Cloud’s snout was deep into The Art of Storm, a book about weather patterns and how to manipulate them for the best results. In the past six hours since he got home he’d already read three of the books Twilight had loaned him.
Any pegasus could probably just fly up and move a cloud if they tried but if he was going to do it professionally he’d best know what he was doing. He was studying like crazy and he felt he may have the basics down. He wouldn't know for sure until he got a real chance to try it.
He had just finished a section on dealing with hail storms when he heard the arrival of the house’s main two residents, Sunny and Serenity were back from their weather shifts. A look up at the clock revealed it was now 6:15 p.m.; they were supposed to get out over an hour earlier. As the door opened the response from both of them said everything.
“Unbelievable,” Serenity moaned. “We were 45 minutes late on that rainstorm to Jerkwater today. We haven’t been that far behind on a storm arrival in four months.”
“Even the best fall behind sometimes,” Sunny Rays said. “You were short staffed; you didn’t have much of a chance.”
“I guess it goes without saying that was a rough day at the office,” Cloud said.
“Yeah, we had a timing issue,” Sunny said. “And as Serenity said it’s right up your alley too because it involved Jerkwater.”
“We had a rainstorm come out of the Everfree unexpectedly yesterday but it initially just went harmlessly into Ghastly Gorge so it wasn’t a problem,” Serenity said. “We scheduled it for a move up to Jerkwater but fell way behind because a fog bank of factory runoff from Cloudsdale rolled in before we got there. We sent Blue Skies ahead to clear that but that meant Drizzle had to be pulled off the Everfree watch to replace him and Raindrops had to come off cloud moving to Appaloosa to replace her and so on. With all of the changes we fell behind. That storm to Jerkwater was late, the clouds to Appaloosa were late, and Rainbow was not pleased.”
“Yikes,” Cloud responded. “Well everyone has off days.”
“There’s a reason our staffing numbers need to increase,” Serenity said. “But it’s hard to hire right now with the Cash for Sun scandal taking all the talent.”
“Speaking of hiring, how’s the crash course going Cloud?” Sunny asked.
“So far so good,” the former changeling responded. “I’m through a few books already. Dare I say I’m ready for a little rudimentary practice.”
“Well, I guess we’ll have to test you tomorrow,” Serenity said as he plopped down on the couch for a moment. “Before all the hassles I got clearance to put you on some minor cloud popping duties by the Everfree tomorrow afternoon. Time to find out how many clouds can Cloud Breaker break if Cloud Breaker can break clouds.”
Sunny chuckled a little at that, Cloud didn’t. Serenity decided to change the topic
“I could use a bite to eat,” Serenity said. “Anyone up for some Lijiang-style stir fry?”
“Sounds good to me,” Sunny said as Serenity hovered off toward the kitchen.
After he left Cloud continued the conversation.
“So you found a stallion who can cook huh?” he asked Sunny.
“Yup, he’s a keeper,” Sunny said with a smile.
Cloud smiled along with her, he could not ask for nicer ponies to room with… Incredibly nice ponies… even after what he did to them. Suddenly he began to wonder why they took him back; the books could wait a minute or two.
“Sunny can I ask you a question?” Cloud asked.
“I don’t see why not,” Sunny said. “It takes a few minutes to make that stir fry.”
“Why are you two helping me so much after what I did what I was a changeling?” Cloud asked. “I betrayed your trust, I attacked Canterlot. What have I done to earn another chance? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you two gave me one but why?”
“Well part of it is I don’t have the heart to throw out a pony in need, former changeling or not,” Sunny said. “And the other part is I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want my friend Cloud back. When I got your letter Saturday and read it my kneejerk reaction was “I’d take any circumstance just to see Cloud’s smiling face alive again.” You’re story came apart a few moments later but for that instant I would have taken any option to see you again, I wasn’t expecting a changeling reveal but I guess I'll take it. The lies in your letter ticked me off a ton but I’d be lying if there wasn’t than an ounce of relief when you came back that night.”
Sunny looked at Cloud more directly.
“You being a changeling wasn’t a deal breaker to me judging by your prior actions,” Sunny said. “You’re not the first changeling I’ve interacted with after all.”
Cloud’s ears perked up at that.
“What?” he asked.
“It was a few years ago while Serenity still worked in Canterlot,” Sunny said. “We had a hiring freeze at the office but three new ponies showed up with real official-looking paperwork right from the top in Cloudsdale appointing them to office duty at our post. There were two mares and a stallion, all three of which were massive flirts. The stallion was actually kind of cute and I would dare say I befriended one of the mares. She hung out with Merry May and I one night, didn’t seem to know as much about weather as you’d expect but very friendly. Maybe a bit too friendly, she was really more aggressive in the romance area than you’d expect. I don’t swing that way but I still thought she could have been a good friend.”
Cloud somehow knew where this was headed.
“We found out the next day the stallion was a changeling,” Sunny said. “Thunderlane caught him with his disguise down in the locker room. Both the mares fled; all the evidence says they were changelings too. Never heard anything from either of them again, never saw that pony I thought could be my friend again.”
Cloud shrugged, it was protocol. He cut and run from a mission that went south the same way once. A changeling always had to have an escape route.
“Those changelings were looking into weather control, the one we caught was pretty unrepentant for his actions,” Sunny continued. “He got nailed on fraud and industrial espionage charges; did some time in a low-security Equestrian jail. He wasn’t a violent offender.”
Cloud knew that was often the fate of busted changelings. Being a changeling wasn’t a crime in Equestria, imponynating somepony you’re not or lying to gain access to private areas was.
“But you were a little different,” Sunny said. “You never flirted with me or Serenity during your time here. You could easily have just captured him and took his place or whatever changelings do but you didn’t. You just stood off the side and helped our relationship along. You must have legitimately cared a bit, that’s why you sent that letter wasn’t it?”
“I didn’t want you to worry about me,” Cloud responded.
Sunny thought back to the dinner table conversation and recognized that “worry about me” Cloud used instead of the “worry about Cloud” from earlier.
“Changelings drones aren’t just numbers right?” Sunny said. “I mean, you have personalities right?”
“Somewhat,” Cloud responded. “Most, myself included when I was still in the swarm, just obey the Queen and followed orders without questions. She thought the invasion of Equestria was best for us and everyone went along with it as we were ordered.”
“But now you don’t have to,” Sunny said. “An evil leader doesn’t mean everyone under her is evil too. Without her influence I think all you need is a little push in the right direction and you can become a great pony. You got a gift few ever do, a push of the reset button on your life.”
Cloud smiled at that. They believed in him and he could do this.
“I know you’re trying to make up for it but do you regret what you did in Canterlot?” Sunny asked.
“Yes,” Cloud responded. “To be honest part of the reason I did so poorly in that fight with the elements was because I was thinking of you two a tad. I was worried a bit… about my Ponyville friends.”
Sunny returned the smile now.
“You aren’t beyond redemption,” Sunny said. “No changeling is, transformed or not. I noticed nopony on either side died in that attack according to the papers. Serenity was a little rougher around the edges about you but he’s coming along. We want to see you win; just looking at that stack of books I know you have the will to do become a weather pony like you now want.”
Their conversation came to an end as the smell of a delicious stir fry lofted into the room.
“Dinner’s ready you two,” Serenity said. “You ponies want it fresh or you waiting for a feedbag?”
“Coming,” Sunny responded.
Cloud continued his pause from his studies long enough to have one of the best meals of his recent pony life then got back to the books. He continued to read into the night, he’d be ready for his test run tomorrow for sure.