//------------------------------// // Chapter Six // Story: Rhubarb // by JuneLuxray2 //------------------------------// 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."