//------------------------------// // Bandages // Story: A Helping Hoof // by Drifter //------------------------------// I realized it was a bit rushed on the last chapter, so I deleted it and made this one instead. And longest chapter yet FTW Fluttershy set the groceries down quietly. If Differ was still asleep she wouldn't wake him up. After finishing packing all her supplies away, the yellow pegasus decided to check on her guest. Silent as a mouse, she crept up the stairs towards the room. Soon she reached the spot in which she had stood just the night before. She silently opened the door and stepped into the room. Everything was how it was supposed to be. The bookcase, the books, the poster, and even the bed sheets were folded. The only thing missing was the changeling. "Differ?" Fluttershy called through the house. No response. Had he left? "Differ?!" Fluttershy called again. By now she raced around the home, checking every single room. Nothing. "Differ!" the pegasus yelled. "Fluttershy?" the voice was outside of the house, in the backyard. She raced outside, but couldn't see him. "Differ, where are you?" she asked to no one in particular. "I'm right here." the changeling's voice came from a patch of grass. When Fluttershy looked closer, she saw him. Camouflage. Now he was changeling from looking green and brown to the familiar black color. "Sorry," he apologized, "It's just... it's just... today is so perfect! The sun is shinning, it's nice and warm, everyone is happy. I've never seen anything like it." "It's alright," Fluttershy said, accepting the apology, "but I was so worried. I thought you had been taken away, or you left! And you're in no condition for that." She eyed his bandages. He pressed his hoof up against them and winced. "Well, i'm here in the flesh, see?" he held out his hoof to Fluttershy. She softly held it for a moment. "I guess... but how did you do that thing with the grass?" she asked. Differ smiled slightly, "We don't only use our powers for stealing love. It's good camouflage, too." "Well..." Fluttershy said for a moment, "well, I got breakfast. Lets go eat!" "Sure," Differ said, "I'm starving." "Bon appetite." Fluttershy said jokingly, handing Differ a plate. On it was an omelette, bread, a tomato, and a few strawberries. Differ slowly took his first bite, before wolfing down more. "This is good!" he said through a mouth full of food. "Differ, slow down, you going to eat it all before I even sit down!" she said. Differ grinned sheepishly, "Sorry." the changeling sat and waited for the pegasus to sit down and begin eating. "So," Fluttershy said before taking another bite, "I was wondering... changelings rely on love for food, right?" "Yeah..." Differ said. "So how do you survive here?" she asked. "Well," Differ atemped to explain, "imagine if a pony is in love. Then there is an... auroa-a field around them that makes you feel their love. Most changelings change into ponies because they want the love. I, however, can feed off your love indirectly." "M-My love?" Fluttershy said. Her mind went over anyone she liked, but the hit came down to zero. Except... "Yeah. Your love for your animals. It's like... it's like its floating around in the air and I absorb it." Differ finished. Literally as well, his plate was clean. Fluttershy was as well. "Let me get that for you." She said, grabbing the dishes and heading towards the sink, her mind still reeling. She didn't like anypony... any pony. Not any changeling. After their late breakfast, Fluttershy and Differ were now sitting together on the couch. The pegasus was unwrapping his bandages slowly. "Ah..." Differ gasped. "Sorry, sorry. I've never done anything like this with anything larger then a cat..." Fluttershy apologized. "I-It's fine." Differ said. Now the pegasus was done unwrapping his chest. It was slightly purple from bruising, and slightly deformed from broken ribs. Now she unwrapped his arm. The bandage slowly peeled off, revealing a red mess. "We're going to need to clean that more." Fluttershy said, "Follow me." They both walked into a small bathroom. Fluttershy reached into a cupboard and pulled out a large bottle which read Rubbing Alcohol. "This might sting... a lot..." Fluttershy told him, "Now hold out your arm." Differ did as he was told. Fluttershy washed it down, until most of the smeared blood was gone and all that remained was a large cut. Then, Fluttershy poured some of the alcohol onto a white strip of cloth. "Ready?" She asked. He nodded. Slowly, she placed the cloth over his cut. "Agh!" Differ cried out, his face contorted in pain. She continued to dab the cloth around his arm for a few more secconds. For Differ it felt like hours. "...aaand... done." the pegasus said, taking away the cloth. "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," Differ said, "it was WORSE!" Fluttershy laughed, "Well, while you have your bandages off, you might as well take a shower." "Sure, why not?" Differ said. Fluttershy gestured to the shower curtain. The sound of running water echoed through the house. Fluttershy sat outside the bathroom, waiting for her patient to finish. As she sat there, here mind wandered off into a day dream. They were together, Fluttershy and Differ. They were lying on the couch, their lips meeting in a long, passionate kiss. She held him close to her, keeping their bodies close as the it continued. What the... Feelings long submerged were coming up. No, no she couldn't be falling for him! He was a changeling, she was a pegasus! Two completely different beings! It was stupid, it was not allowed! It was quiet. Differ was done. Fluttershy was still deep in her thoughts when Differ walked in. "Fluttershy." he said, snapping her out of the trance. His body was covered in water which glimmered off his black skin. He looked very... handsome to say the least. Fluttershy imagined him leaping towards her, kissing her, embracing her. Instead he said, "Well, i'm done. What now?" "The-the bandages." she said, her voice shaking. "You ok?" Differ asked, drying off with his towel before sitting next to her. "Yeah, i'm fine." I'm just falling head over hooves in love with you.