I Can Change

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.