According to the moon above me, it was about midnight, but that didn't stop me from what I was about to do.
"What are you doing here? We thought we told ye to leave us!?"
"It took me two hours to find your window, give me some credit."
The alicorn smiled and I did so in return. This was the first time I had actually saw her smile.( Not in anger) In fact, this was the first time anypony had ever smiled in my soul form presence. So why did she? I guess I'm just cute....If this were true I could feed even higher on her love. I could remember being in other forms. I remember the way the mare of that stallion looked at "me." Why did they do that? Maybe Pony can feed on love too?
"Okay, I see. If you can't find your way, you may.....you may stay here still Celestia's sun has risen."
SCORE!
I swiftly glided into the room, glancing around for a place to lay my hooves for the night. I flew around like a filly at an amusement part, checking every door and poking anything unfamiliar.
"So," the princess said, "I'm Luna..."
...
"And you?"
I ceased from shoving my hoof in a vase to glare at her.
"I'm a changeling Luna," The name felt strange in my mouth. I've never had to use names in soul form."changelings don't have names."
Luna almost looked to be shocked at that information, as if she never knew that. Did she?
"But your queen," She started
"Is royalty Luna."
"I see..."
After finding a comfy looking sofa, putting my hooves up, I grabbed a magazine from a side table and began to read, using my horn as a light source, when a question drifted into mind.
"Don't think I'm complaining or anything, but why did you save me? And where were you during the...you know..."
Luna, who was already under her covers, a force field surrounding her, sat up. I don't blame her for the force field.
" Who said I saved you? And as for....that....I..."
Luna drifted off, as if she was having a flash back.
"That is none of you business!"
"I know you saved me. The others are dead. I can feel that. Usually we share our love. Like a network system."
Luna looked to the window, as if searching for her answer in the stars. A tear formed in her eye, and she began take the appearance of when I first saw her...alone.
"I..." She began, but drifted off into sobs muffled by a blanket, her horn releasing all magic around her, leaving the shield to dwindle to a spark.
I flew from where I was to her bedside, laying a hoof on hers. Luna jumped back as if hurt. I could see the place I tried to touch had two fang marks indented in them.
"Oh....I'm... yah, sorry..."
Luna smiled. "it's okay."
But I knew it wasn't. That wasn't even how changelings usually extract love. It was an old, inhumane way. We've discovered a technique to use our magic since then.
Closing my eyes, I started a spell. Luna must have understood what I was doing, for her eyes fell shut as mine and I could feel our horns come into contact, our magic filling the scars with flesh and fur as if they hadn't happened. When we had finished, no marks lay on her arm and, I hadn't noticed it at the time, but I was no longer hungry. My "love storage" was full. It felt almost unnatural to be so full. To not have to change form and search for a pony I could "gain" from.
Luna opened her eyes....Her eyes. They were blue... Had I noticed that before?
The princess cleared her thought. "Um...Thank you....I guess."
Our eyes matched and I think stayed that way for a beat longer then I meant it for Luna broke our gaze and let her eyes wander around the room uncomfortably.
"Your welcome.."
I flew back to my bed, drifting off into an aimless sleep. I knew I'd sleep well that night and I knew She would be there if I didn't.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was early when I awoke and Luna was still resting peacefully on her own bed. Hm... If she worn't a pony... Hay barrels I'm hungry! Being a quiet as possible, I sneaked to Luna's side, alighting my magic to extract her loving essence.
*sigh*
It was so warm and filling. So pleasing to my being I almost didn't want to leave her side. But it wasn't early enough to risk it so, turning form of a guard, I searched for my former prison. Finding myself to come across a door dimly familiar, I entered, finding myself in the correct room. The box....It was still there. And so was the letter that confused mare had tried to give me. I might as well open it. No use letting good essence go to waste!
I slid a fang along the heart crested seal.
Dear Rose,
you never replied to my last letter. Is something wrong? There certainly is here! The wedding is on
schedule, but the future prince fairs no better than the unknown threat upon my city. Last I heard
you've planed on moving again. Don't do that to yourself. I love you Rose, I hope it's not one of
your, well, you know. I hope on the morning that you are alright. and I hope you know I am too.
Yours forever ~Caramel.
I took one more look at the note, and placed it back into the box. It was almost entertaining the way these ponies....cared and yet, convenient. For me of coarse. Through the window, I could see the princess of the day lifting her sun to the sky. Time to get the hay out of here...or......
Flying upside down, I awaited Luna outside her window. Sure enough, the dark blue alicorn leaned out into the sky, preparing to lower her beautiful moon.
"Hey!"
The princess stumbled back onto her bed.
"Didn't mean to scare you Lulu."
"You don't need to worry about that changeling... And don't call me Lulu changeling!"
Luna stopped, as if frozen in time.
"Um...Changeling. Would it not be proper to give you a name?"
A name? I hadn't thought of that. This mare wanted to call me as an individual. How could this be?
"Why would you wish to name me? A name is to indicate difference. I am a face in the crowd. All changelings all look alike, but you ponies...your so different, even from griffins. You are all so...colorful. You all have an opinion."
"I hadn't thought of it like that." Luna gestured for me to come inside and began to lower the room.
"I..GRAH!...I think you..." She stopped, now putting all her concentration into her moon.
"I think your different."
Luna *poofed* a violet book into existence, the words "Traditional Canterlot Names" printed on the front.
After an hour of searching, and Luna liking every name I suggested, I came across a few that poked out at my interest.
"How about.... menace?"
"Really? I was under the impression you wanted a name, not a title!"
"Hmm... How does Blank sound?"
"No, no."
I flipped through pages, barely glancing at the names. Luna got up to stare out the window in board em.
"Zinc..." I mumbled.
"What?"
"I choose Zinc."
Luna yawned, as if it no longer cared what name I chose.
"Okay, Zinc. You've got your name. And, I'm afraid you will need a proper...Costume you called it?"
I frowned at this, but did as I was told. With a bright shock of green light, my form changed to a brown stallion with a dark red mane and purple eyes. Luna covered her eyes in joke.
"No! That shall never do!"
I had to change form 3 more times before the princess was satisfied with me. A dark gray unicorn with an even darker black scraggly looking mane and tale.
"You look....different."
"Is...different better?"
"....No, but it will have to work for now Zinc."
Zinc. It felt good to hear her say that, my name. MY name.