Tenacious Love

by Music Brush

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Slice of Life
Length: 8689

A pegasus mare discovers a changeling and takes her in. Later the two fall in love with each other and face total hardship from the rest of the world as they tryto make things work.

A young pegasus mare named Bubblecut is sent by Princess Luna to search for changelings after the attack on Canterlot Castle. In her search, she finds a single changeling wounded and weak from the attack and took this changeling to keep a close eye on her and eventually, the two fall in love.

What will they do when her friends and family learn about her new found love?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-02 07:47:41 UTC

Ch. 1: Unfulfilled Orders

Tenacious Love

By Music Brush, assisted by Mechafone.

CHAPTER ONE:

UNFULFILLED ORDERS

   The bright rays of Celestia's morning sun crept onto Bubblecut's sleeping face through her bedroom window. The light shined off her white coat and pink mane. She blinked her eyes open and gave a big yawn as she stretched her wings out from under her blanket, then slid off her bed to stretch out her legs.

   After she was done stretching she reached over and turned on the stereo to listen to classic music, in wich her favourite musician, Octavia, played. The sound of the orchestra filled the room, she gently bounced her head to the beet of the music as she trotted torward the bathroom at the end of the room. She turned on the worm water then she hopped in and began to wash herself clean. She gingerly washed the cut over her left eye, taking care not to open the fresh wound.

   She sat under the running watter for a few minutes after she was done washing up before she shut off the watter then hopped out of the shower and grabbed a towel to dry off. As she dried herself off with the towel she trotted over to the kitchen, got a pan from the pantry, a bag of flower and began setting up things to cook breakfast when there came a knock from the front door.

   "Just a minute!" She called as she put down the pan on the stove and trotted toward the front door, she opened the door and found two of Princess Luna's dark guards standing at attention at her front door.

   "Lieutenant Bubblecut!" One said as they both saluted.

   "At ease, gents." She replied, they lowered their hooves while keeping themselves up straight. "What brings you here?"

   "Lieutenate, we know you are on a break," the second said, "but, Princess Luna has oders for you to carry out, immediately." Bubblecut blinked, Luna always allowed her to relax when she was away from the Defenders, unless it was something important.

   "What is it?" She asked.

   "There has been an attack on the castle in the last few days by changlings, lieutenant." The first explained. "The princess has sent the Defenders out to find any remaining changelings that have been scatterd throughout Equestria. She asked for you to search for any changelings that may be hiding in the immediate area and eliminate them if necessary."

    Bubblecut did not live in a town or city, she lived in a nice house along the road between Ponyville and Canterlot. The Everfree Forest was across the road a good mile away from her house, allowing her a quick, yet dangerous, pathway to Canterlot or Ponyville if she ever needed to get to any of the towns.

   "I'll get Wild Animal and begin searching at once." Bubblecut stated with a stern look on her face. Wild Animal was her closest friend she knew since foalhood. He was a bit... wild... like an animal, so he was called Wild Animal.

   The guards saluted her again. "Princess Luna requests you report your findings when you've finished." She nodded once, then the guards flew off back towards Canterlot. She closed the door and turned around to lean her back against it with a deep sigh.

Oh gods. She thought to herself. I was hoping I would be able to go out and maby find a special somepony. She had been thinking about finding somepony to call her own, even though she was quite young and still had her whole life ahead of her. But, being a member of Princess Luna's Defenders made her search for a normal life close to impossible because of the many dangerous missions that came with being a member of a secret police force.

   Wild was her closest friend, but that was it, she felt no strong emotion for him. Come to think of it, every stallion she met so far never truely appealed to her. She shrugged it off, she probably just had not met the right guy yet. Besides, she was just given an order from the princess, finding somepony to love will have to wait. She trotted off to her room, threw the towel in the hamper by the door, shut off the stereo by her bed and continued to the closet.

   She moved aside a line of hanging cloths to show a small door with a padlock keeping the door closed. She reached up and began turning the dials to the right numbers to unlock the pad. She opened the door and pulled out a box then she opened it to find a pair of wing blades resting in the cushion, her reflection shining on the polished metal. She removed the blades from their place in the box and fastened them on her wings.

   She put the box back in its place, closed the door then turned and ran out of the room through the house and out the front door, keeping her wings folded at her sides to avoid damaging anything. When she was out of the house, she splayed her wings and took off towards the Everfree. First Stop, Wild's hut. Wild's hut was just outside the forest, giving him immediate access to the Everfree. It was quite large and spacious, just the way he liked it.

   She landed in front of the hut and trotted up to the front door where she found a note that was nailed in place. Don't tell me you're not home. She thought as she approached and read the note that was left for her.

Bubblecut

   First off, how are ya? Good? Well, alraight then.

   Secondly, I'm not home right now, I'm out hunting with Sharpwood and I won't be back until after lunch.

   Yummey!

Best of health to ya, my friend.

   The note was stamped with a small picture of a stallion head with a silly grin on his face.

Great. She thought. He's out with his pet. Bubblecut shook her head at this, she had no idea how a pony could have a pet like Sharpwood, but somehow Wild did. This is just great, I have orders from the princess to search for changelings and the most likely place for them to be hiding is in the forest. I shouldn't go out there alone. She walked away from the hut to face the forest. But, I may have no choice. She took off towards the forest to begin her search without help.

   She searched through the thick forest for activity that was not an animal calling for its mate. The only time she used her blades were when a few forest animals came to attack her and she avoided any confrontation with the bigger, more vicious creatures like ursas. She made her way around a large tree while on the ground and saw something crawling in the dirt. It was not an animal, it was black and scale-like. She slowly crept closer to this creature, wing blades held at the ready. As she got closer the creature looked up at her, it resembled a pony with a bent horn, insectyle wings and holes in its legs.

A changeling! She thought to herself as she raised her wings to strike at the monster, but stopped short when the changelings head dropped to the ground. Bubblecut now saw that this changeling was hurt, badly. It had bruises all over its body, a few bloodstained spots visible on its black shell and it looked tired and drained as though it had some kind of spell that drained the energy from your body.

   The changeling looked up to Bubblecut again weakly, a pleading look in its eyes. Bubblecut raised her wings again threateningly, she had to kill this monster, changelings were vicious creatures that stole love from everypony. But, she did not have to kill it because it was hurt, weak and defenseless to any thing that came for it. She could not kill something that could not defend inself if attacked. She would never forgive herself.

   The changelings head fell to the ground again after a minute and Bubblecut slowly approached it, her wings still splayed and ready to strike. This could be a trick, but until she was sure she was not just going to kill something like this. She got up to the changeling, who was completely outcold, and after a minute she decided on what to do. She crouched down, eased the creature onto her back then flew back towards the end of the forest where her home was.

   She flew out of the tree line over Wild's hut and straight for her house, the changeling sleeped through the whole trip. Bubblecut landed at the front door of her house, opened the door and eased her way in with the changeling still on her back. She trotted through the living room into a hallway and into the second door on the right at the end of the hall. In the room was one bed and one lamp on a stand in the far corner. She carried the changeling to the bed and gently layed it down then reached over and turned the lamp on to better see the creature.

What the hell am I doing here?" She asked herself. The changeling stirred a little, moaning something inaudible, then went silent again. Bubblecut looked over the changeling's form, noting that it was verry bruised and cut up all over. Bubblecut sighed and got up and trotted out of the room to the bathroom on the other side of the hall. She grabbed a few firstaid items and returned to the changeling and began tending to its wounds.

Ch. 2: Now What?

CHAPTER TWO:

NOW WHAT?

   In a room with no window, a single lamp, one bed and one door the changeling woke up with a weak groan. She felt a little stronger for some reason, but she was still to weak to be able to do anything. She lifted her head up from the pillow, a sharp pain in her side from colliding with a tree after beeing blasted out of Canterlot with that spell Princess Cadence and her fianceé casted.

   The sound of locks came from the other side of the door. After a few clicks and knocks the door opened to reviel a white pegasus mare with pink mane and tail coming in with a tray topped with a plate and cup. She had blades fastened on her wings that she splayed threateningly as she approached the changeling. She set the tray down in front of the changeling, who looked down at it for a minute. On the plate was a small stack of pancakes and the cup was filled with what must have been orange juice.

   "Don't try anything, changeling." The mare said. The changeling looked up at the mare weakly. "You try anything other then what I permit you to do, and you'll be dead before you can change."

   "You do know what I am, right girlfriend?" The changeling asked weakly. The mare blinked at the sound of the changelings voice, it was definitely female and surprisingly gentle and sweet for what she was.

   "Yes, I know what you are." The mare replied.

   "Then you'll know that this..." she gestured to the plate with a shaking hoof, "...won't do me much any good."

   "If you don't want it, I can always take it back." The mare countered.

   "No, I love pancakes..." The changeling said. She slowly pulled the tray toward her, she picked up the fork next to the plate and began digging away at the pancakes. The mare watched as the creature devouered the contents of the plate, then drank the orange juice.

   After the plate was cleaned and the cup was emptied the mare took the tray and began to back away from the changeling to the door.

   "Hey!" The changeling called. The mare stopped in her tracks, staring suspiciously at her. "What's your name?" The pony blinked at the changeling. Why would a creature like her be interested in the name of a pony unless she wanted to seduece her? "I just wanna know the name of the pony who still treeted me nicely even though you're holding me prisoner."

   The mare said nothing, she just backed out of the room and closed the door, the locks clicked a few times and then there was silence. The changeling smiled weakly as she layed her head back down on her pillow, her thoughts trailed to a name she realy liked she had came across a few years ago when she was feeding off a stallion, Tenacity.

~~~

   Bubblecut heaved a sigh as she turned her head to the ceiling, her thought swirling all around what she was doing. Am I doing the right thing here? She asked herself. She carried the tray of empty dishes down the hall into the kitchen and placed them in the sink with the ban she used to cook the pancakes and began to wash them. Bubblecut finnished cleaning the dishes and put them away, then she trotted away toward her room and collapsed on her bead face first in her pillow, forgetting she still had her wingblades on.

What the hell am I doing here? She asked herself. Okay, let's recap, I was given orders from Princess Luna to find changelings. I go to get Wild to help and he's out hunting with his pet so I go alone. I find one changeling and I bring it home and it turns out this one's a she and she doesn't seem like any other changeling I've ever faced. Have I missed anything? No? Okay. She sat up in her spot and rolled her eyes up at the heavens. Great! Now I'm thinking like Wild.

   As though on cue, a knock came from the front door. Bubblecut let out a long sigh, she unfastened her wing blades, hopped off her bed and stopped at the doorframe to wait. After a minute the knock came again.

   "Bubblecut, it's Wild. Are ya gunna open up, or... do I need to get Sharpy?" She definitely did not Wild's pet to get involved in this, there was no telling what that animal would do. She trotted toward the front door and opened it, a green unicorn with a bright blue unbuttoned vest stood at the door. His was head tilted to the side, his teeth bare in a dumb grin and his yellow mane was very well stylized. "Well, alright then." He said, his head shaking left and right with his words.

   "Hey Wild." She said.

  "Hello my fellow equine friend! And just how are you today, beauty of a pony?" He asked. She blushed at his compliment. "Well, alright then! And you've cooked pancakes this morning. Yummey!"

   "Wild this realy isn't the best time to..."

   "You mean because of the fact you have a prisoner locked in one of your spare rooms?" He stated while turning his head to a random direction.

   She blinked. She opened her mouth to ask him 'how did you know' before he interrupted her. "How long have you known me?" He asked to counter her unspoken question. He had a point, Wild Animal was the most unpredictable pony she had ever met and somehow he knew things that seemed imposible.

   "Get your flank in this house, Animal." She ordered, he did so with a 'well, alright then' and trotted inside. Bubblecut closed the door and, even though they did not live in a populated area, locked the door behind her, then she turned to face her friend with a soft glare. "What do you know?" He raised his brows as if he missed the question.

   "Oh right. The prisoner." He said, his head bouncing with his words. "Only the fact that she's a changeling." He turned his head away as he spoke then focused just his eyes at her. "Do you like her?" She blinked.

   "What?" She replied.

   "Oh, nothing." He raised his hooves up. "It's just the fact that, assuming she's weak from the magic spell that drove them away from the castle, you had the perfect opportunity to just kill her then and there, yet you bring her to you home as your prisoner. Is it because you like her?"

   "No!" She replied. "You know me, she's badly hurt and I couldn't in good conscience just kill her like that. So I brought her here."

   "And you tended to her wounds and fed her breakfast, but you do know she can't servive if she doesn't feed on love, right?" She looked away then nodded faintly. "So, unless you have love to give to her in some level she's going t..."

   "I know!" She barked.

   "So, you're killing her anyway?" He asked.

   "What else am I gonna do?" She asked.

   "Oh, you can do a number of things. Let her go, fall in love to feed her..."

   "Okay, shut up, Animal." She interrupted. "I can't just let her go." Wild walked up and placed both hooves on her shoulders, she looked up at him, a pleading look in her eyes.

   "You'll figure something out. You always do, and that's why you're named 'lieutenant'. And, no matter what you decide, I'll be by your side, is that clear?" Before she had a change to respond, he spoke, "well, alright then," and with that he turned and trotted off toward the door.

   "I don't have to ask if your lips are sealed in this matter, do I?" She asked. He turned his head back, raised his hoof to his limps and motioned his hoof acrossed his lips as though zipping his mouth closed, then trotted off. She sighed. even though he was an unpredictable pony, he was the most trustworthy friend she had. She knew he would not tell anypony about the changeling in her house.

   He unlocked the door then trotted out, humming to himself as he bounced toward the Everfree where his home was. She watched him as his bright colors shrinked into the distance until he was out of sight then she closed the door and walked back to her room. She let herself collapse on her bed then after a minute she reached up and flipped on the stereo to listen to a solo played by Octavia. As she listened to the music she sighed and buried her face in her hooves and she through her head back, letting out a heavy moan. "Now What?"

Ch. 3: Friends

CHAPTER THREE:

FRIENDS

   For the next few days, Bubblecut brought three meals a day in for the changeling, every time the changeling would ask her what her name was, and every time Bubblecut would not give it. Today, however, was going to be different, today Bubblecut was going ask why the changeling is so determined to know her name.

   She finished setting up the tray with a glass of orange juice then she took the tray and started trotting to the room where her prisoner was. The door was fitted with three different locks along the frame keeping it shut. She set the tray down on a stand she had placed by the door the first day she brought the changeling to her house and reached up to unlock the locks. She opened the door as she picked up the tray, the changeling sat up on her bed and looked up with a weak smile. She looked a little less drained then she did the first day she was here, but still looked weak.

   "Hey, girlfriend." She chirped. "Still didn't get your name?" Bubblecut set the tray down in front of the changeling, who began eating the pancakes on the plate.

   "Y'know." Bubblecut said. "...you've been asking me what my name is for the last three days. Why are you so determined to know who I am?"

   "I'm just trying to be friends, sweetheart." She said after swallowing a mouthful.

   "Don't call me that." Bubblecut ordered. The changeling backed away with her hooves in the air.

   "Okay, okay I won't call ya sweetheart," she said. "...but I am gonna to call ya something until I learn your name." Bubblecut looked at the changeling for a minute as she resumed her eating. The changeling looked back up after a mouthfull. "Hey, you don't have your wing blades on this mornin'." She observed. "What, ya trust me a little more, girlfriend?" Bubblecut looked back at her wings, both were relaxed at her sides without the blades fastened onto them.

   "I suppose I do think of you less of a threat right now." Bubblecut said as she turned her gaze back to the changeling.

   "But ya don't think you can trusted me with your name?" She asked. Bubblecut rolled her eyes to the heavens. This changeling was not like any other changeling she had ever met before, she was trying to be friendly without using her powers of shapeshifting where as otheres tried to cause harm or trick her by appearing as Wild. She shook her head with a smile on her face.

   "My name is Bubblecut." She said. The changeling nodded once.

   "Okay Bubbles." She said, then resumed her eating.

   "Bubbles?" Bubblecut asked. The changeling nodded in response as she finished the pancakes. "I don't think I like that."

   "What, am I suppose to call ya, Bubs? Or Cut?" The changeling asked. "Realy, Bubbles works, girlfriend." Bubblecut smiled faintly, then caught herself before the changeling noticed.

   "So..." Bubblecut started. "...do you have a name?" She changeling smiled as she sat up on her haunches.

   "Wait, you wanna know if I have a name?" She asked sarcastically.

   "Well... yeah." Bubblecut replied.

   "You wanna know if your prisoner, a changeling, has a name?" She said, pointing a hoof at herself and Bubblecut as she spoke.

   "Okay, I'm just going to stop feeding you then." Bubblecut stated as she picked up the tray with the plate and glass and began to trott out of the room.

   "Hey Bubbles, I was just having some fun." She said raising a hoof. Bubblecut stopped at the door and looked back. "Changelings don't have names, realy." Bubblecut turned to face the changeling fully, a look of confusion on her face. "I'm serious, the only changelings who have names are the royal family and a few high rankers."

   "So, you're just a simple changeling?" Bubblecut asked. "Nothing major?"

   "Hey, if Chrysalis held me in high regard I wouldn't be trying to be a friend to you." She stated.

   "So, should I make up a name for you?" Bubblecut asked.

   "Actually, you can call me Tenacity." She replied. "That's a name I came across when I was with a pony a few years ago."

   "Tenacity?" Bubblecut asked. "I hope you don't expect me to call you Teny or anything like that."

   "Only if you want to, girlfriend." Tenacity said, she seemed to be getting a little better as they talked. Bubblecut just shook her head and closed the door behind her as she walked out, she set the tray down and locked only one of the locks this time. "Catch ya later Bubbles!" Came Tenacity's voice.

   Bubblecut sat there for a few minutes, her thoughts locked on Tenacity. Tenacity. She thought. She actually seems nice. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and trotted toward the kitchen with the tray. She washed the dishes clean and put them away, then trotted off toward the front door and outside.

   "Y'know you've been at this for three days now." Bubblecut jumped and whirled around to find Wild standing on his hind hooves with one forehoof on his hip while the other supported his weight against the house.

   "Wild Animal! Don't scare me like that!" Bubblecut snapped.

   "How long to you plane on playing this game?" He asked with a bob of his head.

   "What game?" She asked.

   "You know... perfectly well what I'm talking about." He said, emphasising 'perfectly' with a shake of his head as he locked his jaw open.

   "I know you're not suggesting I let her go again." She said. He placed all fours on the ground and looked off toward the distance.

   "You could say that." He said.

   "I'm not going to be made the enemy here Animal!" She barked. "If I let her go, there's no telling what she'll do out there."

   "Now, did I ever say let her out in the open?" He asked, turning his head to face her. She opened her mouth to speek up, but was cut off by the stallion's hoof. "I simply said, you could say I was suggesting you let her go, that never ment you had to turn her loose on Equestria. Besides, I don't think she'll want to leave now after what you've done."

   "What have I done?" She asked. Wild did not answere, he just turned away and began trotting off toward his hut by the forest. "Wild, what have I done?" He stopped and turned his head, his teeth bare in his silly grin.

   "You figure out what I already know." He turned, then skipped off toward the forest.

   Tenacity was laying on her back staring at the ceiling of her room, smiling at the energy she just gained. Bubblecut, even if she would not admit it, had opened up to her enough for her to syphon some energy from her. It was not love, but it was enough to keep her alive for a little while.

   Tenacity's attention was turned to the door as the sound of the lock filled the room and the door slowly crept open. "You can come out if you want. Just don't try to leave the house." Tenacity got to her hooves and slowly walked toward the door, she saw Bubblecut standing a few feet from the door watching as she came out.

   "So, does this mean you want to be friends?" Tenacity asked.

   "I'm just giving you a little bit of a leash here." Bubblecut answered. "You're free to go anywhere in the house but outside."

   "Aww, we're not friends?" Tenacity pouted.

   "Stop trying to flirt with me or you're going back in your room." Bubblecut said.

   "Relax, Bubbles, I'm just having fun. Y'know how boring it is to be locked up in the same place all day, only to be let out for bathroom use?"

   "Do you wantto be locked up again?" Bubblecut asked.

   "No, I just want to be friends." Tenacity replied. Bubblecut looked at her for a minute. Was there any harm in calling her a friend as long as she behaved?

   "Okay, we can be friends." She said finally. Tenacity let out a cheer and jumped in place as she cried out 'Ive gotta friend!'

Ch. 4: To See The Princess

CHAPTER FOUR:

TO SEE THE PRINCESS

   Tenacity woke up to the sound somepony in the kitchen preparing breakfast for her and Bubblecut. She let out a big yawn as she stretched her forelegs out infront of her and arched her back causing it to make cracking sounds. When she finished she got to her full hight and trotted to the door and out through the hall into the kitchen to find the white mare huming to herself as she cooked their breakfast.

   "Morning girlfriend." Tenacity chimed. Bubblecut looked at the changeling as she continued to work and smiled at her.

   "Hey, Tenacity." She replied. It had been three days since she allowed Tenacity more freedom in the house and had grown more open to the changeling, though she still had her suspicions. Several times now, Tenacity would sneak into Bubblecut's room and transform into a strapping stallion or take the form of Octavia. The first time Bubblecut saw her as Octavia she nearly bounced off the wall with excitement until she remembered she had a changeling in the house, and sent her to her room.

   Tenacity's smile grew and she raised a hoof to her lips, kissed it and then blew towards the pegasus. Bubblecut rolled her eyes to the heavens and returned her focus to her cooking.

   "You know you like it when I do that." Tenacity said with a smirk.

   "Shut up." Bubblecut ordered.

   "Oh, c'mon Bubbles." Tenacity said as she threw her head back. "Don't think I don't know how you feel about me. I'm a changeling and I can sence these things."

   "I just think of you as a friend, that's it." Bubblecut replied.

   "Sure you do." Tenacity replied as she rolled her eyes up. "Look honey, you may not know it or except it yet, but you-"

   "If you don't want me to fulfill my original orders of eliminating any changelings I suggest you don't finish that sentence." Bubblecut interrupted with a sharp glare.

   "You won't." Tenacity giggled.

   The rest of their morning was spent eating breakfast in silence until there was a knock on the front door. Bubblecut got from her place at the dining table and trotted over to the door and opened it to find Wild with that domb grin on his face.

   "Llllllieutenant Bubblecut, Wild Animal reporting for forward duty, sssir!" He said with a funny salute.

   "Hey, Wild." Bubblecut replied. "Would you like to join us for breakfast before we leave?" She already knew the answere to the question, but she never let her manners slide, even when it came to her friends. Wild took in a deep breath through the nose as he spun his head around.

   "Delectable pancakes with the sweetest and most fresh of orange juices. The commen breakfast of the lovely white pegasus I call my friend who finds this morning meal most desirable. Noway! I prefer a good hunt for fish in the Everfree."

   "Did I just hear that right?" Came Tenacity's voice before she came up behind Bubblecut. "A pony loves to eat meat?"

   "He does." Bubblecut answered, gesturing at him with her head.

   "Why, Bubblecut," Wild said, "...you eat meat too." She shot him a soft glare.

   "Only when I have too." She countered. "You know one can survive better on fish then they can on nuts and poisonous leaves." This has been commen knowlage for members of the Defenders since they were known as Celestia's fighters before Princess Luna was returned to her former glory years ago.

   "Wow." Tenacity said. "Ponies actually eat animals." Bubblecut started to say something but was cut off by the changeling. "Did I also hear you say were going someplace?" She asked.

   "To Canterlot Castle, oh friend of my best friend and commanding officer." Wild answered. Tenacity's perky smile vanished almost instantly and she took a few steps away from the green stallion.

   "Tenacity," Bubblecut said with a hint of concern in her voice, "... what's wrong?" Tenacity felt a brief, but large, surge of energy fill her body. She looked up at Bubblecut, a mixed look of fear, heartbreak and anger in her blue eyes.

   "You're going to the castle?" She asked.

   "Yeah," Bubblecut replied, "and you're coming with us." Tenacity's eyes were suddenly filled with anger and she hissed at the two as she sprang to a defensive position.

   "Like hell I am!" She snapped.

   "Now look here..." Bubblecut began.

   "Not on your life, traitor." Tenacity barcked. She charged at the white mare and was stopped by green hooves wrapped around her, trapping her wings and forelegs to her sides. She looked back to see Wild smiling at her with his dumb grin and she struggled to break free to no avail. His physical strength was undeniable and she was still weak from her ordeal at the castle over a week ago. How'd he get behind her so fast anyway? "Let me go you domb-"

   "Let me explain first." Bubblecut interrupted.

   "Like hell!" Tenacity said as she continued to struggle.

   "Animal and I have to return to active duty and I am not just leaving you here unsupervised." Bubblecut explained. "So I'm taking you with us and request to have you placed on my team so I can keep an eye on you." Tenacity stopped struggling and looked up at Bubblecut with confusion.

   "Yo... you want me to be apart of your team?" She asked.

   "Well, we certainly can't just let you loose now, can we?" Wild asked. Tenacity looked back at him with a small smile on her face and opened her mouth to speak. "Yeah, we could, but who knows what kinda trouble you'll get into if we did." He slowly eased his grip over her and she looked back up at Bubblecut with a smile.

   "Well, what're we wating for?" She exclaimed. "Let's get going!" A flash of green light, and Tenacity was replaced with a pink unicorn with purple mane and two swords crossing in front of a golden star as a cutie mark.

~~~

   There was a number of ponies gathered around in the gardens of the castle going through various training exercises, hoof to hoof combat, magical spells and techniques, tests of strength and more. Both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were overviewing their progress. Celestia had told Luna to go and get some rest, but Luna was waiting for one of her lieutenants to arrive from her vacation.

   Among the ponies training was a brown pegasus stallion in a blue jacket and a purple unicorn stalion with a pink sweater. They were taking a break from their training and the unicorn was standing right next the the pegusas staring at him with a grin. The pegusas looked grouchy and annoyed as he avoided eye contact as best he could.

   "So hansom," the uncorn said, "ready to wrestle?" The pegasus let out an angry sigh as he stared up to the sky before he turned to face the unicorn.

   "Kyle, I've told you a thousand damn times," he huffed, "I'm not into stallions." The unicorn, Kyle, only gave a broad grin as he stared at the pegasus.

   "Not yet, you're not." He said.

   "Dammit, will you just stop!" He replied.

   "Now, Jason, is that anyway to talk to a fellow defender?" came a voice from behind the two. The two looked back to find Bubblecut with Wild animal and a new unicorn they had never seen before.

   "Lieutenant!" Jason called with a salute. Kyle straightened himself into a salute too, the smile still on his face.

   "Hello, lieutenant. How was your vacation?" Kyle asked.

   "It was fine, thank you." Bubblecut replied. "And, I found somepony to join the team while I was gone." She looked back to the unicorn, who smiled and stepped up beside the pegasus mare.

   "Hey boys." She chimed. How's the relationship?" She asked with a mischievous grin.

   "There is no damn relationship!" Jason barked.

   "Oh, come on hansom." Kyle said as he leaned in closer to the brown pegasus.

   "Get the hell away from me." Jason huffed.

   "Jason!" Bubblecut snapped.

   "What? You know I'm not gay like Kyle here." He said.

   "Oh how sweet." The unicorn said.

   "What?" Jason asked with a flat face.

   "Isn't love a beautiful thing?" She asked.

   "This isn't love, this is just an awkward friendship!" Jason answered.

   "Why don't we stop the arguing... and get this day moving." Wild said, shaking his head when he paused.

   "I must agree with Wild Animal." Came a voice from behind the group. They all turned to see the Princess who commanded the defenders, Princess Luna. They all bowed in respect while simultaneously saying 'Princess' and only raised their heads back when she acknowlaged them.

   Luna turned to her lieutenant with a smile as she approached the alicorn. "Lieutenant Bubblecut. It is a pleasure to see you back from your vacation."

   "Thank you Princess." Bubblecut replied and turned back to pony Tenacity and motioned for her to come up, wich she did hesitantly. "Princess, this is Tenacity."

   "Hiya, P-princess." Tenacity said.

   "You seem afraid in my presence." The Princess observed. "Do you not know that you have nothing to fear about me?"

   "Princess," Bubblecut interrupted, "... I was hoping Tenacity and I could speak with you in private?" Luna looked at her curiosly. "Please, Princess?" After a minute of silence, except for the other ponies training, Luna nodded her head.

   "Very well, Bubblecut. Follow me to my chambers." The alicorn trotted off towards the castle and Bubblecut looked over to Tenacity, who looked afraid at what was about to happen. Bubblecut gave her a look that said 'try to run and you're done'. I guess I have no choice here. Tenacity thought to herself and started to follow the two toward the castle.

Ch. 5: A New Defender

CHAPTER FIVE

A NEW DEFENDER

   Tenacity was on edge as she followed Bubblecut who followed Princess Luna through the castle corridors and hallways. When they past guards on patrol or standing watch at some doors Tenacity nearly went into panic mode that went unnoticed to all but Bubblecut. Bubblecut backed up next to the disguised changeling to give her a reassuring smile. This notion helped as Tenacity gave a week smile to her pony friend and looked back to find Wild close behind her. He gave her a wink then his horn lit up and a set of shades levitated from his mane onto the bridge of his nose.

   They came to a large door and Luna stopped to see Bubblecut, Wild Animal, and Tenacity standing behind her as they waited for her to show them in. She turned back to the door and her horn illuminated with magic that also engulfed the door, causing it to swing open and the four trotted inside. When they were all inside Luna's chambers the doors magically closed behind them and Luna levitated some cushions to each of her guests.

   "Please, make yourselves comfortable." Luna said.

   As instructed, Bubblecut layed on her cushion on her belly, flapping her wings a few times before setting them back to her sides. Tenacity set her cushion right next to Bubblecut and layed down next to her in a similar position as the mare. Wild, however, walked around his cushion a few times then stepped on it, fluffed it up like a cat then layed down, curling up in a ball as he purred happily. Bubblecut shook her head as she roled her eyes up to the heavens at his animal-like behavior.

   "Now," Luna said, "what is it you would like to speak about, Lieutenant Bubblecut?"

   "Princess," Bubblecut said as she turned her gase to the 'unicorn' laying right next to her, "I want this mare placed on my team." She looked up at the alicorn, who simply raised a brow as she waited patiently for the rest. "My reason for this request is..." she turned back to Tenacity who showed growing fear in her eyes, "... is because this pony isn't a pony."

   "What are you doing?!" Tenacity asked.

   "Oh, don't get over excited, Tenacity." Wild said, his head resting on his forehooves. "Bubblecut knows what she's doing."

   "Let us not get into any unpleasantries." Luna said. "You were saying, lieutenant?" Bubblecut returned her gase to her commanding officer and took a deep breath.

   "Princess, I found Tenacity in the forest after you ordered a search for changelings after the attack. She was badly wounded and unable to defend herself if attacked, so I took her to my home to... keep an eye on her." Luna's expression never changed as she listened to Bubblecut. "I didn't expect things to happen the way they did, but I have come to call her a friend, even though I still have my suspicions."

   "I understand why you want her on your team, lieutenant," Luna said, "but you have yet to tell me who she is." Tenacity gave Bubblecut a pleading look when the scared pegasus turned to look at her.

   "There's no hiding it now." Wild said.

   "That doesn't help, Animal." Bubblecut said as she shot a glare at her best friend. He simply layed there with that same dome grin he always had on. She turned back to Tenacity and layed a hoof on her shoulder. "Look, Tenacity, if you wanna keep our friendship going and not locked away for the rest of your life the princess needs to know and you need to be where I can keep an eye on you until I know I can completely trust you."

   Tenacity looked into her friends eyes for a minute then turned her gase to Luna, who was waiting patiently for them to finish explaining. She gave a long, heavy sigh then got up to her hooves and a flash of green light engulfed her and her changeling form stood were the unicorn once did. Luna jumped to her hooves and stared at the changeling in shock.

   "Princess, don't panic!" Bubblecut said as she got to her hooves and stepped between the two. "As far as I know, she's no threat, but I wanna make sure by placing her on my team as my trainee where I can make sure she won't try anything."

   "And, if she does?" Luna asked, fighting to keep herself calm.

   "Well, then we lock her up and ship her out." Wild answered. The stallion had never left his comfortable position as the events around him unfolded.

   "Look, princess, I'm willing to pay for any of the consequences, but I'm not just gunna ponish one who has yet to earn ponishment in my eyes."

   "From what my sister told me, her kind attacked my home and tried to harm my subjects."

   "Um... your highness?" Tenacity called. "We were realy just trying to get some food. At least I was anyway. I never wanted to hurt anypony." There was nothing but fear and truth in the tone of the changeling's voice and pure blue eyes. Luna let herself calm down and relaxed her body as she kept her eyes glued to the changeling infront of her. "Pluss, I'll be with her twentyfour-seven, so if she tries anything she won't get far."

   "And, don't forget me and Sharpwood." Wild added. Luna couldn't help but give a shutter at the mention of Wild's pet.

   "I am sorry, but I need time to think about this, lieutenant." Luna said after a minute.

   "We have nothing wrong with that." Wild said as he got to his hooves. "We'll just wait outside for your... final decision." Tenacity transformed back to the unicorn and walked out of the room right next to Bubblecut with her tail wrapped aound the mare's.

~~~

   The three stood outside in the courtyard as the others trained to protect Equestria. Kyle and Jason were at it again as they usually were. The two were always bickering, Kyle looking to get Jason in his bed while Jason kept on telling him to buck off. Anytime Jason got to close to a pretty mare things would get a little hot as Kyle glared daggers at any he thought was a challenge to his stallion.

   Tenacity was right next to Bubblecut wich she found she wasn't to uncomfortable with. She slowly wrapped a wing around the 'unicorn' as she allowed her to rest her head on her shoulder. Wild was sitting behind them with a smile on his face as he watched the two show a quickly growing friendship he saw coming a mile away. There attention was captured as they heard an 'ahem' come from behind them and they all turned to face Princess Luna as she stood tall over them with a regal expression.

   "After much consideration, I have come to a conclusion." She said. Wild smiled while Bubblecut and Tenacity waited intently. "Lieutenant Bubblecut, Tenacity will be inducted into the Defenders as your student. Train her well and ensure she stays out of trouble."

   Tenacity gasped as Bubblecut smiled and Wild nodded his head with that domb grin on his face. Tenacity ran up and hugged the princess with a 'thankyouthankyouthankyou' before she turned around and pounced into Bubblecut, knocking her to the ground as she wrapped her hooves around her and pressed her lips againts the pegasi's. Bubblecut lay there wide eyed as Tenacity kissed her for a minute before the 'unicorn' broke the kiss and lifted her head up to see her face.

   "Heh heh, sorry girlfriend." Tenacity said with a sheepish smile. Bubblecut just lay there in shock as Tenacity got to her hooves, Luna and Wild both sharing the same smile.

Ch. 6: A Relationship

CHAPTER SIX

A RELATIONSHIP

   After an entire day of learning new skills of combat from both Bubblecut and Wild Animal, Tenacity was sitting alone at the table thinking about what she had done this morning. She was smiling at the fact because it gave her a large amount of energy from the mare, but she also felt a little regret from the kiss because ever since they left Canterlot, Bubblecut never spoke a word. Not even to Wild.

   Bubblecut was locked in her room, the classical music sounding through the closed door. Tenacity didn't know what she was doing in there, other then the fact that every now and again she would feel energy coming from the mare. The door slowly opened and Bubblecut's mane was visible for a minute before she poked her head out to find the changeling sitting at the table waiting for her. She came out of her room slowly, dragging her hooves along the floor until she got to the table and sat down next to Tenacity.

   "Hey girlfriend." Tenacity chimed with a smile.

   "Shut up for a minute." Bubblecut said calmly. Tenacity only smiled as her response. Bubblecut met the changeling's eyes with a mixed expression. "Look... I've always thought I would find a good stallion to care for me, but..." she trailed off as she looked away.

   "Go on." Tenacity encouraged. Bubblecut looked back at the changeling.

   "No stallion I've met has appealed to me." Bubblecut continued. "When you kissed me..."

   "It felt better then anypony else, right?" Tenacity asked. Bubblecut nodded with pink cheeks. Tenacity only smiled as she anticipated the next question. "I've been with enough relationships to know theses things, hun. I don't need to be a changeling to know you like me."

   "Shut up." Bubblecut said with a shake of her head. Tenacity giggled at this and reached a hoof up to Bubblecut's cheek, causing her blush to deepen.

   "Tenacity, I've never considered being with another mare..." Bubblecut admitted.

   "So?" Tenacity replied.

   "Don't do that." Bubblecut ordered. "I was raised right. Filly fooling is something my parents strongly advised against. I have no doubt they would disown me if I became one."

   "They don't have to know." Tenacity offered.

   "I've never lied to my parents." Bubblecut said. "They even know I'm a member of the Defenders, and that group is a 'secret' organisation."

   "C'mon, Bubbles." Tenacity said. "I'm a changeling and can be who ever you want me to be, and your parents need never know." Bubblecut looked into the changeling's eyes with a pleading look.

   "Tenacity..."

   "Just shut up and admit you love me." Tenacity ordered. Bubblecut blushed and started to look away, but was forced to face the changeling with a hoof on each of her cheeks. "If it helps, I don't think of you as food, or a source of energy." Bubblecut arched a brow. "C'mon. You find me in the forest and ignore the perfect opportunity to kill me. You take me into your home, as a prisoner at first, and accept me as a friend. Feed me in both eatable food and love energy. All of this with the knowledge that I'm a changeling and you still don't think of me as a threat. How can I think of you as food after all that?" Bubblecut couldn't help but smile at this speech.

   "Tenacity, this scares me..." Bubblecut said.

   "How do you think I felt when you took me to your princess earlier?" Tenacity asked. "New things can be frightening, girlfriend." Bubblecut continued to look uncertain about this as Tenacity looked into her eyes. There was a long pause as they stared into each others eyes before Tenacity finally made a move and pulled Bubblecut closer to until there lips met for the second time today. Bubblecut gave no resistance as she let her eyes close and lean in with a hum.

   This was so wrong, and yet it felt so right. Bubblecut was actually enjoying their kiss as she wrapped her forelegs around the changeling. Tenacity was enjoying the kiss, too, as she moved her hooves around the mares waist and pulled her in, receiving the energy from the pony's growing love for her.

   They parted their lips and stared at each other again. Tenacity had a smile on her face while Bubblecut looked as if she was processing what she had just done, then after a minute she leaned in and their lips met again with more passion.

~~~

   Bubblecut woke up the next morning in her bed, facing the window with a smile on her face. She looked down and found a holy, black hoof wrapped around her waist that was attached to a still sleeping Tenacity behind her. She looked back and saw Tenacity with a smile on her face as she slept peacefully.

   She smiled and returned her gase to the window of her bedroom and let out a happy sigh. She knew she would most likely regret what she did in the near future, but she didn't care. She was happy. More happy then she had ever been with any other pony she had ever met, and she loved that fact.

   Soon she felt the hoof around her stir and a hum coming from the changeling behind her. She closed her eyes and layed there as Tenacity woke up with a yawn and soon felt her lean over her and kissed her on the cheek. Bubblecut looked up at the changeling and smiled at her.

   "Good morning, girlfriend." Tenacity said.

   "Good morning, Tenacity." Bubblecut returned.

   Tenacity leaned down and planted a kiss to her new marefirend's lips with a happy hum as Bubblecut placed a hoof on her cheek. When things got a little to exciting, Bubblecut pushed Tenacity away with a shake of her head.

   "What?" Tenacity asked with a giggle. "You loved it last night."

   "And, once in a while is fine, just don't go overboard." Bubblecut said. Tenacity pouted at the white mare, earning a simple kiss from her. Tenacity gave a happy hum at this then turned her focus to the scar over Bubblecut's eye and tenderly kissed it. The two got up from the bed and left the room to begin the day by cooking breakfast and waiting for the inevitable arrival of their crazy friend, Wild Animal.