~2~ The Love of Parents

I listen, I listen so carefully and maticuously but not to my parental units, but to the hum that seemed to surround me no matter where I went. The hum told me that they were not of my own, that they are our food source, that we are above them... And yet the hum does not explain why this has to be so, the hum tells me orders, to do things that made me question why I would even do such an act.

For one I would listen to what these 'ponies' would tell me, in me I felt I should only listen to my Queen, but with this order I would listen to these ponies, when they taught me how to walk, how to speak, even to the bloody bathroom, these ponies fawned over me like their very life depended on it...

And... It felt good. It was so strange, the feeling seemed to have develop out of no where, I found myself following these two ponies named 'Mother' and 'Father', they were litterally my life support, one time I had questioned about my own parental units, where they may be and if they had cared for me as much as these ponies did... The hum was silent, I asked once more, 'they gave their love to give you life' and I could feel some of the changelings bow to those words, like they were ancient and well respected, I also felt the need to bow, It finally registered in my mind that my own parental units were no more. I gazed at the pony Mother and Father at this revelation, feeling a bit sad, I had to be honest I would be filled with deepest sorrows upon hearing the recall to my hive, so much that I nearly didn't want to go, I quickly banished that thought out of my head.

I stopped myself in that moment, has another hatchling thought of this? To never go back to the hive? The thought disgusted me, there was no way a changeling could survive all on their own in this realm, and to betray the hive like that was dishonorable at the very thought!

I had casted those thoughts out of my mind, I shouldn't dilly dally on such trivial thoughts.... Ew~ Those parental units are even infecting my lingo, even in my own thoughts. Looking up I saw that the two parental units were awaiting for me by the door, both looking so happy and cheerful to see me, I was just one of their hatchlings, but I'll play along as I ran to their side, smiling happily, you know, to win their favor I mean...

Mother and Father worked on a flower farm, not for the asthetic reasons but to be distributed to some business's as a main food source as well as perfume and other strange uses. They would usually rotate the different flowers but the ones that were most commonly used at the farm were Sunflowers for their sunflower seeds, Delphinium for medical uses that the unicorns process, Roses was the only one we used for asthetic usage, we even have some Cherry trees for when they bloom those pretty flowers as they gave off such a plesent scent, Lilacs are mainly used as an edible resource but were popular for asthetic reasons, and finaly Lavanders for their use of beauty products such as lotions, oils, and hair products.

I was a bit fasinated by the multiple properties that such a simple flower could have, I was looking at the vast fields of flowers, taking in the sweet scent and was rather enjoying the sight as the sun slowly lowered to the horizon when Mother and Father appeared by my side.

I was looking at a delphinium at random before looking towards them. "How does a pony question the use of anything? To find something so simple as a flower and change it into something else, how do they do that?" I ask them, curious

They smiled at this, Father messes up my hair as he sits next to me "Well, there is no certain way to explain how does one pony discover uses of anything, but I do believe that everything, and everpony has a range of uses. Even as small and insignificant as a Delphiniums petal can have healing properties, so no matter where you may be in life, I know you can find your own special talent and call a name to yourself" He smiles at me

I felt enlightened at that and I even felt Mother kiss the top of my head "And no matter what we will always believe in you, no matter what the task maybe" She smiles so sweetly at me.

How are they so full of... happiness? They work so hard everyday and most of the time they're tired but when ever they were around me they would conceiled that part of themselves as they showed their happiest faces to me. This puzzled me, what would drive a pony to do such a thing, to ignore their obvious stress in order to show that they are happy.

"Come on inside little one, supper is about ready" Mother states, guiding us back into the house.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want to miss out Mums cooking now do we sport?" Father smiles, giving me a small wink.

I beamed up at him "Okay Mom, Okay Dad"

The attic, the one place I was sure that mother and father hardly traversed in, and at occasions I would be there myself, it was one of the places I use to transform back into my changeling self and to let my wings out, granted I didn't use them much but it still felt nice. One day mother and father realize recent my absences as they notice I would hold myself in the attic, upon this revelation they took it upon themselves to spruce it up a bit, to make it a play place for me to hang out in.

Mother was dusting one part of the room as I was packing some things into boxes for father to take to the storage next to our house when I notice something glint in the back of the pile of random items. Climbing over the other stuff I tried to reach for it but as I did this I had my face rather close to a box that was practically covered in dust all over it, inhaling the dust my eyes began to water as my nose began to tickle.

"Ah~Ah~ Ah-choo" I sneezed, surprising me as I transformed into my changeling form, my eyes grew wide as I turned towards mother, she was still dusting as I quickly ignited my horn.

"Bless you darling, are you alright?" She asks as she turns towards me

I quickly grab what I was looking at as I had transformed back into Meadow Weaver

"I'm fine, totally fine, I-uh- just found this" I say showing the gold instrament in my hooves.

I look down at it "What is it?" I ask, sitting down as I inspected it further

"That there is a lyre" I heard father say as he walks up the steps steps

"A lyre?" I say abesently as I used my hoof to strum a few notes, it sounded soft and pretty.

Mother chuckles lightly at this "Yep, that belonged to your great mee-maw you know"

I look up at them "It sounds pretty" I say happily

They both smile at me as father wraps a hoof around mother "Well if you like it I suppose it wouldn't hurt anypony if you have it"

I jump up at this "Really? oh wow" I say jumping happily.

Mother places a kiss to my head as she went towards the stairway "Well I'm going to go prepare lunch alright?" She calls out

"Ok Mommy" I call back to her as I stare at the new instrament

Father follows behind her "I'll help you my Blossom"

I couldn't help but smile as I could feel the love radiate off of them as they headed down below, they were so happy, and I am too, I just... I wish it could last forever though...

I hissed as I felt a pinch on my hind leg, looking around I snuck into my room, being sure my parental units were off working I allowed myself a time of solace as I reverted back to my changeling form. Looking at my hind leg I was horrified to see another hole forming.

'You are not feeding enough' the hum hisses

I splayed my ears back 'but I already take so much' I hummed back to the drove.

'you wish to perish? it is obvious you do not feed enough for you are decaying away, now feed before our ranks lessen by one' and the hum quieted with that one order.

I sighed as I shifted back into Meadow Weaver, trotting down the steps to the main living quarters i peer out the upper hatch of the front door, trying to spot my parental units, which was easy seeing how they were just finishing up with their work and was heading in. Father looked up at the sky, sniffing the air for a moment before ushering mother into the warm home where I awaited for them.

"Looks like there's a storm heading our way, best we quickly prepare the farm for the coming rain" He states, reaching inside the home and grabbing a set of keys hanging on the key hooks.

"Oh you want me to help?" I ask while smiling brightly to them.

They smile back "No worries little filly, I think you're still a bit too young, we don't want you getting hurt ok" Father replies

"Oh," My ears splay back for just a second before popping back up "Okay, can I at least accompany you?" I then beemed

"Oh~" Mother cries out, picking me up in her hooves as she hugs me close to her "You're just the sweetest little thing, of course you can come, but be careful okay" She states with a wink.

I had leaned into the hug, it was so warm and comforting, I had found enjoyment in this hug in just in the act in itself and what was held behind it. So much love, I couldn't help it, my horn lit up ever so faintly as I lightly took from the hug more than what it was intended for, Mother grew slightly more weak before I pulled away.

"Okay Mommy, I promise to be extra careful" I proclaim.

Mother shook her head ever so slightly before smiling down at me "Alright, shall we be off?" She asks

"Yeah!" I exclaim merrily

Father chuckles at this as he guides us to our shed where our many tarps lay. Father grabbed a rather long tarp with his teeth as he began to drag it out of the shed, Mother helped him as she places the tarp on her back midway through the tarp. Spotting the tarp at the other end drooping to drag on the ground I used my head to lift it up, grinning as I did so.

They saw me do this and instead of insisting me to stand asside they decide to let me have the moment as I tried to provide little assistance. We came across the field of delphiniums, the scent they wafted smelled delightful as I breathed in the scent. Mothers horn ignites as the tarp unraveled from our hold, spreading wide as they began to cover the delicate flowers. Father made his way to one end of the field as he grabs onto one ledge as Mother grabs the opposite end. Mother's magic ended alot more sooner than usual but Father didn't mind as he catches the tarp before it could land on the flowers roughly.

Mothers magic wasn't strong but it was enough to do some tasks at hoof as Father would be right there to help her through it all. They struggled for a moment as they tried to keep the tarp up as they tried to suspend the mid-center of the tarp with wooden sticks. I grabbed onto a stick from its little pile as I handed it to Mother who in return greatfully takes it into her magical hold.

"Thank you sweetie" She smiles down at me.

I beamed back at her as we continued with the daily chore, Father made sure that the tarp was nailed down properly before we moved onto the next set of crops. I weaved between the bushels of Lilacs that seperated the different sorts of crops until I tripped over a random twig out of nowhere.

"Oof" Falling I landed next to the bush when a branch falls free from its hold and landing on my head.

"You alright hun?" Father asks, helping me up.

I blew a strand of hair out of my face "Yeah I'm fine" I then noticed the twig on my head, grabbing it I inspected it, it was a small branch from the lilac that held the pretty purple flowers at the end of it.

Smiling I trotted up to Mother "I think my little trip wanted to tell me this was for you" I grinned at her.

Taking the flower she smiles softly at me "Aren't you just the cutest" She whispers, planting a kiss to my forehead.

I squeeled delightfully at this as I continued down the pathway towards the other crops with my parental units just behind me.

"You know all flowers have meanings behind them?" Father states non challantly

"Meanings? Aren't they just flowers?" I ask, tilting my head as I peered at the plants.

He chuckles at this "Yes but with each plant there may be a hidden meaning behind them, kind of like how ponies have their cutie marks, Plants have their own special meaning" He explains to me

"Oh really? Then what does the Lilacs say?" I ask, ever so curious.

He looks over at Mother with a soft smile "It means 'First Love'" He answers

I blink at this "First Love? Like How we love each other?" I ask

My ear flicked as Mother laughs lightly "Not really, the love we share is our own unique love" She informs me

"Then what does this 'First Love' refer to?" I ask looking up at them

"Your first love is something you have, that you want to hold on to, its something that you share with a special somepony you may find in your life, and that love is like no other for it is the first" he then looks at mother with a smile that was kind and knowing as she returns the loving gaze. I felt the love between them that was just for the two of them, so this is first love? I stared at the invisible bond between the two and felt such strong emotions behind it. And it was beautiful.

"When can I experience this 'first love'?" I ask them innocently

They both look at one another before chuckling to themselves when they both nuzzled my face.

"When you meet that special somepony" They whispered

"A special somepony huh?" I stated simply "When can I meet that special somepony?" I continue to question

"Who knows, perhaps tomorrow" Mother jokes when she felt Father nudge her side with his own body, she laughs at this.

"Or maybe in a lot of years to come" he states before grabbing me and holding me tight "Oh I don't want to give my baby up to anypony" He grins at me

Mother wraps her own hooves around me "Unless its me of course" She grins at this for which I squeel in delight at the cozy attention.

Mother and Father nuzzled each other before planting a kiss on my head as we continued on to the farm work.

Will I be able to find my own Special Somepony some day? I hope so, the love between them felt so alive, so enlightning and, well, was like nothing else mattered in the world but their very own love. I looked up at the sky with a smile on my face, yeah, I can't wait to find my special somepony.

The storm raged on, I squirmed in my bed as I felt that pain once more, I, I had to feed. Getting up I tip hoofed into my parents quarters, pushing the door open with my nose I peered into see Mother and Father sleeping peacefully.

"Mommy... Daddy" I call out to them

They stirred as I pushed the door a tad more, the noticed this as they finally opened their eyes, peering over at me.

"Oh what is it sweetie? You have a bad dream?" Mother calls out.

I rubbed my hoof in hesitation "I couldn't sleep" a bright light hit the room and the crackle of thunder followed suit, in that instant my eyes flashed green but it was gone before any pony could notice.

Mother soon scoots over, patting the middle of the bed "Come child, you can sleep with us" She smiles at me

I trotted over to them, burying my head under the covers as I crawled up the bed, popping my head up from the covers I felt both Mother's and Father's hooves rest on me in a warm embrace.

I nuzzled them as I rested in between them, feeling their warmth my ears rung in delight as they bid me good night.

"Good night our little Meadow Weaver" Father whispers softly

"We love you with all our heart" Mother says as she drifted off to sleep.

I watched them as they drifted to sleep "I love you too Mom, Dad"

'I'm sorry' a small voice in the back of my head rang.

My horn lit up as it began to weave in the air, connecting to mothers own horn and to my fathers forehead. I began to seep that life giving love, love that I fed from them, 'keep feeding, feed until you are filled to your hearts content' the hum buzzed to me.

And I followed that order, I kept on taking, and taking, it was so fulfilling, the love they bore made me feel so whole again, I closed my eyes as I lost myself in their endless stream of love and I could feel the holes that scattered my limbs began to fill ever so slightly the more I drank from their love. Thank you for loving me...

Author's Note

Okie Dokie Lokie , I wanted to put more effort into this but my siblings didn't want to proof read this for me but oh well~ I tried proof-reading it myself (honestly I am bad with grammar or whatever the heck that is) so have fun with that ;3
I wish I could elaborate more in this chapter with the warmth that these two ponies for our little changeling Lyra but I kinda sped wrote this as I'm quite excited to get the story progressing so I hope you hang on for the ride because I'm going to try my best to put out chapters for ya ;3
(I apologize in advance should I be gone for an extended amount of time between each chapter as some are still yet to be written and real life is a total ditch, so totes sorry~)
Love you all~~
Alizilith