Realizations
The unpleasant tang of anger filled my senses as I passed by a pair unicorns yelling at each other about proper tea serving. "You sir are no gentlepony or you would know that 210 degrees is the correct temperature to serve at not 211." Shaking my head I almost broke stride as the argument grew more animated. Ponies, can they even smell themselves when they get so heated. Best not to get caught up in such a mess when I have an appointment set for later this afternoon. And of course, another more personal and fulfilling matter to attend to this evening. It wouldn't do to blow my cover after spending so many years maintaining it.
* * *
My name is Love Meal, formerly Drone 1215-V05 of the dank and musty hole in the ground known only as 'the hive'. I am no longer welcome there for committing the high crime of thinking for oneself. The next thing I knew after having a thought some of my mindless brothers snatched me up, epoxied my limbs and left me far away from home.
After a few hours unable to move lying on my back listening fearfully for the sound of my impending destruction the viscous green goo began to break down and I was able to wiggle myself free. So there I was, a lone drone, unable to replenish my reserves from the hives store. I had only ever been a worker involved in the construction of new tunnels, not one of the hunters tasked with locating and harvesting our food. Sure I might have asked if there was a better way to get what we needed, but that didn't mean I had any idea about how to go about it, just thought that there must be a better way. After all, if our food could live in large above ground cities why did we have to huddle beneath the ground away from the sky, hiding out of sight of the sun.
Luck must have been on my side that day as I didn't wander undisguised into a city mad with hunger to be squashed like a bug. Instead, I found a quaint little cottage on the edge of a small town. It looked to be in good repair with stout walls, a solid roof, and a small fence that seemed to serve no purpose.
Carefully slinking through the denser foliage I got close enough to peer through one of the windows from a distance. I could just make out a mare stirring a pot on the stove before my eyes locked onto a delicious looking love line. Mouth watering I watched the pink line pulse and dance about in the air, the occasional red glimmer racing up and down its length. I edged closer ever so carefully stepping over the fence while keeping below the sight of the mare inside. Smacking my lips I carefully peeked around the corner. Steadying myself I drew the line towards me until it was close enough to touch. Losing no more time I fed, drawing in the love racing past me like a two lovers frolicking in a secluded meadow. Sated I let the love line snap back into place like an old pink rubber band speckled with flecks of red paint. Stealing back across the deep green lawn and over the pearly white fence I left the brightly painted yellow cottage behind.
I should have seen the signs then, but I didn't
* * *
Arriving at my appropriately named Love Meal, Matchmaker office I straightened my red mane, checked my cararra coat for debris and let a smile cross my face as I spotted the earth pony mare waiting for me. Putting on my friendliest expression I approached her, "Good day my dear, how can I help you this lovely afternoon." It turned out to be a rather easy counseling session, not that I am complaining. The poor darling just wanted reassurance that her feelings were being returned. Not seeing any reason to give up a free meal I asked a few questions to pass the time before offering to confirm that she was on the right track. Excusing myself I followed her scrumptious looking line out the door. It only took a few minutes to follow it to the other end, though I did almost lose my way when passing by a theater playing Swan Lake, the sky was a tangled mess of crisscrossed lines and virtually roiled with emotion. After taking a few carefully measured bites I retraced my steps paralleling a now slightly diminished line, no need to worry, though, I knew exactly what I was doing. Relating to Square Dance that her love was looking great and giving her a big reassuring hug I watched as her love line grew back even stronger than before. That was the trick, after all, to take just enough that by the end of the session the love line would grow back entirely or even be more robust than before. Those last ones I always noted down in my files in case business was slow.
* * *
It was years ago now that Love Meal was born. Not as a crying foal into the arms of a loving mother. No, I made him before assuming his identity. I had been living day to day following love lines I spotted from one end to another than copying the form of the stallion to nibble a few mouth watering bites of sustenance from an unsuspecting mare. I had to be ever so careful in those early days, if I took to much I risked snapping the line entirely and that was plain wasteful. As I grew more experienced with reading love lines I was able to spot which ones were strong enough to shrug off a bite or two and which were too frail to survive even the softest lick. Let me tell you, some of the places you ponies have are filled to the brim with only those stunted and wraith-like lines. I quickly learned to avoid those 'bars' unless I was truly desperate.
Back to my birth or creation if you will. While observing ponies I noticed a very rare few who seemed to also be able to see what I could. They weren't changeling though as I could see they had their own lines. Curious I followed one pink mare to her lair while trying to appear inconspicuous. I don't know how successful I was because no matter how many times I put on a new coat she seemed to glance at me out of the corner of her eye. Still she didn't call the guard so if I was a curiosity she was welcome to stare. The most peculiar thing happened then. Two mares came to her office. One sat outside waiting, while the second talked to the pink one inside about wanting to be sure her love was real but not wanting to know who she was connected to. It was laughable, her love line was so strong I wouldn't understand how even a pony couldn't see it. The pink Dovey pony sure could, she even promised that although she hadn't followed it, it did lead to somepony still. That was when the first part of Love Meal came to be. Just the reassurance and promise caused the wishful one's line to strengthen. That shocked me, words alone causing such a reaction. It hit me, I could do this same thing and have ponies with big juicy lines come to me. I wouldn't have to scramble around out of sight. I could dispense obvious words and the ponies would give me love. It was perfect, I only needed to fashion a unique form to walk unseen among them.
I must have sat for hours at a cafe racking my brain, trying to think of something that would go unnoticed. Until it hit me, ponies don't try to hide, they wear their identity plainly for all to see. Slapping my hoof to my face I rushed to a nearby alley and started a directed change. The holes in legs filled out replaced with flesh and a periwinkle coat, a red mane sprouted from my head as my horn straightened. My wings vanished and last a cutie mark appeared, a pink heart superimposed over a crossed knife and fork. And I Love Meal was ready to have the ponies of Canterlot seek out my services.
It turned out not to be quite as easy as I thought it would be. I made a few mistakes early on taking to much from ponies who lacked a strong connection. I regret these mistakes because they were made in ignorance. Eventually, though I grew able to discern how strong a line was and just how much I could harvest without harming it. I could sometimes even reinforce the line which occasionally lead to repeat customers who only wanted to gush about how happy they were and how much I had helped them. Those were some of my favorites as I hardly had to exert myself to nip away little bits of nourishment. Those were the days back when I was a lone changeling in a love filled, pony populated city before things got complicated.
* * *
Clear Bell. I am still not sure why she latched onto me. We met by chance when I followed a love line into her families antique shop. She kept pestering me with questions while I tracked down the other end of my latest assignments line. When I tried to shake her off by explaining what I was doing it had the opposite effect. She made some strange noise and pestered me to show her what I was doing even after I tried explaining that wasn't a magic she could cast. I kept a polite conversation going making all the appropriate noises while I located and confirmed the connection. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to feed before the stallion left the store. Surprisingly I did get just the smallest boost of energy talking with Clear Bell. Before I knew it I had agreed to go to lunch with her the next day.
* * *
Sun shining brightly overhead I made my way to the Berry Bar, Home of Everything Juice. I still wasn't convinced that a mere juice no matter how many things you blended into it was a meal. But Clear Bell always insisted we return because it was where we had our first date. Logic aside as long as it made her happy it didn't matter too much what I put in my mouth as long as she was there with me. Up ahead there she was waiting outside at a table with a red and white umbrella providing shade. Having spotted me she stood up waving, "Over here Lovey." Ah, just being nearby her made the colors around me seem more vibrant.
Walking up to her I initiated the chaste physical contact that always seemed to perk her up. After the allotted time I released her pleased to see a flush on her cheeks. That meant I needed to go back for a second less innocent encore.
"Oh, Lovey what's gotten into you, you're extra happy today." Giggling she looked like she might go after me for an unprecedented third installment.
"I confirmed for a pleasant young mare that her love is well in hoof. You know how much that means to me."
"Don't you forget which pleasant young mare is the important one." She gave me the stare while another small burst of warmth reached me.
Knowing the proper words to placate her I replied as I always did, "You're the only one for me." Followed up with a short lips to cheek maneuver.
Our date progressed as they always did. She talked about the latest strange or rare antique that passed through her shop. I told her bits and pieces about the various couples I had seen recently. One of the things I told her made her face positively glow red and a short squeak escaped her. I made a mental note to remember that as thus far anything that changed her color had given me a heady wave of warmth.
Time must be a pegasus because before I knew it Clear Bell was glancing at the clock. "Oh, I'm sorry Lovey, I've got to get back to Tomes and Tombs, unless..."
Seeing that our meal was finished I reassured her, "We've finished our drinks, but perhaps we can see each other tonight?" That perked her right up as a tingle passed through my body.
Ears waggling she gave me a cockeyed look, "I'll see you later then" Sashaying away I couldn't help but watch her disappear down the street.
Getting up to leave I noticed that Clear had forgotten her saddle bags. Considering the kinds of things she carried around I figured it would be best to take them back to her promptly instead of later. I levitated them onto my back and groaned a bit when whatever was in the left bag dug into my ribs.
As I passed by an alley filled with especially dark shadows I felt eyes on me. Pausing I glanced more closely and could just make out a brown unicorn stallion staring back. I was about to continue on when I looked again. He didn't have a love line at all, it was another changeling. Relieved I waved at him and turned to go. And I was looking at the ground, now the wall, now a hoof coming at my face.
"W-wait...stop, I'm-"
"Hush little pony, you won't feel a thing." The changeling hissed in my ear.
I didn't understand. Why did he think I was a pony? Any changeling can identify another changeling on sight.
I couldn't understand, I could feel him standing over me as the alley grew cold. It felt like frost was forming on my limbs, they burned. My teeth chattered until I thought they would break as every scrap of warmth was pulled from my quaking body.
I was barely able to keep my eyes open as the ground tried to run away. First, a red and yellow hay fry wrapper slowly lost its greasy shine. Next little spots of color disappeared one by one leaving only brown dirt between broken cobblestones. Ever so slowly even the brown leeched from my vision leaving only a hazy gray before my eyes. What little I could see didn't seem important anymore. I could scarcely wonder why I needed to care.
I was back underground walking through the gray tunnels. Left, right, above, and below, was the same bland unremarkable material. In front and behind me trudged hundreds of identical drones marching to the queens beat. Everything was the same, nothing ever changed as we plodded further and further from the surface. No drone could even think of stepping out of tune, there was nothing but the dark creeping in...
Clear Bell.
Clear Bell.
"Clear Bell."
The moment of lucidity did nothing but give me a glimpse of the horror that was about to befall me. I could already feel myself falling back down the tunnel and when I reached the end there would be no return. Something warm ran down my face to lead me into oblivion.
"Get off my Lovey you monster!"
I felt a small weight lift off my back and a small bit of pressure on my heart I hadn't known was there eased. Unable to open my eyes I could only lay there in a stupor listening. I heard an angry hissing moving away from me towards the yelling before it abruptly became a yelp that flew over my body stopping with a loud clang. Changeling hunters are made tough and after a quick scuffling of hoofs, the buzzing of wings filled the alley behind me. To the other side, an odd sounding whoomp whoomp whoomp beat faster and faster. The sounds neared each other and collided.
Crashes, screams, thumps, and the sounds of things snapping permeated the alleyway. With a last wet sounding thud, silence rang out. I could hear the clatter of hoofs rushing towards me, but I didn't know why it mattered. Hoofs grasped me and I could feel something holding me tight.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum
"L-lovey, please, look at me."
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum
I started to feel warmer, I was able to think, I opened by eyes.
Like the fog lifting before a brilliant sunrise color burst forth. My world was a lovely shade of blue, the happiest blue there could ever be. To the side locks of silky white hair danced about like clouds in the sky joyful for the new day. A violet highlight seared my sight like a shooting star. I looked into eyes more mesmerizing than a flawless amethyst.
"Clear Bell."
I reached up a hoof and nearly had a heart attack. It was black and full of holes. I started to hyperventilate.
"Love Meal, look at me."
I looked, I saw, I felt. It shouldn't exist, it couldn't exist. Yet I could see it clearly, impossible. A love line was shooting out from Clear Bell who glowed in my sight with all the colors of the rainbow. I felt it. The rays of the setting sun, warm beneath a shared blanket on a cold winter evening sipping cups of hot cocoa, Clear Bell gazing into my eyes as I looked back.
"But-"
"Love Meal, you know me, I can always spot a fake, and you truly are my special somepony."