//------------------------------//
// Tender Loving Care 
// Story: The Wish My Heart Made 
// by Arreis Of Avalon 
//------------------------------//

I was sipping delicious soup whenever the time came for me to leave. I was feeling much better, at least. My ribs were poking through my skin still, and I was horribly skinny, but my eyes had gotten back a bit of that gleam they once had. The soup and the ponies caring for me certainly helped, of course. Their love felt so very good, and it tasted lovely. Almost with a hint of apples. How peculiar.

The stallion named Braeburn trotted into my room. I sat up, smiling kindly at him - that was what I was trained to do in this situation. Act friendly. Siphon off as much love as you can without everypony murdering everypony else. Survive. It was hard, but I knew I could do it. For my race. “Hello,” I said, my voice still a bit raw after sleeping so long.

“Glad t’see you up and happy,” he said, smiling back. “I thought for sure you’d be in more pain. Y’have loads of cuts on your chest… Mind tellin’ me how you got those? And why y’were in the Badlands?”

I gulped, looking away. How was I going to respond to that? If he didn’t trust me, there was no way he would let me go with his cousin. “I-I…”

Braeburn sighed. “I know it’s gonna hurt to remember. Y’seem like y’went through something mighty tragic out there.” I glanced at him and nodded hesitantly - that one wasn’t even a lie. He smiled softly. “Y’don’t have to tell me.”

What? “I-I don’t?” I asked, utterly confused. 

“No, you don’t. You’ll say what happened t’you in good time. My cousin Applejack knows how to protect herself… I don’t think you’re gonna hurt us anytime soon, though. I think you jus’ need some love.”

I jumped at his words and looked down. “No need t’be surprised. Y’seem like the type who needs somepony to look after ‘em.” He gently put his hoof on my shoulder. I flinched away from the touch - nopony had touched me like that in a long time. Changelings avoided touching me in any way to avoid offense. I had managed to stay away from it as Cadance. It was a foreign feeling to me, just as foreign as my voice and this… niceness. He pulled his hoof back, his face full of sorrow. “Somethin’ or somepony hurt you real bad… I jus’ hope y’can get better with time.” 

He stood, smiling. “Applejack’ll be here soon. You jus’ rest up now, y’hear?” Without another word, he walked out.

I glanced at the soup. For a full day, these ponies fed me. They kept me here, not knowing who I was, or what had happened to me. I can’t tell if they are foolish or just… better than I. I would never allow a pony in my hive… but they would let a stranger in theirs. Was this simply another thing I had to learn? Another aspect of my new plan, my new salvation?

My eyes began to droop. I found myself so tired as of late. I yawned as I settled myself back down into my pillows. I slept again, and dreamt again.

I never had many dreams as a queen. I dreamt of ruling. I dreamt of the crown, and of having a full race. My dreams now confused me.

I stood alone in a sea of blackness. There was an alabaster mare in the distance, with green hair and a rose in her slightly curled mane. She looked somewhat like I did in pony form, but… she looked so happy. So natural. I tried to reach out for her. She turned and smiled. She waved and called me over. I tried to get closer, but suddenly, something fell in front of my face. I caught it in my magic and looked close. Another blue feather.

I looked up again. The mare was gone. I was back in my hive. My people were not hungry. They smiled like the mare did. I smiled too.

*~*~*~

I started awake as the train hit another bump. How long had I been asleep? WasI still safe? 

My heart was pounding a mile a minute as I looked around frantically, panicked. I tried to remember what happened, and as I thought, I slowly calmed down. That’s right. Braeburn had helped me to the train station after I woke up from another weird dream. I had met Applejack and hadn’t said much. She had brought me to a back cabin where there was a bed. That’s where I was now…

I sighed softly as I relaxed. Why were these ponies so nice to each other? I had done nothing for them. I simply didn’t understand it. It was hard to trust such unadulterated kindness. I wondered, why? Why was it so foreign? Are my people really so… so evil? So unkind and brash?

I shook my head. I shouldn’t think that about my own race. After all, I’d be a bit hypocritical to think I was any better. I’m a changeling; nothing will ever change that. And us changelings are not unkind. We simply follow different rules and structures. A certain kind of harshness comes from having your only food source be stolen love.

But, I must admit… It was a tad bit nice for this change of pace…

I jumped again as the cabin door slid aside. Did nopony give warning when they entered a room? Applejack trotted in hesitantly. “Oh, you’re awake! I jus’ wanted t’tell you, we’ll be in Ponyville soon. We got a nice bed up in the barn for you. I know, the barn, but it’s the best room we got. Braeburn was a might bit silly, thinkin’ we had more room…”

I nodded softly, shying away from her just as I had with Braeburn. Around the Element of Harmony, I felt… uneasy. What if she figured me out and used her powers? I had never truly seen them in action… but I had heard stories. Discord, Nightmare Moon… I really didn’t want to be next. A hit from them could easily be my last.

Applejack smiled a bit ruefully as she saw me edge away, sighing softly. “Sorry this is all happenin’ so fast. Braeburn just thought it’d be nice t’get you in a place where y’could have some ponies lookin’ after you. Appleloosa doesn’t have any hospitals or any of that sorta thing, so he called me up and asked me t’take you. I was happy to!” 

“W-why,” I asked before I could stifle the question. Damn this accursed curiosity.

“Knew you’d say somethin’ eventually! An’ what d’you mean, ‘why’? Braeburn said y’were hurt. I wasn’t about t’let somepony go without proper medicine!” She chuckled. “Dunno how y’were raised, but my family ain’t gonna let somepony in your condition wander around willy nilly without the right kinda care.”

I smiled softly at her display of pride. Finally, something familiar. “T...Thank you…”

“Aw, no thanks needed, Sugar. I’m just glad t’help.” She gently smoothed the bedsheets where my hooves were before returning to the door. “Like ah said, we’ll be there soon. If y’want, y’can come up into the other cabin and chat with me. I’m always happy for the company!” She tipped her hat and trotted out.

I watched her go, sighing. Again, an example of their kindness. I didn’t think I’d ever understand how nice these ponies are…

But as I stood and straightened the bed, I realized I was taking her up on that offer of company into this new world… and I started to have a little hope.