I Can Change

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