Towards The Horizon

       I walked towards the other pony figure that was coming in the opposite direction. I don't know if it was me being frightened or scared, but my legs felt like jelly as I desperately tried to walk onwards. Both of us could see each other clear as day now. However, I noticed he was staring at me with a smile on his face which made my heart beat faster with sweat going down my face. I felt something inside I never felt before, I was nervous from the thought of somepony catching me. I couldn't shake this feeling. I shook my head to notice the pony wasn't in front of me anymore. I must have passed them as I was deep in thought from worrying too much.

"Hello." A brown earth pony stepped in front of me giving me a shock. "You look lost."

"Err-... Hi" I grumbled to the pony trying to find my words.

I couldn't look him in the eye because of how worried I was, it felt like the first time I was in the middle of the hive trying to show off my skills in the allotted time. I still couldn't find my words as I managed to look him in the eyes again with a little more confidence. He just kept smiling at me. The pony looked back and forth up the dirt path from the awkwardness of silence from the two of us. He soon pointed his hoof towards the direction I was heading.

"That's the way you want to go, and don't worry about everypony looking at you for not having your cutie mark. I hear it's a rather exciting feeling when you suddenly find your destiny, so good luck mate." The pony said before walking down the dirt path away Ponyville. I was confused at the pony's sudden greeting. Back in the hive we never greeted each other like that, most of the time it's a cold stare with a dark sinister sentence to get us back to work. I looked back at the pony who was walking off in the distance. This, cutie mark, is a special mark that you get when you find whatever you are good and talented at. It can even tell you what you are meant to be doing as your life long job, that's what the book in the hive library said anyway.

I looked at the cutie mark on his flank before he went out of view, it looked like a simple hourglass. I never thought a picture of an hourglass could be on somepony's flank, but I never could get that part of the spell right. The one where I can transform into anypony with their cutie mark on their flank. That was the one reason why I couldn't join the guard in the hive. My ears dropped back from the sudden thought in my head. I couldn't let that get me down, I've come to far to just sit back and give up now. This is my time and I will see it through. I sharply turned towards Ponyville, picking up the pace with one thought going through my mind; this is exciting.

A good amount of time went by before I reached the town of Ponyville. I didn't care, though, I only cared about the first moment of seeing another place other than the same boring hive. It was an odd and interesting sight at first when I arrived. There wasn't any tunnels, no cave rooms and there was lights coming from inside the big rooms. My mouth opened a little at the sight of ponies walking around, chatting without any care in the world. I never had this much freedom to do what I wanted in all my life, it was relieving. I didn't hesitate to search around Ponyville, they have a large bakery, selling all kinds of pastry; just like what my mum gets when she comes home with grocery bag, a massive crystal castle that swept me away with its beauty, a town centre where the person in charge are, an extremely large apple farm on the outskirts that I didn't explore fully yet, a place called, Carousel Boutique, which has very Interesting armour on display by the windows and much more that I need to look at. Something felt off as I was wondering around the town, though. I noticed everypony staring at me with confusion on their faces. I thought hard, thinking that it could be because I haven't got a cutie mark visible, I just hope it doesn't give me away or cause me trouble.

I came to a stop from the sound of a growling stomach, it was mine. I broke a sweat knowing full well that we need nourishment to keep our disguises up. Every changeling would soon run out of magic and need to feed on emotions to replenish our magic. I was different, I guess I took it from my mother's side because I can eat other things as well as emotions. That's how I can get my magic back, from eating something like a delicious apple pie or someone's happy emotions. My stomach growled louder than normal, indicating my time was getting near for my transformation back. I started to panic, looking left and right to find any kind of food to ingest. An enticing smell went up my nose, I instantly remembered that smell, it was an apple pie. I knew that I couldn't wait any longer. I ran as fast as my legs could take me to the destination of the smell. I stood at an awe as I saw an entire wooden wagon filled with neatly assorted pies. I broke into a heavier sweat as I saw my legs slowly turn beige to black. If that didn't make matters worse, there was an orange earth pony wearing a cowboy hat and her cutie mark was that of three apples standing by the wagon offering them for some kind of metal. I didn't waste any more time, it was either I get a telling off for stealing a pie or have the whole town will know who I really am. I rushed over towards the wagon getting the pony's attention who smiled towards me. Before she could say a word I was already in mid-air, flipping over the wagon while grabbing a pie from the top shelf. It's been a while when I last done acrobatics because my landing was off and the blood rushed to my head. When I got my footing I bolted on ahead only looking back to see the mare was in a shocked state, standing there with her mouth open. I didn't know where I was heading, but my sense of direction took me to a barn where I stood by an apple tree. I took a deep breath before looking for a place to spend the night with my, I mean, somepony else' apple pie. I quickly thought back to when I visited the farm earlier, there was this rather beat down large square box that looked like a shelter not too far from the farm in the apple forest.

I shook my head in compliance with myself, feeling a little awkward now since I nodded to myself. It was a ten-minute walk to the large box in the trees. On my back I balanced the apple pie perfectly, the heat it generated made me felt right at home for some reason. I walked up the decaying ramp towards the run down room, carefully watching my step In case the ramp collapses in beneath me. I made it to the top, stopping to see the front door was off on one of its hinges and the walls were missing some of its yellow wooden planks. I sighed when I placed the apple pie down on the ramp in front of me, starting to feel a little guilty from stealing the apple pie. I mean, come on, who's going to hold back on someone stealing a pie for Chrysalis sake.  "What now, someone stole your apple pie." I imitated loudly, giving myself a little chuckle that brought a smile to my face.

"Hay, what you doing up there!" I heard a girly shout abruptly from behind.

I couldn't believe it when I turned around instantly, the ramp suddenly snapped taking me and the pie with it. I didn't have time to think about anything other than how bucked I was. I closed my eyes as I hit my head on the grassy floor. The feeling of pain shooting through me made my sight became blurred and my hearing impaired. On top of that I couldn't even move a muscle in my body, it was like that time when I was burrowing and for a joke the other changelings strapped a spring to my tail, launching me up into the air smashing my head against the ceiling making me unconscious. That's what I went to right now, an unconscious state of mind, I couldn't feel nor say, but I could hear light voices from my ears, three, in fact, they sounded around my age. It was a new experience for me, becoming unconscious felt odd like my head was dancing with an elephant. I managed to open my eyes only to see an angry unicorn, roughly around my size, up close to my face. The unicorn in my face was a light grey colour in body while her mane and tail was a rather long light purple with light rose pink streaks within. Her eyes are a dull green with while her size was that of mine. I didn't answer her question all I noticed was the sudden change of scenery of what looks like the run down shelter that the ramp broke and took me with it.

"Wait!" I screamed towards the pony, raising my two front hoofs in a waving motion " I'm a good Pony!"

The pony looked up with a confused look on her face like there were others there in the room. I noticed I didn't change back into my original form. That must be the reason why she's looking baffled by my sudden plea of innocents. It didn't take me long to figure out I was still slowly changing back by the look of my hoofs. It's amazing how I can withstand the magic draining part of the change. It's like I have some endurance for it to not change me back.

I saw my chance as she paid little attention to me. It gave me time to look around to see that they brought the pie with them. I took my chance, pushing the grey pony off forcefully, quickly getting back up on my feet.

"Pie!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs towards the pie by the door in front of me. I dived head first, leaping a great distance towards it. I landed, with only the sound of a splat in the room with the sound of my face digging into the now destroyed pie.

"Was he that desperate?" A new female voice was heard from behind. I turned my head chewing on a large piece of the apple pie. Sighing in relief, I knew I was safe for awhile until I needed more nourishment.

I saw two more ponies, around my age, standing either side of the grey pony with smiles on their face. I stopped chewing to get a better look of their faces since this can go either way, I need to know what they look like. Standing on my right next to the middle one stood an orange Pegasus. Her mane and tail are a cerise colour while her style was going over her head with her fringe flicking up at the front. Her eyes were a grayish purple while her size was equal or a little bigger than me, but I can't tell with her neck bending down while her hoof covers her face with a strange gurgling noise emitting from it.

On my left stood a pale, light grayish olive earth pony. Her mane reached down as far as her chest while the top just sat above her forehead. Her mane and tail colour was an amethyst red while her eyes were orange.

"Are ya just going to stare or are you going to answer our question." The olive pony asked trying to hide from giggling.

I swallowed what was left of the pie in my mouth and proceeded to wipe the applesauce off my face. I quickly thought in my head that maybe they don't know who I am like I could change their look on me of I say the wrong words... Or be helpful if I say the right ones.

I took in a deep breath, holding it in for a second before releasing.

"Aren't you the one who stole my sisters pie?" The olive pony interrupted me as I opened my mouth.

"I...err...I mean.." I jumbled up my words upon hearing her words.

Not knowing what to say in this situation, I lowered my head knowing full well this would happen "I am truly sorry. That was my only option I could make for food if there's anything I could do to make it up to you's or your sister please tell me."

I must've said something wrong because they all changed their looks on their faces to that of caring. I was shocked to even see that face. In the hive, you always got punished or picked on if you done something like that but I decided to give it a go in this place because... They're different. I can tell by the looks they gave me and the way they're treating me right now.

"Ey we didn't mean to rude, let's just start over, I'm Applebloom," the olive pony said tilting her face with a gentle smile.

"I'm Sweetie Belle, I hope I didn't scare you when you woke up" the grey unicorn raised a hoof to her chin wondering about if I am okay.

"We should just turn him in"

"Scootaloo!!" Applebloom and Sweetie said in sync.

"Oka~y, geez. Does it even matter, but I'm Scootaloo if your wondering" she crossed her hoofs looking away from me.

I rubbed my left hoof nervously slowly, trying getting used to the three who sudden got off my back. Well apart from one anyway.

"This is probably your square room in the tree right?" I asked, only to get raised eyebrows from all three in return.

"Have you ever seen a treehouse before?" Sweetie belle asked me, flicking a hoof my way.

"A treehouse. And I'm guessing all those other square rooms in town are houses if this is a treehouse?" I asked with an enthusiastic tone.

"Where are ya from?" Apple asked.

I didn't reply to her. I couldn't reply to her for the reason of what would they think of me, would they think of me as an enemy as soon as I reveal myself or would they be afraid of me and run away. I didn't want to find out so I looked away in a gloomy motion, hoping they wouldn't ask.

They looked at each other with the same worried look just a moment ago. They must have been thinking the same thing when Sweetie Belle stepped forward.

"Is there a reason why you can't tell us?" Sweetie Belle asked me with a concerned look towards me. I tried to play along so I closed my eyes slightly hoping it would get the effect I wanted and they would just stop asking questions.

"Wait a minute!" Applebloom gasped in a surprised fashion "you don't have your cutie mark!"

I was shocked as I turned my head towards my flank to notice it was clear of anything. I didn't think about it when I met them. I looked at their cutie marks for I didn't even realize. Sweetie Belle's had a microphone with two notes on top of it indicating an arrow, Scootaloo's is a wheel with a wing clearly blocking half of the wheel, Applebloom's are two standing tailoring cloths with a leaning paintbrush on each of them. I was worried to how this would end up if I didn't say anything, only if I did, though.

"That's odd for a pony your age to not have one." Sweetie Belle said as she walked around me, checking out my posture a little more.

"How old are you exactly?" Scootaloo said to my face in an aggressive tone. I could tell she was weary of me

"I am sixteen years of age,"  I said with confidence, backing away from Scootaloo to get my personal space back.

"Same age as us, a~nd you don't have your cutie mark, don't know why you're here and you can't tell us where you're from" Sweetie Belle started going through the things we just discussed.

"No matter, just lay low a little. My sister will kill ya if she knew you hiding here" Applebloom said as she walked towards the door. The other two proceeded to follow Bloom through the door.

"If you just stay here for a while, we'll be back to check up on you once we're finished with school in Canterlot" Applebloom happily said with a smile on her face. It brought be assurance that I returned the smile with a nod in compliance.

"I am in your debt for letting me stay here in this...shelter"

Sweetie Belle popped her head in before Applebloom closed the door "looks like you'll be reviving the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Trike"

The door closed behind her giving me time to think what just happened. I just got sanctuary from three ponies, who, I don't have any relation to whatsoever, are going to help me in some way, which, I don't have a clue in what they're helping me with. I have a feeling the next time I see them it's not gonna end well for anypony.

"Didn't they say they had school in Canterlot, that was on the sign post in the forest," I said out loud to myself.

My mind thought of a million things as I stayed in the treehouse. Like what could be these so-called cutie marks mean, and why does everypony have them besides us changelings. There was only one way to find out, and that was going outside to ask around.

I made my way out of the treehouse to see the ramp was fixed with a fresh paint of blood red smeared across it. I never could tell time right, but I knew that they work fast in repairs those three. I shook off that thought by making my way into the town of Ponyville once more. This time, I had a stomach full of pie and was ready to explore more openly. My first trip was towards the library, which I checked the signs and it pointed towards an empty hole in the ground. I looked confused, rubbing my head by the hole thinking what's my next step since the library isn't there anymore. My train of thought was cut short when someone touched my shoulder, getting my attention.i turned around to see a slightly thin purple dragon, a little smaller than me holding a grocery bag.

"Is there a reason why you're standing there?" The purple dragon asked me.

I cleared my throat, hoping I get my words correctly "I was looking for the library, and it turns out it's this great big hole in the ground"

"That's been gone for ages now, but I can show you the alternative library. The names Spike by the way" Spike said as he walked backwards.

"The names..." I thought for a second. would using my real name get anyone off guard "Trike, it's a nice to meet you" ahh buck it, I'll just use it. I've already used it for the three girls earlier on so why not.

I followed Spike towards the castle's front door. I was at an awe to see the castle up close, it was majestic in its beauty I almost forgot my objective. The doors opened revealing the hallway that portrayed pictures of six ponies, including Spike as a younger dragon.

"The library is right down there, you can't miss it" Spike pointed down one of the hallways

"You'll let me walk around unsupervised?" I sudden asked.

Spike opened a random door in the castle hallway before saying "I don't think Twilight would mind you using her library anyway."

I shrugged my shoulders as Spike closed the door behind him. Everypony must be that trustworthy if they let anypony inside their house... Or castle for this matter. Nevertheless, I followed where Spike left off to go. It took a while to get to the library, but I managed to get there. My mouth gaped open as I saw bookcase after bookcase in this one large room. I groaned to myself on the sight of so many books in one room, it wasn't this large in the hive library and it only consisted of basic information. While this consisted of many more things that I have no clue about, but the information I am looking for is about cutie marks. Eventually, I managed to find the book explaining what cutie marks are, and how to make ones' library messy as buck. I found out that cutie marks are a picture of what your talent is and it can also lead to what your destiny is, depending if you take it that way. Like I am a simple changeling who can't get a cutie mark, but nopony knows that yet or they will never know I hope.  I knew I got lost in the books because the sun was replaced by the moon in the sky revealing the stars that glistened upon it. I heard voices down the hall from the library. I didn't want to alert anypony so I left in a quiet manner. I reached outside, feeling the sudden breeze that hit me. My spine shivered as it was a clear night sky. I didn't care as I walked the candle light path, enjoying the night view of the town. A lot of things went through my mind, like why were the changelings created, how were they created and why do we have to resort to such primitive method of living. I couldn't remember a time when we had to just sit back and enjoy each other's company. In all my years of being alive, which isn't that long, these few hours have taught me something. Our way is wrong.

I walked down further down the path, only to hear the sound of something large coming my way. It was an instinctive sound that was very odd and peculiar, like old man Daz trying to whistle in an explosive manner. I turned my attention to something called "Ponyville Train Station". A large moving box with wheels following a metal railing soon pulled up to the station. My eyes widen to see this moving object, it was something that us changelings could never accomplish. All we want to do is dig more holes and suck out emotions. Doors opened on the side of the box, I stood still to look back at the sign behind me. It said Train Station, so if I had to guess a name it would be Train. I had a sudden shock as I heard familiar voices to my right where I stood.

"I told you that was the best school day ever!" Scootaloo's voice was heard shouting.

"What? Getting us in detention for blowing up a section of the science room just to prove the point that 'you can do it' isn't very exciting" Sweetie Belle voice was next. The three came into sight dirty to high Chrysalis.

"No, I meant the time when somepony let loose the chimera"

"That was also you!!!" Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both screamed in sync.

I chuckled, getting the trio's attention. They walked right over without a care in the world.

"I guess you didn't stay in that treehouse for long" Applebloom spoke to me with a sense of kindness "I would too if I was stuck inside while we were out all day"

"You don't mind," I stated with a gentle voice.

"I don't see what's wrong in seeing the town" Scootaloo didn't sound aggressive this time, I wasn't sure what changed her attitude but I must be thankful for what, or who, ever did.

"The library anyway," I said in a gentle voice again.

"First our treehouse and now Princess Twilights' castle. You need to find a new hobby with this breaking and entering" Sweetie Belle couldn't help but giggle.

"A dragon named-"

"We know Spike let you in, he sent a letter to Twilight" Scootaloo interrupted me, making the other two slowly turn their heads to her.

"She's going to be there all week long because of you, and your 'I can do it' point" Applebloom sarcastically said, making her blush a little with embarrassment.

"It's getting late so I will head to the treehouse," I said walking backwards away from the station. I noticed the three looked at each other, their faces were that of worry.

"Are you sure you want to sleep in that cold, old treehouse?" Sweetie Belle asked.

I looked away while rubbing my left leg. Because I knew there would be a higher chance of me getting caught than sleeping on my own in a cold damp treehouse.

"I...I-I...don't know" I mumbled with pure intent.

"You can't stay with me. My sister would probably, still be mad at you." Applebloom said with an uncertain voice of tone.

"I don't think my mother would be too happy if I brought home somepony she doesn't know," Scootaloo stated, turning her head towards Sweetie Belle who's face just drops with acceptance.

"I guess it's a sleepover at the Boutique"

I couldn't muster a word out. They were so fixated on what to do with me than I am. I mean, I would be fine sleeping in the treehouse. It doesn't bother me one bit since I live in a whole in the ground, technically. But I just chuckled as they continued to argue non-stop for me. It was a different feeling than my mother and father caring for me, it was like something inside me was trying to get out and thank them. Soon they stopped and I was on my way towards the Boutique with Sweetie Belle. We didn't say a single word to each other on the way there, she kept her head high with a smile on her face. It felt awkward at first, but it felt good after a while for the peace and quiet that was around us was blissful.

"Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where I and my sister Rarity live and sleep," She said at the front door to the weird armour shop. Sweetie Belle unlocked the door to the unlit Boutique and proceeded inside.

"You will have to sleep in the guest room, next to mine. I just hope Rarity doesn't get a hissy fit that I brought home a colt with me" Sweetie Belle joked, making me laugh under my voice.

"Well, I hope the adventure tag in the story doesn't mean what I think it means" I chuckled lightly.

"Don't break the 4th wall, that's Pinkie's domain" Sweetie Belle grinned as she shook her head.

I just hope this doesn't go wrong in this morning. But I have a feeling that it will like always.