Breaking Boundaries

The sound of chirping birds filled the room as the sun shined through the window on Filia's face, making her groan as she opened her eyes. She sat up on the bed, feeling stronger than before. When she noticed how much better she felt, she looked to find the cuts on her body were almost gone. "Wow!" she thought to herself. "That witch doctor must really know her stuff."

Filia looked around the room when she suddenly noticed something that explained how she could heal so quickly. "Wait, that's not the herbs." She lifted her nose into the air and took a big whiff. "There's a lot of love in the air," she thought to herself as she took it all in. Soon, she caught a whiff of something else. "What's that?" She pulled herself out of bed and followed that smell out of the bedroom. She looked around and found the source of the smell was coming from downstairs.

"Hello?" Filia called out as she followed the smell.

"Sounds like our guest is awake," Blazing's voice called out before the sound of footsteps could be heard, and Blazing appeared at the bottom of the stairs with a smile. "Hey, you're looking better this morning." Filia could sense something different about Blazing.

"What's gotten into you?" Filia asked as she walked down the stairs.

"What do you mean?" Blazing asked as he offered Filia a hand. Filia stared at Blazing's hand for a second before she took it, and he helped her walk the rest of the way.

"You seem more," Filia thought for a second, "positive than yesterday."

"It is a good day to be in positive spirits," a familiar voice called from within the kitchen. Filia looked to find Zecora wearing an apron as she worked the stove while Blazing guided her to the dining table. Blazing pulled out a chair for Filia, which she sat un as she looked between Blazing and Zecora.

"You two had sex, didn't you?" Filia asked matter-of-factly.

"W-w-what makes you say that?" Blazing asked while trying to hide a panic.

"You have no need to feel concerned, my son," Zecora said as she walked up with a plate. "Changelings can sense such things," she explained as she untied the apron and stripped naked in front of them both before tossing the cloth onto the back of a chair.

"Sex is as common to changelings as meals are to you equines," Filia explained as she watched Zecora. Blazing blushed sharply.

"Even incest?" he asked as he watched Filia in shock. Filia only shrugged.

"I've slept with my mother many times," she answered matter-of-factly.

"Wow!" Blazing proclaimed as he took a seat by the table.

"So, you would not mind if I came to bed my son every so often?" Zecora asked with a smirk.

"Mom!" Blazing cried out before slapping a hand over his mouth. Zecora beamed at Blazing as Filia smirked at both the moment and the amount of love filling the air. "I mean, Zecora!"

"Look, dude," Filia interjected. "It's obvious you care for "the woman who gave birth to you," so why don't you buck up and address her appropriately? Seriously, it's weird, even to a changeling like me."

"There is no need to pry, child," Zecora countered as she took a seat by the table. "Though I am pleased to hear him call me that, I have no desire to force him to use terms he does not desire." Blazing blushed.

"Looks like I'll have to beat some senses into your boy, Zecora," Filia stated before she looked at the food Zecora placed on the table a minute ago. Blazing blinked as he looked at Filia.

"Wait, what?" Blazing asked. Filia looked at him.

"What?" Filia asked. "I was just making light conversation. Isn't that what you equines do?" Blazing and Zecora smiled at Filia.

"Honestly, I have to admit we've even gotten that much out of you," Blazing explained. "We expected you to run off as soon as you woke up."

"The thought hadn't even crossed my mind," Filia said mockingly, making Blazing's smile fade away. "Seriously, it didn't," Filia said as she looked at him. "I woke up, felt a lot of love in the air, smelled something different, and came down here. That's it." Blazing looked at Zecora, who only smiled at Filia as she listened to her speak. Blazing looked at Filia and scratched the back of his head.

"So, you think you'll stay for a while?" he asked. Filia thought about what her next step should be. She had a golden opportunity here. Instead of going straight back to Chrysalis so soon with nothing to show for it, she could stick around to gather information on the equines to take back to her mother. The latter would surely earn her more favor with the queen, as gathering valuable intel so soon after such a colossal failure would aid them in another attempt at conquering Equestria.

"Sure," Filia answered with a shrug. "Why not?" She leaned back in the chair as she rested her dragon-like feet on the table. Blazing blinked.

"Really?" he asked.

"Of course, you'd want me to leave," Filia sighed as she removed her feet from the table and got to her feet.

"No, I'd love for you to stay," Blazing countered as he got up after her while Zecora just sat there watching with a smile.

"Oh no," Filia said sarcastically. "You don't have to lie to me. It only makes sense that an equine like yourself wouldn't want a changeling like me hanging around your house." She turned away from Blazing walked to the door until he stepped in front of her.

"I did say you could leave whenever you want," Blazing began, "but it's really not a problem for you to stay. In fact, I'd love it if you stayed." Filia looked at Blazing as he offered her a soft smile.

"You sure you want a changeling hanging around right now?" Filia asked. She already knew the answer by sensing Blazing's emotions alone, but she wanted to hear him say it.

"I'm sure," Blazing answered with a smile. Filia caught herself smiling back at him. "Please, my home is your home from now on," Blazing offered as he gestured back to the table where Zecora sat patiently with a smile. "Do you eat at all?" Blazing asked as they walked back to the table. "Zecora's known for making the best herbs and medicines you could ever ask for, but she's an excellent cook as well. I've always found her waffles to be the best in the world."

"Not that I need to," Filia began as she took in a breath, "but that sure does have an inviting smell." Blazing smiled as he helped her into a seat before returning to his own.

"And maybe later, I'll fix you some of my famous hot chocolate," Blazing suggested.

"What's that?" Filia asked as she took her seat.

"A special treat that excites the tongue as it warms the heart," Zecora answered. "My Blazing always makes it with love, and it is always the best." Blazing blushed at the compliment before looking at Filia.

"I'll fix you up a batch later," Blazing offered.

"You make it sound like some kinda love potion," Filia observed as she watched Blazing take his seat.

"When you have a cup of my son's hot chocolate, you will believe it is," Zecora smiled at Blazing, who blushed at the compliment again.

"Zecora, stop it," Blazing pleaded, earning a chuckle from the changeling sitting next to him.

"Your mother really does love you, Blazing," Filia observed as she watched them with a growing smile on her face.

"And why shouldn't she?" Blazing asked as he fixed a few plates for each of them.

"You don't address her as your mother," Filia answered bluntly. Blazing looked at Filia. "Sorry," Filia said as she raised a hand in defense. "I tend to be a bit touchy about relationships. I couldn't imagine calling my mother by her name like that."

"I guess it's just a personal quirk," Blazing observed. "See, I was raised by a wonderful woman named Autumn Leaves."

"Why didn't Zecora raise you?" Filia asked as she looked at the food placed in front of her.

"A life in the Everfree Forest is too dangerous for a child," Zecora answered with a bit of a frown as Blazing gave her a plate.

"Then, why didn't you leave the forest?" Filia asked.

"Since I am not native to Equestria, the citizens of Ponyville feared me," Zecora explained. "Every time I tried to visit, it was as if the town was deserted. The windows were barred, the doors were shut, so I thought it was better for me to stay in my hut."

"Nice rhyme," Filia stated with a smirk.

"Sometimes, I think she should rhyme all the time," Blazing stated.

"Rhyming aside," Zecora interjected. "My home was in the forest. I settled in my hut since I first came to Equestria and have not left for anything outside of the need for recourses. Until last year, that is, when a small group of girls accused me of cursing them." Filia blinked at that last sentence.

"Curses aren't real," Filia thought to herself before pushing the fact aside to continue the conversation. "So, you abandoned your son to stay in a dangerous forest?" she asked.

"Hey, don't make it sound so harsh," Blazing countered. "She knew what she was doing. If she left her home in the forest, she'd be an outcast, and I'd be the target. It's already hard enough being the only pegasus with stripes." He said that last bit with a groan as he looked at the orange stripes over his yellow coat. "At least the only one I know of."

"You got your stripes from me, my son," Zecora said with a smile. "I think they are quite lovely."

"Yeah, well, you don't have to deal with some of your best friends calling you something you hate all the time," Blazing countered with a chuckle.

"You know it is her way of telling you she cares," Zecora said with a smile.

"Who's this "friend" you're talking about?" Filia asked.

"Rainbow Dash," Blazing answered proudly. Filia scratched her chin at the name. Something about it sounded familiar. "She's a pegasus, like me, with blue fur and rainbow hair and tail."

"If I weren't a changeling, I would think she was your girlfriend, with the way you talk about her," Filia stated with a smirk.

"Nah, I think she likes girls," Blazing countered. Filia hummed as she noticed Blazing had no feelings of resentment. "Honestly, I think whoever wins Rainbow's heart will be the luckiest equine in the world," Blazing said with a smile.

"I don't need to be a changeling to see you care for her," Filia observed. Blazing smiled at her before she suddenly shifted into a brown female pegasus with golden hair.

"Well, I've known her for a while, and we get along like brother and sister," Blazing said as he raised an eyebrow at Filia. "Uh, what's with the sudden change?" Filia pointed at the front door just as there was a knock. Blazing blinked. "How'd you-?" he began before she pointed at her head as if to say "I'm a changeling, idiot". Blazing blinked before he looked at the door. "Come in!" He called. The door swung open, almost flying off the hinges as Rainbow came in.

"Hey, Stripes," Rainbow called as she rushed in. Blazing groaned at the nickname. "Where the hell've you been? It's been almost two weeks."

"Oh, sorry, Dash," Blazing said as he scratched the back of his head. "I've been with Zecora this whole time."

"Really?" Rainbow asked. "What could you have been doing at Zecora's for-" she stopped when she noticed the brown pegasus sitting at the table with him and Zecora. "Who's this?" Blazing blinked.

"Oh, uh," Blazing scratched his chin as he thought frantically.

"This is Golden Chocolate," Zecora said with a smile. "Or, just Chocolate." Filia looked at Zecora for a second.

"Chocolate, huh?" Filia asked herself before she smiled at the name. "It has a nice ring to it."

"Yeah," Blazing agreed. "She's an old friend I met some time ago."

"Really?" Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow. "How come you never mentioned her before?"

"Well, um," Blazing scratched his chin.

"It's because he respects my privacy," Filia interjected casually with a smile. "I'd rather not have people talking about me to everyone they meet, you see?" Filia smiled at Rainbow Dash.

"Sounds like an odd request to me," Dash observed with a shrug. "Ah well. More of the spotlight for me." She spotted the untouched plate of waffles in front of Filia. "You gonna eat those?" she asked with a smile.

"No, please," Filia answered as she pushed the plate over with a smile. "Help yourself." Dash took the plate with a drooling smile and started eating.

"So," Dash asked through a mouthful. "You vere jusht vishiting Zechora?"

"Rainbow Dash," Zecora sighed. "You should know better than to speak with a full mouth." Rainbow swallowed.

"Sorry," she blushed. "So, you were just visiting Zecora?"

"Yeah," Blazing answered.

"It didn't have anything to do with our little race, did it?" Dash asked with a knowing grin.

"I ran out of the lotion for sour muscles, so I went to get some more," Blazing began, "but when I got there, she needed help a few things, so I stayed to help out. It took longer than expected." Rainbow looked at Zecora, who inclined at Blazing's explanation. Rainbow shrugged and continued to eat the waffles.

"Ish thish Shecora'sh cooking?" she asked, earning raised eyebrows from the other three. She swallowed. "Sorry. Is this Zecora's cooking?"

"It is," Blazing answered with a smile. "When we were done at her hut, she came home with us this morning to drop off some things, and I asked her to stay for breakfast." Blazing smiled.

"Good choice!" Dash complimented before inhaling the rest. Filia watched the cyan-blue pegasus eat with disgusted intent before Dash took a moment to chew and swallow before putting the plate on the table. "That was excellent! So, how long will you be staying in town, Chocolate?" Dash asked Filia.

"I dunno," Filia answered. "Could be a few days, maybe a few weeks. Only time will tell."

"I hope you stick around for a while," Blazing offered with a smile. "It's nice to have new faces around."

"You can say that again!" Dash said as she ruffled Blazing's hair, earning an annoyed look from Blazing before turning to Filia. "Hey! Maybe you and I could have a quick race sometime! It would be great to have a new flying buddy!"

"Eh, I'm not the racing type," Filia replied with a shrug. Rainbow's jaw dropped to the floor.

"How could you not-" Rainbow began before Blazing quickly got up from his seat and started pushing her out the door.

"Okay, we'll chat later," he said frantically. "I'll catch you later, Dash!"

"Hey, wait, what about-?" Dash tried to protest before having the door closed on her. Blazing leaned his back against the door with a sigh.

"Rude, much," Filia stated as she reverted to her normal form.

"Sorry," Blazing offered as he walked back to the table. "How'd you know she was at the door?"

"I could sense her coming," Filia answered. "I'm a changeling, remember?"

"Right," Blazing sighed as he took his seat.

"So, why'd you rush her out like that?" Filia asked as she rested her feet on the table again.

"I didn't want anything to happen," Blazing answered. "You've been through a lot, and I was getting worried you might lose control of your magic or something."

"I had enough energy to keep up an image," Filia explained as she rolled her eyes.

"Be that as it may," Blazing countered. "Rainbow's one tough cookie. If she coaxed you into a race or something, Celestia knows what could've happened."

"I had it under control," Filia assured as she pulled her feet off the table and got up from her seat. "I know how to put on a performance when I need to."

"I never said you couldn't," Blazing defended himself as he sat up in his seat. "In all honesty, I'm impressed at how well you handled the situation. I used to be able to come up with a story on the spot, but now I'm a bit rusty." Filia looked at Blazing when he said this.

"What could you have done that required on-the-spot storytelling?" Filia asked.

"Active life," Blazing answered with a shrug. "I told you I got around a lot before coming back to Ponyville."

"Did you?" Filia asked as she scratched her chin.

"Last night, when we were on the way home," Blazing answered. "You kinda shrugged me off at the time."

"Oh," Filia replied as she looked at the floor. "Sorry about that."

"It's no problem," Blazing replied. "I'm sure it's been a stressful time for you." Filia hummed to herself as she thought about the events at Canterlot Castle.

"Yeah, it has been rough," Filia observed before she looked at Zecora. "You sure have been quiet this entire time."

"I have had no need to say anything this entire time," Zecora replied with a smile before getting up from her seat. "And now, it is time for me to take my leave."

"Already?" Blazing asked. "You haven't even eaten-" Blazing began as he pointed to the empty plate at Zecora's seat. "Oh. I guess you have." Zecora smiled as she leaned down and planted a kiss on Blazing's forehead.

"Remember, you can call on me whenever," Zecora said softly. Filia caught herself smiling at the couple as Blazing smiled at Zecora.

"Don't be a stranger," Blazing paused. "Mom." Zecora smiled at him before she walked to the door. Filia watched the motherly woman as she lifted her tail to give one last teasing glance before walking out of the door. Filia did not need to see Blazing to sense his arousal at the gesture. Filia sighed as she thought about her own mother and found herself longing for such affection. Filia may have slept with Chrysalis multiple times, some times nightly, but it was more to please her queen than it was out of love.

"Everything alright over there?" Blazing asked, pulling Filia out of her train of thought.

"Your mother is really great," Filia said as she looked at Blazing.

"Thanks," Blazing smiled softly.

"I can tell you love her," Filia offered him a smile. Blazing watching her with a soft smile.

"Why shouldn't I?" Blazing asked. "Ever since I first met her, she's been nothing but wonderful."

"When did you meet her?" Filia asked.

"Not too long before I first left Ponyville years ago," Blazing answered. "I was exploring where I shouldn't have, and if it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here now."

"So, why'd you leave town?" She asked.

"Kinda had no choice," he answered. "Things were getting tense in town, and my mother, that is my adopted mother, moved us out before I could get hurt." Blazing looked at the ground as he remembered that day when his childhood friend was blamed for the death of the mare who adopted him, and shortly after, others started pointing fingers at Blazing for his gift.

Filia watched Blazing for a few seconds as she felt the emotional rollercoaster he was now riding. Disbelief, fear, confusion, anger, everything that would make anyone hyperventilate, but he remained calm. She took a moment to think of how she could easily break him from his trance before she piped up. "Honestly, I'm glad you found me." Blazing looked at Filia. "I admit, I'm still skeptical about you, but I do believe if it were any other creature, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you." Blazing smiled before he got up from his seat.

"You think you're well enough to go out for the day?" Blazing asked as he walked up to her.

"What do you mean?" Filia asked.

"Well, I'm sure you don't want to stay locked in this old house the entire time you're here," Blazing observed. "I figure I could show you around town, let you rejuvenate from the love energy."

"You'd really take the risk of making me stronger like that?" Filia asked. "Not that I'm ungrateful, but I could use the opportunity to feed on love energy and destroy the whole town."

"Six of the most powerful equines live in the town and have saved Equestria several times in the last two years alone," Blazing countered with a smile. "I'm sure we can handle a single changeling. Besides, taking the time to get to know everyone might make a friend out of you. I can only think of the possibilities of two nations uniting into a more powerful nation." Filia raised an eyebrow at Blazing, who only smiled as he offered her a hand. "At the very least, I'm doing the right thing by helping a creature in need."

"Is this guy for real?" Filia asked herself. She hesitated for a minute as she thought about this whole situation before taking his hand as she shifted into the brown pegasus form she took when Rainbow Dash was here.

"How will we explain to your friend why I'm out and about after saying I like my privacy?" Filia asked.

"We'll tell her I convinced you to meet my Ponyville friends," Blazing answered quickly with a smile. Filia watched him for a minute before she smiled.

"Okay, Stripes," Filia said with a smirk. "You've got yourself a date with Golden Chocolate." Blazing rolled his eyes with a heavy groan.

"I'm gonna kill Rainbow Dash for coming up with that name."

With that, Blazing guided Filia to the front door and out to explore the town.