"Alright," Bending Loyalty said, "Prince, your first lesson in 'anticipation.'"

Prince Sundown Shifter stomped his front right hoof, "I'm ready. Bring it on!" Loyalty shook her head while smiling. Just as much ego and pride as she had when she was his age.

"Well, Step 1: Do not plan. If you do, then trying to anticipate is pointless." Bending Loyalty face turned stoic. Sundown Shifter plastered a fierce and determined expression on his face.

I will conquer "anticipation!"

No, no. Stop planning! Just... Just do!

B-but last time I "just did," I almost killed you... He sniffled. Bending Loyalty's face turned from stoic to caring.

It's okay, squirt. Some of us are just better at some things than others. You're good at planning. I'm good at following instinct while controlling it...

"... Which leads us to Step 2: Follow and control your instincts; achieve balance. This is very important, but we will not be learning that today," Bending announced. Her caring, magenta-dragon eyes looked at Sundown lovingly. She trotted over, and Sundown embraced her. She smirked. "You just partially completed Step 1..."

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The next few days were like this. All Sundown Shifter had to do for "homework" was (almost) anything that popped into his head. He hadn't stopped thinking; he had just let his body do what it wanted after being approved by his mind.

Finally, Bending had asked, "What is 'anticipation?'"

Anticipation is to trust your instincts and approve of them before they perform their deed. His Aunt clapped her hooves.

"Omigosh! This is just, totally, great! You even completed Step 2 without realizing it!" Sundown cocked his head. What did Aunt Loyalty say he did, now? "Now, for the final test..."

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Prince Sundown Shifter was preparing for his final test. It was to spar. But it was to spar against Queen Shimmering Dusk, or Mommy. Sundown didn't plan anything. No moves, tactics, guessed-stats of his opponent. Nothing. He was ready. He trotted into the sparring room, where he saw Mommy already preparing a defensive position and had a fierce expression. His Aunts and Chrysalis (Uncle Thorn) were sitting on... the bleacher-seat-things? Each wore a judging expression (except Laughing) on their faces. He trotted onto the "field," and he stood in the red-outlined circle. Mommy was standing in a blue-outlined circle. Aunt Loyalty flew off the bleachers (that's what we're gonna call 'em) and landed on the "field."

"You may each choose a weapon," she announced, "Only one weapon; no more, no less. Also, I want a clean fight. So, no. Magic." Mommy kept her fierce expression, but her eyes widened a bit. Mommy must be worried about the "no magic" rule. She trotted over to the weapon rack and choose... nunchucks. Sundown Shifter picked throwing stars. Aunt Loyalty trotted over to the sidelines with a referee hat (I don't know where she got it) to make sure they followed the rules.

Six voices began to chorus, "3... 2... 1..!"

"SPAR," Aunt Loyalty screamed. It had begun.

Shimmering Dusk lunged and waved her nunchucks, one being held in her mouth, the other in hoof. Sundown Shifter rolled and dodged. Dusk's fierceness increased. She leaped and landed on top of Sundown... to have him disappear!?!! She facehoofed. She hated changeling-clouds (illusions that looked like a certain changeling).

She sensed a presence above. Shimmering Dusk looked to see her son about to fall on top of her. She waved the nunchucks, creating a shield. Sundown Shifter threw two throwing stars (out of ten on a leather belt) that landed directly in a chain hole on each of Dusk's nunchucks. The shield failed. Sundown Shifter landed a more than a meter away from Dusk, two stars in hooves. Shimmering Dusk braced herself while keeping her eyes open. Suddenly, her back was against the wall, Sundown Shifter was in front of her, and he was holding a star on her throat.

I win... Sundown Shifter heard clapping, and he turned to see Aunt Loyalty gaping, sitting on the floor, and clapping her hooves slowly. What had he done?

"Aunt Loyalty," he asked, "what is it?"

She leaped into the air, wings buzzing, "You passed the test!" Sundown Shifter was taken aback. He had passed the test! He smiled. Not a smirk, a sarcastic look, or any of that. A genuine smile.

Oo, oo! And that's not all, every-ling! Look at his flank! Every changeling focused on Sundown's flank. Instead of the bare black they usually saw, there were three throwing stars. The two on the sides were small and black, while the middle star was large and cerulean. Sundown Shifter blinked.

What??? How could he have a cutie mark!? He was a changeling!! Changelings don't have talents! D-do they? Mommy? How? And... why?

"I don't know, Sundown," Dusk said, "I always thought your Aunts and I had cutie marks because we use to be ponies... Perhaps it's because your a royal changeling." Every-ling continued gaping at his cutie mark. What did it mean?

I don't know why, Sunny. I don't know...

But I believe I do. I'm not positive, but I think it's because of your DNA, my Queen. Do you deem this reasonable?

Yes, that seems reasonable. Thank you, Chrysalis.

Of course, Queen Shimmering Dusk.

I think this is AWESOME!! Um, any-ling else think it means he's gonna destroy the sun in some way?

... That's it! You're gonna destroy that b**th, Celestia! You're gonna avenge the changelings!

Sundown Shifter, avenge his brothers and sisters! Yes, he could, and he would. For his changelings. For he is their prince. He is Prince Sundown Shifter.

I, Prince Sundown Shifter, will avenge my Mother's changelings. And I will make all who hurt them, pay dearly..!