//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Ocellus' Magical Mystery Cure 
// by Matthais Unidostres 
//------------------------------//

Inside Princess Twilight's office, the new Changeling Princess sat nervously with her four broodmates nearby. It had been a whirlwind of activity all day for Ocellus, with medical examinations, Wing Power measurements, and various magic tests. Add in all of the questions Twilight and Thorax were asking her, and it was most certainly the most hectic day she had ever experienced. Luckily, her immediate family was there to support her, so it wasn't at all a torturous experience, albeit a bit stressful.

Twilight neatened up the stack of papers she had accumulated throughout the whole event, and she said with a smile, "Well, it took nearly a whole day's work, but we did it. Now we know as much about Changeling Princesses as we do about Alicorn Princesses!"

"Which really isn't all that much," Spike remarked with a shrug of his shoulders.

Twilight shot Spike a glare, but quickly smiled at Princess Ocellus and said, "Well, I know from experience that you'll adapt to this change in no time. It'll probably be even easier for you, because you already had a horn and wings before."

One of Ocellus' younger siblings; a small, pink little nymph, giggled while batting playfully at her long sky-blue hair. The other one, who was a light shade of green, just stared with a smile, and quietly remarked, "I want hair like that someday. . ."

Thorax smiled at this adorable display, and he said, "This is a certainly a great day for all Changelings, Princess Ocellus. Your destiny has definitely been fulfilled."

Ocellus blinked her eyes, and she stammered out nervously, "I. . .I. . ."

Ocellus' father put a comforting hoof on her shoulder and said, "We know it's a lot to take in, but just think about it. You're a Princess! Enjoy it, Ocellus! Enjoy the feeling of having come so far and given such a wondrous opportunity to so much for our people!"

Ocellus gazed at her father for a moment, and then looked between Thorax and Twilight and said, "But. . . but. . . destiny? Does that mean I was going to become a Princess no matter what or-?"

Twilight smiled and shook her head, "No, no. It was more like. . . you had it within you all along. Like how an acorn can grow into an oak tree if its planted in good soil and given enough water and sunlight. Your potential just needed a little something, and a little time, to come out."

Throax nodded, "Twilight's right, Ocellus. And now, you have an important role to fulfill."

Ocellus' eyes widened at this, and she soon found herself closely surrounded by her broodmates. One of them said lovingly, "We're all so very proud of you-."

"I CAN'T DO THIS!" Ocellus shouted frantically, her wings buzzing wildly as she slipped out of the group hug her family had tried to give her.

Everyone stared for a moment, and then Spike broke the tension with a single, "Woah."

Ocellus clamed her wings down, and she sighed and hung her head. "I'm so sorry," she said softly, "I just . . . this whole responsibility. . . this just isn't something I can do!"

Thorax stepped forward and said soothingly, "Ocellus, listen-."

"I'm not the kind of Changeling to rule over anycreature else or manage things or make tough decisions!" Ocellus said in a panicky tone, then she partially hid her face behind her hair and said, "Besides, that would take me away from my friends. . ." Ocellus shut her eyes tightly and said, "I'd rather be with them than be a Princess."

BANG!

The doors were thrown open hard, revealing all five of Ocellus' friends.

Gallus, the one who had thrown open the doors, led the group as they entered the room. The griffon marched over to the Changeling Princess and said, "Ocellus, are you crazy!? We're not worth it!" Then he blinked and said to himself, "I can't believe I said that. That's the exact opposite of the reason we came here."

Silverstream quickly ran up to the griffon's side and said, "What Gallus means is, you shouldn't give up being a Princess just for us."

"We all care about you, Ocellus," Sandbar said determinedly, yet with a caring expression on his face, "We all want you to be something amazing, and we wouldn't want you to miss out on anything on our account."

Yona nodded frantically and said, "Ocellus deserves to be Princess! Yona no take that away from friend!"

Ocellus looked at the four speakers with a saddened expression, and she said, "But I could never enjoy being a Princess without you guys."

Smolder had been waiting silently in the doorway during all this, but after Ocellus' remark, the dragon hovered over the group and said to Ocellus, "Then fix it so that you aren't always a Princess! Don't let all that Princess stuff swallow you whole! Make time to just be our good friend Ocellus instead of The Royal Changeling Princess Ocellus! Work something out! That's what. . ."

Smolder realized she was shouting, and looked apologetically at Thorax, Twilight, Spike, and Ocellus' four immediate family members. She made a soft landing in front of the group of concerned students, and resumed speaking to Ocellus. "That's what we were all worrying about; that this. . .change would take you away from us. But it doesn't have to," Smolder said strongly.

"That's right," Silverstream added, feeling confidence build up within her as she became more certain of her feelings about the whole matter, "We want you to be a Princess. But we don't want our friendship to change."

A spark seemed to ignite in Sandbar's eyes, and he gasped and said, "Guys. . . I don't think it has. . . or it will!" He then pointed at Ocellus and said, "Ocellus was willing to give up being a Princess for us. But. . . Ocellus, listen. I don't think you have to do that. I don't think you, or the rest of us, would ever let anything split us up." 

The look in Ocellus' eyes told Sandbar that she understood what he was saying, and that gave him the courage to step up closer to her and say, "So. . . you go ahead and be a Princess, Ocellus. I'm positive that you'll be the best Princess that ever was."

Sandbar then realized the company he was currently with, and his eyes widened slightly. "Uh. . ." he said nervously, and he looked over at Twilight. The Alicorn gave him a proud smile, much to his surprise. Then, much to all the surprise of all six young creatures, Twilight started laughing merrily.

"Okay. . ." Gallus said slowly with one eyebrow raised, "What was the joke, again?"

Twilight shook off her bout of laughter, and she smiled broadly at the six friends and said, "Oh dear, I'm surprise you all haven't figured it out yet! Don't you see? Ocellus is the Changeling Princess of Friendship."