The Nurse and the Bug

by Violet Sky

Rating: mature
Tags: Slice of Life, Dark, Anthro, Comedy, Romance
Length: 17503

What we do for love is defined by what we trust in another. Love can be between best friends. Between family. But can it come from those who feed from it's power? Hehehe... We shall see, my friends.

What do we know of changelings? Monsters that feed from love. Bugs that can take the form of anypony you love and steal compassion from right under you. Beasts that prey on ponies. These are the stories we all know and fear.

But what if? A question left without an answer. A question I shall soon answer. But it will be through a trial of pain and mistrust. Join me as I tell you the tale of how one pony changed the heart of a monster.

Nurse Tender Hoof is one of many caring nurses at the Ponyville hospital. She's an honest worker and cares for patients like they were family. One day she finds an injured pony in the woods near her home, but when she searches the body for wounds, she finds the stallion covered in chitin and filled with holes in his arms and legs.

All characters are meant to be anthropomorphic. You have been warned.

(Picture is temporary until I can create my own.)

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-22 02:18:30 UTC

A very sick patient

“Ahhhh! F-fuck! My leg!” A male changeling cried in pain as he tripped over a protruded tree root in the dense forest. With tears of pain in his eyes, he quickly glanced behind him to see if they were still pursuing him, but finding nothing but shady trees and fallen leaves. Not taking any chances, the changeling picked himself up off the forest floor and limped as far as he could go. A constant sharp pain in his leg told him it was broken. The pain limited his movement greatly.

He was suddenly sent sprawling again by one of the many Timberwolves pursuing him, before being pinned to the earth beneath a massive paw.

The Timberwolf that had trapped him growled, showing a row of sharp teeth as he looked upon his food for tonight. The beast sent a clawed swipe across the changeling abdomen, causing him to wail in pain. Just before the wolf could finish the job, the changeling knocked it away with a blast of magic, the explosion momentarily stunning the rest of the pack.

Scrambling to his hooves, the changeling took off, leaving a large bloody trail in his wake.

He ran for what felt to him like hours, but he didn’t trust his mind at the moment. He was losing blood fast and he was beginning to feel cold and numb. He feared it wouldn’t be long before the wolves caught back up with him to finish the job. Already he could hear their howling, or was that just his clouded mind playing tricks on him? Either way he wouldn’t survive without help. His wounds were deep and gushing blood every time he moved.

The changeling stumbled over his own hoof and collapsed on his hands and knees. He gasped for breath and tried to to push himself to his hooves again, but he was too weak. Defeated, he fell to his side and let the cold darkness slowly sweep him into unconsciousness.

“Tender Hoof. How many times have I told you not to overdo it? This makes the twelfth overtime this month. You’re supposed to be home by now. What would your husband think if you had one?” A pearl white earth pony mare in a nurse uniform complained. Her mane was a deep pink and tied into a bun, while her tail hung loose. She and another mare sat in the head nurse’s office with the white mare behind the desk.

“Pfffft. Oh, come off it, Red Heart. Let me work as long as I want. The patients love it when I look after them.” A bright blue unicorn mare shot back. Her mane was straight and black, but cut short just above her jaw line. Her tail was just as straight and black, but it was left to grow almost long enough to drag the floor.

“Ugh... You’re not taking the other nurses into consideration. When you do this, you take jobs away from them.”

Tender Hoof crossed her arms. “But I like what I do.”

Red Heart sighed and looked down at her desk. “I understand that, Tender Hoof. That’s why I’m going to kick myself for what I’m about to do.”

Tender Hoof gasped. "You aren't thinking-?!

“I’m laying you off for a month, Tender. Maybe longer.” Red Heart stated. She pulled out an envelope and placed it on the desk in front of Tender. “That’s this months pay, plus your overtime. I’m sorry, but your coworkers are forcing my hand.”

Tender Hoof took the envelope without looking at it, or even seeming to acknowledge its existence. Her expression was one of both disbelief and anger. "So... This is all you can do, huh?" She said in a monotone.

Red Heart didn’t meet Tender’s gaze. “Please don’t be angry with me. It’s not what I wanted to do, but the company didn’t give me a choice. Just be glad its only a month or so. They could have made me fire you.

Tender Hoof scowled. "Firing someone for doing more work than they should? Sounds  legitimate."

“It wasn’t my call. The company kept getting complaints about lack of work and pay, so they made me lay off the pony that worked the most. I really don’t want to do this, Tender, but I have a family to feed and I can’t afford to be fired because I didn’t do this.”

Tender flinched slightly at Red mentioning her family. "Well... I guess it's fair... You’re right, of course. You need to feed your family."

“I’m sorry. Really I am. But… I-I have to… ask you to… l-leave.” Red Heart struggled to say past a guilty and regretful lump in her throat. She tried hard to keep herself from letting tears flow, because she knew the company was going to make her keep Tender out of work longer than they told her.

Tender sighed. “If that’s what you have all decided… Then I will.”

“I-I’ll have somepony escort you out.”

"No need. I do... well, did work here. I know where the door is."

“You have a half hour to say your goodbyes to the nurses that you know damn well didn’t complain about your overtime.”

"What... Like all two of them?" Tender said harshly.

“S-seven, actually.” Red Heart corrected.

“Please tell me you were one of them…”

Red Heart slowly nodded.

“Alright. Thanks…” Tender Hoof replied before turning and walking away.

Once Tender had gone, Red Heart slammed her head down on her desk, knocking over picture frames and a cup full of pens. “What have I let happen?”

Tender didn’t even bother with talking to any of the other faculty. In fact, she didn’t even look at them. She didn’t want to look and see a smug little grin on their face. But at least whatever she would have done, they were in a hospital. She quickly made for the front entrance of the building and threw it open with her magic as she stormed out into the afternoon air.

She took a deep, calming breath of fresh air. “It’s only for a month. I made enough overtime to last me two. It’ll be fine, Tender. You’ll be back to work in no time.” She tried to further calm herself, though it didn’t help much. She worried about the patients that she helped every day and wondered if the other nurses could care for them as she does.

Tender sighed and shook off her thoughts. She shouldn’t think of it as being laid off. It should be thought of as a… a vacation. Or a break. Yeah, that’s it. A break from working so much. She deserved it after all. Tender smiled at that and began her walk home.

Tender Hoof didn’t exactly live in Ponyville. She liked the little town, but her home had been destroyed once before when she did live there. She still had nightmares of Ursan bears every once in a while. She decided to live in a little home near the far corner of the Everfree clearing. It was just close enough to hear a few of the animals that lived there, but far away enough to where she never spotted any.

She also liked the farm lands out that way, finding that many of the farmers were very kind and friendly toward her.

As Tender walked down the dirt path way to her home, she saw one of the many farmers that lived along it and waved to him. “Hi, Plow! How’s business today!?” She called to him.

The sturdy built brown earth pony looked up from his plow and smiled, waving back. “It’s doin’ swell, miss Hoof!”

“That’s great to hear! I’ll be expecting some of your carrots at the market next week then!”

“Sure thing, miss Hoof! Yall be careful now! Mah wife done heard a lot of commotion from that there creepy forest ya live by! Wouldn’t want anythin’ tah happen to ya!” Plow warned.

“I’ll be careful! Tell Ginger Root I said hi!”

“Will do! Thank ya!”

With that, Tender continued on her way. ‘Why would there be anything in this part of the forest?’ She thought to herself as she approached her home.

Tender’s house was a little two bedroom home with enough room for a small family. When she had first found it, the wood had rotted, the roof had caved in, and the windows were all but shattered completely. Since then, it had been repaired and restored to a cozy little home for one with a full kitchen and a working bathroom. It was less than what she could afford with her income, but she liked things simple. She normally ended up donating a good portion of her earnings anyway.

She pulled out her key when she approached the door and unlocked it before going inside. She flipped on the light switch and illuminated her living room.

The living room was pretty simple. A soft couch. A coffee table set in front of that with a small fish bowl on top of that. The dormant hearth of a wide fireplace protruded from the wall to the left of the couch. A small TV sat on an entertainment stand opposite of the couch.

Tender sighed and collapsed onto the couch on her back. She unbuttoned her nurse uniform and slipped out of it, knocking her cap off of her head as well.

Once the uniform had been removed, it was easy to see how well her body curved through her thin short sleeve shirt and her short shorts. Her legs were slender, but strong from her being on her hooves for most of her work days.

Her horn lit up with a blue light and a moment later a glass of apple cider floated toward her from the kitchen. She grabbed it out of the air and took a sip, enjoying the slight burn as the alcohol flowed down her throat.

“At least she paid me…” Tender said to herself. She pulled the envelope from her discarded uniform and ripped it open. She had just taken another sip of sider when she read how much she had been paid.

Right there. On the very bottom on the unfolded paper. Stapled to it. Was a white check. It read in clear, bold letters 8,000 bits.

Tender choked on her cider and ended up spitting it out on the back of the couch, but she didn’t care. She immediately read over it again. “Holly mother of Celestia! There is no way I worked enough overtime for an extra three grand!”

The mare set the paper down on the coffee table and stood from the couch. She began pacing back and forth. “Red Heart could get fired over this… Why did she do this?” She stopped, her eyes wide. “Unless she knew the company was going to lay me off longer…”

Tender ran her hand through her mane as she stressed over the situation. “I… I need some fresh air.” She quickly made for her back door and stepped out into the cool air, before sitting down on her porch step. The thoughts of what might happen while she was gone ran through her mind. “You sly bitch. You risked your job over me again… I’m sorry, Red… I’m so stupid.”

Something moving in the woods broke Tender away from her thoughts. Her ears perked up as the sound of rustling leaves reached them. She scanned the forest wall, but found nothing.

“May… maybe I’m just paranoid… This whole thing is screwing with my-” Tender stopped when she heard it again, but closer this time. She looked frantically back and forth through the trees, until a shadow caught her eye. It was small for something from the Everfree, about only as tall as a pony and it seemed to be limping.

Tender didn’t move and slowed her breathing as she watched it move, for fear of it being a trick; bait for a silly snack as herself. It wasn’t until she watched it stumble and fall, did she even make a sound. Tender gasped and sprinted for the forest wall, pushing past the brush to get to whatever had fallen.

She soon had her answer when she approached the body.

It was a stallion, but not one like she had ever seen. He was dressed in badly torn clothing that looked to have once been a black t-shirt and a pair of cargo shorts.

His entire body was covered in a hard, black, chitinous substance that made him look like a bug. His horn was crooked and filled with holes, but his face held a young, strong, and handsome look to it. His arms and legs, like his horn, were filled with holes from his hooves and hands to his knees and elbows. On his back were two thin wings, also like a bugs, and filled with holes as well. His mane and tail were a light green, almost an aqua marine.

He appeared to be unconscious.

It took her a moment to register in her brain that this… creature had collapsed from something. Tender knelt down at his side and placed her two fingers over his jugular. There was a pulse, but it was weak. She gently rolled him over onto his back to look his body over for any injuries, soon coming across a deep slash across his abdomen. It came down at a diagonal angle from his right shoulder to his left hip and his entire front was covered in a thin layer of blood.

Tender gasped. “Wh-what happened to you?” She quickly took off her shirt and ripped off a piece of it to hold against the wound, using the rest to wrap around his midsection to stop the bleeding. She then hooked her arms under the stallion’s shoulders and began dragging him toward her home.

The weight of the creature made Tender struggle, but she fought through it, dragging him up her porch steps, and into her home. She quickly made for her couch and lifted the creature up onto it, placing his head gently onto a pillow. She then ran off to her room, wasting no time to begin looking through her small personal library of healing spells. Pulling out one for large wounds, she made her way back to the creature and sat down on her coffee table next to him.

Tender opened the book and quickly flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for. She set the book aside and pulled the makeshift bandage out of the way as she looked back to the book and recited the spell in her head. Her horn lit up brightly as she cast the spell on the creature’s body. She watched patiently as the flesh slowly stitched itself back together, but the chitin remained damaged.

She gently touched the gouged amorous shell. “Why didn’t this heal?” Tender whispered to herself. She looked back to the book and flipped through the entire one hundred and fifty pages, but didn’t find anything about healing thitin. “That’s weird…”

Tenders at back down on the coffee table and looked at the stallion worriedly. She desperately hoped what she did would be enough. All she could do now is wait.

Wake up, freak out, and make a friend

The changeling groaned loudly as he came to. His body ached all over, but he was almost glad of that. It told him he was still alive. He shifted slightly on whatever he was laying on, finding that it was softer than anything he had ever slept on, besides a cloud. That only made him on edge. It confirmed he wasn’t in the hive or in the Everfree.

He dared to slowly crack open his eyes and peer around the room. He was surprised to find that he was in a small living room, lying on a soft couch.

Next to him at his left was a low set coffee table with a fish bowl set on top of it. A few gold fish swam around inside. Next to that was a glass of water. He noticed right away how thirsty he was and snatched up the glass, before downing it in a few large gulps. He set it back down and tried to sit up, but a sharp pain across his chest and abdomen stopped him.

He looked down at himself to find that there was a deep gash across his chitin, but the flesh beneath was unscarred, like nothing had ever touched it. “Somepony… healed me?”

“So you can talk.” A mare’s voice said to his right.

The changeling snapped his head in her direction and hissed. “What did you do to me!?”

Tender Hoof flinched at the harshness in the creature’s tone. “I saved your life. No need to be hostile with me.”

“Liar! You put something inside of me, didn’t you!?” He hissed at Tender. “What do you want with me? Secrets about my hive? Where my queen is hidden? Well you might as well kill me! I will never talk!”

“What the hell kind of sadist pony do you take me for? I’m just a nurse from Ponyville hospital. I found you in the woods after I got home. I healed your wounds and set the broken bone in your leg. Why do you think I would hurt you for some information that I couldn’t even use if I wanted to?” Tender argued.

“Stop lying to me!” The changeling tried to use his magic on the mare, but the strain on his body was too much. He reeled over the side of the couch and coughed until blood splattered onto the floor.

Tender Hoof gasped and ran to his side. She quickly cast a spell to heal the damage his straining had caused.

The changeling slapped her hands away from him. “Get away from me!” He growled, but was stunned when the back of a hand caught him hard on the cheek.

“Now you listen here, whatever you are! I didn’t rescue you from bleeding to death just to torture you. I don’t know who or what you are. I don’t know anypony that would. I found you half dead in the Everfree and I dragged your bloody ass into my home and healed your damn wounds. Now you are going to treat me with respect and gratitude or I can throw your crippled ass back outside. Do I make myself clear, bug?” Tender Hoof growled at the changeling, her ranting having caused him to shrink away.

He quickly regained his bearings and glared up at the mare. “My name is Vector Blade. And I’m a changeling, not a bug.”

Tender Hoof sighed. “At least we’re getting somewhere. My name is Tender Hoof. I’ll be taking care of you until you have healed enough to take care of yourself. I have some fresh clothes for you, but I’ll wait until I know for sure you won’t bite my finger off if I help you.”

Vector harrumphed and looked away. “Fucking pony. Thinks she’s the center of the universe.” He grumbled to himself.

“No I don’t.” Tender stated as she walked away.

Vector was stunned. He snapped his attention back to the mare and was full on ready to make a nasty retort, but his focus was faltered when he caught sight of her cute, yet perfect butt. His mouth began to water slightly, but before he could get caught, he shook it off and looked away again. “So how long am I going to be stuck here?”

“I don’t know. Depends on how long it takes for a changeling bone to heal.” Tender replied from the kitchen as she looked through her full first aid kit. “I need to make some sort of splint for your leg, but I don’t know what materials not to use against your kind of skin.”

“Just use anything. I want to be out of here as soon as possible.”

“Really? Just anything, huh? Whatever.” Tender sighed and pulled two short slabs of wood and roll of medical tape from her kit. She then made her way back to Vector. “So what happened to you in the Everfree? You were pretty messed up when I found you.”

“Timber wolves, vicious bastards.” Vector growled. “Whole hunting pack of them. Five in all.”

“Timber wolves did this? You’re very lucky to have lived.”

“No. Because now I’m stuck in the custody of a fucking pony.”

Tender Hoof groaned. She ripped off a piece of tape in her magic and slapped it onto Vector’s lips. “Do yourself a favor and shut that mouth of yours. You’re doing nothing but pissing me off.”

Vector ripped the tape off, hissing slightly in pain from the stinging on his lips. “Just put the damn splint on.”

‘Stubbornest patient ever.’ Tender thought as she placed the wood splints on Vector’s leg and wrapped the medical tape around it. “Do you know how hard it was to set your bone through your shell? Like trying to stop bleeding through chain mail. I did it though.”

“Wonderful. Are you done yet?” Vector groaned, not at all comfortable with a pony touching him.

“But the way your body works is fascinating. Are these hole natural?” Tender stuck her finger through one of the hole on the changelings leg.

Vector blushed. “G-get your finger out of there!” He snatched his leg away, but it turned out to be the broken one of the two. He whimpered in pain and grasped at the splints.

“Hay! Relax! I’m a certified nurse. If you want to get out of here sooner, you will need me to take care of you while you heal. Like it or not, you’re helpless as of this moment. I could put you outside right now and you’d probably die in the Everfree.” She grabbed Vector’s leg from above the splint and made him lay it back down across the arm rest. “Ugh… You Everfree creatures are so hostile.”

“I am not an Everfree creature! You can tell by the mortal wound I almost died from! Get your facts straight, pony!”

Tender rolled her eyes. “You think I’m messing around with you, huh? Alright. I can be a bitch.” Her horn lit up as her aura glowed around Vector.

“Wait… W-what are you doing?”

The mare didn’t answer as she lifted Vector off the couch and carried him toward the back door. She threw it open and levitated the changeling toward the Everfree.

“Wait. Wait. Wait! No! They know my scent! No! Please no!” Vector begged, struggling in Tender’s magic grip in fear of being put back on the menu.

Tender stopped, letting the changeling float right at the edge of the woods. “First off, my name is Tender Hoof. Not pony, or fucking pony, or stupid pony. It’s Tender Hoof, Tender, or miss Hoof.”

“Ok, ok. I-I’ll call you by your name. What else?”

“Second… I need to know what you want for dinner.”

“Dinner… What? Wait, you’re over it just like that? I thought…” Whatever Vector was about to say sputtered and died when he finally felt the slow trickle of compassion type love. From how slow it was moving into him, he guessed it had been flowing the entire time, but he hadn’t noticed it until now. “Oh… Umm… I’m... not picky.”

“Good.” Tender stated as she pulled the changeling back toward her home.

A week or so passed with a few hiccups here and there, but other than a few mishaps, Vector behaved himself. He was still very much on edge when he was around Tender. He didn’t trust a single hair in her blue coat and he did his best to keep it that way. But there was something about Tender that felt, well… Different than any other pony he’d ever run into before.

The thing that made it truly odd was that the oblivious mare didn’t even know what a changeling was. Vector would have thought that news from the wedding incident would have reached everywhere.

Even still, something about her radiated compassion, as if she would have helped him even if she had been one of the many ponies that had been attacked. And it showed with how well she treated him. Weather he liked it or not, he needed Tender’s help. And while his pride and feud with ponykind didn’t like it, another part of him enjoyed the kind mare greatly. This only caused Vector’s mind to rage war at itself while he lay there healing. The vicious battle often kept him up at night, but that small part of him would always back down and call him a fool just before one in the morning.

His lack of sleep would leave him tired and cranky, but thankfully Tender would give him something to to let him sleep till noon, though he didn’t cooperate with her giving him medication. She always found a way to get him to take it. She even one time tricked him into thinking it was the pain medication, but not five minutes later, he would be out like a light.

Then one day Tender showed him a real act of kindness.

“You can have the spare bedroom.” Tender said while her and Vector were having lunch.

Vector choked on his drink and nearly spit it into his plate, but it ended up spilling down his chin and soaking his shirt. “W-what?”

“You heard me, bug boy. I said you can have my spare room. I don’t use it, like at all, so it’s empty. Well, mostly empty. It has a bed with a blanket and pillow and what not, but it’s pretty plain. It’s yours to do whatever you want with it, besides destroying it that is.”

Vector was so surprised at this that he didn’t even care that Tender had just called him a bug again. “Why… why are you giving it to me?”

Tender smiled. “We I can’t just have you sleeping on my couch all the time. That would be rude of me. But it’ll be here even after you’re gone in case you ever need a cozy place to stay. From what you tell me about the hive, that couch is about the softest thing you have ever slept on, correct?”

Vector nodded. “But I-” His mouth was clamped shut by Tender’s magic.

“All I want to hear is a thank you, Vector. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

Vector couldn’t help but blush as his mouth was released. He looked away. “Th-thank you.”

“You’re we-”

“For everything.” Vector interrupted.

It was Tender’s turn to blush. “Well… I was only doing as anypony should.”

“You’re doing what everypony wouldn’t.”

Tender would have been lying if she had said she wasn’t shocked from the accusation of ponies everywhere. “Wait… Why wouldn’t they?”

Vector sighed. “I wouldn’t expect you to know, Tender. You didn’t even know what I even am before a week ago. What I am about to tell you should not be held against me, because if I didn’t follow my orders, I would have never been around long enough to have been found in the woods.”

“Vector… I don’t understand. What could you have…” Tender trailed off when the changeling held up his had for her to stop.

“I don’t want pity or anger toward me. I just want you to listen. What you think of my queen is your decision. Just please. You deserve to know what we are.”

Tender took a deep breath and nodded. “Ok.”

“First…” Vector began. “I’m not a normal creature. Dragons, griffons, ponies. These are all normal. I’m none of these things. My kind doesn’t survive off of solid food like any other being. We consume love, be it given or stolen. We need it to live. How we get it…” The stallion was consumed by green flames before an exact replica of Tender Hoof sat there in his place. The only thing that showed it was still Vector was the gouge across her chest and the swelling on her leg from Vector’s broken bone. “We can change to fit the form of any pony, griffon, or dragon to sap the love from the ones who love them.”

Tender gasped and backed away slightly. “When were you planning on telling me this?”

“I wasn’t… I was going to wait until I was fully healed then I was going to take over your mind to sap every bit of love from you.” Vector looked away in shame. “It’s what we do. It’s what I was taught to do. And it’s how I’ve survived my whole life. What made me want to tell you was the very fact that until today, I had no reason to trust you. I guess not all ponies are the same.”

Tender sighed and placed her face into her hands. She took another deep breath to calm her nerves, before looking back at Vector. “Is that all?”

Vector shook his head. “Far from it.”

“Continue.” Tender urged.

The changeling took a deep, steadying breath. “A year ago. On the day of prince Shining Armor and princess Cadence’s wedding day, our queen kidnapped the princess and took her place. I and about two thousand others were ordered to to attack once the protective barrier was taken down.” Vector stopped. “You know what? Why don’t I start from the beginning? Help me up. I can’t tell a story when I’m laying down.”

Tender gently pushed her arm under Vector’s back and helped him to a sitting position, propping his leg up onto the coffee table.

Vector sighed. “Thanks… I guess I should start with when my entire hive was pulled together for the queen’s ‘pep-talk’.”

The sound of thousands of hooves clacking on stone echoed through the wide tunnels as hoards of changelings of differing sizes and shapes marched toward where they had been summoned. Vector Blade, one of the clutch mates of sector nine’s strike team, was among them. He, like many of his brethren, were clueless as to what task their queen had set upon them all. What little information they had told them that it was one of the greatest love raids the have had ever undergone.

The changelings whispered among themselves, discussing their thoughts on what might be in store for them. Where as his clutch mates conversed as well, Vector remained quiet and kept a steady composure, something his mentor had taught him before he was killed in a previous love raid on Trottingham. The earth pony’s use of a new weapon proved devastating to their ranks, leaving many from the strike team dead of severely wounded.

Vector kept a clear mind about fears of weapons such as that. They would only get in the way of his combat performance.

“Hey, Vector. Wanna help me catch one of those little pony bitches to have fun with later?” One of his clutch mates asked from his left, snapping him from his trance.

He looked over at the stallion that had asked the question. “Why would I want to do that? That’s sick, Thorn.”

“Oh, c’mon. You know you like getting it on with those mares you like to steal love from.” Thorn persisted.

Vector balled his fist and slammed it into the stubborn changeling’s jaw, making him stumble. “I’m a virgin. I wouldn’t think of wasting it on a low life food buffet. Do me a favor and stay out of personal affairs.”

Thorn clutched his jaw from where he had been struck. “Why’d you go and hit me for? Just trying to get my friend something to help him out, you know? It’s not like you ever even try to look for a mate.”

“What’s the point? Every mare I try is either already taken or dies in a raid.”

Thorn threw his arm around Vector’s shoulders. “That’s why I wanted get you a cute mare to do what you want to. I got to help a clutch mate out, you know?”

Vector sighed. “Well I don’t like that kind of thing. I only even try to hit on ponies while in disguise is because I’ll die if I don’t. Now shut up. We’re almost to the queen’s throne room.”

As soon as the changelings crowded into the massive dimly lit throne room, they notice that the throne in which the queen would normally be sitting was empty. Unsettled murmurs passed among the crowd, until a tall changeling with a deep green mane and tail walked out. He wore a dee grey robe over his toned body and a black spiked crown on his head. It was the queen’s mate, king Cocoon.

The murmurs quickly quieted down as thousands of eyes gazed upon the king.

“My dear subjects.” Cocoon bgan. “I have come in place of my lovely Chrysalis to inform you that she has most successfully taken place of the princess of love and has now infiltrated Canterlot!” The king exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. His statement caused an instant uproar of excitement from the crowd. “By this time tomorrow we shall be feeding from the limitless quantities of love from the entire of Canterlot! And I, as your king, shall lead you to Canterlot in a swarm of destruction to await for our queen to take her place as queen of Canterlot!”

The crowd cheered louder, changelings buzzing around the throne room as the excitement of victory surged through them. And in his clutch, Vector Blade seemed to be the only one to have shown nothing for the promised victory. None of what was being told was a promise. What he had learned from his mentor proved that, but orders are orders.

“Go now, my children! Prepare for war!” Cocoon finished. His last statement sent the crowd of changelings into a swarm as they rushed for their clutch armories. Once reaching his own, Vector dawned himself in a slightly dented, but sturdy plate mail armor. He slipped then slipped the sling of his scabbard over his head, letting it rest on his shoulder. His deeply trusted sword, Wasp, sat sheathed inside of it.

“Vector!” The commanding voice of the strike leader called.

Vector stood at attention. “Flight leader, sir!”

The battle scarred stallion in similar armor approached him. “As you were.”

Vector relaxed. “You called for me, sir?”

“The flight leader of sector ten is ill. I will be taking his place by his request. I want you to lead this flight, Vector.” The gruff changeling said.

Vector made to salute, but his hand was stopped. “No. I want you to lead permanently. This will be my last raid weather I survive or not. The king has already cleared it. Don’t disappoint me, flight leader.”

“I… I won’t.”

“Good. I better see you complete the mission and come back from it. I don’t want you to die on your first mission as flight leader. Remember, Your mission is to take out the defences, while the other flights distract them from above. Once that shield comes down, you give them Tartarus. Understood?”

Yes si-... Yes I do, Rage.”

Rage nodded. “If I don’t come back from this, it was a pleasure knowing you, commander Vector.”

“To you as well.”

Rage stood tall and called to the rest of the clutch. “I’m resigning my command and have chosen a new flight leader. Treat Vector Blade with the utmost respect. He’s your new commander.”

There were a few murmurs from his clutch mates, but they were quieted when Rage hend his hand up. “I want him to come back from this mission. If he slips up, do your best to cover his ass until he can get his head right, because I quite like this kid. But I don’t think you should have much of a problem with him. I’m more worried about one of you not taking his command seriously. If he doesn’t come back and I find out it was because you didn’t listen to him, I’m going to personally toss you all down into the septic level and have you on cleaning duty for life.”

The group of changeling cringed at the mention of septic level.

“Am I clear?”

The changelings saluted and chimed together. “Yes sir!”

“Good.” Rage nodded toward the clutch mates, before about-facing and striding out of the barracks.

“Mandible. Get me a refitted commander’s armor. I can’t be seen leading you all in this banged up nutshell.” Vector ordered. “The rest of you, sharpen your weapons. You heard Rage. Our mission is a direct assault. I want you all ready for when the king calls for the swarm.”

“Yes sir!” They all chimed again. While Mandile ran to the armory, the others began grinding various sharpening stones across their various weapons.

Mandible soon returned with an arm full of fresh plate mail from the armory. It was a different style than the older versions of the armor, covering vital areas, while still providing enough bare areas to move swiftly. He handed them to Vector.

“Thank you. Now get your axe ready for use. We have a war prepare for.”

The changeling saluted and ran to his bench to collect his weapon and began sharpening it as well.

“I’d still like to know how the hell he can remember every armor size in the clutch.” Vector said to himself as he stripped from his current armor and donned the new commander’s armor. It was a tad heavier, but it was balanced better. Not to mention it looked better on him than that old, beat up armor.

“When are you going to get to the point?” Tender Hoof interrupted.

Vector rolled his eyes. “As you can see, my leg is broken. I have plenty of time to take if I want to. So would you just listen?”

“I don’t get how talking about your cool new armor is telling me anything about what happened to make ponies hate you and you hate ponies.”

“I’m getting to the point! But trust me, the detail about the armor will come into play later.”

Tender crossed her arms.

Vector groaned. “Fine. I’ll skip to the part where the shield breaks.”

“Good changeling.”

“Hay! I’m not a pet!”

Tender giggled. “I’m just teasing. Please continue. This story is getting good.”

The changeling lifted an eyebrow. “The story… is getting good?”

“Yeah. There’s a lot of places where I see the same friendships as ponies. Like that stallion… What was his name?”

“Thorn?” Vector suggested.

Tender snapped her fingers. “That’s it! Now I don’t approve of his behavior, but there’s friendships like you have with him. As well as ones you have with Rage.”

“Had.”

“Excuse me?”

Vector looked away. “Friendship I had with Rage.”

“Oh… I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. He died from an arrow through his head while he was holding a foal hostage. The moment he touched that foal, our friendship was done.” Vector stated. “I don’t care how evil I find a race, a child is never an enemy of war.”

“He really pulled something that low?”

Vector nodded. “Anyway, I was telling a story.”

Tender cleared her throat. “Yes. I’m sorry. Please continue.”

“Anyway… To the part where all Tartarus breaks loose.”

With the sharp sound of shattering glass, a massive hole was punched through the dome shield over Canterlot castle. The cracks ran from the initial break, all the way the the base and shattered along that, leaving the city wide open.

That very moment was when Vector gave the order to attack. With him at the lead, the sector nine strike team dove toward the guarded gates. As they came within range, magic bolts shot upward from the guards stationed there.

Vector drew his sword. “Concussion! Take a team of three and draw their fire! Mandible! Take three more and head in a straight line toward the gate! Hex! Shockwave! Follow me! We’ll clear a path for Mandible!” Vector called out to his team.

The eleven clutch mates split up to carry out their orders. Vector’s team dove straight for the guards with Mandible’s at their tail.

Vector shot a bolt of green magic at the ground by the guard’s hooves, knocking them away so that the two teams could land. “Mandible, I need your team to stick behind us until we clear the guards. Once you have a shot, take it. Don’t hesitate.”

“Yes sir!” The changeling confirmed.

“Good, cus this may take a minute...” Vector said with a nervous smile.

The first move was taken by one of the Canterlot guards. He was the obvious egotist of the group, being the largest and the first to attack.

Vector lifted his sword just as the stallion brought it down over his head to strike him, but he used the the stallion’s larger size to his advantage and forced his sword toward the ground. This caused the guard to lose his balance and gave Vector the opportunity jab the butt of his sword handle into the bridge of the stallion’s snout. He went cross-eyed and fell to the ground unconscious.

“I guess not…” Vector looked around him to see that the rest of his team had taken up the fight. Mandible’s team had made a break for the gate and by now it had been blown apart. They were in, but the guards were still moving.

He tightened his grip on his sword and rushed back into battle to help his smaller clutch mates, soon rendering all of the guard useless as they were covered in bright green binding goo. There were amazingly no casualties.

Vector looked up into the air and signaled the other flight teams through the hive mind. ‘Sector nine mission complete. Phase two is a go.’

‘Thank you, sector nine. We’ll take it from here. Remain stationed at the gate. We’ll call if we need you.’

‘Yes sir. Vector Blade out.’

“What now, sir?” Mandible asked as he gazed down at one of the knocked out stallions.

“We wait.” Was all Vector replied. “They’ll need us. They always do.”

“Right…”

“Well I, for one, think we should just run in there and bash their puny heads in!” Concussion growled.

Vector shook his head. “No… Stay put. If it was this easy to take these guards out, then the queen must have control by now.”

“What, guard duty again? You know, I thought you would be different from Rage, Vector. But you are still having us wait at the gate when we’re told.” The mare named Hex said.

“Because it’s orders. I don’t question them and neither should you. Now shut up and wait.”

“Wait for what, Vector? Wait for all the action to end? C’mon, man. Don’t be like Rage.” Thorn added.

Vector spun around on his clutch mates, gritting his teeth angrily. “For the love of the Gods above, shut the hell up! I ordered you to wait and you will fucking wait!”

Thorn, who was the closest, flinched. “Geez, man. What kind of hate did you eat?”

“The obvious hate from my insubordinate clutch mates.” Vector replied. “And you will refer to me as flight master. I didn’t give your permission to speak freely to me.”

“Oh, cut the BS, Vector. You’re not c-” Thorn’s mouth was clamped shut by an aura of magic.

“Shut up and let me listen.” Vector growled as he listened to the hive mind. ‘Could you repeat that?’

‘Sector nine. Be advised. Six mares who Celestia claims to be the Elements of harmony are heading your way. They blew through three sectors already. Don’t let them get past that gate!’

‘Understood.’ Vector turned his attention back to his clutch mates. “We have orders. The Elements of harmony are headed this way. Under no circumstances are you to let the pass. Don’t get cocky just because they’re mares. The eye in the sky told me they knocked out sectors two, three, and five.”

“Finally! Some action!” Hex exclaimed and drew her halberd.

“I said don’t get cocky!”

“Whatever. We’ll take them down. They’re just mares.”

Vector growled. “Fine. You forced my hand.” He called back through the hive mind. ‘Sector nine is in no shape to fight. I’d like to report insubordinate behavior.’

‘Thank you, Vector. I’m sending sector six to your aid. Commander Fury will handle the situation. You’ll take lead of sector six for now. Let your sector hold the elements off until six arrives.’

‘Yes sir.’ Vector drew his sword and stood at the back of his sector. “The poor fools are gonna get killed.”

Within moments, Six mares like the eye in the sky had said skidded to a halt in front of sector nine. Vector knew who they were just by looking at them.

He guessed Twilight was the lavender unicorn wearing the casual white blouse with the black school girl skirt. Her mane was straight and black with a pink stripe running the length of it. She looked worn out and so did her friends.

Luckily, a fight never broke out because sector six appeared behind the mares and restrained them. There was a lot of yelling and some crying from a couple, but Vector couldn’t make outany words.

Commander Fury strode up to sector nine. “I got a call about you all not listening to orders. Until such time as you can see that commander Vector is your superior, I’ll be your flight leader. Only, you won’t be doing any runs like you did today. You will be strictly reinforcements.”

“Aww, what!? We didn’t eve-” Thorn was silenced by a hard backhand.

Fury then turned to Vector. “Thanks for letting us know. I’ll take care of sector nine. Sector six should do well for you until these fools can listen. Take the elements back to the castle.”

Truth be told

“Wait. So you caught the Elements of harmony?” Tender asked after a moment when Vector had paused in his story.

“Technically it was sector six. Sector nine was put out of commission until my clutch mates could get their acts straight.” Vector replied.

“So why was it you weren’t taken down by them like the other sectors?”

“A lot of dumb luck. If they would have gotten through sector nine, like I know they would have, we would have been defeated a long time before what happened next. We had stopped them from retrieving the actual elements from their hiding place. They were just the only ponies who could use them.”

“So, then… What happened after that?”

Vector shrugged.  “Well, I don’t feel like going into detail about what happened to me when we were defeated. I was right there in the castle when the princess caused a massive wave of love that wiped the changelings from Canterlot. Let’s just say that… this wasn’t the first time I’ve been found bleeding to death in the woods. Just that I wasn’t taken in by a pony to treat my wounds.”

Tender gently touched Vector’s shoulder. “Sounds like you had it rough.”

“Tell me about it…”

“So what have you been doing since then?”

Vector sighed and ran his hand through his mane. “Well, after the raid failed, we set to rebuilding the hive, but we had less resources than before. I was left to lead sector six and we did a few raids here and there to help. Many of us were left injured and dying, like myself or were killed in either the blast or the fight. The loss of workers and love collectors hit us where it hurt, making life in the hive worse than usual. The ironic thing is that the queen was tended to before any of us and she wasn’t even that bad off. Her chitin absorbed most of the blast and used the love to keep her alive.”

“That’s terrible! Celestia would have put the worse off before herself!”

“Pffft! How do you even know that? She’s the ruler. They always put themselves first. I know that first hand. You listen to what she says and if you don’t you get punished. Orders are orders and they always will be. We’re both probably defying several. Do you even know what would happen to me if those guards found me here? I would be executed! You would be thrown into a deep, dark dungeon for harboring me.”

Tender gasped and shook her head. “No she wouldn’t. Y-you’re wrong…”

Vector looked away. “You didn’t see what I did. You don’t know what I do. And let’s just leave it at that.”

Tender stood from her seat on place on the coffee table and walked to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of cold cider from the fridge. She took a calming sip as she mulled over when Vector had exposed to her. Of course there were several ways that he and his hive were in the wrong, but it seems that so was the Equestrian guard. There were many ways that Celestia and her guard could have prevented hostilities between them and the changelings. Now there was a huge mess of mistrust all thanks to a case of miscommunication and necessity.

And from what Vector had said, it seems that changelings were taught to hate ponies at a very young age. Tender wondered if Vector hated his queen for the harsh treatment of her hive. If so, maybe there was some hope for the crippled changeling after all.

Tender sipped on her cider as she thought further. Vector had shown her that he trusted her enough to tell her his story. Maybe there’s a way to get closer to him, but how long would it take? She only has a month or so to stay at home from work with Vector.

Then an idea hit her. What if she decided to try trusting him first with a responsibility of his own? Like watching over her house while she’s at work when she finally goes back to work. It’s a small and simple task, but it would help open him up to her.

“Hay, Tender!” Vector called from the couch. “Can I have some of that cider too!? I know you have some, I can smell it!”

Tender choked slightly on her cider, before placing the glass down on the counter. “S-sure thing! Give me a second!”

“Vector, I’m running to the market to pick up a few things for the house. Anything you need?” Tender Hoof asked as she stood in the doorway.

Vector, as usual, was sprawled out across the couch. The only difference was instead of his shin splint, there was a heavy brace around it from when Tender had visited a friend from the hospital. “Just another bottle of cider.” The changeling replied in a bored tone.

Tender rolled her eyes. “That’ll be your fourth bottle this week, you drunken changeling.”

“Oh, lay off. I’ll pay you back once I get back on my hooves.”

The nurse groaned. “Whatever. Anything else?”

Vector shook his head as he picked up the tv remote and flipped it on to the history channel. A show about how small arms are made was on at the moment. Vector suddenly jabbed his finger at the screen. “What in hell is that weapon!? I’ve lost three wingmen to those damn things!”

Tender lifted an eyebrow and looked at the screen. “That’s a firearm. I don’t know much about them, other than how to treat an injury from one. Nasty things, guns.”

“One. Just one was all it took to kill three of my best…”

Tender sighed and changed the channel with her magic to the Discovery. A show about two stallions testing age old myths came on. “I’d stay away from shows like that, Vector. Those things will put bad thoughts in your head. I get enough mortally wounded ponies coming into the ER from those. Don’t take the ideas to somepony that could triple that number.”

Vector groaned. “Fine.”

“Now… I’m going, so you better be here when I get back, so should all of my stuff.”

He waved his hand in the air dismissively. “I got it. I got it.”

“Good. And no watching shows about guns. I’ll kick your crippled ass if I find it in my watch history.” Tender said before walking out and closing the locked door behind her.

Vector focused his attention to the tv and watched the program that was on. At one point the blond stallion blew something up and burnt off his eyebrow. His reaction to it made Vector laugh. “Heh, this isn’t half bad…”

Ponyville’s market was crowded heavily today with residents of the small town. The nice weather drew ponies from their homes. Both salesponies and shoppers crowded the street.

Tender had slight trouble weaving her way through the crowd of ponies as they shopped around for various items that fit their needs and wants. In her arms she carried a few items she had bought already. She was now looking for a certain stand that belonged to a certain apple farming family.

She dodged through a haggle, pushed past an argument, helped somepony who had tripped and fallen, and accidentally bumped into Fluttershy, scaring the poor mare, before finally finding the stand she was looking for.

It was a small and simple stand with a cart full of apples next to it. A barrel or two sat in front of the stand. And behind it, leaning against it on her elbow, was an orange earth pony mare with a blond mane that was tied up in a ponytail. A well worn stetson sat on her head. Her face was pretty cute, especially with the freckles on her cheeks.

Her body, unlike her face, was rugged and muscular. She wore a plaid button up with the sleeves rolled up and the shirt tail tied over her breasts like a belly shirt. Covering her bottom was a pair of faded jean shorts that were ripped off right at her upper thigh, exposing almost her whole legs.

Tender walked straight up to the stand.

The mare smiled. “Well, howdy! What can I do ya for, sugarcube?”

“Hi, Applejack.” Tender said as she approached. “I’d like to purchase two bottles of cider.”

Applejack gave her a curious look. “You ok, Tender? This’ll be yer fourth time comin’ here for booz. Ya feelin’ good? Anythin’ I can do to help?”

Tender smiled. “Oh, it’s not for me. I’m caring for a friend of mine and he hates the pain meds. He drinks instead.”

“That’s not good, ya know…”

“I have enough knowledge of how to deal with this sort of thing, Applejack. I know what to do.”

Applejack sighed. “Yer the expert. Anyway, how bout them ciders?” She bent down, giving a few passing stallions a heart attack, and came back up with two empty cider bottles. She bent down again, giving the stallions a stroke, and returned with one of the barrels. Taking the bottles, she filled each one and plugged them with a cork.

Tender couldn’t help but notice the twitching stallions and giggled to herself. “Poor stallions can’t handle you, can they?”

“Never could, never will. Here’s yer cider.” Applejack replied, setting the bottles of the golden liquid down in front of her. “On the house today, Tender. Tell that friend of yers Ah said to go easy on the cider. This batch is the strong. Don’t want a derped up pony on yer hands. Things get weird after that.”

Tender blushed, remembering the first time she had ever drank too much. “Yeah… That mare was never the same after my first time having too much…”

“Oh yeah, Lyra. Last Ah heard, she’s doin’ pretty good. Hooked up with a Bon Bon last month.”

“Really? So she does swing that way. Glad to know I didn’t do too much damage.”

Applejack laughed. “Ah hear that.”

Tender took the bottles of cider in her magic. “Anyway, thanks. I owe you one.”

“You don’t owe me jack squat, Tender. You look like you would need the drink anyway.”

Tender lifted an eyebrow. “But I thought you were just worrying about me drinking a moment ago.”

Applejack waved her hand dismissively. “That was before Ah knew you weren’t the one who’s been drinkin’. Now get on out of here. Ah’m sure ya got better thin’s to be doin’ than standin’ roud talkin’t to a farm pony.”

“Oh, yeah. Got to get back home.” Tender then turned and took off, but not before waving to Applejack as she left. “Thanks again!”

“Don’t mention it!”

On her way back through the market, a glint off of something metal caught Tender’s eye. She turned to see what it was so she could get out of the way of the reflection of sunlight, but stopped when she saw what it was. It was a pair of metal crutches with padded pit rests. They looked used, but perfect for continued use.

Tender ran straight up to the stand that was selling them. “How much for the crutches?” She asked the stallion running it.

The green pegasus smiled. “For you, little lady… Twenty bits each.”

“Sold.” She pulled the bits out of her purse with her magic and dropped them onto the stand, before taking the crutches in her magic as well and continuing on. “Thank you!”

Vector tore himself away from the tv when he heard the door unlock. He stiffened, ready for anything, but relaxed when the door opened to reveal Tender Hoof.

“Hi there. Did you get the cider?”

“No, they were all sold out.” Tender replied.

Vector’s ears drooped. “But…”

“I’m kidding. Of course I got some.” Tender showed him the two bottles. “I also got you these.” She levitated the crutches through the door and set them down leaning against the armrest by Vector’s head.

“Crutches? You got me a set of crutches? Would you quit getting me nice things, Tender? You’re just building the dept left and right.”

Tender giggled as she took her arm full of groceries and the bottles of cider to the kitchen and began restocking. “Why should I? Plus, I am so not having you be lazy all day every day. Get used to walking on those crutches because you’re gonna start having chores around here.”

“What!? You’re gonna make me work with a broken leg!?” Vector cried.

“Hay, I thought you owed me.”

Vector crossed his arms and grumbled to himself. “Bitch took my words and used them against me.”

Tender walked back into the living room with two glasses of cider. “Applejack said to be careful on the cider. It’s a stronger batch this time.”

“Pfft! I think I know how to drink.” Vector said defensively.

“So does Applejack, so what does that tell you about this batch?”

Vector reached out for one of the glasses. “That it was made for me.”

Tender took the glass away before he could reach it. “That’s not the answer I was looking for. I want you to take it easy on the alcohol, ok?”

Vector rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Can I have my drink now?”

“Promise you won’t drink too much.”

“Fine, I promise I won’t drink too much.”

Tender placed the glass in Vector’s hand. “If you do, no tv for two days.”

“Wait… Are you threatening me with television? That’s cold, Tender Hoof. Can’t believe you’re treating me like a larva. Bitch.”

“I’m not a bitch, Vector. I am the bitch. Get it right.”

“Whatever.” Vector took a sip of his cider, humming at the flavor.

The cider turned out to be stronger than Tender had thought, because two glasses later, they were both drunk.

Tender was sitting on the floor leaning against the couch next to Vector, her drunken state not allowing her to stand. “Ya know… The reason I... was even able to… to… umm… find you in the woods was… b-because I was laid off from work for a month…”

“No… You? Why in hell would they do that?”

“Buncha stupid cunts complaining about me…”

Vector whistled. “Damn…”

Tender looked up at the changeling. “Ya know… Ya never told me how you ended up being chased by… a pack of wooden dogs… Which something like that makes really so sense…”

Vector chuckled. “I know right? Well…” He ran his hand through his mane. “It kinda happened like this.”

‘Border three is down! Border three is down! Sector six and seven! Move in for back up!’

The voice coming through hive mind startled Vector from his sleep. He bolted upright in his bed. ‘The hive is under attack? By who?’

‘Timberwolves! Hundreds of them!’

“Mother of Chrysalis!” Vector cried as he scrambled out of bed and bolted for the barracks that was built in right next to his room. He lit the light crystal with his magic. “Alright, ladies! Get your asses up! We have orders!”

The team was startled awake by his voice, but soon the changelings were scrambling for their gear.

“Move! move! Every second counts! The timberwolves aren’t going to wait for you to get in gear!” Vector urged as he went to collect his armor and weapon, returning to find his strike team standing at attention. He walked in front of them and motioned for them to follow. “I know many of you have encountered a timberwolf before, but this is much different. Intel says hundreds are attacking our borders. I don’t care why or how, I just want to know what their weak points are and how to kill them. Clear?”

“Yes, sir!” The changelings confirmed.

“Now… As you know, in a pack, they will attack as a team. They’ll gang up on the weakest ones first and tear them apart like a play toy. I want you to stick together as a group and help any changeling that needs it. Nopony should be alone. Clear?”

“Yes, sir!”

Vector stopped at the mouth of an exit. He could hear the vicious growling and the pained cries of the battle taking place outside. He motioned toward the exit. “Good. Now go get them.”

Twenty changelings buzzed their wings and zoomed past their leader, charging into the heat of a losing battle. Vector was close behind. “Attack from the outside! Don’t let them surround you!” He ordered before diving down to join sector two who had called for the assistance. He landed next to the leader as he and what was left of his team had surrounded themselves in a defense bubble.

“Commander Vector Blade. So glad you could join us.” The fellow commander stated.

“What’s the situation, commander Toxin?”

Toxin sighed. “We lost sector one and half of my team in the ambush. They came out of nowhere in a bloodthirsty wave of death. I fear for the worst.”

The sound of glass cracking caught their attention and directed it at the green bubble of magic. A large crack had formed from where the timberwolves had slammed into it.

“This isn’t going to hold…” Toxin said half to himself. He turned to Vector and shoved him away. “Go! Get out of her! It’s not going to hold!”

“But what about-”

“I said go!” Toxin grabbed Vector in his magic and threw him out of the shield just in time for it to shatter. Snarling mouths filled with razor teeth filled the space and tore the remaining changelings to shreds, spilling blood and throwing bloody limbs in every direction.

Vector could only watch in horror as he hovered above where his comrades once stood. The gory sight made his stomach curl. He held his hand over his mouth and steadied his breathing. The last thing he wanted was to stall in mid air because he was puking his guts out. Vector tore his gaze away from the bloody scene and searched around frantically for his sector. He soon spotted them flying above the timberwolves, using fire spells to take out the ones at the edges of the pack, but it wasn’t doing much good. The pack was too large.

He flew toward his team and stopped next to his deputy commander, a brute-like mare with a battle axe and a head fin instead of a mane. “Sector two is down. Toxin’s dead.”

“What!? Then what do we do now!?” The mare cried.

“Hold them off as long as you can. If all else fails…” Vector placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s been an honor serving with you, Ivy.”

Ivy’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean…”

Vector looked away. “The hive was weak from the start. The timberwolves are slaughtering us. It’s only a matter of time before they reach the tunnels. They’ll go straight for the nursery…”

“What!? We have to protect the queen!” A stallion from his sector cried.

“Do whatever you think you have to… Ivy. Take a team to guard the nursery. The rest of us will clear an escape path. Did you find sector one?”

“What’s left of them. Two walked away with a few scratches, then another with a missing arm.”

Vector sighed. “Where are they?”

Ivy pointed to her right with her thumb. “Hidden in a tree with a cloaking barrier around them. You know how to find them.”

Vector nodded. “Did you stop the bleeding on the one with the missing arm?”

“The other two are taking care of it now.”

“Good. Take a team of six. That’s all I can spare.”

Ivy suddenly grabbed Vector’s armor and pulled him into a kiss, making the virgin stallion lock up and blush madly. The mare held him there for a moment before finally breaking away. “Just… just in case one of us dies…”

Vector had to force his mind to work again in order to start his wings back up, having noticed that Ivy was the only one keeping him from falling into a vicious sea of teeth. “Th-thanks…”

“If you live… Please remember me. And if you do find somepony you love, treat her like a mare. Or I’ll kill you when I see you in the afterlife.” A tear formed in Ivy’s eye and slid down her cheek.

Vector could only nod numbly. He had no clue how to respond to a mare acting like that toward him. It left him confused.

“Wait… S-so… you kissed your deputy?” Tender slurred.

Vector burst out laughing. “N-no. Sh-she kissed me! Oh, she was fucking cute too.” His expression saddened. “Too bad I never saw her again… I remember her face… her personality… what her favorite color was… I-I even remember her birthday.” His eyes teared up. “How could so many of those mindless beasts have ended up at our doorstep? There was so many… I was terrified, Tender. I was fully prepared to lose my life…”

Tender placed a hand on Vector’s shoulder. “Hay… Don’t beat yourself up over what… over what you couldn’t control.”

“If I don’t, who will!?” Vector yelled. He immediately reeled over coughing from raising his voice too loudly. His injuries still hadn’t healed enough to return to full movement in certain areas.

Tender placed her hands over Vector’s chest and gently pushed him back down onto the couch. “Don’t.”

The changeling sniffled. “F-fine…”

“Now… Please continue.

Vector sighed and tried to calm his nerves. “Ok.”

Vector fired a flaming bolt of magic at a large crowding of timberwolves, lighting them on fire. Joining him in the attempted attack was five others, with the sixth placed somewhere safe to rest, his arm having been tightly bandaged and temporarily healed.

“There’s too many of them, sir! They’ve breached the tunnels on the west gate! We need to fall back! This is useless!” One of the stallions of his sector yelled.

“You fall back! I have to clear a path! I have to clear a path for Ivy!” Vector yelled back.

“We won’t leave without you, sir!” Another yelled, before shooting a bolt at a timberwolf that had charged at them, burning it to a crisp.

“No! I can’t let you all die too!”

“You won’t… We’ll stay.” The changeling turned to the rest. “Take one hit wonder over there and get the hell out of here! We’ll cover you!”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” The youngest of the group replied, before taking off toward the tree where the injured changeling had been hidden. The others followed in close suit.

Vector sighed and turned back toward his hive. “We’re going to die…”

“Most likely.”

“On three?” Vector suggested.

“On three.” The changeling confirmed.

Vector smiled. “Three.”

The two changelings drew their weapons and charged at the pack of wolves, hacking at the wooden creatures and igniting the beasts in a raging inferno.

Contradiction and confusion

“So… ya just charged blindly… at a pack of vicious fucking… beasts.” Tender deadpanned. “Smart…”

Vector sighed. “I honestly didn’t care… I thought I would die anyway. Weather it be by a timberwolf or a pony. I… didn’t value my life at that moment.”

Tender brushed her hand sensually across Vector’s shoulder, but didn’t speak.

“I don’t even know if any of my clutch mates survived… I don’t even know if the queen survived.” He rubbed his face with his hands, before groaning and resting his head back against the pillow under him. “I may not even have a hive to return to.”

“Don’t think like that, Vector. Y-you shouldn’t make yourself feel bad about what happened. Be happy you lived. Be happy to know that there’s a chance others might have survived.”

Vector grunted. “Easy for you to say…”

“It might be, but it’s still true. You lived. Ivy might have lived too.”

Vector rolled away. “D-don’t tease me like that!” He yelled.

Tender was sure he was shedding tears from where she couldn’t see. She sighed and rubbed the changeling’s back in an attempt to comfort him. “I’m sorry, Vector… I don’t mean to upset you. But please, for your sake, don’t hate yourself for surviving. You’ll only upset the mare who healed your wounds and gave you a bed to sleep in.”

Vector shivered. “Thank you…”

Tender smiled. “But of course, I’m just doing my-”

“For everything. You saved my life when any other pony would have probably helped me bleed to death. You gave me a place to sleep. You gave me food, love, and compassion. You gave stern words when I was acting like an idiot and comforting words when I needed them… Thank you, Tender Hoof.”

Tender was at a loss for words. His words touched two parts of her, both pity and strong compassion for the changeling. It warmed her and chilled her at the same time, making her shiver. Her eyes began to tear up, before she threw herself at Vector and embraced the crippled stallion.

Vector stiffened at the feeling of the mare hugging him, but the feeling wasn’t at all unpleasant. He soon relaxed and let the embrace continue.

“You’re welcome… Always… My friend.” Tender whispered.

Vector’s chest knotted up. His emotions overflowed and he quickly rolled to face Tender, wrapping his arms around her and pressing his lips against her own.

Tender stiffened, her eyes going wide in surprise. Her mind went blank as a deep blush spread across her face. She was too stunned by the action to break away.

After a long moment, the changeling finally broke the kiss and looked at Tender. He instantly noticed her shock and his heart sank. “Umm… Tender?”

“Wh-why… did you kiss me?”

Vector looked away, blushing deeply in embarrassment. “I… I-I… I don’t… know. I… S-sorry…”

Tender let go of the stallion and sat down on the floor. Her expression still showed as shocked. Her heart pumped at an increased rate and her chest tingled all over. She found it a little hard to breath in her stunned state.

“Tender, I’m sorry. I-” He was cut off when Tender placed her finger over his lips.

“How do you feel about me?”

Vector lifted an eyebrow and pushed the mare’s hand away. “What?”

“How… do you feel about me?” Tender repeated. “What do you picture when you think of me?”

Vector was caught off guard by the question. He hadn’t ever thought about what he felt for Tender, besides thankfulness. But now that she had mentioned it, there was a feeling he couldn’t quite place. Admiration? No. It couldn’t be that. The only other thing he could think of was the one thing he assumed he had never felt before. “Longing…”

The one simple word made Tender’s mouth go dry. “Vector?”

The changeling snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her.

“Vector… Do you… Do you love me?”

Vector’s bottom lip quivered. “I-I don’t know! I’ve never felt like this before! I’m not even sure I know how to! We don’t get get taught to love!” He cried out in frustration.

Tender placed her finger over his lips again. “Shhh… It’s ok.” Her horn lit up as she cast a quick spell on him, making the stallion gently lul into a deep sleep with a spell. “Let the alcohol wear off. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.” She whispered as she levitated Vector to the room she gave him, along with his crutches, before retreating to her own room. After undressing, she collapsed onto her bed and slowly drifted off.

“Why in Tartarus did I do that!?” Vector yelled in frustration and hit his head against the fridge. He and Tender were standing in the kitchen, Vector on his crutches and Tender with a glass of orange juice.

“What? Kiss me? I don’t know. You tell me.”

“That’s the thing. I don’t know!”

Tender flinched. “Hay! Don’t yell at me just because you’re acting like the stallion you are!”

“I don’t know what else to do!” Vector yelled back. “I’m clueless about love, other than how to get it and how to consume it! That’s it!”

Tender groaned and rubbed her face. “It’s too damn early for this…”

Vector crossed his arms. “So what should I do about what I’m feeling?”

“What do you mean?”

Vector sighed. “I mean what should I do to keep that from happening again?”

Tender placed her glass down on the counter. “Easy. Quit drinking around me, or at least don’t do it as much.”

He sighed again. “Fi-”

“Or… Learn how to care about somepony. And the best place to start… would be with me.” Tender interrupted.

Vector looked her in the eye. “What do you…”

“I’m willing to give you a chance, Vector. I haven’t had a relationship for years. You would be an interesting change in scenery… considering you can change the scenery whenever you feel like it, but that’s not the point. I’m willing to break another law for you. So I can teach you how to love.” Tender explained. “I thought long and heard about it today. Well… at least I thought about it before you woke up.”

The changeling was frozen in place. His mind drew a perfect blank as he let what she had just said seep into the blank canvas. ‘A chance… To love…’ He thought, but aloud he asked. “Why?”

“Because…” Tender looked away. “I-I want to love you, but it would be wasted if you can’t love me back.”

“What if we get caught? They’ll kill me. Can you live with that, Tender?”

“No… No I can’t…” She replied in almost a whisper. “But I want it to be worth the pain. I want to be able to say that I truly loved the stallion they put to death. I want it to be worth it enough for me to want to curse my princesses for taking you from me. But to get there… I want you to work hard to learn how to be the loving stallion I see in you.”

Vector was speechless again. His jaw visually slackened and nearly dropped. Had she really just defied her rulers? For him? For his love? He was deeply touched by what she had suggested, but also very afraid of what would happen to them if they were caught. It scared him to be the one who left behind a broken heart. He would rather watch the one he loved die, knowing she wasn’t alone, than to leave her in pain for the rest of her life.

The stallion sighed and slowly nodded. “Ok… Ok… I… I’ll do it.”

Tender smiled.

“If you make me a promise.”

“What kind?”

“Never let me die first. I never want to see the one I love watch me die, only to live her life alone and in pain. I would rather it be me.”

Tender’s eyes teared up slightly, but she wiped them dry. She walked closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You earned this just for what you said.” She leaned in and gently kissed Vector, brushing her lips softly against his long fangs.

Vector closed his eyes and wrapped his arm around her waist, letting his crutch rest against his side as he enjoyed the mare’s soft lips. The love he tasted from her was so rich and sweet that it made him nearly drunk as it flowed into him. It made his heart throb hard against his chest and his breathing quicken.

Was this what it felt like to give love back? If so, he liked it, so much in fact, that he began to thirst for the feeling of giving it back. It made him feel so… complete.

Tender broke the kiss. It had only been a few seconds, but Vector looked like he had been gone for an eternity. She giggled at him. “Virgin, I take it?”

Vector lifted an eyebrow. “Is it that obvious?”

Tender giggled again. “There’s no shame in that. Not like you’re in any shape to be doing anything like that anyway, even if I was willing to do that yet. You still have a long way to go, tripod.”

Vector blushed. “Hay, quit calling me names.”

“Oh, let a mare have her fun.” Tender stuck out her tongue playfully.

Vector smiled. “Just wait till I heal. I’ll make you regret those words.”

Tender smiled back. “We’ll see about that, bug boy.”

“It’s not fair! I can’t call you any names!”

“Get over it.” Tender laughed, before leaning back in to kiss Vector again, but it was quick.

Vector blushed. “What was that one for?”

Tender looked up at him and blushed. “For making me laugh.”

“So I get a kiss every time I do something good?” Vector licked his lips. “I think I like that better than getting alcohol.”

“Yeah, well… Don’t get used to it. You’re gonna have to work harder for each one, at least until you give me a reason to love you.” Tender said in a teasing tone.

Vector pouted. “Will I get one every morning if I make you breakfast every morning?”

Tender idly circled her finger over his chest as a blush warmed her cheeks. “Mayyybe.”

“You’ve got yourself a cook. Oh… and um… I’m an omnivore. So… yeah… My body can’t handle just veggies and love. My body needs the carbohydrates and protein to rebuild my chitin.” He gestured to the gouge in his chitin where the flesh beneath had healed already.

“You want me… to buy you some sort of meat… You must be joking.”

Vector shook his head. “I need it.”

Tender Hoof groaned loudly. “You are so not easy to take care of. Do you know how weird I’m going to look when I go to buy meat? And the closest place to get any is Cloudsdale, thanks to the griffons and the few dragons that visit.”

“Please, Tender? I’ll give you a hoof rub.”

Tender’s ears perked up at the mention of a hoof rub. It had been a long time since anypony had even touched her hooves. She sighed and bit her lip. “Fine… Thirty minutes each hoof. After every trip I make to get it.”

“Thanks!” He let go of Tender. “Go sit down. I have breakfast covered.”

Tender blushed. “Umm… Y-you don’t have to do that. I-I’m already awake. I can take care of it.”

Vector leaned closer to Tender with a sly grin and half lidded eyes. “What are you going to do to stop me?”

The blush on the mare’s face deepened. “I-I’ll go get you a sirloin right now and cook it for you.”

Vector’s eyes widened. “You’re gonna… What?”

“I’ll go right now and buy you a sirloin if you’ll let me cook it for you.”

The crutches dropped from Vector’s grip and clattered to the floor. His mouth watered furiously. “A-are you sure? I-I mean, you’ve never dealt with meat.”

“Oh, please. I know enough about muscle and fat to know how long it will take to burn. How hard could it be?”

“Seasoning, prepping, making sure it cooked all the way through to keep me from eating raw meat. I do have standards, despite what ponies think of us.”

“Oh…” Tender looked away and rubbed her arm, an embarrassed blush on her face. “I, uh… didn’t think of that.”

“It’s fine, but do you still want to do this for me?”

Tender didn’t look at him, but nodded.

“Then I’ll do all the parts that involve the preparation. You do the actual cooking and whatever you’re eating.” Vector said. “That’s if you still want to cook at all.”

“No, I want to do it.”

“Alright… One sirloin.” The black griffon looked up to see Tender standing at his stand. He lifted an eyebrow. “For one pony…”

Tender scratched the back of her head nervously and nodded. She avoided the old griffon’s gaze.

“You alright, miss? Didn’t suddenly turn carnivorous, did ya?”

Tender shook her head. “I-it’s for my friend. He’s injured and I’m taking care of him.”

The old griffon sighed and stood from his seat behind the meat stand. “Alright. Give me a sec to package it for ya. Pretty sure a mare like yerself wouldn’t want to get blood all over ya fur.” He walked back into the magically cooled tent. He returned a moment later with a thick strip of bloody meat inside of a tightly sealed package.

The blood covered sirloin made Tender cringe, but she dropped the bits onto the stand anyway.

The griffon shook his head and handed over the meat. “I can’t believe I just sold a sirloin to a pony… This don’t make no sense, but here ya go anyway. Not gonna say no to the right amout a money.”

Tender took the sirloin from him and tried not to drop it out of shock when it squished slightly in her grip. “Th-thanks.”

The griffon gave her one last funny look, before shaking his head again. “No problem…”

Tender left quickly, trying to avoid all of the looks she received.

Walking back to the cloudsdale train station was a nightmare. The way it was set up is that and urban section of the town was sustained by clouds and housed many pegsi and griffons. But the market and other such shops were built at ground level beneath the floating city, allowing unicorns and earth ponies to buy and sell to the locals.

There were so many ponies and griffons walking to and from it that Tender had accidentally slapped three ponies in the face with the sirloin she was carrying on the way to the station. It was even worse when she got to the station itself.

The security had said she looked like a suspicious character and apprehended her to inspect the sirloin, constantly saying it was a chopped up piece of pony. The search, of course, turned up negative and she was released with the sirloin still in tact. To make up for their mistake though, the security gave her a free ticket for a first class ride back to Ponyville.

Tender sighed and looked out the window of the seat she at. The train had long since started its journey and she was running the situation again and again through her head. Though, thankfully, she didn't have to do that while holding the sirloin. The attendant had placed it in the ice cold wine cooler before she had taken her seat.

As she watched the fields pass by her viewpoint from the window, Tender's thoughts slowly drifted to Vector. She had heard pretty much his whole story while she was taking care of him. It gave her a reason to take pity on him, though she didn't let him know that. There was also something about him that would never fail to tug at her heart. Maybe it was just her emotions toward a sick patient, but it still felt different.

She had told him that she had wanted to love him, but did she really?

Little did she know... Vector was having those same problems.

As the crippled changeling lied on the couch, board out of his mind, his thoughts constantly drifted toward Tender. He couldn’t even feel her love and he still couldn’t stop thinking about her. Not even watching his new favorite tv show could even stray him from it.

Vector tried to brush it off as simple gratitude for her helping him and even exposing that she cared for him as a potential interest, but he couldn’t be falling for her too, could he?

“No… That can’t be right… I was taught to hate them my whole life. How could I fall for a pony?” Vector asked himself as he gazed up at the ceiling. “Maybe it’s just… No… That can’t be it either… Gah! This is so frustrating! I hate emotions!”

He threw the remote to the tv across the room, but caught it with his magic before it hit the wall. He brought it back over to himself and clicked the tv off. “I’m sick of sitting around… I wish these damn injuries would heal up.”

The door opening snapped Vector away from his thoughts as Tender walked inside with a thick package held in her magic. The smell of raw meat surged into Vector’s sensitive nostrils, making his mouth water. He quickly sat up and stared at it as Tender brought it to the kitchen.

“This better be worth it, Vector. I got tackled by security on the way to the train station from Cloudsdale.”

Vector cringed. “Heh…  Sorry.”

Tender sighed as she placed the sirloin in the fridge. “It’s fine… At least they’ll know me the next time I go.”

Vector pulled himself up from the couch and grabbed his crutches. Using his crutches to pull himself up, he stood and made his way to the kitchen to find Tender washing her hands. He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her midsection. “Really, Tender. I’m sorry I keep putting you into situations like this. If I wasn’t crippled for the time, I would have done it myself.”

Tender sighed and leaned back against the changeling, luckily Vector was leaning on his crutches or her weight would have made him fall. “Why is it so hard to take care of you? I haven’t had this much stress since taking nursing in college.”

Vector nuzzled into her neck. “I promise I’ll make it up to you when I can walk properly again.”

“I got you a big enough sirloin to last you a few days if you section it out. I think it would last you a weeks worth of dinners.” Tender said. She pulled her hands out of the sink and shook the water from them, before shutting off the faucet.

“Thanks.” Vector kissed her neck. “I want to make it for myself. I keep putting you through enough. In fact, I’ll help you with everything else too.”

Tender shivered from the kiss on her neck. “B-but…”

“If you refuse my help, I’ll stick you to the couch with a binding spell and cook the whole meal myself.”

She blushed. “Y-you wouldn’t.”

Vector smiled. “Try me.”

“You are evil, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.”

Tender crossed her arms. “Then wash your hands and pull your meat out.”

Vector laughed. “I don’t think you would want me to do that.”

Tender blushed. “Y-you know what I mean!”

Vector only laughed harder.

“By the way...” She shoved herself back against Vector, knocking him off his crutches. The changeling cried out as he stumbled and fell onto his rear. The crutches clattered to the floor next to him. “Kiss me again without my permission, and I’ll toss your sirloin in the trash.” Tender said with a sly smile.

Vector groaned. “If only you knew how hard it was to deal with you as well.” He picked up his crutches and, with a little struggling, picked himself back up onto his hooves. “Can’t believe you knocked a cripple onto his ass. Have you no shame?”

“Only on weekends.” Tender replied as she moved out of the way of the sink and made her way toward the fridge to gather her dinner. She didn’t bother to touch the meat, knowing Vector was going to take care of it instead.

“Wow… You’re the one who’s evil.”

“So I’ve been told.”

Vector winced in pain, whimpering slightly as he watched as Tender slowly bent his knee. She had said that the fracture hadn’t gone far from the knee, so moving it would be quite painful for a time. She had bent it already three times and Vector was ready to snatch it away from her and curl up into a ball.

He was laying in his bed with Tender standing at the foot of it. She had recently gotten her job back, so her medical resources were replenished.

“Oh, be quiet, you big foal. I’ve dealt with this before and this has to be done to loosen the muscles and to make sure the bone isn’t pinching the tendons. I brought some pain medication from work and I’ll give you some if you be good.”

The changeling grit his teeth and dug his claws into his bed, but otherwise didn’t fight. Though, he did grow at her loudly every time he felt his knee pop. “Y-you’re… t-torturing me, woman!”

“Not the first time I’ve heard that.” Tender placed his leg gently back down on the bed and rubbed her fingers across the bruise where she knew fracture was. Something felt out of place. She groaned loudly. “Vector… Whatever you do, don’t move. The fracture is healing wrong.”

“Wait… Wha- Ahhhhhhhhh! Fuck!” Vector cried out in pain when Tender suddenly snapped the bone back into place.

Tender snached her hands away. “Sorry. Would have been more painful if you were expecting it.”

Vector resisted the urge to strike her and focused on rubbing his broken leg. “G-gods dammit, Tender… I’m starting to think you enjoy hurting me. First knocking me off my crutches, then needles, then you rearrange my leg bones.”

Tender closed her eyes and shook her head. “Oh, you are such a little mare.” She opened her eyes, only to see a yellow pegasus mare with a pink mane sitting in Vector’s place. She blushed and hid her face behind her mane.

“P-p-please don’t hurt me….” She said in a shy voice.

Tender was stunned for a moment to see Fluttershy, but shook it off quickly, having reminded herself that Vector was a changeling. She sighed. “Don’t do that, Vector.”

The changeling Fluttershy giggled. “What’s wrong? Can’t take a joke?” Vector asked as he changed back to his normal form.

Tender shook her head and used her magic to quickly and gently wrap his leg back in a cast. “You are so bipolar…” She got up and walked away, heading for the door.

“W-wait… Tender…”

Tender stopped and turned to look back at the changeling.

“I want to know… What does it feel like when you love somepony?”

Tender was caught off guard by the question. She attempted to shrug it off, but his pleading eyes made it hard. “W-well, I… Its… hard to… explain. Its different for some ponies. Some its an explosive feeling, like fireworks in their heart and… others its just… gradual, but…” She looked away. “But… How can you love somepony that you don’t know if you can fully trust? Like you want to, but something holds you back…”

Vector wiped his eyes, cleaning a stray tear out of one before Tender could see it. “What if… What if we could change that?”

Tender looked back up at him, her eyes wide. “But Vector, I-”

“I’m not looking for an excuse.” He interrupted. “I’m asking what you would do if we could change that.”

“I… I don’t know…” Tender admitted.

“Do you want to find out?”

The thought of it ran through Tender’s head many times, but before she could respond, her hooves began carrying her out of the room. “I’m sorry…” Was all she could get out before she left the room.

Later that day, Tender left the house, leaving Vector alone with a half a bottle of cider. It probably wasn’t a great idea, but she didn’t care. She quickly made her way toward Ponyville.

The little town was busy with work as usual. It was a farming town after all. Ponies walked to and from various homes and shops to store and purchase various items. One wouldn’t even think for a second that there was a whole castle built right where the library once was until they looked up at the massive structure or that there was more crazy situations that happened around the cozy town until you lived there for a year.

But Tender didn’t pay any attention to any of that. She was too lost in the thoughts of the changeling that was stuck in her care.

The truth was that she did love him. A lot. And she knew that he could feel it every second of every day she was around him. She only wished she could feel his. If his stories taught her anything, it was that he was taught not to be trustworthy of ponies. Everything he was doing could all be a trap, but something in her heart didn’t want to believe that.

Tender suddenly felt herself run into something big and sturdy. The impact knocked her over. She shook her head and looked up angrily at whatever it was she hit, but her gaze softened when she looked up at the shy look of a big, red stallion with green eyes. “Oh… Hay, Mac.”

Big Mac nodded. He reached down with his large hand and lifted Tender by her arm, setting her back onto her hooves.

“Thanks. Sorry about that.”

“No need for that, miss Hoof.” He replied politely in his deep voice.

Tender blushed. “Heh, you’re sweet.”

Mac smiled. “Don’t let Cheerilee hear you say that to me.”

Tender returned the smile, but it slowly faded and she looked down at her hooves.

“Somethin’ wrong?”

She sighed. “Mac… I don’t know what to do. I… I think I’m in love with my friend, but… I’m not sure if I can trust him to be faithful. But I can’t get him out of my head.”

Mac sighed and crossed his muscular arms. He was used to mares coming to him with their problems because he would listen, but he never expected to hear it from the mare he had told all of his problems to when he had hurt himself applebucking and was left in her care.

“What should I do? I mean, I think he loves me too, but I don’t know for sure.”

“Test him.” Mac replied simply.

“With what?”

Mac shook his head. “That’s for you to figure out.”

Tender rolled her eyes. “C’mon… You got Cheerilee to fall in love with you, why can’t you help me?”

Mac rolled his eyes. “Mah sister and her friends love poisoned us.”

“Oh… So… test him, huh? Alright. I’ll see what I can do. Thanks, Mac.” Tender said, before walking around Mac as she made her way toward the Ponyville hospital.

The big stallion watched her leave and sighed. “Eyup… She’s lost as pear in an apple orchard.”

Vector, as always, was sprawled out on the couch. The only difference was that the tv was off and was just lying there staring at the ceiling. His thoughts drifted about lazily in his head as he reflected on his memories.

First it started as worry for his hive again, then it was boredom and thinking about random things, then there was a point where his mind drifted to Tender. He had been thinking about her a lot and it was starting to bother him. If he could feel so much love pouring out of her and into him, then why won’t she let him love back?

What had happened earlier wasn’t the first time. It had happened pretty much the same way every time, but this was the first time she had left the house after he had asked her. He didn’t know how to akt, so he would stay quiet until Tender calmed, but she wasn’t around.

Vector was once again lost.

“Mares are so fucking complicated… There’s gotta be a way to break the ice.”

Vector rummaged through his hind for an answer, but only succeeded in giving himself a stress headache. He sighed and decided to relax the best he could. He was still so distracted by his thoughts that he didn’t even realize that he had drifted off to sleep.

Discoveries long overdue

Vector was roused from his sleep by a gentle hand shaking him slightly. He yawned and stretched his stiff arms. Before the poor stallion could even open his eyes, his lips were caught in a surprise kiss. Vector’s eyes snapped open as a deep blush ignited across his face. It was then that he noticed who it was that had locked lips with him.

Tender’s eyes were closed as she took advantage of the previously unsuspecting changeling’s lips. She gently placed her hands against his chest and pushed down on him, pinning him beneath her as she climbed on top of him.

The shocked changeling soon calmed once he began feeling the strong stream of love energy flow into him, filling his heart with warmth. Vector half closed his eyes and reached up to caress Tender’s slim sides.

Tender moaned softly and blushed. She gently rubbed her hands up Vector’s chest and neck, before running her hands through his mane.

Vector wrapped his arms around Tender and pulled her down on top of him. Tender squeaked and opened her eyes at Vector. Her surprised reaction gave him the chance to slip his long tongue into her mouth and coil around her own. Her eyes rolled back as the odd sensation made her shiver.

The predator in Vector began to hunger, driving him to run his hands lower down Tender’s body, striving for her many pleasure points, but his greedy claws were stopped by a rough binding spell.

Vector broke the kiss and struggled against it. “Owowowowowowowowow! Ok, ok! I get it! Too far!”

Tender giggled and released his wrists. “Good boy. Now we can be friends again.”

The changeling rubbed his wrist as it throbbed. “Jeez… Can’t you be just a little more gentle?”

“Oh, stop whining. I thought you were used to this kind of stuff.” She teased.

“I am, but not from somepony I have an emotional attachment to. Especially considering that you’re pretty much the only one sense…” Vector trailed off and looked away.

Tender frowned. “I know, Vector.” She gently brushed her hand across his cheek. “But hay, you have me now. I’m sorry I kept you waiting for an answer.”

Vector blushed. “You mean…”

The mare smiled. “Yep!”

“Then we’re…”

“Yep.”

“C-can I…”

“Nope.”

Vector blinked. “But…”

Tender placed a finger against his lips. “Shhhh… Don’t spoil the mood. We’ll get to the more intense stuff when you prove you can be a good coltfriend. Plus your leg is still recovering.”

“Speaking of that, how is it doing?”

“Last time I checked, it had healed properly. It’s just the bruised and torn muscles that have to heal and recover now.” Tender replied.

Vector sighed and cuddled against Tender, nuzzling her soft fur. “I should heal just fine thanks to all the love I’m being served every day. You’d make a perfect mate…”

“Flattery still isn’t going to get you in my pants any sooner, lover boy.”

The changeling rolled his eyes. “Maybe I wouldn’t be like that if you weren’t so grossed out about a male relieving his sexual tensions in your home, especially somepony like me.”

Tender groaned. “It’s not that, Vector. I just don’t want you doing it and not, you know… cleaning up.”

“Woman, I do have standards you know. I’m not that primitive.” Vector shot back, sounding offended.

She narrowed her eyes down at Vector. “Fine. But if I see one stain, no pain pills for a week.”

“A week!? You can’t be serious!”

Tender giggled. “I’m not. I’m perfectly fine with you being a stallion in… our… home.”

Once again, Vector was caught off guard by this mare. Suddenly it was his home now too? What was with her? And no matter what, he was attracted to her. Thoughts of Tender would fill his head at least once per day. Was he in love? Maybe he was. There was only one way he could think of to test it. Vector reached up and gently held Tender’s chin and gazed into her eyes. A bright spark jolted through his chest as he spoke. “I… think I love you.”

Tender pushed his hand away and lied her head on vector’s warm chest, nuzzling into him. “Then prove it when you get better.” She said quietly.

Vector smiled. He silently did a victory dance in his head as he wrapped his arms back around Tender and cuddled her.

“Vector! I thought I told you not to try and walk on it!” Tender yelled in exasperation as she ran into the living room from her place in the kitchen. Previously she had been refilling the pill bottle she had given Vector to use. It was so she could keep track of when he was taking his pills and when he was taking too much. She kept a larger bottle locked away where the mischievous changeling couldn’t get to it.

Vector groaned and rubbed his sore head as he lied there on the floor, the ceiling spinning above him. “You put my crutches too far out of reach…”

The mare sighed as she knelt down next to the fallen changeling to examine him for injuries. “Sorry about that. Must have forgotten to put them back after helping you stretch your leg muscle.”

“That still hurts like Tartarus, by the way.”

“You’re such a foal.”

“A foal you know damn well you love.”

Tender couldn’t help but giggle at that. She shook her head and blushed slightly as she helped her silly stallion back up onto the sofa. She then handed Vector his crutches. “Next time, just ask for them. You’re temporarily crippled, remember?”

Vector crossed his eyes on purpose. “I just don’t know what went wrong…”

She laughed harder and playfully pushed Vector into the cushion. “Oh, stop being silly, you big foal.”

The changeling joined in on the laughter, until a firm knock sounded at the door. They both froze and snapped their attention to it.

“Were you expecting anypony?” Vector whispered. He began to worry a little when Tender replied with a shake of her head.

“I can wait in my room until they’re gone. I can’t fully change my form yet, so it would be pointless for me to stay out in the open.”

Tender nodded in agreement. “Yeah… I’ll come tell you when it’s safe.”

With that, the crippled changeling grabbed his crutches and began limping to his bedroom just as another, more frantic knock sounded at the door, making them both jump. It wasn’t until Tender was sure that Vector’s door was good and locked when she finally ran to open the door.

She suddenly wished she hadn’t.

“Hello, pony freak.” The deep voice of a strong mare growled as the sharpened point of a dagger was shoved roughly up against Tender’s throat. It was done hard enough to make her look up so she couldn’t see her attackers.

Tender swallowed as fear began to ride up her spine. She did her best not to show it, but her slight trembling may have given it away.

The blade was pushed harder against her flesh, drawing warm blood from where it made contact. “You have ten seconds to tell me where Vector is, before I make your neck smile from ear-to-ear.”