Towards The Horizon

Morning came over in an instant with the rising sun confirming that. I didn't want to wake up. The rays of sunlight shining through the blowing drapes caught my right eye, making me move up my right hoof to block it. Yet I still felt the ray of sunlight on my eye. I growled as I opened my right eye to see my body was back to normal, I could tell by my colour and how there were holes in my hoof confirming I've changed back. I didn't want to waste any more magic until it was necessary for me to do so. I sat up from the place I slept to look at my surroundings a bit more clearly. The guest room had a couple of stuffed teddies with multiple mannequins placed everywhere around the room, in turn creeped me out galore. I noticed it had an on suit across the room where I am sitting. Next was the double sized, purple bed next to me. It felt odd to sleep in that warm cozy bed, in the hive we always had to sleep in our cocoon pods or on the floor. So I did, I slept on the floor which just seemed natural to me. I stood up from my position and made my way towards the bathroom. The room was dark and chilly making feel right at home. Wait, home?! I suddenly thought to myself, I was gone for an entire day without returning back to the hive. Would they be mad at me if I go back now, or would I be banished for disobeying the orders of the hive? I shook my head trying to forget about the thought of being banished. Something tapped my head as I stopped. It was a string which was connected to the ceiling. I tapped my chin with my hoof for a split second before pulling on it. I jumped out of the room as a bright light flickered in the bathroom. It spooked me to high Chrysalis that an independent light source, other from a candle or magic spell could produce. I didn't want to be caught up in wasting my time in a light source that I have no clue about. The bathroom was quite large in size, it was large enough for a really posh looking bath and toilet while the sink was fancy with a weird white bar of unknown origin on the side while a reflection of myself was on the wall. I could see myself within without any distortions whatsoever, like when we look into the water to see our self but without small waves distorting our own image. I looked into the reflection to see my front mane over to one side than my entire face. My eyes brought a cold dark feeling that swelled up inside me, even I didn't want to look at my eyes. My ears dropped back as I looked down to the thought of everypony hating me if they found out. I immediately turned back into the beige unicorn. Nothing changed except my colour and mane, I wondered why I couldn't change my eyes and tail completely, it just felt slightly awkward to me anyway. I raised my hoof towards the reflection to feel a cold sensation as I made contact with it. I wanted everypony to know who and what I am, but I'm still afraid of what might happen if I do so.

My attention soon drifted beneath my hoof at the unknown white bar. My stomach caught my attention as I stared towards the bar, licking my lips with slight hunger. I picked up the white bar with my hoof and slowly brought it to my mouth. I didn't hesitate to take a large chunk out of the white bar. An instant unpleasant taste came to my mouth making me freeze in place.

"Trike, are you up yet?" I heard Sweetie Belle's voice echo across the bathroom walls. The bedroom door opened with the white unicorn looking around the room.

"There you ar-" She stopped her sentence, her sight was on the half eaten white bar in my hoof and my unpleasant face looking towards her displeasingly. She giggled, clearly trying her hardest not to laugh at the sight on me "You know you're not supposed to eat the soap right."

I opened my mouth and slid the disgusting thing they call soap off my tongue into the sink. I placed the soap where it was before I picked it up and innocently grinned towards Sweetie Belle, who just shook her head giggling towards me.

"I've made some breakfast, but if you want to go ahead and eat your delicious soap." Sweetie Belle paused, still trying not to laugh out loud  "You can."

"I think I'll pass on this so called soap," I said innocently rubbing the back of my neck. We both went out of the bedroom towards the kitchen just across the room. It was plain and simple enough, a window on the right where the tables and chairs are while the back of the room was filled with cupboards and an oven. The breakfast Sweetie Belle made was already on the table. I couldn't tell what it was, but I guess it's something editable since she dived straight into it. It was a sort of yellow substance on top of bread. I observed Sweetie Belle eat with these two metal objects that were also placed on my side of the table. I picked up the one with four picks and started to dig in. My eyes widen as the substance entered my mouth, it was smooth and silky and yet with a sweet taste. I couldn't help my excitement so I started to shake in place on the chair with my two hoofs up towards my face.

"Is it that good?" Sweetie asked me.

"Its a lot better than that bar of soap," I mumbled with a mouth full of food.

Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow, pointing the four pick metal object towards me saying "I can go and get if you want?" cheekily

"Buck no," I said chuckling with laughter alongside with Sweetie Belle.

It was different, waking up in the morning to be greeted with such pleasantries. In the hive, we get up to the sound of a large chime that echoes around the hive and into our ears, indicating it was morning. But here... It felt much more peaceful. I wasn't disturbed when I got up, I had time to check myself over and there wasn't any screaming or arguing involved. I couldn't help but stare at Sweetie Belle with a smile as I rested on my front hoofs on the table. I must've stared at Sweetie Belle for some time as she talked about herself and her friends about the times in the Cutie Mark Crusaders. It got me thinking. If us changelings can't obtain cutie marks, would it be a possibility for a halfling to obtain one. I mean, I'm not entirely a full changeling. I knew my mother had to be something else. That's when I thought maybe I could get one of my own, or at least try to some extent. Well I only figured it out yesterday when I was in the library

"Trike?" Sweetie Belle's voice brought me back to reality "So what do you think of the idea?"

I forgot she was talking while on my train of thought "About the idea of yo~u..." I prolonged, only to see her roll her eyes towards me.

"About the idea of finding your cutie mark. We aren't allowed in school today because of Scootaloo's little- 'experiment'." She sarcastically quoted about the orange Pegasus "But I think we could at least have some fun finding your mark. How does that sound?" She said with an enthusiastic tone and a glint in her eyes towards me.

I think they must've been really bored before I got here. Probably, they were running low on ideas to do or since they found out what they're good at they couldn't try anything else. But I knew this was for sure, I made something called friends in this town. Even though I'm lying to them about my identity, I can still call them friends... I think.

Sweetie Belle got up from her seat and went by me out of the kitchen. I followed beside her all the way towards the centre of town. It wasn't all that bad, I got to see the town centre without any interruptions. There weren't any problems this time, I had a full stomach, I had a guide and everypony looked at me with a joyful greeting; probably because of Sweetie Belle. The town hall, as they call it, was a lot more spacious on the inside than I had predicted. It didn't take long to find Applebloom and Scootaloo. They were standing by the stage at the back of the hall. By the looks of it, it had three levels that circled the building. I am amazed at how other ponies can build such marvelous things in odd shapes. I ain't saying I dislike it, but I will say the shape makes me feel... A little off so to speak. Nether than less, I am happy to be with these three. The trio/three make me feel good and wanted more than the hive. They're willing to help me obtain a cutie mark, even though I'm a changeling in disguise and can't obtain one to my knowledge so far.

"How was your stay at the Boutique?" Applebloom asked me.

"Soapy," I replied only to get a confused look back in return.

"He started to eat a bar of soap when I walked in on him." Sweetie Belle said with a crooked smile, trying not to giggle.

"Soap. As in, the clean yourself with soap."

]

"Is there any other kind of soap?" I saw Sweetie and Applebloom have a desperate confiscation on their own. I noticed Scootaloo was playing around with a small pebble on the ground with a bored expression all over her. I only just noticed these three were so different and yet they put up with each other in a happy way. Eventually, I got bored too so I started to walk around the hall for a couple of minutes admiring the view of the building. Soon the girls stopped their conversation and forced me out of the building, so I guess they planned something while I wasn't looking or hearing.

"So where we heading?" I asked the three around me as we moved through Ponyville.

"What we learned is that, apparently, you're good at acrobatics and gaining knowledge correct?" Scootaloo asked as she walked behind me.

"How did you come to that con-"

"I overheard my sister saying you flipped over her wagon while landing perfectly AND grabbing a pie in mid-flight," Applebloom stated, "Also Spike saw you in the Castle's library nearly all afternoon afterwards reading."

I was never that good at acrobatics, I mean yeah, I have basic skills but not too advanced. The hive taught us all the basic moves and skills, but only the chosen ones who go into the Queens guard and army are given more advanced training. With books and reading up on all kinds of knowledge, it was an easy escape route from the day and night cycle of continuously digging. It didn't help I had no friends, but that doesn't matter at this moment in time. So whatever they have planned, I hope its something simple.

We arrived at our destination within a grassy green meadow. I looked around to notice a lot of random structures built around the meadow. I was shocked to see they built the lot on their own in one night. I mean, I didn't know I was worth the trouble to them or they would gain anything if they did help me. But seeing them smile actually put a smile on my face. The sight of the structures sent shivers down my spine because in the hive we always had a safety net margin in place. Here, I see a large tower with large wooden pylons sticking out with rope placed everywhere. I can't get scared, not now. This is an experiment now, to see if I can obtain a cutie mark and maybe to figure out what I'm good at. But as I say, it is only an experiment.

"what? are you scared?" I heard Scootaloo sarcastically giggle behind me.

"Scootaloo!!" the other two said in unison. It was funny to hear them from my end because it's technically my first time enjoying myself with others other than my own kind. In fact, I never did enjoy being with my own kind apart from my parents.

"Me, scared, a little. I mean, it's the first time I'm ever doing something like this for a different purpose than training."

"Training?" The trio said together. I suddenly chuckled as I turned my head towards them dropping a sweat "Don't worry."

The trio must have looked at me weirdly as I made my way towards the first wooden pylon. It could have been my imagination, but I think they felt nervous mixed with a little joy. Letting out even a little of my origin is dangerous. For what I learned within the library is that the changeling's assaulted Canterlot and tried to butcher Ponyville for the failure of the assault on Canterlot. If it's any consultation, even I would be scared about my kind.

"Are you going to attempt it?" Sweetie Belle asked me with puppy eyes. It almost felt like they weren't going to let me go even if I did say no.

"I'll try. Besides, this looks like fun." I said as I leaped on top of the first wooden pylon that was sticking out sideways. I landed on four hoofs on top of the wooden pylon. It happened so suddenly, I lost my footing resulting in my collapse onto the first pylon face first.

"You okay?!" Applebloom shouted towards me with the other two clenching their teeth.

I miraculously kept my body on the pylon, trying to put all my weight around the pylon. It was shocking, I never knew I could lose my skill in this kind of situation. But why did it have to happen at this time of day. Like what happened back the wagon was a spur of the moment of me remembering my skills back when I had them. It sounds stupid, it kinda sounds like I'm saying I saved my skill in my pocket for a rainy day, which is impossible. But the mind can be a very scary thing if you know how to use it.

"I'll be fine. I can fl-" I stopped mid-sentence in realisation about my disguise "Err... fling straight up there."

"Fling straight up there? we just saw you trip over on the first jump if you continue your gonna get yourself killed." Scootaloo sounded worried there for a second. Almost like she actually cared for a brief moment.

I didn't listen anyway. I made the promise a second ago and I will see that promise is done, it's my first promise to anypony ever. I shook off my worry and my mind went blank apart from my vision. It was like lighting, my body moved on its own without my consent. It leaped onto the next pylon with ease. It didn't take long for the trio to scream up to me to get down from it. As I made it halfway up the large spire I could feel a strange chill down my spine with my stomach tightening up. It felt painful as I continued to climb one after another. My body even started to swing round and round on one pylon to get a great leap upwards. It was official in my mind, I couldn't control my body one bit. A minute later I reached the top with little effort. The top was a flat surface the size of a small round table. where I faced I could see the whole forest in all its splendor. I could see the flow of the wind blowing towards the mountain where my real home is... I wonder if my parents are worried, or if anyone in the hive misses me. It's not like they were my friends in the first place, but it would be nice to know they are worried for me.

"Trike!!" Sweetie Belle's voice grabbed my attention from the ground behind me. It sounds like she's happy for me not falling to my death.

I took in a deep breath before I turned round towards the trio on the ground. My smile faded from my face as my eyes averted from them. The sight of Ponyville from my height took my breath away, just like my first time seeing the outside world other than the hive. I saw multiple colorful buildings with small furnished forestry around them that blended in perfectly. I noticed different colored ponies wandering and laughing with their friends, I even noticed small foals frolicking about in a park. The view wasn't better than my first sight on the outside, but I could say it had a different feeling. Happiness, anger, anguish, sadness, and most of all, jealousy. I was jealous of them, they have everything they want. A place to live outside, food, water, living without regret... Friends who care for you, unlike my home back at the hive. I mean, who was the pony to blame every time there was trouble, who was picked on every day I was there... knowing I could never have a good life I want

"Thinking anything good up there!?" Sweetie Belle shouted up towards me, pulling my attention away from the sweet soothing view.

"Just admiring the view..." I turned my attention back towards the town muttering the last words "Hoping it lasts"

"What?" Applebloom shouted up.

I sighed as a big gust of wind blew in my face slowly knocking back towards the edge of the table sized pole. For once I figure I know why we live downhole in a mountain. We're a scary race that feeds off emotion, we crush civilizations to their knees and we nearly all the look the same who can change into anypony. I can see why we are secluded from the world... But I don't want that. I want to-argh. I raised my hoofs to my head from the sudden pain coursing through my veins. What in Tartarus is happening?

"...ed..."

I heard a faint female voice as the pain became more fierce. I held one hoof on my head with one eye open looking around on the empty view to finding where it originated from. As I searched it my eyes became blurred with a shade of green coloring everything I could see. It felt like someone was kicking me repeatedly over and over in the head while setting me alight with fire on my body.

"...feed....now.."

There it is again. Feed? what do you want me to eat? there's no nourishment...a part from. My eyes reverted back to the trio on the ground, this time I could smell something sweet emitting from them. I couldn't make it out clearly, it almost feels like bliss as I can smell them. It subsides the pain and replaces it with pleasure.... I want to try some-no! you can't, their your friends.

"Friends.....you...have...no friends"

"Shut whoever you are!!" I screamed out in agony. It sounded like the voice was coming from inside my head.

"Trike, are you okay?!" Applebloom screamed back up towards me. I looked down to see the three looking shocked to see me in this state. I even shed a tear because it was so intense.

"It can stop at any time you know." The voice sounded clearer now. A little too much clearer if you ask me, but if this pain doesn't stop I might not be able to control myself "all you have to do is feed on them...make them into one of us"

One of us? what does it mean by that? Am I losing my senses or my mind? I can't stop the pain. It was spontaneous, like a lightning bolt hitting the ground. My body had a mind of its own but this time I could feel it. I could feel the hunger, the relief and pleasure as I stared towards them on the ground. The smell captivated me even more as I stared down towards their concerned faces.

"Just let your instincts guide you my subject, let the smell of their emotions engulf you and attack."

I couldn't resist so I leaped from the pylon, licking my lips with a strong urge to feed towards the trio.

"Trike!!!" the three screamed in worry towards me as I fell towards them. But wait, they averted their eyes from me after they said my name. It came in an instant. A rainbow maned, blue pony flew towards me at incredible speed. I noticed they were wearing a blue jumpsuit with a lighting bolt on it. It shook me from my blind instincts and forced me to flinch. They collided into my side as I fell down from the pylon. It was like a boulder hitting me head on into the side. At such speed would've broken my neck but I felt arms wrap around me taking me with surprise. By chance, it feels like an accident and wasn't planned. All I hope is that they didn't figure out who I really am. I tried to look where we were going to land. Except all I could see was the world spinning around and around because of a spiral motion our bodies were in. I did, in fact, hear the three's voices as I continued to fly to where ever we're going to land, as it felt forever for us. I'm starting to feel a little dizzy... And sick from this spinning around. We had to have flown pretty far away, and it looks like she's unconscious from taking a direct hit into my side. It's risky but I'm going to have to balance our weight and come to a stop with my wings before this becomes drastic. I Transformed my middle body to bring out my wings from the transformation. I hated my blackness, my colour just reminded me of being a changeling... well not to mention my ability to transform reminds me. I held the blue pegasus tight as I took the gamble and pushed my weight up with my wings to come to a stop in mid-air. It was lucky, I stopped before I hit a large tree far away from Ponyville. I chuckled as I looked at the pegasus face to noticed she was a mare sleeping soundly in my arms. Wait? The pain... It's gone? Was all I needed a hit to make it subside. I grateful, she basically saved my friends... And me from revealing my secret. I made a safe landing on the grassy green by the tree. I laid the blue mare underneath the tree in the shade. It kinda felt good with the whole imminent danger scenario but what was that pain that came over a second ago.

"Whatever it is, I better figure something out." I held my head and side, feeling a little woozy myself "Or my secret...Might..."

My head became blank and my sight was cut off. I fell to the floor by the feeling of my head hitting a brick. My feeling soon dissipated to the point of me feeling nothing at all with no sight or hearing....Sleep, that all I need right now......Sleep.