3 Hours Later after the changeling ambush

The man who had escaped the changelings was now making progress. The landscape around him was starting to change. Instead of a barren grey plain of nothingness like before, the environment started to become swampy. The landscape still was a wasteland, but now with bogs, some dying trees, and smells so pungent one would rather not think about it.

"Now, were talking. Finally somewhere different." He said relieved as he has been hauling his behind more steadily making sure not to get stuck inside areas of the bog.

He was sweaty, tired and feeling drained. At this point his damned armor was eating too much of his magic. And he knew it, but without his armor he'd be much more vulnerable. He was now debating rather to rest or not somewhere in this swamp. Maybe he could find a hollow log, and hide inside it. But he decided against it, as it seemed his scent is what got him caught the last time. Being in a swamp would mean various smells to mask his....just maybe.....no not worth the risk he thought. Maybe if you could get a place high up he could then rest, with the vantage point being an aid to inform him of any incoming changelings.

Looking around now he spotted a large hill a bit further in the swamp. It looked oddly placed but would provide a huge vantage point to look out from like he wanted. This would be the spot to meditate in order to regain his magic reserves. A good thirty minutes would prove to counter this issue of low magic.

It was at this point he began to wonder where these changeling things have gone. They seemed persistent to catch him. Maybe he out ran 'em? He thought. No way in hell he thought again. This was their land, it was probably common knowledge to all changelings. Anyways, clearing his own mind he sat at the base of the hill, closing his eyes to meditate.

A good thirty minutes go by without a single disturbance. Opening his eyes he was greeted with a tap on his shoulder, and wide smile of something purely devilish. Mellow now right in-front of his face. Her muzzle just inches away, with her large yellow eyes looking upon him.

"So I hope the nap or whatever you were doing was worth it!" She laughed before turning around.

In a moment his composure came back to him only to be meet with a changelings butt in his face. To make it a better deal, hooves were also part of this viewing package, as they connected with his face. The helmet he was wearing took most of impact, but he was sent flying a few feet. His back on the ground he let out a huff, before jumping back to his feet.

"I should have known better! Damn it!" His voice filled with anger more directed towards himself.

As he stood near the top of the hill with Mellow, more changelings began to come out of the wood works. They were behind every tree, nook, and cranny. The plan they laid out worked like a charm. Having nearly four times their numbers compared to before. He was surrounded from all sides.

Pulling his sword out now he smiled, seeing just how many changelings have gathered.

"Oh man, all this for me. You shouldn't have....NO REALLY you shouldn't HAVE!" His voice very mixed with sarcasm and maybe some worry.

"Don't flatter yourself, creature!" Mellow huffed.

"So shall you surrender now, there is no hope of escape. Unless you plan on taking us all on." Mellow's tone sharp but with joy. Feeling she now just won.

Mellow was now just a foot away from the mans face staring up at him on her hind legs with her big yellow eyes meeting his green eyes, a smile on her muzzle. She looked cute almost..... but Before she could even react he threw his sword up into the air. All the changelings around him looked up in confusion before turning their gazes back to him moving closer.

"Yeah, I'll surrender, you won....you got me..haha...not." he replied quickly with a smug grin appearing on his face.

Within the next few seconds the sword soon flashed an extremely blight blue light, blinding everything in the area besides the caster himself. Jumping over Mellow he soon grabbed his sword as it fell back into his hand. Making a dash for it, as every changeling was still covering their eyes with their hooves.

"See yay later suckers!" He said now making a good distance from the hill. His speed increased, as he concentrated more magic to boost himself. He could only do this for a small burst of time, as it took too much form his magic reserves. These were dire times for him so sacrifices had to be made.

"WHA--after him, NOW!" Mellow still blinded from the light, but able to still bark out orders.

Within the next few seconds, the changeling's finally got it together and began to chase after the fleeing man. Mellow opening her wings to take flight.

"Looks like once we catch him, we'll have to punish him personally sisters!" yelled Mellow, following up with a maniacal giggle.

Running for his life now he knew he needed a way to ditch 'em and fast. That swarm, brought on by that one annoying changeling, whose sisters now looked hungry and desperate...not wanting to stick around to find out what getting caught would win him he kept pace. And why were they still all female!? Does it even matter he thought, while also setting up a plan in his head.

Just out of sight from his pursuers, cowering now behind a tree he gathers up more magic before releasing it. Within seconds, several parts of his body began to fade along with everything he was wearing. An invisibility spell, the go to for hiding and sneaking. But under the fatal flaw of it nearly using all of the casters magic to perform, and maintain it.

Looking in-front of him now, stood a few changelings as they rested from their sprint. Mellow was in the sky above him furiously looking in all directions before promptly flying off. He was sweating bullets at this point, as he just realized the shear amount of changelings....there had to be a hundred at least. Thinking to himself....magic don't you fail me now...please. Walking away, making sure to avoid the countless clusters of changelings who were chatting away.

"I can't believe he used magic.....he's not even a unicorn!" spoke by one of the many changelings.

"Got to admit it, that was a pretty neat trick of his. Once we catch him, we'll have 'tricks' to show him." ushered one changeling only to it be followed by giggles off many.

Gulping, at the prospect of these tricks he waddled slowly away from this area. One wrong move and it's over for him. He wouldn't be able to cast another spell due to his magic reserves already being steadily drained. His meditation sessions in the past would be for hours...but, here he didn't have such time. Thinking to himself, that he should have just sat in the sea chamber longer...no I had to be a hot head and head out early like a moron....ugh.

The changelings looked all around the area he was just in, their patience thinning with every second. Frustration on their faces appeared, as they began to flip stones, kick over logs, and swear under their breath. Mellow at this time was pretty enraged that he managed to wiggle out of her grasp once again.

Making a great amount of distance away form the changelings. Undoing that spell that was about to fade from him anyways. Dropping to his hands and knees.

"Holy.....damn...I overdid it." He cried quietly as he began to breath heavy for air.

What in the hell am I going to do now he thought. I can't just wander around here all day. I need to find a place to rest. With a small growl of his stomach reassuring the fact he needs lots of things right now. Pushing himself back off the ground and to his feet.

"Heading south looks to be suicide as of right now...so what if I head south east...hmmm"

With his final thought he just began to walk like he's done before.

*******--Soon days became weeks on his journey south east--*******

He was lucky it seemed the changelings truly did give up after that day. Heading this direction was truly the best idea he came up with since reawakening. Setting up camp and moving from day to day he found that the land had more vegetation along with a pleasant smell. He found strange looking berries for nourishment along with generic fish in a few streams he found during his travel thus far. It was eerily quiet now after that second ambush.

It was around three weeks from the day of the second ambush. He found himself waking up, fully charged and ready to take on the day. Putting back on his armor he stretched out and smiled. The sun was much more visible now, hardly a cloud could be seen. Ignorant to where he was, Little did he know he was nearing the border of the Equestria Empire. The place where his goal to find a Alicorn could happen.

"Looks like ahead of me will be a much safer land...I mean if the trees, green glass, and flowers have anything to say about it." he said laughing now.

His armor at this point was covered in bits of dirt and grime, being exposed to the elements would do that. He felt nasty as it's been a month without a shower. His boots were in pretty bad condition from marching many miles a day also. He has been better, but least he wasn't a slave or toy to those changeling things he thought. Shivering now as his vivid imagination put images in his head he wish he hadn't seen.

Getting back to his trek, he walked for another three hours before it looked to be noon. At this point something made him smile and jump in joy. It looked to be a house up ahead...not just one either. Did he really just find a town, because in the changeling lands there was nothing. Looking down from the hill he was on, he prepared to make first contact this time.

"What another beautiful day" spoken by a mare, who looked in good spirits as she tended to a bed of various flowers.

The little mare stood no more then three and half feet, sporting light blue fur and large purple eyes. She was an earth pony, as it was easy to tell due to a lack of wings and that of a horn. Working with grace and with tender hooves she began to dig a hole in order to plant a potted flower next to her. Before being abruptly interrupted by some strange dirty looking trash can thing stumbling down a hill towards her home.

'That dirty looking trash can' being him as he ran toward the town ready to kiss the nearest building he could find. As his approach became more clear the little mare noticed it was a creature in armor...fearing what its intentions might be she soon ran inside locking the door behind her. Opening up a window she began to yell out to the small town that a strange creature was coming.

A small panic ensued as various mares and stallions ran back to their homes locking the doors and making sure to cover every window with blinds. A few mares of various types and even a stallion began running back into what appeared to be a small barracks. suiting up in armor of their own. Ready to now meet this sudden threat, as the small town quelled to a silence.

Making his way to this town he found the first building he saw. Taking off his helmet he began to dramatically hug the wall. The town homes looked to be average two story cobblestone ranch style homes, with some wooden cabins mixed in there too.

"Oh civilization how I missed you so! Please never leave me again!" He said in a joking manner.

The little earth pony now under her bed hid in fear with her hooves covering her face. Was it another changeling attack, or some evil summoned creature from one of Equestria's various villains, she thought. As her mind began racing with the possibilities.

The guards now began to trot towards the strange creature, it's position made clear by a pegasus pony keeping an eye on the creature from above. When they approached it they were caught off guard by it hugging the wall of a home.

"What....the...?" One of the guards spat out seeing the strange sight in front of her.

Turning right around the tired man in armor, helmet at his side looked upon the ponies before him. He smiled and laughed.

"Not my best first impression to make, but it will have to do." laughing again he stood still.

These ponies where actually close to what he remembered, colorful in all regards, but why in the hell did they have pictures on their butts..as he noticed two guards without armor each with a unique picture.

The guards kept their distance before finally one of them spoke.

"What are you? Who are you? And why have you come to our little town?" asked a unicorn.

"I'm a human, my name is Stanley Mayer, or Stan for short, and I've come for bed and rest." Stan uttered with the most calm of voice.

The tension soon eased as the guards lowered their weapons. They noticed he wore a strange chest-plate, it looked like an Alicorn standing in a stoic pose. The shield on his back also had an engraved picture of what the Equestria continent looks like. It looked very compliable to the maps they owned. He looked like some hero or royal guard to the princesses.

"Human?" one of the guards spoke with intrigue.

"Yes, I'm a human, a bipedal creature that walks on two legs who's linage links back to apes" answered Stan.

"I'm not here to cause any trouble or harm, I have come from the changeling lands through hell and high water. I was mercilessly hunted by those creatures." Stan's voice containing no strain of harbored ill intent.

The guards all looked a bit shocked by last statement. How did survive for that long, let alone escape the changelings. He must be a hero or something they all thought as they soon approached him inspecting him.

Stan to his disbelieve saw that most of the guards if not all of them besides one stallion in the group were also female, or mares as he should properly call them.Their voices along with the gaps in their armor, especially near the flank made it obvious. The male to female ratio of the current era seems a bit out of wack he thought, but no matter. Trying not to stare he kept his eyes forward now, as the last of the guards finished inspecting him.

"You are free to go, and explore the town, umm Stanley the human." Spoke one of the guards who now signaled the pegasus up above to alert the town that it's not in imminent danger now.

"It's just Stan, and thank you for your hospitality, I didn't mean to cause an uproar with my appearance." Stan finished as he began bowing to the guards before him.

*****10 Minutes pass*****

The town soon began to roar back to life as ponies of all types walked about conducting business. Stan at this time was now at the local tavern in a proper chair sitting at a table by himself. He had food and drinks brought to him by a barmaid who gave him a warm smile. He was like nothing she's seen before.

"So just how are you going to pay for all this?" As a light blue earth pony from before in the garden began to trot towards him with a smile.

"Good question, I...." Before Stan could finish the pony took a seat at his table and looked at him with a sparkle in her purple eyes. She looked adorable! And before she sat down he noticed an interesting picture of a flower surrounded by snow flakes on her butt.

"I'm Peddle Frost, resident town florist" She said with happiness in her voice. With one of her little hooves extending towards him, he shook firmly.

"I'm Stanley Mayer, Stan for short, and ummm resident town human for as of right now." Stan muttered with amusement on his face due to his own statement. Which was followed by a giggle from her.

Stan and Peddle Frost soon began to chat about mundane things, with each topic being spun to his past or how he ended up here in this town. Each time Stan avoided answering fully. He didn't want to expose himself, as unwanted attention might prove to be fatal. Plus with the changeling threat, as mentioned by the one guard. He wouldn't want one of them being sent to come and kidnap him seeing as he's probably now a target of the changeling hive. But what did it matter in way, his attire was giving him away enough already....

With the conversation coming to a close, the mare put down some bits and winked at Stan.

"If you need a place to stay, My shop has a vacant room after all. And don't worry about paying me back it's my treat to the new arrival to our humble abode." Her voice soft and inviting.

Stan took her up on her offer the minute she finished her sentence.

"I will pay you back somehow, I promise, you are too kind." His face filled with a smile.

As night time soon approached. For first time in a while, Stan was in a bed. His armor set to the side, as he laid in his grey pants and shirt. The room was simple with that of a dresser and nightstand, along with the comfy bed he was in. Peddle Frost resided in the room across from him. He was happy things have finally started to look up for the first time in weeks. Now with his eyes beginning to close for the night.

Stan now fast asleep along with mostly the rest of the town. During the day he was the talk of the town, from comments ranging of his strange appearance, the odd armor he wore, and why he came here to their little town. Many mares enjoy the fact that another male resident was present, as this town contained almost seventy five percent female ponies of all types. The small town's name was LittleHoove, and was one of many dotting about inside the Equestria Empire."

Author's Note

Sorry if this chapter is a bit choppy with sentence structure and organization. I decided I wanted to push out another chapter before heading to bed. Probably a terrible idea.

But I hope you still enjoyed. And finally were out of the Changeling Lands for now that is.

[Spacing has Been fixed Edit Date -> 11/13/2018]