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Title: The Power of True Love

Summary: Takes place during Daughter of Discord. The last time Mothball saw Screwy was on the night of her birthday party. The last time Screwball thought of her Changeling prince, was after he'd sent her his last flower. Now many years later, Screwy's happily married to another stallion, has a life she can be happy in, and has everything that she's ever wanted in life. Mothball's sudden return to Ponyvile not only has her family questioning themselves, but it can also mean that old feelings have resurfaced. Can Mothball convince Screwball that he didn't mean any of it? Or will their own family get in the way, and force them to remain apart?

Pairs: Screwball/Mothball Screwball/Oc Mothball/Ginny Mothball/Screwball

Rating: K+

Warnings: Time travel, hidden identity, secret meetings, and undying truths

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Enjoy!

The Pain

Mothball/Harry Potter

I couldn't believe that even after a few days of being human, I would actually like it here; even though I had to hide my changeling self, not that the humans would know about my real self.

But as I spend more time with the humans, I would always get this feeling; like something bad was going to happen, and my answer came to me in a dream.

I saw that I was in a cabin, there was a creature that I had never seen before, I didn't know what she was saying, but then she turned to me, and she said, "Prince Mothball, how nice it is to see you."

I asked, "Who are you?"

She said, "The name's Zecora, I'm a zebra."

I said, "Why am I here?"

She said, "You're here for a reason, one that involves some pony... a young mare to be exact."

I said, "Screwy..."

She said, "That's right, Prince Mothball. You see, you and Screwball's lives will be tested. Only time will tell, whether you return or not, but most importantly; whether you accept the truth or not."

I asked, "What truth?"

All she said was, "You have to move on, Prince-"

I cut her off, and I said, "We both are meant for each other. How can we both move on, when we're both happy with each other?"

She said, "Come and look at your young mare..."

As we both looked in the pot, I saw an image form, what I saw was Screwball and another stallion, then I realized that we both could hear them talking, and so I heard Screwy say to the stallion, "Oh, Furball, stop it."

My eyes widened, the other stallion said, "Your eyes... I just love getting lost in them... Will you tell me something, my beloved Screwy?"

Screwy said, "What is it, my love?"

He said, "Did there used to be another?"

She was taken aback, and she said, "What do you mean?"

He said, "Did there used to be another stallion?"

She looked away, I saw the deep sadness and fear in her swirls, her swirls were clouded, I knew that she was remembering our time together; I wanted to comfort her, but I knew that this was bound to happen; and so she said, "There was another... only he wasn't a stallion..."

He said, 'What do you mean he wasn't a stallion. You can't really say that you, Screwy, had once met a... changeling, did you?"

She got up, walks over to the window, and says, "I remember when I was only a filly, how he would just love chocolate, he said that it tastes like love; that he'd never had anything like it before. We would aways ask each other questions about each other, when Daddy had found out, he didn't want me near him... Only when I'm with him, I felt stronger, I can't quite explain it, but I know that someday; he's going to return..."

Then I heard her say under her breath, "Mothy..."

The stallion walked up to Screwy, and he said as he made her look at him, "Don't cry, my dear; you don't have to worry about this other colt; I promise you, Screwy, that if he ever shows up again, I will not let him near you ever again. I'll protect you from those filthy cold, heartless, horrid changelings. I promise."

She sighed, and said, "I know."

But only I could see that she was falling apart on the inside.

Then he went down on one knee, pulled out a box, and said, "Screwy, when I had first met you; I knew that you were just the perfect mare for this stallion; and I know that if there's another stallion, not a disgusting, horrid, cold, heartless changeling or course, then they wouldn't want to mess with me, for I've found the one. Screwy, will you marry me?"

Screwy had tears in her swirls, she said while placing a kiss on the other stallion's lips, "Yes!"

The image changed, only this time, Screwy was alone, she sat on the floor, next to the bed, pulled out a box from underneath the bed, opened it, pulled out the rose that I had given her, and she whispered, "Oh; Mothy... I miss you... You just have to come back to me..."

She gets up, walks over to the firepit, after shutting her eyes, she throws the rose and note in the fire, and she said, "I'm sorry, Mothy... I love you."

The image changed once again, only this time it was Discord, he hadn't changed at all, he said to Screwy, "Screwy, is something wrong? Aren't you happy that you're getting married to Furball?"

Screwy closed her eyes, she didn't look happy at all, and she said, "Daddy, I know that you don't want to talk about it... but have you seen or heard of Chrysalis's son?"

Discord said, "Why would you want anything to do with that... heartless changeling prince, anyway?"

Screwball only said, "It doesn't matter..."

He said, "Screwy, what's the matter? Ever since your fifteenth birthday, you're not yourself. What happened, Screwy?"

She snaps at Discord, "I'm fine, dad! It doesn't matter!"

Discord says to her, "Screwball!"

She turns away from him, sits down, puts her head in her hooves, and she silently cries.

I moved away from the pot, tears in my eyes, and I said, "Why? Why do this to both of us?!"

Zecora says, "This is a test for the both of you, you both shell cross paths once again, only then can you two start a new."

I was about to say something; when someone walked in, we both just stood there, her swirls were still there, only this time, they widened in shock, as we both looked at each other, we both didn't notice that Zecora had left the room; giving us some alone time, after a few moments, the mare's mind had finally caught up, and the mare chokes out, "M-M-M-Mothball..."

All I could say was, "Screwball..."

That's when I had bolted upward, I looked at the time, it was only passed midnight, I sat up, unable to even look at my wife; it had now become a habit of me checking on everyone, but tonight wasn't that kind of night; tonight I would need to think, and think I needed to do.

I whispered, "Screwy..."

I couldn't help but get out of bed, I silently walked over to the full-body length mirror that was in the corner, I checked to see if my wife was still asleep, after making sure that she was still asleep, I turned back to see my changeling self, I knew that only I could see the truth about me, I saw my green pupils, the beetle-like wings on my back, the sleek blackness of my skin, and at the bottoms of my hooves, were cheese holes.

I sighed in sadness, after checking once more, I changed my human body, turning back into my real self, I would have fallen on all fours, but instead my human hands had become hoofs, I managed to fall gently on them, my tan skin had become black, and as I just let the changes happen; I couldn't keep myself from listing to the sound in my chest.

I had to sit down, I felt pain; a lot of pain, I didn't want to believe any of it, it didn't matter, it couldn't be true, Screwy would never do that, she'd never betray me like that, I just couldn't get her out of my head; I just shook my head, banged my hooves against the ground beside me, and I snapped at myself in the mirror, "No, Screwball wouldn't let this happen! I know she wouldn't let this come true, she and I belong together... Screwy... Oh; but who pony am I kidding! Of course; she'd want to move on... Screwy... Those beautiful purple swirls of pure goodness, that wavy mane, her beautiful purple skin, the way she gets angry... Oh; Screwy..."

I just had to see her again, I knew that for sure, I just had to. However, I realized that I needed to feed, I was hungry, but I knew how to fix that; only I also wanted to see Screwy again.

Once making sure that my wife was asleep, I silently walked over to the window, in human form, opened it, slid outside, while silently shutting the window, after letting go, I managed to change back into my true form, and I flew back home to Equestria.

But I couldn't find it, I couldn't find my home; nor Screwy, the more I looked, the more I couldn't remember what I was looking for; at last, I finally given up, as I flew home, I couldn't keep the tears that were now falling; and as I got near the home, I looked back towards the woods, and shouted in waves of pain, "SCREWBALL!"

However, the next day; Luly asked me, "Dad, do you know someone named Mothball?"

I could have told her the truth, but I knew that I had to keep my real self a secret, and so I said, "Mothball?"

Lilly pulled out a letter; and she said while handing it to me, "I found this last night; in my room."

I took it, and read;

Mothball,

I hope that this had reached you in time, if not, then good luck. But if it had; then I must inform you of what has to come; you will not bee allowed to tell any of your 'family anything about us, ponies, and/or changelings; especially not about Equestria.

Be safe and happy,

Zecora

P.S: Your beloved young mare is safe and sound, Prince Mothball...

I quickly tucked the letter in my pocket, my wife asked me, "What's that?"

I said after a moment, "No worries, dear. Just a note that Lily had found..."

Lily asked again, "Who's Mothball?"

I said, "Mothball... is one of my nicknames while growing up... Most people don't know that about me."

She nodded, meanwhile, I headed upstairs, I didn't want anything to do with the humans right now, once in our bedroom, I breath a sigh of relief, knowing that Screwy was safe and sound, last night; when I had returned home; I didn't want to even look at my wife, nor our children; all I wanted was Screwy, I wanted to get lost in those swirls of hers...

For now, though, I needed to calm my mane; and pretend to be happy...

I'll do it only for my beloved young mare.

My Screwball

Screwball

"SCREWBALL!"

I bolted awake, I didn't want to let anyone know about him, even though my parents pretended that there was no other in my life, but only we Choas's know, it wasn't that easy pretending that everything was normal, however, that wasn't the truth...

I didn't want anyone to find out about him, not even my friends, it was not only a relief to hear his voice, but it was also very hard to not be angry at him either.

I'd knew that I had to move on, but he was still there; in my dreams, always pulling me down with him... I still wanted nothing more that to go to him, but instead; I had to push him away, I had to forget about him, and that was very hard to do.

It didn't take long before I had found my beloved colt; it soon didn't matter, as we both got to know each other; I couldn't help but feel like he was my other half, it also didn't take long for him to ask me to marry him, at first I didn't know what to say; but then I'd finally said yes, and soon we both got married. Of course, Daddy and Mommy had now forgotten all about Mothy-I mean-Mothball, not that they would remember him anyway; but the only problem was; I couldn't and still wouldn't get rid of him. Every time his voice or just a single thought of him would come to me, I realized that at some point; he'd have to go away, but not at this moment.

I didn't want anyone to know, only Furball knew that there was another, yet he couldn't know that it was indeed a changeling, and not just any changeling, in fact, it would be a changeling prince.

True that Chrysalis had indeed taken over Equestria, only thing that didn't seem to bother her, was that her son was no longer around, she seemed quite happy, only would I know that behind closed doors, she would be saddened, hurt, and worried about where her son had gone off to, as was I at this very moment.

I should have known that he'd never returned back home, why didn't I see it, I should have know that he would betray me like this, only I couldn't seem to forget him, and that wasn't the only problem I had to face.

I looked over at Furball, he was a great husband; not that I could ask for more from another stallion, I loved him more that I'd ever thought, he'd soon gave me fillies; who were just so cute, I couldn't live without any of them; I had twins; one was named Jade, while the other was named Shine, both are just so wonderful, both hadn't asked me the Question yet, the Question that I didn't want to answer, yet Furball would have loved to answer for them; soon they would have to know the truth about not only the changelings; but also that I'd have to reconnect with one for that matter, and I didn't want them to know that I had once befriended one either.

As I got out of bed, I couldn't help but whisper, "Oh; Mothy..."

The pain hadn't left me, I couldn't even think about him, I didn't want to think about how he'd betrayed me; how he'd left me after he'd given me that rose on my fifteenth birthday, or how... cute he looked whenever he'd first tried chocolate for the first time, or how I knew that he was just lying in order to keep me safe, or how whenever I'm around him; how I would feel stronger... Oh; Mothy...

I just shook my head, pushing those comforting thoughts about him away; only to have them return, as I slowly walked over to the window; I couldn't help but let a few tear fall, even to this day; I couldn't forget him all at once, there were times; like this, when I would just let all emotion show on my face, I knew that everyone wanted me to be happy, but in truth; I wasn't happy at all.

I looked outside, we live a few miles away from my parents' home, I miss home, especially my room; where sometimes, late at night, Mothy would come and bring me little gifts; I still remember the rose that he'd given me on my fifteenth birthday. Oh; how happy I was that day.

It seems like a lifetime: but it was only ten years ago, a lot could happen, yet at the same time; I just had to see Mothy again; even though Daddy didn't want us seeing each other, only he would come to my room late at night and that's how we could see each other. Plus; Chrysalis is kind of controlling...

I needed to go to him; it didn't matter now that I knew what I wanted, I couldn't go on any longer without my changeling prince; we were meant to be together, I would have done anything for him.

So after checking to see if Furball was still fast asleep; I snuck out the window, quietly shutting the window in the process; after reminding myself that this was only a one-time thing, I flew off; in search for my long changeling prince.

But I couldn't find him, everywhere I looked; I just couldn't find him anywhere.

As I was making my way back home; I turned back to the forest; and shouted in waves of pain, "MOTHBALL!"

The next morning, however; while I was sitting in the garden, my husband and children walk up to me, and Jade asks me, "Mommy, what's a... changeling? Daddy said that they're mean, heartless creatures who feed off of our love... Mommy; is that true?"

All but one... Mothy...

I sighed, and said, "That's true, Jade, changelings are mean, heartless creatures who do feed off of our love... That's all changelings..."

Mothy...

Jade said, "Really Mommy? Do all changelings do that? Why do they do that?"

I said, "Yes, Jade. In fact, all changelings have to do that, it's their way to survive."

Shine said, "Auntie Dinky said that when you were younger, you had once asked about changelings before. And Grampa Discord said that you had once met-"

I cut in sharply, and snapped, "Grampa Discord's lying! I'd never met a changeling before!"

Jade said, "Mommy, where do the changelings-"

I said, "Enough about the changelings! They're cold, heartless, cruel, shape-shifting maggots! Want to know the truth about them? They take the forms of the ones you love the most, then they feed off of your love, they're born without a heart, they're not safe to be around, once they're done, they dispose of you, sucking you dry, and leaving you for dead. That's what a changeling really is."

I stormed off, I had to alone; I was only quoting what Mothy had told me about changelings when we both were only fillies, I didn't know at the time, but after Daddy and Mothy had explained what they were, I understood.

Once up in our bedroom, I screamed; I felt horrible; talking bad about the changelings was like insulting Mothy behind his back, true that I had just done that, only it also had to be in front of Furball, I knew that I had to keep up the part, but at the same time, my own heart couldn't handle all the lies that I was saying anymore.

I knew that I had to convince every pony that I had moved on, but I didn't want to...

I couldn't do it, the only changeling out there, was now gone forever.

Never to be seen again...

Oh; Mothy...