My Little Angel
Chapter Three: Changing Outlooks
Both Fluttershy and Angel darted their heads and eyes around for any signs of the shape-shifting, love-stealing creature.
Worried, Fluttershy looked to her best companion. "Oh, dear. Angel, did you see… where the um… ch-changeling went?"
Still held in the pegasus' embrace, the bunny looked up at her and shrugged since he too closed his eyes when the thunder and lightning were so close to their cottage home… not that he was afraid, mind you… lightning just bothered his delicate little eyes; that's all…
Another unexpected thunderbolt and the little rabbit buried his face into Fluttershy. The winged-mare nuzzled his head and tried to give an assuring smile. "It's okay… we'll get through this."
Angel relaxed a bit and after he hopped out of Fluttershy's forelegs, he sulked at himself; because the bunny-swapper has him all jumpy now, like… his meek caretaker! That's just peachy.
Nervous as ever, Fluttershy looked around. "Okay… the door and windows are still closed. So that means the changeling… is… still in-inside the cottage. So we-we better start looking."
The pegasus and little rabbit began to search their unusually quiet, animal filled abode. Fluttershy carefully flies around a preening parrot, eyeing him closely. "Remember, Angel, the changeling might be disguised as… somepony else."
Angel suspiciously stares at some of the little birds and other critters that stayed nearby, despite the recent chaotic events. The bunny put his paw through a small hole in the wall and pulled out a mouse; shaking him vigorously thus making the poor rodent's eyes spin.
But then, the little rabbit tilted a long, sensitive ear. He dropped the dizzy mouse and followed the low sounds until he reached a small, dark form under a chair.
Angel hopped by the wooden furniture and waved for Fluttershy's attention and gestured to it.
The pegasus flew in closer. "Oh! Be careful, my little Angel!"
Angel kicked the chair away. The spunky, brave bunny went into a fighting stance; ready for another go at the bunny-swapper. But what Angel found made his little tensed body relax and un-fist his paws.
The changeling, in his true form was hunched over with his front hooves covering his tightened eyelids…
The changeling… was crying.
Fluttershy slowly glided back to the floor, and was even more surprised at this than Angel. With the Mane Six's previous encounter with the menacing creatures, she never would have expected to see a changeling so expressive; nevertheless sobbing.
The winged-mare quickly realized that this particular changeling was small and had shorter legs. He was only a juvenile; maybe no older than the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Being lesser and weaker, he must have been deserted by his swarm and the bereaved, young creature was trying to find haven and food.
Fluttershy and Angel shared sorrowful glimpses. Regardless of what he was and what he had done today, the Element of Kindness could not ignore this little changeling's troubles. Surprisingly, neither could Angel; despite on being shoved into that yucky pickle barrel.
The little rabbit sat down by the weeping creature and patted his curved, dark horn. The sniffling changeling blinked in surprise at the consoling bunny and peered through his holed front hoofs at the yellow pegasus.
Fluttershy cautiously approached. She wanted to comfort the young creature but wavered when she got close enough to get a good view of his little but very sharp-looking teeth.
The fretting pegasus reminded herself out-loud, "Remember Fluttershy, he may be a kid but he IS a changeling. Their prime goal is to pretend to be somepony you care about and consume your love for them, making the changelings stronger and you weaker…"
As the winged-mare hesitated, Angel glanced at the crying creature then at his care-taker.
Fluttershy looked back at the little changeling who kept his big welling eyes on her's. But still… he looks SO… sad. she re-thought.
She put on a small smile and cleared her throat. "Um… Hello, uh… little changeling. I'm... Fluttershy. And that's Angel. Do… you… have a name?"
The young creature responded by lowering his tatty ears.
Fluttershy blinked in solemn surprise. "Oh, my… you don't have a name, do you?"
The dejected changeling sunk his head and his ears drooped even more so.
"Is that why you're crying?" the pegasus softly inquired. "Or… is it the storm that is making you upset?"
He heavily shook his head while his mouth quivered. Although the creature disliked rain because drenched skies made his wings clamp together, making it impossible for flying; that wasn't the reason for his tears.
Fluttershy recollected before the true Angel exposed the changeling's real identity, to when she thought he was Angel, how he was at his best behavior and how genuinely happy he was. The little changeling had to be hungry with being forsaken for some time, but yet the pegasus didn't feel weak at all.
She gave herself a quick once over. But… I feel fine. So if he did feed off my love and I'm okay, could that meant that the changeling really... loved me back?"
Fluttershy's teal eyes widened when short, but vivid memories flashed to her:
From when she and the portrayed Angel were hugging and she was praising him… "You really are MY little Angel!"
And to when the changeling was exposed and she seem to disparage him…"You're NOT my Angel."
The pegasus's face became filled with regret and empathy; she now knew what the orphaned young creature truly wanted and needed: nurturing.
Despite Angel's apologetic and sympathetic attempts, the little changeling was covering his face again, still sobbing. He then felt a soft wing gently spread over the back of his hard, navy shell. The young creature blinked quickly a few times in the realization that she was sitting beside him… caressing him. Fluttershy's kind instincts won over; her heart told her that she had absolutely nothing to fear.
"Shhh... It's okay…" she softly assured. "No need to cry. I'm here now…"
The little changeling rubbed his watery, light-blue eyes, gazing up at the caring winged-mare. His mouth quivered a bit till a droning yet childish tone came forth…
"But..," he sniffed, "not your little Angel."
"No… you're not," the pegasus agreed, softly.
The young creature sadly bowed his head again, but Fluttershy lifted it up and wiped the tears from his smooth, chitin cheeks with the tip of her long mane.
She gave him a sweet smile after she noticed his two paired wings. "You're… MY little Dragonfly."
The changeling cocked his head and ragged ears at those words.
'Dragonfly?' he silently asked by pointing to his chest.
Quietly, Fluttershy nodded with a smile. She accepted the little changeling for who he really was; not for somepony he really wasn't. And she called him by a name all his own.
Dragonfly quickly fluttered while pointing a hoof towards the kind pegasus. "Mothershy?"
Fluttershy blinked once at what he just asked. "Wait… did you just call me..?"
The fluttering little changeling nodded hopefully.
Fluttershy was taken back at that adorable endearment but was also quite touched and honored. After blinking a few tears away, she smiled warmly and nodded.
Dragonfly merrily performed a midair somersault in place, impressing the pegasus with his flying and he flew into her open forelegs, snuggling between her embrace.
"My Mothershy!" Dragonfly cheered gleefully.
"Aw! Yes, yes, your Mothershy," cooed the winged-mare.
As the sweet scene of the pegasus cuddling and nuzzling heads with the newly adopted family member commenced, Dragonfly’s horn glowed as a shimmering green aura that surrounded them for a moment. And the only one who seemed to notice this was Angel.
The bunny then took a second look and rubbed his blinking, small eyes. He wondered why all the transparent gaps in the changeling's legs were gone and his ears, mane and tail were no longer torn. But the little rabbit shrugged those thoughts off with loss of interest; because his empty tummy was protesting.
Angel began to hop towards the kitchen until the familiar, soft spoken voice halted his jumping.
"Oh, Angel… I wasn't joking about bath-time."
The winged-mare spots a bit of icing behind Dragonfly's ear and giggled. "That includes you too, Mister."
The little changeling nodded favorably, knowing his Mothershy would dry him afterwards, while the little rabbit quickly moped with droopy ears in displeasure. Just super… more bubbles… twice in one day.
Angel crossed his paws over his chest, pouting. He began to think that he was better off being stuck in the pickle barrel.