//------------------------------//
// Twentieth Chapter 
// Story: New Bodies, New Life 
// by Boopy Doopy 
//------------------------------//

Thornton and his family watched Howard wave a hoof before Twilight Sparkle lit up her horn and teleported him away to… somewhere. The Everfree Forest, presumably. It was interesting how confident he was– how confident they both were. Of course though, Twilight had more knowledge with her than his father did. She almost seemed to know that this was an exercise in futility, at least, in the short term. Nothing was going to happen with them today, otherwise why would they be given a house to stay in? This would wind up taking weeks or months. Or longer.
This is gonna suck, Thornton couldn’t help but think.
There were a lot of things going on though that Thornton didn't fully understand. His father definitely seemed to understand some of it, and so did his mother, somewhat, but he wasn't able to pick up on exactly what it was. Then again, maybe it wasn't even related to being in this world, but something else entirely. He couldn't tell. He didn't bother asking though. He'd piece it together from his parents’ emotions eventually. Especially his father's.
Maybe it would help if he was less hungry. Thankfully, as though Barney was a changeling, too, the dog moved next to him to offer affection, and Thornton closed his eyes for a moment to take it in.
He didn't need to open his eyes to know that their new companion and apparent tour guide was staring at him now, instead of his mother and father. “I don't think I've ever seen an unreformed changeling since Starlight and her friends beat Queen Chrysalis and saved Equestria,” he said, no disdain or superiority coming from him like he expected. Instead, there was curiosity, as well as sympathy, like he understood his plight. It helped a little more. “Is that why you wanna see Thorax?” he asked. 
“Uh, I guess,” he said flatly, his nasally voice hardly giving out a hint of emotion. The term ‘reform’ was an interesting one, wasn’t it? It made sense that they used the word to describe his current state in a place where they had a ‘school of friendship’, but it still had some weird connotations. Wasn’t it a little bit racist (or speciesist?) to say whether or not some creature had ‘reformed’ based on the way they looked? Then again, a world of magic and friendship probably didn’t have the same standards as Earth, even in spite of the implications.
“But also so I can even go into that town, Ponyville, without…” He let the sentence hang unfinished. He didn’t have to say he didn’t want to get overwhelmed and freak out because of his senses, did he?
“Without having a panic attack,” Reece finished for him anyway. Yeah. That.
The small dragon shrugged like he didn’t really care either way. “Okay, I guess,” Spike told them. “I guess that means we have to take the backway to the school, unless anypony knows how to teleport?” He looked between he, Denver, and Reece, waiting for a reply before shrugging again. “I guess not,” he said firmly. “Let's go.”
Interesting. So then everyone in his family could do magic, minus his mother. Things were starting to make a little more sense.
Spike the dragon led them out of the castle, with his mother in the lead and Denver and Barney in the back, his little sister paging through the book she was reading as they walked. Thornton considered shapeshifting into something else while they stepped through and out of the castle, but decided against it. Between the tiny dragon, angry kirin, and plethora of girls he'd met and seen up to this point, there weren't any good options. A quick test to look like the unicorn Denver was now for a few minutes revealed the same thing as yesterday. It felt pretty icky being a girl. Dumb black bug was what he had to stick with for now.
“What are the Dragon Lands?” Reece asked, Thornton of course knowing the question was coming before it was spoken. “I mean, obviously dragons would live there, like how the equines live in Equestria. But what is it?”
“It's basically a bunch of huge volcanoes,” Spike said from the front. “I go there all the time now to visit Smolder. Most of the dragons I know live there. That was why it was weird to see a dragon here in Ponyville. There aren't really any, except for me.” He turned around to their mother and shrugged, saying, “It's still pretty weird.”
He felt the discomfort from his mother floating off of her as she shifted her wings while Reece asked more questions. Thornton hurried forward to walk closer to her, closing his eyes as he did. As easy as reading emotions was, there was a little bit more work that had to be put in to decipher exactly what someone was thinking.
“It is pretty weird that you're a dragon, Mom,” Thornton told her. “We're all, like, quadrupedal, and you're still bipedal. You're probably the most different out of everyone. But it's not like it's bad.”
She chuckled lightly at that. “I don't think it's weird or bad– not in that way anyway. It's only different.” Then she said, “I was just worried if we were going to change back when we get home. I obviously can't be a dragon there, and the rest of you can't be what you are either.”
Ah. Yeah, that made sense. It was a little tough piecing it all together, what she was thinking, especially with other creatures around. Or maybe that was just his parents, since he couldn't really do it with his father either. We're Reece's emotions just that obvious? And Twilight Sparkle's, too? Maybe he'd do a test with Denver later.
The changeling kind of hoped it wouldn't be a skill he'd have time to learn to use because they'd be back on Earth as human beings. He didn't forget about his hunger, not for a second. How could he?
The path they went down was the same as yesterday, but this time, Spike led them on a different fork in the road, one that he explained went around the town. It was a longer walk, but Thornton didn't mind, so long as he wasn't assaulted by an entire town's emotions. Even from out here, he was starting to pick up faint whiffs drifting into his senses.
“Just take a breath,” Reece was suddenly saying next to him as his mother put a wing on his back. “You're not in any danger. It only seems scary.” Thornton didn't even notice his breathing was starting to pick up again, this time in anticipation of being overcome with all the emotions. Reece’s voice helped once again though, even if it sounded a bit like he was speaking to a small child. Where did his older brother learn that skill?
“I'm fine for now,” he assured the two of them. “Let's just keep going. And yes, I'll tell you if I need to stop.”
“The School of Friendship is a few miles past the town,” Spike told them, “so you shouldn't have any problems, I don't think. We're about halfway there.”
The bug nodded, and closed his eyes again, now opting to let the stream of the small purple dragon’s emotions be his guide. He would've hated having to rely on his family so much the last few days, but their affection and sympathy were very tasty to dine on. He couldn't complain that much. Not about that particular aspect anyway.
In a little while, they passed the town to their left as the path snaked through trees and past creeks and bushes and other animals. It was another nice day out here, with a few puffy clouds that occasionally blocked the sun as… ponies pushed them? That's what it seemed like overhead. Ponies with wings soared through the sky, pushing the clouds into position and shaping them as they saw fit, sometimes making them bigger and other times making them disintegrate into nothing but air. They were close enough overhead that he could catch glimpses of their emotions, too. They controlled the weather. Like humans on Earth tried to do, but in real life.
How deep did the society of this world run? He understood why Reece was curious. Thornton was a little curious now, too. Ponies who controlled the weather and physically raised the sun, magic, countries named after the creatures who lived there; it was much more interesting than American History was, he could say that much.
And a school, presumably a college, that seemed only to teach about ‘friendship’. Thornton couldn’t imagine having such a place exist on Earth. Just like the castle, it was purple, although this place wasn't made of crystal. Instead, it looked more like a mansion, constructed of wood, presumably, with towers and flags and a star-like symbol situated on the front side of the building. Had he seen that symbol on Twilight Sparkle's side? Thornton couldn't remember.
There were mountains behind it, and it had a walkway over a lake leading up to the front entrance. No creature stood on it though; there were around thirty to forty people scattered around the grounds, walking around and taking it in, like they were window shopping. Contemplating sending their kids to this academy, probably. Most were impressed, and a few were indifferent. Just like always, each hit his senses uniquely, Thornton able to pick out each one's emotions separately and distinctly. 
He closed his eyes and took a small breath. This many intelligent creatures wasn't fun, but it wasn't like an entire town of creatures’ emotions descending on him like before.
And Barney was glaring up at him, like Thornton was saying he wasn't an intelligent creature. The dog definitely has the same sort of power as he did, but that didn't surprise him. Animals were like that.
I wonder if I could actually talk to him like this? Thornton wondered silently. That would’ve been interesting.
“I think Thorax is still outside with Starlight Glimmer and the yaks,” Spike explained. Then he gave Thornton a once over, and continued, “I might change into a pony or something if I were you. Creatures here can be afraid of unreformed changelings.”
Thornton had to let out a long sigh at that. Of course they would be. He looked like an insect had its legs and wings attacked with a hole puncher. He didn't even have his own voice anymore.
“It'll be fine,” his mother said quickly, before even Reece could get his thoughts spoken. “I'm sure they'll be nice, if this is supposed to be a school of friendship. I'm sure they won't have any issue with you at all, sweetie.”
Yeah, right. The only thing his mother's uselessly positive attitude was good for was that sweet, delicious affection and sympathy that she sent his way.