Not every changeling had their own room at the hive, most were shared with either a close sibling or parents. Ocellus was fortunate enough to be part of a bigger family and they were assigned a generous three rooms at the hive.
Ocellus’ room was set up just the way she liked it and she showed it off to her friends. The walls were decorated with doodles of her family members and friends, along with a drawing of Thorax. Carved into the stone in the corner was a shelf for her books and board games.
“So how does this work? You’re a family of five and you still get a room all to yourself?” Sandbar wondered as he looked around. He and Ocellus’ other friends lounged on a pink, fluffy carpet in the middle of her room.
“Well, yeah! It’s because I have the most stuff. My parents are nice but they don’t care much for personal belongings and my little brother and sister are still very young. After a semester at school, I got so many books, clothes and things I made in arts and crafts,” Ocellus replied with a proud smile. “Anyway, would you guys like something to drink? Artix and his siblings made lemonade for the entire hive yesterday.”
“Who is Artix?” Yona asked while she squeezed herself a spot on the carpet in-between Sandbar and Gallus, nearly pushing over both.
“Artix is like… hm… he’s like a cousin to me! He hatched from the batch before mine, but we’ve been pretty close. Relationships among changelings are a bit difficult to describe, since we’re all technically siblings.”
“Eh? Say what?” Gallus blinked. “I thought you had parents.”
“Well... I was only assigned parents about a year ago, It’s kinda complicated.” Ocellus answered, prodding the floor with a hoof.
“Doesn’t matter! Family’s whoever you care about, right?” Silverstream joined the pile on the rug by hopping onto Yona’s back before she pulled Gallus and Sandbar against the Yak for an awkward group hug.
“It’s the same for dragons, to be honest,” Smolder added before she hopped onto Ocellus’ bed instead of the crowded rug. “Like, I don’t even know who laid my egg!”
Ocellus smiled. “So would you guys like to try some lemonade?” she asked shyly.
The gang all gave affirmative replies that ended with Yona happily declaring, “Yaks love lemons!”
“Alright, I’ll be back in a bit!” Ocellus said cheerfully as she left the room.
“To be honest, I’ve always wanted my own room like this.” Smolder rolled over on the bed, stretching her arms.
“You don’t have your own room in the dragonlands?” Sandbar asked, surprised.
“Nah, we just have caves with piles of treasure. I live in one with some older dragons. I don’t even have my own hoard because the others keep taking my stuff when I’m in school.”
“I have my own room in Griffonstone but it’s pretty trashy.” Gallus admitted, sitting by the bed. “But hey, at least we each got an amazing room at school.”
“Yak houses much more comfy than pony school, but pony school is pretty sweet.”
“Still jealous.” Smolder sat up and fluffed the pillow on the bed.
Gallus glanced over to Smolder and pointed at something peeking out from under the pillow. Curiously, he reached out a claw and pulled it out. “Hey, what’s this…?”
The others immediately circled around him.
“Looks like a book!” Silverstream commented to which Gallus just rolled his eyes.
“It might be her diary or something?” Sandbar suggested with a nervous look. “Maybe, we should just put it back?”
“Why?” Gallus asked before he flopped down on the bed, which caused Smolder to bounce off and flap in the air. “If it ends up being her diary, we will put it back,” Gallus grinned and flipped the book open to a random page.
“It’s written in pink, so it must be her diary! Case closed, put it back.” Sandbar pressed, reaching for the book with a hoof.
Gallus pulled the book out of Sandbar’s reach only for Smolder to snatch it from his claws above.
“I’ll check it then to be sure,” Smolder quipped with a grin as she kept the book away from both griffon and pony while she read.
‘I’ve been practicing my timber wolf disguise with my friends today, well, not just today, but you already know that. I haven’t yet told you why I practice shape-shifting into creepy monsters. It really helps seeing them from another perspective and makes them less scary. Sandbar said I looked just like a real timber wolf! It’s so nice to have friends who—’
Smolder abruptly stopped reading, and just stared the page until a pink claw blocked her view and snatched the book away.
“That’s enough! You shouldn’t read your friends’ diary, seriously!” Silverstream scolded before she herself peeked into the book. “—from another perspective. Sandbar said… whoa!”
Silverstream landed and turned the book around, practically shoving it into Sandbar’s face. “You need to see this!”
Sandbar turned his head away immediately. “I won’t read Ocellus’ diary!” he exclaimed firmly.
“Come on, it’s about you!”
“What, really?” Sandbar opened an eye and gave the book a sidelong glance. He saw one particular word was marked with a heart shape around it.
It was his name.
Sandbar stared with both eyes now. “W-wait, you don’t think…”
“She’s in love with you.” Yona said, now cheek-to-cheek with Sandbar while she skimmed the page.
“That’s…” Sandbar’s cheeks suddenly felt hot as he considered the possibility. He wanted to reach for the book again but the sound of clopping hooves drew his and his friends' attention to the hallway. Within seconds, the book was shut and shoved back underneath the pillow.
“Not a word about this!” Smolder warned Sandbar, pointing a claw at his face.
“But I— ”
“No, you’re a guy, you wouldn’t get it. So, shhh!”
The door opened and Ocellus pushed in a cart with stone-carved cups and a pitcher of lemonade on it. She paused when she saw them all staring at her.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” Ocellus asked to the five pair of eyes.
“No, we were just talking about yo—ur lemonade!” said Silverstream before she offered an awkward smile with too much beak teeth.
“Yeah, Sandbar told us how much he loves lemonade! Especially if it’s made with love!” Gallus added while ruffling Sandbar’s mane.
Sandbar shot a quick glare at Gallus before he forced a grin and nodded. “Yeah, I sure do love lemonade!”
Ocellus stared for a moment, blinked, then smiled. “Oh alright! I’m so glad you’re all so eager!” She proceeded to pour into the cups and offered them to her friends one after the other.
“Should we tell her? I mean, I don't feel the same way.”
Sandbar paced in his room back at school, his friends—minus Ocellus—were gathered around him after they had made sure Ocellus was occupied otherwise.
Gallus sat down and crossed his arms. “You’re forgetting that we’ve all read her diary and that’ll already hurt her feelings. I say we just move on, and forget it.”
“But he knows she likes him now! How can he pretend not to know?” Silverstream argued.
“Ponies too nice to lie to friends like that,” agreed Yona.
“We’ve heard ponies lie before, Yona,” Smolder pointed out. “Besides Sandbar, you should be happy she likes you that much. Can’t you just like, try going with it? Dragon love usually starts pretty one-sided, too.”
Sandbar stopped and rubbed his neck awkwardly. “You know… I’ve thought about that. But isn’t being in love one of those things you have to really feel? And how do changelings even go about that? I don’t know how to approach a pony, much less a changeling!”
“What do you feel?” Yona asked as she put a hoof on Sanbar’s chest.
“I don’t know…” Sandbar closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He tried to get a handle on what he felt. What he truly felt. There was a nervous tingle in his gut, but that couldn’t be it. Or could it? He sighed, and his ears drooped. “I… don’t know. Maybe I should give it a try?” He turned to look at his friends, and his expression turned serious. “But promise not to try anything! I’ve read so many love stories where some-creature’s friends tried to set them up. It never goes well.”
“Huh, yeah... now that you mentioned it, that never seems to work out.” Smolder mused. When that got everyone’s eyes on her, she scowled back with a blush. “I mean, so I’ve heard. I don’t read stupid romance stories!”
“Riiiiight, sure you don’t,” Gallus said, smirking. “But we won’t say anything to Ocellus.”
“Thanks guys… just one more thing, how do I start? What should I say to her?” Sandbar asked.
“You could try as—” Silverstream started.
“Ask for date! Just be direct and honest!” Yona immediately interrupted while reaching a hoof around Silverstream’s fluffy neck.
“Erp! I was about to suggest the same,” Silverstream said with a strained voice as she was pulled into a fierce hug against the yak.
“Alright then. A date sounds simple,” Sandbar agreed.
“Let me give you some tips then, I’ve got experience.” Gallus said proudly, putting his arm around Sandbar’s shoulders.
It was already past sunset when Sandbar knocked on the door of Gallus’ room. The sound of his hoof hitting the wood echoed through the hallway and made him self conscious being outside of his own room past curfew. It was a relief when the door opened.
“Come inside before anypony sees you,” Gallus half-whispered.
Sandbar walked past Gallus who closed the door as quietly as possible.
“Alright then, buddy. Time to get you prepared!” Gallus excitedly said. “Make yourself comfy somewhere.”
“Er… where?” Sandbar eyed the room for a place to sit. It was a mess: Half-eaten pizzas and empty cans surrounded a beanbag stacked with video game cases. The games themselves were scattered across the floor along with books and sheets of paper, one of which Sandbar recognized from class the day before.
Gallus rolled his eyes and zipped over to his gaming corner to shove over the game cases. He grabbed the beanbag, dropped it behind Sandbar and then pushed him into it. “There. Sorry I haven’t had the time to tidy up, yet.”
“How could you leave your games outside of their cases? Everypony knows that dust can damage the cartridges.”
“Eh. Never had any issue with them. You’re not here to lecture me about video games though, you’re here to be lectured about ladies.” Gallus said and put a claw on Sandbar’s shoulder.
“Y-yeah, true. So any tips you can give me?” Sandbar asked with a hint of a blush.
“There’s a three-step-plan. I like to think it works for every-creature. Luckily, you’re already on step two.”
“And those steps are…?”
Gallus put a fist to his chest and smirked. “Step one: Make her think you’re different, something special, and not like the others. She obviously already thinks that if she’s in love with you.”
“Alright, so what are the other ones?”
“Step two builds upon step one. Get into her bedroom. A girl’s bedroom is where she feels the safest and at the same time where she’s the most open minded. If you make it that far, you’re pretty much guaranteed that you got a chance with her.”
Sandbar remained silent.
“And then there’s the last step, the step that seals the deal. If you’re in her bedroom and you can just tell she’s under your spell, there will be this one moment at some point where both of you stand or if you’re lucky lie close to each other and suddenly, neither of you is saying anything. That’s when you do it.”
“Do what?” Sandbar asked.
Gallus leaned down and made a sly grin before he answered, “You kiss her on the lips.”
“W-wha—” Sandbar shouted. Gallus quickly grabbed Sandbar’s muzzle to hold it shut but Sandbar freed himself by pushing himself further back into the beanbag.
They both remained silent for a few moments to make sure no one had heard them before Gallus continued. “It’s an idiot-proof plan, trust me. I’ve done it countless times.”
“Uh-huh. Why don’t you have a special somepony then?”
“Because I’m not into ponies.”
“Special some-creature?”
“Because I… I’m not really a relationship guy.”
“But why—”
“Listen, it doesn’t matter! I’m your friend and you and I both know I have more experience with ladies, so trust me, okay?” Gallus crossed his arms and sat down on the floor. “You’re getting advice for free because you’re my friend. If any other creature had asked it would have cost them.”
Sandbar frowned. “Yeah, fine, I’m sorry. I appreciate your help.”
“Good. Don’t mess up or it’ll look bad on me.”
The next day after class, Sandbar and his friends headed back to their rooms together. It was Friday and they were about to get ready to visit their families. Sandbar was walking at the back of the group, right behind Ocellus, when he decided to pick up his pace and talk to her.
“So, Ocellus… what’d you think of History today? I feel like Headmare Twilight is even more excited to tell us stories than every-creature she’s teaching.” Sandbar started, a small smile on his lips.
Ocellus tilted her head a little, and looked surprised. “Oh, it was very interesting, actually!”
’So far so good’ Sandbar thought before he nodded and said out loud, “So... umm… are there any changeling stories about friendship?”
“Sorta. There was this one drone. Ponies named him ‘Change’. According to Queen Chrysalis’ journal we’ve found in the old library, Change used their shape-shifting to protect their pony friends from the other changelings. They were the first to ever rebel against the Queen! The last page of the entry was missing though, so we never knew what happened to them.”
“Ah, that’s cool and interesting!” Sandbar lied, barely listening as he thought of the next step. “And uh… what are you doing today?”
“I don’t know yet. Well, aside from watching a choir practice performance at the hive,” Ocellus answered with a smile. “How about you?”
Sandbar nervously fidgeted on his hooves and took a breath. “I was hoping we could hang out later, actually.”
“Sure! We could all meet at the hive and watch the choir practice together! Thorax said he’d like some feedback for the group and invited every-ling to listen.”
“I was hoping for something more… well, you and me?” Sandbar suggested, a slight blush on his face.
“Y-you want to hang out with just me?” Ocellus carefully asked.
Sandbar nodded. “Yeah…?”
“Like a—”
“Like a date.” Sandbar finished, nervously brushing his hoof over the floor.
Ocellus remained silent. A pink blush growing on her blue cheeks.
“Errr... you don’t have to! We don’t have to! I figured you might like the idea,” Sandbar said quickly when the silence grew long enough to be awkward.
“Sure we could, if that’s what you want.”
Sandbar sighed in relief, the first step was made. “Alright, that’s… great! It’s a date!”
“I’ve never been on a date before.” Ocellus admitted, rubbing her foreleg.
‘Okay, time for step two!’ Sandbar thought and swallowed. “Me neither, so how about we meet at the hive? We can just hang out in your room and play some games.
“Oh uhm, dates are usually in the evening. How late can you be out?”
“Ah, my parents don’t like it if I stay out for too long and the way to the hive is kinda long…” Sandbar said, rubbing his chin. “That’s a problem.”
Ocellus began to think, and after a moment let out an excited gasp. “What if you stay over until tomorrow?”
Sandbar blushed again. Staying over and sleeping in the same room? Without the others? Just the two of them? “I could ask! I might have to negotiate with my mom but there’s a chance.”
“Well, if you ask within the next hour you could come with me and Thorax! He said he’d be here with the evening train to get me.”
“We should hurry and pack up then. I’ll run home and ask my parents first!”
Sandbar dropped his travelling bag before Thorax who picked it up with his magic.
“I’d feel better if I could talk to your parents myself, Sandbar,” Thorax said with a small frown.
“Nah, they’re fine with it, besides, we’d miss the train.” Sandbar argued as he walked over to Ocellus.
“We could take the next train.” Thorax suggested.
“It’s okay! It’s not the first time I’ve stayed overnight with a friend.”
After a little pause, Thorax let out a sigh and then smiled. “Alright then. It seems a little odd to me, you know? Usually you all do everything together and now it’s just you two. Did something happen with your friends?” he asked as he glanced at Ocellus who simply shrugged in return.
“The others were already busy with… stuff! It’s fine. Nothing bad happened.”
The ground beneath their hooves began to vibrate and all three of them turned towards the tracks where their train came into view.
An hour later they had reached the end of the line in Appleloosa and took a carriage to the changeling hive.
“I wonder if they’ll ever finish the rail to the hive so you guys don’t have to change to carriage for part of the way.” Sandbar asked as finally arrived at the hive.
“They’re working really hard, I’m sure.” Thorax answered, returning a wave from a changeling passing by. He looked over to Sandbar and Ocellus. “Anyway, I gotta head over to the singing group, the choir is going to practice in the great hall downstairs later. You’re welcome to join us if you are interested! Dinner is being served around six, I hope you like mashed cauliflower with nutmeg and buttered carrots.”
Sandbar smiled in return. “Sure, sounds good!”
“We’re going to eat in my room, if that’s okay?” Ocellus added.
Thorax tilted his head. “Oh? Sure, if you want to. But you gotta get it yourself.”
Ocellus nodded. “Come on, Sandbar!” She gave Sandbar a gentle tap on the shoulder and the two parted from Thorax. On their way to Ocellus’ dwelling they ran into her parents who were leaving for the singing group with her little siblings.
“Are you two going to join us?” Her father asked while one of her little siblings chewed on his wing. The other youngling slept on his carapace.
“We might later, we wanted to play some games for a while,” Ocellus answered.
“Alright sweetness. If it gets late we’ll see you at the cafeteria for dinner,” her mother said with a warm smile before she and her father gave Ocellus a quick hug and left.
Sandbar gave a small wave to the leaving parents. ‘Sweet Celestia, this is working out so well! Thank you, Gallus!’ he thought.
“Heh, this is only the second time I’ve seen your room. Kinda funny!” Sandbar said with a laugh that came out a little shaky. “F-funny considering you’ve been at my place countless times.”
“But never with just you, though.”
Sandbar blinked, Ocellus was right, he’d never had only one of his friends over, except for the one time Gallus and him were supposed to work on a project for school and ended up playing video games all night. And now he was in her room with no creature else but her. But what now? Step three seemed so far away.
“Sooooo, what do you usually do for fun around? Do you have any games? I think you mentioned something earlier.” Sandbar asked as he dropped his bag in a corner of Ocellus’ room.
“I have some new games I picked up in Ponyville!” Ocellus said excitedly.
“New games? Like video games?” Sandbar asked, brightening at the idea.
Ocellus’ smile faltered. “Err… I meant board games. The queen when she ruled didn’t let us have anything magical or mechanical to ourselves. We also don’t have that much pony money...”
Sandbar winced and hastily covered his disappointment, “Oh yeah. Figures! They are super expensive. I’ve had to pass on a birthday present from my parents to get a Game Box for Hearth’s Warming.” Sandbar rubbed at the back of his neck. “But that’s alright if you don’t have any video games. What kind of board games do you have?”
“There’s one game I like!” Ocellus said as she picked up a box with the word ‘Scramble’ on it’s cover. “I’m excited to get a chance to play, the other ‘lings don’t really care for word building games.”
“Sure! That sounds… fun!” Sandbar replied and did his best to keep his smile.
They settled down on the comfortable carpet and set up the board.
About an hour and several words later, the two were still playing, although Sandbar had lost interest in the game half-way through upon realizing how much better Ocellus was at it.
“Are you sure ‘superseded’ is a real word? Shouldn’t it be ‘superseeded’? For seeding things... superly?”
Ocellus giggled as she placed down her pieces. “No it’s spelled that way. It means to replace something obsolete,” she explained.
“Oh, right.” Sandbar forced a smile but couldn’t help the sigh afterwards.
“Are you getting bored?” Ocellus wondered with a concerned look.
“O-oh! No-no! I’m having a blast!”
Ocellus inclined her head. “It’s fine if you are. We’ve been playing for a while now and you’ve barely placed three words. I can tell you’re not really enjoying it.”
Sandbar took in a deep breath and sighed once more. “Yeah, it’s… a little boring, but you were having fun, right?”
“Mmm. Maybe we can do something we both like to do instead?” Ocellus suggested.
“I just want you to enjoy our date, so what do you want to do?”
Ocellus pressed her lips together in a tight line. "I want you to have fun, too."
“Errm… we could watch the choir, like you said earlier. Are they still practicing?”
“Oh they should be!” Ocellus chirped. She got back up onto her hooves and used her magic to pack up the board game. “You sure you want to see it, though?”
“Are you kidding? You know me, I love music!” Sandbar assured her. He watched her levitate the game onto a nearby dresser and as his eyes wandered, he once again spotted the diary poking out from under the pillow. He frowned. Gallus said to get into her room, but if we leave now does that mean I miss my chance for step three? He wondered. I hope it still counts if we go somewhere else.
“Are you coming?” Ocellus was already standing at the door when her voice pulled Sandbar out of his thoughts.
“Coming!” He answered and trotted over to follow her.
“I had no idea Thorax could sing that well!” Sandbar exclaimed on their walk back from the choir.
Ocellus giggled. “Well, most changelings are good at it! Since we can shape shift, it’s more about practice.”
“So you’re good at singing too, huh?” Sandbar asked.
Ocellus’ cheeks flushed, and she looked away. “I, uh, yeah, I guess. But to be honest, I’m not really into performing on a stage.”
“Unless in disguise, right? Like in the school plays?”
“Yeah, I don’t mind being on stage disguised as some-creature else. That’s different.”
The conversation stalled when they walked past a group of changelings and down the tunnel that led to Ocellus’ place.
“So…” Sandbar spoke up to break the silence, “are you enjoying our date?”
Ocellus stopped and Sandbar did as well when he noticed. “Sandbar?”
“Yeah?”
“I… I need to tell you something. But let’s get to my room first.”
Seeing her blush, Sandbar couldn’t help but blush as well. His heart began to beat faster. Was this it?
“A-alright. Let’s go, then,” Sandbar answered, shakily.
Back at her room Ocellus paced back and forth while Sandbar just stood by her bed, cheeks red, smiling sheepishly.
Ocellus took a deep breath. “Sandbar I…”
“It’s alright, Ocellus,” Sandbar said coolly as he pulled together all of the courage he could find within himself. Here we go...
“No, I think you don’t—”
And then Sandbar’s lips touched hers. At the kiss, he felt her body tense up. This is it! Step three! I did it! I am doing it!
“No.”
Sandbar’s heart skipped a beat, and his face felt numb, smooshed awkwardly against Ocellus’. He pulled back. “No?” he asked, confused.
“I know... I know that you like me a lot, Sandbar, but I can’t. I’ve been trying to tell you all day, but I was scared of hurting your feelings. I don’t want to date you… I love you but not like that,” Ocellus admitted. The blush was gone from her cheeks and she looked pale instead.
Sandbar was now the one frozen, not even blinking for several moments.
“Sandbar? Please don’t be sad. I-I don’t know what to do now…”
Sandbar shook his head. “B-but I thought you have a crush on me!”
“What?” Ocellus asked with a frown. “I like you a lot but I’m not in love with any-creature.”
Sandbar furrowed his eyebrows. “But you drew a heart around my name!”
“I did?”
“Yes! in your journal!” Sandbar sighed and lowered his head. “I’m so sorry, Gallus found it on your bed and we looked into it before we put it back. Silverstream showed me a page where you wrote about me and there was a heart shape drawn around my name! I feel terrible for even looking at it, that wasn’t right.”
Ocellus blinked a few times before she looked over to her bed. “Oh... Yeah, that’s my diary… You did only see that one page, though, did you?”
Sandbar nodded.
Using her magic, Ocellus pulled the book out from under the pillow and skimmed through the pages.
“Gallus didn’t read more than that one page either, we put it back immediately. Sorry…”
“It’s alright. As long as you know that it was the wrong thing to do and won’t do it again. As for the heart…” Ocellus said before she showed the book to Sandbar again. “I kinda wish you would have read at least a little further,” she added.
“Why is that?” Sandbar carefully turned down to read the rest of the page. “I don’t get it…”
Ocellus smiled and turned to the next page. Sandbar continued to read, the next page in the diary talked more about Ocellus' day at the school and here he saw the hearts drawn again.
“You... drew hearts around Silverstream’s and Yona’s names, too?” Sandbar blinked. “And around Gallus'?”
“I did it for all of my friends’ names. Because you are all special to me.” Ocellus said with a small smile before adding, “As friends.”
“That’s a relief!” Sandbar said with a laugh before becoming nervous again, ”N-not that I wouldn’t date you, but I don’t have a crush either. I much prefer you as my friend,” he admitted, shifting uncomfortably.
Ocellus giggled, she stepped forward and hugged Sandbar. Afterwards, he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle as well.
“Should I get my things? Although I don’t know if it isn’t too late to travel back to Ponyville now.”
“You can still stay over. I have a feeling we’ll have much more fun knowing there’s no expectation between us,” Ocellus said before she stuffed her journal back under the pillow.
“Alright. What now, though? I honestly didn’t enjoy Scramble too much. Do you have any other games?”
Ocellus smirked. Her horn lit up with magic and from a shelf behind her she pulled a box with books. “I have the original version of Ogres & Oubliettes, I haven’t played it myself, yet, but I remember you talking about it with Spike.”
“We’ll need a few more players then,” Sandbar said, smiling.
“I can go ask a few other ‘lings if you like. I got the game from Aellyth and her brother, so I’m sure they know how to play.”
Sandbar nodded, then rubbed his neck awkwardly. “Yeah sure just… one thing…”
“Hm?”
“Can we keep that kiss a secret?”
Ocellus just smiled.
Author's Note
"Artix is one of three siblings who hatched at the same time. The names of his brood-mates are Arnox and Ataraxia; the three share a home at the hive"
