I Can Change

Chapters

Part 1 - A Dark Secret
Part 2 - Starcrossed
Part 3 - Midnight Message
Part 4 - An Old Flame, Reignited
Part 5 - Disaster
Part 6 - Live and Learn
Epilogue - Parallel
Prologue - Secret Child

Part 1 - A Dark Secret

It had been a year since Equality was named. True to what she told her son, Constance decided to enroll him in Cheerilee's school, even though he was somewhat young to be starting school. She knew that, despite his early age, his prodigious intellect and easygoing personality were enough for him to start receiving his education. A month later was his first day of school. Constance walked Equality to school, and told him exactly what to do on his first day.

"I know you're a little young, but you're ready for school, I can just feel it. Now remember, treat everypony--"

"With equal respect and kindness, I know. I think I got it, Mommy," Equality said abruptly. She didn't want to scold him for his smart remark in public, so she replied,

"Good, now you're ready. Go get 'em, my son." Equality nodded, as he trotted into the schoolhouse, while Constance could only smile as she walked back home.

Equality made it inside, and got exactly what he expected from the other school ponies: some locked stares and open mouths. Some were from amazement, some from confusion, and others from comic relief. He was different from everypony else, and it was obvious. Nopony expected someone of his young age to be starting school. He was only four years old, after all. His ears also appeared to be pointy, as one student pointed out. Plus, the fact that he already had his cutie mark was astonishing to some, even to Cheerilee, who had been at her desk watching everypony.

"You must be our new student, Equality," the teacher said.

"That would be me, ma'am," Equality nervously replied.

"This is quite amazing, really. You look younger than anypony in this room, and yet you already seem like you've grown up so much as a pony, even if you're still as small as your age would expect."

"Is that a... good thing?" Equality replied in confusion. But who could blame him? He had never seen other ponies his age before, or older for that matter, except for his mother. Cheerilee decided to make this announcement to the class.

"Alright class, let's all take our seats." The students all came to their respective desks, except for Equality, who just stood in front of the class. "I'd like to introduce you to our new student, Equality." The students all said hi to him, as he blushed. "Tell us something about yourself, Equality."

"Well, I've never really left my house without my mommy until recently, so I don't have much to say." Some of the class laughed at this, but Cheerilee made sure they didn't embarrass him.

"Alright, then. Anyway, go ahead and take one of the empty seats, and we can start your first day." Equality did just that.

Equality decided to go with one of the empty back seats, since only one other pony was seated in the back, and they weren't paying much attention as it is. One filly looked to him from the seat in front of him, and asked,

"So you're the new colt, right?" Equality nodded his head.

"Hi, I'm Geneva," she said, presenting her hoof for a hoofshake. "And I must say, you're really interesting." Equality had not yet learned how emotions worked, despite his prodigious intellect, so this was his first instance of flattery. He laid his hoof out as well, and he nervously smiled back.

"Th-thanks, you're pretty interesting, yourself, Geneva," Equality didn't understand it yet, but he had just experienced his first crush; he had just fallen in love with the cream-coated, black-and-blonde-maned pegasus filly.

"Alright class, it's time for today's lesson," the teacher announced. Equality listened to everything the teacher had to say, taking a lot of notes, and even reciting what he learned at the end of class perfectly. The students, as well as the teacher, were impressed. Equality's first day of school ended up going swimmingly.

A week had passed since Equality's first day at school. During this time, he and his mother found a new home in town, which had more room to allow for storage of Equality's school stuff. He came back to school one day, and went to his seat in the back, and looked straight to the front of the class, despite his temptations to stare at Geneva, for he knew today was going to be fun. It was show-and-tell day at school, and he wanted to show everypony his transformation ability. He had practiced all night the night before. Three colts went ahead of him. One could juggle five bits at once. Another could do a surprisingly good impression of all the Wonderbolts, especially Soarin, but then again, the fact that he loved pies as well made it too easy. The third brought his pet rabbit, Snowy, who was asleep the whole time, embarrassing the colt. Equality's turn came up next. He was feeling the strongest sense of pride he ever had felt. He walked to the front of the class, concentrated, and transformed into the teacher.

The class was shocked, to say the least, as nopony else could transform like that, not even the unicorn foals in the class. Everypony murmured to one another, some impressed, but most saying that he must be some sort of freak. Equality heard everypony's insults, and all his pride had turned into shame and sadness. He slowly walked back to his seat, and sat there, trying his hardest not to cry.

"O...K... that was interesting," Cheerilee said. "Well, onto the next student. You're up, Geneva." Geneva walked to the front of the class, and read her favorite book to everypony, a Daring Do spin-off titled "A.K. Yearling's Amazing Double-Life". The students gave a round of applause, except Equality, who was still sad from his performance. He still watched her read the whole thing, since he admired her so much. Geneva came back to her seat.

"That's an amazing story," Equality said her in a breaking voice.

"Save it. I don't know why I ever found you interesting. You're just... a freak." Equality now knew what it meant to be heartbroken, and started sobbing quietly. He spent the rest of the school day feeling depressed and ashamed, until the dismissal bell rang, and everypony went home. Cheerilee asked Equality to stay behind for a minute, which scared him, but he knew when she asked a student to stay behind, it was in their best interest to do so.

Cheerilee wasted no time breaking the ice. "Equality, I don't want to sound mean when I say this, but what you did for your show-and-tell presentation was, well, theoretically impossible. How did you learn how to do that?"

"I-I-I don't know, I've always been able to do that. Can't anypony else do that?" the colt said, still crying. The teacher replied,

"Only one species in Equestria is able to do that, Equality. They're called changelings, and they're known for bringing destruction throughout our land. You're young, and I know you probably wouldn't have been aware of this, but if any adult ponies saw you do that in public, you might be taken away by Princess Celestia for your changeling powers. Please, just do me a favor, and please don't transform like that in class again. Just stick to your own appearance, black coat, white mane, and everything." Still crying, but now also confused, Equality nodded his head and left.

Equality walked home, and found his mother reading a letter that had been sent from Cheerilee. Constance noticed her son walk in, consoled the sad colt, and calmly said,

"I know about what happened at school today."

"You have no idea. It was so embarrassing. Plus, the one filly in class that I like broke my heart." Constance had no idea that he was in love with one of the school fillies, but she didn't want to raise her voice.

"I know it must be rough, learning that you have abilities that nopony wants to see. I probably should have told you this sooner, but after what happened, it would be wrong of me not to let you know." Equality had a feeling that what he was about to hear would change his outlook on life forever. "You see, your father was a changeling." He was right, those seven words rocked his world, and he could do nothing but space out blankly, trying to digest what he had just heard.

"Like Ms. Cheerilee told you, changelings are known for the trouble they have caused Equestria. But don't be so upset, your father wasn't like other changelings. While others of his kind wanted to bring destruction, he wanted to treat everypony, no, everybody equally, meaning all species. He defied Queen Chrysalis, their leader, fled their hive, or castle as you'd call it, and disguised himself as a regular earth pony, which is when he met me. I was walking through town as usual, when I bumped into him. We had hit it off quite quickly, and quickly became best friends, and even sweethearts. In fact, we even got married about a year later." Equality finally started to smile. "It was a month after our marriage that I got pregnant with you. Sadly, it was shortly afterwards that Queen Chrysalis appeared in front of our home and ordered your father to either come along with her, and wreak havoc upon Equestria with the rest of her army, or die trying to resist. Your father knew where his heart was, and true to his beliefs, he chose the latter. The queen then used her magic to end his life, leaving me alone with the house, and you still unborn. Why she spared us, I have no idea, but I was lucky to escape with you and our home intact."

Equality was dazed. He had never expected such a story, nor had he ever planned to hear anything of the sort. At least now he had an explanation towards why he had never met his father, and why he appeared different from everypony else in school, with his black coat and green-blue eyes, plus his pointy ears.

"But, why, Mommy? Why didn't you tell me this earlier? Why didn't you tell me that I was half-changeling before?" Equality asked, raising his voice.

"I knew you would find out eventually, but I wasn't sure when the right time would be. In fact, I was going to wait until you were older, but I never expected this to happen." At this point, even Constance was in tears. Equality was now feeling emotionally heavy, with his legs caving in.

"But, if I knew about being half-changeling ahead of time, I wouldn't have done what I did in class. Plus, Geneva wouldn't have called me a freak and broken my heart."

"I know, son, but you can't blame yourself. Until you started school, I was the only pony you ever knew, so if anypony should take the blame for this, it's me."

Equality knew his mother meant these words when she spoke, but he still couldn't help feeling like it was his fault.

"Mommy, what will happen to me now? I know I'm descended from an evil being, but Princess Celestia won't try to take me away from you, will she?" Equality asked, now scared. "I wouldn't want to lose you."

"No son, she won't. She knows that you're still a pony at heart, and even if she does try to take you away from me, she'll have to go through me if she wants to get to you. You may have changeling blood, but you also have my love and a pony's spirit, so that's all that really matters." She reached out to give her emotional son a hug.

"Th-thanks, Mommy," he replied, crying into his mother's warm, loving embrace.

The next day, Constance asked Cheerilee if Equality could be excused from class for a while, since he would have a hard time adjusting to this realization of his origins. Cheerilee knew this would mean he'd miss out on a vital part of his education, but she didn't want to risk having the other students making him feel worse, so she accepted. She gave Constance some supplies to homeschool him for the next week, and said that if he needs more time alone, she could feel free to ask for more.

Part 2 - Starcrossed

Equality had once again been sheltered from the rest of society, not because his mother was worried, but because both of them were scared of what everypony else might think of him. The students were all so young, and they didn't know what a changeling was, so the only three ponies that knew the truth were Equality, Constance, and Cheerilee. Equality spent the next few weeks at home, studying the materials his mother received from Cheerilee, and practicing transformation at home, to the point where he could stay in one form indefinitely. He was highly intellectual, so the studying was no problem for him. However, he started to crave the companionship of other ponies once again.

"Mommy, do you think I'm ready to go back to school yet?" the colt asked. "I know that I can handle the learning material, but I'm worried that the other students will all make fun of me again."

"If you think you're ready, I can ask Ms. Cheerilee if you can be put back in her class, but you have to decide for yourself if you think you're willing to go through with it. As much as I know you have to go back to school at some point, I know you're the one who needs to decide of you're ready."

"Well, I know I can't be stuck at home forever, so I think I will go back."

"I'm glad you think so." Constance smiled at her son. "I'm sure you'll be fine, but if it really matters to you that the other ponies treat you nicely, I can put that in when I talk to Ms. Cheerilee, because I know she loves all her students, and thinks the same of them, much like how I want you to feel the same about everypony else."

"Thanks, Mommy, you're the best!"

Equality went back to Cheerilee's school the following week. He went and sat down in the back of the class, like he used to, while Cheerilee made an announcement to the class.

"Alright, students, I need to say something before we begin today's lesson. As I'm sure you're all aware, our new student, Equality, has just come back from a personal break, and he has an unusual talent, to say the least. I don't want anypony making fun of him for it. He's already been through enough trouble as it is." The teacher then winked at Equality.

"Thank you, Ms. Cheerilee," the colt mouthed at her.

Equality had spent the next few months doing very well in school. He got some of the best grades in the class and made friends with a few of the students, especially Geneva, who he still had a crush on. Plus, he even developed a sense of humor. Everypony could still tell that he was different, but they all grew to like him for his uniqueness, as they now put it. However, he soon found himself unhappy again, when Geneva had to move to Manehattan because her father had just been promoted to assistant manager of his company. Equality cried as soon as he found out, because he thought he'd never see her again. Geneva was also upset, and tried to ask her father if she could stay, but since Geneva's mother passed away giving birth to her, her father had to assume responsibility of her family. He knew she'd miss all of her friends, especially Equality, but it was for work, so he told her to say her goodbyes to everypony. She told them all the news, but saved Equality for last.

"Equality, you're one of the most awesome colts I have ever met. I know I called you a freak so long ago, but, to be honest, I only did because all the other students were doing the same thing. I knew you'd be upset, but I didn't want to feel like an outcast. Again, I'm sorry." Equality understood what she meant, and though it hurt him to hear that, he replied,

"I know how you feel. That's kinda why I left the school for a while. I didn't want to be considered an outcast either, so I stayed home. You're one of, no, the best filly I have ever met, and, to be honest, I think I might be in love with you. All I want is for you to be happy, so don't worry about me, just go with your father, and make the best of your life in Manehattan. It's what your father would want."

"Oh, Equality," the filly said, starting to tear up. It was then that her father came to take her home. Just before the filly left, she trotted back to Equality, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Equality's heart had never felt warmer. Suddenly, Cheerilee had walked to him and wanted to tell him something.

"That was very brave of you to tell Geneva your feelings for her, and if I may say so, very mature of you to tell her to move on with her life."

"Thanks, Ms. Cheerilee. I know she wants to stay, but she's better off where she'll have a more successful life."

Geneva had moved away the following week. Luckily, Equality still had some friends among the students. His empty heart did lead to his grades slipping slightly, but he soon put his emotions behind him, and got them back up within the next month. Cheerilee told the class something that thrilled everypony, especially Equality.

"Class, I have a very special treat for you. As part of our geography lessons, a month from today we're all going on a field trip to one of three different cities. We can either go to Canterlot, Manehattan, or Trottingham." The class was all conversing in excitement. "We'll take a class vote, and whichever city gets the most is where we will go." Equality remembered that it was Manehattan that Geneva moved to, so he knew his vote as soon as she mentioned the city's name. "First off, Canterlot. Raise your hoof if you want to visit Canterlot." Three of the fillies raised their hooves. "Second, Manehattan." Only Equality and another colt raised their hooves, leaving him disappointed. The rest of the class voted Trottingham, leaving a vote of 3-2-3. "Well, class, we're going to need to have a re-vote to decide how to break the tie." Equality just left his head down while the other class decided on one of the two. Soon, the other students noticed that he hadn't even voted. One colt asked the teacher,

"Ms. Cheerilee, wasn't it Manehattan that Geneva moved to?"

"Oh, that's right, she did move to Manehattan."

"Then, Ms. Cheerilee, can I change my vote to Manehattan? I know that Equality really likes her, so if we go there, maybe he can see her again." Equality couldn't be happier that the colt sided with him.

"OK then, but that means the vote is still tied between Canterlot and Manehattan." One of the fillies then followed the colt's suit and changed her vote as well.

"I'd like to go to Manehattan too. I only voted Canterlot because my friends did." The teacher then said,

"OK class, we'll do a revote. Whoever wants to go to Manehattan, please raise your hoof." The whole class then raised their hooves, some because they felt bad for Equality, some because they also wanted to see Geneva again, and others because they thought they didn't vote honestly.

"Then it's unanimous, we're going to Manehattan." Equality was nothing short of thrilled, since he'd get to see his crush again.

Later that day, Equality went home to tell his mother the news. She had already received a letter from Cheerilee, explaining the whole situation, along with a permission slip that she needed to sign.

"So, looks like you'll get to see your old friend again. That's great, son."

"I know, Mommy. I can't believe I'll get to see Geneva. I wonder how much she's changed since she moved?"

"I guess you'll find out soon enough." Constance signed the permission slip, and placed it in his saddlebag, so he wouldn't forget to turn it in.

A month from then was the field trip to Manehattan. The entire class, as well as a few parent chaperones, got on a train en route to Manehattan. The trip took a few hours, but it was well worth it, since the big city was very fascinating, and Equality couldn't wait to see Geneva again. Cheerilee got the class together, and said,

"Remember class, this is a big city, and it's easy to get lost. That's why I want you all to get into groups of three, with two students and one chaperone per group. I'll be one of the chaperones. Also, be sure to take notes about how different this place is from Ponyville, as you'll be quizzed on it two days from now." Equality quickly grouped with the colt that stood up for him during the vote, and Cheerilee decided to go with them. The rest of the students each paired up and went with an adult pony.

Equality's group was walking past the theatre complex, when he noticed a familiar pony, a filly, across the street. He knew who she was. It was Geneva. He asked Cheerilee if they could cross the street, to which she agreed, since there were no carriages on the road. Equality looked both ways, and then dashed across the street to see Geneva, when she noticed him as well. She screamed with joy when they saw each other. Geneva was the first to speak.

"Equality, it's you!"

"Yeah, it's me. How have you been doing, Geneva?"

"Well, it's been hard trying to make new friends, but I've been getting by. How about you?"

"Same thing." Their conversation was interrupted when another colt, one that Geneva recognized, walked out of the building in front of them.

"Oh, you must be the one that my girlfriend here used to hang out with," the colt said to Equality's shock.

"G-g-girlfriend?" he asked, his heart beating.

"Oh, um, yeah, he's my boyfriend. I guess I should have told you, but you're here now, so I think you should know the story." Geneva went on to tell Equality how she met her new boyfriend.

"It had been about a week since my father and I had moved to Manehattan. I had never been to such a big city before, so I had no idea how to get around. The first day in my new school came, and I saw a colt that seemed, well, just like you. He was introverted and awkward, but he also had an accepting personality, almost the same way you were when we first met. He had been living in Manehattan all his life, so I asked if he could show me around. Soon enough, I learned where everything was, and I was finally able to settle down. Plus, with my father being so busy with his job, I didn't get to see him much, so he offered to hang out with me when I got lonely. We've became great friends, and he even asked me to be his girlfriend three days ago. Here we are now." Equality knew she was sincere in her words, but couldn't help feeling heartbroken nonetheless. His crush had moved on, just like he asked her to when they departed. Before he went back to Cheerilee, he said,

"I'm happy for you, I really am. Of course, I wanted to be with you in the end, but the fact that you found somepony else is great. He's lucky to have you." Equality's eyes started to mist, but he dried them quickly. "I need to get back with my group, but I wish you nothing but the best with him. I love you, Geneva." The filly was feeling flattered, and, just before Equality left, and after she asked her boyfriend for permission, she walked up to him, and gave him another kiss on the cheek."

"Thank you, Equality, for being a great friend, and for understanding the situation. I'll always remember the times we had, even if they were kinda short." Suddenly, her boyfriend wanted to speak,

"Wow, she really means that much to you, and you're still fine with her being with me?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I believe everypony should receive equal respect, so, as far as I'm concerned, she deserves you." Cheerilee called for Equality to get back, so he said goodbye to the new couple, and went back to his group.

The following night, Equality went to a grassy field. He was still experiencing conflicting emotions over what had happened in Manehattan. He was happy to see Geneva finding love again, but he was also bitter because he knew this meant he wouldn't be with her. He decided to lie down for a while, and look at the starry night sky. He started to cry, because the shining stars reminded him of Geneva; the light being of a similar color to Geneva's fur coat. Just then, his mother came toward him, and sat down.

"Still thinking about her, I take it?" Constance asked.

"You mean Geneva? Yeah. I know she's with another colt now, and I'm happy for both of them. I just wish it didn't have to happen so soon. She's the only filly I've ever loved, and now I won't be able to be with her."

"It's OK, Equality," his mother said, trying to console him. "I'm sure you'll both be fine. She's happy now, and you know you want her to be happy. Maybe you'll see her again someday." Constance then gave her son a hug, one so warm that it cheered Equality up. "Want me to walk back home with you?"

"Yeah, I guess so." The colt then saw a star shining brighter than ever right above him. "Hey, Mommy, what's that star, right there?" Constance had been an astronomer before she started her family, so she thought she could recognize it.

"You know, I'm not sure. I've never seen that star before." Constance thought that she could cheer her son up by making that star feel special to him. "How about we name it Geneva?"

"Yeah, I like that." Equality finally smiled, and said, :I know, I'll come back here every year, look up at the sky, and make a wish on that star. I may not be able to see Geneva again, but that star will keep us together in spirit."

"Wonderful idea, son. You know, I'm sure she's looking at that same star right now." Equality started to tear up again. From that point on, he would return to that same spot every year on the same day to make a wish on the star named Geneva.

Part 3 - Midnight Message

It had been several years since Equality had said his goodbyes to the filly of his dreams, and he had been doing great in school. Because of his prodigious intellect, he was able to graduate from Cheerilee's school a year earlier than the rest of his class. He was still very young, but he was smart, so Cheerilee knew that he had the ability to do well in life. He a speech to the other students, saying how much he appreciated the fact that they learned to accept him for being different, while saving a thank you to Geneva until the end, because he knew she was listening in spirit. The class applauded as he left on his last day of school, and he was now ready to face life.

Still being young compared to others during this milestone of life, Equality could not yet be considered a stallion, but he decided to try to find a job. His mother had been struggling to provide for him since the family started, anyway, and he felt that it was time for him to pay her back for everything she did for him. It was hard finding work for somepony his age, but after a week of searching, he came across a want ad for a rock farm, which had just lost a few workers due to budget cuts, and they were welcoming all ages. Equality knew this was where he could get his chance. He went home to ask his mother for permission. What happened then would change his life forever.

Constance was lying there, unconscious, barely even breathing. Equality's heart started racing like a Wonderbolt at an air show. Fortunately, a nurse from the local hospital happened to be walking by their home as he got in. She heard his panicked screaming, and immediately signaled for others to get help for the ponies inside. Soon enough, a couple of paramedics appeared, and Constance was placed on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital, with Equality running right behind, crying the whole way there. By the time they got to the ER, and Equality had to wait outside, his emotions left him dazed, as if he had just died inside. A nurse came out to tell Equality about her condition.

"I'm sorry, Equality, but her injuries are quite severe." Constance had been working on fixing the house structure, when she fell off the ladder, head first. "Her chances of surviving are very slim."

"WELL, IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA, DON'T JUST STAND THERE, DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY MOTHER!" This had been the first time Equality had raised his voice since he learned that he was half-changeling. It did scare the nurse, and she was tempted to call security, but she could feel the love he had for his mother, and thought it was wrong to act against what he couldn't help, so she resisted this.

"We'll do what we can, that I can promise you, but we can't guarantee that she'll survive."

Equality had been given permission to stay at the hospital while his mother was incapacitated. After three days, the same nurse came in to tell him the grave news.

"I'm very sorry, Equality, but the injuries to your mother have proven to be too severe, even for our unicorn nurses' spells to treat. We've done all we can, and now it's up to Celestia to decide her fate." Equality's heart sank lower than ever. He knew this meant that he would lose his mother, the one pony that cared for him more than any other.

"Is she... is she breathing?"

"We have been able to keep her on life support just enough for her to breath and speak in short sentences, but in her condition, she could leave us at any minute." Equality broke down in tears, and asked if he could see her. His request was granted.

"Mom, are you there?"

"Come...closer..." Equality could tell by her voice that it was his mother, and she was in terminal condition. He walked to her and started to speak, under a river of tears.

"Mommy, is this it? Are you going to be joining Dad soon?"

"I guess so, Equality. I'm... sorry you had to witness this. All I've been trying to do since you were born was provide for you, and care for you, and now..., that time will have to pass, along with... me."

"Mommy, I love you, and I'll miss you forever."

"I love you too, son, and don't worry, I'll... be in a better place soon." The colt couldn't speak anymore, and even his mother was in tears. She gave Equality one last kiss as he walked out of her room. He looked behind to see her mouthing an unintelligible sentence, and, as he closed the door, the line went flat. Constance, Equality's mother, had passed away.

"Goodbye, Mommy," the colt said quietly, walking out of the hospital and back home, crying along the way.

Equality felt so sad and so alone, he couldn't even sleep that night. All he could do was stare out the window, into the clear night sky. He saw another star, different from the one he regularly made wishes on, shining brighter than all the rest. He wished that his mother could come back and see him one more time. The next day, he spent the whole time alone, in his house. He received a letter from Cheerilee, which he decided to read, since he had nothing else to do.

"I heard about what happened to your mother. I can't help but feel so bad for you, Equality. I know very well that you've been dealing with heartbreaking situations all your life, but, if I know you as well as I think I do, all those times don't even begin to compare to what you just experienced. I wish there was a way I could comfort you, but you're not in my class anymore, and I'm busy as ever as it is. All I can say is, I'm sorry, Equality. I hope you can learn to get past this, and do well for yourself, because I know that's what your mother would want. Your teacher, Ms. Cheerilee." She even left her hoofprint, as a sign of sincerity.

That night, Equality cried himself to sleep, over the letter that Cheerilee sent. In his dreams, he saw a figure that he couldn't recognize at first, but as he walked closer, there was no mistaking it. It was Princess Luna. She approached the colt and gave him some heartfelt words.

"I know how you must feel, Equality, and I cannot help but empathize with you. However, there's somepony here who wishes to speak with you. Actually, make that two ponies, more or less." Equality wasn't sure what the princess meant by 'more or less', but his question was quickly answered.

"Hello, son," the two figures said. Equality only knew one pony that ever called him their son: his mother. He didn't recognize the other figure by their species, so he thought about everything his mother told him, and he concluded something that thrilled him: it must be his father.

"A-are you... m-my--" the colt was cut off by the dark figure.

"Yes, son, it's me, your father. Your mother and I wanted to speak with you, but I'm sure you have a few questions for me.

"Oh my goodness, it's true! I finally get to see my father!" the colt said with joy. "Ahem, yes, I do have a few questions. For starters, is it true that you're a changeling?" The figure couldn't help but show his son where his transformation abilities came from.

"Does this answer your question?" The figure said as he changed into a copy of Equality, and then back to himself. Equality thought he was going to faint, but he was already asleep, so that wasn't the case. "What else do you want to know?"

"Well, is it true that you didn't want to cause chaos, and tried to defy Queen Chrysalis?"

"Yes, it's true. Most changelings, as I'm sure your mother has told you, serve her, and follow every destructive command she gives, but I didn't want to take blind orders from somepony who didn't have respect for her subjects, rightful or otherwise. So I fled, and when I got to Ponyville, I took the form of an earth pony, and that's when I met your mother. I believe she told you how the rest of the story goes." The changeling was right, Equality had learned the rest of the story from his mother.

"Well then, why did you let Queen Chrysalis end your life?"

"I couldn't go back to a force that went against everything I believed in, not in good conscience. Plus, I could tell that the Queen's dark magic had almost been depleted, so I let her use the last of it to end my life, in order to protect the lives of you and your mother."

All of Equality's questions had for his father been answered at this point. Constance told Equality something very valuable to him, something that he'd remember for the rest of his life.

"Your father has been watching from above since you were born, and now, I get to do the same. I can't be there with you in Equestria anymore, but you have learned so much for a colt your age, and now I know that you're ready to buck up and take the rest of your life by the hoof, and make a living for yourself. I can feel it in your spirit." Princess Luna, who had been overseeing this exchange between the colt and his parents, walked up to the three.

"He is ready, I can assure you, he just has to believe in himself. You know you can succeed, right, Equality?"

"Yes, yes I can. Mom, Dad, Princess Luna, thank you for this wonderful and enlightening dream." Equality gave one last look to his parents before walking up to the princess. He did have one last question. "Before I go back, I need to know, how are my parents here in my dream?"

"If you will recall, when you left the hospital room in which Constance was resting, she was mouthing out a sentence." Equality couldn't forget. It was the last he saw of his mother when she was still alive. "She was praying for you to be able to meet your father. Because of this prayer, and the fact that you wished to see your mother one last time, I decided to allow for both, as I knew you would benefit from me doing so." Equality was feeling grateful for the princess's actions, and could only give a smile as a response.

"I'm ready to go back now, Princess Luna," he said as he stood before her, smiling while shedding a tear. She waved her horn, and woke him up. It was morning. Equality finally felt at peace knowing that his parents, although beyond his world, were there watching over him and wishing him the best in life. He used this newfound bliss to convince himself to take the job on the rock farm, after all, somepony had to support him, and he was living alone now. He sent out an application, and met up with the owner the next day.

Learning where the address of the rock farm is, Equality trotted there first thing that morning. He was greeted by a stallion with a strong, buff appearance.

"You must be Equality. You seem... well... young compared to most other applicants, so I need to know, what do you wish to gain from working here?"

"At this point, I have nothing to lose. My family is all gone, the only mare I ever loved is now with somepony else, and I need some way to provide for myself." The farm owner, like most other adult ponies Equality had talked to, could sense the honesty in his words, and decided to give him a chance.

"Show me what you can do, and if you impress me, I'll give you a job." Equality was eager to prove himself, so, after noticing all the scattered rocks around the field, he decided to organize them by type. In school, his favorite subject was geology, so he knew how to differentiate between types of rock. He ran around the field, and put all of the rocks into separate piles. The owner was bewildered.

"I'm speechless, not only are these rocks all rounded up, but they're grouped into metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary, with no mistakes, and in farm record time. Only one pony, that sister of Pinkie Pie's, has ever been this impressive. Tell me, kid, how did you do this?"

"What can I say? I'm only trying to show respect by doing what you ask."

"You, kid, definitely have the skills to pay the bills. Welcome to the farm."

Part 4 - An Old Flame, Reignited

It had been two years since Equality had started working on the rock farm. He had finally reached the age of stallions, and had gained some muscle mass. His work continued to impress the farm owner, as well as the other ponies on the farm, partially because of his strong work ethic, but also because he treated everypony with respect, while keeping himself modest. Equality had saved up enough money to finally afford a new home, but he decided not to use it, because he felt like he belonged in the one he was raised it. It was the one physical thing tethering him to his mother. As for his connections to his father, Equality continued to practice transformation at home, now being able to look like any species, not just ponies.

Equality was walking home from work one evening, when he noticed a familiar mare walking in the distance. Her coat was shiny and cream-coated, her mane black and golden blonde. He knew this could only be one mare, but she ran off in a hurry, so he couldn't get to see her up close. Equality thought to himself,

"That must be her. It can only be Geneva." Before he could get home, he saw another familiar mare standing close to his house, personally delivering a letter to his door. He ran to the mare, feeling like he knew her. She turned around, and gave a huge grin, feeling happy to see him.

"If it isn't my old student, Equality. It's so great to see you. You do remember me, right?"

"How could I forget the teacher who was always there for me when I needed her? Am I right, Ms. Cheerilee?" She nodded, and gave him a hug, excited to see her former student.

The two ponies were locked into conversation, given the fact that the two hadn't seen each other since Equality graduated from school. Equality noticed Cheerilee looking away, and asked her,

"Ms. Cheerilee, is there something wrong?"

"Oh, it's not a big deal. I'm just thinking about the new teacher at school." Equality was confused.

"New teacher, what do you mean? I thought you were the only teacher at school."

"I was, but when I heard about two former students of mine being very successful, one of them deciding to become a teacher like me, and began contemplating how long I've had my job, I started to consider hiring an assistant teacher. It helped, since my classes have been increasing in size lately." It didn't take long for Equality to respond.

"I'm wondering, is your assistant teacher a cream-coated, black-and-blonde maned--"

"Pegasus mare? Yes. In fact, she talked a lot about you the day she came to me again, saying she's been looking for you." Equality's heart started racing again, for the first time since his mother's tragic situation.

"Did you get her name?"

"Yes, but I think you should find out her name for yourself. Come to the schoolhouse tomorrow at midday, and I can reintroduce you to her." Equality felt nothing but excitement. He went inside his house, to not be rude to his old teacher, and shouted in glee, then calmly walked outside.

"By the way, Ms. Cheerilee--"

"Oh, you don't have to address me as Ms. Cheerilee anymore if you don't want to."

"Oh, sorry. Anyway, what was the letter you put on my front door?"

"Actually, it said all the same things I already told you, so I guess you don't have to read it." Equality took it anyway.

The next day, Equality walked to the farm, and saw the owner waiting for him. He walked up to him, and the owner said,

"There's my star employee. I forgot to tell you yesterday, I'm giving all employees the day off, because the farm is being inspected for safety. You can stay, if you want, but I can't put you to work today."

"Oh, nah, that's fine. Actually, I was hoping I could get today off, anyway, since I'm going to meet an old friend later."

"Well, then, what are you standing around here for? Go to them, you deserve it." The stallion ran off, full of anticipation.

Equality finally reached the schoolhouse. He was about ten minutes early, so he decided to wait outside until the students' lunchtime came. When the bell finally rang, the mare he wanted to see was walking out the front door, talking to Cheerilee. Equality walked up to them, and the mare gave a huge, excited grin.

"OH MY GOSH! Equality! You've really grown up since I last saw you. You remember me, right?" The stallion remembered her, and realized that she had become even more beautiful as she grew older.

"How could I forget the only filly I ever loved, Geneva?" She was flattered, but her grin suddenly turned into a sad face. "What's wrong?" Equality asked.

"Oh, it's just that, well, I'm not exactly one to talk about love lately." Equality suddenly got worried. Never had he seen Geneva so sad.

"Did something happen with your boyfrie--"

"DON'T EVEN BRING HIM UP!" This startled Equality, and even attracted the attention of one of the students. Geneva trotted into the schoolhouse, now starting to cry. Cheerilee, realizing she neglected to mention the trouble Geneva had been through, walked to Equality.

"What's wrong with Geneva, Cheerilee?" She knew that he wouldn't be happy to hear the story, but she told it to him anyway, out of respect for her former student.

"You see, about a week after you left Manehattan, the colt she was with found out she was harboring feelings for you the whole time. He broke up with her immediately, saying a 'trotter' like her shouldn't have any colt to be with." Equality couldn't believe his crush could be called something so offensive. "Her heart was broken, and she wanted to go back to her father for comfort, but she learned that her father had been murdered at work, and they never determined who did it. She was left without any parents, forced to live on the streets. The fact that she's still alive today is, quite frankly, a miracle." Equality was stunned, almost literally. She had experienced the same pain he was forced to endure.

"Well then, how come she looks so calm and collected today? I mean, you'd think somepony who experienced a fate like mine would also turn out to be a nervous wreck, but she acted like nothing ever happened."

"I may have told her that you were stopping by, and she may have wanted to try to look good for you."

"You mean she's still suffering on the inside?" The teacher nodded in response. Equality was now feeling empathetic for her. "There's still one question. If she was forced to live on the streets, how come she's still around today?"

"Actually, that's the one thing I don't--" Geneva had walked back out to finish the story.

"It was the Oranges. The Orange family took me in. They said I reminded them of their niece, Apple Bloom; aimless, cute, and even visually similar. They adopted me, and raised me until I was old enough to move out. I owe my life to them."

The bell rang for class to start again, and Equality knew this meant he had to leave. Cheerilee told him that he was welcome to visit again whenever he wanted to. The two mares walked back into the schoolhouse, and Equality walked back home to try to process what he had just learned. Geneva was now of equal experience to Equality, both having lost both of their parents, and having nopony to live with. He had nothing left to do for the rest of the day, so he just stayed inside, finally falling asleep at moon rise. When he woke up the next morning, he found a letter at his front door, and what he read left him even more upset.

"To Equality, my star employee,

I'm afraid to say that our farm had to be closed down. We were so close to passing the safety inspection, when one of the inspectors noticed that the rocks were carrying a small, but deadly fungus that could possibly harm the workers if it were to come in direct contact. I guess this means that you, along with all the farm workers, are officially laid off. It disappoints me too, but again, I'm sorry." Equality was now out of a job. His house was, luckily, fully paid off by this time, so that was no problem. He still needed a way to feed himself, so he went to town hall, asking around to see if anypony was looking for help. No luck.

The stallion tried again for the next three days to see if there were any job openings, but still no luck. Luckily, Geneva saw him at town hall, and ran to him, almost as if she was panicking.

"Oh, Equality, thank Celestia you're here. I know this is last-minute, but I could use your help at the school." The stallion was, of course, surprised.

"Sure, Geneva, what do you need?"

"Well, Cheerilee is out sick today, and our substitute had to leave to take care of family business. Our lesson today is geology, which I know nothing about. I know you work on a rock farm--"

"Oh, used to work on a rock farm."

"Wait, what? Never mind, we can talk later. Can you help me?"

"Oh, uh, sure. Lead the way." The two ponies rushed to the schoolhouse, and when they got there, Geneva introduced Equality to the students.

The young students found Equality to be, quite frankly, a great fill in. He had a great sense of humor, and they all thought he really knew what he was talking about when giving the lesson, and the fillies all thought he was pretty handsome. The bell rang for lunch, and the two adult ponies stayed inside to catch up.

"So what do you mean you used to work on a rock farm?"

"Happened four days ago. I received a letter from the owner saying it had to be closed down. Apparently, there was some sort of fungus outbreak."

"Oh, that's too bad. Anyway, the students seem to really like you. Since you're out of a job, when Cheerilee gets back, I can ask her if you can possibly get a job working here. We could always use someone to monitor the foals at recess." Equality hadn't thought of this, but he remembered how recess was his favorite time of the day when he was in school, plus he thought it would give him more of a chance to catch up with Geneva, so he accepted. He just hoped Cheerilee would do the same.

The next day, Equality got his wish. Cheerilee agreed for him to become the recess monitor, plus he could be a great backup teacher in the event that either she or Geneva had to leave. The stallion really enjoyed his new position, and the students loved knowing that now, two of Cheerilee's former pupils were assistant teachers. Everypony happily went through the school day together for about six months. Equality and Geneva had caught up on everything each other went through since they saw each other in Manehattan. The day was finished, and after all the students went home for the day, Equality finally got the courage to admit his secret to Geneva.

"You know, there's something I should tell you. I'm not sure how you'll take it."

"What is it, Equality?"

"Remember, back when we were starting school, I gave my presentation to the class?"

"How could I forget? That was the day I fell in love with you." Equality blushed.

"Well, I'm able to do that because of a, how do I say this, a family trait of mine. You see, I'm half-changeling, on my father's side." The mare was now shocked, but at the same time, not surprised.

"Well, to be honest, I knew that all along." The stallion was now confused. "I guess now's as good of a time as ever to tell you my secret."

Equality could not believe what he just heard from Geneva.

"Your grandfather was a changeling? Oh my goodness!"

"Yeah. You see, my father, like you, was half-changeling. I know because the day I saw you do your presentation, I told my father about it when I got home. He told me that you must be part changeling, just like he was. He went on to explain that the reason I don't have a mother is because she died giving birth to me, and that most half-changeling's children are cursed to cause their mother's deaths upon birth." The stallion was speechless. Not only was she of a similar bloodline, but now he knew that the two were even more alike than he could ever predict.

"Well, I know that feeling. I already told you about how my father was killed by Queen Chrysalis, and that my mother passed away shortly after I finished school. We really have a lot in common. Do you, maybe, want to--"

"Go on a date? Equality, I know you want more than that. I feel the same way."

"Oh. Well, then, Geneva, what I'm about to ask may just blow you away." The stallion reached into his pocket, and pulled out a black case. "Geneva, ever since the day we met as foals, I couldn't stop thinking about you. You're the reason I'm still alive today. You've been my guiding star through life, quite literally, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." The stallion opened the case, and inside was a diamond ring. "Geneva, would you do me the greatest favor a stallion like me could ever ask for? Will you marry me?" The mare was crying tears of joy now.

"Yes, I will marry you, Equality." Cheerilee, who had been watching them all this time finally walked up to them.

"Congratulations, you two. Wow, it's almost too good to be true. My two most prized students, now agreeing to spend each other's lives together." The two then looked at each other, then back at Cheerilee, and simultaneously asked,

"You want to be best mare?" The teacher, crying tears of pride, accepted.

Part 5 - Disaster

It had been five years since Equality and Geneva had their wedding. They already moved into the same house, which was hard for the stallion because he had cherished the home he and his mother had lived in. They had both become full-time teachers at Cheerilee's school, and they even had thoughts about starting a family. This, however, was made difficult by the fact that they were very busy with teaching, and having a filly or colt of their own would just make things more complex at the moment, so they held off on this decision.

It was about halfway through the school year, when Cheerilee came to the class, ready to make a big announcement.

"Hello, students. I've been teaching for a very long time now, and I feel like now is the time to tell everypony that I'm retiring." The students were all sad to hear about this, especially since some of them had been in her class since before Equality joined the staff. "But don't worry. Mr. Equality and Mrs. Geneva will become your permanent teachers, so there's no need to worry about who's taking my place." One student, a pegasus filly, asked,

"Excuse me, Ms. Cheerilee? Will you still be coming to see us once in a while?"

"That will be up to these two to decide, since they'll be running the school from now on." Equality and Geneva both agreed to allow her to visit.

Three days had passed since Cheerilee announced her retirement. The lesson for the day was about natural disasters, and how to be prepared for them. Geneva talked about weather-related disasters, such as floods, severe storms, and tornadoes, while Equality discussed spontaneous disasters, such as wildfires, landslides, and earthquakes. Cheerilee was visiting during this lesson, because she cared for the students, and wanted to be sure that they knew how to be safe. It was when the students were being released for lunch, when Equality's hardest experience yet hit him. A major earthquake, about 7.8 on our world's scale, had hit Ponyville. The students started to panic, while Equality and Cheerilee rounded them all up, and Geneva stayed inside to make sure nothing important would be destroyed. Equality decided to go back inside, wanting to make sure that Geneva would be safe, while Cheerilee stayed outside with the students. When Equality got in, an aftershock struck, and a support beam from the schoolhouse's roof broke off, and started to fall towards him. Geneva quickly flew into him, pushing the stallion out of harm's way, but at the highest personal cost. The beam fell onto Geneva, breaking her wings, and crushing her spine. Equality, who was still in shock from escaping death, now witnessed what had happened to Geneva.

The stallion's heart was shattered. He felt his wife's hoof, but couldn't pick up a pulse. He had just seen Geneva, the only mare he ever loved, been crushed to death by forces he could not control. The students, who heard his hysterical sobbing, had walked into the classroom to see if the two teachers were OK, but witnessed what had happened to the pegasus mare. As they walked to Equality, he yelled,

"EVERYPONY GET BACK OUTSIDE, IT'S TOO DANGEROUS!" This was the first time in years that Equality had raised his voice. Cheerilee, who had just heard Equality's yelling, started crying as she walked into the scene of the tragedy. The students did the same, the older ones because they knew this meant they'd never see one of their favorite teachers again, and the younger ones because they had been scared by Equality's yelling. Cheerilee had told the students that they should just go home now, because the adult ponies needed some time alone. The students all walked home, and Cheerilee was staying to console the now widowed stallion. Neither of them spoke, Cheerilee because she didn't know what to say, and Equality because he was too occupied with sobbing over the loss of his wife.

They had stayed at the schoolhouse until nightfall that day. By this point, Equality had passed out due to broken heart, and Cheerilee didn't want him to be alone in this tragic time, so the two stayed in the schoolhouse overnight. Equality's dream that night was one of his heaviest yet. He was walking home from the schoolhouse, when he saw Princess Luna waiting for him inside.

"Hello, once again, my subject," the princess opened. Still crying, even in his dream, Equality could barely respond.

"Oh, h-hello, Princess." He couldn't even bow in respect, he was so emotional.

"I offer my deepest condolences for your situation, as it must be overwhelming for you to have to experience the death of a loved one for the third time." Equality nodded in agreement, since he had no words to describe how he felt. "However, there's somepony here who wishes to have a few words with you." A pegasus mare walked toward them. It was Geneva. Her spirit, like in Equality's last discussion with Princess Luna so many years ago, had been allowed to speak with Equality, and give him some final words. "Is there something you wish to tell him, Geneva?"

"Yes, Princess Luna." The mare walked up to Equality, who had collapsed to the ground from grief, and was looking up at her. "Equality, I know what happened to me was sudden, and it wasn't your fault. You were just coming to make sure I would have been OK, like any concerned pony would have done. It was my decision to save you from facing what happened to me, so it's not your fault, it's mine.

"But, Geneva, because you saved my life, you had to give yours."

"Yes, I know, but it was worth it, because the best stallion I had ever met would have died if I didn't, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened." Equality was thinking the same thoughts about what happened. All he ever wanted for Geneva was for her to be happy, but now, she would be gone from Equestria forever. "I know you only wanted the best for me, but now, if you really want me to be happy, you should go back to the schoolhouse, and finish the job I never could, and give all those foals the education they deserve."

"But, Geneva, I was only able to do that because you were there with me. I'd never be able to work without a second hoof with the students. I mean, maybe Cheerilee could help me out, but it wouldn't be the same as you, my wife, my only love, being there with me."

"Equality, I will always be there with you. Maybe not physically, but definitely in spirit. It's our love that keeps us together, not our presence. I love you too much to just abandon you, and I'm sure that your parents want you to keep going just as much as I do." She was right. Equality remembered the talk his parents gave him the last time Princess Luna visited one of his dreams.

"If I may interrupt, I must say that you, Equality, have been through more unfortunate circumstances than any pony I have ever talked to. Losing your father before you were even born, witnessing the death of your loving and devoted mother, and now, having been able to survive because your wife was noble enough to sacrifice herself. This must be a sign that you deserve to go on." The stallion, now unable to speak, was grateful for everything Geneva and the princess had just told him. He was ready to go back, so Princess Luna waved her horn, and used a spell to wake him up.

It was morning, the next day. Cheerilee had already left the schoolhouse, and the scene of the tragedy had been cleared. There was no school that day, so no students were around to comfort the stallion. There was a note, apparently written by Cheerilee.

"I know what just happened to you was worse than words can put together, but I can only say that I'm sorry this had to happen. I told the students that you won't be able to teach for a while, and that I'll be filling in until you say you're ready. All I can ask is for you to go back home, and try to move on, because I know that's what Geneva would want." Equality did just that. He got up, walked back home, and just stayed inside for a few days, trying to cope with his third loss. That night, he said to himself,

"What's next? I have nopony left to comfort me, and the students will all be feeling miserable knowing that two of their favorite teachers may not be coming back." The stallion started crying again. "Mom, Dad, Geneva, I didn't want for any of this to happen. I just wanted to have a happy life, like you all wanted me to have. But how can I be happy when everypony that I ever loved is now gone? I have nothing left to hope for. No drive. No motivation. No reason to live." As he said this, he looked out his window and saw three stars, glowing brighter than ever, over the town hall roof. His next decision would change everything.

He walked out his front door, slowly making his way to town hall. He decided to do the one thing he had never done publicly since he was a student: transform. He gave himself wings, and flew up to the top of the roof. There was a pony with their window open, who saw everything out their window.

"What's that stallion doing? It's a little late for renovations on the town hall. I should go check it out." Another pony who lived nearby also noticed Equality on the roof. They also went to see the stallion out of concern. Soon enough, at least half the town came to town hall, all worried about him. One of them, a student in his class, came to the front of the pack, and yelled,

"Mr. Equality! What are you doing up there? And, really, how did you get up there?" Equality had never told any of his students his secret, so they didn't know he was half-changeling, and could change his form into anything he desired.

"I-I, well, I have no reason to keep going. Everypony I ever loved is gone, and I didn't want you or any of the other students to have to feel sorry for me, so... I'm going to jump." Everypony gasped in shock; they were witnessing a stallion who was about to commit suicide. Everypony started to panic. Suddenly, Cheerilee, who had just heard all the commotion, and left her home in a frenzy, ran next to the student, and, with tears in her eyes, yelled,

"Equality, you don't have to do this. You have too much to live for. All the students will miss you, and everypony in Ponyville will be sad knowing that one of their hardest-working, well-meaning citizens wanted to end his own life. Plus, I watched you grow up into the stallion you are today, from the day you joined my class as a colt. You may not have any family left, but without you, I won't either. In a way, you're the only family I have. I don't want to lose you, not after everything that's happened." The stallion was moved by her words. He decided to come back down, but then a strong, unexpected gust came to the roof, and he lost his footing, slipped, and came tumbling down to the ground, where his body went stiff on impact.

Equality was a simple stallion. He had a well-groomed black coat, an expertly coiffed white mane, and a personality that anypony could ask for. He led a great life, and had a few close friends growing up, but now here he is, ascending to the heavens because he couldn't shake his emotions. Equality saw himself lift away from his body, knowing that he had just died. He knew this meant he'd finally be free of all the trouble he had to deal with, and that he'd finally be back with his family. However, somepony was there trying to pull his spirit back down. Somepony familiar. A cream-coated pegasus. Yes, it was Geneva. Her spirit had come to him, trying to save him from dying before his time. She spoke.

"What are you doing? You know it's too soon for this, Equality." He agreed, he had meant to stop himself from suicide, and wanted to go back. Just then, two more spirits, those of his parents, came down to speak. His father spoke first.

"Son, the three of us have been talking, and we agree that we need you to go back to Equestria, and finish what you started." Constance then spoke.

"Son, your father and I have been watching you grow up, just like Cheerilee said she has, and we need you to keep going. It can't end this way. We'll never be happy if it does." All three spirits were crying, and Equality was even trying to pull himself downward, when Princess Luna came to offer what would be Equality's best chance yet.

"This stallion, Equality, has been the best example of, as you would say, a comeback colt I've ever witnessed. He has managed to survive many a heartbreaking circumstance, and he deserves to be alive today. He should be considered a hero for his valiance." Equality had never felt this flattered in his life. "If you four can agree to it, I can restore Equality's life, but he must give up a personal trait in exchange." All four wanted him to go on, but they could not agree on what to give up in exchange. Equality started to speak.

"Everypony, I've made a decision. Dad, you're the one changeling Equestria has known that ever decided to become a good figure. Mom, all you wanted was for me to have a normal, happy life, like all the other ponies. And Geneva, I know you just want me to go on, and finish my life, like you never could. Princess Luna, if you may, and if these three can agree, I'd like to give up my changeling powers, and become a regular earth pony, in exchange for being able to live again." All five nodded in agreement. Princess Luna waved her horn, and suddenly, Equality's spirit had started descending back to where his body had laid, and ended up returning to it.

Part 6 - Live and Learn

Everypony gathered around town hall had just cried tears of sorrow, knowing that one of their best stallions had just lost his life. Suddenly, Cheerilee, who had been looking over Equality's body, sobbing hysterically, had seen him open his eyes. She thought this was impossible, since nopony had ever survived a fall that large before. Startled by this, she jumped back. Equality looked around, to see everypony in town gathered around him. He had never seen this many ponies worried about him, and wasn't sure whether to feel flattered or grateful. One of the students started yelling as they ran away,

"ZOMBIE! MR. EQUALITY IS A ZOMBIE!" Equality was not a zombie, but he certainly wasn't the same. Despite never wanting to do so with other ponies present, he tried to transform, but with no luck. Like he had promised Princess Luna, he gave up his changeling powers. Equality then spoke.

"It OK, everypony, I'm fine." He wasn't fooling anypony, not even himself. In reality, he wasn't fine at all. Even though he had survived the fall, it did break all four of his legs, and he had difficulty breathing. The other ponies gasped in awe, now assured that Equality had survived. The stallion chuckled, and said, "Can somepony get me to the hospital? I think I broke my, well, everything." Cheerilee signaled for a paramedic, who lifted him, and carried him to the hospital, while he passed out from pain on the way there.

The next day, Equality awoke. Something felt familiar about the place he awoke in, but he soon figured it out. He was in the same hospital room he was born in. Cheerilee was overlooking him, along with some of the class's students. He opened his eyes, and said,

"Ch-Cheerilee? Oh, what happened?"

"Honestly, I should be asking you that. You've been out cold since last night. Quite frankly, the fact that you're still alive is nothing short of a miracle."

"Well, if you really want to know, can you ask these students to wait outside for a few minutes?" She escorted them outside the room, and he started giving her the story when she came back in. "You see, in reality, I was about to die. I saw my own soul rise out of my body, and I could see the pearly gates from afar. I was about to reach them, when the spirits of my family, my parents and Geneva, all came trying to bring me back down, all agreeing it wasn't my time. Princess Luna told me that I could come back to life, but only by giving up something about me. I decided to give up my changeling powers, so I could lead a normal life, but only after asking my family if they could agree to this."

"Wait, you mean you actually had a near-death experience, and had to give up your... well, your secret if you wanted to live?"

"Exactly. No wonder you were my teacher. You can really figure out just about anything." The two ponies chuckled.

"Well, this is definitely something worth the news, but I think you'd rather just keep it secret from the public, right?" The stallion nodded in agreement. "Anyway, the doctor says it will take about a month before your legs heal, but you should be out of the hospital in about two weeks." Equality was happy to know he could be out sooner than he expected, since he had just died and come back. He gladly took a month off his legs over eternity in the heavens.

It had been only a few days into his hospital stay, when he ran out of ideas to entertain himself. He had already read through the entire supply of books the hospital offered, including the Daring Do books (which, apparently, had a few graffiti marks from Rainbow Dash), so he had nothing to read. A nurse came in, hoping to get him out of his boredom.

"Mr. Equality? Do you want to read the newspaper? You're on the front page." The stallion knew what this meant. His situation with falling off the town hall roof and surviving had made the headlines. He was embarrassed by this, especially since he told Cheerilee that he didn't want his story getting out, but he had no other ways to occupy himself.

"Yes, please. Thank you." As he read, he was relieved that his story about seeing the spirits of his family wasn't included, but he would have preferred to not be included at all.

About a week into his visit, he had nothing left to do to entertain himself. All he could think to do was sleep. He dozed off one night, and his dream was quite vivid. Nopony else, not even Princess Luna was in it, but what was in it was marvelous. Equality walked through a hallway, filled with pictures of every stage of his life to this point. One picture was of the day he was born, with his mother holding him in her hooves, with his father, assuming the form of an earth pony, standing next to her. Another picture showed Equality at his graduation from Cheerilee's school, and it had Geneva's signature on it. Another was the day of his wedding to Geneva, his happiest picture ever. All these images from his dream had driven him to tears of joy, as he had forgotten just how happy some moments of his life were. At the end of the hallway was a door, with a note on it.

"This door will only open if you continue to follow the path of life. It cannot be forced open, and there is no key." The stallion recognized the writing on the note as, oddly enough, his own. It was as if his future self was trying to tell him something. The back side of the note had some writing as well.

"You can start by waking up now." The stallion did just that. It was sunrise outside.

Equality left the hospital the following week, as expected, and stayed at home while his legs healed. He was stuck walking on crutches for the time he spent at home, but he was lucky that Cheerilee was kind enough to take care of his needs for him. This came as no surprise to him, however, since Cheerilee did say he's practically family to her. Once his legs recovered, he tried to walk again. He fell a few times, but he got back up, now feeling a sense of pride knowing that his family was watching from above, praying for his happy life, plus the fact that he cheated death and made a full recovery. Well, almost a full recovery. He never could transform again, like the half-changeling he was, despite still having the black coat, white mane, and green-blue eyes he always had. He was now a regular earth pony, just like he asked of Princess Luna. He had finally granted his mother her wish for him to live a normal life. It would be a total of two months until he could return to his teaching job.

Not that Equality could walk again, and he could once again take care of his own personal needs, he went back to the school to work as the recess monitor. Cheerilee had managed to take care of the class very well in his absence. He would look at the class, and see the students all getting along so well. A few of the students had even been carrying on the Cutie Mark Crusaders club that some of Cheerilee's former students had started. They did feel jealous when Equality told them about how he got his very early, but he decided to act as a mentor to them, giving them advice on how they could find cutie marks of their own. He was like a big brother to them. This went on for another couple weeks, until Equality learned that Cheerilee was going back into retirement. He decided that, since nopony else was scheduled to replace her, he might as well be the pony that does.

The last day before Equality went back to work as a teacher at the schoolhouse, he received a letter from none other than Princess Luna. He had already seen her in his dreams, but she had never actually written to him. The letter read,

"Dear my faithful subject, Equality,

It has become quite clear to me that you have finally reacquired the ambition you once had to live. Your emotions are finally in check after everything you have been through, and I could not be more proud of you. I realize that you will no longer be the same pony you used to be, but a better one. Indeed, you did have to sacrifice the one thing that made you unique on the outside, but you will forever have the one thing that sets your personality apart from everypony else, your life experience. Never forget what you have been through, rather let it be your reason to continue. My sister and I send our warmest regards, as does your departed family.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna.

Any doubt in Equality's mind had been cleared at this point. and, now with the assurance of Princess Luna, as well as his family from above, he went back to the schoolhouse, and returned to his normal life, now ready to take life by the hoof and go for it full force.

Epilogue - Parallel

Cheerilee had re-welcomed Equality to the class, saying that he's now more ready than ever to return to teaching. Some of the students had moved away, because their parents were scared that they would end up like Equality had two months prior, so the class was just as big as the day Equality started school when he was a colt. Cheerilee then, for the second time, announced her retirement, this time permanently. Some students, as well as Equality, were disappointed, but the stallion knew that he was ready to handle a class all his own. After all, he'd been through much harder times. Equality decided to speak before she departed.

"Wait, class, before we say goodbye to Ms. Cheerilee, I need to say a few words. Ms. Cheerilee has been the guiding light in my life since before I was your age. I started school about a year or two earlier than most of you, and was lost in terms of where to go or what to do with my life. Sure, I had my cutie mark, my neon-green equals sign, but that was because it was my life goal to treat everypony equally, like how I value each and every one of you, because you're practically family to me, all of you," he winked at Cheerilee, who smiled back. "The school day is almost over, and the weekend is coming, so I want you to remember: have fun, but be safe, and don't do anything stupid. Why? Because I care about you." The bell rang. "You may all go." All of the students, as well as Cheerilee, left, knowing that Equality, the lost, lonely, half-changeling colt who grew into a caring, handsome, well-meaning stallion, had finally been truly happy and had a reason to keep going.

The next school day was like most others, there was a lesson plan, the students were eager to learn, and a great teacher was there to help everypony with their education. There was only one difference. One that gave Equality the warm heart he had lost the day he said goodbye to Geneva. There was a new student, a filly, with a black coat, white mane, and green-blue eyes just like his. No, she wasn't half-changeling like he was, but even so, the similarity was almost impossible. She was also a little young to be starting school, and she already had a cutie mark. In a way, Equality felt like he was looking at his past self, only as a filly. He walked up to the filly, and asked her,

"Excuse me, little one, but what's your name?"

"M-my name? I'm... Parallel." She was shy, and seemed lonely.

"Where's your mommy and daddy?" The filly started weeping, but knew he had no clue, so she told him.

"Oh, uh, I don't have any parents. I'm an orphan, and I don't have a home." Equality was surprised. A foal her age, without parents, wanting to start school. However, he could sense that she was ready. She gave off an aura of superior intellect, much like he had.

"What happened to them?"

"I don't really know. I can't remember anything that has happened to me. All I can think of is that they either died or disappeared mysteriously." Equality couldn't just let a lost filly without any family or friends be tossed aside and left to fend for herself. Geneva had gone through that, and he didn't want history to repeat itself.

"Well, if you want, you could always live with me. I don't live with anypony either." The filly gave a grin, and nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, um, Mr..."

"Mr. Equality. But if you want, you can call me Daddy."

"OK, Daddy." The two hugged, and the class started crying tears of joy. Equality had finally given Geneva the wish she wanted, to have a family of their own. Equality noticed four ponies looking from out the window. They appeared to be his father, Constance, Geneva, and Princess Luna, but nopony else noticed. They all winked and smiled at him, to which he responded likewise, knowing that everything, for once, would be normal for him.

The End

Prologue - Secret Child

I Can Change

Written by ZekeOfTheFreaks

For aliveleah, a friend from Roblox, whose friendly nature inspired this story.

“People say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Truth is, you knew what you had, you just never thought you’d lose it.” –Anonymous

Prologue

It was a calm evening, and just outside of Ponyville's hospital, a newborn colt was being taken home by his new mother, Constance. She had just been through a long, tough pregnancy, not just because of the fact that her husband had died only a few months ago, but also because she knew before her pregnancy that her child would be different from all the other foals in Equestria. However, being the pro-life pony that she was, she knew her foal would want to live, so she went through with it, despite the fact that she knew her foal would have a tough life.

Constance knew that her new colt would be different from others, given the fact that he had glowing green-blue eyes, a black coat, a snowy white mane (which he inherited from her), and an uncanny ability to mimic the appearance of others (even if he couldn't control when he changed, or how he would look). Her son, as anypony could expect at this point, was part changeling. She knew that having a son with changeling blood in him would result in their son being considered an outcast, and she'd never be able to give him the chance to live a normal life that he deserved. She spent the next three years of their lives living in secrecy, cutting off any link she had with any of her friends, family, or any other ponies that may have known her, in order to protect her son from anypony who would want to separate them.

It was Constance's son's third birthday. He had grown up to be a very smart colt, almost rivaling a typical honor-roll student at Cheerilee's school. He had already mastered how to walk, how to speak, and, to both his benefit and Constance's, how to transform into anypony upon command. Since he could finally appear to be a normal pony, Constance was finally able to take him outside, and experience the outdoors. Three days after the colt's birthday, the colt and was with his mother at a hillside park, when he asked her,

"Mommy, just how big is our world?"

"Our world is bigger than anypony out there can travel. And it's full of many wonderful ponies to meet." This put a grin on the colt's face. "It would make me the happiest mare in Equestria if you could go out and make some friends. I can't keep you stuck in the house forever, and it would really help you in life if you could get to experience how valuable it is to have other ponies to befriend and care for. I decided that, in about a year from now, I'm going to enroll you in Ms. Cheerilee's school." Equality was eager to finally have a chance to receive an education. "Also, I want you to know that everypony has something to offer, so treat everypony the way you want to be treated, Equality." The name "Equality" had just been given to him at that point, because Constance knew that he wouldn't be safe meeting other ponies until he learned how to master transformation. She knew that he would be able to treat everypony with equal respect, so she named him "Equality". He really liked that name, and, as if it was destined to happen, he received his cutie mark then and there, which looked like a neon-green equals sign.