dead vegetation that he had been walking on for the past few months. ‘This is wonderful.’ He thought as he ran with Sweetie Belle. A strong gust of wind blew through, knocking his hood down, but he didn’t care.
After a while of running through the meadow, Kuray and Sweetie collapsed on the ground. Their breath coming in gasps and their chests heaving. “How, is this, grass, still, alive?” Kuray asked through breaths.
“The soil was enchanted by unicorns a long time ago for farming. Whatever grows here isn’t affected by the cold.” She said running a hoof through the grass. She wanted to be at peace and just lie here, but after what Kuray had said about the changeling code, she couldn't stop thinking about it. “Kuray, about the code-”
“Oh don’t worry about the code. I haven’t broken it and I don’t plan to anytime soon.” He said looking up at the sky.
“But I will worry about the code. I’ll worry about it as long as I live. You’re bound by these rules and if you break one, you’ll get taken from me.” She said. Kuray turned his head and met her gaze. She was truly scared for him, and he could understand that fear. He wrapped her up in his hooves and held her tightly.
“I’ll never leave you Sweetie. Not as long as I’m alive, I’ll ever leave you. I promise.” He said looking into her eyes. This put Sweetie’s nerves to rest. In the time she had known Kuray, she had learned when he made a promise, he kept it.
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.
The End
Kuray awoke with a gasp as his heart started pumping rapidly. He tried to get up but a set of restraints kept him fastened tightly to the chair he was in and a magical suppressor had been slapped onto his horn. In other words, he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Ahh, good. You’re awake.” His sister said walking into his field of view, but she had changed. The shell on her back was no longer the soft green but a eerie black, like the rest of her body.
“Where am I?” Kuray asked though he had a pretty good idea.
“You’re in hive seven’s torture room brother.” She said emotionlessly.
“And how am I still alive. You sapped me, every last drop of energy right through my wings.” He asked struggling in the chair again but to no avail.
“That Marefriend of yours nearly recharged you completely before you even hit the floor, but I handled her.” The female changeling said with a laugh.
“Sweetie Belle.” He whispered to himself. “I swear if you hurt her I’ll tear you to shreds!” Kuray shouted trying for the third time to slide his hooves out of the restraints.
“Oh don’t worry about her.” She said as a monitor popped up through the floor and in front of Kuray. It flickered to life to show him the image of Sweetie Belle sitting unconscious in a chair like his. “As a matter of fact, I think I’m going to go pay her a visit. Get to know my brother’s Marefriend and what not.” She said walking to the far side of the room and opening a door. “I won’t be long brother, try not to get into trouble.” She said mockingly as she closed the door.
Kuray tried to force his way through the restraints, heating the leather until it became brittle and even using the thin membranes of his wings to get through the locks but it was no use. The restraint had been enchanted and could only be opened by the one who had set them. He lowered his head in defeat but raised it when he heard the sound of a door opening.
The monitor revealed his sister walking into the other torture room and trotting over to Sweetie Belle. She picked up a small syringe and extracted some clear medicine from a grey vial. She positioned it right and then plunged it into Sweetie’s chest with an audible thud. She pulled out the needle and looked up to what must have been a camera that was monitoring the room.
“A shot of pure adrenaline. She’ll be awake in three... two...” She paused and looked over to the unconscious pony as she gasped for breath. She looked around the room frantically, much like Kuray had but the fear was visible in her eyes. He could feel her fear from here, a sour tang in his mind.
“Where am I?” She demanded locking eyes with Kuray’s sister though not realizing who it was she was looking at.
“You’re in hive seven’s torture rooms, and your little Coltfriend is watching through that camera.” She said pointing up to the camera that he had been watching through. “He’s still alive?” Sweetie asked looking at the changeling in front of her. His sister thought this over for a moment and nodded her head. He felt the fear disappear from Sweetie. She knew that Kuray would get her out of here and to safety, and that was what he planned to do.
With Sweetie being awake, he could feel his energy growing and he had already formulated a plan to get her out of here but it would only work if he was right about the magical suppressor.
Meanwhile in the other torture room which really wasn’t being used for its intended purpose, Sweetie Belle sat in the hard wooden chair as the female changeling stared hatefully at her. “Sooo, if this is a torture chamber, what are you waiting for?” Sweetie asked. She wasn’t trying to be brave, as a matter of fact she was scared out of her mind, but the silence was killing her.
“Right now the council is trying to decide whether or not to put you to death.” She answered taking her eyes off the mare.
“And Kuray...” She trailed off.
“Set to be executed tomorrow morning at dawn.” She answered. This answer shocked Sweetie even though it was what she had kind of what she had expected her to say.
“On what grounds will he be killed?” The mare asked, she was finally getting some answers and wasn’t going to stop now.
“He broke one of the four main articles of the Changeling Code-”
“Four, he only told me there were three main articles.” Sweetie interrupted
“That’s because the third is to never tell another living creature other than another changeling about the code.” She finished. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk to your Coltfriend.” She said, obviously flustered but Sweetie had no idea why. The changeling walked across the room to the door and stepped out. As the door shut, a monitor popped up through the ground and flickered to life. It showed Kuray sitting in a wooden chair just like her’s.
She watched as the female changeling trotted into the room and stood in front of Kuray. The two stayed silent but stared hatefully at each other as if they stared hard enough the other would burst into flames. “Mom is going to be there tomorrow.” She said finally breaking the silence, and eye contact. ‘Mom? But that can’t mean...’ She thought to herself.
“Now that’s bullshit and you know it sister. Mom died eight years ago.” Kuray spat at her. She wasn’t sure if it was a trick of the monitor, but she thought she saw a tear on the female’s face.
“I don’t want you to die Kuray, you’re all I have left.” She said sadly. He was slightly surprised by her sudden change of mood, but didn’t let it show.
“Well then I guess after tomorrow you’ll be all alone.” He said leaning out of the chair a bit until their noses almost touched. She slapped him across the face and Luray jumped back into the chair, a small green trickle had begun on the edge of his lip. “You’ve gotten better, i’ll give you that.” He said with a brave smile. At this point, his sister was nearly to the point of total sobbing, which is just what Kuray wanted. Even though his sister was a changeling, she was family so he could still feed off of her emotions. Families were linked in that sense and for the past few moments, she had been pouring her emotions into him. He could barely contain all the excess energy, which was a good thing at this moment.
“Why did you have to tell her the bucking code?” She demanded. “You two could have lived the rest of your lives together, happy! But you had to go and tell her the code, and for what? You knew this would happen!” She shouted at him and then collapsed to the ground in a fit of sobbing. Kuray stayed silent and smiled to himself. This was his chance.
He channeled all the excess energy to his horn. Normally, the amount of magic he was currently using would kill him, but he had enough energy from emotions to last him a week and still have enough to get out of here. The cone on his horn started to fizzle with power and began to smoke before eventually shattering. “What in the-” She asked lifting her head. Kuray quickly fired a small bolt of energy which collided with his sister, knocking her out.
Sweetie Belle watched the scene unfold on the monitor as Kuray shattered the cone and took out his sister. As he turned his attention to his restraints Sweetie Belle tried to replicate the results with her suppressor. She channeled her magic into her horn, every last drop of her magical energy channeled into one small part of her body. She felt as if her horn was going to explode. She closed her eyes and imagined the cone exploding, but it didn’t. She heard a door creak open and her concentration shattered. She opened her eyes and saw the most comforting sight that she could have seen at that time.
Kuray rushed towards her and pushed the cone off her horn before undoing her restraints. “Oh thank Celestia.” Sweetie said wrapping Kuray up in a hug.
“Don’t thank her just yet.” He said turning to the wall behind Sweetie Belle. His horn began to glow as he channeled more of his energy and fired a bolt of magic at the wall. It collided with the concrete barrier and exploded, blowing a hole in the wall big enough for them to escape the torture room through. But that was the easy part.
On the other side of the wall was a narrow corridor which lead to the main pavilion which was where Kuray could get them out of here. But there were no doubt going to be plenty of guards to stop them. Kuray stepped into the corridor and looked down in both directions.
“We’re clear.” He whispered stepping out with Sweetie behind him.
“So, what’s the plan for getting out of here?” Sweetie asked.
“When we get to the main pavilion, I’m going to hold off the guards and you’re going to run for the surface.” He said. Sweetie nodded and followed silently.
Soon they reached the end of the corridor which funneled out into a massive pavilion with surprisingly few changelings. “Seven must have fallen on hard times.” Kuray said looking out into the pavilion.
“Alright, you ready.” Kuray said turning to Sweetie.
“Could you explain it all one more time?” Sweetie asked nervously. Kuray sighed and turned back to the pavilion.
“I’m gonna go out there and draw the attention of the changeling and while I’ve got their attention, you’re going to run over there and take the lift up to the surface.” He said pointing to a spot across the pavilion from where they were.
“As long as you promise to meet me at the surface.” Sweetie said.
“Deal.” Kuray responded. He gave her a quick kiss and walked out into the pavilion.
He was immediately spotted and several guards dropped down from ledges along the circumference of the pavilion. “Aye sir, we’ve got him.” One of the guards spoke into his wrist. Kuray smiled at the guards, “Not just yet.” He said. He fired a magic bolt at one of the guards. The changeling slumped to the ground, unconscious.
“Restrain him!” One of the guard yelled lunging for Kuray. He easily stepped aside and threw him to the ground before smashing his skull against the ground. Sweetie took this as her queue and sprinted out of the corridor and into the pavilion which was now deserted except for the scuffle. She ran past the guards without drawing their attention which was directed at Kuray.
Kuray watched Sweetie sprint by the small circle of guards without any of them seeing her. ‘Just keep running Sweetie.’ He thought to himself as a few more of the guards lunged out at him but fell to the floor in quick succession. These guards were meant to protect but comparing Kuray to the hive guard was like comparing a marine to a kitten.
Sweetie ran into the lift and pulled the accordion style iron door shut before taking a moment to catch her breath. “I’ve never run harder in all my life.” She said looking through the folding metal bars to Kuray who was standing in the middle of a circle of an ever thinning number of guards. She managed to catch his eye and he gave her a nod before bucking another guard in the chest.
“You’d better meet me up there.” Sweetie said to herself. She allowed her one last look at Kuray before pressing the button. The lift let out a terrible screech and yanked her up. The guards turned their attention to the lift as it shot up through the shaft and up to the surface.
Why they were distracted, Kuray spread his wings and flew up towards the ceiling. ahe prepared one last blast of energy. His horn glowed an intense green and a massive bolt of magic burst his horn and carved a hole into the ceiling and into the hard rock above.
Sweetie felt the lift tremble about halfway up and had to brace herself against the steel walls to keep from falling. ‘That better be you Kuray.’ She thought to herself.
The magic beam cut through the stone and soil like an irradiated knife through butter. If he was correct, he would breach the surface just after the lift did. And if the hive still ran the way it did when he had lived here, that would be just in time.
The lift grinded to a halt and sun poured in through the metal box. Sweetie pushed the metal accordion to the side and stepped out into the sunlight.It looked like she was in a less dense part of the Everfree Forest so there was enough gaps in the trees for sunlight it make it through. The air was cold but the sun warmer her coat. “Now where are you Kuray?” She asked out loud.
“He’s not here to help you, that’s for sure.” A voice said. Several changelings stepped out of the underbrush, each of the carrying what looked to be one of the sappers that they had used on Kuray. Sweetie threw her hooves in the air to show she was unarmed. “Oh it’s too late for that.” One of the changelings said. Sweetie Belle locked eyes with her as she raised her sapper.
“That’ll just knock me out, like it did to Kuray, right?” Sweetie asked. The changeling smiled and clicked the safety off the weapon.
“Sucks the energy out of a changeling, sucks the life force out of a pony.” She said. Two little barbs protruded out of the front of the device, aimed directly at her. Sweetie closed her eyes. If she was going to die right here, she didn’t want to see it coming.
Kuray could sense Sweetie’s fear which meant he was getting close to the surface. But he could only hope he was in time.
Sweetie felt the ground tremble and then an audible rumbling from below her. She opened one eye and saw the changelings looking down at the ground. “What in the hell?” One of the changelings said. Suddenly, a brilliant green beam broke through the soil and shot up into the sky with none other than Kuray following behind it. The beam dissipated and kuray dropped to the ground in front of Sweetie Belle.
“That’s one way to make an entrance.” She joked. Kuray gave her a quick kiss before turning to the rest of the changeling. Most of them had dropped their sappers and were cowering in fear. All except for the one female changeling who had her sapper raised defiantly.
“I’ll give you one chance to drop the sapper.” Kuray said.
“Fat chance.” She said. Kuray raised himself onto his hind legs. Sweetie hadn’t notice it until now that Kuray was glowing green with energy. The changeling pulled the trigger on her sapper and the two barbs flew out of the end and collided with Kuray’s chest, but they didn’t affect him. He grabbed on of the wires with his hoof and wrenched them out of his exoskeleton. “That’s... impossible.” The changeling said. Half in fear, and half in awe. Kuray walked forward and picked her up by the throat.
“It’s called an overcharge. I’ve been storing energy for months, waiting to use it, and I just did.” He said. The changeling struggled in his hooves.
“No changeling has ever been able to achieve an overcharge.” She choked out. Kuray smiled at his own achievement.
“Well I just did.” He said. He dropped her to the ground as she gasped for breath. “If you follow me, I won’t hesitate to kill you.” Kuray said dropping down onto his forehooves. THe female quickly shook her head and skittered off into the brush with the rest of the changelings right behind her.
“That was amazing!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed trotting up next to Kuray who was panting heavily. “Kuray?” Sweetie said concerned. He was about ready to collapse but managed to keep himself standing.
“That took... a lot of energy.” He said between breaths. “We need... to get back... to Ponyville.” He said taking a step forward. Sweetie pressed her body against his to keep him from falling and together, they made their way through the Everfree forest and back to Ponyville.
Kuray and Sweetie Belle trotted into Ponyville a little after noon. Sweetie had been flooding him with love energy which he had used to recover and he could walk on his own but he liked leaning on Sweetie. Even after all that had happened, they were both perfectly fine, for the most part. Though Kuray was pretty sure Rarity would murder him when she next saw him.
“Sweetie Belle!” A voice shouted from down the street. They turned to see Rarity sprinting down the street. “I’ve been looking all over for you!” She said wrapping her sister in a hug. “Where have you been?” She asked.
“It’s a long story.” She said.
“We’ll talk about it back at your apartment.” Rarity said.
“And here we are.” Kuray said explaining the last bit of the day to Rarity. She sat across from him, her mouth hung agape.
“Kuray, if you’re lying to me I swear-”
“Why would I lie to you about this?” Kuray cut her off. He was on edge because he knew this wasn’t over yet. Rarity didn’t respond but just stood up and walked into the kitchen, and beckoned Kuray to join her. Kuray nodded to sweetie and joined Rarity in the kitchen.
“You’re not telling me something.” Rarity whispered.
“The hive won’t stop looking for me until I’m dead and as long as I’m with Sweetie Belle, she’s in danger.” Kuray said. He hung his head in sadness, he didn’t want to leave.
“You haven’t told Sweetie yet, have you?” Rarity asked, gently embraced him. He shook his head. “Go tell her now.” She said letting him go. Kuray nodded and stepped out of the kitchen and sat down next to Sweetie, his sadness clearly evident.
“I have to leave.” He said plainly.
“W-What do you mean?” She asked.
“I have to go Sweetie, I can’t stay here anymore.” He said, a tear streaked down his cheek.
“Why?” She asked. “Is Rarity making you leave?” She asked, her voice cracking.
“No, rarity isn’t making me leave.” He said.
“Then why do you have to leave?” She asked. Her question was met with silence. “Answer me!”
“The hive will keep tracking me until I’m dead and as long as I’m with you, you’ll still be in danger.” He said.
“I don’t care if I’m in danger, I’d rather be with you.” Sweetie said clinging to him.
“It’s not for you to decide.” He said holding her. She couldn’t hold it in anymore and she began sobbing. “I don’t want you to go.” She sobbed into his chest.”
“Neither do I.” He said stroking her mane.
Rarity watched from the kitchen door with tears in her eyes. As mad as she was at Kuray for putting her sister in this kind of danger, he had always been there for her.
Kuray rose from the couch with Sweetie Belle still holding onto him. “Sweetie, please don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” He said. Sweetie released him from her grip but stole one last kiss. She smiled as she pulled away. “I’ll come back, eventually.” Kuray said. “And i’ll always be watching you, even if you can’t see me.” He said walking towards the door. He pushed it open and spread his wings. “Goodbye, my Sweetie, for now.” He said, and then he was gone.
Kuray soared through the sky as the sun began to go down, he had one last stop to make before leaving. He landed in front of Pebble’s house and trotted up to the door. He knocked on the door and took a step back. In a few minutes pubble pulled the door open.
“What do you want?” He asked. Kuray brought a hoof back and slugged Pebble in the jaw. He felt his bones break under his hoof. “Don’t let anypony hurt Sweetie Belle or there’ll be more where that came from. Pebble held his jaw with a hoof and nodded quickly.
“Come back to bed honey.” He heard a familiar voice call down from the hallway.
“Sounds like somepony wants you.” Kuray said before taking off.
Hello there ladies and gents, I finally got the chance to write the next chapter(and by chapter I mean the next half) of Kuray and Sweetie Belle's story. I am proud to say that this may be my best story yet as I move along, but I'll leave that to you guys. I hope you enjoy it and all of the chapters to come after it.
I love you all,
-Joe
Sequel here
Sweetie Belle sat in her foyer, admiring the pictures from her past that she had put up on the walls of her new home earlier that day. Each of them held a specific time of her life, happy and sad. Pictures of her and her friends, when she graduated from high school, the dress she wore to her sister's wedding that had been perfectly fitted by Rarity, but none of these photos held the same emotion for her as the last one on the row. At the end of the line of pictures hung one that portrayed herself being held close by a changeling with his wing wrapped around her.
The changeling had a deep red shell and a smile that could light up a town, but this day was special. At least to her anyway. She took the picture off the wall and held it in her magic for a few moments, staring at herself and then the changeling. Remembering every detail of the one she had called her own. The small scar that led up from the corner of his mouth and the curved around and stopped at his cheek, his sparkling eyes and his impressive build. She allowed a single tear to roll down her cheek as she remembered the wonderful times she had with the changeling and how much she missed him.
She had had the chance to be with other stallions, as many as she could want actually, but there was only one pony she wanted in the whole of Equestria. Some days, when she was tired of waiting, she would consider finding another stallion to take his place, another stallion to love again, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. He had promised he would come back after he had dealt with everything that needed dealing with and that meant the remnants of his hive. He had left to keep her safe and at first she had hated him for leavin her alone with no one to protect her, but she soon realized at he hadn't left her alone.
Sometimes she would see a single pair of glassy green eyes in a bush or she a small black streak out of the corner of her eye and it reminded her she wasn't alone. Kuray had friends, he had told her that, that would look after her while he dealt with the hive itself but every once in a while she would see that black Pegasus with a stark white mane in a crown that would hold her gaze for just a second too long before darting off. She liked to believe it was Kuray, even if it probably wasn't. A mare can dream can't she?
Suddenly, there was a knock at her door that pulled her out of her thoughts. She quickly replaced the picture and wiped the tear from her cheek. Used to the knock at the door would make her heart flutter. 'It could be Kuray this time,' she would think to herself but she had come to learn that if was just another client, every time. She grasped the handle and pulled the door open.
