“Ma, why does brother and me have fangs, and you have fangs, but Pa doesn’t?” Sombra sat in front of his mother as she chuckled warmly and smiled. Sombra was on a roll with strange questions, having already asked where air came from.
“Oh, that’s simple my dear, it’s because I’m not a Crystal Pony.” The mother flicked her tail against Sombra’s side, and he whined slightly as he swiped it away.
“If you’re not a Crystal Pony, what are you Ma?” Sombra tilted his head as his mother frowned slightly, and then breathed in.
“Well, I guess you had to find out someday,” she spoke, and her horn glowed green for a moment. Suddenly, she was enveloped in green fire, and when it vanished, the form of a Changeling Queen with similar features was looking down at her son.
“A Changeling? But, that means I’m.” Sombra, wide eyed and in shock, watched a black hoof calmly direct his attention into his mother’s eyes.
“Yes my son, you are half-Changeling, as is your brother.” With another flash of green fire, the mother returned to normal, and gave her son a sad smile. Sombra’s brother has been less than happy about the news, thinking it made him no longer a pure blood Prince. It was nonsensical, but she did allow him to pretend he was adopted, if only to make him happy.
“I understand if this means you don’t like me anymore, but I ask you to not hold a grudge against my race.” Biting her lip, the mother looked out the door, mind musing on the Prince.
“So that secret language is actually…” Sombra trailed off, and the mother nodded.
“Changeling, yes.” The mother turned her attention to Sombra, and realised he didn’t seem frightened by the news, just surprised.
“So the reason I have fangs, is because of my blood. What else did I gain from you?” Sombra looked curiously at his mother, and a warm smile fell on her face when she realised that fact.
“I am not sure my son, but I do know one thing I can teach you that may help, should you run into a problem that you can’t tell your father about. He doesn’t especially like Changelings you see, but he does know who I truly am. It was an arranged marriage.” The mother felt open relief as Sombra nodded, and shuffled closer. He was such a smart colt, and his magic could not be stronger. Being showered by love from birth had helped him grow to impressive strengths.
“This may be a little jarring at first, I am going to connect you to the hive mind. You’ll be able to do this yourself any time you want my son, but I will stay right beside you the first time” The mother lowered her horn, glowing green, and gently touched it to her son’s horn, teaching him the spell. Closing her eyes, she then sent them both into the hive mind.
The hive detected the moment a new consciousness entered, and slowly swarmed around the form. It began to let off spikes of fear until one consciousness curled gently around it. Still quaking, it huddled against that consciousness as the curiosity pushed against them. After a moment, the hive rolled over into happiness, and welcomed the new mind into it. Giving the mind some room to get comfortable, the hive retreated slightly, and the new mind slowly approached.
The hive celebrated the new mind, wrapped around it, encouraging it while it traded information. The new mind’s curiosity overrode fear, and soon the hive was sharing history, life stories of their cover, and magic. Eventually, the older mind dragged the new mind away, and the hive bid farewell, swarming the new mind with a feeling of belonging, just before they faded from the hive.
Opening her eyes, the mother smiled warmly as tears of open joy rolled down Sombra’s face. Bringing her son into a hug, she nodded.
“That’s right son, you will always belong to a hive, no matter how the world views you. Just as you will always belong to me, and always be my son.” After a moment, she let Sombra go as he looked to her, quickly wiping away the tears.
“Why do ponies hate Changelings Ma?” Sitting down, Sombra tilted his head. The mother smiled sadly and looked toward the door.
“Ponies fear what they can’t control, what can be anyone at any time. They fear us, and so they hate us.” The mother looked the Prince in the eyes as he glared daggers at her, and stormed away from the door. Sombra dived into his mother arms, nuzzling her.
“Don’t worry Ma, I promise never to be afraid of Changelings. In fact.” Sombra stepped away and beamed proudly, striking a heroic pose.
“I’ll rid fear from this Empire! That way Changelings can live happily here as well.” Sombra was pulled into a hug as his mother chuckled, knowing he meant every word.
“My dear, fear is an important emotion, it makes us wise to the dangers of the world. But I would very much like to see the world you envision, it would be a day come true.” The mother quickly wiped away the tear from her eyes, and looked down at her proud son. As very softly, barely a whisper in the hive mind, she dared to hope.
“It will Ma!” Sombra nodded, determined, and then turned to head out the door. Waving goodbye with a smile, the mother waved back. Turning, Sombra nearly walked into the Prince, who had a very strange look on his face. It was a smile, but a very weird one. Sombra bowed once in greeting, and continued on his way.
’I wonder if brother knows we’re half-Changeling. Oh! I wonder if I should tell Tia and Moon! No, I’ll save it as a surprise for when my brother’s Empire is free of most hate.’ Sombra bounced down the path merrily. He failed to notice his brother slink into his mother’s room. Sombra walked over to his desk and carefully moved his homework toward one side, and began to draw.
“I’ll make you proud Ma, watch me.”