Chapter 1: The Journey Begins

I have never been outside of my town before.  I was surprised it was full of life and nature.  In fact it was probably my fault for never wanting to go outside in the first place.  Just to be made fun of due to the fact I never got my mark.  Not to mention my father is a Pegasus and my mother is a Unicorn, but sadly I was born an Earth Pony…  Was I just unlucky that I was not blessed with a pair of wings or the gift of magic?  It made me think why I was not given such a gift.  Earth Ponies are usually treated like trash and value hard work.  I tried to think of something else so my mood would not sink as I take the first few steps of my journey.

I stopped at a nearby steam to rest for the time being.  It seemed I’ve walked quite a few miles.  I wonder when I will reach the next town… It seems I’ve been walking forever… I was thirsty as well, so I decided to take a drink from the stream.  It didn’t help I was surprised by a few fish that splashed me with water causing me to fall in.  Great now I’m all wet… The water was freezing cold, which made my body shiver and left my mane soaked.  I decided to continue onward hoping that no one saw that embarrassing moment.

It was getting late and the sun was setting fast I was nowhere near civilization.  I decided to trot faster and make do with the remaining light that was left of the day.  The night set in and sun had vanished beneath the vast night.  No town still, just this dirt path and the wilderness.  I decided to set up camp near the same stream.  Starting a fire was a bit tougher for me since I didn’t have magic, but I was able to get one started at least to keep me warm.  I took out my old Tales of Equestria book and decided to read a few stories before calling it a night; I was bookworm I admit...  I loved the tale of The Mare in the Moon.  It was just I began to question myself, did Princess Luna actually want to become Nightmare Moon?  Did Celestia really want to banish her?  It must’ve been lonely spending those 1000 years on the moon.  Maybe Luna never wanted to become Nightmare Moon. Maybe she just wanted to be understood and acknowledge for her doings… I looked up into the moon and its radiant light it cast among the night.  Princess Luna please watch over me and keep me safe this night.  I slowly closed my eyes and I drifted off into a deep slumber.

“Good morning! Thank you for blessing me with this glorious day Princess Celestia!” I woke up the next morning full of energy.  As usually I gave my thanks to the Princesses.  I took an apple from my saddle and began munching on it as I continued to trot down the same dirt road I had the day before.  I got to be near a town soon.  With great luck I saw a road sign just ahead.  As I neared closer, it was written Ponyville next 2 miles where anypony should be welcomed!  I jumped with glee, at last a town I can actually finally meet other ponies! But wait I hope they don’t mind me being a blank flank… The thought of it made me lose all that excitement I had a moment ago and I continued onwards.

As I was nearing the town I was really shocked at the sight I saw.  There’s a castle in this puny town!?  That totally caught me of guard, but then again this was the first time I had traveled outside into the world.  The town was so full of life though, everywhere I looked ponies were smiling, singing songs, and having fun.  Why couldn’t I have that joy back where I lived?  If you didn’t have a cutie mark, you were nothing… A slight tear dropped from my eye and I wiped it away quickly.  I needed info about this town; I looked around to see if there was an information building of some sort.  Aha! There! I entered the information building see what I could find out.  “H-Hello,” I said nervously.

“Well hi there! Ya new here?” replied the middle-aged Earth Pony.

“Yes, I was wondering what you could tell me about Ponyville”

“Well it’s a fine place to live! In fact Princess Twilight and her friends run the castle here you see.”

“Wait another princess?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know Princess Twilight!” I was lost for words… there was a lot I didn’t know about the outside world. “Why she and her friends themselves are the Elements of Harmony but they are busy on an errand so they won’t be back for a while.”

“Thank you for the info… Goodbye.”

“Stay safe.” Still I could not believe my ears, there was another princess other than Celestia and Luna?  I really felt like an idiot.  I decided to explore the town a little maybe pick up a few spots on the map that seemed amusing.  Sweetest apples in town, visit us at Sweet Apple Acres. I made my first stop there only to see a young Earth Pony working the apple orchard all by herself.  She looked a bit older than me and but I have to admit that ribbon looked adorable on her red mane.  She stopped her work and looked at me.  Wow she’s such a hard worker her cutie mark is adorable too an apple blossom.

“Hi there ya new here?” she asked with a cheerful voice.

“Indeed I am… My name’s Destiny, I hear you have the sweetest apples in town and was curious to try one.”

“We sure do! Name’s Applebloom by the way nice t’ meet ya!” she replied back as she tossed me an apple. “Dig in!” Before I sank my teeth in that luscious delicious looking apple, I took a few bits and gave them to her. “What are these for?  Ya don’t have to pay me unless I take these to the market.”

“I insist you do… after all you worked so hard to harvest the apples it would be wrong not to pay you for your troubles… plus it would be rude of me.”  I was only being polite.  She refused the offer and put the bits back in my saddlebag.

“No worries it’s on the house now just take a bite will ya?” I gave into the temptation and finally sunk my teeth in that apple.  It was like I was in heaven… the taste filled my taste buds with sensation.  I had never tasted something so sweet before.  I regained my senses as I was lost due to the amazing taste. “I reckon ya like it?” I blushed a bit for being lost in ecstasy from an apple.

“Yes its delicious, thank you Applebloom.” She chuckled a bit.

“Well I best be getting back to work, nice meeting ya!” and she went back to bucking her trees harvesting her apples.  Well I came here for the apples and wow so much flavor… but I’m just a little sad she didn’t want my bits… Actually I don’t have many so I better watch what I spend.  I headed back towards Ponyville when something caught my attention.

“Leave me alone!”

“What’s a Changeling like you doing here huh?” I rushed to the source only to see a type of pony I have never seen before being bullied by three other stallions. “We don’t want you here get out!”

“I have the right to be here…” the Changeling claimed.  One of the stallions pushed her to the ground.

“All ponies hate your kind!” They began to stomp on her, I acted upon instinct and ran towards her and tackled the stallion who appeared to be the leader. “Hey you’ll regret that!”

“Leave her alone...” I said quite furious by their actions.

“What’s a blank flank gonna do about it?” That just made me blow a fuse, I furiously tackled him to the ground and began punching him right in the face with my hooves.

“Geez this mare’s crazy I’m out of here!” The other two ran off after seeing my rage upon their leader.

“Ok alright we won’t bother her again! I promise!” Blood started to run down his nose I slowly got off of him and gave him one last kick to the face.

“Get out of my sight and don’t you dare call me that ever…” The pathetic leader limped away, I checked to see if the other mare who was supposed to be a Changeling was ok. “You alright?”  She slowly got up trying to recover.

“I-I’m grateful for you helping me…” she replied.

“Nopony deserves to be treated like that…” I tried to comfort her, “do you have a place where you live I can escort you there if you’d like.”

“I do and I would be a little safer with you.” She said shyly.  The Changeling led the way to her home and I slowly followed.  The town residents started giving me looks of hate and mistrust.  Great… and here the cycle repeats itself… I ignored those glare they gave me, I only did what I felt was right.  “Here we are!” It wasn’t a big home but it was near the outskirts of town I guess she didn’t want to get bullied like she did earlier.  I slowly entered the house, so that we could talk in peace.  She seems like a nice pony… Why do others hate her? Well I’m about to find out.