The ongoing adventures of Loving Miracle as she finds the answers to her life.
Just a few weeks ago, Loving Miracle's world came crashing down around her. Now she has to pick up the pieces of her life and find the answers she so desperately needs, but will she even want them afterwards? Follow Loving Miracle as she delves into the secrets behind her missing memory with the help of her mother, a candy maker, and a princess.
The current cover art is temporary while I work on the real one. Also, cover made by me. ^v^
This story is a sequel to My Little Miracle, I recommend reading that first. ^v^
It was early morning when Celestia's sun peeked up over the horizon and began to shine through the windows of a tiny cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville. A young filly began to yawn as she woke up to start her day. She lazily crawled out of bed and walked over to her bedroom mirror, her green magic flared as she brushed out her violet and blue mane before heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Yep, today was shaping up to be a completely normal day for the changeling filly known as Loving Miracle.
Loving Miracle's mother, well adoptive mother, but mother all the same called up to her daughter, "Miracle! Breakfast is ready!"
The yellow pegasus known as Fluttershy turned back to the stove as she piled a plate high with pancakes before setting them on the table. Loving Miracle appeared at the table, now with her preferred appearance of a magenta earth pony with lavender irises. Miracle smiled as she shoved a forkful of fluffy, syrup-drenched pancakes into her mouth. The filly continued to devour her breakfast until nothing remained but sticky crumbs. Miracle excused herself from the table and placed her plate in the sink, "Thanks for breakfast, Mom! I'm going to see Bon Bon!"
Fluttershy smiled and wrapped Loving Miracle in a hug before sending her on her way, "Okay sweetie, have fun!"
Loving Miracle smiled and walked out the door. For just over two weeks now, she had been meeting with Bon Bon. The kind earth pony, who was also secretly a changeling, had taught her about changelings, everything from culture to magic. The two had become good friends as a result, and Loving Miracle looked forward to her visits with the local candy maker. Getting free candy helped, too. The filly walked up to the front door of Bon Bon's house and knocked on the door. She waited a moment before a mint colored unicorn opened the door. Loving Miracle smiled, "Hi, Lyra! Is Bon Bon here?"
Lyra chuckled at the adorable filly, "She sure is. I'll go get her, come on in."
Lyra Heartstrings was Bon Bon's roommate and best friend. She was also one of the few ponies who knew that she was a changeling. Twilight had said before that Miracle shouldn't have to worry about telling other ponies, but Miracle wanted to keep her secret for just a little longer. Loving Miracle sat down on the sofa and waited for Bon Bon to appear, she looked at her reflection in the polished coffee table. A small puff of green flame and Miracle's mane became a neon green with stripes of gold, another puff and her mane was back to normal. She had been working on changing small things in her appearance to better hone her magic, and so far it was working. There was the odd occasion when something went wrong, one time she had accidentally turned her mane and coat neon yellow before her mane disappeared entirely, luckily Bon Bon was able to fix it, that would have been hard to explain to the foals at school...
A moment later, the cream-coated, candy-maned pony known as Bon Bon emerged from the hallway. She looked across the room and spotted the filly on the couch, changing the colors in her mane, which was now a pastel pink with stripes of dark red. Bon Bon laughed, "Having fun, Miracle?"
Loving Miracle jumped at the sudden interruption, losing her concentration as her mane went back to its violet and blue appearance. She looked over at the new pony in the room and smiled, "Bon Bon!"
Loving Miracle hopped off the couch and ran to greet her friend, "What are we going to do today, Bon Bon? More magic? Maybe flying? I've been practicing! I promise I won't break your lamp again!"
Bon Bon laughed, "Not today, Miracle. I was thinking I could give you a lesson on hive structure and how a hive operates."
Loving Miracle's enthusiasm dropped, if she wanted a lecture, she could have just gone to see Twilight. Bon Bon picked up on Miracle's disappointment in today's lesson and smiled, "Which I thought we could discuss while making fruit drops."
Loving Miracle's enthusiasm returned tenfold as she beamed and hopped around Bon Bon, "Yay! I love making fruit drops! They're my favorite!"
Bon Bon chuckled, "I know. I know. Now let's get into the kitchen."
Loving Miracle grabbed a stool to reach the counter top and began to watch Bon Bon work. The candy mare pulled out a saucepan and set it on the stove. She turned to the filly next to her, "Miracle, can you get the fruit from the other counter and we can begin the lesson?"
Loving Miracle smiled, "Okay."
The filly turned around as little pink horn sprouted from her head. She stared at the bowl of berries as it was surrounded in a green aura and slowly began to float towards the filly. Loving Miracle clapped her hooves, overjoyed at her success. She quickly caught the bowl in her hooves as her magic sputtered out. While the finer points of disguise came to the filly easily, other things like levitation were proving to be a bit more difficult for her to grasp. And while the bowl only moved a couple feet, it was still a grand success in the filly's eyes. She smiled up at Bon Bon, "I did it! I moved it with my magic!"
Bon Bon nodded, "Very good, Miracle. Now mash those berries up into a sort of juicy mush, okay?"
Loving Miracle nodded and began to squish the berries while Bon Bon tended to the sugar mixture, the candy mare was proud of the little filly. She had come so far in her lessons taking to magic like a natural, her flying could use work, but little Miracle was making great progress. The time quickly passed while the two friends made little fruity candies together, laughing and talking while getting covered in berry juice.
Later, as the little e balls of candy cooled, Bon Bon sat down to deliver the day's lesson. She motioned for Loving Miracle to sit next to her. "Now, if you begin to feel, ah... bothered, by the lesson. Just let me know. Okay?"
Loving Miracle nodded as she began to eat the leftover berries, "Okay, Bon Bon. But why would I get upset?"
Bon Bon just sighed and began to speak, "The hive is a very important part of changeling society. It's how changelings tell groups apart, how the know where to go and what needs to be done. It's also how they know who the queen is and where she is. It is very important to make sure the queen is safe at all times because she is the center of the hivemind, the hivemind being what keeps a hive connected. Every changeling that is born into the hive is born connected. Now, it is a common misconception that changelings are mindless drones following a tyrannical queen. Every changeling has free will, the queen can send a command through the hivemind, but it is always a choice to follow said orders or not."
Loving Miracle listened to every word, as boring as lectures were, she was learning more about her species than she would ever learn at school.
Bon Bon continued, "Now, there are changelings who prefer to be independent and not be a part of a hive and live on their own, like me. For them, it is as simple as disconnecting themselves from the collective hivemind and being on their way. Now, the rest of the hive will be able to tell that someone has left, but other than that the collective is unaffected. There can be damaging effects to the hivemind, if something is to happen like the queen is killed without an heir present to take over control of the hivemind. If no heir is present when the queen dies or severs herself from her hive, the hivemind can disappear entirely, leaving connected changelings feeling lost and disorganized sending the remnants of the hive into disarray and eventually leading to the hive's demise."
Loving Miracle gasped, "How terrible! What else can go wrong?"
Bon Bon looked around nervously, "Uh.... Oh! I bet the candy has cooled down! Do you want some?"
Miracle shook her head, "No, I want to hear the rest!"
Bon Bon looked back at the filly, "Are you sure? I bet your mom misses you, maybe we need to cut the lesson short so you can see her?"
Miracle pouted, "But I want to know! What else can happen! You can't just stop mid-topic! I'm a foal, I'm curious now!"
Bon Bon rubbed the back of her head, "Oh, it's nothing."
Loving Miracle looked up at Bon Bon, puppy-eyes in effect, "Bon Booooooonnnnn! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?"
Bon Bon sighed in defeat, "Fine. But I warned you. Another problem that can occur is when severing a changeling's connection to the hivemind. If the changeling is forcefully cut from the collective against their will, or if the changeling making the cut isn't careful, there can be some devastating effects on the changeling."
Loving Miracle inched closer to the disguised changeling, "What kind of effects?"
Bon Bon paused, reluctant to continue. Loving Miracle was slowly putting pieces together, but she needed to hear Bon Bon say it.
The candy mare sighed, "Forcing a changeling to be cut from the hive or cutting the link improperly can cause many problems. Including a long lasting depression, a sense of abandonment, fatigue and emptiness, death, and yes, severe memory loss. These problems are why when a changeling wants to leave the hive, the procedure is carefully monitored with the participant given full knowledge of said procedure. The effects of a bad sever can be reversed, but only when caught in time. When I left, the queen observed the procedure and I made sure that one of my closest friends performed the spell."
Loving Miracle sat on the sofa next to Bon Bon. So, her missing memory, she hadn't really been thinking about her missing memories for a while now, she didn't think they mattered anymore now that she had a new life in Ponyville. But if she didn't care, then why did she keep getting lessons from Bon Bon? No, she just wanted to see her friend, but if that's what she wanted then they could just do friend things like go to the park, not discuss changeling history. She just wanted to learn about her species and find out... who she was. Was that the reason she continued the lessons? I guess it made sense, everyone wants to know where they came from, right? Was she subconsciously trying to find her past?
Bon Bon hugged the little filly who was still lost in thought, "Oh, sweetie. I didn't want to tell you, but I had my suspicions. I mean, you showed up nearly dead at Fluttershy's with no memory.... I'm sorry, dear."
Loving Miracle spoke quietly, "It's okay. I don't really care anyway, I mean, I have a great life here. I don't need to find my past life. Right? I haven't even thought about my memories being missing, but.... Never mind."
Loving Miracle returned Bon Bon's hug, "Thanks for teaching me, Bon Bon! And for letting me help make candy! I had fun today, can I take some candy home? Please?"
Bon Bon laughed, the tension gone, "Of course, just make sure you share with your mom, okay?"
Loving Miracle smiled, "Okay! I promise!"
Loving Miracle filled a bag with the berry flavored candies before heading home, "Thanks Bon Bon! See you tomorrow!"
Bon Bon waved as the filly walked out the door, "Goodbye, Miracle!"
Bon Bon watched the door close as she slumped back on the couch, "That poor filly. Forced out of her hivemind by someone with no clue of how the hivemind works... I can't think of a fate more cruel."
Loving Miracle walked home, bag of candies in her mouth with a smile on her face. In her head though, jumbled thoughts bounced around, what did happen to her memories? Did someone force her out? Did someone mess the spell up? Why was she sent out of the hive? Was it her idea? Loving Miracle pushed her thoughts aside as she pushed open the door to the cottage, "Mommy! I'm home!"
Loving Miracle set the candy on the table before moving into the living room, "Mommy? Mommy! Where are you?"
Loving Miracle looked on in horror, a broken vase on the floor, furniture turned upside down, and a distressed Angel bunny pulling Miracle through the wreckage toward an even worse sight. Lying on the floor, covered in blood and barely breathing, was Fluttershy.
Loving Miracle sprinted down the path that led from the cottage back to town. The young filly's mind was occupied by one thing and one thing only, get help. Tears streaked Loving Miracle's face as she ran into town, her vision becoming blurry. It was then that Loving Miracle came face to face with a pile of lavender fur. Miracle picked herself up and stared into the face of Princess Twilight Sparkle. The filly was relieved to see her mother's friend staring back at her, "Twilight! You need to help Mommy! She's hurt, really bad!"
Twilight didn't say a word as she grabbed the filly and teleported to the cottage, blasting the door open as she took in the scene. She ran to her unconscious friend, "She's still alive, but barely."
Twilight looked at the scared filly in the entryway, "What happened?"
Loving Miracle shook her head trying to speak through her tears, "I-I don't know. I just got home. From Bon Bon's house... And there she was... I-Is she going to be okay Twilight?"
Twilight grabbed Fluttershy and placed the pegasus on her back, "I think so. We need to get her to the hospital though. Come on, I'm going to try teleporting us."
In a bright pink flash, the trio was in the emergency room of Ponyville Hospital. Nurse Redheart quickly rushed over, spotting the princess and her injured friend. Twilight turned to the nurse, "Please, help her."
Nurse Redheart nodded, "Don't worry, Princess. She's in good hooves here."
Fluttershy was quickly transferred to a stretcher and wheeled down a hallway. Loving Miracle attempted to follow but was stopped by Nurse Redheart, "Whoa, sweetie. You can't go back there right now."
Loving Miracle's eyes began to tear up again, "But. But, Mommy. I need to see Mommy."
Nurse Redheart gave the filly a quick hug before getting back up, "I know, but we're going to help her. And it will be kind of difficult to help her with a filly in the way. I promise you'll be able to see your mommy just as soon as we're done. Okay?"
Loving Miracle sniffled before nodding, "Okay."
Nurse Redheart smiled before running back down the hallway to catch up with the others. Loving Miracle turned around and ran back to Twilight. The little filly broke down crying in Twilight's outstretched forelegs.
It was hours later, as the sun began to set and Luna began to raise the moon. Twilight was sitting in the hospital's waiting room, a wing draped over Loving Miracle, who had fallen asleep after her crying subsided. Twilight stared out the window, watching as the sun began to disappear behind the mountains. Her brain was a jumbled mess of thoughts. What happened to Fluttershy? Who would do this to such a kind mare? Were they looking for something? Twilight looked down at the filly next to her. Does this have something to do with her? Twilight sighed and went back to staring out the window until a voice interrupted her thoughts, "Princess?"
Twilight looked towards the sound of the voice, spotting Nurse Redheart. The alicorn smiled, "Oh, hello Nurse Redheart. You can just call me Twilight you know."
Nurse Redheart nodded, "Okay, Twilight. Well, I have some news about Fluttershy."
Twilight stood up, careful to not wake Loving Miracle, "Really? What is it? Is she okay?"
Nurse Redheart sighed, "The mare is expected to make a full recovery, but..."
Twilight's face showed signs of worry, "What? What happened?"
Nurse Redheart looked directly at Twilight. This wasn't the first time the mare had to deliver bad news, "Her wings were severely damaged. Many of the bones in her left wing are fractured or broken completely, and her right wing isn't much better. We're going to see what we can do, it might take a lot of therapy and more hospital visits, but I can't guarantee that she will ever fly again."
Twilight gasped in shock. While it was true that Fluttershy preferred the ground to the air, that didn't mean she never used her wings. She used them around her house constantly, getting up to higher shelves or helping injured birds learn to fly again. How would Fluttershy take the news? How would Miracle? Twilight looked back at the sleeping filly, she was beginning to stir now that she sensed that Twilight had got up. Twilight sighed and looked back to Nurse Redheart, "Will we be able to see Fluttershy soon?"
Nurse Redheart nodded, "She's asleep at the moment, but she should wake up soon. I can take you to her."
Twilight smiled, "Thank you, Nurse Redheat. Just let me get Loving Miracle."
Twilight walked back over to the filly, gently nudging her with a wing, "Miracle, you need to get up. We're going to see your mom now, okay?"
Loving Miracle yawned and rubbed her eyes, "Does that mean Mommy's okay?"
Twilight nodded, "She's going to be fine, but she's probably in a lot of pain right now and she's very tired. So you can't be jumping around in there, okay?"
Loving Miracle nodded as she slid off the chair and began to follow Nurse Redheart down the hallway. The duo followed the nurse down to a simple hospital room. Nurse Redheart pushed the door open, allowing the other ponies inside. The only noise in the room was the steady beeping of the heart monitor in the room, and lying on the bed was Fluttershy. The mare was sleeping peacefully, but her body was covered in all sorts of bandages, her wings were bandaged to her side.
Twilight just nodded silently. She walked up to the bed, Loving Miracle following close behind. Fluttershy began to stir, her eyes blinking a few times before focusing on her surroundings. The pegasus groaned as the feeling of pain came flooding back, she looked around once more, spotting Twilight next to her bed, "Twilight? What happened? Is Loving Miracle okay?"
Loving Miracle ran up to the bed, "I'm right here Mommy! Here I am! Are you okay?"
Fluttershy looked down at her daughter stretching out a hoof to stroke her mane, "I'm fine, Miracle. I love you."
Loving Miracle smiled, "I love you too, Mommy."
Fluttershy smiled at her daughter, "Hey, Miracle? Could you and Nurse Redheart go out in the hall so I can talk to Twilight?"
Fluttershy looked back at the nurse, "Oh, you don't mind watching her, do you?"
Nurse Redheart smiled and shook her head, "Not at all miss. Come along, Miracle."
Loving Miracle followed the nurse out of the room as the door clicked shut behind them. Fluttershy let her mask of calm slip as she turned back to Twilight, "Twilight, you have to get her out of here. Whoever attacked me, they were looking for Miracle."
Fluttershy began to cry as she continued, "They kept shouting at me as they beat me. "Where is she?" "What did you do with her?" "We know she's here." It was horrible. They said they were taking her back to the hive. Oh, Twilight! You need to help her! Don't let them take her away!"
Twilight hugged her friend, careful to avoid causing pain, "It's okay, Fluttershy. We'll figure this out and we will keep Loving Miracle safe. Nothing will happen to her. Now who did this to you?"
Fluttershy began to hyperventilate as her sobbing continued, "I don't know! Some group of changelings! They came in disguised as you and Pinkie Pie and started tearing everything apart! I don't know what to do, Twilight. I'm terrified for my little Miracle."
Twilight carefully stroked her friend's mane in an attempt to calm her, "I know, but were going to find them, Fluttershy. And they will pay."
The friends were suddenly interrupted by a scream coming from the hallway. Fluttershy jumped up, "Miracle!"
Twilight put a hoof in front of her friend, "Fluttershy, stay here. You're too injured and you could probably hurt yourself more. I'll get her."
And with that, Twilight bolted out of the room. She looked around only to hear a scream from further down the hall. Twilight began to sprint down the hallway in pursuit, using her wings to try and gain some speed with her horn lit and prepared to strike, "Don't worry, Miracle! I'm coming!"
Back in the room, Fluttershy continued to worry. They had found her, they had found Miracle, and now they were taking her away. Fluttershy didn't care about her injuries, her daughter was in danger and she had to do something about it. The pegasus began to climb out of the bed, un-hooking herself from the various machines and monitors and making her way to the door, which was flung open by Nurse Redheart. Fluttershy continued walking, "I'm sorry nurse, but my daughter is in trouble and I need to help her."
Nurse Redheart grabbed the pegasus in a green aura, throwing her against the wall, "I'm sorry, but your 'daughter' is going back to the hive."
Fluttershy began to violently thrash against the magic holding her, landing a kick to the fake nurse's head, giving Fluttershy a means of escape. The mare quickly galloped out the door, spotting the real Nurse Redheart unconscious on the floor. Fluttershy continued down the hallway as the fake nurse rose off the ground, dropping her disguise, "The pegasus is on the run."
Loving Miracle was fighting against a magical green aura, screaming as loud as she could. The changeling carrying her smirked, "Not a problem. I'm almost out with the foal and there are no signs of -- ah!"
The changeling was blasted in the side by a bolt of pink energy. Loving Miracle screamed in delight, "Twilight!"
The purple alicorn continued her charge, firing another bolt at the changeling's horn, causing him to drop Miracle as Twilight grabbed the filly in her own, "Come on, Miracle. We're getting out of here."
Twilight placed Loving Miracle on her back before sprinting down the hallway. Loving Miracle clutched the alicorn for safety as the pair sped towards the doors only to be stopped by a group of changelings blocking the door. Twilight's horn fired again, ready to defend her friend. One of the changelings shouted to the group, "Take out the alicorn! Make sure the foal is unharmed!"
Meanwhile, Fluttershy was running as fast as her legs could carry her, past her pain and straight toward the sound of her daughter's voice. Hearing Loving Miracle scream in pure fear like that, it crushed her heart. The thought of losing her little Miracle brought out a motherly instinct to protect her child, turning the shy, pacifistic pegasus into a terrifying creature of destruction. Another scream of terror erupted throughout the halls, "Mommy!"
Twilight Sparkle and Loving Miracle found themselves surrounded by a group of changelings, horns glowing and ready to fire. Loving Miracle began to whimper, tears blurring the edge of her vision, in sheer terror she shouted for the one pony she wanted right now, "Mommy!"
The firing began quickly, bolts of green energy met bolts of pink in quick succession, sending changelings flying and testing a princess' limit. Twilight continued to disable changelings while Miracle cowered. The small changeling continued to try lighting her horn, to try and help her friend, but to no avail. The poor changeling was unable to focus her energy in her moment of terror. Miracle watched on as the group's members began to fall and watched as a bolt was fired straight at Twilight's back. The filly jumped up to protect her protector, "Twilight!"
Everything seemed to happen in a blur, Loving Miracle was hit by the blast and slid across the room, Twilight gasped in shock, the changelings stared in awe, and the changeling who fired the blast found his skull crushed by a pale yellow hoof. Fluttershy glared at the remaining changelings blocking the exit, a look even more frightening than 'the stare' because this stare was filled with nothing but rage. The changeling that appeared to be the leader grit his teeth in annoyance, he looked at how many of his soldiers had fallen and the angry mares before him. He called to any who were left, "Retreat for now! The filly has been injured and we are outmatched!"
The remaining changelings began to disappear in flashes of green as Fluttershy ran to her daughter, "Miracle? Are you okay? Say something, sweetie!"
Miracle opened her eyes and looked up at Fluttershy, "Mommy!"
The filly threw her forelegs around her mother's neck and began to cry, "I love you, Mommy!"
Fluttershy pulled her daughter close, "I love you too, Miracle. I'm glad you're safe."
Twilight was still attempting to comprehend the situation, she had heard that mothers would go to any length to protect their children, but the alicorn never thought she would see meek little Fluttershy smash the skull of a changeling. Also, just what was going on here? These changelings suddenly retreated when Miracle appeared to be injured and had ordered that she remained unharmed, but why?
After explaining what had happened to the hospital staff, Fluttershy was checked out and sent home. Fluttershy took the news about her broken wings rather well, she was a bit worried at first wondering how she would help her flying critters without flying, but the doctors reassured her that she still might be able to fix them, she just had to refrain from using them for a couple months. Which probably wouldn't be too hard for the pegasus, but Miracle said she would be "extra vigilant" in order to keep her mommy safe. Twilight escorted Miracle and Fluttershy back to the cottage the alicorn volunteered to stay the night with the family but Fluttershy refused, she didn't want to cause Twilight any trouble and after the day's events, the mare just wanted some time with her daughter. Twilight left the pair and began the walk back to her home, questions swirling in her head. It appeared that something from Loving Miracle's forgotten past was coming back to haunt her.
That night, Miracle had one of the strangest dreams of her life. Everything was blurry, she could see vague outlines of something... Ponies? Changelings? It was hard to tell... They were all watching her. A single word was repeated over and over, whispered among them. It sounded so strange but so familiar at the same time, "Alstroemeria."
