The day was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining warmly down on the citizens of Ponyville, at least those who were out and about doing various errands or jobs, or visiting with friends. Some had been to the main street marketplace, where a few locals set up stands to sell things such as vegetables or fruits.

Such was the case with Raspberry. She had just sold out all her fruit and was happily humming to herself as she placed empty boxes in her cart and busily took down her stand. She smiled and nodded at passing ponies, even verbally greeting a few, but mostly was lost in the beauty of the world around her. She was listening to the birds, enjoying their harmonic melodies as they drifted across the gentle breeze. Flowers planted along walkways were touched by that breeze and waved slowly in a graceful dance that seemed to perfectly match the timed notes of nature's song. So enchanted was she by these things, she no longer noticed the ponies around her, as she started to sing along to the tune the birds were carrying.

A noticeably reformed changeling made his way to the market, in search of something delicious, smells of fruit and vegetables wafting into his nostrils. Liuv inhaled deeply. Yes, a changeling's sustenance technically consisted of love, but Liuv enjoyed normal foods just as any other creature would. He was very new to the little community of Ponyville, and had spent the past two days sequestered in his new house, preparing for the arrival of his belongings. He had ventured forth only when he realised he was hungry. He rarely fed on the ponies' love now, only catching small bits of it now and then from crowds of them.

He had decided on fruit, and his eyes lit on a sign still standing tall over a fruit stand on the edge of the main street. "Raspberry's Fruit Stand". Raspberry. The sound of it recalled many memories to his mind, and he gave a wistful and fond sigh. It was then the sweet musical notes of a gentle voice reached his ears, and he perked up, listening. That voice...it sounded so familiar. His eyes landed on the pony in front of the stand, who was apparently taking it down, and who was obviously the source of the singing he was hearing. Her back was slightly to him, so he could not see her face, but still..that voice… He couldn't help it, he had to know. He moved closer for a better view, looking at the cutie mark on her flank, and his heart nearly stopped.

Raspberry.

It was her. No other pony could have that cutie mark. He stood still, unable to move, his jaw slightly dropped in overwhelmed shock. Raspberry chose that moment to turn fully around, and caught the shocked stare of the changeling. She smiled slightly, politely, and would have turned away again, except for one thing. He spoke.

"R-Raspberry…?"

The name was hesitantly spoken, and not very loudly, but it reached her ears, and her smile faltered slightly as she looked at him. Really looked at him. His voice...but it couldn't be...could it really be…? Memories rushed into Raspberry's mind and she fought to process what she was seeing.

"L-Liuv…?

Time seemed to freeze as they stood there, staring at each other in shocked silence, unable to move or think or speak. It was Raspberry who broke first.

"LIUV!!"

Her happy cry rang clearly, and loosened him from his trance. He ran to her, catching her in his forelegs and hugging her extremely tightly. She reciprocated, wrapping her forelegs around his neck and hugging so tightly he was at risk of asphyxiation. But he didn't care.

"Liuv! It is you! It really is you! I can't believe it!"

"A-and it's really you, Raspberry!"

Liuv was beside himself with joy, hugging her as closely as possible, trying to talk and stumbling over his words in his excitement and happiness. Raspberry for her part gave a loud squeal of delight as she hugged him back fiercely.

"Liuv! I missed you!" She had tears of joy in her eyes as she hugged even tighter, not at all willing to ever let go again. "I can't believe it...I can't believe its really you!"

She'd dreamed about seeing him again someday. And here he was. She relished the sweetness of the moment, wrapped in his embrace, hugging him as hard as he was her, neither wanting to stop. She finally did pull back enough to look him in the eyes and smile the widest smile possible.

"I am so happy to see you. You don't know how happy...I can't believe this...you're real, and here, and..." she gave up as her tears choked her, hugging him again.

Liuv had a hard time realizing it at first, but he too was having difficulty seeing, and it took him a minute to realize it was in fact his own tears streaming down his cheeks with happiness. An odd sensation but a quite welcome one at that...though not as welcoming as Raspberry's voice and embrace, even if they were getting some odd glances from a few other ponies in the crowd.

"I-I-I never thought I would see you again...I-I thought I would be stuck in Griffonia o-or you'd be else where o-or maybe you had forgotten about me...most ponies do anyway... Words...s-simply cannot be overstated how much I have missed you! I-I still remembered you after all this time!"

"I could never forget about you, ever." Raspberry smiled at him. "You've been in my thoughts always. You've no idea how I've hoped and wished for you to come back. For the chance to see you again."

She noticed his tears and reached out to brush them off with a hoof for him. This whole thing seemed to her to be surreal. Like a dream. If it was, she hoped she never woke up. He had grown up with her. He had been there all through her young life. Her best friend, closest confidant. The one who'd grown up as a brother to her under her parents' roof. She'd missed him terribly.

Liuv admittedly was a bit over-excited, though at least he felt better knowing she was just as excited to see him as he was, and it warmed his heart knowing that she had not forgotten him just like he had not forgotten her. The changeling was so giddy with excitement and happiness he couldn't help but bounce a little bit while hugging her, his wings occasionally flapping a little bit. Who knew how long it was before he finally got it in him to try and clear his own eyes from tears so he could actually look at Raspberry's beauty and, while he was at it, wipe away some of her tears too.

"P-Please do not cry, it just makes me want to hug you more." he said, nuzzling her head, remembering their old foal hood days and when they would hug.

She didn't hesitate to nuzzle him back, it felt like old times. "I won't cry." She said softly. "I 'm just...really happy to see you. Its been a long time now." She smiled. "You have changed. You're taller now." This observation was given with a quiet giggle.

She hugged him further, then looked in his eyes. "I'm just really glad you're here..."

"Hehehe. Well s-so are you, you have also grown, even though i'm taller....actually yeah..i am taller than you now...sooooo does that make me the big brother now?" He asked, chuckling a little bit... a small attempt to lighten the mood between them. "In either case, I am also glad you are here. I missed just....hearing your voice and seeing you everyday...just letting me know that...I-I had somepony to strive for...to see again...m-my family.."

She chuckled. "I guess maybe you are taller...and yeah. We all missed you. Including and especially mom and Dad..." she hugged him tighter. "But now you're here, safe and sound, and I am really glad!"

"I bet I'm more glad than you are!" He said, his voice changing a little bit, a tone he hadn't had in years, never having found a proper challenge like his sister Raspberry always could. No matter what it was, it could have just been over what flavor of ice cream was better. Raspberry giggled and a mischievous look entered her eyes.

"Hey, Liuv? Do you like pineapple yet?"

She giggled again, remembering multiple foalhood arguments about it. She was curious if he disliked it still.

"Pfft! You know....after all the time I've spent out there, the places I've traveled, the ponies I've met, the lands I've crossed, the Griffons, Yaks, Ponies, and even dragons on few occasions, I can say- yes, I still think pineapples on pizza is disgusting, and you should feel bad for liking it!"

Like he would EVER consider that a good idea no matter who or in what nation he was in. She couldn't help but laugh. The longstanding feud between them over this hadn't changed a bit.

"Y'know, if you'd just try it..." she teased, knowing it was pointless. She grinned at him. "Fine. If we eat pizza anytime soon...no pineapple on yours."

"I...actually..that doesn't sound like such a bad idea, in fact, i-if you're not busy, I'd actually like for us to maybe catch up. I'll even buy us pizza! And yes, I will buy you that pineapple...blehk" He feigned vomiting on the spot.

She laughed at his antics. "You haven't changed a bit." She teased. "And word of warning: I will continue to try. I will drive you crazy with this." She had a spark of mischief in her eyes. "And yes...catching up sounds wonderful."

The Changeling could already feel himself wanting to start jumping up and down again with happiness that she was coming along with him, though rather than do that again he let out a small squee of excitement, then looked embarrassed about it for a few seconds.

"You....didn't hear that. A-Anyway, where would you like to go or where could we find pizza? I've only just moved into town about..two days ago? I still don't even have furniture. This is actually my first time actually walking around through the town proper."

She chuckled. "Well, actually, yes. There's a diner and they have really good pizza. And don't worry. I'll show you around. It's a really nice town and you'll soon meet everypony. Though actually...your presence here should already be well known. Hm. Pinkie Pie must not have said anything." She giggled. "I hope you like surprise parties."

"Surprise parties? I haven't had those in a long time. Plus I kinda doubt it'd really be THAT surprising. I can sense emotions too you know. Nope, can't nothing surprise me.....except well, you sometimes, but I have been training, and you aren't going to get the drop on me anymore,especially with those ninja hugs of yours."

Liuv spoke with a fully confident grin on his face as he walked next to the mare, remembering all those times as a young nymph he, despite all his preparations, would never ever see Raspberry's hugs coming. She was a Master at it, but he doubted she had gotten any better than back then.

She snickered. "Have you seriously been training to avoid being surprised by my hugs? Hate to tell you this, but I'm really good at the sneak hugging thing still."

She kept in step with him as they walked, and it felt like old times when they'd be inseparable, matching each other step for step or word for word. Like twins almost.

"So. I like Pineapple pizza still. And last time I recall you liked, anything without pineapple. I think they have cheese and pepperoni. Vegetables too."

She suddenly giggled, wondering how it would end if she sneaked pineapple onto his pizza...except he'd never fallen for it before, so chances are he still wouldn't.

"Oh YES please!" Liuv sprang on with a new joy to his step more then even after he found his sister again. "And also I said I'd eat anything that was not pineapple in any regard, though vegetables on pizza is still really disgusting. But it's not as bad as pineapple, I just love cheese.."

The changeling licked his lips just thinking about cheese if all types he had gotten to taste over his time away.

"You're missing out on the variety of cheese out there and before you say it, yes I am now a licensed nerd about cheese. Feel free to be jealous, little sis, I wouldn't judge you." He said snickering.

Raspberry giggled. "Who's jealous? I'm not jealous. You know your cheeses and that's great. I don't remember you being the nerd type though. And what's wrong with vegetables on pizza?? It's delicious!"

She shook her head, unable to believe what she'd heard. Who didn't like veggies on pizza?? She grinned. "Just another thing to torment you over then..."

"Ohohohoho! I don't think you'd want to do that anymore, little sis, for i have now a secret weapon of mine, one that could trifle all of which you throw at me and i know i will win."

The Changeling seemed pretty confident with those words, he had after all been upping his game, for if the day came they were to ever meet again, he would be well prepared to counter her with his own arsenal of attacks this time rather than remaining in defense.

She laughed. "You seem amazingly confident there, Liuv. But I can torment you, and will. And you can't stop me." She deliberately sidestepped a little so she ran into him as they walked. "Haha."

She was feeling really happy, and very playful. She'd always loved teasing him. Now was no different. And she knew, for all his outbursts and bluster, he actually enjoyed being picked on by her...all screaming and protests to the contrary aside.

"Oh really? Do I hear a bet on that one, sister?"

The changeling asked this teasingly, getting into her face slightly and then even retaliating against her by swaying his rump into her side, attempting just to add a little bit more to show he had gotten a bit stronger... unlike before where it took nearly all this strength to knock her over.

"Maybe you do, brother." Her grin was so mischievous as to be concerning. "Maybe you just do."

Author's Note

So my friend and I actually started this as a roleplay on Discord...

Then I thought,"Story form. Hm."

So I asked my friend and got his ok and cooperation. And here you have it!