Family Loveby Amethyst-ACEChaptersDiscovering LoveEmbracing LoveLearning LoveDefending LoveThe Call to LoveDiscovering LoveThe lone changeling steadily walked along through the endless twisted trees of the Everfree Forrest. His mane and tail mirrored that of the queens, and barely moved as a stale wind blew through the several holes that permeated them. His horn arched back slightly, only to curve back around giving it the appearance of a dark colored sickle. His porous legs made no noise at all as he stepped along the seemingly worn yet lifeless path. Occasionally he'd hear something snarl, or hear a twig snap. His eyes would dart to the direction of the noise, and his eyes would flash with bright green energy, but nothing would emerge; as though the very forest itself was afraid of him. “Such a ridiculous notion.” The creature told himself. “A symbiotic relationship between a pony and a changeling.” The more he pondered the concept the more it bugged him. For as long as he could remember changelings took the form of ponies in order to safely feed off the love of others. This was necessary as the changelings appeared as monsters right down to their very cores. Yet his brother had done the impossible; he had fallen in love with a pony, and the pony loved his brother back. He was convinced that his brother's philosophy was madness, and yet his brother himself was a living proof of concept. “Is it really possible?” The changeling found himself talking to on one once again. “Could the ponies truly accept us just the way we are?” He thought of his brother again, and how happy the fool's partner made him. Was he jealous of his brother? Was he envious? He didn't think so. He came to the entrance of the forest, and found a path leading to Ponyville. “I wonder...” A green aura washed over the pony, when the energy faded all that remained was a chestnut pony with brown hair and an hourglass cutie mark. Satisfied with the form he had taken he nodded and trotted his way into Ponyville. “Hello Time Turner, how are you?” The changeling looked up to see a white and red pony waving at him. He said nothing he simply smiled and waved before trotting away faster than he had come. “It's times like these I wish I was as talented as our dear queen.” He mumbled to himself. To his misfortune while he could take the form of any pony of his choosing, he did not inherit the talent of disguising his voice. “Hello Doctor!” The changeling looked up; a blue pegasus with squirly looking eyes was hovering just inches above him; wearing what was quite possibly the silliest looking grin he had ever seen. He cursed his terrible luck, seems he picked a pony that everybody knew. “Sorry...can't talk...gotta...busy!” 'Turner' took off saying as few words as he could in the process. The pegasus stayed behind watching confused as he ran away. “He didn't sound so good...” A comedic thought floated into the young mares mind causing her to giggle. “I guess The Doctor needs a doctor!” ~~~ The fake pony made his way past the center of town and into a nearby alley. While staying hidden his eyes darted around searching for the perfect ponies to run his little test on. “Maybe those two?” He spied a couple making their way into Sugar Cube Corner, but spotted something that made him change his mind. “No they have kids...twins no less...wait...a unicorn and pegasus born from two earth ponies? How does that work?” He dismissed the thought, and continued the search. “Maybe the two ponies sitting together on that bench.” Again he shook his head. “Wait the green one is also a mare...” The changeling cursed incoherently again, but just as he was about to give up he spotted a couple approaching the alley from down the street. The unicorn colt was slightly larger than the mare, and had a dark gray coat with a slightly bluish tint that was complimented by a lighter gray mane. The smaller earth pony female was almost completely violet. Save for streaks of light blue in her hair, and her eyes and flowery cutie mark of the same color. “This is as good a chance as any.” The insect told himself. He shut his eyes and concentrated hard. “Hey what's that?” Wisteria asked her larger colt friend. The bright violet pony pointed to a green light flashing from the alley where the changeling had taken shelter. “I'm not sure, come on lets check.” Her gray lover made a dash for the corner with her not far behind. The alley was strangely dark, contrasting the rest of the town. As the colt made his way inside he could hear his wife calling to him. “Be careful Iron Lance! We don't know what caused that light!” “I'm aware Hun thank you!” He reassured her. “I love that girl to death, but by Celestia she is overprotective.” As Iron Lance approached the end of the alley he heard the sounds of crying coming from behind some nearby bags. Lance approached and inspected the source, discovering an abandoned infant colt. “Huh? Now what are you doing here little one? Did you get lost?” Wisteria joined her husband in the alley. “What did you find?” She pondered. “I found him.” Iron Lance revealed the small child to Wisteria. “An abandoned filly? I don't believe it.” Wisteria sat back and took the child in her hooves. He was cold to the touch, almost unpleasantly so. Wisteria snuggled the child in an attempt to warm him, and that's when she noticed his hooves. “Lance! Look here! His hooves!” Lance looked down and spotted several small holes. “I don't believe it! This child is a changeling!” The creature had long since stopped crying and was now asleep in Wisteria's arms. “What do we do?” She asked Iron Lance. “Should we report this to the princess?” Lance shook his head. “There's no need to get her or her friends involved. Let's just try and get back to the house unnoticed. It isn't far.” Wisteria wasn't sure how she felt about the decision, but she trusted Iron Lance completely. She got up on three legs and held the child as close to her as she could. Together the two of them snuck out of the alley, and made a mad dash to their home. Foolish Unicorns. The changeling thought to himself. They struggle on such rudimentary magics like altering age and appearance. Changelings spend their whole lives in hiding, these kinds of spells are child’s play. Embracing LoveThe next day the filly changeling awoke in a crib in the middle of a room. The room was small, it's lights were off, and it was devoid of anything but a single window where daylight was shining through, and a basic looking couch not far from his cage. He let out an elongated yawn; despite being conformed to his infant state he had gotten plenty of sleep, and was more comfortable where he was now than he had been for a long while. He let out a deep inhale and exhale and shut his eyes; it took all the strength he could muster to fly with his child sized wings, but he eventually managed to fly over the wooden crib where he was being held. He made his way to the wall opposite him and the couch, and stared up at the dark wooden door that lead into the hallway. He shut his eyes once again, and his horn emitted a light green glow; as did the door's knob. He tried to turn the nob open only to have it object with a couple of loud clicks. “Locked?” The 'colt' looked around in a slight panic for another way out. The only one he could see was the window, but he was on the second story of the building, and after all the effort it took to fly out of his crib, he really wasn't feeling very trusting of his wings. “Why would they lock the door? Are they intending to hold me prisoner?” For a moment the changeling considered the possibility that he had been captured, and that his plan had backfired in every possible way. “Well if that's how you want it, then I'm not sticking around.” The changeling focused intently on the door, which began to glow like it's nob had. A single drop of sweat trailed down the child's head, and his eyes twitched on occasion as he manipulated the door. Eventually he heard another clicking noise and a quick sliding motion. He had opened the door. The changeling walked out into the second floor which comprised of a single hallway, a stairway down, and one other room besides his own. “The ponies' room” he told himself. He snuck past the door as quietly as he could, assuming that the ponies that found him were right behind it, however upon reaching the stairs themselves, he caught a glimpse of Wisteria trotting happily into the kitchen. The changeling began to sneak down the stairway, but only got about half way before he heard the two ponies talking. “What do you think he eats?” Wisteria asked her husband as she prepared a couple of eggs on the kitchen stove. “Are you serious?” Iron Lance answered rhetorically “Of course I am!” Wisteria half shouted to the colt. “He's alive like you and me, and that means he's gotta eat.” “That THING is not our child Wisteria!” Iron Lance aggressively pointed out. “We're already harboring it, the last thing we need to do is cook for it!” Wisteria didn't say anything, she simply huffed and went back to her eggs. “What ever happened to that knight in shining armor I fell in love with? The one that helped those two injured changelings escape from Canterlot after the wedding had ended?” Iron Lance snorted and turned around. “He was kicked out of Canterlot under the guise of an honorable discharge. Now he scrapes out a mediocre existence using a monthly penchant that he gets from the city's royal guards.” Iron Lance stormed out of the kitchen, and into the living room. As he headed towards the stairs he spotted the little changeling child who had just finished climbing down them. He let out a sigh and approached the boy, who took a few steps back expecting something malicious to occur. To his surprise Iron Lance simply petted him on his head a couple times with his hoof before walking up the stairs to his room. The child entered the kitchen where he was greeted by Wisteria’s warm smile. “Good morning! Did Iron let you out of your room?” This one is either really dumb, or a deceptive genious. The changeling noted in his mind. “Are you hungry dear?” Wisteria asked him. The boy innocently tilted his head to the side, pretending not to understand. “What do you eat dear?” Wisteria opened her mouth up wide and pointed towards it with her hoof. She looked extremely silly from the changeling's point of view, who was now fighting to hold back a laugh. Deciding the best course of action was to act out his part as best as possible, he raised the pitch of his voice, and used single words to communicate. “Love!” He squeaked out adorably. “Love?” Echoed Wisteria “Love!” He repeated. He leaned back on his hind legs and stretched out his front hooves for a hug. “I don't understand dear?” Wisteria took the boy in her hoof, and a puzzled look stretched across her face. She recalled back to the Canterlot Royal Wedding. “I think I recall one of the princess' saying that Changelings feed on love...Or something like that...” “Love!” The small child echoed again, this time trying to sound annoyed. Wisteria hugged the boy, but wasn't sure what to do. She didn't love him, and the boy knew it. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he actually was starting to get cravings. He wasn't sure what to do. He'd have to transform into Iron Lance to feed off of Wisteria, but if he timed it wrong the gray pony would catch him, and the entire mission would be a bust. “Well, would you like to try some eggs?” Wisteria suddenly asked. “I'm not sure if you'll like them or not, but maybe they'll tide you over until I can think of something.” Pony food? Gross...The changeling really didn't like the situation he was in, but at the same time there wasn't much else he could do but go along with what was happening. The eggs were bland and tasteless to him, but they did manage to put a minor damper on his cravings. For the moment at least that was good enough for him. “By the way little one, we were so caught up with what happened yesterday that we never asked your name.” The boy looked up at Wisteria. He hadn't considered a name. He of course had one, but he didn't feel comfortable using it. “Do you have a name sweetie?” Wisteria inquired a second time. “Onyx!” The small boy yelped. Learning LoveBefore “Onyx” knew what had happened a week had gone by. He had sustained himself on meals prepared by Wisteria, and occasionally took the form of Iron Lance for passing moments to leech bits of love from her. Wisteria grew closer to the small child as the days went by. She would come home from work, teach her new friend how to do things like speak correctly, and act polite, and in the end the two of them would talk about what they did that day. Of course he spent all of his time in the house reading books and watching television, so he never had much to talk about. The boy feigned getting smarter to appease the mare; showing steady improvements day by day. Eventually even Iron Lance warmed up to the boy. His passing pats on the head escalated to single words of greeting, and by the end of the week they even held a conversation together. “Where do you work?” Onyx asked him. “I don't work. I don't have to.” Iron Lance turned away and stared out a nearby window. As if that fact was some kind of agonizing torture. “You rich?” The boy questioned, intentionally messing up the grammar. “No I'm not rich.” Lance responded with a sigh. “Lucky!” the little one yelped. Iron Lance shrugged and stood up from his seat. “Yeah...maybe I am.” With that he patted Onyx on his head like he always did and walked up the stairs to his room. “Daddy?” Onyx mumbled. Iron Lance didn't respond. He didn't stop on the stairs or even pause for a moment. He just kept walking. ~~~ “We should let Onyx go to school.” Wisteria suggested. Iron Lance put down the paper he was reading and took a sip of his coffee. An aura of annoyance suddenly took hold of his face. “That's not possible and you know it.” “Why isn't it?” Wisteria asked him. “You know darn well why!” Lance shouted as he banged his hoof against the arm chair he was sitting in. “The school system isn't going to just randomly let a changeling into the school!” Wisteria's attempt to rebuttal was interrupted by the sounds of magic coming from directly behind them. The two ponies turned around to see a miniature cutiemark-less Iron Lance looking up at them. “No way.” Iron Lance mumbled under his breath. Wisteria who was unable to contain herself let out an overzealous shriek and rushed over to Onyx. She scooped the child up in her hooves and hugged him tightly. The spontaneous shock of being swooped up broke the boy's concentration and he reverted to his original changeling form. “He's so adorable! Oh Lance this is just too perfect!” Onyx felt strange all of a sudden. He had long since gotten use to Wisteria holding him in her hooves, but something about this felt genuinely different. It was then that he took notice; it was hard to tell at first since it was such a feint feeling, but once he realized there was no mistake. He felt small traces of love coming from Wisteria. He was feeding off of her without the need of a disguise. Wisteria, Lance, and Onyx all traveled together to the school, with Onyx in his 'mini Lance' form. Occasionally ponies would stop and stare at the apparent family, and they would hear whispers coming from couples nearby. Wisteria felt proud about everything that was going on, but Iron Lance and the boy felt very much uncomfortable. Ponyville's school as luck would have it, ran a program for younger fillies whose parents wanted to get an early start on education for their kids. It wasn't taught by the same teacher as the normal school, but it was a free program, and only spanned about three hours. The classes started as soon as the regular school let out, so whenever Wisteria arrived with Onyx they would always see lots of little fillies scattering out from the school. “Oh look at those little kids, they look like such great friends.” Wisteria pointed to three little mares in red capes who were spinning around in circles mentioning something about their cutie marks. Onyx wasn't engaged in their conversation at all, but was instead more interested in what Wisteria was saying. “I hope you get to make friends like that.” She looked at the boy with a warm smile, and Onyx to his surprise found himself returning it. The two of them exchanged a quick snuggle before Onyx darted off towards the school. He felt the sensations from before returning to him. The unfiltered love from a creature aimed towards him directly, not to the person he was pretending to be. It was a wonderful if not addictive feeling. Had his brother been right all along? ~~~ The class had been rather boring. Everything that the teacher had taught them was either something the changeling already knew, or didn't care to learn. He went along with the games, and even found a few of them fun, but all n all he found himself mostly uninvested. When it came time for school to end the young colt dashed from the building without a second thought, nearly forgetting his backpack. He ran out to great his mother who embraced him with a quick hug. “I'm all done!” He shouted eagerly. “How was school?” The mare asked him “Great! I really learned a lot!” “That's wonderful dear. Now come along with me, we have much we need to discus.” Wisteria's tone and choice of words sent a chill up the changeling's spine. He looked up at the woman who he was walking with and noticed in her eyes, an instantaneous flash of green light. Defending Love“What exactly were you thinking?” The imposter Wisteria brought the boy to the outskirts of town near the Everfree Forest where she revealed herself to be another changeling in disguise. “What have you done with the ponies?!” The boy cracked as he returned to his true form. “They're asleep” answered the doppelganger. “We didn't want any interruptions.” “We?” He returned. The changeling confronting Onyx took a few steps back, and two more changelings emerged from the forest. One on the insects left, and one to the right. As they stood aligned with one another the middle one began to speak once again. “First your brother elopes with a pony and abandons the brood, now you are taking the form of a larva in an attempt to live among a family? Is insanity a common trait in your family's gene code?” Onyx smirked. “You tell me, you're bred from the same genetic code I am. We all are.” “Don't give me that!” His accuser snapped. “You're a first born which is why you're so different from us!” He motioned towards Onyx's hair and sickle-like horn.” “Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your tone?” Onyx's satisfied smirk showed no signs of submersing. “You truly are crazy.” The other changeling accused. “Perhaps it is time we put an end to this experiment of yours.” “What I'm doing is for the good and benefit of all the changelings.” Onyx assured. “Those two ponies took me in as a changeling child and treated me as a loved member of their family. It was my crazed brother who purposed that changelings could coexist with ponies, and now I have proof of that!” “You've proven nothing!” The changeling on the right snapped. “They accepted you when you were an impressionable child.” The left most changeling explained. “But they do not know the real you, and the real you they will not accept.” “You don't know that.” Onyx returned. “Oh but we do.” Answered the center changeling. “Say you were to return right now and talk to those two ponies. What would you say to them? 'I'm sorry for lying to you, but I'm secretly a-” “Enough!” He demanded. “These things take time! And if all you've done is come here to harass me then you are currently wasting mine!” The boy turned around and once again assumed is childlike figure. Only to be stopped by the all too familiar sounds of magical transformation. He turned back to see that the three changelings that were antagonizing him had been replaced with 3 large timber wolves. “You've given us no choice boy, so now we have an ultimatum. We are going to attack the village, you can stay out of our way and let it happen. Or you can protect your precious family, and be branded as a traitor to your kind! The choice is yours.” With a last little snarl the three wolves stormed off towards the city. ~~~ Iron Lance and Wisteria were awoken that night by the sounds of screams and howling. Iron Lance without a second thought rushed outside while Wisteria ran to the room of her changeling son to check on him. When Lance got outside he was greeted by the sight of several ponies running around in a panic as three large wolves snarled, growled, and stomped their way around the city. Only three brave ponies stood between the wolves and the center of town. A pegasus and two earth ponies, all three close friends with the princess if Lance recalled correctly. “Where the hoof is that egg-head and her dragon when you need her?” “She's spending the night in Canterlot with Celestia. We're on our own y’all!” The kicks of the orange and blue ponies were doing little more than causing minor irritations. Thankfully one of the three wolves was completely distracted trying to desperately catch a bouncy pink pony that was jumping all over and around him. Iron Lance prepared himself to leap into the fray, but was stopped by the sounds of shrieking coming from the house. “Wisteria?!” Lance turned around just at the bright purple mare ran from the house. “It's Onyx! He's gone! I can't find him anywhere!” “What?!” Lance looked all over the surrounding area, hoping to catch even a glimpse of the child. “Where could he have gone?!” “Mom! Up!” Both Wisteria and Lance looked up to see their little baby changeling slowly descending down towards them. He positioned himself just above Wisteria then cut his wings, dropping down onto his 'mother's' back. “Oh thank Celestia! We were so worried!” Wisteria wiped a single tear from her eye using her front left hoof. “What are those?” Asked the child. “They're scary!” “Their timber wolves.” Wisteria explained with a noticeable tone of fear taking root in her voice. “They're dangerous creatures from the forest.” “But what are they doing here?” Iron Lance asked himself as he observed the three brave heroes. “Timber wolves only come into town during Zap-apple season...Something must have provoked them.” Iron Lance took a few steps forward, but was stopped by Wisteria calling out to him. “Don't Lance! It's too dangerous!” “I'm not THAT old Wisteria. I've still got some fight left in me!” Iron Lance shut his eyes, and his horn began to glow with an energy that matched the color of his mane and tail. There was a bright blinding flash of light, and when it settled Iron Lance stood among the three heroes. He was outfitted head to hoof in the armor of the Canterlot Night Guard. The armor was mostly Ceremonial, but it was better than no armor at all. “Daddy looks cool!” Onyx shouted out. Wisteria smiled. “Your father was once a member of the Night Guard, under the command of the Princess of the Night. He might not look it, but your father is as brave as they come!” “Everypony stand back!” Iron Lance shouted from behind a plated face mask. The pegasus and the two earth ponies galloped and flew off to the side as Iron Lance began a full speed charge. His horn began to glow once again and soon his whole body was enveloped by the same colored energy. The energy took the form of a massive gray spearhead as Iron Lance leaped at one of the timber wolves; attempting to drive himself into the heart of the creature like a lance piercing flesh. Unfortunately despite their size, the massive wolves possessed enough agility to all jump out of the way of the attack. Two of them smashing into buildings as they jumped, resulting in massive collateral damage. “Something ain’t right 'bout these wolves.” Commented the orange earth pony. “How so?” Replied her pink friend. “Well normally them tender wolves would just take whatever ya throw at 'em. Then they'd just rebuild themselves. They're too stupid to know what 'ill actually harm 'em.” The three wolves turned and snarled at the pony who took several steps back, and hid her flush red face behind her hat. “And they certainly don't know when you're insultin' 'em!” One of the three wolves attempted to crush the pony with his wooden paw, only to be knocked off balance by another one of Iron Lance's charges. Maybe I wont have to get involved at all. The child changeling thought to himself. Maybe Iorn Lance and the others will be enough to drive them away. The timber wolf reared it's head back, and Iron Lance and the other pony prepared themselves for another attack from the wolf's paw, or possibly an attempt to bite them. Unfortunately what they didn't count on was a magical attack. The timber wolf lunged it's head forward, and a sea of bright green fire erupted from it's maw. The Call to LoveIron Lance had just enough time to tackle the armorless orange pony away from the fire. Only to get caught by the bulk of it. The raw arcane force sent Lance skidding across the ground, his armor charred beyond recognition. “Lance!” Wisteria cried out. “I'm...okay...” Iron Lance struggled to his feet, but managed to get back up. His armor was red hot against his body forcing him to remove it. He glared up at the timber wolf who's maw was leaking green steam between sharpened wooden teeth. “What is this creature?” Iron Lance questioned. “It has the visage of a wolf, but it breathes like a dragon!” The creature made an attempt to speak. Between raspy howls and prolonged snarls Iron Lance managed to make out three words: “You. Know. Nothing.” The timber wolf reared it's head back again, preparing another fiery assault. Without a moments hesitation, or pause to consider what she was actually doing; Wisteria found herself galloping head first at the monster. “Wisteria no!” Lance pleaded. “Mommy!” Cried the boy. The wolf was about to attack again when it found itself knocked off balance by a forceful ram to it's front left leg. It stumbled down on it's side and the fire shot out straight across to the right hitting nothing as it faded away. “Are you crazy?!” Iron Lance roared. “I'd be crazy if I let you get hurt.” Wisteria proposed. She hugged him and helped him up on his hooves. “Let's go before it can-” Wisteria was cut off by the wicked snarling of the other two wolves. Their mouths slowly hung open as more green-lit fire began to churn. Wisteria let out a gasp and Lance hugged her, putting as much of his own body in front of her as he could while the two of them shut their eyes tight. The sounds of raging fire roared out as the blue pegasus and her earth pony friends looked on from a distance in total horror, as if witnessing an illusion or peering through Sombra's enchanted door. “We gotta help them!” Shouted the rainbow haired pegasus. Her attempts to assist were interrupted when she found herself held back by her orange friend. The orange mare said nothing, she simply shook her head in silence. “Wait a minute girls.” The pink one suddenly spat. “Look at that!” The three looked harder at the scene. Something was blocking the fire. A shield of the exact same color. When the fire breath ceased Wisteria and Iron Lance opened their eyes. They weren't dead, far from it in fact. The two were alive and completely unharmed by the blast. They looked to the sides to see a ring a scorched black earth all around them; then looked straight ahead and found themselves staring up at Onyx, who was fully mature. The changeling stood the same size as Iron Lance, blue hair and tail wavered in the whiplashed wind kicked up from the force of the fire breath. His curved horn was alight with a bright green energy that projected out a protective shield. Try as the beasts might, they couldn't break the barrier with it's fire breath alone. “Onyx?” “What are...Who are...” Both Wisteria and Lance were at a loss for words. As the changeling's ward faded he looked back and saw their terrified faces. “I couldn't let my family get hurt on my behalf any longer.” His voice was commanding, yet caring. The tone not unlike that of a prince. He looked up unflinching at the three behemoth wolves. “My guise is at an end cowards! What about yours?!” The wolf who originally attacked Iron Lance let out a snort. It looked back at the other two, who were standing by, and nodded to them. The three were bathed in bright flashes of light, revealing that they too were nothing more than changelings. “How...what?” Neither Iron Lance nor any other pony could comprehend what was going on. “Someone wanna tell me what the hay is goin' on?” The orange earth pony turned to her friends, as though one of them would magically have the answer. They both shrugged. “So this is where your true loyalties lie.” Coined the changeling leader who had taken the form of the first fire spitting wolf. “I am protecting my family.” The boy replied. “You would choose these ponies over your own kind?!” Snapped another. “We shouldn't have to choose! Both my brother and I have proven changelings and ponies can co-exist!” He rejoined once again. “Have you?” The final changeling challenged. “Have you really?” The changeling turned to face his would be mother and father. Iron Lance stood in front of Wisteria who still wore a look of confusion and fear. “I am sorry for deceiving you both.” The changeling confessed. “I feared you would not have helped me any other way. Please try to understand; my brother is convinced that my kind can co-exist with your own. I have done nothing but fight with him about it since he left us. I wanted to see if he was right.” The look of fear in Wisteria's face was replaced with a look of concern. She stepped out from behind Iron Lance to face her son. “Wisteria I-” Lance was cut off by Wisteria who gently put a hoof to his mouth. “Remember who you were Iron Lance.” Upon hearing this Iron Lance stepped down. “I understand what you're going through dear, and I understand your concern, and why you did what you did.” She looked over the boy then frowned slightly. “But you deceived us both, and lairs have no place in our family. I am sorry son.” “I understand.” The changeling replied. “I will always think of you as my mother.” “What will you do now?!” The rival changeling barked. “Your so called family has kicked you out, and the swarm has no place for your treacherous ideology!” Onyx said nothing, he simply turned and headed towards the edge of town, back towards the Everfree Forest from which he had arrived. As he left the three remaining changeling ran and flew off; pursued by the pegasus and her friends. The Changeling entered the forest without uttering a word, but as he reached the entrance, he paused for a moment to remember the last words his mother had said to him. She called me her son, and that is good enough for me.
Discovering LoveThe lone changeling steadily walked along through the endless twisted trees of the Everfree Forrest. His mane and tail mirrored that of the queens, and barely moved as a stale wind blew through the several holes that permeated them. His horn arched back slightly, only to curve back around giving it the appearance of a dark colored sickle. His porous legs made no noise at all as he stepped along the seemingly worn yet lifeless path. Occasionally he'd hear something snarl, or hear a twig snap. His eyes would dart to the direction of the noise, and his eyes would flash with bright green energy, but nothing would emerge; as though the very forest itself was afraid of him. “Such a ridiculous notion.” The creature told himself. “A symbiotic relationship between a pony and a changeling.” The more he pondered the concept the more it bugged him. For as long as he could remember changelings took the form of ponies in order to safely feed off the love of others. This was necessary as the changelings appeared as monsters right down to their very cores. Yet his brother had done the impossible; he had fallen in love with a pony, and the pony loved his brother back. He was convinced that his brother's philosophy was madness, and yet his brother himself was a living proof of concept. “Is it really possible?” The changeling found himself talking to on one once again. “Could the ponies truly accept us just the way we are?” He thought of his brother again, and how happy the fool's partner made him. Was he jealous of his brother? Was he envious? He didn't think so. He came to the entrance of the forest, and found a path leading to Ponyville. “I wonder...” A green aura washed over the pony, when the energy faded all that remained was a chestnut pony with brown hair and an hourglass cutie mark. Satisfied with the form he had taken he nodded and trotted his way into Ponyville. “Hello Time Turner, how are you?” The changeling looked up to see a white and red pony waving at him. He said nothing he simply smiled and waved before trotting away faster than he had come. “It's times like these I wish I was as talented as our dear queen.” He mumbled to himself. To his misfortune while he could take the form of any pony of his choosing, he did not inherit the talent of disguising his voice. “Hello Doctor!” The changeling looked up; a blue pegasus with squirly looking eyes was hovering just inches above him; wearing what was quite possibly the silliest looking grin he had ever seen. He cursed his terrible luck, seems he picked a pony that everybody knew. “Sorry...can't talk...gotta...busy!” 'Turner' took off saying as few words as he could in the process. The pegasus stayed behind watching confused as he ran away. “He didn't sound so good...” A comedic thought floated into the young mares mind causing her to giggle. “I guess The Doctor needs a doctor!” ~~~ The fake pony made his way past the center of town and into a nearby alley. While staying hidden his eyes darted around searching for the perfect ponies to run his little test on. “Maybe those two?” He spied a couple making their way into Sugar Cube Corner, but spotted something that made him change his mind. “No they have kids...twins no less...wait...a unicorn and pegasus born from two earth ponies? How does that work?” He dismissed the thought, and continued the search. “Maybe the two ponies sitting together on that bench.” Again he shook his head. “Wait the green one is also a mare...” The changeling cursed incoherently again, but just as he was about to give up he spotted a couple approaching the alley from down the street. The unicorn colt was slightly larger than the mare, and had a dark gray coat with a slightly bluish tint that was complimented by a lighter gray mane. The smaller earth pony female was almost completely violet. Save for streaks of light blue in her hair, and her eyes and flowery cutie mark of the same color. “This is as good a chance as any.” The insect told himself. He shut his eyes and concentrated hard. “Hey what's that?” Wisteria asked her larger colt friend. The bright violet pony pointed to a green light flashing from the alley where the changeling had taken shelter. “I'm not sure, come on lets check.” Her gray lover made a dash for the corner with her not far behind. The alley was strangely dark, contrasting the rest of the town. As the colt made his way inside he could hear his wife calling to him. “Be careful Iron Lance! We don't know what caused that light!” “I'm aware Hun thank you!” He reassured her. “I love that girl to death, but by Celestia she is overprotective.” As Iron Lance approached the end of the alley he heard the sounds of crying coming from behind some nearby bags. Lance approached and inspected the source, discovering an abandoned infant colt. “Huh? Now what are you doing here little one? Did you get lost?” Wisteria joined her husband in the alley. “What did you find?” She pondered. “I found him.” Iron Lance revealed the small child to Wisteria. “An abandoned filly? I don't believe it.” Wisteria sat back and took the child in her hooves. He was cold to the touch, almost unpleasantly so. Wisteria snuggled the child in an attempt to warm him, and that's when she noticed his hooves. “Lance! Look here! His hooves!” Lance looked down and spotted several small holes. “I don't believe it! This child is a changeling!” The creature had long since stopped crying and was now asleep in Wisteria's arms. “What do we do?” She asked Iron Lance. “Should we report this to the princess?” Lance shook his head. “There's no need to get her or her friends involved. Let's just try and get back to the house unnoticed. It isn't far.” Wisteria wasn't sure how she felt about the decision, but she trusted Iron Lance completely. She got up on three legs and held the child as close to her as she could. Together the two of them snuck out of the alley, and made a mad dash to their home. Foolish Unicorns. The changeling thought to himself. They struggle on such rudimentary magics like altering age and appearance. Changelings spend their whole lives in hiding, these kinds of spells are child’s play.
Embracing LoveThe next day the filly changeling awoke in a crib in the middle of a room. The room was small, it's lights were off, and it was devoid of anything but a single window where daylight was shining through, and a basic looking couch not far from his cage. He let out an elongated yawn; despite being conformed to his infant state he had gotten plenty of sleep, and was more comfortable where he was now than he had been for a long while. He let out a deep inhale and exhale and shut his eyes; it took all the strength he could muster to fly with his child sized wings, but he eventually managed to fly over the wooden crib where he was being held. He made his way to the wall opposite him and the couch, and stared up at the dark wooden door that lead into the hallway. He shut his eyes once again, and his horn emitted a light green glow; as did the door's knob. He tried to turn the nob open only to have it object with a couple of loud clicks. “Locked?” The 'colt' looked around in a slight panic for another way out. The only one he could see was the window, but he was on the second story of the building, and after all the effort it took to fly out of his crib, he really wasn't feeling very trusting of his wings. “Why would they lock the door? Are they intending to hold me prisoner?” For a moment the changeling considered the possibility that he had been captured, and that his plan had backfired in every possible way. “Well if that's how you want it, then I'm not sticking around.” The changeling focused intently on the door, which began to glow like it's nob had. A single drop of sweat trailed down the child's head, and his eyes twitched on occasion as he manipulated the door. Eventually he heard another clicking noise and a quick sliding motion. He had opened the door. The changeling walked out into the second floor which comprised of a single hallway, a stairway down, and one other room besides his own. “The ponies' room” he told himself. He snuck past the door as quietly as he could, assuming that the ponies that found him were right behind it, however upon reaching the stairs themselves, he caught a glimpse of Wisteria trotting happily into the kitchen. The changeling began to sneak down the stairway, but only got about half way before he heard the two ponies talking. “What do you think he eats?” Wisteria asked her husband as she prepared a couple of eggs on the kitchen stove. “Are you serious?” Iron Lance answered rhetorically “Of course I am!” Wisteria half shouted to the colt. “He's alive like you and me, and that means he's gotta eat.” “That THING is not our child Wisteria!” Iron Lance aggressively pointed out. “We're already harboring it, the last thing we need to do is cook for it!” Wisteria didn't say anything, she simply huffed and went back to her eggs. “What ever happened to that knight in shining armor I fell in love with? The one that helped those two injured changelings escape from Canterlot after the wedding had ended?” Iron Lance snorted and turned around. “He was kicked out of Canterlot under the guise of an honorable discharge. Now he scrapes out a mediocre existence using a monthly penchant that he gets from the city's royal guards.” Iron Lance stormed out of the kitchen, and into the living room. As he headed towards the stairs he spotted the little changeling child who had just finished climbing down them. He let out a sigh and approached the boy, who took a few steps back expecting something malicious to occur. To his surprise Iron Lance simply petted him on his head a couple times with his hoof before walking up the stairs to his room. The child entered the kitchen where he was greeted by Wisteria’s warm smile. “Good morning! Did Iron let you out of your room?” This one is either really dumb, or a deceptive genious. The changeling noted in his mind. “Are you hungry dear?” Wisteria asked him. The boy innocently tilted his head to the side, pretending not to understand. “What do you eat dear?” Wisteria opened her mouth up wide and pointed towards it with her hoof. She looked extremely silly from the changeling's point of view, who was now fighting to hold back a laugh. Deciding the best course of action was to act out his part as best as possible, he raised the pitch of his voice, and used single words to communicate. “Love!” He squeaked out adorably. “Love?” Echoed Wisteria “Love!” He repeated. He leaned back on his hind legs and stretched out his front hooves for a hug. “I don't understand dear?” Wisteria took the boy in her hoof, and a puzzled look stretched across her face. She recalled back to the Canterlot Royal Wedding. “I think I recall one of the princess' saying that Changelings feed on love...Or something like that...” “Love!” The small child echoed again, this time trying to sound annoyed. Wisteria hugged the boy, but wasn't sure what to do. She didn't love him, and the boy knew it. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he actually was starting to get cravings. He wasn't sure what to do. He'd have to transform into Iron Lance to feed off of Wisteria, but if he timed it wrong the gray pony would catch him, and the entire mission would be a bust. “Well, would you like to try some eggs?” Wisteria suddenly asked. “I'm not sure if you'll like them or not, but maybe they'll tide you over until I can think of something.” Pony food? Gross...The changeling really didn't like the situation he was in, but at the same time there wasn't much else he could do but go along with what was happening. The eggs were bland and tasteless to him, but they did manage to put a minor damper on his cravings. For the moment at least that was good enough for him. “By the way little one, we were so caught up with what happened yesterday that we never asked your name.” The boy looked up at Wisteria. He hadn't considered a name. He of course had one, but he didn't feel comfortable using it. “Do you have a name sweetie?” Wisteria inquired a second time. “Onyx!” The small boy yelped.
Learning LoveBefore “Onyx” knew what had happened a week had gone by. He had sustained himself on meals prepared by Wisteria, and occasionally took the form of Iron Lance for passing moments to leech bits of love from her. Wisteria grew closer to the small child as the days went by. She would come home from work, teach her new friend how to do things like speak correctly, and act polite, and in the end the two of them would talk about what they did that day. Of course he spent all of his time in the house reading books and watching television, so he never had much to talk about. The boy feigned getting smarter to appease the mare; showing steady improvements day by day. Eventually even Iron Lance warmed up to the boy. His passing pats on the head escalated to single words of greeting, and by the end of the week they even held a conversation together. “Where do you work?” Onyx asked him. “I don't work. I don't have to.” Iron Lance turned away and stared out a nearby window. As if that fact was some kind of agonizing torture. “You rich?” The boy questioned, intentionally messing up the grammar. “No I'm not rich.” Lance responded with a sigh. “Lucky!” the little one yelped. Iron Lance shrugged and stood up from his seat. “Yeah...maybe I am.” With that he patted Onyx on his head like he always did and walked up the stairs to his room. “Daddy?” Onyx mumbled. Iron Lance didn't respond. He didn't stop on the stairs or even pause for a moment. He just kept walking. ~~~ “We should let Onyx go to school.” Wisteria suggested. Iron Lance put down the paper he was reading and took a sip of his coffee. An aura of annoyance suddenly took hold of his face. “That's not possible and you know it.” “Why isn't it?” Wisteria asked him. “You know darn well why!” Lance shouted as he banged his hoof against the arm chair he was sitting in. “The school system isn't going to just randomly let a changeling into the school!” Wisteria's attempt to rebuttal was interrupted by the sounds of magic coming from directly behind them. The two ponies turned around to see a miniature cutiemark-less Iron Lance looking up at them. “No way.” Iron Lance mumbled under his breath. Wisteria who was unable to contain herself let out an overzealous shriek and rushed over to Onyx. She scooped the child up in her hooves and hugged him tightly. The spontaneous shock of being swooped up broke the boy's concentration and he reverted to his original changeling form. “He's so adorable! Oh Lance this is just too perfect!” Onyx felt strange all of a sudden. He had long since gotten use to Wisteria holding him in her hooves, but something about this felt genuinely different. It was then that he took notice; it was hard to tell at first since it was such a feint feeling, but once he realized there was no mistake. He felt small traces of love coming from Wisteria. He was feeding off of her without the need of a disguise. Wisteria, Lance, and Onyx all traveled together to the school, with Onyx in his 'mini Lance' form. Occasionally ponies would stop and stare at the apparent family, and they would hear whispers coming from couples nearby. Wisteria felt proud about everything that was going on, but Iron Lance and the boy felt very much uncomfortable. Ponyville's school as luck would have it, ran a program for younger fillies whose parents wanted to get an early start on education for their kids. It wasn't taught by the same teacher as the normal school, but it was a free program, and only spanned about three hours. The classes started as soon as the regular school let out, so whenever Wisteria arrived with Onyx they would always see lots of little fillies scattering out from the school. “Oh look at those little kids, they look like such great friends.” Wisteria pointed to three little mares in red capes who were spinning around in circles mentioning something about their cutie marks. Onyx wasn't engaged in their conversation at all, but was instead more interested in what Wisteria was saying. “I hope you get to make friends like that.” She looked at the boy with a warm smile, and Onyx to his surprise found himself returning it. The two of them exchanged a quick snuggle before Onyx darted off towards the school. He felt the sensations from before returning to him. The unfiltered love from a creature aimed towards him directly, not to the person he was pretending to be. It was a wonderful if not addictive feeling. Had his brother been right all along? ~~~ The class had been rather boring. Everything that the teacher had taught them was either something the changeling already knew, or didn't care to learn. He went along with the games, and even found a few of them fun, but all n all he found himself mostly uninvested. When it came time for school to end the young colt dashed from the building without a second thought, nearly forgetting his backpack. He ran out to great his mother who embraced him with a quick hug. “I'm all done!” He shouted eagerly. “How was school?” The mare asked him “Great! I really learned a lot!” “That's wonderful dear. Now come along with me, we have much we need to discus.” Wisteria's tone and choice of words sent a chill up the changeling's spine. He looked up at the woman who he was walking with and noticed in her eyes, an instantaneous flash of green light.
Defending Love“What exactly were you thinking?” The imposter Wisteria brought the boy to the outskirts of town near the Everfree Forest where she revealed herself to be another changeling in disguise. “What have you done with the ponies?!” The boy cracked as he returned to his true form. “They're asleep” answered the doppelganger. “We didn't want any interruptions.” “We?” He returned. The changeling confronting Onyx took a few steps back, and two more changelings emerged from the forest. One on the insects left, and one to the right. As they stood aligned with one another the middle one began to speak once again. “First your brother elopes with a pony and abandons the brood, now you are taking the form of a larva in an attempt to live among a family? Is insanity a common trait in your family's gene code?” Onyx smirked. “You tell me, you're bred from the same genetic code I am. We all are.” “Don't give me that!” His accuser snapped. “You're a first born which is why you're so different from us!” He motioned towards Onyx's hair and sickle-like horn.” “Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your tone?” Onyx's satisfied smirk showed no signs of submersing. “You truly are crazy.” The other changeling accused. “Perhaps it is time we put an end to this experiment of yours.” “What I'm doing is for the good and benefit of all the changelings.” Onyx assured. “Those two ponies took me in as a changeling child and treated me as a loved member of their family. It was my crazed brother who purposed that changelings could coexist with ponies, and now I have proof of that!” “You've proven nothing!” The changeling on the right snapped. “They accepted you when you were an impressionable child.” The left most changeling explained. “But they do not know the real you, and the real you they will not accept.” “You don't know that.” Onyx returned. “Oh but we do.” Answered the center changeling. “Say you were to return right now and talk to those two ponies. What would you say to them? 'I'm sorry for lying to you, but I'm secretly a-” “Enough!” He demanded. “These things take time! And if all you've done is come here to harass me then you are currently wasting mine!” The boy turned around and once again assumed is childlike figure. Only to be stopped by the all too familiar sounds of magical transformation. He turned back to see that the three changelings that were antagonizing him had been replaced with 3 large timber wolves. “You've given us no choice boy, so now we have an ultimatum. We are going to attack the village, you can stay out of our way and let it happen. Or you can protect your precious family, and be branded as a traitor to your kind! The choice is yours.” With a last little snarl the three wolves stormed off towards the city. ~~~ Iron Lance and Wisteria were awoken that night by the sounds of screams and howling. Iron Lance without a second thought rushed outside while Wisteria ran to the room of her changeling son to check on him. When Lance got outside he was greeted by the sight of several ponies running around in a panic as three large wolves snarled, growled, and stomped their way around the city. Only three brave ponies stood between the wolves and the center of town. A pegasus and two earth ponies, all three close friends with the princess if Lance recalled correctly. “Where the hoof is that egg-head and her dragon when you need her?” “She's spending the night in Canterlot with Celestia. We're on our own y’all!” The kicks of the orange and blue ponies were doing little more than causing minor irritations. Thankfully one of the three wolves was completely distracted trying to desperately catch a bouncy pink pony that was jumping all over and around him. Iron Lance prepared himself to leap into the fray, but was stopped by the sounds of shrieking coming from the house. “Wisteria?!” Lance turned around just at the bright purple mare ran from the house. “It's Onyx! He's gone! I can't find him anywhere!” “What?!” Lance looked all over the surrounding area, hoping to catch even a glimpse of the child. “Where could he have gone?!” “Mom! Up!” Both Wisteria and Lance looked up to see their little baby changeling slowly descending down towards them. He positioned himself just above Wisteria then cut his wings, dropping down onto his 'mother's' back. “Oh thank Celestia! We were so worried!” Wisteria wiped a single tear from her eye using her front left hoof. “What are those?” Asked the child. “They're scary!” “Their timber wolves.” Wisteria explained with a noticeable tone of fear taking root in her voice. “They're dangerous creatures from the forest.” “But what are they doing here?” Iron Lance asked himself as he observed the three brave heroes. “Timber wolves only come into town during Zap-apple season...Something must have provoked them.” Iron Lance took a few steps forward, but was stopped by Wisteria calling out to him. “Don't Lance! It's too dangerous!” “I'm not THAT old Wisteria. I've still got some fight left in me!” Iron Lance shut his eyes, and his horn began to glow with an energy that matched the color of his mane and tail. There was a bright blinding flash of light, and when it settled Iron Lance stood among the three heroes. He was outfitted head to hoof in the armor of the Canterlot Night Guard. The armor was mostly Ceremonial, but it was better than no armor at all. “Daddy looks cool!” Onyx shouted out. Wisteria smiled. “Your father was once a member of the Night Guard, under the command of the Princess of the Night. He might not look it, but your father is as brave as they come!” “Everypony stand back!” Iron Lance shouted from behind a plated face mask. The pegasus and the two earth ponies galloped and flew off to the side as Iron Lance began a full speed charge. His horn began to glow once again and soon his whole body was enveloped by the same colored energy. The energy took the form of a massive gray spearhead as Iron Lance leaped at one of the timber wolves; attempting to drive himself into the heart of the creature like a lance piercing flesh. Unfortunately despite their size, the massive wolves possessed enough agility to all jump out of the way of the attack. Two of them smashing into buildings as they jumped, resulting in massive collateral damage. “Something ain’t right 'bout these wolves.” Commented the orange earth pony. “How so?” Replied her pink friend. “Well normally them tender wolves would just take whatever ya throw at 'em. Then they'd just rebuild themselves. They're too stupid to know what 'ill actually harm 'em.” The three wolves turned and snarled at the pony who took several steps back, and hid her flush red face behind her hat. “And they certainly don't know when you're insultin' 'em!” One of the three wolves attempted to crush the pony with his wooden paw, only to be knocked off balance by another one of Iron Lance's charges. Maybe I wont have to get involved at all. The child changeling thought to himself. Maybe Iorn Lance and the others will be enough to drive them away. The timber wolf reared it's head back, and Iron Lance and the other pony prepared themselves for another attack from the wolf's paw, or possibly an attempt to bite them. Unfortunately what they didn't count on was a magical attack. The timber wolf lunged it's head forward, and a sea of bright green fire erupted from it's maw.
The Call to LoveIron Lance had just enough time to tackle the armorless orange pony away from the fire. Only to get caught by the bulk of it. The raw arcane force sent Lance skidding across the ground, his armor charred beyond recognition. “Lance!” Wisteria cried out. “I'm...okay...” Iron Lance struggled to his feet, but managed to get back up. His armor was red hot against his body forcing him to remove it. He glared up at the timber wolf who's maw was leaking green steam between sharpened wooden teeth. “What is this creature?” Iron Lance questioned. “It has the visage of a wolf, but it breathes like a dragon!” The creature made an attempt to speak. Between raspy howls and prolonged snarls Iron Lance managed to make out three words: “You. Know. Nothing.” The timber wolf reared it's head back again, preparing another fiery assault. Without a moments hesitation, or pause to consider what she was actually doing; Wisteria found herself galloping head first at the monster. “Wisteria no!” Lance pleaded. “Mommy!” Cried the boy. The wolf was about to attack again when it found itself knocked off balance by a forceful ram to it's front left leg. It stumbled down on it's side and the fire shot out straight across to the right hitting nothing as it faded away. “Are you crazy?!” Iron Lance roared. “I'd be crazy if I let you get hurt.” Wisteria proposed. She hugged him and helped him up on his hooves. “Let's go before it can-” Wisteria was cut off by the wicked snarling of the other two wolves. Their mouths slowly hung open as more green-lit fire began to churn. Wisteria let out a gasp and Lance hugged her, putting as much of his own body in front of her as he could while the two of them shut their eyes tight. The sounds of raging fire roared out as the blue pegasus and her earth pony friends looked on from a distance in total horror, as if witnessing an illusion or peering through Sombra's enchanted door. “We gotta help them!” Shouted the rainbow haired pegasus. Her attempts to assist were interrupted when she found herself held back by her orange friend. The orange mare said nothing, she simply shook her head in silence. “Wait a minute girls.” The pink one suddenly spat. “Look at that!” The three looked harder at the scene. Something was blocking the fire. A shield of the exact same color. When the fire breath ceased Wisteria and Iron Lance opened their eyes. They weren't dead, far from it in fact. The two were alive and completely unharmed by the blast. They looked to the sides to see a ring a scorched black earth all around them; then looked straight ahead and found themselves staring up at Onyx, who was fully mature. The changeling stood the same size as Iron Lance, blue hair and tail wavered in the whiplashed wind kicked up from the force of the fire breath. His curved horn was alight with a bright green energy that projected out a protective shield. Try as the beasts might, they couldn't break the barrier with it's fire breath alone. “Onyx?” “What are...Who are...” Both Wisteria and Lance were at a loss for words. As the changeling's ward faded he looked back and saw their terrified faces. “I couldn't let my family get hurt on my behalf any longer.” His voice was commanding, yet caring. The tone not unlike that of a prince. He looked up unflinching at the three behemoth wolves. “My guise is at an end cowards! What about yours?!” The wolf who originally attacked Iron Lance let out a snort. It looked back at the other two, who were standing by, and nodded to them. The three were bathed in bright flashes of light, revealing that they too were nothing more than changelings. “How...what?” Neither Iron Lance nor any other pony could comprehend what was going on. “Someone wanna tell me what the hay is goin' on?” The orange earth pony turned to her friends, as though one of them would magically have the answer. They both shrugged. “So this is where your true loyalties lie.” Coined the changeling leader who had taken the form of the first fire spitting wolf. “I am protecting my family.” The boy replied. “You would choose these ponies over your own kind?!” Snapped another. “We shouldn't have to choose! Both my brother and I have proven changelings and ponies can co-exist!” He rejoined once again. “Have you?” The final changeling challenged. “Have you really?” The changeling turned to face his would be mother and father. Iron Lance stood in front of Wisteria who still wore a look of confusion and fear. “I am sorry for deceiving you both.” The changeling confessed. “I feared you would not have helped me any other way. Please try to understand; my brother is convinced that my kind can co-exist with your own. I have done nothing but fight with him about it since he left us. I wanted to see if he was right.” The look of fear in Wisteria's face was replaced with a look of concern. She stepped out from behind Iron Lance to face her son. “Wisteria I-” Lance was cut off by Wisteria who gently put a hoof to his mouth. “Remember who you were Iron Lance.” Upon hearing this Iron Lance stepped down. “I understand what you're going through dear, and I understand your concern, and why you did what you did.” She looked over the boy then frowned slightly. “But you deceived us both, and lairs have no place in our family. I am sorry son.” “I understand.” The changeling replied. “I will always think of you as my mother.” “What will you do now?!” The rival changeling barked. “Your so called family has kicked you out, and the swarm has no place for your treacherous ideology!” Onyx said nothing, he simply turned and headed towards the edge of town, back towards the Everfree Forest from which he had arrived. As he left the three remaining changeling ran and flew off; pursued by the pegasus and her friends. The Changeling entered the forest without uttering a word, but as he reached the entrance, he paused for a moment to remember the last words his mother had said to him. She called me her son, and that is good enough for me.
