//------------------------------//
// ...I Have A Dream... 
// Story: Together And Equal…? 
// by Wolfe and WindSilver 
//------------------------------//

Mask

"Alright class," Mr. Silver Bell said. "Today is going to be a bit of a review. As well as a test to see which of my students pay attention in class, as opposed to doodling and writing on napkins."

There was a quick burst of laughter throughout the room as most of the class looked towards the embarrassed looking, grey pegasus to my left.

"Anyway," continued Mr. Bell, regaining the classes attention. "Let's start with the basics."

"Magic, like any activity, requires energy. And depending on what race you are your magic releases itself differently."

Or species, I thought.

"Who wants to tell me how the races of Equestria use magic?" he asked, drawing a pony from each race on the board

Somepony waved a hoof in the air, wildly trying to get Mr. Silver Bell's attention. He seemed surprised that somepony actually wanted to answer the question. He grabbed a piece of chalk with his brown aura before calling on her. "Yes, Field Rose?"

"Well, earth ponies are the strongest of the three races, and the only race that can grow food and flowers," the pink mare said excitedly.

"The only race?" Mr. Silver Bell asked as he began writing.

"Okay, maybe not the only race," She admitted, deflating slightly. "But," she continued, perking up again. "Definitely the best at growing plants. Our magic makes sure that anything we need to grow gets big, strong, and lively. Without earth ponies, all of Equestria would starve."

"Ha!"

Mr. Silver Bell turned towards the bark of laughter. "Do you disagree with Field Rose, Stormbringer?"

The electric-blue pegasus grinned. "Well, she's not wrong about the whole growing thing. But earth ponies aren't the only ones to thank for the food in Equestria."

Said earth pony glared at him. "And who is?" she asked. "You?"

He stuck out his tongue at her. "Who do you think makes sure that your crops get rain? And sun?"

She opened her mouth to reply, paused, and closed it as she turned around in her seat. Obviously sulking.

"Pegasi have latent weather magic," The colt continued. "Meaning that we can manipulate a lot of the weather. Which is also why we can walk on clouds. Our magic makes the clouds denser when we get close to them."

"Correct again," Mr. Silver Bell said, adding the description to the blackboard. "Now, who wants to explain the arcane ways of the mystical unicorn?" He asked, waving the chalk, in his magical grip, around dramatically

"Unicorns channel their magic through their horns," said the grey pegasus to my left. He was probably attempting to prove that he had paid attention in the class, at least a bit. "Which is why they tire more easily than earth ponies or pegasi. Because their magic has a more active use than either of the other races."

"Correct," he said. He added to the board as he continued, "Unicorns channel their inner magic through their horns. Allowing them to accomplish feats that no other race can accomplish. Some spells allow a mimicry of the magic of other races. However using this magic is much more taxing on unicorns than either earth or pegasi ponies."

"Brainiac," He called over his shoulder. Said purple mare raised her head from the notes that she'd been recording. "Let's hear straight from a unicorn. How do we achieve mastery of spells?"

"It usually comes down to three things," she said. She twirled her quill in her magic. "Understanding, execution, and practice. First you need to understand what it is that a spell does. Not simply the effects of the spell, but what it can do to you as well as whatever you are casting it on. Then you need to cast it. Which is much more difficult than it sounds. Most unicorns cause small scale destruction the first time that a spell is cast. And finally, you have to practice it as much as possible until you are fully confident that you can use it at any time." She returned to scribbling her notes.

Mr. Silver Bell nodded. "Exactly," he said as he added to the growing mass of text on the board. He turned back towards the class once he'd finished. "Now, how ab-"

He stopped short, noticing the hoof of the colt on my left. "Yes, Wolfe?"

"What about changelings?" he asked.

I felt my blood run cold. The class went silent. 

Just when I thought that I could make it through the day completely invisible. So much for staying under the radar.

The class was looking at me. The entire class. Glaring, glancing, and staring at me. Judging me. Why did he have to say something? I asked silently. I was perfectly fine with being ignored.

"It's just," He continued. "We've talked about the magic of the three pony races. But what about Changeling magic? What do we know about that?"

"Honestly, nothing," Mr. Silver Bell replied. "I shouldn't say 'nothing'," He back-tracked. "We know of their ability to transform. Either creating a new alias or mimicking that of a pony. And they have the ability to extract energy by draining love. There are a lot of mysteries to solve on that species and no one is sure where to begin unraveling them."

"You could start by asking."

Who said that? I questioned. I glanced around, searching for the location of the voice. Why is everyone looking at me again? I wondered. My ears dropped a bit as realization washed over me. ...I said that didn't I?

I felt like applying a nice cold hoof to my face.

"Very well then. Mask Roles, would you mind filling in the gaps in our knowledge on changeling magic." He stood poised with the chalk.

I hesitated. "W-well. Uh..." I cleared my throat. "Changelings are a balance between the three races. We're normally stronger than unicorns and pegasi, have the flight that eludes both earth ponies and unicorns, and we can channel magic."

"We can't achieve the levels that any race has mastered however. We don't have the stamina or speed of a pegasus." I gestured at Wolfe. "Or the strength of an earth pony." I gestured towards Field Rose. "And we definitely can't achieve the mastery of spells like a unicorn," I finished as I turned back to our teacher who was still recording what I'd said. I glanced around the room while he continued writing. The most studious of students were busy taking notes on my explanation. While the more judgmental kept their focus everywhere except me. However, most of the room was silent. Too silent for me to judge how they felt about the direction the discussion had taken.

Finally, Mr. Silver Bell stepped away from the blackboard. In the center of the three ponies, he'd added a, surprisingly, well drawn representation of a changeling. As well as the information I'd given him. "Anything else?"

"Like you mentioned earlier, we have, or had, the ability to disguise ourselves as ponies, or creating an alternate identity for ourselves. And we intake love as a source of energy."

"Would you mind giving us a demonstration?" He interrupted, adding those last details before turning to face me again. "Of the transformation, not the love absorption."

I nodded, reluctantly, and closed my eyes. Focusing on the identity that I'd created after crossing the line between the hive and Equestria. Seeing the colors and shapes in my mind. Cobalt coat. Green and lilac mane and tail. The wings, just above average size. Forest green eyes. And the masks that would adorn my flank.

In a flash of green flames, my body shifted. Fur sprouted, hair grew, and my horn receded into my head. Feathers covered the membrane of my wings. My fangs retracted, my muzzle shifted, all while my eyes gained pupils and shifted in color. When the transformation was complete I lifted my head. I expected to see either revulsion, fear, or hate.

That, however was mostly absent. Buried beneath my classmates piqued curiosity

"Why didn't you become one of us?" Field Rose asked me.

"Well for one thing, I have this stopping me." I pointed to the medallion that still hung around my neck. The one thing that couldn't transform with me. Branding me as a changeling for every minute that I wore it. "It limits my magic, it restricts the amount of love I can absorb at one time, and it only allows me to take the form that I created when my family became citizens."

"Secondly," I added. "Most ponies find it invasive for one of us to transform into one of you. So I wouldn't do that even if I didn't have my charm."

"How does the love siphoning work?" asked Wolfe.

I winced a bit at his word choice. He made it sound so criminal. Okay, maybe to ponies it would seem a bit wrong, I admitted.

"Usually, changelings take the place of a family member. A friend. Or, what do you call it, a special some-pony? They feed off of the love that ponies direct at them. Ponies, of course, are unaware of the deception, and continue to directly feed the changeling. That type of feeding is passive and holds no ill effects on the pony involved."

"I guess that means changelings can't love each other." I scowled as Stormbringer's muttered comment got a few laughs from the ponies I'd already labelled as judgmental.

"Changelings don't have the capacity to radiate positive emotions like ponies do," I retorted as I once again assumed my natural form.

"So changelings can consume feelings other than love?" asked Braniac who furiously scribbled even while she asked the question.

"Yes, we can consume most positive emotions. Love. Affection. Friendship. Lust." There was much giggling, blushing, and laughing at the end of my answer.

"So what you're saying is," began Stormbringer, forcing me to glare in his direction. His tone suggested that he was either going to be extremely offensive, or extremely dirty minded. Or possibly both.

"Stormbringer," Mr. Silver Bell cut in. "If this is another interruption to give us more insight into your close-minded and offensive head, then you can expect to spend the rest of the week in this room after school."

He wisely decided to keep his muzzle shut.

"Now, Mask, if this is a subject that you'd rather not broach then I understand. But I'm curious to know about the draining that took place during the attack on Canterlot. That seemed much more aggressive. Prince Shining Armor was weakened to the point where he couldn't cast a single spell."

Before I could make an excuse, the bell rang. I sighed in relief as I packed my supplies into my saddle bag.

"Alright class, no homework tonight. But be prepared for further discussion when we come back tomorrow. Mask, can I see you for a minute?"

And even the almighty bell does not have enough power to save me.

I slowly approached the desk. Mr. Silver Bell removed his glasses and massaged his forehead before sighing deeply.

"First of all," he said after a brief silence. "I'd like to apologize for Stormbringer's attitude. He's been rowdy lately, but I've never seen him so blatantly disrespectful."

"It's nothing I can't handle," I assured him.

"Regardless, you are a student of mine. And I will see to it that you are treated with the same amount of respect as any of the others.

Says the stallion who ignored the fact that he could have asked me about my kind instead of dodging around the subject.

"And I hope you understand that I wasn't trying to ignore you," he went on. "I simply didn't want to put you on the spot on your first day. I'd planned to ask if you minded sharing some things. But now that's not necessary." He gestured to the board, and the one unanswered question on it.

Okay, okay. I take it back universe.

He paused again. Hoping that I would answer it for him. When I remained silent, he sighed again. "As I said, I understand. If you ever have an answer for me, I would be grateful."

I nodded and took a step back. He took the hint. "Yes, you can go. I'd hate for you to miss a class on your first day."

I headed for the door, stopping only when he called my name. "Good luck," he said.





The next two classes passed by fairly quickly, and weren't nearly as engaging as my first. However I expected as much from Gardening, which was basically a class full of social groups. My group consisted of myself and a sunflower. And Weather Control, which I only took to learn the signs and types of weather one could expect in Equestria, (I still have no idea what this snow thing is.) Before I knew it, the time for lunch had rolled around. While love was necessary to sustain my life; food was necessary to sustain my body.

I joined the line of ponies who piled on hay fries, dandelion sandwiches, apples, oranges, and the like. A feast compared to what we ate in the hive. As I levitated an apple and a sandwich onto my tray I noticed one of the lunch mares glaring at me. I tried to ignore it, instead figuring out the total in my head as I picked up a glass of apple juice. All together I would owe six bits. And if I got the same lunch everyday then I would need thirty bits for the week. Something to tell Mom.

I made it to the cash register, and handed over my bits. The mare wiped her hooves on a dishrag before accepting them. Before I could walk away she said, "That'll be ten bits."

"What?" I asked, confused.

She folded her forelegs. "Ten bits," she repeated. I glanced at the sign, ready to point out the price on it, when I noticed that she had laid the rag just over the price value for each item. She place her foreleg on top, smirking at me. "Is there a problem, bug?"

It took all of my will power to not fling the four bits in her face. Muttering to myself, I began to look for an open table. As I approached potential spots, bags suddenly appeared. Trays were placed in the way. Limbs were stretched out. Whispers began. I gave up on finding any table with company, and set my sights for the empty tables at the back of the lunchroom.

As I made my way over, I noticed a grey hoof waving in what seemed to be my direction. Figuring that I had nothing to lose, except more of my dignity, I changed course. Eventually, I came into the sight of the pegasus and unicorn from my first class, Wolfe and Braniac, as well as a large yellow coated earth pony, and a grey coated bicorn.

"Hey!" Wolfe greeted.

"Hi," I said slowly. 

There was a half-second pause before he forged ahead. "I was just wondering if you wanted to sit with us."

I glanced at the faces surrounding the table. The earth pony seemed suspicious, but not openly hostile, while the bicorn gave me a slightly subdued smile. Brainiac turned my way, chewing on a carrot, and nodded to the space next to her.

I hesitated for a moment. They seemed like good company, and I preferred to not sit alone. "Alright," I agreed, seating myself beside Brainiac.

"That's Spot Weld," Wolfe told me, pointing at the yellow coated and short, curly, and purple maned earth pony.  "And this is Temporal Tune," He pointed to the grey bicorn with the darker purple mane, styled to the side, and light purple highlights. I only noticed he had orange stripes on his body when he raised a hoof in greeting. "Of course you already know Brainiac," he added, pointing at the purple coated mare. Her mane and tail were darker toned than her body, with dark pink at the spiky ends of her mane and tip of her tail. I nodded to each of them in greeting. 

"Why aren't you purple?" I asked the pegasus with good-natured sarcasm. His coat was a light grey while his fiery two tone mane was nearer to black with blue roots. He ran a hoof through his hair. "Silver and blue is the only color for this colt," He replied, chuckling. I smiled back, but focused on eating while they resumed the conversation they'd been having. 

"Look, I'm not saying that I'm Batpone," Wolfe said. "All I'm saying is that no one's ever seen me in the same room as him."

"I've also never seen you in the same room as Wonder Mare," responded the bi-corn, smugly. "Something you'd like to share, Wolfe?"

Wolfe glared at the pony opposite of him. "I hate you, Tempest."

The others laughed at what I could only guess were regular antics between the two.

As the conversation continued, I found my attention drifting. 

"Why is he even here?"

I turned my ears toward the whispers but made no other indication that I was eavesdropping. The muttered conversation came from the table behind me.

"They know what his kind did, and they let him in here?"

"Give it a few days, he'll find out he's not welcome. And if he doesn't then we'll show him."

Next was the table to my right.

"Can you believe that they even let him go to our school. Why don't they just make a school for his species and stuff them all in there."

"Why even give him a school, all he's gonna do is use everything against us. That's all they ever do."

I polished off the last of my lunch. I didn't want to hear anymore.

"Thanks guys," I said when their chat lulled. I tried to keep my voice upbeat. "This was better then sitting alone." 

"No problem," Wolfe replied. "You're welcome here any time." I received nods from the other members of the table.

"I appreciate it. But for now I think I'll head to the library and check out what kind of books they have." I lifted my tray in a field of energy. Giving them a quick wave, I set off. Ignoring the glares I got from the tables adjacent to me.





Wolfe

"You can stop looking at his flank anytime now."

I felt my face heat up as I whipped around. "What are you talking about?" I asked Brainy. My reaction immediately set off the laughter of Spot Weld and Tempest. 

"It was pretty obvious, Wolfe," she responded. Her face displayed the mirth that she held back. "I'm surprised that you could concentrate on the conversation at all."

I turned towards my food indignantly. I admitted to myself that he wasn't bad looking. But I'd hardly looked at him.

"So that's why you invited him over here?" asked Tempest. "You sly dog."

"Ha ha," I responded sarcastically. That was not the reason at all. I just didn't think he needed to sit alone. Besides, I wanted to make sure that he wouldn't get attacked or something by himself. I read the newspaper this morning.

"Might want to adjust your wings. They seem a bit happy."

I grabbed my bag and tray, using the strap of the former to restrain my wings, eager to get away from the table.

"Library?" questioned Spot Weld.

"Maybe," I replied. I realized what that sounded like and hurriedly explained myself. "To find Click Clack!" I added, referring to the missing member of our little group. 

"Sure you are." I glared at the bi-corn.

"I'll come with," said Spot Weld. He grabbed his own bag and tray

"Have fun," Tempest called after us. "But not too much fun." 

I was tempted to toss my half-eaten apple at his face. He'll probably catch it and send it back, I argued to myself. I satisfied myself with the knowledge of the secrets I knew about him. Then I spent the rest of the walk trying, desperately, to figure out what secrets existed. I sighed when I came up with nothing.

"Hey," Spot said, nudging my shoulder. "Look."

I followed his hoof. I found Click working on his laptop, no surprise there. The surprise came from the changeling sitting next to him.

Why does the universe just love to make my life difficult? I thought as I pulled my bags straps just the tiniest bit tighter.








Mask

I gazed at the stack of books beside me. It stood a good two inches higher than my horn. "Okay, maybe I should put a few back," I admitted. After choosing the books I wouldn't die without reading, I searched for a table to sit at. Expecting the lunchroom scenario again, I was a bit surprised when the first pony I asked agreed to let me sit with him. Provided that I didn't bother his work. The blue unicorn typed away, furiously, at the laptop in front of him. Suddenly he sighed in exasperation.

"No, no, no," He repeated as he tapped away at the backspace key. "It wouldn't make any sense having Soarin' killed off this early. Maybe I can use Vinyl? She's one of the few pony who keeps spirits up. But I was saving that one to help plunge everyone into despair. Maybe I need a new motive."

He groaned, then looked at me. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know the game Dangan Ronpa would you?"

"Yes?"

"What do you think would have been a good motive to include?" He asked.

I thought for a moment. "If Monokuma had caused them all some type of physical pain," I said. "And promised relief only after a murder occurred. I feel like that would drive some ponies mad enough to kill."

He nodded. "I like it, but would pain be enough?"

I shrugged. "Depends on the type of pain. A loose tooth can cause the biggest headache possible. Imagine that for days."

"Ooh, I need to write that down," He tapped away at his keyboard. "Thanks by the way. I'm Click Clack, famous author extraordinaire." He raised a hoof in the air and struck a pose. He must have seen the look of confusion on my face, because he lowered it to his short brown mane a moment later. "In a few years anyway," he added, laughing.

I chuckled as well. "I'm Mask Roles, professional actor," I stated proudly. Then I added, "In a few years."

"Well, when they make my books into movies, I'll be sure to give you a call." He extended a hoof towards me.

I smiled at him. "I'll be there," I said, bumping hooves with him.








Wolfe

"We can't just barge over there," I argued. "It's rude."

"Uh huh."

"Besides, what if they're talking about something important, we'd be a nuisance," I tried.

"Yep."

"The why are we still walking over there?" I asked.

"Reasons."

I sighed. "Is this because he's a changeling?"

He shrugged.

"What? Do you think he'll drain Click in broad daylight? With everyone watching him?"

He shrugged again.

I would have responded, but the two had just noticed us approaching. "At least be civil," I murmured.

"Sure," he assured me.

Click greeted us as we approached. "Hey guys." He gestured towards Mask. "This is-"

"We've met," interrupted Spot Weld as he sat himself between the two. "You wanted to show me something?" he asked Click.

Real civil, Spot. When I was sure that neither of the other two were paying any attention, I apologized for his bluntness. "Sorry about him. It's not a personal thing."

"Don't worry about it," Mask said. He glanced at his schedule. "I've got to get going anyway. My next class is on the other side of the building."

"Is it advanced flying? I've got that too. We can go together." I made to stand up.

"Actually, I think I'd rather go alone," he said. Crushing my hopes at spending some time with him. "Need to learn my way around the school sometime right? I'll see you there." He levitated the books in front of him back onto the shelf before he left. My wings shifted a bit as I watched him leave.

I sighed after he had gone.

"Yeah," Click said from behind his laptop. "You've got it bad."

"Shut up!"








Mask

"Nothing personal," I repeated to myself. "Nothing personal? Of course not! Thinking bad of me, because of what mistakes members of my kind made in the past, is 'nothing personal' at all. No, I say that everypony should expect the worst from me." 

"Hide your foals," I said loudly. "Hide your mares, and hide your stallions too because we're draining everypony out here." I was grateful that no one was around to hear my rant. For all I know, somepony would have used it to prove that changelings were still "evil".

I huffed and looked at my schedule again. Advanced flying was room 204, the gymnasium. Hopefully I could blow off a bit of steam there. But not with these wings, I thought as I shed my true skin in favor of more powerful, and feathered, wings. I dropped my bags in the locker room before I took a look at the spacious gym. It was pretty constricted for a pegasus, but I supposed that it was good enough to give us students a workout. A few clouds drifted around, most seemed to act as platforms, targets, or obstacles.

"The gym is off limits until class starts, or a sporting event is taking place," Someone said from behind me.

"Sorry," I said, turning around. "It's my first time and I just-" I stopped short, noticing  Stormbringer for the first time.

"You just what, bug? Thought that no one would see you sneaking in here?" He flapped his way into my personal space.

"No," I replied calmly. "I was-"

"Scoping the place out? Trying to hide so you could attack us normal ponies?" He shoved me, making me falter in my footing.

"All you bugs ever do is look for ways to get us to trust you," He shoved me again. This time, however, I was ready, and was able to hold firm.

"Look," I growled, taking a step forward. "I didn't come here to get harassed by some jerk pegasus who thinks he raises the sun!"

"Well I didn't come to school to sit next to some disgusting changeling," he retorted.

"Tough," I shot back.

He raised a hoof but, before he could strike, a second voice rang out. 

"What in Luna's name are you two doing?"

Immediately, Stormbringer dropped to the ground. "Nothing, sir," He said, sickeningly innocent. "Just telling the changeling that the gym's closed until class starts."

At that exact moment, the bell rang. Signalling the beginning of class. I grinned cheekily at Stormbringer.

Much later, I hobbled from the gym, sore everywhere. Coach Hard Abs refused to let me use my pegasus form for flying. He said that I should build the muscles on my real body and not take the shortcut of transformation. I tried to explained to him that no matter which form I trained in my muscle definition would increase proportionately. The only advantage I would have was the feathered wings. 

Unfortunately, he assumed that I was talking out of my... abs. Then he gave me an extra twenty laps around the gym. Meanwhile, Stormbringer took every opportunity to either crash into me, or bump me into a cloud. And the heckling continued non-stop. Strangely, Wolfe seemed to be avoiding me. I assumed it was to save face in front of his athletic peers, something I couldn't blame him for. I'd probably do the same thing in his horseshoes.

I skipped the after class shower for a number of reasons. Eagerness to get to my drama class being at the top of the list. My second reason was that I wouldn't have the self control needed to keep my hormones in check while surrounded by somewhat attractive stallions. After gym class. In the shower. The third reason was lower on my list of worries. Stormbringer. I was confident that I could hold my own against him. But why stoke the flames unless I wanted a forest fire? I refused to admit that the earlier newspaper affected my reasoning in any way. Besides, it wasn't as if anypony would have believed that I was being harassed by a pegasus.

The school "lost" my paperwork, which is why I'd started two weeks into the first quarter. Luckily for me, Ms. Thespian was still doing the "get to know you" thing that most teachers do during the first week of school. So I hadn't missed much.

I can't explain why, but acting has always been something I've loved. Some found it freeing to show the world who you are. To "be yourself". I find it freeing to pretend. To imagine yourself as someone or something else. To seal off all of your imperfections in an instant, and assign yourself a new identity. My hive designation was an infiltrator. I would have lived most of my life as a pony, pretending that I belonged. Pretending that I was no different from the rest of them. Sometimes, I wonder if I would have been happier doing that. Living a lie that kept me happy.

When school finally ended for the day, I found myself actually pleased to go home. I'd had enough of the stares, and glares, to last me the week. The silent sanctuary of home was feeling very welcome at the moment. With a quick buzz of my wings, I took off. Canterlot streets passed by me in a blur. The newspaper story I read earlier came unbidden to my mind, and I hurried my fight just a bit. When I finally arrived home, I found that the newspaper was still on the table. I stared at it for a moment, tempted to finish the story. But instead I threw it into the recycling bin. I didn't need to read about a life I was already living.






Shameless Signal Boost. 

CC's story can be found over here. It's an awesome story, and the more people who read it, the more people who can yell at him to get the next chapter out. Come check it out