A Changeling That Changed

Merrick walked behind the rest of the group of six, taking in the sights of Canterlot. While the six ponies talked in front of him while they headed towards the castle, he hung back and admired every intricate detail of the design, and observed the ponies going about their lives.

Things here seemed different from Ponyville, but in a way the same. He liked the way Equestria in general worked. He smiled remembering that he was allowed to stay.

As he looked around the city he slowly found his eyes wandering over to Twilight. He stared at her for a while, and thought about how beautiful she was. His heart was pounding, and he felt the same way he did with Pinkie Pie.

Soon he found himself admiring all six of the ponies for their different features. His heart raced as he found that he was in love. With all of them. He started to think up different nights with them, imagining romantic fantasies.

He shook his head and snapped out of his trance.

"What the...?" He muttered to himself, quickly moving his eyes away form them.

He was more confused than anything. He felt as though he'd lost control of his emotions, and his love was running rampant. Now he felt normal, like he just wanted to be friends with the six ponies. Even Pinkie Pie, whom he'd talked about how much he wanted to be romantically involved with only a few minutes before.

He felt strange inside. An uncomfortable feeling was building up inside of him, and he had no idea how to fix it.

Was love supposed to feel this weird?

Or was his Changeling body not reacting very well to discovering something he used to have to steal?

He was unsure of what it was, but he knew he would simply ask Twilight for help later. She was a nice pony, and she would never let him suffer.

"And here we are!" Twilight called out, snapping Merrick out of his deep thoughts. "The Canterlot Castle! It feels like it's been so long since I've spent a night here!" She let out a small squee.

The mare seemed ecstatic about staying here, and was practically jumping up and down from excitement while the guards opened the gates.

As soon as they were open the six ponies walked through, Twilight bouncing up and down saying "yay!" over and over again. The guards bowed to her, but they couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

"You know we were here only a few days ago right Twi?" Rainbow Dash said giggling at her friend.

Twi stopped abruptly.

"O-oh." She said blushing, feeling extremely embarrassed as the guards snickered at her. "R-right."

The six ponies continued through the gates, and Merrick followed behind them. As soon as he walked forward one of the guards blocked his way with his spear.

He was a rather large pegasus with a gray coat, black hair, and a large scar across his eye. His cutie mark was that of a literal brick wall. He looked tough, and he looked like he could destroy Merrick by barely flexing a wing.

"So. A Changeling eh?" He paused for a moment. "You must be that Changeling the Princesses are saying is all friendly eh?" He said menacingly.

Merrick shrunk back, cowering in fear, and nodded slowly, covering his head with his hooves.

The pegasus leaned in close to him, pressing the spear up to his chest.

"I don't buy it." He said glaring at Merrick.

The second guard smacked the first over the head.

"What the hay are you doing StoneWall?" He said looking at the pegasus angrily.

"I-I was just trying to intimidate the little guy." He said, shrinking back a little at the second guard.

"Really? Intimidate him? Look how small he is I don't think he could hurt a fly."

The pegasus looked ashamed, and Merrick didn't understand why such a huge pegasus was afraid of such a small unicorn.

He realized the answer was probably magic.

"I just wanted to let 'im know I was gonna be keepin' an eye on 'im" The large pegasus said ashamed.

"Yeah well you don't have to be a jerk about it. Besides if the Princesses trust him, so do I." The guard said. He stared at the pegasus who lowered his head in shame.

"I'm sorry." The large brute of a pony muttered.

He then turned his attention to Merrick.

"Sorry about that." He said softly, leaning down to hug the still cowering Changeling. "Don't be afraid little guy, you won't be hurt by anyone here."

Merrick looked up at the guard and smiled. He returned the embrace, and whimpered a bit. His last time he was here he had been beaten, bruised, probably stabbed at least once by one of those very spears, and nearly killed by a painful magic blast. Being threatened by a royal guard was enough to bring back painful memories.

Merrick slowly stood up, and the guard did the same, pulling away from the embrace. He proceeded to examine the guard, a white coated unicorn with a long flowing mane that was a brilliant shade of dark blue. He had sapphire colored eyes, and he looked genuinely friendly. His cutie mark was a blue electric bolt surrounding a gem.

"I'm Shocking Sapphire." He said, extending his hoof to shake. "What'd you say your name was?"

"I-I'm Merrick." Merrick replied, taking the stallions hoof. Shocking proceeded to shake vigorously.

"Well Merrick I'm sure the three of us can be friends. Ain't that right StoneWall?" The pegasus nodded his head slowly, stil looking ashamed. "Good. Now why don't ya go catch up with your pals? I'm sure they're waiting for ya." The stallions said softly nudging him along.

As he left the stallion called out one last time.

"And don't your worry. StoneWall here tries anything and I'll zap him good!" He said the last part and pointed to his horn.

"So it was magic" Merrick thought to himself.

*                                                                            *                                                                                              *

Merrick hurried along, and caught up with the six ponies. After he caught up with them he decided he shouldn't hang back too much anymore. He walked next to Twilight at the front if the group, and decided to take in the architecture some more. I

It was all so... beautiful. He never had time to admire it his first time here, and he didn't have the most enjoyable experience.

He felt a deep sinking feeling inside of him as he made a revelation.

He stopped walking abruptly, and let out a long sigh.

"What is it Merrick?" Twilight asked immediately. All six mares turned their attention to him.

"Is something wrong?" Rainbow Dash said noticing his sullen Look.

"Are you alright darling?" Rarity asked shortly after.

"What's going on sugarcube?" Applejack said softly.

"Oooh I wanna sugarcube!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

Merrick looked up at the six ponies, tears welling in his eyes.

"I-I almost died here..." He whispered softly. The memories of the battle had become too painful. He felt wrong, like he didn't belong here. "In this very castle. I almost died several times. The guards, the spells, everything. I almost died here, and it was my own fault for staying with the Queen."

The six ponies looked at him softly.

"But that's not the worst part." He said, continuing on. "I realize that... I helped almost kill all six of you. You could all be dead, or loveless husks, and it would have been my fault. At least in part."

He stopped for a moment, a tear dripping down his cheek. I splattered on the ground.

"I-I love you all so much now... You've all helped me in more ways than you could imagine... A-And I'm so sorry..." He gently trailed off.

He was now fully crying.

"I didn't have to help Chrysalis either..." He said through his tears. "I could have left the rest of the Changelings. We all could have. But like every other Changeling I didn't see any other way..."

"I'm so sorry." He said again, collapsing to the floor in tears.

The six ponies surrounded him and hugged him while he cried.

"It's okay Merrick." Twilight said softly into his ear. "We all forgive you."

They hugged tighter, and he smiled softly at them.

"Well!" A majestic voice said from across the room, causing Twilights ears to perk up. "It looks like any fears I had if you still being evil have been assuaged!"

The six ponies moved away from Merrick as the voice approached, and he sat there looking down at the ground still crying.

"Now now my little Changeling, no need to cry." She said softly too him.

Merrick slowly looked up at the pony, and his mouth gaped open.

It was Princess Celestia. The Princess Celestia!

She continued to walk forward, examined him, and gave him a hug.

"I'm normally not much if a hugger but this feels like an occasion were I should." She said before laughing a small bit.

"Merrick your little confession may be all the proof I need to let you stay." She said softly into his ear.

He couldn't believe what was happening. This was Princess Celestia and she was giving him a hug.

She stood up and hugged Twilight next.

Merrick wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up, walking over to the rest of the group.

"Now come with me everypony." The Princess said. "I have quite the dinner prepared."