A Changeling That Changed

As Merrick walked through the town he looked up to see the beauty of a setting sun. It was much later in the day than he had realized, and he figured he may have to get to know the last two ponies at a different time. He had already learned Applejack's opinion on him, and was more than happy to put off meeting with her.

As he walked through the streets he decided to make his way back to Sugar Cube Corner, hoping that Pinkie Pie would let him sleep there again. After all he did have to abandon his house, where else would he stay?

"Merrick- I mean Windy Wings!" Twilight called out from across the street. She smiled and waved at him. "Come here!"

Merrick quickly trotted over to her and smiled when he saw Pinkie Pie behind her.

"How did you guys find me?" Merrick asked.

"We figured you'd be going back to Sugar Cube Corner for the night, and Dashie told us you were at Rarity's!" Pinkie Pie said.

She quickly ran forward and hugged him. She was beginning to like him more and more.

"Rainbow Dash said you were totally awesome, and that she really likes you! That means that all my friends are becoming friends, and soon we can have a Changeling living here! How cool is that!?" Pinkie Pie screamed the words at a thousand miles a minute, her voice slowly raising in pitch as she got more excited saying it.

Merrick was shocked, not only from the hug, but also because of what she said. That he was her friend.

"Quiet down Pinkie Pie!" Twilight whispered. "We don't want anypony knowing his secret yet but us!"

She turned towards Merrick, who stood there in Pinkies hooves, still shocked from the hug. His confused look quickly turned to a smile. He never knew what it felt liked to be truly loved by someone, but he figured this had to be it, as a surge of warmth went through him. He could feel it resonating off of the two ponies in front of him. Love the thing he needed to feed, the thing he needed to survive, surging through them and transferring to him. Except he wasn't taking it from them, they were willingly giving it.

Merrick smiled as a tear entered his eye. He felt loved, something very uncommon for a Changeling. This was the happiest he had ever been, something these ponies had done to him at least twice today.

"S-so," He said, still rather choked up. He wiped a tear from his eye. "Why were you guys looking for me?"

He and Pinkie let go of the hug, and they all stood there.

"Well we were about to go get dinner, and we thought maybe you'd like to tag along?" Twilight said with a smile.

"Well unfortunately I wouldn't be able to really... Use your food. No real point in me going, I feel like I'd just be kind of a bother."

"Oh don't be silly Merrick." Twilight said waving her hoof at him. "You can come with us and talk, even if you can't eat anything!"

"Yeah! We love bringing our friends along!" Pinkie Pie said as she jumped forward.

There was that word again. Friends. Merrick smiled again, as a tear came to his eye. He was so happy. Apparently he had friends. A Changeling had pony friends.

"F-friends?" He said with a tear in his eye.

"Well yeah! Of course we're friends you even had a sleepover with me! And I think Twilight agrees that we are all friends!"

Merrick looked at the purple alicorn, and saw her smile as she nodded at him.

"I- I've never had friends before.... In the hive... I knew some Changelings... B-" He stopped, choked up on the words. "But no one was ever my friend."

He wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Well you have friends now!" Twilight said with a smile. "I think Rarity and Rainbow Dash also think of you as a friend!"

Merrick looked up and smiled again, and the two ponies moved forward. They both hugged him at the same time. Merrick didn't know what to feel.

"So Merrick what do you say?" Twilight asked while they hugged. "Want to go eat with your friends?"

Merrick smiled and nodded, unable to get the words out. The three of them stopped hugging, and started to make their way to the restaurant. Merrick felt overloaded with emotions. He felt so happy. He felt loved. He felt like, maybe just maybe, a Changeling could learn to love too.