Hi there readers:

How'd you all like it? Hope it turns out great!

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

Hope you all like it!

Enjoy!

The Attack

Furball

The next day, when I had woken up, I noticed that Screwball hadn't returned home last night, I decided to wait a few more hours; hoping that she would soon return home.

But she'd never showed, it worried me indeed, I waited and waited, only she never once showed up.

I decided to go and check at her parents' home; maybe she'd went there or something, however, Jane said, "Daddy, where's Mommy?"

I said, "Come on, girls; let's go see if she's at Grampa and Gramma's house."

However, when we had shown up at Discord and Fluttershy's home, Fluttershy opened the door, and she said, "Oh; Furball, what brings you here today?"

I asked, "Is Screwball here?"

Discord said, "Screwball? Isn't she back home?"

I said, "No, in fact, she left yesterday evening, and she wasn't there this morning either."

Something flashed in Discord's eyes, both he and Fluttershy glanced at each other, after a moment, Discord snapped his fingers; in his hands he had some sort of detector, after glancing at his, he said without taking his eyes off of the thing, "Fluttershy, get Zany, I know where our daughter is at."

Once Fluttershy got Zany, we all went to Zecora's cottage, when she opened the door, however, she said, "My, my, haven't seen you lovebirds in so long. Come in, come in."

When we all sat down, Discord said, "Where is she?"

Zecora said, "Don't worry, she's here..."

I asked, "But how did she get here? She hates the forest, especially at night time."

Discord turned to me, and he said, "She hates the forest at night time? What do you mean by that? She loves the forest!"

Zecora said, "She once had a change of heart, but now, her heart has suddenly... switched."

Discord's head snapped up, and he said, "Switched? Wha do you mean by switched?"

"A change of heart, I see... How interesting is that?"

I narrowed my eyes, so did Discord, but when he saw who had spoken, he took a step forward, and asked, "Fluttershy, take the younger fillies out of the room, you too, Furball."

The human said, "The pony stays, I need to have a word with him... in private."

The way he talked, it sent shivers down my back, I had a bad feeling about him, as the ladies left, but Zecora, who said to the human, "Do you need some time alone? I could distract the others, while you take care of a few things in here, for you?"

The human said, "Yes if you may."

Once she was out of the room, he turned to face us both, only Discord snapped at the human, "YOU!"

The human said bitterly, "Looks like you're still crazy, nice to see you too, Discord."

Discord shouted, "Give my daughter back, you pesky little maggot!"

The human snaps back, "Unless you want your daughter back, I'm afraid that you're all going to have to wait, Discord. And if you think that you're going to just poof her back home, I'm sorry to say that it will never work, either."

Discord was about to say something, when I said, "Why would you care for Screwball? You don't even know her!? In fact, you're not even from this time!"

He said as calmly as he could, "At least one of you hasn't changed at all... I'm surprised that she's still alive after all these years..."

Discord said, "After all these years? What are you saying here? Furball would never hurt her."

The human said, "Oh really; tell me this, Discord, when has she ever visited you and her Mother? Was it after the wedding!?"

Discord said, "Well, she stopped visiting after the wedding-"

The human's hands went into fists, he turned to glare at me, and he snarled, "You cut her off from her own parents!"

Discord glanced at me, I backed up, hooves in the air, and I said, "Now, now, let's not get a little angry, shall we?"

The human sneered, "A little! A LITTLE! I, for one, think that you need a little lesson, Furball!"

Discord's eyes flickered to the human's eyes, after a few moments, Discord's face hardened, he turned to the human, who continued to glare at me, and Discord said, "A lesson? What do you-hold on here-you're not really saying what I think you're saying, right?"

The human licked his lips, that sent Discord into a state of shock, after a few moments, Discord said, "I don't see why you're angry, but you should know that you don't have one."

The human said as he took a step towards me, "I haven't eaten in ten years, Discord. I could use a meal. Ahhh... Pony is on the menu, I could enjoy my breakfast."

I said, 'Discord-"

The human snorted, and he said, "Pity, I might have thought that Discord here, would have stood up for you... Discord, care to stay?"

Discord said, "Maggette, just so you know, or should still remember, I'm the Lord of Choas: and in case you haven't forgotten already, I would have ripped you to shreds, but of course she had to show up."

Just then we all heard a soft horrified gasped from behind me, I turned around, Screwball made small steps backward, her eyes about to go unfocus, I was about to grab her; only she moved away, I took one step towards her, but instead, Discord said, "Screwy!"

He was about to move towards her, when the human gently walked up to her, he gently took her in his arms, she sighed in content; happy even, that he was near.

The human said, "I didn't know that you were awake, Screwy."

She whispered, "I didn't know that my parents were here, that's all. Plus; you weren't there."

Discord said gently, "Screwy, are you alright?"

She said as she looked over at Discord, "Daddy... it's hard to explain right now... I wish I could..."

The human gently said, "We could get through this together, right now; you need some time to heal... Don't worry; Screwy, you're safe..."

She refused to even glance at me; she only buried her head in the crook of the human's neck, the human, however, said to Discord, "Now you know that all I want for her, is to be happy and safe..."

Then he glared at me, and said bitterly, "... Unlike some colts whom she's met..."

As she begun to walk away, I said, "Screwball..."

She whispered, "Get out..."

The tone of her voice, caused Discord to say, "Screwy, don't you want to talk about it with Furball? Surely he didn't really mean anything... Unlike what this little maggot's trying to tell us."

She said, "Get out."

I stood where I stood, pain shot into my heart, hearing her speak that way; it was like something had changed, I soon realized that she was glaring at me, her swirls hardened, when I didn't move, she said with controlled anger, "Get out!"

My heart broke in half; as she continued to glare at me, I soon realized that the human to was also glaring at me, I shot him a glare, that sent Screwball shouting in anger, "GET OUT!"

Zecora rushed in, once she saw what happened, she gasped, and she said, "Furball, please just leave... You've already caused enough pain as it is."

I had to ask, "Why does he get to stay? He doesn't even belong here, let alone, in this time! I want my wife back!"

Screwball flinched, the human snarled, "You're already too late for that, young colt. In fact, she wasn't even your to being with..."

I sneered as I went for Screwball, "Give me back my wife, freak!"

The human moved to stand in front of Screwball, who backed away, her swirls glazed, and so the human said, "In case you haven't notice, young pony; I may seem like I'm not from here, but I will have you know that I've got some tricks up my sleeve here; so do her a favor, and get out... Before I'm forced to do something that I'm not supposed to do in public."

I sneered, "I'm not leaving without my wife..."

Zecora said, "Discord, why don't you take Screwball out of the room? Young outcast, you know what to do from here."

Before Screwball left, she asked, "Are you going to have breakfast? Because if you are, then make it quick..."

The human said, "Don't worry, besides, he doesn't smell nice either. Plus; I haven't eaten in years, so I think a good breakfast should do the trick."

Discord said as he gently took Screwball in his arms, "Even though I don't appreciate this from something like you... For Screwy's sake, I will. But one slip; Beetle, I don't care, I will put you out... Got it, Beetle?"

Screwball snapped, "Daddy!"

The human said with a snort, "Don't worry, Screwy, your dad hasn't changed at all. I'm quite shocked that he hasn't come at me ever since he'd arrived..."

Discord said with a look at the human, "Hey, watch it, Bettle!"

Screwball walked up to me, the human watched me closely, once she was in front of me, however, she leaned in, and whispered, "You've got some nerves facing him alone... I would have returned last night, but unfortunately for you, he will make sure that I'm safe... Good luck, because you're going to need it if you're going to face him on your own. In fact, you might want to go, because when he's done with you, I wouldn't want to return if I were you..."

I was about to say something, when she slapped me across the face, her hoof sharp as knives, I looked back at her, and said, "When I'm done here, we're going-"

She held up her hoof; and said as she walked away, "Talk to the hoof, talk to the hoof. And you haven't seen anything yet from me... Unless you want me really angry..."

The human said as Screwball gave him a hug, "If it makes you happy, Screwy, I might just let you finish him off for me. Besides, Mother thinks that I'm out and feeding; since I've been gone and such."

She smiled up at him, and whispered, "I'm sure that your Mother won't mind if she knew that you had been in a little talk... What do you mean he doesn't smell nice?"

He whispered something in her ear, she gasped in horror, and she whispered, "If I'd known... Oh; I-"

He stopped her, and he said, "You have nothing to apologize for, Screwy. Now get going before your dad has me six feet under."

I muttered, "I wish..."

Screwball's swirls flickered to me, she only said, "I wouldn't want to say anything, if I were you, Furball. He's actually much more dangerous and he's actually the colt who I met when we both were fillies. In fact, you should be more afraid of him then of my dad. Dad didn't let me visit him, but we found other ways to see each other."

The human's eyes flickered to Discord; who looked down at Screwball, and he said, "Screwy..."

The human said, "Uh... Why don't you two get out... Remember; I still haven't had a proper breakfast..."

Once they both were out, the human's character changed; as soon as we were alone, he whispered under his breath, I felt something go around us, once he was convinced that no one didn't hear us, he looked me up and down, after a few moments, he said as he made a circle around me, "Never in all of Equestria, have I seen nor heard some pony who's not only a stallion; but who, in secret, is really a Changeling... Not that any Changeling nor stallion, mare, or colt should ever treat any pony or Earth pony with such harshness and cruelty... Just to let them suffer at your hooves..."

I froze as I felt his lips at my ear, and he whispered, "It's time I have something to eat, and it also looks like you're on the menu."

He chuckled bitterly, after a few moments, I felt something knocked me to the ground, I rolled over, I only saw a flash of black in front of me; as my vision came a little clear, I realized that I was a goner; in front of me wasn't a human nor a stallion, but instead, a Changeling.

I shouted, "What the hell!"

The human/Changeling cackled, and he said as he took a step towards me, "Pathetic foolish colt! Never have I seen such a stallion do harsh things to a mare than that! You don't deserve her! You never did..."

I said, "Screwball has never ever met a Changeling, none the less, you!"

The Changeling glared at me, and he said bitterly, "You should be happy, that you've survived this long! Ten years, you thought that you were good for a precious mare like her!? You think that she would ever love someone like you!? You think that hurting her once would make her love you back!?"

I refused to even answer the Changeling, as he circled around me, he snarled, "You reek, you know that? Bad odor, rotten eggs, and mennewer... Disgusting!"

I was about to say something; when the Changeling kicked me, I glared at him, and I snarled, "You think that she was ever happy with you, Changeling? Once she sees who you really are-"

He cut in, and said icily, "How foolish of you to say such a thing! I will have you know, that she and I have a closeness that, even you colt, couldn't break!"

I snapped, "You don't know nothing about her, Changeling! So why don't you go back to the beehive in which you came from! And take those humans with you! My wife and I don't need your filth around!"

He said as his lips were at my ear, "Your so-called wife is being treated at the moment. While she's doing that, she has requested that you leave at once... But first..."

That's when he went for my throat.

Screwball

Mom froze when she saw me, she gasped, so did the children; after she got over her shock, she pulled me in for a hug, and she said, "Screwy, what happened?"

I was about to answer; when the human woman said, "Are you alright?"

I said after a moment, "Mom, I'm fine."

But when I had turned to the humans, the small little girl said, "Hi, my name's Lily. Are you Screwball?"

I said as I bent down, "Yes, little one, my name's Screwball. Don't worry, I'm nice..."

She giggled, and she said to the human woman, who was watching me closely, "Mummy, I met Screwball! Mummy, look, I met Screwball!"

The woman said, "Yes, Lily, I see that..."

I gave the woman a look, she just nodded, and I said, "Care if we have a talk?"

She said, "Certainly, young one."

As soon as we had rounded the corner, she glared, and snapped, "Mind your mouth; I know that there's something going on between you and my husband."

I had to bit the inside of my cheek; to stop laughing at the human, as she just glared at me, I said after a few moments, "In case you haven't notice, young human, that husband of yours, I'm afraid that he never was yours, to begin with. In fact, he's not even a human."

She snarled bitterly, "He is too mine! You think that you know more about him than I do! You're just a pony, a mythical creature! You don't expect him to have the heart for you."

I simply said, "You're right, he doesn't have the heart... For something like you and your kind, that is."

She sneered, "You dare say that my husband doesn't have a heart!? You and everything else here keeps on saying that he doesn't have a heart! But our kids and I both know that he really has a heart! He is born with one!"

I glared at her, and snapped, "You know that he isn't even supposed to be around your kind... And yet, he shows up with a load of humans..."

She cried, "How do you know! Huh, how do you even know about him! He isn't even from here, let alone, from this time! He's MY HUSBAND! Not some Earth pony's best friend! He doesn't belong with some freakish horse!"

I glared at her, I was about to say something; when we both heard Mothy say from behind me, "Ginny!"

I turned around, and said, "What did you do?"

He grinned, and said, "Don't worry, he's still breathing, you might want to explain to him, he still doesn't know... I did a show and tell for him."

I gave him a look, I saw the green, after a few moments, I nodded, and said as I made my way to the sitting room, "You also might need to explain something to her... Let her know that you don't have one and that you're needed here. Got it, Mothy-"

He said, "Copy that, Princess."

I blushed, I liked it when he calls me that, it's not only true but also sweet, once I made it to the sitting room, I stood in the far corner of the room; front hooves crossed, in the middle of the room, Furball lay on his back, breathing softly, probably recovering from being Mothy's 'breakfast', I only watch in calmness as he struggled to get up on his hooves, he was shaking, however, once up on his hooves, he fell down again, as he continued to get back up, I said, "You should be thankful that you're not dead yet."

His cold gaze met my hard one, after another night with Mothy, I soon realized that I needed my strength, but when with Furball, it didn't feel right at all, after a few moments of us staring at each other, he looked away, and said, "Did you or did you not know of his true side, Screwball?"

I had force back laughter, and so after a few moments, I said, "I knew all along, Furball, ever since we both were fillies."

I watched as his eyes widened, and he said, "You knew! And yet, you didn't tell me! Screwball, you broke our wed-"

I glared, and snapped, "I didn't break our wedding vows, Furball! Just so you know, the real reason why he'd left, was because he wanted to keep me safe and out of..."

I trailed off, I couldn't let him know about Mothy's Mother hunting me down, he'd be anger, Furball said, "Because what, huh Screwball? He didn't want to loose his food source? Afraid that his kind would eat you; before he does?"

I walked up to him, slapped him on both sides, forced him to look at me, my swirls hardened, and I snarled, "You listen here; Furball, I may be your wife, but I'm starting to regret it. Personally."

He said, "Did you also know that he doesn't have a heart, either?"

I snorted, and said, "Of course I did. How do you think I know so much about Changelings?"

He gasped, and said, "You met him!? Screwball, did you realize how much danger you could have been in if some pony hadn't shown up-"

I narrowed my swirls, and I sneered, "Yes, yes, I know, I know! Plus; his Mother also showed up too."

He shouted at me, "SCREWBALL! Do you even realize what you're talking about! You could have died that day!"

I bit down on my lip, fighting the urge to rip him to shred, as he looked at me, I sneered, "But I didn't! In fact, thanks to our parents, it had brought both of us together... We both share a bond that, even you, can't break."

He said, "You're different... You're not the same Screwball I met ten years ago... That Changeling took you away from me... You've changed into what he wants... You're not the same, I want my Screwball back, and not that heartless Changeling's food source!"

And that's when I attacked him.