I Want To Change

“Uh Twilight?” Rainbow asked as they trotted down the path away from Fluttershy's cottage, leaving her and the changeling behind.

“What is it Rainbow?”

“You didn't mention the part where you were going to tell Princess Celestia about him.” Rainbow pointed out.

“I know... I thought about it and I didn't want to scare him. If he knew the Princess... The highest authority in Equestria was going to find out he was here he'd panic and I don't want him to panic while he is with Fluttershy.”

Rainbow pondered this and nodded her head. “Yeeeah probably a good idea.”

“I'll tell him later... Once I have written her and gotten a response.” Twilight replied.

“What do you think she'll say?” Rarity inquired.

“I'm sure it'll be fine, but I want to be sure. That's another reason I didn't bring it up. I asked Fluttershy not to say anything either. I'd appreciate if you all kept it quiet too.” Twilight looked around to the group.

“You have my word.” Applejack smiled.

“My muzzle is-” Pinkie clamped her forehooves down on her muzzle, bouncing along on her hind legs.

“Not a word.” Rarity stated.

“I don't want to talk with him anyway.” Rainbow muttered.

Twilight snorted and shot her a glare.

“Okay fine... I won't say anything to him about Celestia.” Rainbow crossed her forelegs as she flew along.

“Thanks girls.” Twilight beamed.

Fluttershy closed the door to her cottage after seeing her friends off and turned to face Shift who sat fiddling with his forehooves still in his seat like a confused colt. “Are you alright?” Fluttershy asked as she approached the seat.

“Y-yeah... I think so... I don't know...” Shift shook his head and looked up at her with his seemingly sightless gaze though there was a small smile on his muzzle. “Just a little confused. That wasn't what I was expecting.”

“I-I know... But isn't it a good thing?” Fluttershy asked with a hint of enthusiasm. “Better than some cold awful mountains.”

“Y-yeah I guess your right. I just... What if it doesn't work? What if I get my hopes up for nothing?”

“It'll work Shift. Twilight is really really smart and really really good with magic.” She tried to reassure him.

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Thanks... But... Even still... A pony like you? It sounds... great but... I don't even know where to begin... I don't know how to act... I have to come up with a whole alias. A background... A life and appearance... Then live it out? It's all a little... much.” Shift sighed.

“We'd be glad to help.” Fluttershy replied.

“You've already done too much.” Shift turned his head away.

“Well... I'd like to help, if that's okay.”

“You... Want to help?” Shift looked back to her.

“Yes... I do, and I am sure my friends do too.” Fluttershy smiled.

“Thank you... I don't know what to say...” He really didn't. He didn't understand why they were being so nice to him. He'd never done anything for them... If anything he'd complicated things.  Why question it though? “I guess... I'd better get started then.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “Um... I think you may need to sleep... It's been a long day. If... Well if you want to.”

Shift thought for a moment then sighed. “No... you're right... I'll start in the morning... It'll give me something to do... Besides... I am a little tired.” He yawned on impulse. “Mind if I get some water?”

“I told you you could help yourself to whatever you liked Shift.”

“Thanks.” He jumped down from his chair without thinking and yelped as his bad leg hit the floor. He was able to balance himself out on the other three however.

Fluttershy rushed over to him. “Shift? Are you alright? Oh you should be more careful.” She paced nervously around him as if he were one of her injured animals.

“I'm fine Fluttershy... That was dumb. I'd forgotten it was even hurt during all of that.” He winced and placed the injured leg's hoof back to the ground ever so gently.

“Do you need any help?”

“No... No I'm fine... I'll be alright for the night. Please... Get some rest.” Shift smiled through his pain to reassure her though part of him liked the overbearing mare's attention. He was not going to take advantage of her though.

“If you're sure.” She gave him one more look over. His wing actually looked a lot better. His leg obviously still hurt but before he hadn't even been able to put weight on it.

“I'm sure.”

“Okay... If you're really sure.” Fluttershy turned away and trotted toward the stairs. “Goodnight Shift. You still have the blanket down here right?”

“Yeah it's on the couch. Goodnight.” Shift smiled and trotted awkwardly from the chair to the couch. He was pleasantly surprised to find the couch cushions warm from where they'd all been sitting. The blanket was half stuck in between two of the cushions. He used his horn to pull it out, laid down on his side and draped it over himself. He heard the door upstairs close and knew she'd went to bed.

Things were starting to look a little better for him and he could only imagine the possibilities now if everything worked out. He could be whoever he wanted to be. He thought of different patterns of fur and mane colors. A mane... Not the webbing on his head but a regular mane, and he could get rid of the holes in his legs. He could have any color eyes he wanted. The possibilities were endless... He shook his head of the thoughts and smiled.

“I'll think about this tomorrow.” With that he let himself relax and settle into place. It took a while for him to suppress his thoughts enough to sleep but eventually he managed, and fell asleep.

Fluttershy shook her head and whined when the sun's first light shown upon her face through the window. With a bit of reluctance she opened her eyes and stretched, her mane a tangled mess behind her. As per routine she looked over to the small bed next to hers where she was relieved to see Angel fast asleep. As much as she loved that bunny she hated waking up to him demanding food in the rudest of ways. At least this way she had time to make his breakfast before he awoke.

She decided to get up and do that now. She'd have to come back up and take care of her mane, fur and tail later. She groaned and rolled over, dropping to the floor with a squeak. On her way down stairs she heard some rattling in her kitchen, and looked down to her couch to see that Shift wasn't there. Maybe he'd gone to get something to eat in the kitchen.

Fluttershy trotted through the kitchen door and saw Shift at her oven, and heard something sizzling.

“Good morning Shift.”

Shift turned, surprised to see her awake. Why he was surprised he didn't know. This was her cottage. He smiled at her disheveled appearance. “Did you sleep okay? Looks like you did.” He turned back to the oven.

“I did... Does your leg feel better? You seem to be okay on it.” Fluttershy stated unsure of herself.

“It hurts a little... However I can trot on it a bit, and as long as I don't move too much I can bare the pain. Sit down.”

“Um... Okay.” She did as she was told and sat at her spot on the table where she found a cup of orange juice in front of her. He'd put his drink in her spot. That was what she thought until she looked across from her and saw another cup there. “Is this for me?”

“Yes it is.” Shift replied without turning, smiling to himself.

“Thank you.” She took the cup in both hooves and sipped at it.

“I'm sorry the food wasn't done, I'd thought you'd have slept longer.” Shift put the two omelets on two plates and used his magic to bring them to the table. “I hope it's good.” He took his seat and smiled sheepishly at her.

“Sometimes I do sleep in. It's okay. I wasn't expecting you to make me breakfast anyway.” She couldn't say she wasn't pleasantly surprised. She'd never had somepony make her breakfast in her own home before. She took a small bite of her omelet and purred. “I like it.”

Shift let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. “Good. I cooked a little bit for... Never mind.” He'd cooked for his fellow changelings on their way to attack Canterlot and when they had overnight shifts guarding gates. He just didn't feel it appropriate to bring it up.

Fluttershy didn't have the mind to push for an answer. He obviously didn't want to talk about it so she chose to continue eating her food in silence. She did flash him a smile for reassurance. Then her ears perked up as she heard the quiet distinct hops of Angel coming down the stairs. “Oh I forgot to make his breakfast.” She groaned.

“I took care of that.” Shift replied.

“But... You don't know-”

“It looked like a fancy salad to me... So I made him a fancy salad.” Shift shrugged.

“Oh... Well I hope he eats it...” Fluttershy trailed off, taking an absent bite of her food.

“He should. Hey so... What do you think I should look like?” Shift asked suddenly.

“Huh?” Fluttershy focused her attention back to the changeling.

“You know... Twilight I think her name is... The spell thing?” Shift explained. “I need a new look... I need a new name, a job or something.”

“Oh... Um I don't know. What do you like?” Fluttershy asked.

“What do I like?” He paused... “What do I like?” This time it was more of a question to himself. He looked around the room, then out the window. “Trees.”

“Trees?” Fluttershy perked up.

“Yeah... Trees are good. I like the way they change colors in the fall. Plus they're great shade.” Shift.

“I'd like to be a tree.” Fluttershy replied.

“You'd like to be a tree?” Shift asked

“Oh yes. I love trees.” Fluttershy nodded.

“Um... alright.” Shift laughed nervously. “I like all sorts of plants though. Like... Well even flowers.” He blushed.

“What's wrong with that?”

“Flowers just aren't very... Stallion like.” Shift replied.

“Don't be silly. Everypony likes flowers. Have you seen my garden?” Fluttershy asked.

“No... I haven't been outside remember?” Shift reminded her. “And it was too dark that first night.

“Oh... Yeah... Sorry.”

“It's fine.” Shift smiled.

“Um... Would you like to go outside and see them?” Fluttershy asked.

“But if somepony see's me...” Shift turned his head away. Was she thinking.

“Well, if you can change into me and just go outside for a minute I'm sure it would be fine. I have lots of pretty flowers that I care for but most of them won't be in bloom.” Fluttershy suggested.

“That'll be great!” Shift exclaimed. “Right after breakfast sound good?”

Fluttershy nodded. “That's okay.”

Fluttershy and Shift ate the rest of their breakfast in silence, not really an uncomfortable silence but a mutual silence. Fluttershy was relieved to see Angel eat the food as if she'd made it herself.

After they were done Fluttershy went upstairs to fix her mane, fur and tail up. She'd hardly noticed she was still a mess due to being distracted by breakfast and was happy Shift had said nothing about it. When she got downstairs Shift was waiting patiently in the living room.

“You think This is okay?” He wouldn't mind going outside for a minute but he had a little doubt. Too many ponies already knew he was here.

“I don't see a problem with it.” She smiled. “If you take an interest, maybe I could get Twilight to bring you over some books about plants.”

Shift returned the smile and nodded. “I think I'd appreciate that.” He took a step back and looked her over once before illuminating his horn. A second later and he was the mirror image of the mare in front of him.

Fluttershy squeaked a bit seeing herself standing in front of her. She'd seen it before but before they were fighting. “D-do you mind if I take a look?” Fluttershy asked shyly.

“Sure no problem.” He sounded like her, but he didn't talk like her. This amused him. What amused him even more was the mare circling him ever so timidly. He let her get half way around before speaking. “So... How'd I do?”

“You're really good at this, but um... is my flank really that big?” Fluttershy asked.

Shift turned to face her but didn't know quite what to say. “Um... Well...” Now he was starting to sound a little more like her. A light blush clouded his canary gold face. “I'm sorry.” He feared he may have offended her.

“Oh no, it's fine. I'm not upset. I don't think...” She shook her head. “Maybe I shouldn't have asked.”

“Well... I'm going to go see the garden then.” He laughed nervously and made for the front door. He was a little hesitant to open it but got over that quickly. The light from the sun blinded him for a moment, he turned his head and hid his face. When his eyes adjusted he stared out at the path and smiled, then took a deep breath.

The fresh air filled his lounges and filled him with joy. He wasn't as nervous as he'd been before. Nature was so much more enjoyable when you weren't trying to survive off of it, afraid of every tree or rather... What may be around it.

He looked behind him and saw Fluttershy watching him at the door curiously. She urged him on with a forehoof. “Go on.”

Shift smiled and shut the door behind him, then trotted down the stairs. It was a tad chilly but the sun had been up for a little while and was starting to warm things up a bit. He turned the corner of the cottage, staying close to the wall and nearly trotted into the garden itself.

Just as he'd of thought most of the plants lay dormant. However there was a group of them in full bloom. It was a purple daisy like flower, growing in patches around the others. Very carefully he poked one, watched it give a little then spring back softly, and placed his hoof back to the ground. He actually didn't see any weeds growing. She took good care of her garden.

He looked up at the trees around him, and their ever changing leaves signaling the coming winter. Fall was his favorite season partly due to the changing colors of the leaves. Changing. Like himself. He was changing... He giggled to himself, shaking his head for a second as the soft sounding noise escaped his throat rather than his usual raspy voice. He'd already forgotten he had taken the form of the yellow mare.

Shift just found it funny to be comparing himself to a leaf but when you've lost everything else what was the harm in picking out the smaller wonders of life? After a stiff breeze chilled his fur he decided it was time to go back inside.

He waited until the door closed behind him before changing back into his familiar changeling form. Fluttershy was waiting for him in the living room. “Those flowers, the one's in bloom. Isn't it a little cold for anything to be growing?”

“Michaelmas Daisies,” Fluttershy replied. “They actually bloom in fall... I keep them so my garden will look pretty even through the colder days.”

“Well you're doing a good job.” Shift thought for a moment. “When you have the time do you think you could teach me a bit about your garden? I know you said your friend had a bunch of book son the matter but I'd like  little first hoof experience.” Why not? Tending to plants seemed easy enough and was definitely harmless.

“I'd be happy to but...” She paused and looked down.

“But what?”

“We'd have to be careful... We'd both be out there at the same time and you can't use me as a disguise. Maybe... Maybe one of my friends could come over for a while and hide in the cottage while we were out there but they're often busy.” She shook her head. “And, well... While I do have those Michaelmas most of the flowers are dormant.”

“Oh... Yeah, I guess you're right.” He looked down sadly then shrugged. “I guess it could wait until I get my new look, if I get it. Until then the books will have to do.”

“Don't worry Shift. I'll see what I can't do about getting those books for you today though. The library is closed, but I am sure Twilight wouldn't mind if I asked.” Fluttershy gave him a reassuring smile which did cheer him up a bit.

“Alright, I'll try plants then.”