What happens when a Changling Hive has lived in peace with a pony community, and the nymphs and foals have tons of adventures,? Well why don't you find out.
In another smaller Vanhoover, near the south of Equestria, lives and thrives a Changling Hive. The Hive and the Ponies, live openly with one another, and are at peace. The Hive Queen, Arlia was even the mayor for a term in Vanhoover. While this town seems quiet it hold many secrets long forgotten to many of it's citizens. As things change in Equestria they change in Vanhoover as well, now Crystal Ponies are moving to the little town, and a dragon seems to have take residence there as well. This story follows the lives of six friends, some of whom have have dark and horrible pasts, others gritty, and then some normal. though as they grow, they learn to not only love one another, but through the power of friendship, they over come their past and learn to live happy lives.
Disclaimer: This story is from a game played in the Giant in the Playground Forum. It is a combined work of Emperor Ing, DigoDragon, Bookmark88, Humble Master, (for the first couple Episodes) Kree West, and CavaliereDraghi. They use the MLP, RPiM SE3 system. With Changling and Dragon homebrew races. They do not claim to own My Little Pony, or its characters, this is simply for fun reading and free viewing. Logo was done by our own Emperor Ing.
Vanhoover, a small farming town with a population barely over 2000. Ponies work, ponies live, and ponies play as like any other town. Fillies and Colts go to school, artisans and merchants of all sorts practice their craft, and earth ponies (in addition to several unicorns and changlings) farm the fields with the aid of Pegasus weather teams.
Hold on a second... school?!
That's right, the weathered school bell tower shrugs off the summer dust as it rings in the new school year! Foals from all around the town awaken from their slumber and prepare for another semester. The school house had gained a new classroom addition this past summer to accommodate all the new expected students this year.
Unfortunately, the youngest ponies got that room. The older students, those that are at or nearing their first decade of age, remain assigned to one of the oldest rooms. While not in bad shape, it has an interesting history of rumors told from past students. Fillies/colts/nymphs/wyrmling slowly arrive and begin that timeless tradition of picking out a seat. Will they sit near the teacher? Or near their friends? Truly it is an endless struggle in the life of a student.
The classroom slowly was filled by an amalgam fillies, colts, and nymphs. None seeming to stretch the imagination of who may be in this town, at least not to those who live in it. Two well dressed colts seemed to stand out as they entered the class, one had a slicked back golden mane, and a very light coat almost white. The other, was light grey with a tightly trimmed black mane.
One colt who walked into the class room, seeming to be slightly scared of the new environment. He stuck out compared to the others in the class, given his coat. It glowed and shimmered like crystals. His color being a beautiful Turquoise, and his mane a messy pink. The colt not wanting to be the center of attention, moved to the farthest left desk of the class room, there he took a seat.
The next being of notice to enter this hollowed classroom, was a little Changling Nymph. Her carapace, was a dark Violet, nearing to black, but in the right light one could tell it wasn’t. From her head a white mane flowed down, and she was followed by a white tail, along with a set of violet bug like wings on her back. She entered the room almost as a ball of Anxiety and Nervousness. She looked slightly disappoint when she did not recognize anyone yet, so she took at seat near the far back right corner. However not the one furthest away.
Two foals entered next, an orange Pegasus, and a white Unicorn. While the Unicorn looked tired, the Pegasus that stayed with her looked confident. They both took seats in front of the classroom, but the Pegasus seemed to continually watch the Unicorn. Was there something wrong with the Unicorn, or did something happen between the two, time would tell. Close to these two an Earth pony filly grudgingly walked in.
She looked as if she just awaken from last night’s hibernation. Her red mane was spikey, yet messy at the same time, and her tan coat, seemed to be rushed to be neat. As she entered the room, she slowly trudged over the Changling in the back. Who seemed excited, almost bouncing off her seat with energy, seeing her. As the filly sat down the two started to chat, rather loudly, they allow could probably fill the room with noise that would rival the rest of the class, about the summer vacation they just had.
As the last School bell rang the whole class, aside for one missing pony, was in their seats, and waiting on the teacher. It was at this moment that a golden dragon hatchling, came running into the door panting heavily. As he entered he seemed to be the center of attention, for even in a town of ponies living with Changlings, none had seen a dragon before. The dragon quickly moved to the back of the room quickly and quietly, slinking and hunching his way through, never making eye contact with anyone. The tan filly and nymph ignored him, clearly getting that feel from him. As he moved any who looked could see many scales where missing from his body replaced by what looked like gems, and he spine looked to be ripped to shreds in certain areas, along with to scar lined nobs on his back, that looked like tiny bones to wings.
It was then an adult stallion, walked into the class carrying a cup of coffee.
"Good morning, class!" he greeted as he walked to his desk. He set down a large mug of coffee and a saddlebag filled with books. As he turned to write his name on the chalkboard, the class could see the cutie mark of a sunflower superimposed over two quills.
"My name is Mr. Penrod and I will be your teacher for the semester," he began. "We have an interesting class roster this year. I've learned that we have four new faces in town that have joined us, so why don't we have these new students come up and introduce themselves first? Come on up, we're all friends here."
Following this, the orange Pegasus went up first. This colt seemed to carry a presences the demanded attention. "Hello fellow students I am Straight Truth from Baltimare. I hope to get to know many of you." Truth sat back down, his bravado still present. He nudged the white unicorn next to him to go up next, which she did. She meekly went up to the front of the class room and near a whisper said, “Hi. I'm Subtle Hoof.”
Not a second later she took her seat again, trying to stay out of the class’s eye. It was the crystal pony who was next. His sparkles seem to dim slightly as he nervously walks to the front of the class.
“Um, greetings. I am Diamond Gear. My Family moved here from the Crystal Empire about a week ago. Yeah.”He sat back down, but glanced over to see the gold dragon. The sparkles in his coat began to glow again as it seemed he liked dragons. The gold dragon himself was exhaling thin lines of smoke for some reason. When he noticed Gear was looking at him, this behavior stopped. The dragon then found the courage to walk up to the front of the class though on his way there he still hunched over trying to appear smaller then he was.
“Hello names Spark!” The dragon said loudly, almost shouting, and with a heavy accent that was foreign to the class.
Mr. Penrod gives the new students a round of applause, and then took a sip of his coffee. "Now then class, if we could go down the rows and introduce ourselves to these bright new students and welcome them?"
the colt with the slicked-back mane in the back raised his hoof. "Mister Penrod, I think the rest of us already know each other," he said casually as well with a smug attitude. "We've been in school for a few years now."
The teacher nodded, but held up his coffee mug. "True, but don't you want to make these new students feel welcomed? Why don't you go first since you seem to have so much experience with knowing the class."
The colt stood up, obviously bored with introductions, "My name is Tenn Pence. My mother is Silver Pence, the head banker of this two-bit town." He sat down and remained quiet, though his demeanor never changed from bored, for the other students to go through with their introductions. The other finely dressed colt next to him applauded his performance.
One by one the other students stood and gave their name before quickly sitting down. Till it was finally the red maned filly’s turn.
"My name is Sabina," the red-maned filly said. "Um... I like sports. That's about it." She sat down, slightly blushing at what she thought was a poor performance, and looked at her friend the nymph, who was next.
The nymph got out of her chair at a normal pace, but did not wait a beat after Sabina sat down, “Hi, I’m Adepha, and I learned my first spell over the summer!” She beamed with pride over that fact for a moment before she sat down.
After the introductions, each foal, nymph, and wyrmling seemed to take a special interest into one another; Adepha found Spark to be a conundrum, Spark made a mental note to talk to Gear, and Truth wanted to start a circle of friends/followers quickly. Even Subtle was curious about Changlings, though she stayed quiet about it.
"Alright class, now that we have acquainted ourselves," Mr. Penrod began as he put down his coffee mug. "Let's begin our lesson with some geography. Stay awake through this and maybe we'll try some math!"
The teacher pulled down the roll-up map above the chalk board and explained the geography of western Equestria. He touched upon a little history of some of the settlements and why many towns shared similar geographical aspects.
One of the other teachers walked up to the classroom and knocked on the open door. She had a sheepish look on her face. "Excuse me, Mr. Penrod?" she asked. "My students left the mouse cage door open after feeding them, and a couple mice seem to be... um, missing. Could you lend me a hoof?"
Mr. Penrod nodded. "Okay class, five minute break. Go over the geography terms in this lesson and I'll be right back." The two teachers walked next door to find the missing mice.
A few seconds later, a small white mouse peeked its head from behind Mr. Penrod's coffee mug. It sniffed the air curiously.
Quickly Adepha and Spark noticed the mouse on Mr. Penrod’s desk. Spark was the first to start moving towards it, but he was stopped by Adepha, who said,“Hold on. Let's team up. I'll use my spell to daze it, and you and Sabina try and catch the mouse. Then we hold it in one of the holes in my legs until Mr. Penrod gets back.” Spark looked at her legs then amazed at the design of them. Holes in one’s legs? Who would have thought.
Sabina, Gear, Subtle and Truth looked to Adepha and Spark, and agreed to her plan. Though, some disagreed about keeping it till Mr. Penrod got back. Gear remained at his desk as the others moved to get closer to the mouse. The little creature saw Spark and jumped into a desk drawer to hide from the big scary dragon. Gear pointed out where the mouse hid to the others.
“Um, if you would look, you'll see that the Mouse has gone into one of the drawers. so, um, just close it and tell Mr. Penrod.” Upon which Adepha was the quickest to act. She closed the desk draw and trapping the mouse inside. If only it were that easy however. Thanks to older furniture not being replace, the mouse escaped it prison from a whole in the draw. It scurried across the floor. This caused a number of foals to cry and shriek in fear. Many jump onto their seats or desk. Sabina dove to catch the mouse, but missed it by inches.
Tenn Pence lifted his saddlebag. "Just whack it and it'll stop running!" The mouse unknowingly was scurrying in his direction, and towards the little creature’s doom. Tenn Pence held his bag up as he waited for the mouse to get closer!
Gear, Truth and Subtle, yelled at Tenn to not harm the mouse, almost in unison. “DON’T YOU DARE HURT THAT MOUSE!”
Adepha screamed and jumped on the desk just like the rest of her classmates. Though unlike her classmate, her horn glows violet as she seemed to cast a spell in the mouse. While Spark jumped over the desk, his tail swaying from side to side, with the enjoyment of the hunt. Unfortunately hitting Mr. Penrod’s coffee mug in the process to catch the mouse.
Pang!
Splush!
Squeak?
Spark slid across the floor as the mouse’s head glowed a faint violet. The little creature seem to forget what it was doing suddenly, as it stopped and sniffed the air. This gave Spark enough time to catch it in his claws. Tenn on the other hoof, look at Gear, Subtle and Truth with an angry expression.
"I wasn't going to hurt it," he said to Gear and Truth. There was slight anger in his voice. "I was only going to stun it since you all didn't seem too skilled in catching vermin." He sat back down in his seat, crossing his hooves over his chest.
Subtle looked between the steaming mess on the floor and Spark’s tail, "Um, do you think Mr. Penrod will be mad when he finds out we knocked over his coffee?"
Spark looked at the same scene, and while still holding the mouse, seemed to grow very fearful. “I don't know it was an accident!? I don’t want to be in trouble!”
Mr. Penrod peeked into the classroom with a short buzzing noise between his lips. He noticed students standing up and coffee sitting on the floor. His expression was primarily... confusion.
"Am I interrupting something?" he asked. "I heard some shouting in here and my coffee is most certainly not where I left it."
Adepha tries to apologize and explain the situation. Spark seems to cringe in terror upon see Mr. Penrod, dropping the mouse again. Adepha in a flash, caught the mouse in mid-air. Gear and Subtle then explained the story while the two seemed to juggle the mouse around, before returning it to Mr. Penrod.
Mr. Penrod walks over to the students. "Well the mystery of the last missing mouse appears to be solved," he said in a chipper voice. "I'll assume the mouse tipped over my mug this time. Hopefully if there's another rodent breakout, the mug will be spared from the chaos, yes?"
The other teacher arrived with an empty cage. "Did you find the other... oh, there's Mr. Wiggles!" she happily stated. The mare held the cage open for the mouse.
With the mouse returned safely and the coffee spill mopped up with some paper towels from the teacher's desk, the lesson picked back up with language arts and spelling. Mr. Penrod spoke fairly quickly, which forced the occasional student to ask him to repeat a sentence. His lesson carried all the way to the lunch bell, which nearly startled the teacher.
"That time already?" he asked as he glanced at the clock on the wall. "Alright class, have yourselves a good recess!"
Students quickly shuffled their way out to the yard to eat and romp around.
Spark the first to leave the classroom, a green object in his grasp. Instead of going to the cafeteria as he suspected other ponies to do, Spark went outside and climbed one of the lonely trees. High off the ground and away from prying eyes this was what brought peace to Spark. There concealed by the leaves, he could hide from any bullies like that Tenn Pence. It was from this vantage point he could see the grounds of the school.
Closer to the building sat the jungle gyms of the playground, rested in their sand and loose dirt bases. To the right of them were open fields, an ideal location to play any number of sports like soccer and hoofball. A barrier of towering, overgrown grass separated the soccer field from the uneven slopes that rose to match the mountains that semi circled the school. To the right of Spark loomed the tallest of these mountains, noon sun having defeated this stone spire for dominance of the sky.
Spark munched on an emerald the size of the spade on of wyrmling’s tail. The dragon chewed and chewed, before finally swallowing the gem. When he was finished he looked up, seeing the crystal pony Diamond Gear coming from the school.
Gear trotted out of the school, coming to rest under the tree. He ate his food quietly, unaware of the dragon that hid right above him. Gear’s lunch was more complex than the dragon’s, as it consisted of fresh green hay, juice, and some sparkling crystalline berries. After having finished his meal rather quickly, he took a hit from the inhaler he carried, then reached into his saddlebags and procured a book. Spark was curious about the book, but Gear couldn't read a single paragraph before he was startled by Truth and Subtle entering his view, having decided to join him for lunch. The book would have to wait. The trio of ponies were soon joined by the earth pony filly Sabina, and her changling nymph friend Adepha.
Truth sat down next to Gear, and Subtle was next to Truth, with Adepha and Sabina following suit on Gear’s other side. Subtle’s lunch seemed the oddest to Spark, but only because he could not see Adepha’s, ham and cheese sandwich. The mixture of ingredients rarely failed to cause ponies not used to the changlings' omnivorous diet to give the nymph a sideways glance.. Her lunch also contained an apple, and some purplish red crystals that seemed to glow faintly with their own magic. Subtle’s lunch was simply a grass sandwich, of which Spark had never seen such a thing.
Subtle was the only one still eating by the time the group started their conversations, Adepha only managing to finish her sandwich. As all conversations go between unknown parties, especially children, it started off a little awkward.
“Hey! So. Um. Thanks for your help with Mr. Wiggles.” Adepha says shyly. She leaned backwards, offering an awkward smile as the focus of the conversation turned towards the nymph.
Truth, having lost no amount of his bravado from class, said, “Thanks, you were a big help too. So you’re a changeling, what is that like?” Gear’s coat seemed to dim for a moment after Truth mentions Adepha being a changeling.
“Um…Well…”Lacking the words, her solid violet-colored eyes glanced every which way, searching for either an exit or an answer. “It is like, being a Changling.” Adepha tries to answer, pronouncing “Changeling” as though it were not spelled with an ‘e.’ “I don’t know, I’ve always been one.”
“Changeling?!” Gear meeps, as his crystalline coat darkened, further losing its luster.
“It is actually pronounced ‘chan-gling’.” Adepha corrected the crystal pony. Her natural emotion-sense told her the colt was afraid, and becoming more so as she spoke. Not wanting to be the source of any fear she puts on a smile, attempting to be as friendly as possible, said, “Ya that’s me, Adepha the changling.”
Gear could only see a mouth filled with fangs, and solid violet, soulless eyes. “Why…” Gear replies.
“I…Uh.” Adepha was confused by the nature of the question. Her expression fell, and she took a step back, still attempting to answer Gear’s question as best she could. “I mean, my mom and dad are both changlings, and so is my brother. Why wouldn't I be?”
“NO!” Gear starts to rummage through his saddlebags. The sparkles on the crystal pony’s coat have dulled, taking on a solid shade of faded teal. He then pulled out a small pamphlet titled, “While You Were Gone Volume 5” Gear skimmed through the pages, till he opened it to one page, which showed a picture of a Changling, a hairless one with a dark blue shell, solid cyan eyes, a curved horn, and a disgruntled expression on its muzzle, much like the changlings who attacked Canterlot. "Princess Cadence said that changelings are love eating monsters that see ponies as nothing but food. Why is one in a school?”
Gear exclaims in outrage, the effort of doing so forced him to cough uncontrollably as the strain was too much for his damaged lungs, forcing him to take another hit from his inhaler.
“I….” Adepha was feeling as if her worst fear were becoming reality. Ever since the Queen of Hive Olith declared that changlings like her no longer need to hide from outsiders. She had feared being closed off, and isolated from being the same species as the changlings who attacked Canterlot. She knew she was no monster, but how could she argue against an Equestrian Princess. She could feel her world closing in around her trapping her, accusing her, wanting to hurt her. “I am no monster….” Adepha squeaked, her whole body trembled as she hung low to the ground. Fighting desperately to hold back tears, and to not run away. After all, it’s not what her big brother would do.
“BOTH OF YOU NEED TO STOP!” Spark drops, interposing himself between Adepha and Gear. “Fighting over who is a monster is pointless when you have me around. And look would a monster be holding back tears.” Spark glares at Gear for a second till he saw the purple red crystals in Adepha’s lunch and for a moment he completely forgot about the conflict he just imposed himself into the middle of. “You can eat gems to? And why did you have grass between bread?” Spark looks at Adepha amazed and gave Subtle a puzzled glance. After Gear’s intake from his inhaler he continued, eyes wide in frenzy., “Dragon’s aren't monsters they are Heroes! A dragon killed Sombra, I was there, I saw!”
Sabina turned to see Spark more clearly, and since it was no longer class, she tackled him, wrapping her forelegs around the dragon in an Ursa Minor hug. Sabina found him to be the cutest thing in the whole wide world. However being aware that her best friend was hurting, she got off of Spark, and put a gentle caring hoof around Adepha.
"It's okay everypony. And Spark." she says. "I've known Adepha for a few years and she's been one of my closest friends. Not all changlings are bad. They're like... a bushel of apples. It only takes one bad apple to make you think the bushel is evil, but the other apples are just ripe for pie... or... something like that." The metaphor sounded better in her head.
Subtle was a bit shocked at all that was going on, but she sided with Adepha, the support easing her out of her anxiety while Gear’s energy slowly diffused.
"You know Adepha, I didn't really know what to think about you when I first saw you. But now you seem like a good pony, er Changeling. Certainly not a love eating monster." The unicorn filly smiled to the Nymph.
Subtle looked at the little wyrmling still laid on the ground, his eyes wide and confused as if he were in deep thought. “Um if you can hear me? Yah we ponies eat that kind of stuff, like hay, grass, carrots, and apples. That sort of stuff.”
Gear looked to be near tears now, looking down on the ground in shame from the hurt he caused. “I am sorry” he said quietly.
“No harm no foul.” Sabina chirps to Gear. “Also you were amazing earlier standing up to Tenn. He is a Jerk who thinks he is better than everypony. You got my respect and friendship now.” Sabina wrapped the crystal pony in a hug.
“It is ok,” Adepha managed to reply, unable to look directly at Gear, but willing to move forward. Trying to change the topic. The little Nymph tried to answer the hatchling, “They aren’t gems, they are E-rocks. They are crystalized emotions. It’s crystallized respect to be exact.”
Truth, Could no longer watch in silence, “Well glad that is over.” The argument seemed to get on his nerves, as it was something that could have been avoided, in his view. Truth went back to his lunch till the dragon got up.
What broke everyone’s attention was the dragon seeming to come back to the world again. He walked over to Gear, and looked him dead in the eyes, the question lingering on his mind visible in his puzzled expression as something Gear said came to the forefront of his mind “What kind of dragon would save ponies?”
Adepha spoke over Spark’s shoulder, “Yah who is this Sombra guy any ways?”
Gear seemed to shudder as remembers the past. But being polite, and not wanting to anger a dragon went in the order of the questions asked, “His name was Spike. He was a hatchling, had purple scales, and no wings. He lives in Equestria with Princess Cadance's Sister-in-law, umm, what was her name-Twilight something.”
“He just showed up one day. He stole the Crystal Heart. He killed all of the nobles and our rulers, and he enslaved us all. He used magic to make us forget everything that made us happy. His press gangs dragged off anyone who wasn't already enslaved to work in Sombra's crystal mines. I spent my ninth birthday running from the gangs. My uncle Died fighting off the gangs so the rest of us could escape, and... It didn't work. We got captured, and I spent a year wearing a slave collar in the mines.
All of that dust, I still can't breathe very well. Then, about a year later, Princess Celestia and Luna arrived, and they fought off Sombra. But then that monster sprang some kind of trap, and the whole Empire vanished! For a thousand years! We lost a thousand years! My old pen pal grew up and died centuries ago, and I don't even know what happened to him.” Gear sniffed, the recollection of these painful memories felt like someone was wrenching his guts, the memory still far too fresh in his mind. “The worst part is, Even though Sombra's dead and gone for good, his dark magic still makes it so hard to remember anything from before he showed up. My uncle was a crystal engineer. He taught me how to build some of the crystal powered machines he invented, and I can't remember how because of that monster!”
Gear by this point broke down and was cried. Spark being the closest, hugged him. Sabina embraced the crystal pony next, while Subtle and Adepha wrapped their forelegs around the crystal pony, while Truth added his own to the comforting embrace everypony and everyling was giving to the sad crystal pony. Gear cried for a few seconds till he realized that everyone had enveloped in a group hug just for him. Feeling their combined affection returned his sparkling crystal coat, as Gear’s mood had returned.
As the small group of children hugged out their problems, a trio of ponies sauntered over. An air about them was palpable, one that caused other foals to stop and watch. The lead was a familiar blonde colt with an eggshell white coat. His eyes were level, and partially lidded, as though bored, though the echoes of his thoughts of superiority were visible on his muzzle. Around his neck he wore a preppy collar with a red necktie. Accompanying him, was another well-dressed colt, a rather large Earth Pony colt with a light grey mane and a brown mane and tail. He glowered at the assembled children, his face betraying his utter contempt, even if the colt didn't care to conceal it. He stood protectively close to the leader. The unicorn filly, not any one anypony recognized from Mr. Penrod's class, followed with the colts and simply smirked at the confrontation.
“Well well,” Tenn said with amusement.
“I had a hunch that the two class weirdos would make friends with the oddballs from out of town.” Sabina moved in-between Tenn and her new friends. Her stance sideways and wide against the colts, blocking their path.
“Relax, I’m not here to start a fight.” Tenn answered reassurances.
“This is my wing-pony Zircon and the filly is Sandy.” The Earth Pony made glances towards each aforementioned member of his group, but only Sandy acknowledged the roll-call with a nod.
“I was wondering if you all wanted to play a friendly game of six-on-six dodgeball. And who knows maybe we all will get to see what the newbies are made of. You all game?”
Gear looked at Tenn, with a blank stare before replying.
“I apologize, Tenth Pence, but putting you in your place isn’t worth risking my health.” Gear then had a small coughing fit. It was harsh, Sharp, and dry, and if one were to look closely, it would be as if dust was what was coming out.
Spark sent out a small jet of flame without warning, singing Tenn’s “fancy” clothes. Even though Tenn said he did not want to fight, Spark did not read that from Tenn’s body language. Tenn abruptly jumped back as the tongue of violet flames licked his coat and singed his clothes. Sandy jumped back in alarm, while Zircon lurched closer towards Spark, glaring daggers. Even Adepha took a step back in alarm. First Gear demonstrates his lack of health...
“Tell me the rules or I am not believing you” Spark growled.
"It’s dodgeball, not killball!" Tenn exclaimed in alarm, his voice high from the sudden burst of adrenalin.
“First things first! No Flame or fire.”
“Alright next we set up in opposing boundaries, and take turns trying to hit each other with a ball. If the ball hits you, you’re out. If you catch the ball without dropping it, the thrower is out. First team to lose all their players… Well that should be obvious. No magic, No flying, and NO FIRE! Any Questions?” As Tenn listed the rules, he swept a foreleg over his clothes, trying to put out what part of his clothes might have caught fire.
Here Subtle steps forward to encourage her friends.
“Come on Everypony…” Subtle stopped as she realizes that may not be the most accurate term given Adepha and Spark, not being ponies. However the filly pressed on. “We can do this together. I’m up for it.”
By this point Adepha joins the conversation, voicing her concern.“Ya Gear has a breathing issue, him playing, even running is not the best idea. Better to be five-on-five. And obviously I am game.” Adepha’s smirks, reveling at the thought of competition and victory. Gear pulls out his inhaler and looks down at it, and then to Tenn. Tenn looks at the inhaler, and back to Gear, nodding in understanding. “Alright, I guess nothing can be done about breathing issues. We’ll play five-on-five, but I think if you want a fair referee, we should get someone completely impartial. How about Sandy goes to fetch Mr. Penrod, and we will set up over in the field next to the swings?” Sabina looks from Tenn to all of her friends.
“I’m in if everyone is in. Gear you want to at least watch, just in case?”
“Okay.” The colt affirms.
“Come on Spark, I bet you will be great.” Adepha chirped to Spark, the wyrmling nodded in agreement, while Sandy rushed off to find a referee while Zircon set up the game area a spot on the blacktop, a large rectangle painted in white, partitioned in half with a line down the middle. Many other nymphs, colts, and fillies took notice as a crowd from elements of the fifth grade as well as the fourth, third, and second began to coalesce as an audience to this contest. As Zircon set up the cones for the area. Mr. Penrod walked over with a red rubber ball the size of a colt’s head. Sandy was by his side.
“Sandy asked me to referee a dodge ball game,” the teacher said. “Who are the two teams?”
Adepha after a small chuckle to herself, answered. “It is going to be me, Sabina, Spark, Subtle Hoof, and Straight Truth on one team.”
“Zircon, Sandy, Ectato, Violet, and moi on the other team,” Tenn added. The two previously unknown members of Tenn's team made themselves visible. Violet was an Earth Pony filly with a light purple coat and dark blue mane/tail. The only other changling nymph in Mr. Penrod's class, Ectato, stood behind the group so as to not be noticed, no matter how difficult his royal blue mane and tail made it. Mr. Penrod held up the ball once both teams were in the game area. Gear set up off to the side, sitting on the blacktop from where he can watch his friends. As the crowd grew, it came to surround the players, colts and fillies with the occasional nymph had gathered from every grade, attention focused on the oncoming game.
“Alright it sounds like we’re ready to play. I do want to add one thing, and that is no head shots. Last thing we want is for the ball to be done in by a unicorn or changling horn.” The air was still after that remark, the only sound being that of Mr. Penrod's own chuckles and the occasional cough. The teacher cleared his throat.
“Right. So, any questions before we begin?”
Spark whispered to Adepha, “What does he mean, ‘the ball will be done in?’”
“He means we don’t want the ball to be stabbed by our horns.” She then gestures to her own rather sharp rubber ball deflator on her forehead, only just regaining her attention on the game quick enough to notice Mr. Penrod tossing the ball to Adepha. The nymph snatched the ball out of the air with a foreleg.
“Sandy mentioned to give your side the ball first, since the new students are o your team. Let’s play ball!” Adepha looked out at her opponents as they retreated back to their territory, attempting to keep as much difference between themselves and the ball-thrower as possible. Eyeballing Tenn, Adepha rose up onto her hind legs, the rubber ball in her hooves as she wound up to throw an almighty pitch for the Earth Pony.
“Catch!”
A pitch that swiftly changed direction as the nymph suddenly pivoted, sending the ball gently flying towards Straight Truth.
“They are getting tricky! Watch yourselves.” Tenn took lead of his team, as he has all his friends spread out amidst the cheers of the crowd excited for the play-action by Adepha, lead by the sidelined Diamond Gear. Tenn then prepared to jump out of the way in anticipation of an attack as he stared down Truth.
“Come on Truth show us what you got!” He smirked with bravado to the yellow pegasus colt. The crowd watched with anticipation as Tenn's own circle of admirers cheered the Earth Pony on.
“Hey Tenn Think fast!” Truth exclaimed as he looked towards the unicorn suddenly, sending the ball straight for Sandy, causing the Earth pony to fumble on his own four legs, having thought the ball was coming for him.
Sandy on the other hoof noticed the deception, and was barely able to dodge the projectile, having it miss her blank flake a hair length. Tenn then ran for the ball, collecting it in his foreleg as he tossed it to Ectato. The little changling, with all his effort chucked the ball at Spark. The dragon tried to dodge with the best of his ability, however the Wyrmling could not dodge Ectato and his ball. Spark was nailed right in the thigh during the mid of his jump.
Mr. Penrod clapped his hooves together, “Sorry Spark you’re out. Good try on the dodge though, and you have good form on your jump.” While Tenn grinned as Spark walked off, Ectato said nothing, and his expression was blank. The crowd roared, cheering Ectato's victory. Spark only grumbled, but away from prying eyes he was smiling. He finally was starting to believe he was having fun for the first time ever. He joined Gear off on the side of the field, joining the crystal colt in cheering for his team. “Alright boys, keep your eyes on the ball.”
Subtle was shaken that they had already lost a team member, but did not let it show. Subtle went for the ball.
“Alright boys, keep your eyes on the ball.” Subtle worked the ball like no other pony could believe, as she shifted and moved it around her body telekinetically. Faking out the idea that she was going to throw it, then distracting with other false throws and deceptive movements. When the anxiety and uncertainty of the other team was at its peak, she passed it to Sabina, while continuing her jaunts and thrusts, keeping the eyes of Tenn's team as well as the crowd, fooling them into thinking she still had the ball.
Sabina having the ball, wanted to avenge Spark. With a good hard throw Ectato was struck in the hip, to the surprise of the crowd. Mr. Penrod as he sips his coffee, “Sorry Ectato, she got you. Remember keep your eyes on the ball.”
Tenn’s grin fades as he sees the tables start to turn, watching the nymph walk out to the side. He then turns back to focus on the match, and points to Zircon, and then to Adepha. Adepha saw this gesture, and saw Tenn's intentions made clear, go for the leader. Which Adepha, saw and was anticipating. She saw Zircon handle the ball, and send it flying for her, and instead of just trying to dodge it, decided to try the harder option. The option which would turn the tables for sure. That which would make her a shining star on the team. She was going to catch the ball.
As she stretched out her legs the ball bounced off them and went straight up into the air. She gasped in fear as her eyes went wide. Fear of failure and causing the loss of the game was the only thought that could enter her mind. She scrambled forward, in a show that was uncharacteristic for a practiced athlete. As long as the ball doesn't touch the ground, there was still a chance! Her back legs struggled to find ground as her wings buzzed to move the nymph a few inches forward, in an attempt to salvage this game and re-catch the ball that even now hung in the air as though in suspended animation.The normal procession of events from order into chaos that mortals perceived as ‘time’ became a blur. In that moment a phrased repeated to Adepha again and again in her mind. “Failure is not an option!” Adepha truly seemed to bend time, as she thought of her friends’ warmth and encouragement, Spark, Gear, and the crowd cheering her on. Empowering the empathovoric changling. She was not going to let them down! Failure. Is. Not. An. Option!
She closed her eyes for the briefest of moments. In that moment the ball landed right into her hooves. When Adepha came to, she just stared at the ball. The ball never made contact with the ground. She was safe.
“YES!!!” She shouted excitedly. She then tosses the ball to Subtle, after a faux throw toward Tenn.
Zircon could not believe his eyes, as Adepha was there one moment and then had the ball in her hooves the next. Mr. Penrod simply sipped more coffee as he spoke, “Sorry Z, fair catch!”
The crowd was a roar of cheers as Gear and Spark led a chant for the nymph.
“Ah-Deh-Pha! Ah-Deh-Pha!”
Tenn was not going to let this team of newcomers beat him, as he shouted out orders for his team to spread out. However Adepha’s throw never came, as it was Subtle’s turn. Subtle instead of trying to hoof the ball to some other teammate, realized she was in a good position to actually throw the ball. When the ball went into the air the crowd went silent as they watched the ball soar through the sky. Tenn was ready, he like Adepha was going to try and catch the ball.
He knew these newbies luck was about to run out, but off to the side he saw Gear and Spark, as the two led the crowd into a wave. The two he’d show them, he’d catch the ball and.
*Thunk*
The ball bounced off of Tenn’s chest, the shock of the impact despite not being very forceful, left him on his bum, and breathless. The ball moving away from him, as he just stared at it. It was too far away to catch, too far to reach. Finally the ball hit the ground, as the crowd fell dead silent.
Mr. Penrod took another sip of coffee, “Tenn you’re out. Something distracting you?”
Tenn got up, “No I think we have played enough.” Tenn then walks off the field, followed by Sandy and Violet, as they conceded the game. Then the whole field exploded in applause and chant.
“SUBTLE! SUBTLE! SUBTLE!”
Tenn and the others clap their hooves together to show good sportponyship. While the student body rushed the winning team, cheering them on, giving them hoof bumps, and congratulation. Gear even got some bumps, for being their mascot.
All the celebration however ended when the school bell rang. Class was to start again, and school was to continue. All the students shuffled back into the temple of learning. The day continued on, till it was finally time to go home. The six new friends walked out of the school together. Gear talked to Adepha and Sabina, While Subtle went ahead to talk to Tenn. Spark disappeared as soon as he was outside, as he blended in with the crowd and left not wanting to be followed.
Gear looked to Adepha, “I am sorry for what I said earlier. I did not know about Changlings really. Friends?” Gear holds out his hoof. Adepha takes the hoof. “Friends! By the way I have never seen an Earth pony like you before, you are so shiny.”
“I am no Earth Pony I am a Crystal Pony. We all do this. We sparkle when we are happy, and those good feeling can be felt by those around us. When we are sad those bad feelings can also be felt.” Gear replies as he sparkles even brighter at having a friend.
Sabina then adds her own comment, “I hope you’ll be happier then. I like the sparkly look.”
Gear just goes silent and looked away for a second as he did not know how to respond yet managed to smile sheepishly. “Um, thank you.” Subtle walked over to Tenn, Truth never took his eyes of his sister, she did well today, and it needed to stay that way. “Um about the game, I just wanted to say, I am sure it was luck on my part, you are certainly the better athlete.”
Tenn smiles back, though he does look around to make sure a certain dragon was not around. “It was a good game, and a win is a win. I am sure if we play again we will beat you. Anyways see you around.” Tenn then walks away as Ectato, Sandy, Violet, and Zircon surround him. Subtle smiled thinking Tenn was not so bad, as she rejoined her brother. “Good day today, so far…”
Truth looked at his sister and nodded. “One day at a time.”
Subtle then ran for Gear and gave him a hug, along with Adepha and Sabina before going home with her brother. The others finally split ways as well, all returned home with families waiting with loving arms and questions about their first day of school. They all answered the same, “It was great, and I can’t wait for tomorrow.” They all said this except Spark.
He walked home alone, and lit a torch as he wandered into an empty cave, where a few bags were resting on the ground. No one greeted Spark as he wondered into the darkness. He was alone as all he could do was wait for the next day, but till that day came he could explore the deep, unknown recesses of the unknown rock tunnel and keep his mind occupied.
