Emotion
"What a nightmare....." Both Celestia and Luna were literally buried in paperwork. After the wedding, and the changeling attack, reports came flooding in from all over of changelings being located among the populace, everypony being terrified of being kidnapped and replaced, or losing their friends. Most of these fears were unfounded, but in times like these, you could never be too careful. And so, the princesses, which the whole country looked to, were completely swamped in reports, safety program proposals, and other papers.
"Well.... I'm bored." My day off. I had already spent some time playing around with Widget's helicopter, and had gone around trying to find something to do, maybe someone who needed help, but couldn't find any. The Princesses were busy, the kitchen staff were busy, and the tech center was working on a 'changeling detector'. Everyone else was working double time, and there was literally nothing for me to do.
"Hmm......." I found my way to Celestia's study, where ever her larger form was completely concealed by the wall of papers around her desk. "Celestia, you in here?"
"Oh, um, yes Alex, just.... little busy...."
"Oh, that's alright, I was just coming to tell you I'm headed to Ponyville for a bit."
"Alright. Have fun. Hopefully you'll be able to recover some of your emotions there. I'm certain Pinkie Pie could help you get your joy back."
"Alright. If you need me, you know how to call." I held up my communication stone. "Show me the library." The image of the inside of the tree house basement came into view, and with it, the unicorn working on... something. Some kind of machine?
"Hey Twilight."
"Alex. Feeling better?"
"Yeah. I was wonder, can you bring me over for a bit? I'm bored and I need some fresh air."
"Sure.... one second...." The world flashed, and next thing I knew, I was standing in front of Celestia's student.
"Thanks."
"Do you have a place to stay?"
"I'll try and figure something out. If I can't, mind if I bunk here?"
"No problem at all."
"Spiiiiiiiiiiike."
"Yeah? Oh, hey. You're staying over? I'll go get the sleeping bag." The dragon said after barely poking his head through the door. I guess he's been living with Twilight so long, all she has to do is call for him, and he'll already know what to do without explanation. "There, all set up."
"Thanks Spike." I tossed him a sapphire, which he grabbed and began crunching on.
"So.... what are you up to today?"
"Well, Rarity is running out of gems for her dresses, so, I'm going to go gem hunting with her."
"Mind if I tag along? I'm bored out of my mind, and I could use another guy to talk to. Suds is alright, but he mostly just talks about cleaning..... and complains about Widget."
"I know that feeling. Big Mac doesn't talk much, Snips and Snails aren't the most........ intellectual, and sometimes you just need another dude to chat with. Mares are great but...."
"Yeah. I figure we can chat while we work. I'll go grab a shovel."
"Alex... I'm glad to see you out of bed, out and about. That whole business with Serenity was absolutely dreadful, you poor dear."
"I.... I'm alright." I lied. I didn't want Rarity to go on and pity me. I'd gotten enough of THAT sentiment during my physical recovery, I don't need any more during my emotional one.
"So..... why are you here?" She asked. I held up my shovel.
"You and Spike were going gem hunting, and I had nothing better to do, so I figured I'd tag along."
"Well... that's a very sweet gesture, but I have plenty of gems..... and I didn't plan to go gem hunting with Spike till next month."
"Rarity.... you asked me last Thursday to come with you today. Out at the market place?"
"But... I always do my grocery shopping Wednesday. Thursday is a sewing day, and Tuesday is my planning day. Sunday I get the orders, Monday I brainstorm, Tuesday I plan, Wednesday I get the supplies, Thursday and Friday I sew, and Saturday I deliver."
"You said that you were out of corn because Sweetie Belle tried to cook and burned it."
"I haven't let Sweetie Belle cook since she burned the orange juice."
"I.... I think I know what's going on."
"Alex? Do you have an idea of how this happened?"
"I do..... but first I need to test something." At which point, I walked right up to Rarity, and gave her a great hug. It lasted several moments before I broke away.
"Okay... good."
"Well.... that was very nice.... but I don't understand...."
"Okay..... explanation.... I don't have very much magic, and I learned that when a changeling is feeding off me, I get this.... chill. So, I gave you some tenderness and care. Didn't feel anything but warm and fuzzy. Had to make sure you were really you. I think there's a changeling impersonating you. I'm not sure what their goals are, but they may have been after Spike. Replace you, get Spike, and with him, Twilight's connection to Celestia, then replace Spike, get close to Twilight, replace her, and so on and so forth."
"But, at Canterlot, we drove them out."
"Which is all the more reason for this. Their main assault failed, so they're doing a retaliatory strike. Celebrating the victory, defending your home, defeating your enemies. Your guard is down. Or, you're paranoid and start thinking everyone is a changeling, so you start looking in all the wrong places, and they slip in, unnoticed. They failed the first time, so they're trying again with a different approach. I might be wrong......"
"But we don't want to take that chance. So.... there may or may not be a changeling in Ponyville, and you're some sort of.... changeling detector? But how will you get through the town?"
"Simple. Changelings feed on love. That's kindness and care, romance, everything. I need to attract those who need care, and I know the perfect way to do it. You just continue on the way you were before. Don't worry about anything, don't act differently, and don't tell anyone or it'll blow our cover."
"Alright..... but still, what are you planning?"
"You'll see."
Out in the center of the Ponyville market place, I stood next to Spike behind a sign planted in the ground, on which was written in big bold letters, FREE HUGS!!!