A Changeling That Changed

Knock knock knock!

Merrick was instantly awoken by the sudden knocking on the door.

He had gone back to the room Celestia intended for him to sleep in, and instantly went to bed even though there were many hours left in the day. They had eaten at around four in the afternoon, and he had only stayed at the early dinner for about thirty minutes.

He slowly got out of the bed, lazily looking towards the window. He noticed the sun was just now going down, and when he glanced over at the clock that was in the room noticed it had just turned six o'clock in the evening.

He had slept for around an hour and a half.

He began to slowly walk towards the door when a voice called through.

"Merrick!" Twilight's voice called. "Are you asleep in there or something?"

His ears perked up at the sound of his friends and he walked towards the door quicker.

"S-sorry I just woke back up!" He called out as he reached for the door.

His hoof stopped as it reached the door, and his face turned red with blush as he noticed the thoughts that had started racing through his head. Thoughts of love, romance, and other intimate relations with the mare who had called out to him had entered his head almost immediately.

He pulled his hoof away from the handle and started to panic internally.

He didn't want to feel this way, and he definitely didn't want to feel intense feelings of love for his friends every time he came across them.

"J-just a second!" He called out nervously, trying to think of a way to avoid opening the door and seeing her face, feeling the emotions intensified.

It was one of the worst feelings he had felt, and he hated the idea of having intense desires for each of his friends. It wasn't even the desires that were the worst problem, it was how it felt. He didn't feel in control of his emotions.

It felt like his mind was overflowing with emotions, and he couldn't even control them anymore.

"Well, while you take your time doing... whatever it is your doing, we wanted to tell you we're going out to visit some of our favorite places around Canterlot!" Twilight called out. "We were just wondering if you'd like to come with us, seeing as the only time you've been to Canterlot before was... well... not a pleasurable experience for you!"

Merrick thought about the prospect, sitting against the door on the other side.

He wanted to go, to travel with them and enjoy a night on the town, but he was hurting. His emotions were causing him extreme discomfort, and he was nervous about having the feelings of love appear for his friend while they were out, and how he might react to it.

He tried to think of something to say; afraid to deny them outright for fear they might think something was wrong.

They most certainly seemed to care for him, and he didn't want to make them worry about him while they were out.

"I-I'd love to go!" He responded, trying to find some way out of it that wouldn't hurt their feelings.

"B-but I couldn't! Ponies probably wouldn't react right to a Changeling wandering around Canterlot!" He said, coming up with the excuse on the spot.

"Well duh!" He heard Rainbow Dash say through the door. "That's why you're a Changeling isn't it? Ya know, so you could change your appearance and blend in? Just pick a disguise and hurry up!"

"Rainbow Dash, don't be so rude to the little guy, give him some time. I swear you have no manners." Rarity whispered into her ear.

"W-well guys, as much as I'd love to go I-I'm not feeling so well." He called back, deciding that it would be futile to come up with another lie.

"Is something wrong Merrick?" Pinkie Pie called out, concern clear in her voice.

"J-just some emotional problems!" He responded. "I-I'm just not feeling well!"

"Do you want me to stay here with you and help you feel better?" Pinkie Pie called out. "Or maybe Fluttershy? She's a pretty good nurse, she's helped a bunch of animals and ponies!"

Merrick grew increasingly nervous at the idea of a night alone with any of them while his emotions were like they were. What if he ended up trying to make some kind of move on one of them?

"I-I'll be fine, thank you! I-I think I just need some time to myself, maybe to sleep!" He responded nervously hoping that he could convince him to let him be.

"Well, maybe I can stay here anyway?" Pinkie Pie called out. "I don't want my friend to have to be alone when he's not feeling well!"

"Now, now Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy said softly. "I've learned that if a sick animal or pony wants to be left alone you should leave them be. I think that probably applies to Changelings too."

"I guess you're right Fluttershy..." Pinkie said in a rather defeated sounding voice.

"Well, enjoy your night out!" Merrick called through the door. "And don't worry about me! I'll be fine."

The six ponies all said goodbye to their friend, and left to go out into Canterlot.

*                                                                            *                                                                                              *

The mane six sat in an ice cream parlor quite similar to the one in Ponyville, each enjoying their own dessert. They were all happily munching away on their sweets, and chatting with one another, enjoying their final stop for the night before heading back.

They had left the castle several hours before, and it was now rather late in the evening. They had planned on a return to the castle and to call it a night, but of course Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie insisted upon getting desserts before heading home.

They were all enjoying themselves, and they were telling stories and other tales to Pinkie Pie's friend, the owner of the store.

While it was all quite fun, Twilight sat alone at a different table, eating her ice cream while scribbling things down on a note pad.

The purple princess couldn't stop nervously thinking about Merrick, and was trying to deduce what could possibly be wrong with him.

He had tried to pass it off as just feeling ill, but Twilight thought it was something more. He was acting rather suspicious, staying locked behind a closed door while they talked, and even refusing the company of Pinkie Pie, the pony he sometimes seemed almost too close to.

The mare had enjoyed the night out of course, however her worrying had refused to stop, like a small nagging in the back of her head, and she was happy she was able to sit alone and think about it, as if she was scratching an itchy that desperately needed attention.

Within a few minutes the intelligent mare had established several different theories about what could possibly be wrong with their Changeling friend, analyzing his behavior and how it seemed different, trying to imagine what could be going on inside of his head.

He had seemed to be acting rather panicky about what was wrong with him, sharing as few details as possible. The others may not have noticed it, but to Twilight the shift in personality seemed like something more than just sickness.

He sounded genuinely afraid, like something wasn't right.

Twilight reviewed her notes, and suddenly a thought struck her that had never occurred.

She quickly stood up from the table and rushed to the door.

"I need to head back to the castle everypony! Sorry for the leaving so suddenly!" She called out as she sprinted through the doorway, needing to see Princess Celestia immediately.