Acceptanceby Music BrushChaptersChapter One: SchoolChapter Two: Tinge DepthChapter Three: FamiliesChapter Four: Words Of WisdomChapter Five: Deep SorrowChapter One: School Celestia's sun was shining through the window, Cheerilee was giving a lecture on the history of Cloudsdale and famous pegasi. Half the class was listening to their teacher taking down notes while others paid little attention and a few were just sitting at their desks glancing at the clock every now and again waiting for class to end. Among the young fillies and colts sitting in the very back of the class was a single foal staring into the distance. He wasn't a pony like the rest of his classmates. No. He was a young changeling and he was in his changeling form. He never focused his gaze to his teacher, though he did listen to her lectures, taking mentle notes for tests later on. Jeter was a good student, he kept his manners while in class, trying his best to ignore the rest of the class whispering to one another, calling him names like 'monster' or 'freak'. Everytime he did hear these names his blood boild and he wanted nothing more then to just jump out of his seet and tackle who ever insulted him. Cheerilee had just finished her llecture and asked the class if anypony had any questions before calling it a day and letting her students go home. To nopony's surprise, Jeter's hoof was raised and Cheerilee smiled as she called out "Yes, Jeter?" He lowered his hoof and, while keeping his eyes staring off into the distance, stood beside his desk to be seen. He heard all the other ponies whispering to each other saying things like 'it shouldn't be here, it's like totally a monster'. He gritted his teeth and bit his lower lip fighting back the urge to tackle that filly, then took a deep breath. "Miss Cheerilee?" He asked. "Has there ever been a blind pegasus working in Cloudsdale?" The room was filled with whispers of ridicule and scoffing at the stupid question. No blind pegasus could work in Cloudsdale, it was impossible. "Well Jeter," she began with a gentle smile she knew he would never see, but he could hear her tone. "... there have been occasions where a pegasus was blind and able to work in some areas of Cloudsdale. Though, it is extremely rare for such a thing to happen." The class exchanged whispers again, obviously in unbelief that here were blind pegasi in the sky. "how did they do it?" Jeter asked. The class went silent and turned their attention to their teacher eager to learn more about this. "well," Cheerilee started as she trotted over to her desk and grabbed a book and flipped through the pages. "A good example would be Thunder Storm. Thunder Storm was born blind so he never knew what it was like to see. He was determined to be able to work with clouds and so he focused on his remaining senses to be able to recognize the different clouds. How they felt, if they gave off any electrical sounds and how full of water they were by smelling the water within." Jeter took every word Cheerilee spoke into heart, especially after she said Thunder was born blind. He never knew what it was like to see either. "Thunder became a master in weather control and became head of the storm factory in Cloudsdale because of his skill in clouds without the use of his sight." Cheerilee finished. As long as Jeter could remember he was blind and was abamdoned because of it. Damosel Dandelion found him alone at the edge of the Everfree Forest five four years ago and immediately took him in as her son and raised him like any other normal colt with the exception that he was a changeling and nopony else approved of this. Some even called the Princess in on the matter to take the child away and lock he up, or even execute him because he was a changeling. But, Celestia saw nothing wrong with Jeter, apart from the fact he was blind, and agreed to let Damosel raise him. The bell rang to let everypony know it was time to go home. Cheerilee happily dismissed her class and all but Jeter bolted out the door. He sat on his seat waiting for the rest to leave before he got up, grabbed his saddlebags and began walking off toward the direction of the door. "Jeter?" Came Cheerilee's gentle voice. Jeter stopped keeping his eyes locked in front of him as he would never be able to see her. "Yes miss Cheerilee." He replied without turning from the door. He felt a gentle hoof on his shoulder as well as the energy of slight love she shared for all her students, even him. "Are you alright?" She asked. He didn't reply, he just let out a long sigh as he let his head drop. He had gotten into a fight over the weekend with Golden Nugget for teasing him and calling him names. He would have walked away with anger, but Golden crossed the line when he said that Damosel shouldn't be a pony for taking him as her son. Of course, Jeter's punishment was less severe then Golden's as several of the others had confessed that Golden was the sorce of the commotion, not to mention Jeter was blind. "I'm fine..." he said finally keeping his blind gaze down. "Are you sure sweety? Cause I'm here for you if y-" "I said I'm find!" He snapped. "I don't need anypony's help. I can take care of myselfe." He couldn't see it, but he knew Cheerilee flinched at his tone. Letting out a sigh he looked back to her direction, his eyes never met her. "I'm sorry miss Cheerilee..." " It's okay Jeter." She stopped him. "I may not know what it's like to be different, but I know somepony who does. He lost everything close to him because his..." she trailed off with a sniff. "You're talking about that pegasus who couldn't fly?" He asked. She started to nod, but remembering he couldn't see her she replied with a hushed 'yes'. Jeter wanted to go, but he waited patiently for her to excuse him when she was done crying. After a few minutes she calmed down. "I'm sorry Jeter," she said whiping a tear from her cheek, "you may go now. Be careful." "I will. Bye Cheerilee." With that Jeter felt for the door and walked out of the schoolhouse. He followed the same path he had memorised since his first day, ignoring the sound of Golden's familiar voice calling to him until he felt an angry hoof on his shoulder. "Not today Nugget." Jeter said as he tried to break away from the bully. "You got me grounded freak!" Golden snapped as he forced the changeling to face him. "Nopony gets me grounded without paying for it!" "Go pick on somepony who can actually see your blinding face." Jeter countered. "How would you know what my face looks like freak? You've never seen it before!" Golden said. "I gues your face is so blinding that I lost my sight before I even met you." Jeter replied. Chapter Two: Tinge Depth Jeter expected to receive a hoof to the eye and he heard it coming, but when nothing happened he strained his holy ears to listen and heard angry grunts coming from Golden Nugget. "Let go of me!" Golden barcked. "So you can continue to hurt sompony who's different then you?" Came a new voice that belonged to a filly Jeter never heard before. "Not a chance." "Stay out of this Depth!" Golden barcked. "Are you going to leave him alone?" She asked. Jeter heard Golden start to protest, the only sound that came from his mouth was the sound of grunting in pain. "Are you cousin, or do I need to tell aunt Rush you've been a bully again?" "Okay, okay!" Jeter heaved a sigh. Not only was he being helped by a filly, this filly 'Depth' was related to Golden. It was bad enough that somepony came to help him, but to have somepony who was his arch enemy's cousin? That was only worse. The sound of angry stomping hooves stormed away then Jeter felt a gentle hoof on his shoulder wich he brushed off and started walking away. "Hey!" Came the filly's voice. "Is that how you thank somepony for helping you out of a jam?" "I didn't need your help." Jeter huffed as he continued walking away. "Excuse me, but my cousin was just about to eat you alive." She said as she trotted next to him. "It wouldn't be the first time." Jeter countered as he continued down the familiar path from school. "And you just let him walk over you like that?" She asked. "Can you not see how stupid that is?" Jeter stopped short and looked at her general direction. There was silence for a minute before he heard her gasp. "I am so sorry." She breathed. "Oh drop the act!" He barcked. "Just do what everypony else does or go away!" Jeter started to ressume his walk home until he felt her hoof on his shoulder again and threw his head back with a sigh. "Get on with it already." "Do you always act like this to somepony who's trying to be nice to you?" "Have you not seen what I am?!" He barcked. "I see a young colt who needs friends." She replied. "Then maby you're blind too!" He barcked. There was silence for a minute. "You're in worse shape then I thought." She said calmly. Jeter jus humphed and stomped away. "Youre going to be... 'hearing' a lot more from me pal." "Don't hold your breath!" Jeter barcked and continued on the rout he memorised so many times. Depth watched him storm off with admiration and let out a sigh. This changeling must have been pushed away all his life and is so hurt by it, he doesn't trust anypony to make friends. When he was out of sight she turned and trotted off for her home with a bounce in her step. "Hey Tinge." Came a voice to her left. She rold her eyes to the heavens as she let out a heavy sigh. "Not this dork again." She thought to herself. She stopped and looked over to find a blue earth pony with deep blue main, tail and red eyes. He trotted up to her and raised his forelegs up to hug her, but she stopped with a hoof to his chest and an annoyed glare. "Give it up dork." She commanded. "There's no way I will be your special somepony. Find somepony else." "How can I find somepony more pretty then you?" He asked. "A black mare with rainbow main and tail, strong and independent and..." "Give it a rest Blue." She interrupted. For as long as she knew Blue Belle he had been staring hearts at her. Kinda like that purple drake stared at the fashionista in the boutique, and she was getting annoyed with it. "Why?" He asked. "You're so beautiful, all the colts are lining up to make you their special somepony. Why don't you want any of them?" "Because you, like every other colt that comes my way justs wants to be my special somepony because I'm pretty." She answered metter of factly. "And, what's wrong with that?" He asked. She let her hoof down when she knew he gave up trying to hug her and began to walk off. He started to follow after her before she glared daggers at him. "Don't follow me Blue. We're done." "C'mon Tinge." Blue whined. She trotted off, leaving him alone on the street of the small town. She smirked, knowing full well that he was pouting over his defeat right now, wich she was quite proud of. The rest of her trott home was spent thinking about that blind changeling and felt sorry for him. He was filled with so much anger and no trust because he must have been picked on so much, especially by her cousin, Golden Nugget. She came up to a fenced, two story house that looked like it belonged to a wealthy family. The garden was well kept in the front yard, the hedges neetly trimmed and the walk way from the fence gate to the front door was gravel. She let out a sigh as she walked through the gate. She knew she wouldn't hear the end of it with her aunt and cousin about the changeling. She walked down the path into the front door and smiled when she saw a cream colored mare with grey stylised mane and tale standing next to a blue colt with well kept deep blue mane and tale both staring at her. "Yep. here we go." She thought to herself. Chapter Three: Families Jeter followed the path he always did to and from school. The only difference was that he was mad, more so the normal. He raised his hoof up t feel for the fence ment to keep the younger foals from running off when Damosel was preoccupied with other things. He heard the sound of foals running and playing on the other side of the fence as he got closer. When he entered the yard the sound of the foals playing drifted away from the path way between the fence and the house. Even the foals scurried away from the harmless blind changeling when he was around. Jeter walked down the path to the house pretending not to notice the sound of his mothers hooves behind him until they got close enough for her to snatch him up. He didn't need to feel the powerful love for him radiating from her. "You stomp very loudly, you know that mom?" He said, earning a defeated moan mixed with joyful laughter as his mother, Damosel, pulled him into a hug. "Mom, I'm not in the mood right now." She loosened her grip on him and held him at legs length. "Did you get in another fight baby?" She asked, her voice was filled with concern. "It's nothing mom." He replied. "Did Golden Nugget hurt you again?" She persisted, the voice of a protective mother replacing her usual sweet tone. "He never got the chance mom," he replied, "his cousin, Depth, stopped him." "Depth?" Damosel asked. "You mean Tinge Depth?" Jeter narrowed his eyes and glared in her general direction. "You know her?" He asked accusingly. "I watched over her a few times when her parents were out." She replied. Jeter couldn't help but feel anger towards the fact his mother watched over the cousin of his enemy. Knowing this much raised only one question in his head. "Did you watch over Nugget too?" There was a moment of silence before he heard a 'mhmm' from his mothers sealed lips. His anger was soon replaced with the enormous amount of energy flowing from his mother as he felt her gentle hoof on his shoulder. "Will you help me with the foals for the rest of the day baby?" She asked. He strained his ears to listen to the ponies around them. The number of hooves and laughter was smaller then usual, wich ment some foals had returned home with their parents. He took in a deep breath to calm himself down even more then looked up to his mother with a smile. "Okay mom." He said. She pulled him into a hug, wich he returned with a hum. He heard a few of the foals let out 'aww's while others went 'eww'. The two pulled away laughing at their charges reactions to their family bond that was as real as though he was her son by birth. The two worked together in almost perfect unison as they took care of the foals. Even though Jeter was blind, he knew his home and the sound of the diferent foals enough to give off the illusion he realy could see. Some time after they started working Jeter could sense another pony on the fence line. He knew who it was even though he only met her once over an hour ago. Some of the foals realy liked Jeter and wanted him to transform into other ponies or creatures, but he couldn't because he had no clue as to how or what anything looked like. The more older foals, still younger then him, kept their distance unless absolutely needed because of what their parents told them and what ponies knew about his kind. The day went by quickly and one by one the foals went home with their parents until Jeter was left alone with his mother, who started cooking dinner for them. ~~~ "Like I said," Tinge said to her aunt, "Golden was about to punch that blind colt, so I stopped him and when he persisted I told him I would tell if he did." Silver Rush stared at her niece, tapping a hoof as though waiting for her to finish what wasn't being said. "I swear that's the truth aunt Rush." "And, do you know what that thing is?" Siver asked bluntly. "Oh, wait, I thought we were talking about that colt who needs a friend. What were you talking about?" Tinge returned without regret or hesitation, wich earned a sharp glare from the cream colored mare. "Excuse me young filly?!" She barcked. "Ooh, you're gunna get it now Depth." Golden stated happily. Silver shot him a glare in response and he ducked away in fear. "Don't thing you're off the hook young colt," she stated, "you're still in trouble for fighting in school." She barcked before turning back to face Tinge. "Yes, I know what he is." Tinge stated with a role of her eyes. "I also know he needs a friend because somepony," she shoots a glare at her cousin, "is teasing and finding him all the time when he has no friends at all." "Do you truly realize what that... that thing is?" Silver asked. "That 'thing', as you call him, is somepony in need of a friend." Tinge returned. *Tinge Depth," Silvered started, "I forbid you from having any forther contact with that monster." "Who's the bigger monster?!" Tinge shouted earning a cringe of fear from Golden and a shocked glare from Silver, "the one born a monster or the pony who acts like a monster?" "Another word from you young filky and you are grounded!" Silver stated firmly. With that, the young black and rainbow mare took off in the ither direction and slammed the door closed behind her. By the time Silver got outside to stop her niece Tinge was already out of sight. That filly was faster then a runner of the leaves champion. Tinge ran as fast as she could to get away from her aunt. She knew she would be punished later, but she didn't care. Nothing was going to stop her from helping that changeling earn a friend. She ran over to the daycare center and hopped onto the fence line and took in deep breaths. She looked inside the fence and saw that changeling colt working with a yellow mare with white mane and tale. The older mare she knew was the caretaker of the center, she had to come here a few times before when her parents were out on holiday or dates when she was younger. She watched the changeling work as though he realy could see. He knew all the foals, where everything and everypony was, and he never missed a beat. Is he realy blind? She asked herself. Soon enough, every foal was gone and mare and changeling were inside the house. Tinge needed to go now. She couldn't hang out here forever and she had to face her aunt sooner or later. Chapter Four: Words Of WisdomThere was no school and the daycare was usually slow today and that was how Jeter liked it. It gave him the opportunity to simply roam around the town as he pleased without having to be around all the other colts and fillies, listening to them ridicule him from behind his back. He got out of bed and found his way through the halls into the bathroom where he blindly cleaned himself from fangs to holy hoof. He could hear his mother humming to herself from the kitchen with the added sounds of water and pans clanging. He finished his self grooming and left the bathroom into the kitchen. "Good morning, Jeter." His mothers voice said. "Hey mom." He replied. He found his way to the table and sat down to wait for his breakfast, wich he could smell as he was regenerating his energy from the love his mother fed him. The smell of the food filled his nose as he heard a plate being placed in front of him and found the nife and fork with his magic then began to eat, his mother was beside him eating her own breakfast. He could tell she wanted to say something from the few time she opened her mouth only to close it again without taking a bite of her food. "You wanna say something, mom?" He asked as he looked in her general direction. "I'll never be able to figure out how you do that." She said. He gestured to his ears with a hoof. "It's kinda obvious when you open your mouth without taking a bite a few times." He said with a light chuckle. She joined in his laughter and soon after he felt her lips on his forehead. "I wanted to tell you to be careful and stay out of trouble when you go out to day, but..." "It's okay, mom." He said with a smile as he stared blankly in her direction. "I won't do anything stupid." ~~~ The daycare opened and Jeter was long gone before anypony arrived to drop their foals off for the day. It helped to make it easy for the parents when a 'monster' wasn't around their children. Plus, he didn't want to hear anypony calling him names or throwing insults at him while they thought he wasn't listening when in fact he could hear things a lot better then most. He was trotting down a familiar street as everypony were out with family and friends, ignoring the silent insults and negative comments as he trotted along. He did enjoy the laughter of those who ignored him and happily went on with their lives. He especially enjoyed it when ponies actually stopped to say 'hello' to him and ment it. The levels of love energy from those ponies were extremely low, yet they told him that they had less fear of him then most did. He stopped when he heard hoof steps stopping in front of him and stared in the direction of this pony he recognized. "What?" He said with annoyance in his tone. "Hey Jeter." The voice of that 'Tinge Depth' filly he first met at school. "What do ya want?" He asked. "Hey, I'm just tryin' to be friendly here. I'm not my cousin." She stated. He simply tried to walk past her only to feel a hoof planted firmly on his chest. "Don't you want a friend?" "Nopony wants to be friends with a changeling, let alone a blind changeling." He replied rather sharply. "Well, I'm not nopony." She offered. He brushed her off him and walked around her. "C'mon, Jet." "Stop following me!" He ordered. "I'm not fo..." "Like you weren't following me the other day when you were hiding on the daycare fence?" He interrupted. "I wasn't..." "Then what were you doing?!" He heard her take in a breath to speak. "Just forget it. I don't need you, or anypony for that matter." He turned and stormed off down the old roads he walked many times before leaving her behind. He didn't want to put up with another pony faking sympathy for him, he had enough of that already. "Now, was that realy necessary?" Came the voice of a familiar rich stallion. "Please don't, Mister Rich." He said as he kept his angered pace and walked past Filthy Rich. "Look son," Rich began as he walked along side the blind changeling, "if you keep youself closed up like this you'll never make friends." "She doesn't wanna be my friend." Jeter replied to his words. "And, how do you know this?" Rich asked. "She's Golden Nugget's cousin!" Jeter spat. "You're a changeling, but you're nothing like the changelings that attacked Canterlot a year ago." Rich stated. Jeter stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze blindly locked foward. "And, what about Princess Luna? She became Nightmare Moon over a thousand years ago and she's nothing like that monster now." Jeter thought about this for a minute. Yes he was a changeling, but he never wanted domination or conquest, and he was blind so he couldn't change into others like the rest of his race. He did want some friends other then a few nice stallions, mares and his mother simply showing kindness outside the large number of ponies both young and old rejecting and ridiculing him. "Just because of somepony's past or bloodline," Rich began, "that doesn't make them inherently good or bad. It's what's in here..." Jeter felt the rich stallion's hoof on his chest, "... that defines us." Jeter kept his head looking forward as he thought about Rich's words. "Just think about it for a bit, son." The next thing Jeter heard was the sound of hoof steps trotting away and he was left alone to his thoughts. Chapter Five: Deep Sorrow Jeter walked his way to a quiet spot behind the library, hoping he had lost Tinge at the fork by the playground a good distance back. So far he senced no trace of her, wich made him happy. He needed time to think about what Rich said earlier, and with her around that was not going to happen. Just because of ones past, or bloodline, that doesn't make them inherently evil. It's what's in here that defines you. Jeter pressed a hoof to his chest where Rich had pointed out when he spoke those words. He could still feel his hoof there over an hour later. He put all of his focus on thinking about what Rich told him he did not notice the presence of Golden Nugget in front of him until he was pulled to his hooves. "Hey, changeling, I'm talken to you." The bully said. "Hooves off, Nugget." Jeter stated. "Where is she?" Golden asked. "I said 'hooves off', blinder." Jeter ordered. "What did you just call me,?" Golden asked. "What, you deph, too?" Jeter asked. "Read my lips. hoooves... oofff... blinder." He spoke slowly and clearly, making sure that the bully still holding him could understand him. Jeter was thrown to the ground after that with a thud. He shook his head and did not bother to look for the direction his enemy was in, Golden's hoof steps told him he was not done with him yet. He felt Golden's hooves lift him up to his own again and forced him to look forward. "I'll ask again before I have a little fun." Golden stated. "Where's Depth?" "Ask me if I care." Jeter replied. "I know she came looking for you, so where is she?!" Golden was obviously getting more angry then he already was, and Jeter was liking it. "I don't know." Jeter answered. "Why don't you take your blindingly awful looking face and go find her?" That struck a cord. Before he knew what hit him, he was on the ground with a sore right cheek. He rubbed a hoof over his cheek as he worked his jaw, using the love energy he stored from his mother to stop the trail of blood on his chin. "You rotten litlle monster!" Golden grouled through gritted teeth. "I'll make you wish an ursa came into town and stepped on you!" Jeter braced himself for the next blow, but it never came. He heard an angry Golden struggling to get to him, barcking orders to let him go. He also heard a mare, also angry, telling Golden he was grounded as she dragged him away from the changeling. Soon there was silence for a long period of tim as Jeter lay on the ground, shaking with rage from the spoiled rich colt. He heard more hoof steps coming his way and came to an abrupt stop several feet away. He knew it was Tinge, and that was the very last thing he wanted, or needed now. She slowly took one step closer to him and stopped short when he shot a sharp glare in her direction. "Please, let me help you." She pleaded. He said nothing, he kept his glare in her direction as he got to his hooves. He was about to tell her off before he remembered what Rich said. ... if you keep yourself closed up like this, you'll never make friends. His glare softened after and minute as he reached out to sense her feeling, and what he felt told him the exact opposite of what his head told him. He heard her take another step closer to him and he took several steps back from her before he turned and ran off in the opposite direction. ~~~ At first, Jeter did not care where he was going, but he soon regreted that decision. He ran from the filly, using his remaining senses to dodge ponies and objects until he left town boundaries. He found he was lost in a forest he could only assume was the Everfree Forest. He was in unfamiliar territory now and payed little to no attention where he came from, so finding his way back was impossible. It was up to fait to bring him back home, and his faith was highly faultered in fait. In his mind, he considered his life nothing but a cursed reck. He was borned blind and was abandoned for it, everypony feared and despised him for being a changeling, the other foals constantly teased and ridiculed him, especially Golden Nugget, and the only thing good in his life was the mare who willingly and lovingly took him as her son. Now he was lost and alone in this forest, tripping over roots, and getting tangled in the hanging vines. He gave up his blind search for a way out and found a large tree to lay next to and only hope for the best, wich he knew would never come. Every now and again he heard something walking around through the trees, and a part of him was hoping it was a timberwolf, or ursa to come and end his misery, but it only turned out to be a small animal running around, scrounging for food. He had been out here for, Celestia knows how long, and was getting hungry, both physically and magically. He had been using his magic to try and find his way back home with no luck and was now tired of it all. He wanted his blindness to end, his being a changeling, the other foals teasing him, and everypony else afraid of him. He wanted it all to end. He heard another rustling in the trees, but this was different then the rest. This time he felt a strong love for... him? But, it was not his mother it was... "Tinge?" He called. "Jeter?!" Came the familiar voice of the filly. "Tinge, over here!" He called. He repeated this over until he heard her come from behind a tree. "Jeter!" She called. He heard her hooves stomp on the ground then felt her wrap her hooves around his neck. "Thank Celestia you're okay!" "Why did you come for me?" He asked. She pulled away, keeping her hooves on his shoulders. "You ran off and everypony said they saw you run into the forest. I had to come find you." She explained. He could feel a strong source of energy coming from her, and he felt like he wanted to cry. He slowly let a smile build on his face and wrapped his hooves around her. They hugged each other for a minute before she pulled away from him and held up her tail in front of him. "Take my tail in your teeth, I know a way back home." He blindly reached out with his teath and finally found the end of her tail after she helped a little. Once he had a hold of her, she started walking and he followed her through the trees out of the forest.
Chapter One: School Celestia's sun was shining through the window, Cheerilee was giving a lecture on the history of Cloudsdale and famous pegasi. Half the class was listening to their teacher taking down notes while others paid little attention and a few were just sitting at their desks glancing at the clock every now and again waiting for class to end. Among the young fillies and colts sitting in the very back of the class was a single foal staring into the distance. He wasn't a pony like the rest of his classmates. No. He was a young changeling and he was in his changeling form. He never focused his gaze to his teacher, though he did listen to her lectures, taking mentle notes for tests later on. Jeter was a good student, he kept his manners while in class, trying his best to ignore the rest of the class whispering to one another, calling him names like 'monster' or 'freak'. Everytime he did hear these names his blood boild and he wanted nothing more then to just jump out of his seet and tackle who ever insulted him. Cheerilee had just finished her llecture and asked the class if anypony had any questions before calling it a day and letting her students go home. To nopony's surprise, Jeter's hoof was raised and Cheerilee smiled as she called out "Yes, Jeter?" He lowered his hoof and, while keeping his eyes staring off into the distance, stood beside his desk to be seen. He heard all the other ponies whispering to each other saying things like 'it shouldn't be here, it's like totally a monster'. He gritted his teeth and bit his lower lip fighting back the urge to tackle that filly, then took a deep breath. "Miss Cheerilee?" He asked. "Has there ever been a blind pegasus working in Cloudsdale?" The room was filled with whispers of ridicule and scoffing at the stupid question. No blind pegasus could work in Cloudsdale, it was impossible. "Well Jeter," she began with a gentle smile she knew he would never see, but he could hear her tone. "... there have been occasions where a pegasus was blind and able to work in some areas of Cloudsdale. Though, it is extremely rare for such a thing to happen." The class exchanged whispers again, obviously in unbelief that here were blind pegasi in the sky. "how did they do it?" Jeter asked. The class went silent and turned their attention to their teacher eager to learn more about this. "well," Cheerilee started as she trotted over to her desk and grabbed a book and flipped through the pages. "A good example would be Thunder Storm. Thunder Storm was born blind so he never knew what it was like to see. He was determined to be able to work with clouds and so he focused on his remaining senses to be able to recognize the different clouds. How they felt, if they gave off any electrical sounds and how full of water they were by smelling the water within." Jeter took every word Cheerilee spoke into heart, especially after she said Thunder was born blind. He never knew what it was like to see either. "Thunder became a master in weather control and became head of the storm factory in Cloudsdale because of his skill in clouds without the use of his sight." Cheerilee finished. As long as Jeter could remember he was blind and was abamdoned because of it. Damosel Dandelion found him alone at the edge of the Everfree Forest five four years ago and immediately took him in as her son and raised him like any other normal colt with the exception that he was a changeling and nopony else approved of this. Some even called the Princess in on the matter to take the child away and lock he up, or even execute him because he was a changeling. But, Celestia saw nothing wrong with Jeter, apart from the fact he was blind, and agreed to let Damosel raise him. The bell rang to let everypony know it was time to go home. Cheerilee happily dismissed her class and all but Jeter bolted out the door. He sat on his seat waiting for the rest to leave before he got up, grabbed his saddlebags and began walking off toward the direction of the door. "Jeter?" Came Cheerilee's gentle voice. Jeter stopped keeping his eyes locked in front of him as he would never be able to see her. "Yes miss Cheerilee." He replied without turning from the door. He felt a gentle hoof on his shoulder as well as the energy of slight love she shared for all her students, even him. "Are you alright?" She asked. He didn't reply, he just let out a long sigh as he let his head drop. He had gotten into a fight over the weekend with Golden Nugget for teasing him and calling him names. He would have walked away with anger, but Golden crossed the line when he said that Damosel shouldn't be a pony for taking him as her son. Of course, Jeter's punishment was less severe then Golden's as several of the others had confessed that Golden was the sorce of the commotion, not to mention Jeter was blind. "I'm fine..." he said finally keeping his blind gaze down. "Are you sure sweety? Cause I'm here for you if y-" "I said I'm find!" He snapped. "I don't need anypony's help. I can take care of myselfe." He couldn't see it, but he knew Cheerilee flinched at his tone. Letting out a sigh he looked back to her direction, his eyes never met her. "I'm sorry miss Cheerilee..." " It's okay Jeter." She stopped him. "I may not know what it's like to be different, but I know somepony who does. He lost everything close to him because his..." she trailed off with a sniff. "You're talking about that pegasus who couldn't fly?" He asked. She started to nod, but remembering he couldn't see her she replied with a hushed 'yes'. Jeter wanted to go, but he waited patiently for her to excuse him when she was done crying. After a few minutes she calmed down. "I'm sorry Jeter," she said whiping a tear from her cheek, "you may go now. Be careful." "I will. Bye Cheerilee." With that Jeter felt for the door and walked out of the schoolhouse. He followed the same path he had memorised since his first day, ignoring the sound of Golden's familiar voice calling to him until he felt an angry hoof on his shoulder. "Not today Nugget." Jeter said as he tried to break away from the bully. "You got me grounded freak!" Golden snapped as he forced the changeling to face him. "Nopony gets me grounded without paying for it!" "Go pick on somepony who can actually see your blinding face." Jeter countered. "How would you know what my face looks like freak? You've never seen it before!" Golden said. "I gues your face is so blinding that I lost my sight before I even met you." Jeter replied.
Chapter Two: Tinge Depth Jeter expected to receive a hoof to the eye and he heard it coming, but when nothing happened he strained his holy ears to listen and heard angry grunts coming from Golden Nugget. "Let go of me!" Golden barcked. "So you can continue to hurt sompony who's different then you?" Came a new voice that belonged to a filly Jeter never heard before. "Not a chance." "Stay out of this Depth!" Golden barcked. "Are you going to leave him alone?" She asked. Jeter heard Golden start to protest, the only sound that came from his mouth was the sound of grunting in pain. "Are you cousin, or do I need to tell aunt Rush you've been a bully again?" "Okay, okay!" Jeter heaved a sigh. Not only was he being helped by a filly, this filly 'Depth' was related to Golden. It was bad enough that somepony came to help him, but to have somepony who was his arch enemy's cousin? That was only worse. The sound of angry stomping hooves stormed away then Jeter felt a gentle hoof on his shoulder wich he brushed off and started walking away. "Hey!" Came the filly's voice. "Is that how you thank somepony for helping you out of a jam?" "I didn't need your help." Jeter huffed as he continued walking away. "Excuse me, but my cousin was just about to eat you alive." She said as she trotted next to him. "It wouldn't be the first time." Jeter countered as he continued down the familiar path from school. "And you just let him walk over you like that?" She asked. "Can you not see how stupid that is?" Jeter stopped short and looked at her general direction. There was silence for a minute before he heard her gasp. "I am so sorry." She breathed. "Oh drop the act!" He barcked. "Just do what everypony else does or go away!" Jeter started to ressume his walk home until he felt her hoof on his shoulder again and threw his head back with a sigh. "Get on with it already." "Do you always act like this to somepony who's trying to be nice to you?" "Have you not seen what I am?!" He barcked. "I see a young colt who needs friends." She replied. "Then maby you're blind too!" He barcked. There was silence for a minute. "You're in worse shape then I thought." She said calmly. Jeter jus humphed and stomped away. "Youre going to be... 'hearing' a lot more from me pal." "Don't hold your breath!" Jeter barcked and continued on the rout he memorised so many times. Depth watched him storm off with admiration and let out a sigh. This changeling must have been pushed away all his life and is so hurt by it, he doesn't trust anypony to make friends. When he was out of sight she turned and trotted off for her home with a bounce in her step. "Hey Tinge." Came a voice to her left. She rold her eyes to the heavens as she let out a heavy sigh. "Not this dork again." She thought to herself. She stopped and looked over to find a blue earth pony with deep blue main, tail and red eyes. He trotted up to her and raised his forelegs up to hug her, but she stopped with a hoof to his chest and an annoyed glare. "Give it up dork." She commanded. "There's no way I will be your special somepony. Find somepony else." "How can I find somepony more pretty then you?" He asked. "A black mare with rainbow main and tail, strong and independent and..." "Give it a rest Blue." She interrupted. For as long as she knew Blue Belle he had been staring hearts at her. Kinda like that purple drake stared at the fashionista in the boutique, and she was getting annoyed with it. "Why?" He asked. "You're so beautiful, all the colts are lining up to make you their special somepony. Why don't you want any of them?" "Because you, like every other colt that comes my way justs wants to be my special somepony because I'm pretty." She answered metter of factly. "And, what's wrong with that?" He asked. She let her hoof down when she knew he gave up trying to hug her and began to walk off. He started to follow after her before she glared daggers at him. "Don't follow me Blue. We're done." "C'mon Tinge." Blue whined. She trotted off, leaving him alone on the street of the small town. She smirked, knowing full well that he was pouting over his defeat right now, wich she was quite proud of. The rest of her trott home was spent thinking about that blind changeling and felt sorry for him. He was filled with so much anger and no trust because he must have been picked on so much, especially by her cousin, Golden Nugget. She came up to a fenced, two story house that looked like it belonged to a wealthy family. The garden was well kept in the front yard, the hedges neetly trimmed and the walk way from the fence gate to the front door was gravel. She let out a sigh as she walked through the gate. She knew she wouldn't hear the end of it with her aunt and cousin about the changeling. She walked down the path into the front door and smiled when she saw a cream colored mare with grey stylised mane and tale standing next to a blue colt with well kept deep blue mane and tale both staring at her. "Yep. here we go." She thought to herself.
Chapter Three: Families Jeter followed the path he always did to and from school. The only difference was that he was mad, more so the normal. He raised his hoof up t feel for the fence ment to keep the younger foals from running off when Damosel was preoccupied with other things. He heard the sound of foals running and playing on the other side of the fence as he got closer. When he entered the yard the sound of the foals playing drifted away from the path way between the fence and the house. Even the foals scurried away from the harmless blind changeling when he was around. Jeter walked down the path to the house pretending not to notice the sound of his mothers hooves behind him until they got close enough for her to snatch him up. He didn't need to feel the powerful love for him radiating from her. "You stomp very loudly, you know that mom?" He said, earning a defeated moan mixed with joyful laughter as his mother, Damosel, pulled him into a hug. "Mom, I'm not in the mood right now." She loosened her grip on him and held him at legs length. "Did you get in another fight baby?" She asked, her voice was filled with concern. "It's nothing mom." He replied. "Did Golden Nugget hurt you again?" She persisted, the voice of a protective mother replacing her usual sweet tone. "He never got the chance mom," he replied, "his cousin, Depth, stopped him." "Depth?" Damosel asked. "You mean Tinge Depth?" Jeter narrowed his eyes and glared in her general direction. "You know her?" He asked accusingly. "I watched over her a few times when her parents were out." She replied. Jeter couldn't help but feel anger towards the fact his mother watched over the cousin of his enemy. Knowing this much raised only one question in his head. "Did you watch over Nugget too?" There was a moment of silence before he heard a 'mhmm' from his mothers sealed lips. His anger was soon replaced with the enormous amount of energy flowing from his mother as he felt her gentle hoof on his shoulder. "Will you help me with the foals for the rest of the day baby?" She asked. He strained his ears to listen to the ponies around them. The number of hooves and laughter was smaller then usual, wich ment some foals had returned home with their parents. He took in a deep breath to calm himself down even more then looked up to his mother with a smile. "Okay mom." He said. She pulled him into a hug, wich he returned with a hum. He heard a few of the foals let out 'aww's while others went 'eww'. The two pulled away laughing at their charges reactions to their family bond that was as real as though he was her son by birth. The two worked together in almost perfect unison as they took care of the foals. Even though Jeter was blind, he knew his home and the sound of the diferent foals enough to give off the illusion he realy could see. Some time after they started working Jeter could sense another pony on the fence line. He knew who it was even though he only met her once over an hour ago. Some of the foals realy liked Jeter and wanted him to transform into other ponies or creatures, but he couldn't because he had no clue as to how or what anything looked like. The more older foals, still younger then him, kept their distance unless absolutely needed because of what their parents told them and what ponies knew about his kind. The day went by quickly and one by one the foals went home with their parents until Jeter was left alone with his mother, who started cooking dinner for them. ~~~ "Like I said," Tinge said to her aunt, "Golden was about to punch that blind colt, so I stopped him and when he persisted I told him I would tell if he did." Silver Rush stared at her niece, tapping a hoof as though waiting for her to finish what wasn't being said. "I swear that's the truth aunt Rush." "And, do you know what that thing is?" Siver asked bluntly. "Oh, wait, I thought we were talking about that colt who needs a friend. What were you talking about?" Tinge returned without regret or hesitation, wich earned a sharp glare from the cream colored mare. "Excuse me young filly?!" She barcked. "Ooh, you're gunna get it now Depth." Golden stated happily. Silver shot him a glare in response and he ducked away in fear. "Don't thing you're off the hook young colt," she stated, "you're still in trouble for fighting in school." She barcked before turning back to face Tinge. "Yes, I know what he is." Tinge stated with a role of her eyes. "I also know he needs a friend because somepony," she shoots a glare at her cousin, "is teasing and finding him all the time when he has no friends at all." "Do you truly realize what that... that thing is?" Silver asked. "That 'thing', as you call him, is somepony in need of a friend." Tinge returned. *Tinge Depth," Silvered started, "I forbid you from having any forther contact with that monster." "Who's the bigger monster?!" Tinge shouted earning a cringe of fear from Golden and a shocked glare from Silver, "the one born a monster or the pony who acts like a monster?" "Another word from you young filky and you are grounded!" Silver stated firmly. With that, the young black and rainbow mare took off in the ither direction and slammed the door closed behind her. By the time Silver got outside to stop her niece Tinge was already out of sight. That filly was faster then a runner of the leaves champion. Tinge ran as fast as she could to get away from her aunt. She knew she would be punished later, but she didn't care. Nothing was going to stop her from helping that changeling earn a friend. She ran over to the daycare center and hopped onto the fence line and took in deep breaths. She looked inside the fence and saw that changeling colt working with a yellow mare with white mane and tale. The older mare she knew was the caretaker of the center, she had to come here a few times before when her parents were out on holiday or dates when she was younger. She watched the changeling work as though he realy could see. He knew all the foals, where everything and everypony was, and he never missed a beat. Is he realy blind? She asked herself. Soon enough, every foal was gone and mare and changeling were inside the house. Tinge needed to go now. She couldn't hang out here forever and she had to face her aunt sooner or later.
Chapter Four: Words Of WisdomThere was no school and the daycare was usually slow today and that was how Jeter liked it. It gave him the opportunity to simply roam around the town as he pleased without having to be around all the other colts and fillies, listening to them ridicule him from behind his back. He got out of bed and found his way through the halls into the bathroom where he blindly cleaned himself from fangs to holy hoof. He could hear his mother humming to herself from the kitchen with the added sounds of water and pans clanging. He finished his self grooming and left the bathroom into the kitchen. "Good morning, Jeter." His mothers voice said. "Hey mom." He replied. He found his way to the table and sat down to wait for his breakfast, wich he could smell as he was regenerating his energy from the love his mother fed him. The smell of the food filled his nose as he heard a plate being placed in front of him and found the nife and fork with his magic then began to eat, his mother was beside him eating her own breakfast. He could tell she wanted to say something from the few time she opened her mouth only to close it again without taking a bite of her food. "You wanna say something, mom?" He asked as he looked in her general direction. "I'll never be able to figure out how you do that." She said. He gestured to his ears with a hoof. "It's kinda obvious when you open your mouth without taking a bite a few times." He said with a light chuckle. She joined in his laughter and soon after he felt her lips on his forehead. "I wanted to tell you to be careful and stay out of trouble when you go out to day, but..." "It's okay, mom." He said with a smile as he stared blankly in her direction. "I won't do anything stupid." ~~~ The daycare opened and Jeter was long gone before anypony arrived to drop their foals off for the day. It helped to make it easy for the parents when a 'monster' wasn't around their children. Plus, he didn't want to hear anypony calling him names or throwing insults at him while they thought he wasn't listening when in fact he could hear things a lot better then most. He was trotting down a familiar street as everypony were out with family and friends, ignoring the silent insults and negative comments as he trotted along. He did enjoy the laughter of those who ignored him and happily went on with their lives. He especially enjoyed it when ponies actually stopped to say 'hello' to him and ment it. The levels of love energy from those ponies were extremely low, yet they told him that they had less fear of him then most did. He stopped when he heard hoof steps stopping in front of him and stared in the direction of this pony he recognized. "What?" He said with annoyance in his tone. "Hey Jeter." The voice of that 'Tinge Depth' filly he first met at school. "What do ya want?" He asked. "Hey, I'm just tryin' to be friendly here. I'm not my cousin." She stated. He simply tried to walk past her only to feel a hoof planted firmly on his chest. "Don't you want a friend?" "Nopony wants to be friends with a changeling, let alone a blind changeling." He replied rather sharply. "Well, I'm not nopony." She offered. He brushed her off him and walked around her. "C'mon, Jet." "Stop following me!" He ordered. "I'm not fo..." "Like you weren't following me the other day when you were hiding on the daycare fence?" He interrupted. "I wasn't..." "Then what were you doing?!" He heard her take in a breath to speak. "Just forget it. I don't need you, or anypony for that matter." He turned and stormed off down the old roads he walked many times before leaving her behind. He didn't want to put up with another pony faking sympathy for him, he had enough of that already. "Now, was that realy necessary?" Came the voice of a familiar rich stallion. "Please don't, Mister Rich." He said as he kept his angered pace and walked past Filthy Rich. "Look son," Rich began as he walked along side the blind changeling, "if you keep youself closed up like this you'll never make friends." "She doesn't wanna be my friend." Jeter replied to his words. "And, how do you know this?" Rich asked. "She's Golden Nugget's cousin!" Jeter spat. "You're a changeling, but you're nothing like the changelings that attacked Canterlot a year ago." Rich stated. Jeter stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze blindly locked foward. "And, what about Princess Luna? She became Nightmare Moon over a thousand years ago and she's nothing like that monster now." Jeter thought about this for a minute. Yes he was a changeling, but he never wanted domination or conquest, and he was blind so he couldn't change into others like the rest of his race. He did want some friends other then a few nice stallions, mares and his mother simply showing kindness outside the large number of ponies both young and old rejecting and ridiculing him. "Just because of somepony's past or bloodline," Rich began, "that doesn't make them inherently good or bad. It's what's in here..." Jeter felt the rich stallion's hoof on his chest, "... that defines us." Jeter kept his head looking forward as he thought about Rich's words. "Just think about it for a bit, son." The next thing Jeter heard was the sound of hoof steps trotting away and he was left alone to his thoughts.
Chapter Five: Deep Sorrow Jeter walked his way to a quiet spot behind the library, hoping he had lost Tinge at the fork by the playground a good distance back. So far he senced no trace of her, wich made him happy. He needed time to think about what Rich said earlier, and with her around that was not going to happen. Just because of ones past, or bloodline, that doesn't make them inherently evil. It's what's in here that defines you. Jeter pressed a hoof to his chest where Rich had pointed out when he spoke those words. He could still feel his hoof there over an hour later. He put all of his focus on thinking about what Rich told him he did not notice the presence of Golden Nugget in front of him until he was pulled to his hooves. "Hey, changeling, I'm talken to you." The bully said. "Hooves off, Nugget." Jeter stated. "Where is she?" Golden asked. "I said 'hooves off', blinder." Jeter ordered. "What did you just call me,?" Golden asked. "What, you deph, too?" Jeter asked. "Read my lips. hoooves... oofff... blinder." He spoke slowly and clearly, making sure that the bully still holding him could understand him. Jeter was thrown to the ground after that with a thud. He shook his head and did not bother to look for the direction his enemy was in, Golden's hoof steps told him he was not done with him yet. He felt Golden's hooves lift him up to his own again and forced him to look forward. "I'll ask again before I have a little fun." Golden stated. "Where's Depth?" "Ask me if I care." Jeter replied. "I know she came looking for you, so where is she?!" Golden was obviously getting more angry then he already was, and Jeter was liking it. "I don't know." Jeter answered. "Why don't you take your blindingly awful looking face and go find her?" That struck a cord. Before he knew what hit him, he was on the ground with a sore right cheek. He rubbed a hoof over his cheek as he worked his jaw, using the love energy he stored from his mother to stop the trail of blood on his chin. "You rotten litlle monster!" Golden grouled through gritted teeth. "I'll make you wish an ursa came into town and stepped on you!" Jeter braced himself for the next blow, but it never came. He heard an angry Golden struggling to get to him, barcking orders to let him go. He also heard a mare, also angry, telling Golden he was grounded as she dragged him away from the changeling. Soon there was silence for a long period of tim as Jeter lay on the ground, shaking with rage from the spoiled rich colt. He heard more hoof steps coming his way and came to an abrupt stop several feet away. He knew it was Tinge, and that was the very last thing he wanted, or needed now. She slowly took one step closer to him and stopped short when he shot a sharp glare in her direction. "Please, let me help you." She pleaded. He said nothing, he kept his glare in her direction as he got to his hooves. He was about to tell her off before he remembered what Rich said. ... if you keep yourself closed up like this, you'll never make friends. His glare softened after and minute as he reached out to sense her feeling, and what he felt told him the exact opposite of what his head told him. He heard her take another step closer to him and he took several steps back from her before he turned and ran off in the opposite direction. ~~~ At first, Jeter did not care where he was going, but he soon regreted that decision. He ran from the filly, using his remaining senses to dodge ponies and objects until he left town boundaries. He found he was lost in a forest he could only assume was the Everfree Forest. He was in unfamiliar territory now and payed little to no attention where he came from, so finding his way back was impossible. It was up to fait to bring him back home, and his faith was highly faultered in fait. In his mind, he considered his life nothing but a cursed reck. He was borned blind and was abandoned for it, everypony feared and despised him for being a changeling, the other foals constantly teased and ridiculed him, especially Golden Nugget, and the only thing good in his life was the mare who willingly and lovingly took him as her son. Now he was lost and alone in this forest, tripping over roots, and getting tangled in the hanging vines. He gave up his blind search for a way out and found a large tree to lay next to and only hope for the best, wich he knew would never come. Every now and again he heard something walking around through the trees, and a part of him was hoping it was a timberwolf, or ursa to come and end his misery, but it only turned out to be a small animal running around, scrounging for food. He had been out here for, Celestia knows how long, and was getting hungry, both physically and magically. He had been using his magic to try and find his way back home with no luck and was now tired of it all. He wanted his blindness to end, his being a changeling, the other foals teasing him, and everypony else afraid of him. He wanted it all to end. He heard another rustling in the trees, but this was different then the rest. This time he felt a strong love for... him? But, it was not his mother it was... "Tinge?" He called. "Jeter?!" Came the familiar voice of the filly. "Tinge, over here!" He called. He repeated this over until he heard her come from behind a tree. "Jeter!" She called. He heard her hooves stomp on the ground then felt her wrap her hooves around his neck. "Thank Celestia you're okay!" "Why did you come for me?" He asked. She pulled away, keeping her hooves on his shoulders. "You ran off and everypony said they saw you run into the forest. I had to come find you." She explained. He could feel a strong source of energy coming from her, and he felt like he wanted to cry. He slowly let a smile build on his face and wrapped his hooves around her. They hugged each other for a minute before she pulled away from him and held up her tail in front of him. "Take my tail in your teeth, I know a way back home." He blindly reached out with his teath and finally found the end of her tail after she helped a little. Once he had a hold of her, she started walking and he followed her through the trees out of the forest.
