A Change of Pace

Rain awoke in the middle of the night, rain pounding on the sides of the little cottage. Thunder boomed and lightning struck, and Timber Wolves howled in the distance. Rain quietly trotted out of her room and across the hall to Light's room, cracking the door open quietly. She trotted in and softly and slowly jumped on the bed, getting under the covers, and falling asleep.

Light felt movement on the bed and turned over to see the Changeling curled up in a fetal position, gently sleeping. Light sighed and thought 'What a hoof full.' She laid back down and fell asleep, the sound of rain pittering on the roof calming and seductive.

Rain woke up and looked at the clock, it reading 7:15. She got out of bed and crawled around to Light's side, gently tapping her with a hoof. When Light opened her eyes, Rain's red violet eyes were staring back at her, her ears down in almost a fear like way.

"Rain...? What's wrong?" Light asked groggily.

"The thunder and lightning are still going off. I'm kinda... well, I'm kinda scared, okay?"

"You're name is Rain... and you're scared of rain?"

"No... just Lightning. Listen, I had bad experiences when I was little, okay?"

"Aw, tell me, love." Light said, still half asleep.

"Well, my cousin Lightning always liked to scare me and zap me with bolts of it. Just... I don't want to have to be up alone when it's raining like this."

"Okay, I'll take care of it." Light said.

Light got out of bed and opened her window, using her magic to push the clouds off the house and calm the thunder and lightning.

"Better?"

"Very much so, yes." Rain smiled happily, the thunder and lightning being reduced to a small sprinkle or rain.

"Want me to make you breakfast, Light?"

"That'd be nice, Rain." Light said, yawning and crawling back into bed.

Rain trotted out of the room and got out the pancake mix. She baked the pancakes quickly and perfectly, dribbling syrup and butter on top of them. She used her magic to stack the three golden brown discs perfectly, and carried the plate in with a glass of ice water.

"Light, I got your-" Rain started but stopped, seeing Light so nicely asleep.

She sighed and put the plate and glass on the nightstand next to the bed, and she walked out of the room. She cleaned up her mess and looked out the window. From there, she could see over the giant gate that kept the changelings out of Equestria; she could see the Wastelands and the Badlands. Rain had lived in the Wastelands, under the rule of Queen Meta. Of course, they functioned differently than Chrysalis' hive, and had clans that were all ruled by their democratically elected Queen or King.

And, to the Changelings of the Wastelands, ponies and anything to do with them were hardcore taboo's. Rain sighed as she thought about what she had done to be kicked out of her clan and beaten, then left for dead. The Changeling had snuck between the border, taking the guise of different ponies, mares and stallions, fillies and colts alike. She would sneak some extra love and care from the ponies, building a life, faking her death, feeling the love and sorrow from them all.

And yet, at the time, she didn't feel bad for doing it. But now... now she felt like she ruined lives. She came home after stealing extra love for a few years, and her cousin, Lightning, had followed her around. Once she came back they all turned on her, kicking her out of their clan and deeming her one of the Drifters. Drifters were Changelings who committed the hardcore taboo of having anything to do with a pony, and were left without a clan. Some Drifters became Adoptees and were adopted by a new clan, or sometimes even a whole new Hive.

Rain had been unlucky enough to be kicked out of the clan, beaten, and left for dead in the Everfree Forest where Timber Wolves and Stone Wolves and Green Wolves alike ran wild. But then Light came along and brought well, light and happiness to her world. Of course, this also came with her not trusting her, and eventually coming to terms with her infatuation with her.

Rain loved Light, but she always wondered how some pony could love something that ate love. Rain had been with numerous ponies, eating, drinking, craving their love. But Light's love and affection for her was different. It was sweeter. It made her feel whole, whereas other ponies love had just left her half the mare she was. Rain sighed, thinking about what would happen with them, if she could even call Light and herself an item.

"Rain, these pancakes you make are delicious! I love you so much!" Light called, obviously still chewing her food.

"Yeah..." Rain said, thinking about how just five months ago she had been saved by the Pegacorn.

Light trotted out of her room, dishes and glass in tow in a blue aura of magic. She set them in the sink and walked over to Rain, who stood quietly and still.

"Rain...? You okay?" Light put her hoof around the Changeling's shoulder, who shook it off immediately.

"Yeah... well, no. I'm not."

"Why? What's wrong?" Light asked, concern in her voice.

"I just... I've been with so many ponies and Changelings, and-"

"Sexually?"

"Pervert," The Changeling muttered, then continued. "yes, sexually. Anyway... I've been with so many of them, but none of their love feels like yours. It's stronger and sweeter than any love I've ever gotten from any Changeling or pony or Griffon."

"Wow, so... if you ate another Changeling's love, is that cannibalism?"

"No, since we're not actually eating each other."