Fang was debating what to do with his adoptive little brother being a changeling. "Hmmm. So...what do changelings typically eat anyway?" Fang asked. "Because I've got nothing but human food in my house."
"Well, the other changelings all ate love." Narico answered. "But for some reason, I never felt hungry for it."
"I guess I'll make breakfast then." Fang said with a shrug. "Eggs and bacon sound good?" Narico nodded happily. "Good." As Fang cooked, he came to an important realization. "Hey, Narico? Where did you leave before coming to Ponyville?"
"Oh. I used to live in a hive. But I snuck out. No one would miss me though..." Narico said sadly. Fang soon finished preparing breakfast and put a hand on Narico's shoulder.
"Well, family isn't always the people you're related too. Real family is the people who care about you." Fang said with a smile.
Narico's mood lifted and he hugged his adoptive big brother. "I guess I'd better go to school."
"Um, Narico? You do know that if you go to school like that everyone might freak out, right?" Fang asked. Narico blinked.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Narico was covered in a flash of green fire, and he stood in a form similar to his true self. But at the same time, it was different. Instead of the solid pale blue eyes, Narico had normal eyes and his insect wings and horn had vanished. He looked like a regular human with his changeling color scheme. "My people are called 'Changelings' for a reason." Fang smiled as he tussled Narico's hair.
"Just make sure to head straight home after school today little bro." And with that, Fang saw to it that Narico made it to the schoolhouse. "Well, good to see Narico's starting his day. Now to start mine." Fang walked around looking for a job, and noticed a 'Help Wanted' sign at Shadow's cosplay shop. "Hello? I'm here about the sign!" Fang called out! Shadow looked out from behind the boxes he was carrying.
"Oh! Hey again Fang!" Shadow greeted. Fang noticed the trouble Shadow was having with the boxes and went to help him out. The two managed to safely transport the massive pile. "Thanks for the assist! So you're here about the job?"
Fang nodded. "Uh huh! I'm good at keeping track of things and heavy lifting. Plus, I can also give cosplay tips for props."
Shadow smiled. "Welcome aboard Fang! How soon can you start?"
"Is today good?" Fang asked with a grin. Shadow nodded, and the two went about their day. An array of customers came into the shop that day. Either to place orders for specific costumes or props in advance, or merely to buy accessories that they could wear just going about their day. "Wow. Hard to believe this place is doing so well in such a short amount of time." Fang noted.
"Well, it helps that most of my prices are affordable." Shadow replied. "And that I've got a deal with Rarity. She runs Carousel Boutique, and helped set me up with some of the costumes I sell here. And she did it free of charge too." Shadow then noticed Fang's ears and tail. "So I'm guessing your ears and tail weren't just some piece of detailed costume work?" Fang sighed and nodded. "Cool! Kind of like the dragon wings Burst and Inferno have! But..why do you hide them? Do you think people would consider you a freak?"
Fang shook his head. "No. We live in a world full of dragons, princesses that control the sun and moon, and all sorts of crazy magic. So a guy with wolf ears and a tail is pretty normal in comparison. The reason I hide my ears and tail is because whenever a girl sights me with them, they try to snuggle me to death!" Fang shivered at a distant memory of his childhood. It was a school day, and he was going about with his ears and tail on display. One girl had gone up to him, and began to scratch his ears. Fang was happy for a moment, but it was all shattered when every girl in the hallway tried to snuggle him! Little Fang ran for his life. "...And that's why I've been wearing a hoodie for almost all my life since then."
Shadow shivered. "Man. I'd hate to see Fluttershy find out your ears and tail are real." Shadow then looked at the clock. "Huh. Time really flies when you're having fun. It's time for lunch break. How about I give you a formal introduction to the guys? You were kinda busy during Nightmare Night." Fang nodded and followed Shadow. They met Burst and the others at the local pizza joint. "Hey guys! You all remember Fang, right?" Each of the guys smiled. Fang waved.
"So, you guys are a team like the Elements of Harmony right?" Fang asked.
Burst nodded and pointed to each member of the group. "We're the Elements of Heroism. I represent Power, Inferno represents Potential, Steel represents Honor, Ty represents Tolerance, Ace represents Wisdom, Ice represents Courage, Shadow represent Compassion, and you represent Determination as you discovered on Nightmare Night. So tell us about yourself Fang."
"Well, I've got really good senses. Like hearing and smell." Fang began. "As indicated by my wolf ears. My parents said the reason I look like this is because of an ancestor who bonded with a wolf spirit. Oh! And I can also smell the intent of a person too! So I can act like a lie detector! Not to sound prying, but why do you guys wanna know more about me?"
"We wanna be more than a team dude." Inferno answered. "We wanna be friends! Heck, Burst's like a brother to me!"
Fang smiled and wagged his tail. "That means you guys must be pretty good friends if you consider yourselves family!"
"You're a part of it now too Fang." Tyrannus noted. "So any hobbies?"
Fang scratched his head. "Hmmm. Not much besides cosplay and anime. The former being when I usually wear my ears and tail with pride."
Burst was confused. "Why's that?"
Fang sighed. "You know that girl Fluttershy? The one you introduced to Luna just a few days back? Let's see what happens when she finds out that my ears aren't fake." Burst and Tyrannus took Fang to Fluttershy's cottage, and explained Fang's ears and tail. Fluttershy was silent for a minute before jumping on Fang and hugging and snuggling him remorselessly! "See what I mean?!" Tyrannus and Burst set to work on trying to pry Fluttershy off of Fang!
"Fluttershy! Please! Let him go!" Tyrannus pleaded!
"No! I want to snuggle him, play with him, and give him belly rubs! Then I'll walk him!" Fluttershy protested!
Fang narrowed his eyes. "I'm NOT a pet!" Fang soon broke free, and bolted off for town. However, Fluttershy wasn't one to give up easy. But in the process, every girl in town found out Fang's secret! Burst and Tyrannus soon caught up to Fang, and noticed the slowly growing mob of girls. "Uh...guys? What do we do now?" Burst and Tyrannus looked to Fang and steeled thei gazes.
"Easy..." Tyrannus said before scooping up Fang and he and Burst began to make a break for it! "WE RUN!" The two ran as fast as they could away from the stampede of girls each trying to snuggle or take Fang home as a pet!
"Maybe we shouldn't introduce him to the other girls!" Burst cried out as they ran with Fang in tow! They soon managed to ditch the crowd. However, Fluttershy had caught up with them.
"um...excuse me?" Fluttershy asked.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Fang screamed as he jumped into Burst's arms! "Please! No more snuggles! PLEASE!"
Fluttershy blushed. "Actually, um, I'm sorry about that. I get a bit carried away with animals."
Fang breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thanks Celestia!"
"But...could you make puppy dog eyes?" Fluttershy asked with a small smile. Fang sighed, and hit her full on with his puppu dog stare. Fluttershy squealed with delight, and snapped a picture! "My life is now complete!" And with that, Fluttershy returned to her cottage. The guys breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"So...is this craziness normal?" Fang asked. Burst and Tyrannus chuckled.
"Fang. Do we have stories to tell you..." Burst began. He recounted all the events that had happened so far. Nightmare Moon. The Nightmare Forces. The Grand Galloping Gala. And lastly, Discord and Nightmare Night. "So yeah. Quite a lot of excitement goes on around in this little town. But, at least it's not boring!"
Fang grinned. "I think I'm gonna like it here! By the way, what were those weapons you have called again?"
"Duelist Arms." Tyrannus answered with a smile. "So far, you and I are the only ones who don't have any. Still, I've managed fine so far with just my martial arts skills. Plus, I'm pretty sure you can get wild in a fight." Fang frowned.
"C'mon! That was too easy!" Fang pouted. Burst and Tyrannus laughed. Fang sighed. "Well, suppose there were worse puns." The three soon returned to the other guys.
"Whoa." Steel noted their condition. "You guys looks like you've been running all over the place."
"You have NO idea..." Tyrannus groaned. "There any slices left?" Steel motioned to the remaining slices of pizze. "Thank you." Burt, Tyrannus, and Fang scarfed down the slices. "Welcome to the team Fang." Fang beamed as he wagged his tail. "Okay. It's official. He's the cute one out of us." The guys nodded in agreement.
"It was nice meeting you all. Maybe some time I could get to know the girls too. But I gotta get home. My little brother's gonna be headed home soon." Fang said as he waved goodbye. Fang returned to his house just in time for Narico to come home. "Hey Narico. How'd school go?"
Narico smiled. "Pretty good. Made a picture of our family!" Narico proudly displayed the picture he'd drawn with Fang holding Narico on his shoulders. Fang smiled and put the picture on the fridge. "So how was your day?" Fang's memory traced back to the earlier chain of events.
"Eh. Nothing special. But I made some pretty good friends today. Now come on. Let's see what's on TV. Then it's off to taking care of your homework." Fang and Narico went about the rest of their day before calling it a night. Here's hoping things get even better around here.