It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Airborne was in his bedroom, sleeping soundly, trying to escape the painful recollection of thoughts he had from school. His parents were talking to Spike outside on top of the Dragon Lord's rock. They were on a giant, tall, and rocky mountain. It was barren on the outside, no features except jagged stones. Ember spoke in rage, "You should have been there!"
Spike then said sorrowfully, "I know but-"
Ember interrupted, this time shouting loudly in rage holding up the dragon lord's staff that glowed, "You should have been there!"
Spike coward a bit in fear. Thorax however tried to console the angry Dragon Lord by saying, "Honey, it wasn't his fault. He could not have been there in time before Airborne was hurt."
Ember then just glared at her husband. The husband then slowly backed away from her out of fear. Ember's staff stopped glowing. She then sighed with a reply, "I'm sorry. I'm just… " She couldn't finish her sentence as her rage boiled to a maximum; the rage was then used to pick up a large boulder and then toss it. A good 300 meters was seen from that throw. Thorax and Spike watched the boulder in amazement. Turning their attention back to Ember, she continued on. "I'm giving those dragon bullies a great punish so severe their screams shall be-"
Spike shouted, "Ember! I understand how you feel, but Garble took care of them already. You don't have to-"
Ember interrupted. Her voice then echoed as the staff glew once again. "I am not one to take things like this lightly. Punishment for them is indeed going to happen!"
Thorax then spoke, "Spike, why are you defending them? If that were your child… wouldn't you want those kids to get harmed back?"
Spike then sighed and spoke, "I think Airborne is stronger than you think. He can take care of his own problems once he figures out how. However, I thought you were going torment them. Why not just imprison them? That, I support."
Ember gripped her staff and then smacked it on the ground with such a strong force that a rift of red energy cracked through the ground. The staff didn't break, but the rift kept shooting out of the ground travelling towards a giant cliff and it explodes massively. The Dragon Lord's rock shifted so much that Spike and Thorax had to float up. Ember then looked at Spike breathing. Her angry tone went back to normal. "I'm alright. I just had to get that out of my system."
Spike and Ember looked at each other in shock. Thorax then spoke, "Imprisonment. Sure. Great idea." Thorax's tone was very nervous. Not only that, he flew away out of fear and shouted back at Spike, "Let's come back when she's much more calm than this." Spike agreed and left with Thorax.
Later that night, an unmetamorphosed changeling flew through the window of Airborne's bedroom. He lands on the windowsill and spoke to him. The changeling was pretty large in size, had purple eyes, red spikes on his neck, and a red tail. He then looked at Airborne and walked to him. Airborne was sitting on his bed just thinking to himself. He didn't eat dinner when his parents offered him some. Pharynx then spoke with a malicious tone, "So, you're just going to sit there and be sad? Or are you going to do something about your feelings?"
Airborne quickly turned around and spoke, "Uncle Pharynx?"
Pharynx responded, "The one and only kid. And why are you being such a sad sack when you could be doing something useful?"
Airborne then looked away, turning his head to the side as he looked down. He spoke timidly. "I… I don't… know. I'm really useless aren't I?"
Pharynx then calmed down his tone, "You're not useless, you're being useless. Not just to others but to yourself. Stop thinking about being a friend to everyone in the world because that won't ever happen. Everyone won't understand you. Everyone won't care for you. Only those who choose to care and understand you will be your friend. And you are my friend right now, and I understand what it's like to be hurt. But what did I do? I did not let that destroy me. I let it transform me. You're a changeling too, get it? There's nothing your heart's desire-"
Airborne interrupted, "Leave me alone! Don't be a bully like the rest of the people at school."
Pharynx then smiled, "Then stop acting like a target and start transforming. You're a changeling-dragon! You wanna be sad about that?"
Airborne then sighed. "No… I just want to be loved… or… I want to be friends."
Pharynx then facepalmed, "You're my nephew. I don't come over often, but I do know when you are having a bad day. It's just family instinct. And you will never grow unless you transform into a beacon of goodness and strength for others."
Airborne then looked up at Pharynx and then crawled into a hug. The changeling didn't like the hug, and even as it was happening, he made a surprised to begrudging face. Once Airborne let go, he then for a short moment, waited until he spoke. "So, will you teach me how to be a changeling?"
Pharynx then spoke confidently, "I thought you'd never ask." He then floated up flapping his wings and he then flew out the window. Airborne quickly followed… until his sores and bruises made him fall on the floor before he made it to the window. Pharynx came back through the window and saw Airborne. "Uhhh, actually… you're gonna have to rest a bit. You're still weak after today's beating."
Airborne moaned in pain crawling to the bed. "Yeeeaahhh… that hurt."
Pharynx then flew to Airborne once they've reached the bed. He then lands next to him and handed him a vile of changeling healing serum. It was the same liquid as the one inside of changeling cocoons. "Pour this on your wounds. They will be healed in 30 minutes."
Airborne took the vile and opened it. He seemed disgusted by the wretched stench that came from it. Even so, he covered his wounds with the vile. "Thanks, uncle Pharynx."
Pharynx then just sat next to him and waited for the wounds to heal. He did so patiently. As he cared a lot for Airborne, while showing very assertive and mean sides, he meant well. "I'm going to train you to transform into who people need you to be."
Airborne asked, "And how do I do that?" He poured the last vile on his wound.
Pharynx answered, "By changing the way you see things. You see many as bullies, right?"
Airborne spoke, "Yes. What are you getting at?"
Pharynx sighed as he really had to explain. "You have to change the way you think about those people. They are there to uplift you because they are either… umm…"
"Upset that they are… not me?" asked Airborne.
Pharynx spoke, "Actually… no. It's more of, they have never seen anything so different. All this attention you are getting makes you a very unique specimen and if you showed your uniqueness to everyone and how different is better, this would transform you and other people as well."
Airborne spoke, "So… by being the first ever hybrid, I'm the most special because of that? And people are mad because they can't imagine how different I must be?"
Pharynx then sighed, "Yeah. Something like that. You get the point right?"
Airborne then laughed a bit and spoke, "I do actually. Because I actually need to show people how good being different can be."
Pharynx then clapped with sarcasm. "Wow. Great job. You want a cookie?"
Airborne then sarcastically said, "Do you want your mommy?"
The changeling facepalmed and laughed. "You cannot make good comebacks. I still… umm… care… for you."
Airborne smiled, "I do too. My wounds feel a little bit better."
Pharynx then said, "Stay here. We'll do this another day. I've gotta leave though but you should go eat dinner and then sleep. I know you're hungry."
Airborne asked, "How did you-"
Pharynx interrupted, "Family sense. Also, your parents told me." He then flew out of the window. Airborne just watched. Laughing to himself, he waited the next 20 minutes to then be completely healed. After a good while, he left his bedroom heading towards the dining room. Seeing that dinner was over 1 hour ago, he left the Dragon Lord's Rock flying out of an open window. He flew straight for Ponyville. He looked below as he travelled seeing that every dragon at this hour, at 9 o'clock, was out. They were minding their own business. He flew over and saw Garble and Spike alone on a cliff. The cliff was rocky and open. He flew down to there and was right behind them. However, Garble and Spike were having a talk, a deep conversation that seemed to be happening.
Spike spoke, "Garble… Why did you really defend my little nephew?"
Garble just shrugged looking up at the moon. "Because I'm not going to let anyone treat my best friend's family like that."
Spike then facepalmed. "I know there's a deeper reason than that. What is it?"
Garble got annoyed with Spike. He just looked at him in the eyes. "Do you really want to know?" Spike nodded yes. "Alright. First of all, I don't deserve to be your friend. There is no way in the world that can help me believe that after all the bad stuff that I did to you, all of the horrible pranks and jokes and pain that I caused on others, that I should ever be given a second chance. Plus, I don't want to go back to that school. It has too many painful memories there. I can't stand being who I was."
Spike then playfully punched Garble's arm while saying, "Then you're a bigger idiot. You can't help but see that you risked your own life for someone you care about. That makes you worthy of my forgiveness."
Garble just glared. He then turned his eyes back. "Airborne?"
Airborne then came over and jumped in between the 2. "Thank you for saving me."
Garble then spoke, "It was… nothing really." He couldn't help but feel bad for Airborne after all the time and effort spent to make sure the bullies couldn't hurt him. "Truth of the matter is, this was the only day that I accidentally let them hurt you. I usually am the one watching over you both."
Spike then questioned, "Was it you who actually gave me that doctor's note earlier?"
Garble laughed. "Yeah it was me. I had to."
Airborne then tapped Garble's hand and held it up. He then placed it on Garble's heart. "You're a good person."
Garble groaned a bit turning his head away. "Please don't say that. I used to hurt you too. I owe you."
Spike then spoke, "There was absolutely nothing that you could do to make Airborne like you. You used to bully him in the previous grades and he never liked you for it. Now… Now that he believes that you've truly changed, thank you. Thank you for making peace with my nephew."
Garble couldn't help but make a sorrowful expression. It was a bit happy. He never turned back to look at the 2, but he grabbed Airborne's hand and places it on the changeling-dragon's chest. "You're special. Special, and amazing." Airborne then nuzzled Garble's hand and wanted him to stand up. He grabbed Garble's hand and pulled him to stand up. "What are you doing, kiddo?" He was pulled even more. "Agh! What are you doing?" Garble was pulled further and he finally stood up. Airborne then asked, "Can you take me to get something to eat?"
Spike then asked, "Airborne, you didn't eat any dinner?" Airborne nodded no. "Alright. I'll come as well."
Airborne then quickly said, "No. Just Garble."
Spike didn't know how to react. He just shrugged and said, "Alright then. I will see you both later."
Garble watched Spike leave and he looked at Airborne saying, "Why did you say that?"
Airborne replied, "Because I want you and I to go see Twilight. You need to forgive yourself just as I need to learn how to teach others to accept my difference."
Garble then growled, "Airborne, please. Don't-"
Airborne interrupted, "Garble, please do this for me."
The red dragon hesitated for a moment. He then nodded yes. The 2 flew off in one direction heading to Ponyville. "Wait, you need to eat," exclaimed Garble.
Airborne then spoke, "Yeah, I'm pretty hungry."
The 2 continued to Ponyville. When they arrived overhead, they saw how it actually was barren due to its time of night. Instead, they head over to Princess Twilight's castle. They saw the many buildings of Ponyville seeing how it was an old seeming place. It was a nice town. Very clean, equally structured but diverse in Pony races, and cloaked in friendship. The town had old style carriages, big restaurants and homes, and open scenery around. Travelling to Twilight's castle, it revealed a giant crystal look. The walls and entire outside is made of crystal, except for the stairs and windows. The crystal was so massive that it reached over all of Ponyville. Massive doors stood in between them and the inside of the castle. Airborne then knocked on the door waiting for an answer. A dark purple pony with a horn and wings came out tired. Her hair was mostly back with highlights of purple and pink. She then spoke. "Ugh? What time is it? Why aren't you 2 at home? Wait. Why are you 2 here exactly? Garble? Airborne?"
Airborne then spoke, "Hi, Princess Twilight. I'm afraid we have a friendship problem that needs your guidance."
Twilight then asked with ecstacy for an answer, "Is it about finding out who was right or what wrong?! Do you 2 have problems with someone else?! Is this a new dragon friendship problem that needs my research methods?! I need to know, I need to know, I need to know!"
Garble then spoke, "Actually Princess… It's me. I have a problem with making friends." Twilight then asked the 2 to come in so that they can talk. She was in dire need of the problem to be spoken to her. On the inside of her castle was a large crystal opening. There were 2 grand staircases that led upstairs. Every wall was crystal of many colors. They all entered the main hall and sat at a multipurpose room. It had a giant map of Equestria that was made out of crystal. 7 jewel chairs were shown to be circled around the table as well. When the 3 sat down at the table, they actually sat closest to each other in those designated chairs. The chairs had cutie mark symbols on them, all for the wielders of the 6 Elements of Harmony and the slightly smaller one for Twilight's assistant, Spike. However, Spike doesn't need to sit there anymore.
Twilight asked Garble, "So, what's the problem?" Garble looked down. He couldn't speak for he is having a hard time opening up. "Is something wrong that it's too bad to say?" He still didn't answer Twilight. He just looked around the room admiring the looks, but he didn't know what to say. She then spoke, "I know. It's to open up and admit your problems, especially when you're a dragon who has been trained to take on a high degree of pain. I understand your struggle, not to the fullest length, but to some extent. I want you to know that I am here for you."
Garble finally opened up, "I'm… a terrible person."
Twilight asked, "Why do you say so?"
Garble looked at Airborne, "Please… I don't think I'm ready."
Airborne then spoke, "You told me you'd do it. I believe in you," he said lovingly.
Garble then looked at Twilight, "I hurt Airborne so badly in the past for being such a freak. I thought he was a freak. Now I realized that he isn't and that he was amazing. I used to hang around with other dragons and I bullied Spike, I bullied Airborne, I hurt so many other dragons in the past. Once I realized how bad my deeds were, I quit the group because they couldn't accept me for feeling bad. Thing is though, I don't believe I deserve to be forgiven."
Airborne then spoke, "That's not true, Garble. You do deserve to be forgiven. And I forgive you."
Garble then spoke to Airborne, "How can you put aside all the moments of hate I had against you, all the moments of torture I put you through? I did one thing for you that meant so much. How can you overlook all of that for this one action?"
Twilight then spoke to Garble, "What did you do that made Airborne like you?"
Garble answered, "I defended him all by myself to beat the bullies back. I did my best to protect him even though I got expelled. I'm… I'm stupid for getting expelled. I know. But I couldn't ever let anyone lay a finger on him even if it meant risking everything I had."
Twilight then smiled and rose her wings a bit. "Do you believe that you showed who you really are to Airborne?"
Garble then spoke, "I really don't know who I am."
The princess then stood off of her chair. "Look at the map. You're apart of the dragons, aren't you?" The red dragon answered yes. "Do you feel you belong?"
Garble answered her question with hopelessness. "No… I do not anymore. If dragons are to be tough and alone and I'm being nice to one person, nice to someone who I treated bad, nice to someone that makes me want to do more good, then do I fit as a dragon? I don't think I know who I am."
Airborne then spoke, "That's okay Garble." The red dragon looked at the changeling-dragon in surprise. "I don't know who I am as well. Why don't we find out together?"
Twilight continued on, "Do you see Garble? Not everyone fits a stereotype. Many are different, many are similar, but no one is the same. You can't be who everyone tells you to be. You have to be who you were born to be. You found that out when you battled off against those dragons. Not only that, you shared Airborne who you were inside. A doer of good and someone who's willing to defend others who can't defend themselves. And look, forgiveness is not something you should looking for from others. You need to forgive yourself, otherwise you will never move on. But if you want my perspective, all who change to good after doing wrong and do their best to fix it clearly deserve a second chance no matter what. Why don't you grow with Airborne in becoming your best selves? Maybe then you will be satisfied."
Garble smiled a bit. "Thanks Princess. Wow. That… really meant a lot." The red dragon bowed to her in admiration and respect.
Twilight replied, "You're welcome. Do you both need anything else?"
Airborne spoke, "Can I have a book on changelings? I need to learn how to be one."
Twilight then flew out of the hall after saying yes to Airborne. Garble looked at Airborne saying, "You did this for me… after all of that."
Airborne said, "Yeah. I would do anything for a friend."
"You're really my friend?" Garble asked.
Airborne then replied with a happy tone, "Yes I am! And I will always be as long as our friendship lasts. You're probably the first friend I've ever had too."
Garble then laughed a bit and joked. "For a changeling, you sure transformed into a friend." The 2 laughed. Twilight came back in a few minutes handing Airborne the book.
Airborne said, "Thank you, Princess."
"Any time," Twilight replied.
The 2 dragons left Twilight's palace with the book saying goodnight to each other. Garble took Airborne back home and Twilight went back to sleep.