Gel enters the house, groaning softly. ...I can't believe how many ponies showed up at the cafe today...I swear that I even saw a gryphon... She takes off her headpiece, sighing quietly as she moves over to the couch. ...I just want to sleep until morning... She lays down, sighing softly as she closes her eyes.

A moment later, she feels a multitude of furry bodies pressed against her. Among these, is one set of hooves slowly running up and down her back as a gentle kiss is given to her forehead. "Rough day at work?"

...this is nice...so much love from my family... "...you have no idea, Rhino..." She smiles softly, opening up her eyes to look up at him. "...it's much better, now that you're all here with me..."

He nuzzles her. "Well, you know the little ones and I all love you very much."

She tenses momentarily, hearing his words. ...he loves me...but... She squirms a bit, averting her eyes. "...I-I know that...but what I want to know...is..." She blushes brightly, her words trailing off.

He leans inward. "What do you want to know?"

She wraps her foreleg around his head, pulling him close to kiss him tenderly. "...did you mean it...when you said you love me?" She looks up at him, her eyes wide in hope.

He stays quiet a moment, thinking. He soon look back up at her, his eyes resolute. "Yes... Yes I do..." He gives her quick kiss. "I love you, Angel." He gives her a beaming smile as his love for her, finally confident in itself, floods out like a tidal wave.

Gel stifles a gasp of shock, her eyes fluttering closed. ...s-so much love...I-I didn't expect this to happen... She shudders a bit, trying to keep herself under control. ...n-need to keep it together...

The pets scamper off her because of the shuddering. Meanwhile, Rhino leans down and nuzzles her with concern. "Are you alright, love?"

He's talking to you. Respond! She peeks open one eye, sheepishly smiling. "S-sorry, Rhino...m-must've been something I ate..." Almost too much of something.

Rhino's eyes slowly widen as he looks into her eye. Instead of her pony eye, there is now her changeling eye in its place. The stallion's eyes harden as his smile turns into a frown. His teeth begin to bare as the fur along the his spine stands straight up.

Gel, seeing his sudden change in demeanor, shies away from him, worried. "...R-Rhino? I-is something wrong?"

His horn lights up as a threatening growl rips from his throat. His aura envelopes her form, holding her in place. He asks simply, each word dripping with malice. "Where. Is. Angel."

Oh no... She gulps, trembling in fear. "W-what are you talking about? I-I'm right here..."

"LIAR!" Rearing up on his hindlegs, he throws her bodily into the wall on the other side of the room. He teleports next to where she impacted, lifting her up by her throat and leaving just enough pressure so she can speak as he pins her to the wall. "I know what you are changeling, even if you soil my love's memory by taking her form. You made the biggest mistake of your life by taking her away from me. Now avoid making the second biggest mistake and TELL ME WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH HER!"

She whimpers, closing her eyes tightly. ...he knows...m-might as well tell him the truth... "...I-I am her...and...I-I am also a changeling...p-please, let me down...I-I need to take this off before I can show you..."

He snorts in disbelief, but lowers her down. "I'll let you down, but only so I can see you for what you are, instead of who you are trying to replace. If you try to run... I start snapping limbs." A brief spike of magical pressure occurs on each of her legs to emphasize his point.

She squeaks in fear, trembling slightly. "...I-I'm not replacing anypony..." She starts to remove her maid outfit, sadness weighing deeply on her heart.

He growls at her. "Stop trying to trick me. Get out of my marefriend's form. Unless you have proof to back anything up, you are simply an obstacle between me and getting her back. Not a wise place to be."

Gel sighs, bracing herself. Here goes nothing... A gentle blue flame appears at the tips of her hooves, slowly crawling up her body. As it goes, snow white fur turns into navy blue carapace. Eventually, the flame ends at the tip of her horn, leaving behind her true form. She brushes a lock of her mane behind her ear, unsure. "...w-what do you want me to do...to prove that I'm her?"

His eyes had widened at the blue flame magic. "Fine, if you insist on that story... I'll ask you questions, you answer them. When Angel and I first met, I ran into her cart. What broke?"

She stares at him, head tilted in confusion. "...what do you mean, Rhino? We first met in Canterlot...you just didn't...notice me..."

He hums in thought. “Ok...” He seems less hostile. “Which pony did I compare Angel to recently?”

She taps a hole-filled hoof against her chin. "...I believe that would be...Miss Fluttershy..."

Rhino regards her curiously. "Good... which pet did I bring to work with me?”

She appears to roll her eyes, a playful smile on her face. "All of them, of course. You're pretty much their doctor, after all, right?" She giggles, even though it comes out as a bright hum.

He nods, his face becoming neutral now. "What did Angel do on Saturday that made me worry about her?"

Gel flinches, a look of guilt crossing her face. "...I...forgot to tell you...t-that I was leaving for the spa..." She grimaces, turning her head away. "...s-sorry about that, again..."

You can almost see the anger draining out of him as he speaks. "Ok... last test question... what did I say I wanted, when you came back that day?"

She sniffles quietly, giving him a weak smile. "...y-you asked me...to just stay with you...s-something I was happy to do..." She turns away, sadness weighing heavily on her heart. "...but now...y-you found out the truth...y-you must hate me..." ...after all...who could ever love a changeling?

He stays silent for a full minute before responding, his voice quiet. "I think... I think I believe you when you say Angel was always you... and you were her... if that is the case... I have one important question..." He looks up at her, his eyes full of emotion, but it is difficult to tell which emotion it is. "How much was real... and how much was a lie?"

She refuses to look him in the eye, pawing at the ground with a hoof. "...t-the only thing I lied about...w-was my name...b-but even that held a grain of truth..."

His voice has a slight tremble to it. "So... everything we did together... everything we said... when you said you... loved... me... that was real?"

She nods, finally turning back to him, her eyes filled with tears. "...it was...it is..."

He groans as he slumps to the ground, legs spread eagle. His eyes go glassy for a minute as he reconciles his mind to this new information.

Gel watches him for a bit before sighing, her gaze falling to her hooves. "...I'll just...go..." She walks around him, feeling a pain in her chest. ...this must be...what heartbreak is like...

He turns his head towards her. "What's your name?"

She squeaks, not expecting him to say anything. "...G-Gel...m-my name is Gel..."

He lets out a chuckle. "I guess I did sort of know your name already... Well, Gel, why are you leaving?"

She blinks at this, confused. "...I-I thought...d-didn't you want me to leave?"

He shakes his head. "No, I never said that." He sits up, carefully looking over her form. "If what you've said is true... then... you're still the mare I fell in love with... you just... look different than I thought. Sort of like you took off your makeup."

She blushes profusely, her carapace tinting a brighter shade of blue. She smiles shyly, kissing him softly, her small fangs accidentally poking his lips for a moment. "...y-you have no idea...how much that means to me..."

He rubs his lips before smiling and laying his forehead against hers, their horns crossing. "I'm just glad I didn't lose you..."

She sighs softly, letting her eyes drift closed. "...so am I..." ...I was wrong, before...this is perfect...

Out in the hallway, a certain kitten pulls back from the doorway. She turns to the squirrel next to her, confused. '...did you see that coming? Because I sure didn't.'

Specter is just easing up from where he had flattened himself on the ground. 'She may look different, but that's still Mom, right? I'm just glad Dad isn't angry anymore... that was scary...'

Selena nods, idly rubbing a paw over her ear. 'I agree. Dad's really protective though, so we can't fault him for that.' She shakes her head, heading back up the stairs. 'Mom still smells the same, too. We'd better go tell the brave ruler there's nothing to worry about.'

The black squirrel follows. 'I do admire his talent in the art of fleeing.'

They reach the stallion's bedroom, looking for their sibling. His hiding place becomes obvious as his shaking blanket lies in a corner.

The feline rolls her eyes, approaching the quivering lump. 'There's no need to be hiding. Everything turned out fine.' She prods the blanket with a paw. 'Now come out.'

The blanket eases towards the door, but the kit makes no move to come out of it. 'I'll come down, but I'm not coming out!' He lightly bonks his head on the door frame before making it to the stairs and starting down them.

Selena shakes her head, a small smile on her face. 'It's a start.' She grabs a small ball and follows the fox, jingling with each step.

With Specter bringing up the rear, the three pets are soon back at the bottom of the stairs. Mercury has stood up and slid the blanket back so he is now wearing it like a hood so he can see. He watches as the pony and changeling simply smiles and lean on each other in the center of the room.

The bluish-gray kitten approaches the pair, dropping the ball at their hooves. She looks up at them, mewing for their attention.

Rhino looks down. "Oh, hey Selena." He crouches down to be on her level. "Are you and the others alright after that little misunderstanding?"

She rubs up against his cheek, purring happily.

Gel giggles, watching the scene in front of her. "I'd say they are..." She glances at the hooded pet, tilting her head to one side. "...mostly, anyways..."

She approaches the fox, laying down and tenderly nuzzling his head. "...are you alright, my little kit?"

The fox's nose sniffs rapidly at the changeling. After a moment, he rears and places his paws on her nose, nuzzling her head.

She coos softly at this, smiling brightly. "...that's my Mercury..."

***

Later that night, the unusual couple are laying together in their bed. The undisguised changeling gently strokes her love's cheek, smiling as he lies still, trying to fall asleep. ...he looks so peaceful...maybe it really was a good thing...him finding out the truth... She lays her horn across his, letting her eyes drift closed. ...good night, Rhino...

Gel finds herself in an open field. She looks up into the sky, watching as a few clouds lazily drift past.

She shakes her head, a tree sprouting out of the ground next to her for her to lean against. "...this is a nice dream...I have to wonder if all of them are like this..." She smacks the tree, catching the apple that fell with her hoof. "Might as well enjoy it, for now..."

As she enjoys the experience, a new large green mass pops up to next to her. At first glance, it appears to just be another large bush. After a moment, more details come into being, a mane and tail as well as a head starts to form while hooves form curled underneath it.

She blinks in surprise, watching this for a few moments. "...Rhino? Is that you?" I didn't imagine him, did I?

The stallion's ears twitch from the voice. He stretches as his eyes open to take in the world around him. "What the... where am I?"

"...um...y-you're in my dreamscape..." ...if my mind generated him, he wouldn't be asking where he is... She slowly approaches him, hesitantly nuzzling his neck.

His brow furrows. "Dreamscape? What is... How would I have..." He kneads a hoof against his forehead.

Gel stands quietly for a few seconds before piping up. "...I think I might know how..."

He gives her a pleading look. "Please share your theory before my brain looks too much into this and I go insane trying to figure it out."

"...w-well, it's really quite simple..." She sheepishly smiles, rubbing the back of her neck. "...I-I think I formed a...psychic link with you, somehow...I-I don't know why, exactly, but we're sharing a dream..." A flower grows between them and she plucks it, holding it out to him. "...lily?"

He takes a bite of the flower. "Does dream food count as brain food if it's all in our heads?" He swallows, chewing giving him time to come to terms with the situation. "So... we're in a dream... Well, Miss Lucid Dreamer, what should we do with this new opportunity?"

"...um...I-I dunno..." She looks down at her hooves before a pair of striped socks appear on them. "...w-what would you like to do?"

Rhino takes a long look at her. "Well, if you are willing to humor me, I would like to learn more about you."

"...I-I don't mind..." She sits down on the grass, patting a spot next to her. "...w-what do you want to know?"

"Everything." He lies next to her. "But, if what you say is correct, we won't just have tonight and it's not like I'm limited to only asking in dreams. I'll just go with a few questions tonight." He thinks a moment before his eyes settle on her again. He reaches out a hoof and begins toying with her mane. "It doesn't feel like hair... what are your manes made out of?"

She bites her lip, looking at a rose growing in front of her. "...i-it's...several strands of membrane...I-I'm one of the few that have it..." She sighs, resting her head on her hooves. "...it's, quite literally, an extension of my body..."

"Membrane? I guess that explains the holes in that Queen Changeling's mane and tail. Yours appears to be more like many thin strands instead of a few thick ones like hers. Can you do anything with it?" He continues running it through his hoof.

"...well..." She ensnares his hoof with her mane, smirking slightly. "...I can do this...grasp some things...but it's not really that strong..." She lets go, leaning against him just to feel his fur against her carapace.

He transfers his hoof from her mane to her shell, gently rubbing it. "Not actually what I meant, but good to know. I meant can you style it, given what it is?"

"...oh...no, I can't..." She sighs, shaking her head. "...tried once...cut one strand and couldn't continue...t-too much pain..."

"You know, you don't have to cut it to style it. Maybe I should help you with that some time..." He nuzzle her neck. "If you're willing of course."

"...s-sure...i-if you want to..." She blushes, poking at the rose with a cloth-covered hoof. "...I'd feel bad if I couldn't go out with it, though...n-not everypony is...accepting...of changelings, after all..."

His hoof freezes as a flurry of thoughts hit him. "True... hardly anypony would just not panic or overreact at the sight of you... I guess you'll just have to stay 'Angel' in public." He gives her a quick peck on the cheek. "But I'm quickly growing to like this look of yours, so I want you to never be afraid to stay like this when you're at home."

She turns to him in surprise, accidentally bopping their noses together. Wincing slightly as she rubs her snout, she looks at him in confusion. "...y-you really mean that, Rhino?"

He wrinkles his own nose from the discomfort of the hit. "Of course, this is the true you after all. I'm quickly replacing my mental image of you with this look instead of Angel. I want to see you for what you are, that, is what I fell in love with."

She blushes even more, a wisp of steam forming off her head. "...um...t-thank you..." She sighs and turns away, staring down at the rose. "...even so...I really am not that pretty...hay, I apparently copied off Miss Fluttershy's appearance because...I don't see how I could be considered an equal..." As she speaks, the flower's bloom starts to droop, wilting with her self-deprecation.

He leans down and nudges her head with his own. "You remember when I made you pass out from compliments when you looked like Angel? I'm going to do the same now if you don't cheer up~."

She huffs, resting her head on her hooves. "...I'll try...but I don't see how you'd be able to do that, if I didn't..."

"Hey, I managed to make you smile one way or another every time you were sad. That record should speak for my capabilities by itself." He rubs his nose where her ribs would be.

"...point taken..." She looks back at him, confused. "...why are you rubbing my side? If you're trying to tickle me, it won't work, there..."

He huffs lightly but smiles at her. "Well, can't blame a guy for trying. I'm sure I'll find a sensitive spot somewhere, I just have to explore enough."

She rolls her eyes, muttering to herself. "...you already found one, last Friday..." She makes a couple of glasses appear, one of milk and another of apple juice. She levitates the former over to him as she drinks her sweet beverage.

He regards the milk glass a moment before shrugging and downing it. "So what do you normally do in these dreams of yours? It's not all sitting on grassy knolls talking to handsome stallions is it? I'm not knocking that mind you, just saying there's probably more to it."

She puts a hoof to her chin, thinking a bit. "...honestly, I'm not entirely sure...ever since the wedding, I've never remembered a single dream I've had..." She bumps his side, giggling softly. "...I'm certain you're the only stallion I've chatted with in my dreams, love..."

"Hmm..." He puts a hoof to his chin. "I thought that maybe it was something trauma related back when I thought you were abducted by the changelings then. Obviously that didn't happen, yet you still have this issue... What could be causing it..."

She sighs, shaking her head in sadness. "I haven't the sli-"

A single booming tone echoes through the dreamscape, as if they were inside a massive town clock. Rhino covers his ears from the almost deafening sound. Gel's eyes fog over and stare at nothing as her mouth hangs slack. As if in a trance, her whole body goes limp and she slumps over, the world around them disintegrating. The stallion notices and moves protectively closer to the fallen changeling. Grass evaporates, the sky ceases to be, the single tree crumbles into empty space. Rhino, seeing the oncoming erasure, holds Gel close to him and closes his eyes, bracing for what is to come.

After he doesn't feel anything, he opens his eyes, seeing nothing but himself and the changeling next to him. Everything else is simply whiteness. They appear to be standing on some solid surface the same color of everything else, but that is their only grace.

The changeling blinks, slightly dazed. "...what happened? W-why-" She suddenly realizes that someone had her in their grasp. With a yelp of terror, she grabs a foreleg and flips him over her shoulder.

Stunned, Rhino doesn't say a word, the wind rushing out of his lungs when he hits the ground heavily. His eyes spin in their sockets as he groans.

Realizing who it was, she squeaks, quickly moving to help him up. "I-I'm so sorry! I-I didn't know it was..." She trails off, seeing that her hooves are navy and filled with holes. "...R-Rhino? W-what's going on?"

"Apparently you just lost your memory." He rubs his head as he looks at her. "Though 'lost' seems inaccurate from what I saw... it was more like it was being erased..." He shakes his head. "I guess you don't exactly have your journals with you to explain, so do you want the basics of what happened?"

She shakily nods, unsure of what to think. "...p-please tell me..."

He describes the day's events to her, including the reveal of what she was. He make sure to include his acceptance of her, also telling her of what she and he talked about during the dream.

"...I-I see..." She looks down once more, her hooves quickly being covered by blue-and-white striped socks once more. "...I-I guess the only thing I want to know about...is why my m-memory keeps being erased..."

"I don't know... what I do know is that there is no way something like that is natural..." He walks over and hugs her. "Don't worry, we'll get through this okay? If nothing else, I'll just be here to remind you of anything you forget."

"...thank you, Rhino..." She gently nuzzles his cheek, giggling quietly. "...you're really protective of your loved ones, aren't you?"

He nods derisively. "You're darn right I am. 'You protect what is important to you.' That is something passed down through both teachings, and supposedly genetics, in my family. That sense of empathy I told you about tends to exacerbate that reflex as well."

She sighs, leaning close and gently kissing him. "...just another part of you to love..." The white area around them flickers momentarily, causing Gel to pout cutely. "...and I was just about to give you a treat, too..."

He looks around them, confused. "Huh, what treat? And why can't you give it to me?"

"...well, we're about to wake up...and the treat was-"

Gel sits up quickly, gasping softly. She groans, muttering under her breath. "...darn it...I thought I was going to get lucky..."