A cup of what was now cold coffee rested against Merry May's hoof.
The green pegasus pony stared at a wall, as if in a contest. Her eyes were tired and sagging, but her mind was racing almost as fast as Rainbow Dash. So many thoughts wrestled with one another that she couldn't pick out a particular one. Oh my Celestia he's a changeling why is he a baker why didn't he tell me wait why am I wondering that why didn't he tell me he had wings because then I could fly with him oh dear Celestia changelings feed on love don't they the poor guy's probably sobbing himself to sleep in the bathroom wait he didn't tell me but he felt so bad about it what do I do?
Eventually she heaved a groan and realized that she wasn't getting anywhere by engaging in a staring contest with a wall with a cup of coffee she neglected. Merry May shoved her cup to the side and got up. Slowly she walked back to the bathroom and found what looked like a black wiffle ball passed out on the floor. He had cried himself to sleep. She prodded him gently. "Rhu--" Merry paused. Was his name even actually Rhubarb? "--wake up."
"Hmm...huh?" He batted his eyes open and looked towards his girlfriend. He then jumped in surprised and fell backwards, legs in the air and wide-eyed. "Oh, Merry!" The changeling relaxed a little. "I...I was worried you were going to leave altogether."
"No. Just...um...answer a few questions, okay?"
"Okay." He bobbed his head up and down dazedly, and she sat down next to him.
"First off...your name isn't really Rhubarb, is it?"
"...No."
"What's your real name?"
"Scales."
"Scales?"
"Scales."
"...That's an odd name." Merry said, cocking her head. "Can I still call you Rhu?" Scales nodded his head vigorously again.
"Yes. In fact, I'd prefer you call me Rhubarb or Rhu instead of it. That name holds no meaning to me anymore. It's a wretched name I had when I was still under my tyrannical Queen Chrysalis." he said, admonishing the name. Merry frowned.
"I don't think you should toss it away altogether. A name's what you make it to be. And you made it that Scales is a good baker. You know, ponies have two words to a name sometimes, like me, Merry May. You could be...Rhubarb Scales."
"That's silly. Rhubarbs don't have scales." he said, blinking a little in befuddlement. Merry rolled her eyes, knowing this conversation was going nowhere.
"Whatever you want. Also...changelings really feed on love? Have you been feeding off me this whole time?" she asked a little more harshly than she intended, and Scales cringed back.
"I'm gonna be honest. Yeah, probably. Changelings have two main ways of feeding. We can directly suck it dry from you. We can also get it by being around and being an object of affection, which we use our shapeshifting powers to gain. The first option gets much more nourishment, but doing so, you can greatly injure the subject fed from." He scowled. "It also makes it far more obvious you're a changeling. The second option doesn't satiate hunger as well, but it makes you less likely to be detected." He looked at his girlfriend's alarmed facial expression and his ears flipped back anxiously. "But for me? The second option trumps the first. I get so much love just from living here that I almost forget I'm technically feeding off it." he finished sheepishly.
"But I don't understand. If you're...feeding...from everypony, then why aren't we getting weak like Shining Arm..." She stopped herself and suddenly she beamed. "Oh! You're not just feeding; you're giving it back to us! You love us right on back...something others like you don't do."
He nodded proudly. "They don't understand that we could be some of the most efficient creatures on this planet if they just loved back, but they're too greedy. That's their downfall." he explained. Merry's usual cheery attitude returned for a moment, when all of a sudden it was replaced by drooping ears and a frown. Scales recoiled slightly.
"Why didn't you tell me until now?"
Dead silence. After a few minutes, Scales took a deep breath. "Because...because I was afraid you wouldn't love me anymore. I never knew such happiness before I met you and I was afraid if you knew that I was a monster you wouldn't love me anymore."
"Rhubarb!" Merry sighed and kissed his forehead. "I can't believe you'd think that. I said I'd always love you, and I keep to my word. I'm still a little angry that you didn't tell me earlier...but I understand why you did it. Does anypony else know?"
"No. Only you."
"So I'm the only one. I sure feel special." She rolled her eyes. Yet another pesky period of silence came, and after a little bit of awkward silence, she spoke up. "Anyways, that was my last question...hold up." A mischievous grin crept up on her face. "Rhubarb...show me your front right leg. The one with the huge hole in the middle."
Although a little confused, he did as asked and presented his front leg. Merry May got it and then shoved her hoof through the hole. Scales looked incredibly confused as she started giggling. "Hey, Scales..." She snickered immaturely. "I'm inside of you."
He snorted a laugh and shook his head. "Yes. Yes you are..." He paused and looked at his back left hoof, and she looked down as well.
"What's wrong?"
"I could've sworn I had a hole in my hoof down there. Where did it go?...I'm certain there was a hole there."
Merry pulled her hoof out of him and looked closely at the bottom of his hoof and then pointed. "Is this it?" He looked at the bottom and there was a tiny crater in the corner where a hole used to be.
"That's odd. I've never heard of changeling holes filling in. Ah, well, I'm probably fine," he said, waving it off carelessly. "I'm sure it's fine. Anyways, we have to leave early...in a few hours..." He looked at a clock on the bathroom wall, which read five in the morning. "...one hour, actually. Um, why don't I make us something to eat?"
This comment earned a strange look. "Us? Forgive me, but don't you feed on love and not food?"
Scales changed back into a unicorn pony. "I dunno. I like eating even though I don't have to. It relaxes me, and I swear I've been craving it more and more ever since I got here. In fact, I'm hankering for a sandwich. Do you want me to make you waffles or something?"
"No. Just make me a sandwich too." May replied calmly, beginning to turn on the shower to wash herself.
"What do you want on it?"
Another mischievous grin. "Swiss cheese."
"...You're just going to keep making jokes at my expense, aren't you?"
"You bet your little changeling hide I am. Now go make me a sandwich. We gotta catch the morning train to Canterlot soon."
So much HNNNGH.
this chapter is good but I want moar
Nice chapter
Now go make me a samwich.
I never get bored of these "my lover was secretly a changeling" fics, they're so sweet~
Oooo, his holes are filling in. I saw that idea in another story in the last few months or so, but haven't been able to track it down. Anyone else remember?
2782619 I will do so if I find it and if I remember to. IIRC it was a side character that had about one scene, so it wasn't a major part of the story.
2782629 The name of the story in question is "Flitter", I do believe.
That chapter was ridicudorable. Also, Swiss cheese. Heh.
2782767 Just reread djthomp's comment, and I think Flitter isn't the exact story he meant, as it revolves around a changeling as a character's husband. Bit more specified, really.
Swiss chesse. Must make sandwhich now. This story makes me want to eat............cheetos maybe?
"I'm inside of you."
Best line ever~
Whoa, you picked up the pace. Excellent, ha ha, excellent!
PS. Is Rhubarb changing into a pony, or just his holes are filling in?
2782416 I aprouve
2782855
My theory?
It may have to do with all the love he's getting from everypony, like 'filling the hollowness' within himself. So in a way he's making himself 'whole'.
It could be phrased better, but that's what I get from it. Your guess is good as mine...
BTW... Merry May is so funny.
Can't wait to see what else she's going to tease him about.
Glad to see this story is back from the dead. Go Rhubarb!
2782889 to tell the truth, I hope he will remain changeling. "Changelings are pony's without love" trope is really boring/uncool for me.
2783008 I hope that's the correct one.
2781856 LOL yea... you're right. Got me too.
D'awwwwwwww
I love these types of stories. They make me feel warm and fuzzy.
Just like entropy.
Aww :3 Much better! I'm really loving this story. Can't wait for more! ^w^
Ahhhh poor rhubarb, I'm getting the warm fuzzies aga
Goes to hit next chapter
FUAST DARN IT! now I have to wait again...
You, madam. You and I both seem to like changelings that cook things.
Only for you it's dessert, and for me it's breakfast.
Additionally: 2782619
It's an idea that comes up in a few stories, but to the best of my recollection, it usually is tied to a changeling's health (although, to the best of my recollection, the correlation is never explained beyond "more holes means less healthy"). I'm in a bit of a rush at the moment, but I'll see if I can track down one or two others besides Flitter.
2781791 well dont talk to insane ponies then.
Really liking this so far. True, maybe it could use a slower pace, but on the other hand I can appreciate stories that don't mess around. I just hope this doesn't end soon. And by soon, I mean chapter-wise and not time-wise
2782619
Actually in a lot of stories
Dangit, I ran out of story. Now I gotta wait for more.
2782619 Unity is one. I believe it worked a little differently though, once the changelings got enough love to go around all their holes filled in.
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/74026/unity
Chapter 6
His holes are closing up!
He's MYOOTATING into a new form!
You may have set us on the ending with one line...
Four chapters in three days; making up for lost time, I see.
Skimming the story again to remember what happened, I noticed you did change the problem I mentioned when it was just the prologue, that he reached Ponyville too soon. Even if it's potentially debatable how much Changelings can vary their size, it definitely makes more sense for him to have hitched a ride on a phoenix for a few days, so I'd say it's an improvement. Although it created a couple small continuity errors in the following chapter. It still mentions "the same rabbit who was there last night" even though Angel no longer appears in the prologue, and Fluttershy still says owls told her about him, even though he smacked into her window now and she seemingly heard him directly. Both very minor things, though.
Now to just sit back and wait for things to go wrong, because it seems unlikely Scales/Rhubarb is going to get clear of this whole situation without being found out or something. Or maybe he'll slowly fill in all his holes and turn into a real pony.
full hue m8
2784061
Who the fuck is "Fuast"
2796231
Fuast: A misspelling of Faust. Tends to signify horrific failure by the user.
(Legit dictionary definition is legit.)
Whoa whoa whoa!! This is the wrong way round. He's supposed to get her to make the sandwich!!
Also, Swiss cheese!!
A good initial turn-out, but my reader-senses are telling me there's trouble on the horizon!
Me likey.