And I wish there wasn't
There’s a Changeling under my bed.
Preposterous.
The chill of the night creeped under my blankets. Somewhere, I can hear the warped sound of the magical barrier outside. I hope Shining isn’t too tired.
It’s awfully hot in here. I’d open the window, but what if one flies in? I cast a nervous glance outside, towards the stars.
There’s a Changeling outside.
I know they’re out there, hiding in the bushes, stalking behind the tall blades of grass. I turned over and buried my face in my hooves. Why didn’t I ask Spike to mow the lawn before we left? I suddenly sit up in horror, drops of sweat running down my body and dripping off my bangs.
There’s a Changeling in his basket.
Snoozing softly, its chest rose and fell, as if it were balancing a small feather. I stared in frozen shock and watched as its wings twitched subconsciously during slumber. If I move, it’ll strike. If I don’t move it’ll strike. I closed my eyes and swallowed. This can’t be happening. It can’t…
Wait. That’s not a Changeling. It’s Spike. My Spike. Spike is okay. I fell back in bed and threw a hoof to my head. What’s wrong with me? Here I am, getting myself all worked up and cowering under my blankets like a little filly. The Wedding was two nights ago and I slept like a foal. Why am I acting like one tonight?
Maybe a glass of milk will help.
I gently slipped out of bed and tiptoed around Spike’s basket, double checking if it was really him. Halfway across the room, I stop.
The library is darker than usual. I can barely see a thing. Before I can move, I see Cadence’s reflection bouncing off the crystal walls. Her cold, unforgiving gaze grips my soul like a vice and the piercing shriek of her cruel laughter chills me to the bone. It's...too unbearable.
There’s a Changeling in the bookshelves.
Maybe milk isn’t such a good idea after all. I backtracked next to Spike’s basket, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the darkness. I’d go talk to Shining, but how can I, when I’ve been kicked out of the Wedding all together? I slowly rubbed the side of my cheek, and realized that it was wet.
The floor creaked and I gasped.
No.
Nononono. I locked all the doors. I checked and double checked. I broke into cold sweat when I peered down and saw that the window downstairs was open. Why is it open? I never leave my windows open at night, except when I’m expecting Owlicious, and...and he already flew in for the night. Didn't he?
My breathing grew shaky as I descended down the stairs. I lit up my horn as my feeling of terror intensified. I took a quick look around before closing the window and locking it up tightly. I exhaled in relief, and briefly decided to triple check all of the doors and windows. Even after quadruple checking the front door, I can't shake the feeling that her shadow will darken it. The feeling of paranoia is so intoxicating, I could almost choke on it. Without a moment's hesitation, I make another round.
Foalish as it was, we can never be too careful. I’m sure Fluttershy would agree with me. Sweet, gentle Fluttershy.
Suddenly, the thought of my friends crossed my mind. My sisters, my family. As I gazed outside once more, I rested my hoof against the glass. Sugarcube Corner was the closest to the Library. Pinkie wouldn’t mind a visitor at this hour, would she?
After a moment's pause, I smiled and shook my head. Of course she wouldn’t. She’s Pinkie.
Is she though?
My mind is suddenly plagued by the thought of a Changeling replacing her, and is sleeping in her bed, right now, this very minute.
Now I have the urge to visit all my friends, just to see if they’re alright. Is Rainbow safe and sound in her cloud palace? Is Rarity really back at the Boutique, working on a new dress? Did we accidently leave the right Applejack back in Canterlot?
My mind spirals, and I can’t seem to breathe. No...no, not that...Anything but that... If...If something happened to my friends, I’d never forgive myself. Their air of confidence, their warming smiles, gone in an instant. Never to be seen or heard from again.
The clock ticks on the wall.
I need to get ahold of myself.
Sleep, that’s what I need. I forced a silent laugh as I made my way back upstairs. One day of excitement, and I’m already all skiddly-boppy-boo. We’ve faced worse before...I halt at the top of the stairs.
Except we haven’t.
I’m starting to think that I should pull an all-nighter instead. But I know I need rest.
If Rainbow Dash were here, she’d tell me to pony up and get to bed. Maybe Cadence would tuck me in like she used to...and maybe read me a story...
I’m scared.
I brought myself back to the window and caught my reflection. It’s a sight that I’m well accustomed to. Messy bed head, accompanied by dark circles under my eyes.
It’s barely been six months and I’ve already helped fight Nightmare Moon, Discord, and now...I don’t want to think about it. Sometimes I ask myself...what the hay did I get myself into? Ever since we became one with the elements...nothing’s been quite the same anymore.
Gone is the average mare living in a nice little town with a small group of nice little friends. And something tells me this time of peace won’t last. I know it won't last, and I'm terrified. Maybe they’ll return, maybe not. The Princess insists that our battle is over, but... I can’t help myself.
Just because we can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there.
I drew myself to full height. Yet... my family...needs me.
Something buzzes under my bed.
I decide to ignore it.
No matter what I'm feeling...I cant let them down. Not when I have my strength left.
“...Twilight?”
I almost jump out of my skin. “Sorry I scared you,” Spike apologized, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “What’re you doing up so late?”
I smile as I climb into bed. “Just had a glass of milk, that’s all. Go back to sleep, Spike.”
In his tired state, Spike only nodded and sunk back into the comfort of his pillow. “Mkay. G’night, Twi.”
“...Spike?”
“Hmmm?”
“I love you.”
Spike lifted his head, looking pleasantly surprised. “Love you too, Twilight. Night.”
With a soft smile, I rested my head on my own pillow and closed my eyes, paying no mind to the Changeling snoozing under my bed.
This is something I wanted to experiment with. The events of the Canterlot Wedding were hard on everyone, so I decided to make a little something tonight. I'm no stranger to jumping at everything that moves in the night 
I'd like to think that the fear is still there in the back of her mind, but no matter what, she can still conquer it. If there are any mistakes, please let me know. 
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I think a Changeling is worse than Boogeyman: It can be whatever you fear and feed of you. A Boogeyman?... What does it do?
Nice read.
Just a random comment to one of Twilight's lines, and yes, I understand Twilight is just blabbing and not thinking clearly:
Foalsitted by Princess Cadance, being personal student of Princess Celestia and now bearer of the Element of Magic? Twilight, you've never been normal.
Poor Twilight!
That's where people, sometimes, get it wrong. Fear is not a weakness, but a super power. It can make you run faster, make you lift things you thought you never could. Jump farther than you can believe.
I liked this. Well done.
Super cute!
*drags the changeling out from other the bed and gives it a folding cot and its choice between a sleeping bag or a spare blanket*
)
(Probably a lot more comfortable than the floor at least I'd think, right?
6782322
Except changeling into what you fear would do not good for the changeling, it feeds on love. If there is a changeling living under Twilight's bed it doesn't want her afraid or it will starve. If you think on it would be much better for changelings to make ponies happy as much as possible, most "changelings rebel against Chrysalis" fics feature changelings who figure that out, making ponies afraid just makes you hungry, make ponies happy and eat like a king.
Now this is how we would expect it to end like. Great job!
Did somebody call the comment quartet?
On the upside, snoozing Changelings are hella-cute.
Even after reading this, I still don't know if the changeling under Twilight's bed is real or not.
Or why this is tagged "Sad" instead of "Dark/Slice of Life".
But it was K.
So dun hert me.
6783617 Me too. And let's not forget that this fic loses all suspension of disbelief when you roll back and see that Twilight easily dispelled one's fake form. Which could wipe out the worries in an instant.
6782597 Who said changelings can ONLY feed on love? And who said that the love must be directed to them? Or that at the moment they feed the changelings's victims have to be feeling love?
If anything the invasion itself disproves your assertion.
6782322 Picks it's nose where everyone can see.
6783760
No if anything the invasion proves nothing about the feeding habits of changelings one way or another.
This was a great read. I love how her thoughts are jumpy and not very coherent.
6784100 Thank you.
After a visit to Five Nights... 2spooky4me 
6783846 Did I say anything specific? I said that if they beeded to have peaceful relationships and be liked to get fed then an invasion is suicide thus illogical.
I actually thought a changeling was under her bed. Kind of a letdown.
6784641
You said the invasion disproved my assertion, I countered that it really didn't prove or disprove anything about what changelings feed on
6785098 Yea it disproves the assertion that the changeling would be starving if it scared her. Because by that logic all changelings in the invasion starved.
6785440
No necessarily no. Chrysalis is shown to have mind control powers, and ponies have shown begin cocooned by changelings. Once in a cocoon it's easily possible the pony is sent into a dream state full of stimuli that produce specific emotions, like love. A lone changeling's MO would be different, especially if it fed on a specific pony. Making Twilight feel the emotion of love would be easier than cocooning her and inducing dreams, no one, even Twilight would suspect it's presence if it took no hostile actions. As also I said most fan fics I've read where changelings rebel against Chrysalis's rule hinge on them deciding the invasion was a stupid idea and that encouraging ponies to feel love towards a changeling is better than draining it. Trying to take over Canterlot and capture ponies wasn't an indicator of changeling feeding habits.
We can even speculate Kevin (the changeling from Cranky and Matilda's wedding named by the trading card game) came to the wedding specifically to feed on ambient love energy such an event produces.
6786044 Exactly. That's all speculation.
6782385
However Terror is your enemy, it causes you to freeze, it clouds your judgment, in places where seconds matter: YOU LOSE.
6787254 never said terror didn't do that. How can I lose when I never said, I win?
6787301 Sorry I didn't mean you specifically, I meant that when someone is terrified it's not going to end well. I apologize if it sounds different in the comment......
So....WAS there a Changeling under her bed?
6788825
no, she was just scared
6792103 Figured, but the last line threw me off.
6792119
oh, yeah.
I think that was figuritive
6787784 it's alright. At least this didn't end badly. That's all that matters.
I love it ^-^ Perfect story. 'Nuff said. (:
My muffin rating? Ten muffins out of ten.
~SoDF
Ahhhh.... Twilight and her paranoid antics.
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/4/47/Big_Lipped_Alligator_Moment.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121115204656
And said Changeling was...Kevin.
7386174 right?!
7436695
Obviously.
7437769 definitely
I reviewed this story as part of Read It Later Reviews #54.
My review can be found here.
The story itself was very good, though I don't know if [sad] is really the right tag.
Two other little nitpicks: I'm personally not a big fan of the switching between past tense and present in the narration—it throws me off a little—but that's just me. Also:
You probably wanted "descended."
Other than that, very nice. Upvote.
This was a nice piece. Thanks for writing!
Hmmm
I'm having a hard time telling if some of the oddities in the story are intentional or are mistakes. The tense switching suggests that it's the latter.