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// 11 - Just a light meal 
// Story: A Penny for your thought 
// by Damaged 
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Left alone, at least by the mane six, Stick and I relaxed together and said little. At last though, with a rumble from my belly, the changeling nestled her head down, pressing one ear to my underside. "What is this? You need something?" She sat back in astonishment looking at my belly. "Penny, quick, there's a hungry mare stuck inside you, we must get her something to eat!"

I couldn't help giggling at her antics, turning and climbing up from the big pool. Aloe approached and swung a hoof to point to the side with an expansive gesture. Dripping wet, I felt almost twice as heavy as normal. "Thank you." Following her direction, a glossy Stick behind me, there was a moment of shock as a warm breeze flowed over my wet self. "Oh, now this is nice…" 

It was hard to remain standing, the earth pony working a brush through my fur as it dried. Stick had turned with me to face the warm air. "My shell feels all tingly." Her wings buzzed a little, shedding minute droplets of water to evaporate before they could strike something.

With my fur brushed, my mane and tail styled until they were silky and flowing, I stepped out of the spa after thanking the ponies who worked there. "Where to now?" Stick sounded relaxed, really relaxed. Without the fear of her meeting with the Elements to worry she only had happy things to plan for. 

"Well-" I was about to put thoughts to words when my belly rumbled again. "Guess that is as good an answer. Try the hayburger again?" Stick gave a giggle and a nod. "Done."

It wasn't until we were walking through the center of Ponyville, the little market there bustling with ponies of all kinds, that I realized two things. Stick was getting stares and I had left my shawl behind.

"Are you really a blank flank?" A small pegasi filly had run up, familiar unicorn and earth pony galloping in her wake. "We haven't got our cutie marks yet either, maybe we could help each other!" 

The earth pony nodded. "You would be the biggest member!"

The third, Sweetie Belle, instead looked surprised at it, keeping silent.

Pondering how to continue talking to the infamous, at least among bronies, cutie mark crusaders it was Stick who broke up the interrogation. "Now now, you can't have Penny without me. I don't have a cutie mark either." All but Sweetie Belle looked at the changeling with surprise, having been focused on the mare with a blank flank.

"Told you!" Sweetie Belle posed a moment.

Stick reached out a foreleg and rubbed the mane of the vindicated unicorn. "I don't mind the stares but at least let me have your names before you ask." 

Apple Bloom blinked. "Ask what?" Her drawl was just developing, but was just as cute as I remembered. 

"'Do me!'" I tried to make the best impression of everypony who had asked but made sure a smile took any heat out of the observation. Scootaloo grinned wide.

"Me first! Uh, Scootaloo!" She held out a hoof toward Stick and, no sooner did their hooves touch than there were two Scootaloos, one with a changeling cutie mark. "This is awesome!" Her wings fluttered so fast a hummingbird would be jealous.

"Apple Bloom. Me next!" The earth pony filly reached a hoof out and, repeating the previous gesture Stick was a copy of her. She clopped her hooves together and did a little dance.

Sweetie Belle looked up. "It's okay, I know-" but was cut off as Scootaloo reached under and lifted the unicorn's hoof up to bump against Stick.

"She is Sweetie Belle!" The pegasus was so full of energy and excitement, particularly when a second unicorn appeared with a gush of green fire. The real Sweetie blushed a little and looked away, not seeing as Stick became herself again. 

"Oh, do my sister!" Apple Bloom exclaimed but I cut in.

Lifting a hoof to I gently nudged Stick back. "It takes her a lot of energy to do this, she only has a few ponies here she can restock from." Sweetie Belle looked proud a moment.

"I knew that, Rarity told me!" The unicorn filly tilted her head. "Wait, because you copied us, will you… eat us?" Obviously Rarity had told her more than I thought she would have.

Stick acted like she was pondering it, her mouth opening slowly to show the fangs of her kind, brilliant, white, and sharp. "Maybe just a leg!" She gave the best hiss she could as the three fillies squealed and danced around in mock-fear. Laughing along with them, Stick shook her head. "Not from fillies, only ponies fully grown. My name is Stick."

The changeling held out a hoof to each filly in turn, getting smiles and giggles all around.

"Just what are you blank flanks up to now?" The sound of Diamond Tiara's voice, dripping with scorn and not-so-hidden barbs, came from around the corner. She had obviously seen the fillies excited about something, but hadn't seen Stick or myself. "Let me guess, you found another lose...er…"

She had spotted us, Silver Spoon still acting the flunky at her side. I leaned to Stick and whispered softly, making sure only my friend could hear. "Name is Diamond Tiara, uppity. Think you could swing another Luna? I don't think she can see your flank at this angle." Stick grinned, showing off her teeth as green flame enveloped her.

The dark alicorn was standing there suddenly, glaring at the two interlopers who, breath catching in their throats, bolted.

Stick-Luna flickered again and was herself. I felt a strange sensation, of… weakness flowing over me. "Oh man!" Scootaloo was whooping with delight. "That was awesome but… you don't look too hot…"

She was right, Stick looked awful all of a sudden. "Too much shifting." My explanation had Apple Bloom bolting off. Her friends were too distracted to notice. "You going to be alright?" I pushed my own body in and under her, scooping her leg up and over my shoulder. 

"Just… tired…" Her voice was thick with chittering and I knew she had pushed too far.

The cavalry arrived, literally. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were hot on the earth pony filly's hooves and came to a stop before us. "What'n tarnation is goin' on here?"

"We were asking her to do us, she ran out of energy!" Scootaloo was quick to fess up.

"Well shucks, I guessin' she didn't drink from y'all?" There were a round of head-shakes from the fillies.

I piped up. "But she is drinking pretty hard from me right… right now." I had never felt this before, it was like every thought, every action, was a fight.

It was Rainbow Dash that stepped up. "Can't have you Canterlot ponies showing up Ponyville." She moved in on Stick's other side and leaned in to whisper to her.

The drain I felt reduced and I could see Dash stiffen a little. "Got th' right o' that. Come awn, drink up sugarcube." Stick lifted her head up and gazed at Applejack. I swear the changeling had gone a little gray around the face but with the three of us there she perked right back up.

"Thanks." Her chitter was still thick, but much less than before. 

"Hay, nothing the great Rainbow Dash couldn't help with!" The pegasus had taken the brunt of the drain when Stick had shifted from me to her, but damn did she look like she could take a hit and keep going. "Hay, you two looking to get some lunch?"

Stick tried a half-grin. "I already ate."

Dash had a confused expression for half a second before she cracked up laughing.

"What she's tryin' ta ask is, we'r fixen ta have lunch at mah ranch, y'all invited." 

With the three fillies trailing, we were led in a slow walk to the edge of town and further, toward the Apple Ranch. "Thanks." My voice was strong, thanks to the pair of mares' assistance. "It was my fault, we were having some fun when Diamond Tiara came to rib your sister and her friends. I got Stick to become something appropriate to scare them off."

"Aww, 'tweren't nothin'." Applejack's voice was relaxed, betraying no strain. "S'what friends'r fer, right?"

I had never seen Stick look so proud as then.

"'Sides, that filly needs a good shock to 'er system every now'n again." My own thoughts turned to what I knew of season five. She would get one, at really good time too. "Now, lets see what Big Mac has got brewin'."

"Guests?" The deep voice of a stallion called as we were walking up the path toward the house. It was a few heartbeats before I realized it was Big Mac himself.

"Darn tootin'. This here's Penny and Stick." Applejack introduced us. "Don't go mindin' their appearance, they's good friends."

I blushed and waved to the huge-seeming stallion. He only seemed to get bigger as we walked closer. 

"Hope you made plenty, we are all super hungry!" Dash cut a loop in emphasis. 

"Ay'yup." The big earth pony turned and led the way into the Apple family house. 

Granny Smith seemed missing but as the fillies sped past us Big Mac pointed to the kitchen sink. "I can't believe we have a changeling visiting!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, washing her forehooves and mouth under the faucet.

I followed them, mindful of having to use my own hooves to serve food while I had been walking around on them half the day. "I know, she is so awesome!" Scootaloo piped in, her voice partly mimicking her idol's speech patterns.

After a few minutes of small talk we were all washed up and seated. AJ was at the head of the table and it suddenly struck me. While watching the show I had always been impressed by Rarity's ability to run her own business and succeed. Wasn't Applejack doing the same, but also managing her family?

"Mmm, this'ere's good Big Mac!" Applejack had taken to her meal first, not one to stand on tradition.

"Ay'yup!" The stallion was only moments behind and for a while only the sounds of gastronomical delight were heard.

She wasn't half wrong either, the vegetable stew was thick and chunky, instead of gravy it had a cheese-sauce mixed in. For a simple meal it was delicious.

I was just getting into my meal when a second spoon reached over, laden with vegetables. "Open up." Stick's words made me blush, but closing my eyes I obediently opened my mouth and was fed by her. "Mmm, you taste even nicer when you blush." This made me blush more, likely her intention. 

"What's it like?" Sweetie Belle had gotten a seat right beside Stick. "Eating love, I mean."

Stick was chasing some stew around with her now empty spoon. "Think of how much Scootaloo, your friend, likes to just move." She hadn't seen the show, of course, but Stick was certainly not blind. "Think of the joy she gets when she almost flies along, of her smile. How that makes you feel is sort of how love tastes." 

Sweetie Belle blinked, her face lighting up. "That must be great!"

Another spoonful was deposited in my mouth and I didn't struggle against Stick's ministrations.

"It is quite nice, when you have someone willing to be that friend for you." Stick's leg, under the table, brushed mine. My blush returned but just as I was going to say something I had another mouthful of stew to worry about. "When you don't, it can be the worst thing. For a long time I didn't have a friend, but," she bonked me on the nose almost causing me to lose the mouthful I was savoring, "now I do."