Towards The Horizon

"What do you mean he's gone?!" Chrysalis raised her voice for it to echo off the throne rooms' walls. The throne room was located dead centre of the hive within the mountain. It's a location that protected the Queen of the changeling's while keeping her reach of every changeling within the hive. The throne room consisted of a small, freshly clean wooden door which looked out of place because it's the Queens' throne room and she only deserves the best but she was stuck with. There are large, black banners placed all over the throne room on equal sides. On the banners was a pure black changeling head with magic spewing out of the horn in a circle motion. There was a large throne for the Queen herself to lay on it with extra leg room so she could keep her four legs up and rest comfortably. Standing around the room were changeling after changelings wearing a full armour set that almost made them look like a demon holding giant spears.

"My little Trike's gone off on an adventure. Just like what he always dreamed of doing ever since he was little. You and I both knew it was going to happen someday Chrysalis." Trike's mother said with pride, smile with proudness in her heart for her little changeling colt.

"A changeling is never to leave the Queen and her hive without permission, nor, disobey strict orders from the superior changelings. So care to explain to me why his instincts have not kicked in and returned to the hive by sundown?!" Chrysalis shouted even louder making the room full of changelings cover their ears in pain apart from the Mother, who sighed in response.

"We both know the answer to that question. Now, if you don't mind, I have something better to do." Trike's Mother turned and made her way towards the small exit while, coldly, flicking her tail as she walked past the terrified guards.

"Come back here this once!!"  Chrysalis roared towards the black, orange mane, Changeling, only to get ignored. Chrysalis watched Trike's mother leave the throne room, enraging her to snarl at one of her changeling guards. It didn't take long before she unleashed a massive magic blast towards the guard, disintegrating them to nothing but a pile of ash. All the guards in the room cowered to the floor shielding their eyes from the wrath of their Queen. Chrysalis was breathing erratically from her little outburst of rage. For her, it was just another day with "That nuisance.". Everypony in the hive knew that the Queen personally didn't like her for many reasons, but they still don't know why she's there in the first place, or how she survived this long.

"Why do you keep her here, my Queen?" One of the guards bravely stood up above the rest asking the Queen. Chrysalis turned her attention towards the guard in a violent manner with her wrathful gaze making him flinch with one hoof off the ground.

"Do not stick your nose in places it should not, Minion." The Queen replied to the guard with irritation in her voice.

"But?"

"Maybe I did not make myself clear!" Chrysalis growled beneath her crystal white teeth towards the changeling guard.

The guard bailed out of the throne room forthwith. Chrysalis grunted in annoyance as she sat back down resting on the throne. She has her reasons for the cold and fearsome acting. One being, she has to keep up an appearance after they had to go into hiding but, she knew inside, that the time to focus on rebuilding the changeling race was now. Even if problems after problems keep arising one after another.  It is chaotic in the hive at this crucial time and she needs to keep track on everypony within the hive. Chrysalis rubbed her forehead with the two front hoofs trying to relieve a headache that swelled inside her. With the time of staying hidden from Equestria and rebuilding almost felt painful and annoying and now she has a young changeling running around outside without a leash while his mother becomes more of a hindrance. The Queen sent regular patrols last night trying to find him but came up empty hoofed. The Queen was still recovering from the injuries sustained from the attack on Canterlot and Ponyville. Building stress will worsen her recovery to full health. The guards standing around the throne room knew something was going to go down in a perverse way; even the Queen knew something bad was going to happen shortly which put more stress on her. But like all drones, they never bothered in asking questions and stayed with the Queen no matter what because their loyalty to her was vast and never dwindled. But, thoughts of their Queen not telling them about it made them question their self's.

I never knew I could feel so relaxed at this moment in time. Was it from the fact I tried to climb a large wooden pole with pylons sticking out of it, or could it be I was just tired of staying up all night trying to make a hammock in the bedroom. Anyway, I could feel the tender grass on all four legs while my head rested on some fluffy pillow. It felt like I was floating on air with a pleasant smell of the fresh outdoors that tickled my nose. What happened anyway? Did I do something wrong as I climbed that large pylon because I could not remember it one bit, well, apart from small details that I can't make sense of? Let's recap shall we. Okay, first Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom agreed to help me with obtaining a cutie mark so they built a jungle gym or obstacle course to test my athletic skills. Once I managed to lose control of my body and reached the top I...I... Was it my imagination or could I remember a faint smell of apple pie my mum always brings home every now and again. All I could say is that it smelt good. Then I think a large object hit me out of nowhere and now, I guess, I'm laying down underneath a tree with my eyes closed. Wait? Object? If I remember correctly, it wasn't an object but somepony, a pegasus to be exact. I started to move my left hoof up and down to feel a somewhat furry object where the fluffy pillow was.

"That's a little too close for comfort don't ya think?" I heard a female's voice that I didn't recognise. It sounded close making me curious who it was. I rubbed my eyes, wiping the sleep away so my eyes could open without any irritations. My eyesight was blurred out but I knew I was in the shade as it was dark around me with sunlight touching the shadow's edge. It didn't take long for me to realise what she meant. My eyes focused to a perfect point of two cerise eyes looking at me. That's when my brain hit me, I remembered a sudden cyan pegasus flew straight into me as I jumped down from the pole. I remember now, I lost senses with my body from a sweet smell that emitted from the trio on the ground. Why did I lose my senses, there must an explanation for this as why I lost them in the first place.

"Can you move away... It's kinda creepy when your just staring into my eyes," she awkwardly squinted her left eye a little towards me making me feel abashed.

"I..Err...Sor-"

"Trike?! Rainbow Dash?!" Applebloom's shocked voice reached our ears making me leap up from the cyan Pegasus in an instant, turning round to see the trio starring at me with odd eyes.

"It's not what you think!" Rainbow tried to smoothly speak only for it to come out wrong "You know I just crashed, right?" She turned her head towards me with confidence. It felt wrong like she was trying to push the blame onto me slightly, so I did what no changeling would do...

"Yeah, you crashed into me when I was falling from jumping and you fell unconscious from impacting into my body." tell the truth.

"Lies!!" Rainbow defended herself by pounding her left hoof on the ground before flying off spontaneously in quick succession. The four of us watched as the rainbow mane Pegasus flew away in a blink of an eye.

"Was it something I said?" I said awkwardly, rubbing my neck as she flew further and further away. It wasn't my fault that she crashed into me... Right?

"Don't blame yourself Trike. She's always been like that." Scootaloo chuckled as she gave me a nudge bringing me out of my daze from the flying Pegasus.

"I've established her names Rainbow but what was that outfit she was wearing?"

"It's a Wonderbolt flight suit! She's the new captain of the elite Squad who only take orders from the Princesses!" Scootaloo's voice was filled with pride bringing me to a slight smile "They fly around doing all sorts of different aerodynamic manoeuvres that are so awesome she even performed a doub-"

"Okay Scoot, calm down." Applebloom giggled towards the overjoyed orange Pegasus, cutting her off so she can catch her breath.

It makes me smile when I see these three having fun, it feels like they have this aura to make anypony happy around them. But, I did notice Sweetie Belle's face look at me with concern... but I sensed something else, was it caution, worry... or fear. I could roughly tell by the look in her eyes and how her body frigid around as she stared at me. She didn't say a word after that moment, for awhile actually, while me, Applebloom and Scootaloo had our own conversation. It felt odd with Sweetie Belle just staring at me without saying any words. Does she know? were the words going through my head. But, if she does know, why isn't she telling her friends. Could she be in constant thought of it like I am or is she thinking of how to get rid of me in secret without the others knowing... No, I'm just over thinking this, she can't know for certain I am a changeling in a unicorn disguise. But, I think its time to be more careful around Sweetie for now on.

"Sweetie Belle?" Applebloom grabbed her attention making her smile once more, but it felt fake to anypony or changeling who could read emotions very easily "You've been quiet for some time, something on your mind?"

"I...err." Sweetie Belle hesitated as she tried to speak "Is your sister calling you Bloom?" Sweetie tried to change the subject and hopefully get her away.

"Really?" Applebloom looked off in the distance towards apple trees that held a scarlet red barn in the centre of them. "If so, I better go and check what she wants. I'll meet you at school tomorrow then." Applebloom said as she galloped off towards the apple trees.

"Oh, horseshoes!" Scootaloo said in shock, grabbing our attention as Applebloom went out of sight "I have the punishment homework I need to complete by tomorrow, I'll catch you guys later!" she finished, running off towards Ponyville before Sweetie or I had time to say anything. I didn't know if it was planned or by chance that we're alone, but, I could clearly tell Sweetie was afraid. I watched Sweetie's expression suddenly change to that of anger towards me. If I had to guess, I've been seen or something else is being planned without me and her knowing,

"What are you?" Sweetie Belle asked me with a deadly serious look. Her stare brought shivers down my spine because it looked like I was caught red-hoofed "If Rainbow was unconscious then how the buck did you land safely with no wings?" a deep sigh left my nostrils in relief. For a second there I thought she saw me transform but I guess I can work with this.

"I managed to land safely by spreading out Rainbows wings so we glided down no problem." A gentle fake smile appeared on my face as I answered the questioning unicorn. She squinted her eyes evaluating my answer to her.

"Listen here Trike. I know you're not bad but I know what I think, and usually, I'm never wrong. You're something else because that doesn't make sense... I'm keeping a close eye on you... Even if Applebloom and Scootaloo don't see it." Sweetie Belle assertively spoke towards my face. She must have felt a little cautious because she kept a close eye on me all the way back towards the Boutique. I don't know if it was supposed to play out like that but, I can say for sure is she never took her eyes off me for one second, Even when I found out, and used this brilliant invention called; the toilet. For some reason she really thinks I'm something else. Even though I am something else with this unicorn disguise, I can't be too careful with my magic... and I have to pay even more attention towards my stomach. Why does my stomach tell me my magic is running low, it doesn't happen with any other changeling but me. The day went by in a flash when we got to the Boutique as I helped Sweetie Belle around the dusty place. I was assigned to clean the top floors while she focused on the ground floor, it felt like she gave all the work as I cleaned a gorgeous room on the top floor with nothing but a sponge and bucket. It was my first time in this duty called, cleaning. this activity was supposed to have a pale of water and a mob but she only had one so I got a sponge and a bucket of bubbly water. When I asked what the bubbles were a smirk appeared on her face chuckling in laughter "Soap.". My face turned blank as I remembered that horrid taste. If things were different I would probably be living in that treehouse for the remainder of my time out here, so I'm kind of grateful they found me. I noticed as I cleaned there were a lot of colourful and interesting attire on mannequins where armour is supposed to be placed. I wonder who made them because they look... what's the word that would describe them... oddly cute maybe. Where I stand I can clearly see a part of a tree log was placed on top of the back with weird shells dangling around the neck area. Who in Equestria would produce such weird creativity?

"Sweetie Belle!?" I heard a different females voice through an open window. I peered my head out to see the top of a fancy, wooden straw hat and purple dress. I raised a brow in curiosity as I saw Spike carrying bags upon bags with one hand into the Boutique, like, who gets that many boxes that usually have nothing in them, it's just silly and stupid. The two were welcomed in by Sweetie belle who opened the door taking in a couple of boxes off Spike. I couldn't help but think, there were a lot of ponies in this small town... but the question that filled my mind, why was a castle that looks like the treehouse here? I immediately heard a large crash downstairs breaking my train of thought away. Spike must have dropped all that weight he was carrying at once. I made my way down the staircase in curiosity to see the back of Spike and the new pony speaking towards Sweetie Belle who had a huge smile on her face. But the smile, it changed to that of disgust as Sweetie's eyes caught a glimpse of me in the background with a couple of rapid blinks in shock.

"Err...hello?" I spoke up pulling their attention away from Sweetie Belle who lowered her head with a deep sigh. I sort of knew she didn't want them to find out about me, making me clean all upstairs was too obvious, but it's too late now.

"Trike?" Spike answered my greeting with a moderate grin "Fancy meeting you here with Sweetie Belle, how was the training session with them? Did it go according to plan?...also you forgot to lock up behind you yesterday." The purple dragon finished looking back towards Sweetie Belle who's eyes were fixated on me in a foul way making me uncomfortable.

"That's no way a lady should look at somepony Sweetie Belle!" The female pony answered Sweetie's foul glare that suddenly changed to a fake innocent smile "I do apologise for Sweetie's rudeness towards you, Trike. She doesn't mean anything by it."

My eyes widened from the lucent white unicorns' glistening smile like it was filling my insides with radiance. The females clear white coat matched her dark purple dress. Her indigo mane gave me goosebumps as I watched it swerve round showing the pony's clear azure coloured eyes. I could tell, from not just her aura but her complexion as well, she was a pure lady. Her mane went to her left side in multiple swirls, but my guess she has it in a different way because the straw hat on her head was blocking all other sights of it.

"What are you staring at dear, am I that ravishing in this dress?" The unicorn flicked her mane out as she posed to the left with a smile while her eye stayed on me.

"Ravishing isn't the word I'd use," I replied with an astonished tone.

"That's my sister you're talking about?!" Sweetie Belle shouted in surprise taking a step forward to the three.

"Rarity's more beautiful than any gem I've ever seen," Spike spoke out his thoughts as he gazed over the unicorn who blushed.

"Oh, Spike. You always know what to say to make me feel great."

"You two get a room already!" Sweetie Belle yelled slamming her two front hoofs on the ground "It's bad enough I see you two kissing nearly every morning. But hearing you talk like that makes me cringe."

I couldn't help but scratch my head over Sweetie's comment "Why would you cringe over something so trivial? It's common that a male and female only come together for mating purposes to produce a foal." The trio looked at me with a confused gaze as if they couldn't process what I just said.

"Where ever did you hear that from Trike?" Rarity asked with a little chuckle of disbelief.

"I...Thought it worked like that everywhere?" I said taking a step backwards towards the staircase nervously.

"Love is a very complex emotion that can not be explained very easily, it's like... Granny's Smith's apple pie."

"Smooth and silky pastry with a sweet filling, how does that relate to Love?" I scratched my head at Rarity's answer only for the three to have concerning expressions for me. I know that was a stupid rejoinder but I was being serious towards them. How can love be that important? Yes, it is our main food source for a changeling. But for us changelings, even we have feelings, anger, sadness, jealousy. So I guess having love in there would count, I mean, I love my parents. Is that what they're talking about, love for their parents type of love? That wouldn't imply anything, in fact, it would counteract the whole purpose of love-

"Are you having a discussion in your mind again?" Sweetie Belle said with a straight face looking at me expressionless like it was normal to her.

"Would it be like loving one's parents?" I asked tapping my chin.

"Sort of." Trike answered looking unsure "Think a deeper feeling as if you want to hold that one special mare in your arms or hoofs forever. It's a sense of spending your entire life with them, having a family of your own. That kind of feeling."

"A feeling of wanting somepony to be with forever feels cheesy," I replied walking through the Boutique towards the door.

"That's love for you. Everypony has their own way of looking at it." Rarity said as she walked towards the stairs with Spike following suit. I said my greetings to a new pony in this town, turns out she owns the Boutique and makes these "Dresses" for ponies who want to look stylish. Well, I said hi and bye to them because I wanted to see what the town has to offer fully. And maybe find some other ponies to greet. I walked out the front door with Sweetie Belle at my side. It made me feel slightly awkward because she was watching my every movement as well as every word I said towards the Ponies around Ponyville. At one point, she even used her magic to pick me and throw me into the fountain located in the centre of town for a laugh. I even greeted the mayor of Ponyville, she was kind and polite enough to show me the blueprints and history of the place. I was astonished how the ponies created these houses and stores. They used construction materials to create these houses while the hive burrow more tunnels into the ground making it larger than before. They also respect the mayor like a leader of an army, they listen, do and follow her with their heads held up high with no fear or aggression. It makes me kind of sad not being able to have the same feeling of respect towards my dreaded superiors.

The hours past Sweetie and me as we went around Ponyville. I ain't going to lie, I did try and attempt to get rid of Sweetie Belle by going down passageways with twists and turns. If you had somepony stalking your every move, you would too, right? At this moment in time, we are outside Sugarcube corner eating this amazing cake called, a triple choco muffin. It was so sweet and smooth with the frosting on it. I can't believe this is how ponies live. This thought of sadness hit me deep inside as I froze from eating the muffin. I must have had the expression on my face because I noticed Sweetie look at me with deep worry. I shook my head with a chuckle before eating the rest of the muffin in one gulp, covering my muzzle in chocolate frosting. The result made Sweetie smile for a brief moment, turning back to that of worry knowing something was worrying me. I keep saying this in my head over and over, I am a changeling, I only have one purpose and it is to serve my Queen. I smiled towards Sweetie who took another bite of her muffin. When she took a bite from her muffin I felt another surge or pulse echo through my body. I remember this feeling, it was like this morning with the wooden pole. This time it wasn't that bad, I didn't feel any loss consciousness, instead it filled me with a warning of danger. We sat outside Sugarcube corner at a time where it wasn't so crowded. I noticed everything that went on around me, including a small alligator licking its eyes and staring towards me. If that didn't make me feel uncomfortable I don't know what will.

I faced back towards Sweetie Belle to see she was happily enjoying her muffin, her smile was contagious making me smile ever so slightly. I couldn't tell if it was something playing up inside me but one thing is for sure, I knew I was having fun here in Ponyville. It started again, whenever I look at Sweetie or anypony else I could feel a strange pulse inside me. This time, it felt controllable like it wasn't going to burst out. The same sweet smell filled the air around me, it could have been from the cakes and what not but it was the same as last time earlier this morning. Of all the places, why did it have to be today problems starting to arise. I turned my head round to notice strange red mist coming from everypony. It was scary at first, a strange red mist coming from every single pony around you was sweet, from the smell I mean.

"Trike, are you okay?" Sweetie asked me as if she was worried. I thought she was weary about me but it seems it goes back to the old ways of trust.

"Yeah..." I said nervously, trying to look around for an excuse "The flowers everywhere are nice."

Sweetie looks at me with a slight shock across her face, probably from thinking I'm not the type to look around at the decor... And she's right but I hope it would sort itself out.

"You haven't met them yet have you?" Sweetie asked me.

"Met who?"

"The three mares that do all the gardening. And there they are right now." Sweetie pointed out towards a cart full of different colour flowers of all shapes and sizes "The one with the green mane is Daisy, the one with the rose coloured mane is Roseluck and the one with a slight golden mane are Lily Valley."

I turned to where she pointed to notice them rearranging flowers in a pretty pattern even they had a strange red aura over them... wait? I squinted my eyes to look towards them a little more closely. Only Roseluck and Daisy had the strange red mist over them. I watched Lily Valley go about her routine of sorting out the flowers. I watched for ten minutes towards her to figure out she just moved the same flowers around in a circle while looking around towards the other two with a smile. But her eyes explained a different story like they were filled with anger and hunger.

I turned towards Sweetie who just finished her muffin with a fake smile "Would you excuse me for just a second."

"Inside to the left is the customer toilets, I think they'll let you use it." On Sweetie's words, I left the table with speed. I got out of Sweetie Belle's sight instantly by going around Sugarcube. Without being spotted, I made my way round to a good distance away from the anypony. My heart raced as this was the first time I'm ever going to spy on somepony. Excitement filled my body making me get goosebumps. I felt like something was off as I saw Lily Valley wave towards her friends, I can confirm she never had a red mist over her. I followed her round the town, diving into barrels and hay carts to cover myself from sight. She came to a stop from a dark alleyway, smirking evilly for a second before walking down the alleyway. I got curious and moved closer to the alleyway, ducking behind a large cardboard box. I peered round the corner to watch the pink coated mare grin villainously towards a metal container filled o the brim of black bags. I watched closely as red mist escaped the bags from the container. She lifted the lid of the container while rummaging through the bags, throwing some out even, until I gasped under my breath from the sight of the same Lily Valley lying under some bags unconscious. The mare quickly looked my way from the sound of my gasp. I ducked down behind the large cardboard box holding my breath. I waited for a second before peering round the corner to see the awake Lily Valley throw the unconscious one on the ground with no remorse. My eyes widened as the pink mare started to change slowly, revealing a black coat from behind. My heart stopped as I watched one of my kind standing on top of a pony, it must have been a soldier or some kind or spy. But the lockdown is still in effect right? Nopony is supposed to be outside unless they're trying to bring me back. No, this is more important. Even if I am a changeling this is not right. I watched as the changeling crept in closer to the mare on the ground licking his lips vigorously, ready to feed.  My heart skipped a beat as his horn charged up in a green colour. His blue dead eyes so fixated on its prey I couldn't move nor say anything. This could be a trap or could it be a kidnapping? Should I intervein? should I run, call for help or act like I never saw anything? I might be a changeling but I know this is wrong, this is so wrong... I... I...