The Changeling In My Heart

CHAPTER III:

the Road To A New Life

It was another few hours the changeling slept in Zecora's hut before finally waking up. She was already looking better from her long nap, but she was still to weak to venture through the forest on her own, and it took some convincing to get her to agree to go with Blazing to Ponyville where he could better care for her. Now it was dark and Blazing was just outside of town with the changeling perched on his back. They were a good distance from Fluttershy's cottage so neither she nor Amy of the forest animals she cared for would notice them as they passed by into the small town. Blazing kept a trained eye out for any movement as he passed through the streets of Poniville to avoid any detection, which was difficult since he had extra weight on his back, but that weight had high priority at the moment.

The changeling looked down at her ride and felt his body between her legs. This pegasus was very well built. His lungs were good and strong, his legs were thick and firm, his wings were powerful. She could tell he worked out a lot and did more than his fare share of flying. The fact that he was doing all this for a changeling puzzled her mind more than anything she had ever faced before. Why was he doing all this? She had to refrain herself from speaking right now and save her questions for later. If she spoke and they got fought, things would end real fast.

Blazing turned a few corners and soon he came to a large tree with windows filled with candle light. Blazing knew that was a sign Twilight Sparkle was up late studying in the library again. She always did. Blazing continued around the large tree, being Twilight's home, and straight to a house behind the library tree. He approached the door and stopped to help the changeling off his back. He looked at her and mentally frowned at her battered body. Bruises shined here and there and even some burn marks along her back. He knew she was healing, but he still did not like seeing anyone in such a painful state. He turned away from her and to the door. He opened the door and turned back to her and guided her inside. Once inside he flipped an switch and the room filled with light. She winced at the newfound brightness blinding her eyes. He guided her inside the main room and eased her onto the couch against the wall resting by the staircase leading upstairs. The changelings eyes adjusted quickly to the light and she looked around the room.

On the wall opposite the couch she was perched on was a television with a PonyStation 3 plunged into of and a lost of movies and games. The walls all around and shelves against the walls were decorated with pictures and paintings, most of which she could tell had Blazing in them with several other ponies. To the right of the TV was a doorway leading to another room. Opposite that wall was the front door they just came in.

"Well, this is the living room." Blazing explained, causing the changeling to look to him. He looked back to her. "It's not much, but it's home." He said with a smile.

"It's nice." She said respectfully. What surprised Blazing the most out of that statement was she actually wounded sincere in her words. He s,filed at her.

"Thank you." He said. She turned from him and looked around the room again. He stood up.

"Is there anything you'd like me to get you?" He asked. "Food- or wait... you don't eat food, do you? He asked with a bit of a blush. She looked up to him.

"Why?" She asked. He blinked and showed confusion.

"Because you're a changeling and cjangelings feed"

"No." She interrupted him. He looked to her. "Why are you doing all this for me?" She asked again. He gave a look of realization and inclined his head before reaching a hoof back and scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh, well... My mother always taught me to never judge a book by its cover." He answered she seamed confused at this. He noticed and thought about it for a minute. "I mean, yes, you are a changeling and changelings have always been marked as creators to be feared and driven away or destroyed, but you were injured and needed help." She snarled at the last bit.

"I never need help!" She hissed then immediately regretted that as a shot of pain courses through her side. Blazing started to rush to her side, but quickly stopped himself and kept his distance. Instead he took a different approach.

"You're right..." He said. "Maybe most of the time. But you couldn't even move back in the forest." She glared at him. He scratched the crack of his neck and thought for a minute. "Okay, scratch that. Um." He thought for a minute. An idea came to his mind. "Me, for example." He gestured to himself. "You see, I'm well built and all that." She nodded. "On the outside I look like a big, strong fighter, but on the inside I'm nothing but a big softy. I hate hurting others and I can't stand seeing others in pain." He explained. She looked him over and found what he was saying hard to believe until she remembered he had just saved her life hours ago. Maybe there was something more to this pony.

At that point she just remembered about a changeling over four years ago. He had come of age and just left as she heard, but anything else that happed was unknown. The changeling disappeared and was never seen again. Could he have found a life in this town?

"Well, I'm going to get something to drink." Blazing said, pulling the changeling from her deep thoughts. She looked up at him and found he was already gone. The light in the next room came on and soon after rushing water was heard. Her curiosity had spiked and she groaned as she struggled a little bit to her hooves and walked into the next room. When she entered she saw it was a kitchen, Blazing was at the stove on the right hand side with a kettle over a small flame. He walked over to the left and opened a cupboard where he pulledout a box with an image of a cup with chocolate brown liquid rippling within.

"Is that hot chocolate?" She asked, causing him to look over to her with in slight surprise. He looked to the box and back to her with a nod.

"Yeah." He answered. "It's my evening treat for a long day of work." He explained. Her curiosity peaked even higher. She had heard of hot chocolate before, but never had the chance of ever tasting it. She had tasted chocolate before in her past while posing as ponies and had growned quite fond of the treat. Even though changelings fed on love, that kind of feeding was only a magical replenishment. Changelings still required some physical nourishment from time to time. And he had been a few weeks since she last ate, and she could feel her magical strength restoring from this one pegasus. What harm could come from trying this new drink?

"Could I have some?" She asked. He blinked in suprise and after a minute he smiled and grabbed two packs of hot chocolate. After a few minutes of boiling water, and helping the changeling to a seat by the table im the middle of the room Blazing filled two cups up with this hot and tasty treat.

"Careful." Blazing said as she reached for her cup. "It's still hot." He warned with a smile. She looked to him in understanding before she took the cup. He began to drink his as he watched her with a smile. She examined the cup as if trying to see if there was something els in there. She knew there could not be poison in there for two reasons. One, he was drinking the same stuff, and two, she could feel a level of love coming from him for her, which she still was trying to wrap her head around. She raised the cup to her lips and took an experimental sip. As the hot liquid passed her lips and unto her tongue her eyes went wide.

This was something unlike anything she had ever tasted before. This was heavbon in a cup! She looked back down at the hot chocolate and raised the cup up to down the whole thing. Blazing watched in shock. She finished her cup in seconds. "That was wonderful!" She exclaomed. She looked to him with excitement. "Anymore?!" He stared at her in disbelieve. The last time he saw anyone down a fresh brew of hot chocolate went ended up flipping out and crying that his mouth was on fire. He chuckled and began to make her another cup.