truth
Change by Qwerty Words
The dungeons underneath Canterlot castle were quiet today, which was odd considering all the pillagers, murderers, convicts, and thieves were normally rebellious towards the guards. They would always throw racial slurs at the guards or harass one another from across the cold, damp stone halls, but not today.
Today the inmates, guards included, were quietly watching two mares, one of which was behind bars. The first mare, who wasn’t locked up, was a light blue unicorn with a toothpaste-colored mane, blue eyes, and an hourglass on her flank. She sat on her haunches, glaring with confused hatred at a pony behind metal bars. She even had the toughest and most war-hardened guard wondering what she was going to do.
The focus of Colgate’s scorn was a mulberry earth pony with a reddish-purple mane. Grapes and berries adored her flanks. This pony was none other than the infamous drunkard more commonly known as Berry Punch, Colgate’s marefriend.
“Why?” Colgate asked in an icy tone, looking her marefriend’s imposter right in the eye. Before Berry spoke she noticed that Colgate was trembling, obviously on the verge of tears.
Berry’s voice was raspy, like she hadn’t had a glass of water in three-four days
“Colgate I-“
“Take off that goddess-damned disguise, you monster!” Colgate roared, making several inmates flinch. The two mares exchanged a semi-silent staring contest, one defeated, the other seething with the fury of an angry god. With a defeated sigh, the pony behind bars shut her eyes to concentrate.
There was a bright flash of green light. When it faded away there was only a changeling left, the paper-thin wings hanging limply at her sides and her neon green eyes illuminating Colgate's face. She took a deep breath then started. “Honey, I-“
In a flash of blinding speed, Colgate shot out a hoof, connecting hard with the changeling’s jaw and sending her tumbling back a few steps, but luckily she could take more damage than a normal pony could. She recovered and stood back up.
“Don’t you…ever…call me that again you bucking insect!” she shrieked.
“Fine…” the changeling sniffed. “Colgate… I’m sorry you had to find out like that… I didn’t want you to know the truth.” the changeling pleaded. Colgate froze and stared at the changeling before her for a moment.
“What do you mean? What truth?” asked Colgate, her rage temporarily replaced with curiosity.
The changeling sighed once more, and then looked up at the dentist with tearful eyes. The instant the guard next to the cell saw the tears, he whispered something to another guard, who nodded and ran off down the hall. His hoofsteps on the cold stone echoed throughout the dungeon.
“Colgate… I want to say this right now. Something that will never escape another changeling’s lips. Something that is unheard of in the Hive. I love you. And no matter how hard you try and hate me, I will love you until the day I die. And I’ll stand by that statement.”
Colgate didn’t respond, she only stood in eerie silence.
“Do you remember how long you and I have been together?” the changeling asked.
“Four years,” Colgate replied in a harsh tone. The hatred in her eyes was clearly visible even in the torch-lit halls.
“Wrong. You and I have been together for three years. You and Berry have only been together for one.”
Colgate blinked. “Explain,” she growled.
Another sigh.
“I t was the night after the Royal Wedding. The blast that rid all of Canterlot of changelings had sent me into Ponyville, where I came to a complete stop in a back-alley. It was that night that you and Berry had that fight which resulted in Berry storming out and making a beeline for the nearest bar. Well, I just so happened to be lying in the alleyway of the bar she chose.
“I think she had been in that bar for several hours before she stumbled into the alley. I had covered myself with a newspaper to keep hidden, but she found me regardless. Either by keen sense of sight, or just dumb luck. I chose the latter, given her current state of intoxication.”
The guard who ran off had returned with the captain, Shining Armor himself to hear the story.
“I could smell that alcohol like a French perfume. It was thick. The mare looked like she had endurance when it came to alcohol, but I had smelled that scent before. It was the smell of alcohol poisoning. This mare was as good as dead at this p-“
She didn’t get to finish as Colgate jumped at the steel bars, screaming with blood lust in her eyes. “You shut your bucking mouth, you liar!” She rattled the bars, and for the first time in a while, some of the inmates were normal in comparison to this angered mare.
“No, I will not!” the changeling yelled back, making Colgate flinch. The changeling shot forwards stopping an inch away from Colgate. “I’ve lied to you for three years. I’ve lied to myself for three years…” Tears started to flow again.
“Where. Is. Berry? The mother of my foal.” The fierce look in the unicorn’s eyes returned.
“I told you… she’s dead. Alcohol poisoning got to her.” the changeling mumbled.
“You’re ly-“
“And what could I possibly have to gain at this point, huh!? I’m locked up behind bars, facing a death penalty, and my own mare-friend wants me dead!” The changeling looked down as the dam broke, tears streaming down her face.
Colgate looked down at the sobbing mess before her, lost somewhere between anger, sadness, and confusion.
“When Berry dropped dead right in front of me I transformed into her, but I was still weak, so I did what
changelings do for a last resort; I absorbed her body whole, taking not only her appearance, but her memories as well. Unfortunately when a changeling absorbs a pony with an addiction, they too acquire the addiction. She was drunk at the time and that meant I would be too. I managed to stumble back into the bar and order a few drinks. I think I was there for ten minutes until you showed up, love and sorrow radiating off you like a reactor.
“You said you were so sorry and that it was entirely your fault that we got into a fight. You paid for all my drinks and took me home. Of course I was nearly hammered at that point, and I really didn’t want to sleep in an alley again, so I played along, disguising my ignorance for drunken bliss. You told me all about the fight and how much you loved me. At first I thought you were just being cheesy, but then a wave of your love hit me like a freight train. I felt like I would burst from all the love you felt for me.
“I fed of course, taking only my fill of your love, but then something else hit me, something other than your love. It was jealousy. I was jealous because I was practically bathing in such rich, juicy love… but it wasn’t meant for me. It was meant for Berry. So that night I looked through your photo album. I saw all three of you: you, Berry, and Ruby. I felt like somepony ripped out my heart and made me swallow it.
“I thought I was going to drown in your love, but then I got to meet Ruby. She called me mommy, and she called you mama. It hurt… a-and I… I just… I just lost my cool…” The changeling’s voice broke as she started crying.
.
“…That’s why you cried that night after Ruby spoke to you. You weren’t drunk… you were-“
“Oh I was,” she said quickly, “believe me, i was hammered, but I was also sad and happy at the same time… and through the years I came to think of her as my daughter as you my lover…” the changeling sniffed.
Shining Armor exchanged a glance with the nearby guards.
“But why? Why did you go through all that, why didn’t you just feed?” Colgate asked quietly, kneeling down to the Changeling ’s level.
The changeling looked up with teary eyes.
“Because I finally felt happiness, even if it wasn’t for me. I felt it was my job to keep you from the awful truth about what happened to Berry, even if that meant living with you for the rest of my life, I would protect you no matter what.”
Colgate started shaking in anger and sadness as tears threatened to fall.
“But as time went on I felt something in my heart, a fluttering feeling. I-I… I was in love, Colgate. I fell in love.” She poked the unicorn in the chest. “With you.”
“…shut up…” Colgate mumbled.
“My heartbeat spiked whenever you walked into the room, you made me feel comforted when you and I cuddled, you showed me how far you would go on some nights just for me, but it was never for me… it was for her. That’s why I never fed, Colgate.”
“W-what?” Colgate couldn’t believe it.
The changeling let out a shaky sigh.
“When a changeling finds a host and latches on, the average life expectancy, at best, is six and a half months. And that’s if they use the pony as a snack.”
The halls were dead silent, save for the gentle sobs of a changeling. Finally it was Colgate who broke the silence.
“Three years….”
“I felt your love every morning and every night, as did I feel Ruby’s. I couldn’t bring myself to do it, no matter how hard I tried.”
“B-but why?” Colgate asked, staring wide-eyed at her former lover.
“Remember a year ago when I walked in on you crying? I asked what was wrong and you told me you had a nightmare about your parents. You said that your parents abused and neglected you, then disowned you when they found out you were a filly-fooler. That’s just another reason why I didn’t feed on your love and ate like a normal pony, because all that love you were showering me with was all you had, and I had no right. You didn’t deserve to suffer the feeling of being treated like a food source. I loved you and cherished you every day from then on.
“But it all almost went downhill one night. It was our anniversary and I booked us a fancy restaurant in Canterlot just for us. That’s the night you kissed me, and I felt like I was gonna explode. That’s when I knew without a doubt that that I was in love with you, and I would do anything to prove that to you. Problem was that my disguise faltered for a fraction of a second. I thought my cover was blown… but no one was looking and your eyes were closed.”
All eyes were on Colgate now, including the changeling’s. Colgate’s brow furrowed in contemplation as she tried to think of something to say. All her anger had vanished, leaving her with nothing but confusion and sadness.
“Honey…” the former said in a soft voice she always used to comfort Colgate when she was sad.
“You can hate me, you can shut me out, and you can disown me, but just because I’m a changeling doesn’t make what I said any less true. I would die for you, over and over again. I would jump in front of a train; I would catch a grenade for ya . I. Love. You.”
“But… you aren’t Berry…” Colgate finally said, not looking at the changeling.
With a delicate hoof, the changeling raised the crying unicorn’s head to face her. “No, I’m not. But I can try, I know you’ll never look at me the same again, but I’m willing to move heaven and earth to earn your trust back. Please… just one more chance, that’s all I’m asking.” she pleaded.
Shining Armor whispered something to one of his guards, and a moment later the guard returned with a scroll. Shining Armor, using his magic, he unrolled it and began reading quietly to himself.
Colgate was silent for a moment, thinking it through. When she finally spoke, she chose her words very carefully.
“Say I was to give you one more chance. How would I get you past the guards? I told them about your other form when they had you knocked out and brought here.”
The changeling’s face fell. “Oh yeah…”
“What is your name, miss?” Shining Armor spoke up, making Colgate jump.
“Uh.. . Um… Colgate, sir!”
“No, I mean the changeling.” He looked to the latter.
“In the hive I’m known as Flux,” the Changeling replied sullenly.
“And your alias?”
“B-Berry Punch. ” she replied quietly.
Shining Armor seemed to reread the scroll before saying, “No… don’t see any ‘Berry Punch’ on here.” He approached the cell door, slid a key into the lock, and then turned it with a resounding click.
“I do apologize for the inconvenience ma’am. We thought we had arrested a changeling, you are free to go,” he said finally, opening the door wide.
The changeling looked from Shining Armor then to Colgate. After a quiet moment Colgate nodded. At last a bright green light filled the cell for the second time that night.
When Berry Punch stepped out of the cell, she turned to the Captain, her confusion clear.
“Why?” she asked in a quiet voice.
Without missing a beat he replied, “Because there’s good in everypony, it just takes a special eye to see it.” He gave her a little smile.
(Epilogue)
The two were trotting down the Canterlot sidewalks in silence, neither knowing just what to say. The silence was fleeting of course, with Colgate’s curiosity growing. As soon as they reached the train station she turned and faced ‘ Berry Punch’ .
“D-“ she cleared her throat, “Did you… really mean all those things you said… about you loving me?” she asked in a low voice.
“If you’re wondering if I was just trying to convince you to let me come with you in order to escape my death penalty, no. I meant every word I said. And honestly, I would have gone through with the death penalty as proof of it. And even if I had escaped without help, you are the one I would have come to.”
The train pulled up to the station. “Well… guess we better get going…” Berry said, motioning forward. The doors hissed open and the two mares stepped in, finding their seats quickly in the empty train car. Upon sitting down, Berry picked up another scent: curiosity.
“Questions?” Berry asked with a grin.
“A-a few…” the unicorn said sheepishly, not looking at Berry.
Berry smiled and leaned forward on the table between them, propping herself up with her elbows. “I’m all ears, Hon.” Her ears turned slightly to hear Colgate. Upon hearing the pet name, Colgate cringed. “Sorry…” she whispered.
“I-it’s ok… it’s just a lot to take in, ya know?” She did her best to smile.
Berry nodded and waited for the first question. Colgate took a deep breath and started.
“You said you had her memories… is that true?” Colgate asked, still not looking at Berry.
Berry was silent, having noticed the avoided eye contact. Slowly and carefully, she reached a hoof across the table and rested it on Colgate’s own. Colgate looked to her hoof in surprise, and then trailed up the arm to the shoulder, moving to the neck, passing the gentle smile before coming at a complete stop at the eyes… those eyes she’s come to love, come to hate, come to regret, and come to hope for.
“Yes… I do have all the things she remembers, right up to the last thing she thought and felt.” Berry reached out with her other hoof and grabbed hold of Colgate’s hoof, bringing it to the earth pony’s cheek. She gently slid the cup of Colgate’s hoof across her cheek, maintaining eye contact all the while. “I know you are scared… but please, please believe me. Al those moments we shared were real. Every touch, every night… every kiss.”
“P-prove it,” Colgate said slowly. “Prove to me that you have all of her memories.”
Without missing a beat, Berry said with a serious face, “Your favorite color is burgundy, you hate spiders, your birthday is the 12th of Frostfall 1991 , you hate coconut, you love being a dentist, your parents were selfish pricks. Though you don’t admit it, your favorite alcoholic beverage is mint schapps, you love classical music, your tickle spot is two inches below your right ear, and you are claustrophobic.”
Colgate’s eyes widened.
“You always cry after our fights because you think it’s all your fault, you always liked Bon Bon’s sweetrolls more than Pinkie Pie’s cupcakes, you can’t dance, you can still talk to your favorite university teacher on the phone, and you still love your parents even after all they put you through.”
Colgate’s jaw dropped.
“And the biggest of them all… sometimes after we fight and make up, when we go to bed you hold my hoof while you sleep not because of instinct but because you dream of me leaving you… and never coming back.” She planted a soft kiss on Colgate’s hoof before resting it on the table again.
“Y-you remembered… all that?” Colgate asked, bewildered.
Berry nodded. “Yes, I remember it all. Just because I drink so much doesn’t make me any less caring,” Berry said softly, “I will never forget,” she added with a gentle smile.
Colgate sat motionless for a moment, thinking of a good way to respond. “B-Berry… she… you…” She stopped short as tears began to fall, staining her fur, but she didn’t care. Berry immediately had her forelegs wrapped around her marefriend, cooing reassuring words into the sobbing mare’s ear.
“I’m sorry,” she cooed, nuzzling her delicately. “I’m so sorry….”
***
Berry and Colgate opened the door to their house and stepped in, closing the door quietly behind them. The entire house was quiet, save for the soft snoring coming from a slumbering filly on the couch and a humming mare sitting across from her. Berry remembered that they had hired a foal sitter for the night just before Colgate found out about her… other form.
“Psst… Sparkler!” Colgate hissed, drawing said mare out of her melodic humming.
“Oh, Colgate, Berry, you’re back awfully early. Don’t worry, Ruby’s been an angel. She’s just so sweet.”
Berry quietly walked up and nuzzled the sleeping filly. “I know, ” she said softly.
“Here, let me pay you.” Berry paid Sparkler and showed her to the door. When she had gone, the door accidently closed a little too loudly, awaking the filly.
“M-mommy? M-mamma?” Ruby said groggily, rubbing her eyes with her tiny hooves. Colgate turned to look at Berry and was surprised to see her shaking and with her back to them.
“Mommy?” Ruby said again, only this time in a worried voice.
Berry slowly turned around and faced the filly. Colgate was shocked to see rivers of tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Y-yes, sw-sweetie?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Wha’s wong mommy?” Ruby got up and trotted up to her supposed mother.
“Nothing’s wrong sweetie. Mommy just loves you is all…” she sniffled.
“I wuv you too, mommy!” Ruby sat on her haunches with her tiny hooves outstretched. Berry didn’t need to be told twice. She reached down and hugged her ‘ daughter’ as tight as she could, tears still soaking her fur, but she didn’t care.
“I love you baby… and don’t let anypony ever tell you different, sweetie. I promise I’ll stop drinking, I won’t stay out as late, and I won’t fight mamma anymore! I promise, sweetie.”
Colgate stood by the couch the entire time, watching in calm silence. She saw the love the changeling was showing towards her daughter-no , their daughter. She may not have been the real Berry, but she still had the potential to be an excellent mother and lover.
Maybe I will give her a second chance, Colgate thought with an honest smile.