Since the day Airborne received the book of Dragons and the book of Changelings, he's been wholeheartedly reading it. It was weeks later. The season was currently Autumn in the month of October. Airborne was reading the Book of Unity. In his Dragon's Language class on a Monday, he was interested so deeply. The classroom had around 26 kids, including himself. There were desks, all facing the front of the classroom with the board. There were letters of the dragon alphabet hanging on the walls and nice decorations for a 7th-grade classroom. Airborne may be 11, but he skipped a grade for his intelligence. He was supposed to be in 5th, but he skipped the 4th grade to 6th at the age of 9. Now he was 11 years old in his current grade. Mrs. Greenwald was explaining a lesson but he could not pay attention, for it was completely engrossed in the book. He read, "'Airborne, my mirror-like descendant'... What in the world?! It knew my name? 'I can not digress the very joy that I conceive. Shall you be the apprentice of my journals?' Yes. I will be. 'And with your agreement, you shall-' Okay, this book is creepy. 'And with your agreement, you shall become my servant. There are more people like you. You've already seen them, have you not? Your family, your new friends, they all think of strong enlightenment. Notice the different species? Ponies, dragons, and changelings that helped you with doubt? Name them out loud.' Okay. Umm... Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Spike, Pharynx, umm... Garble, and someone else... I can't bring up their name. I think that's it though. 'You forgot the 2 people who were always there for you. Your parents.' Oh... yeah, that's right. 'And so now, take the lessons I will teach you and spread it throughout the world. Not everyone understands the value of diversity. Not everyone also knows the full history of dragons. They think it's lost.'"
Mrs. Greenwald spoke as she heard Airborne speaking while she was. "Hybrid, how many times do I have to tell you to put that book away?"
Airborne didn't listen but kept reading. "And no one understands what their heritage is."
Mrs. Greenwald shouted, "Defect, I'm talking to you!"
Airborne looked up finally saying, "Oh... umm... Is it lunch already?"
The class laughed a bit. No one minded that Airborne was called a "defect." Everyone was more amused by Airborne's reaction. The teacher continued on, "Why not put that away or you're expelled."
Airborne gave a snarky remark and puts it off to the side. He then focused on the lesson.
Mrs. Greenwald crossed her arms and spoke an annoyed tone. "Yes, hybrid?"
Airborne spoke confidently, "My name is Airborne, the Changeling-Dragon. Thank you for acknowledging that I'm different, but I must as you, dragon lady-" Everyone laughed at what Airborne said. "I want to know. This dragon language... do they have words of power?"
Mrs. Greenwald was confused. She then looked at the book Airborne was reading and held out her hand. "Give it to me. You are supposed to be paying attention."
Airborne said, "No. I've been reading this long book for a while and not even you can understand its meaning."
The entire class laughed again. Mrs. Greenwald walked up to Airborne. "Give it to me," she demanded. "I am not playing any games today. You've fallen behind in class and now you want to ask some ridiculous question about 'words of power'?"
Airborne then looked at her dead in the eyes and said, "No. Never will you touch this book." The teacher snatched it anyway but her hand was instantaneously shocked once it made contact. Electricity rose from the book striking her hands away from it.
"Aagghhh oww! What did you do to the book?!" she exclaimed loudly as if she were shouting at the top of her lungs. The class was shocked by what the book did.
Airborne nervously spoke, "I-I-I don't know. It's never done that before... I'm sorry, Mrs. Greenwald, I'll put it away." He quickly took the book stashing it away for safekeeping. The teacher just looked at him in shock.
"That... was magic. There's no way you could have done that," she explained. "And that kind of magic was... was... Do you know where you got that thing from?"
Airborne nodded no nervously. He did not want to get suspended nor expelled. He just put his head down waiting for her to move on back to the class and the lesson.
Eventually, she did, yet she couldn't help but speak this sentence as it was cruel, cunning, and painful. "I've never seen a freak so determined to be so stupid until now." She walked away after saying that, going back to the front board. The changeling-dragon smiled as he looked at the teacher.
"Thank you," he spoke. This next exclamation is what makes the changeling-dragon brilliant. "It's what you don't understand. About me. You see, I have not fallen behind. I'm just bored, but I've done all my homework and I've participated a lot less in class but only on tests. You think that a controlled system is supposed to be the best thing, but everyone knows what they need to progress further. If you want me to be put in your position, I'll show you words that haven't been spoken since the old days."
Mrs. Greenwald grew impatient saying, "That's enough, Airborne! Stop talking."
Airborne continued on, "And you will understand where we came from and our history! It seems that none of you understand who we really are as dragons either and what we are capable of! We empowered a dragon to become our Lord and we still have that power, and I have it most!"
The teacher was enraged as she said, "If you do not stop, I will-"
The hybrid interrupted, "Do you even know of the past at all? I asked you what the words of power were and you did not know at all! You didn't know that lightning dragons were born, fire dragons were born, any kind of dragon. There are many different kinds!"
The teacher groaned angrily. "Get out." She then shouted, "Now, before I call security. Threatening my education is not-"
"And you don't understand the true power of the dragons," Airborne shouted.
Mrs. Greenwalk walked to Airborne shouting, "I'm done with you. You're suspended and you are a failure! Get out right now!"
"Dakurai Nadishte Eloctu Feeme!" Airborne shouted interrupting her. The energy released in an omnidirectional wave spreading throughout the entire classroom. The very room inside lost its sense of gravity. Airborne did not move, however. The desks began to float, the students were lifted in mid-air, and the Teacher watched all of this in awe. Everything in the room floated in the air as if gravity did not exist any further. Mrs. Greenwald could not understand nor fathom the power Airborne had. The changeling-dragon called out, "Dragons had 2 ancient languages. One of magic and one of communication! You don't know this, do you?! Why should I be in here with someone who can not enlighten me!" Pretty soon, Airborne spoke another word, one that would reset things. "Desai!" Everything instantly dropped to the floor. This hurt a lot of students physically, and Airborne was hurt emotionally. He then realized what he did was wrong at that very moment. He looked at the book he was reading and opened it up to page 47. "'Do not forget. In all you do, with power, form bonds. Not... fear...' I... It's just..." Airborne ran out of the room. He then ran away from the building heading towards the bathrooms. He remembers that as a place of peace, but someone stopped him on his way. It was a unicorn. She was white, had light purple and white hair, and she was taller than Airborne by with an adult mare's size.
The unicorn spoke nicely, "Hey, are you alright? Where you going in such a hurry."
Airborne responded while in tears, "I did something so awful. I used anti-gravity dragon magic. I'm so stupid." He facepalmed as he said, "Stupid stupid stupid!"
The unicorn then pats Airborne's back. "I'm Sweetie Belle. And it's okay. I already know who you are. You're Airborne, right?"
Airborne spoke, "Yeah. How did you know that?"
Sweetie Belle answered, "Because I think you're adorable." She giggled a bit. "Adorable as in, you're so nice. I don't get why you'd wanna hurt anyone."
Airborne sighed and spoke, "I don't know... I was just being dumb this time. I hurt everyone in my classroom."
Sweetie Belle then pulled Airborne gently, "Come on. Let's talk about this with our friends. I was coming from the office, but lunchtime should start right abooouuuut..." the bell rang. "Now."
Students walked out of their classrooms into the open space. Airborne's previous class walked around school giving looks at the changeling-dragon, which made him feel awful. The looks were very nervous, filled with fear. The changeling-dragon looked at his class and they all scattered. Other kids just watched the class confused and now nervous. Airborne looked down sadly. Sweetie Belle gently pulled Airborne once more leading him to her friends. "You need to relax. I know you've had it rough here. Do you want to relax with my friends and me?" Airborne looked up at him and was so happy to hear her say that.
"I've... never had anyone tell me that before," Airborne said. "Thank you. I would... be happy too."
The 2 went over to a lunch table. Airborne wiped his tears. Seeing the 2 other ponies, he sat at the table and was happier than he'd been all day. An orange pegasus with greyish purple hair spoke, "Wow. You're Airborne! Umm... We just want to say that you are amazing."
Airborne spoke, "Really? I am?!"
A light yellow earth pony with red hair spoke, "Yeah! You're a hybrid. I mean, you may never know how unique that is until you've been one. It's like, alicorn unique, I must say."
Airborne smiled. "Thank you," he could only say. "What are your names?"
The earth pony said, "I'm Apple Bloom."
The pegasus said, "I'm Scootaloo."
Sweetie Belle sat next to Airborne and asked, "Let's take your mind off of the situation, Airborne. What can you do as a changeling?"
Airborne answered, "I... can't do anything but just fly fast."
Scootaloo asked, "As fast as Rainbow Dash?"
Airborne confidently said, "Maybe even faster!" He laughed a bit. So did Scootaloo.
Apple Bloom pulled out her backpack and held up an apple pie. "Do you want some, Airborne? My friends and I planned on eating this for lunch today."
Airborne nodded yes. Sweetie Belle pulled out paper plates to set on the table. The hybrid was given a slice. He looked down on the pie and had to ask, "What... is apple pie?"
The 3 ponies gasped.
Apple bloom responded with surprise, "You don't know what apple pie is?"
The hybrid nodded no. He felt disappointed in himself as if he was stupid... But then Scootaloo tapped Airborne's shoulder saying, "That's okay. This'll be a symbol of our friendship group. We should call it... hmmm..."
Apple Bloom finished Scootaloo's sentence with a "Pie friendship day!"
Everyone laughed a bit. Airborne ate the pie and loved it. His wings shimmered brightly as he ate more. The changeling-dragon looked at Sweetie Belle in joy as he ate the pie. He looked at the others thinking to himself, "This is nice. Friendship. That's what I've always wanted from this school."
Sweetie Belle then touched Airborne's hand, "Are you feeling better?" The hybrid nodded yes. "That's great. I'm glad I could make you feel better. If you need friends, we are here for you, Airborne."
Airborne looked at Sweetie Belle with a shy smile. He then asked, "Uhh... wait a minute. What grade are all of you in?"
Scootaloo answered, "We are in 12th grade. How about you? Feeling the power of friendship was growing fast. Airborne realized something. "Can I ask you guys something?"
Sweetie Belle answered, "Sure. What is it, Airborne?"
Airborne asked, "Can you make friends by... power?"
The 3 thought about it for a short moment. It took 15 seconds, but Sweetie Belle answered, "No. Power is power, but power divides if not used right."
Apple Bloom said, "I remember Twilight teaching us that power is great but power is also destructive. It can bring harm or help is used a certain way."
Scootaloo further explained, "Power without bonds brings fear."
Airborne learned he can not change the world by using power alone. He must forge friendships with that power in order to bring good. He then decided to hold up the Book of Unity. "I follow this book," he said. "It said the same things you guys did and I live by everything it says. It spoke of a future where perfect peace and complete understanding of everyone is possible. I want a world to be built where I am not seen as an outcast but as a friend."
The 3 ponies smiled at the thought. They too can imagine a life like that. Apple Bloom said, "Well if you want friendship lessons, talk to Twilight about it. She is the Princess of Friendship after all and she can help with your dream. Who knows? Maybe you'll bring the world closer together."
Airborne nodded saying, "Yeah. I would absolutely love that!"
After school, Airborne was stuck in the office. He was in the Principal's room waiting for his parents. Mrs. Greenwald and the principal were in the room as well. The principal had a cold stare at Airborne. He was sitting angrily in his desk with the teacher standing next to him. He spoke, "You little... insignificant... fool. You don't understand the degree of trouble you're in."
Airborne just stared at the Principal. He spoke, "I have something against the teacher."
Mrs. Greenwald said, "I am an educator and older dragon. I have been free to speak as I please and run my classroom the way I want to."
Airborne then shook his head disappointed.
Mrs. Greenwald said, "You don't scare me, dragon. You're useless, nothing! Your parents should be ashamed to have an ugly thing like you being alive."
Airborne grew furious. He was about to say something, but he decided to say, "You know what? You're right. But I will not obey everything you have to say just because you are my teacher. It doesn't matter how old you are, you still need to learn every single day. Basic lesson: You learn something new every day. You never stop learning. And you neeeeeed to learn how to actually use your voice as an uplifting voice, not a weapon set on destroying me and other students. You're a bully in your classroom, and-"
The principal said, "I don't want to hear it! You will be hereby suspended, and furthermore, you are to-" Airborne then turned his attention away from the principal as he then began reading his book. The Principal, who decided to get up from his chair and get close to Airborne, snatched the book from him. The instant moment he laid a hoof on the book, he was electrocuted the same way the teacher was. He spoke angrily in shock, "What kind of sorcery is this!? Is that a book of incantation?!" Airborne didn't answer. He just continued to speak. "Answer me when I talk to you, hybrid! You useless, disgusting, vile substance! You don't deserve to go to the same school like everyone else who clearly does not look like a freak."
Airborne immediately closed to his book and looked at the Principal. "So. What's your name?" Airborne asked.
"Mr. Greenwald, and I'm certain that you are an abomination!" the Principal replied.
Airborne then stood up and directly got in the face of Mr. Greenwald and spoke, "I do not appreciate you marking me as an abomination when you married someone who is absolutely different. Please. Wouldn't many people think that's absurd? You both are not even near the same species."
Mr. Greenwald grew furious. "My goodness, defect. You call us freaky but you're supposed to be any better?"
Airborne then got angry. "No, I'm telling you that you're in the same boat as I am if it counts for being abnormal. You fell in love with a dragon and married her. To make it even worse, she's a teacher and you're a principal. That's fricking weird! Don't complain to me about me being absurd here. It's you and your ethics!"
Mrs. Greenwald said, "I am through with you. I wish that you were never born! You worthless child. You've shown nothing but ungratefulness! How can anyone love a horrid thing like you?"
Even after those words, the 2 kept on calling the changeling-dragon things that kept breaking his self-esteem. Airborne's own rage and frustration caused him to growl and channel energy throughout his body. Tears ran down his face. Frustrating tears. He angrily wiped them away. The child wished for them to stop, but they kept making constant remarks on him. He tried to leave, but the security guard, who works as a campus supervisor, prevented Airborne from leaving. The security guard was an unmetamorphosed changeling as well. Airborne's energy kept growing and growing as much as his hatred, pain, and sadness kept rising. Airborne didn't want to hurt anyone else, so after all of that frustration built, he began sobbing.
The security guard was thrown straight into a wall behind him by Thorax himself. Once Thorax and Ember came into the principal's office, their faces presented intense malice and fury. Ember was the most enraged out of everyone. "No one calls my child a defect! And you 2 think that you're any better, huh? Well now. I will take this whole manner to your graves as I feed upon-" her voice instantaneously echoed, getting louder, and it caused the room to shake "all of your bones and grind them into dust! If you ever bully my son again in this school again, I will personally rip out your skulls and crush them with the sound of my voice!" The moment she said the last word, the entire room collapsed with bars falling from the ceiling. The lights exploded and the windows shattered as well. The teacher and principal were both shaking in mesmerized fear.
Mr. Greenwald said, "Y-you're... s-s-s-son is... excused from... all punishments. Please don't hurt us!" Thorax, who was nodding about the revocation of punishment, transformed into a bear and roared. This caused Mr. and Mrs. Greenwald to then jump out the window and run away.
Airborne spoke depressed, "You... you now know what I go through every day."
Ember's heart was broken so much that she hugged Airborne. "This isn't good for you. I can't believe the staff would say such awful things to you, especially since they're adults."
Thorax then touched Airborne's head nuzzling it. "You okay there, bud? You must be in so much pain." Airborne nodded no. He just buried his face in his mother's arms not wanting to be seen.
Ember rubbed Airborne's head, "No matter what happens, sweetie, mommy loves you. I always will."
Thorax then hugged Airborne back. "I love you too, son. Let's buy you some crystals and take you home. You've probably had a long day."
Airborne asked while wiping his tears. "Are you upset with me?"
Ember spoke lovingly, "Honey, your father and I understand you better than anyone. There is no way you'd go out of your way to cause harm because you wanted to. Someone has to provoke you. You've never wanted to harm anyone, right?"
Airborne nodded yes. Thorax then added, "And we feel that this school isn't good for you if everyone's just going to be mean to you. We're both sorry you had to go through all of this."
Airborne said, "It's okay. Can... we just go home? I wanna leave now."
The family then went home that day. Later that night after Airborne ate, he was cuddling Spike on Airborne's bed. The 2 were in Airborne's bedroom. Airborne was lying next to Spike as well as Spike had his wings wrapped around Airborne. Airborne felt the warmth of Spike's chest and wings. Airborne had not spoken for a while as he lied his head on Spike's chest. Spike poked Airborne's head to get his attention. "Airborne... speak to me. Do you want to be alone."
Airborne simply said in a tone filled with despair, "No. I can't be alone."
Spike sighed with an, "I love you. You know that, right?"
Airborne nodded. "I never forget your words, uncle. But I can't be strong all the time."
Spike nodded. "I understand. You're just a kid. Did you think that you could change anyone's mind?" Airborne nodded yes. "Did you want the teacher and the principal to stop being so hurtful?" Airborne nodded yes. "Are you broken inside?" Airborne waited a few seconds. He then looked up at Spike filled with tears once again. He nodded yes once more.
Airborne spoke, "I am so weak. I can't do anything."
Spike asked, "What does that mean?"
Airborne replied with, "They call me a freak even with my power shown. Why? I thought that if I was right and that I had proof that I would..."
Spike finished his sentence, "Change their mind?"
Airborne nodded yes. "I know it'll be hard, but I wanna start changing the world now."
Spike then said, "You can't do it all in one day. And you can't be snippy about it too to others. That doesn't lead them and neither does being right all the time."
Airborne then sighed, "I know. I need friendship and closeness."
Spike also said, "And patience. There's no way you can do this in one day. There's no way you can finish your destiny now nor end it in one whole week. Your destiny needs a lifetime of growing, developing, learning, and bonding before you are able to change anything, and in that lifetime, you'll be able to find people who are special and dear to you who will be changed by your destiny. Changelings can change their forms in an instant, but no one can change their character in a day nor overnight. It takes a lot more time and friendship. And even if you've taught the world about friendship and unity, it still takes time for the world to change. Give your destiny time to grow. You're just starting it."
Airborne gently lies his head on Spike's shoulder. He closed his eyes and then asked, "Spike... can I change you?"
Spike then answered, "Yes. I wanna be transformed by you in a better way."
"Can... I ask you something?" Airborne asked.
Spike answered, "Yes."
Airborne asked, "Why were you hanging out with Garble at night weeks ago?
Spike then was afraid to answer. All he could say was, "He's my friend. I was worried about him. I was really confused as to why he risked so much for you. If anything... He's proven to be someone I really admire."
Airborne continued to ask, "Did I change him?"
Spike nodded yes. "Of course you did. You were able to help him transform into something better than he was that night."
Airborne then lifted his head up and looked at Spike, "What is Garble doing right now?"
Spike then said, "I don't know. His parents... I don't wanna say this but... they kicked him out and he has no place to live."
Airborne asked, "Why did they do that?"
Spike answered, "Because they don't like how Garble is now. He's too... different for his parents to accept how good Garble is. I'm sorry to say this, but Garble is... homeless."
Airborne looked down sadly. He then shook his head, "Wait! Twilight can help with that. She has lots of bedrooms in that castle of hers!"
Spike shook his head, "Sorry, Airborne. I recommended that to Garble but he was afraid of umm... the walls. Dragon's love crystals."
Airborne laughed a bit, "Oh yeah. Well, where would he be right now?"
Spike answered, "I don't know... I wish I could tell you..." Spike didn't wanna answer that question to Airborne. He was afraid of revealing more. "Just know that he cares for you and he wants you to succeed."
Airborne replied with, "Thanks. Tell him I said that I hope he has a great home some day."
Spike said, "Me too... me too..." He was lying more, keeping a secret. He sighed wishing he could tell Airborne the truth. He felt that the child isn't ready to hear the news.