FiM 10: Friendship is Galactic

The next morning, Everchange woke up and began to stretch, groaning as he tries to properly stay awake and process the situation. Everchange glances at the gem, its shining green color, replace with a red color, red like Red Velvet. It hummed a low tone, but he was aware of what this meant.

"Time limit. That confirms my theory on how long I can be a changeling. 10 minutes. And I wasted a minute of that last night just going off of what I remembered from the last time I became that... thing... dear cele- grrr...." Everchange caught himself and groaned.

He let out a sigh. "No, I'm biting my tongue on that one, everyone in this town says it like she's the only princess... I wouldn't call it rude, just insensitive. I better head back to the farm, they're probably looking for me again." Everchange stated, withdrawing himself and bolting out of the cave and through the forest. Meanwhile, up above the highest clouds of Equestria, and past the planet, a huge mechanical ship looms over and waits.

Everchange trots alongside the apple family, slightly exhausted, but recharged enough to put in a bit more effort. Everchange didn't pay any attention to the kind country ponies, but he did overhear something. Everchange turned his head but saw nothing but a fierce breeze blow by. Everchange kept on trotting along, as to not forget he is on stocking duty to stock and re-stock the stand with fresh apples, not like it mattered when he was on duty.

Everypony seemed to be wanting these apples, but when its him at the stand, everyone treats the stand like a zone of dark magic. By this point, Everchange let Applebloom and Mac run the stand while Everchange tried to get more people to buy from the honest apple family. Everypony just seemed to back away and seemed scared, which made promoting business so much more difficult. He looked back to the gem on his hoof and saw it change from red to its usual green, and suddenly got an idea.

While Mac walked away from the stand for a moment, Everchange used the gem to turn into his changeling form, and then magically disguised himself as Big Mac, walking to the stand and started happily promoting the apples. Everyone seemed more interested than before, and quickly went through one huge cart's worth of apples before Applejack came back with another cart full. Everchange saw that the real Mac was coming back, and quickly changed into an ant, crawling into a bush to hide and wait for the time limit to end.

"Ah gotta say Big Mac, we sure sold a lot of apples, today, this is probably our best sale yet." Applejack stated.

Mac looked at the small hoof sized satchels of bits and was confused how people suddenly turned tail for so many apples all of a sudden. "uh.... Eeyup?" Big Mac said quizzically. In a sudden flash of red light, Everchange came stumbling out of the bush he was hiding in, spitting out leaves as he shook a stray stick out of his tail.

Everyone looked at him in confusion, and he awkwardly chuckled. "That didn't go exactly as planned, but at least we made more bits than we did yesterday. I definitely tried my best to get people to come get a fresh apple on a warm summer's day, but I guess Mac was just as helpful, if not more helpful than me, to bring business to an all time boom." Everchange said, shaking a stray pebble out of his mane.

All of a sudden, Everchange felt that fierce breeze again, but it was blowing into his face. The stallion walked to the stand and saw a Pegasus flying very fast in the direction of the stand, The mare was a light blue, her eyes were determined, though one of them looked to have a real bad scar, Her hair, mane and tail looked to just embody every color in the rainbow, and she had what looked like a rainbow lightning bolt under a cloud for a cutie mark.

Everchange ducked under the stand, prepared for the most devastating case of whiplash of the century, but there was a sudden flap of some wings, and the sound of hooves touching the ground. Everchange peaked up and saw the mare up close, She was adamantly confident, and very cocky. Everchange got back on his hooves and cleared his throat. the mare looked towards Everchange and was a bit confused as to who he was.

"Hey AJ, who's the prissy pants over here?" The mare spoke with confusion.

Applejack smiled and pulled Everchange aside to introduce him. "Rainbow, this is Everchange, he's our newest worker on the farm. He works for us for free, and he earns a place to live, what with our spare bedroom." Applejack introduced.

AJ shifted her glance to Everchange and began to introduce the mare. "Everchange, this is Rainbow Dash, a friend of mine, and one of the fastest Pegasus on this side of Ponyville. I can only hope she won't give you too much trouble, understand?" Applejack introduced.

Rainbow Dash eyed Everchange up and down, and seemed fixated on the gem he wore. "Nice watch, did that cost you all your bits, Everchange McFancyCoat?" Rainbow Jived.

Everchange looked to the mare, and back to the gem. A cold shiver ran down his spine and Everchange felt his face contort with anger. The mares instantly could see that a nerve was touched. "It was a parting gift from my mother, and also the last gift from my mother, thank you very much." Everchange scowled as he trotted off back to the farm.

Rainbow and Applejack watch him trot off, and look at each other. "Yeah, he can be a bit touchy when it comes to his background, he's not that open, but he's a nice guy, just a bit reclusive. Give him time, and he'll be comfortable around you... though based on that reaction he just had, maybe don't mention the gem or his mother." Applejack told her friend. The Pegasus and the earth mare saw that since Big Mac and Applebloom had the stand under control, they decided they could go on and have some fun.

Everchange is back on the farm, keeping himself busy as he tries to bundle hay, and overhears the sound of struggling. Everchange trots over to the barn and sees Applebloom walking on a wooden support.

"Hey mister, I'm just trying to grab a tool for Big Mac real quick. Don't mind me none," Applebloom stated, reaching for a tool.

Everchange can see the support cracking, nearing the point of giving way. "Hey kid, you need to get down from there, like now, the support can't support your weight or the tool's. Forget the tool and come down, I'll get it." Everchange stated, worrying for the filly's safety.

Almost like the day was now against him, the support snapped in half, and Applebloom was falling. Everchange jumped onto a couple boxes and caught Applebloom on her neck, and quickly trotted out of the barn before the wooden beam collapsed. Everchange witnessed the barn suddenly collapse, and groaned out of exhaustion. He let Applebloom down and proceeded to lay down on the ground, panting as he tried to stand, but could only lay down and breathe.

"Mister, are you okay? Do you need any help?" Applebloom asked. The stallion looked up towards the filly. "What matters is... *pant* are YOU okay, kid? Nothing broken... *pant* not feeling ill or hurt?" Everchange tiredly asked.

Applebloom was able to get Everchange back on his hooves, and helped him to the porch. "Yeah, I'm fine, nothing to worry about. Are you okay? You don't look too well." Applebloom asked again. Everchange moved into the house on his own, but was still a little sore. He saw Applejack and Rainbow Dash ready to go somewhere with some tools and suddenly stop when they see Everchange in the doorway.

"Your barn collapsed, and I made sure Applebloom was safe." Everchange simply stated. Now aware of an issue, Rainbow Dash and Applejack ran outside and saw the barn in shambles and pieces. "How in the hay did this happen?!" Applejack asked, obviously mad that the barn was in pieces.

Everchange swallowed down his fear and took a deep breath. "It was my fault. I was trying to fix the support beam, but I accidentally snapped it in half by applying too much of my weight. I was lucky enough to grab Applebloom to carry her out of range of the barn's collapse. I'm mighty sorry about breaking the barn, Miss Applejack." Everchange stated, hoping his lie was convincing enough.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were surprised. Applejack was also skeptical, but would figure out if he was lying later once the barn was fixed. Rainbow looked at Everchange, and thought he must've been light and fast on his hooves if he could escape a collapsing barn so quick.

"Hey, Everchange was it? You up for a short race? A quick race from the barn to the library and back. You down?" Rainbow offered. Everchange thought it'd be a bonafide loss, but he definitely wanted to do something other than bundle hay, and he wasn't prepared to let some walking pride flag win one over him anyway. He got into a starting position and Rainbow did the same, readying her wings.

Everchange and RD both started off, the stallion took long leaps to the air, trying to keep a lead over RD, but Rainbow was flying past him fast. Everchange groaned as he trotted faster and faster, easily staying neck and neck with RD. Everchange saw RD fly and turn around, but didn't know why until he felt his face collide with the library's natural wall.

Everchange shook the pain off and galloped fast towards RD, catching up to her, but was quickly running out of stamina. RD was impressed this earth pony was keeping up, but she hadn't even gotten serious yet. RD started flying faster, leaving Everchange in the dust as she landed and boasted her victory. Everchange caught up and tripped, falling flat on his face as he nearly passed out from the exhausting race against the fast flying Pegasus.

Everchange weakly got back up and congratulated RD on the race, and immediately went inside to splash some water on his face. Applejack walked inside and looked at Everchange. "Exhausted, partner?" Applejack asked, skeptically. Everchange picked up on the skepticism in her voice real quick, and knew his lie wasn't in fact enough.

"I can explain. Applebloom was on the support beam, trying to get a tool for your brother, but it was giving way from her added weight, and I managed to catch her and get her out of the barn before it collapsed. I would've told you the actual truth, but you can't be angry at her for an accident, she's just a filly after all." Everchange explained. Applejack mulled over the stallion's words, and could at least respect him for getting her out of harm's way.

Applejack nodded like she understood, smiled and trotted back outside to talk with Applebloom. Everchange knew he didn't want to be nearby if things got loud, so he made his way into town, hoping he'd find something to do. He knew he hadn't had breakfast yet, but maybe a quick snack would work out fine... maybe.

As Everchange trotted his way into town, he still saw ponies looking at him, angry, scared or disgusted. He ignored them to the best of his abilities, and found himself at the front door of Sugarcube Corner.

He walked on in, and was met with more scared faces. Everchange sighed and just waited patiently in line. A couple quick hours later, Everchange was ready to order. He saw a slightly chubby, but jolly light blue earth mare with swirly pink hair, an apron and three cupcakes on her flank. She too, was a bit unsettled by Everchange, but not enough to not treat him like a proper customer.

"Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, mister. What can I get you on this fine day?" Mrs. Cake asked, smiling.

"Hello miss, I'll take a hot chocolate to go and a double layer Chocolate Éclair, please." Everchange ordered with a tired smile, placing more than the exact required bits for the items. "Consider it a token for faking a smile for your other customer's sakes." Everchange said with a warm smile. Mrs. Cake nodded and took the bits as she pinned up his order for the cook to whip up.

Everchange looked back, and still saw ponies staring at him, scared, or disturbed by his presence. He felt something stir within him, and he knew it was time to speak up about this. Enough was enough.

"I get it, you know," Everchange said, turning his attention to the ponies within the building. They looked on, being cautious of the stallion's next move.

"I get that you see me and look at me like a monster... a freak... nay, an abomination... Well you know what? At least the apple family was willing to give me a chance, and I've been working for them for the past 5 months now, and I can say proudly that it'll take more than a splash of chaos from some ancient god, and hateful looks to deter me from doing an honest job to make an honest living," Everchange stated.

"Call me a monster, say I'm a freak, heck, I wouldn't put it past a good hoof full of you to throw stones or use a spell or two on me because you're that scared... doesn't change the fact that you chose to not know me, and only see me for the monster I didn't willingly choose to become." Everchange said. He saw the Éclair and the hot chocolate on the counter. He left ten extra bits on the counter, took his items and looked to the patrons one last time.

"I, Everchange Spectical, am not a monster. Stop fearing me, and maybe try to get to know me, and make a friend, instead of an enemy, you heartless Xenophobes." Everchange stated proudly before walking out of the building, and back to the farm.

'I won't let their sour looks deter me from earning my stay, but I need to find a way to earn more bits, maybe I can try reaching out to other farms in Equestria and try to get a place in the town itself... I know I can't just go back to Canterlot... not after what happened all that time ago.' Everchange thought to himself, as he suddenly stumbled, realizing he bumped into someone.

He turned his head to see someone he just didn't like at all. A purple pony with a pink 6 pointed star surrounded by smaller white sparkles, dark purple hair with a Pink streak in her hair, mane and tail. She had a horn, and newly acquired wings.

Twilight Sparkle, the newly appointed Princess of Friendship, was in front of him. He felt like he was about to go into a panic attack.

The mare looked at Everchange for a moment and bowed her head. "I am so sorry, I'm not quite used to these wings yet, but I hope I can get used to them eventually... Hey, have I seen you somewhere before?" Twilight asked as she apologized. She studied his face, and it had some familiarity to her, but not enough to ring a bell.

Everchange's face nearly turned as angry or disgusted as the ponies who looked at him in such a manner, but he shook it off and just ran back to the farm. Twilight looked at Everchange as he just kept on running, and just wondered.

'That stallion seems familiar... but where have I seen him before?' Twilight thought to herself. She got a good look at Everchange's cutie mark, and thought she recognized it, but Twilight trots back to the library, and sets her stuff down.

"Spike, can you come down here with the parchment and ink? I need to get a letter to Celestia, it's of utmost importance." Twilight calls out.