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             Sweet Apple Days for a Changeling             
                       -by Strang1-                        
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                         Chapter 1                         
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Chapter 1
Once upon an apple farm so vast and fair  
A changeling crashed onto somewhere,  
Or somepony, as a smarmy pants would say  
And ended up onto a stallion, Thorax did lay.
Shaken at the sudden collision,  
The red one spoke in concerned confusion,  
“What are you, to fall from the sky?”  
But before he spoke, someone shouts, “Oh my!”
“Are you ok, Big Mac,” asked an elder concerned.  
Thorax tried to sneak away, before he gets spurned.  
She spoke sternly, “Where d’ ye think yer goin?”  
Thorax paused, injured and trying not to be dead bug marchin.
Thorax looked to them, and sees some fear under that grit.  
He also noted that he had some sizeable cracks in his chit.  
So gathered his courage and bowed, hoping to clear their worry,  
“I’m not trying to cause trouble, but I did, and I’m sorry”
“It was unavoidable as I was flung, unable to stop  
And to you, I’m sorry that I landed on top.  
But I need to go, so I don’t cause anymore trouble”  
And on he tried to walk, with a limp and a hobble.
A heavy hoof landed on his shoulder, a deep voice said,  
“Eenope, you’re lookin injured. Might end up dead.  
Let m’ Granny tend to your injuries some,  
And you can get on yer way when she’s done”
Thorax was surprised at the kindness he spoke,  
And thought it over as he felt around for what’s broke.  
He sadly spoke, “I don’t deserve your kind hospitality.  
My kind is open and known for their leeching hostility,”
He felt the one called Big Mac shift uncertainty,  
Before steeling himself, he spoke finally,  
“Aye’ve never been a bad judge of character,  
So please. Stick around. Be looked after.”
After a hesitant moment, he decided to accept.  
He escorted Thorax to their house where they kept,  
Their supplies, on the shelf above the stove coal.  
In the corner of his eye, he thinks he sees a foal.
It must have been a mistake, as he saw nothing.  
Granny Smith, stuff in hand, said, “This might sting”  
As she applied the ointment to his obvious injury.  
She asks Thorax if there were any she couldn’t see.
He said no, and was suddenly hoisted up.  
He could barely hear anything, save for “Eeyup.”  
Thorax was carried to the spare bed upstairs,  
He’s just surprised he’s around people who cares.
Every other creature would coil away in fright.  
But not these ponies, this stallion. Tonight,  
He’s wishing he could feel cared for all the time,  
But he can’t subject them to their unintended crime.
Harboring a changeling could harm his kind hosts.  
So he’s to slip away at night like the everfree ghosts.  
He waited for night, basking in their attention and aftercare.  
Before tiptoeing to the door, making as little sound as he dare.
He’ll miss it, the kindness they shared so free.  
But to thorax’s sadness, It just couldn’t be.  
Once outside, he checked out his healing frame,  
And feels better than that morning, he proclaim.
He checked his wings and made to fly without a sound.  
But as quick as a whip, a lasso took him to ground.  
His surprised yip was stifled, his exit all but enclosing,  
As he beheld Big Mac, looking bemused and imposing.
Thorax shied away as Big Mac walked closer to him.  
Nervous as he was, Big Mac’s expression wasn’t grim.  
Just looks like someone used to others shenanigans,  
And tried to lighten up the mood with some apple puns,
“Aye know an apple can keeps the doctor away  
But Aye thinks you’ll need more healing than a day.”  
Thorax chuckles, making his anxiety crumble.  
“I’m sorry, I just don’t want to give you trouble.”
Big Mac see’s how worried the creature is for his family,  
But can’t see this as something he’d willingly agree.  
And as he remembered from his younger, mouthy ways,  
The lesson his sister taught him, he took to nowadays.
“Aye understand, truly. You come with a bit of trouble  
But as far as I can see, you’re a good kinda trouble,”  
Big mac tries to affirm as he unties Thorax’s wings,  
“Th’ thing is, you can ask for help. See what it brings”
Before he could say more, he saw a lavender glow,  
As eight figures appeared like magic, striking a pose.  
“See! Aye told ya I saw one of them varmints!”  
Bright lights passing, thorax opens and squints.
A foal with a bow, a baby dragon and *gasps!* the six!  
They then formed a circle around the younger ones betwixt.  
They all looked around for enemies that weren't there.  
Each one vying for some action, except for the yellow mare.
She stared at him with fear so palpable in her eyes.  
Trying to call out, but fear muffled her cries.  
Big Mac looked to Thorax, and said “They could help.”  
He DID try to say something, but she could only yelp.
An orange mare saw the changeling at last,  
And the purple one was readying a blast.  
But with a little stutter, and randomly thinking ‘Whelp…’  
He braced himself as he asked them for their help.
They paused at his pleading words, surprised at his lack of hostility.  
They were unsure what to do, not expecting a peaceful opportunity.  
The orange mare looked at Big Mac, and with his nod, walked to him.  
Sizing Thorax up, she saw how he looked, a mix of bravado and grim,
As she looked at her brother once more, he shrugged and low spoke,  
“Trouble here came a’tumblin, but even before, he looked mighty broke,  
So Granny n’ Aye helped him out, despite pleas against our help.  
He didn’t want to bring trouble to us, at least that’s how he felt.
But Aye brought up another idea, if you and yours would be amenable,  
Maybe help him out? Anything y’all can do can be nothin but trustable”  
Before she could react, Thorax spoke up, “I swear on my eggshell,  
I’m not here to make any issues. Just trying to pass by, but well…
I fought with some timberwolves and flew away from the attack  
But lost my way, stumbled around, and ended up on Big Mac,”  
Thorax blushed at that, which Big Mac thought was pretty cute.  
AJ saw this with a look as Thorax continued, “Like a galoot,
I tried to stumbling away, not wanting to cause issues with anyone,  
But they were so kind, even after I land~”, “Don’t worry bout that none,”  
Big Mac interrupted, “Water under t’ bridge,” stopping any argument.  
AJ looked at them both before smiling, saying, “Arent’ ya fortunate,
Landing in the farm as you have, and seeing as my brother is helpin ya out”  
She looks to the purple one, confirming, “He’s truthful, there’s no doubt.  
What do you think? Is there anything we can do to help the little critter?”  
But was interrupted once more, a shining moonlight making Thorax chitter.
He backed up in fear, but was held fast with assured strength on his chitin.  
Big Mac despite sending silent support, did little to calm his increased panickin.  
The distinguished Diarch and Sister Moon walked down the moonlight.  
Her starry mane flowing behind, it’s as if she’s stepping off the night.
Before anyone spoke, she casted a starry mist throughout the field,  
That spread out around them, creating some sort of transparent shield.  
As she did this, both stallions and mares looked to one in surprised question.  
The purple one spoke, “I sent a letter to the castle, did I forget to mention?”
“You could have mentioned it, Twilight,” AJ said with a resigned sigh.  
Ignoring their talks, Thorax looked in fear at the Diarch of the eve sky.  
As she walked towards the pair, emotions as regal as unreadable,  
Thorax tried to stay his ground, fear making his speech unfeasible.
Big Mac saw Trouble shaking so much, he had to do something.  
So, with a move so bold, he put a limb around the changeling.  
Everyone was surprised except for Luna, whose look was intense.  
Big Mac’s support gave Thorax confidence to go on the defense,
He rushed forward and before anypony could speak,  
He bowed low, speaking out despite his being meek.  
Thorax pleaded for mercy and begged her not to do anything,  
To the Apples, for all they did was tend an injured changeling.
He spoke his journey from the Hive, through the Everfree,  
Hoping to find a place to call his own, to finally just be.  
Big Mac even suggested for him to ask for your support.  
After everything that happened, he spoke his last resort.
No one could speak after he finished speaking his plea.  
The anticipation was palpable, as everyone could see.  
Even Big Mac behind him was sweating bushels of sweat down,  
When finally, Luna reminds them why she bore half the crown.
“Rise, o little Changeling, and worry not for the Apple clan,  
For I have seen you speak truth, as any of our ponies can.  
The mist I spread held magic fast, making others speak true,  
And with the added effect of acting true for everypony to view,”
She said this while looking to both Big Mac and Thorax, smiling,  
“I can also see that you care for each other, free of any beguiling,  
Despite your origins, I will assist you with your plea this night,  
That you want to claim sanctuary and Equestrian help, right?”
Thorax wasn't expecting much, less direct from royalty,  
He was tongue-tied, happy at his newfound reality.  
He bows again in gratitude and spoke, “Yes! Thank you!”  
He then hugged Big Mac, happy to finally get through.
The hug surprised Big Mac but he gladly returned it.  
Luna chuckled, saying “forgive me, but I did omit,”  
They both turned back to the Diarch as everyone walked over,  
“My magic is still active, dissipating as dawn gets closer.
They look at each other and down to their embracing,  
And both separated, with faces of beet red blushing.  
Everyone around had slight smiles at their cute reaction,  
Except for the Apple sisters, who garnered some attention.
The foal walked up to them and introduced herself, “I’m Apple Bloom,”  
Thorax smiled and before he replied, she apologized at how she assumed,  
He was a “No-down rotten somepony that was messin’ with her kin’.”  
He introduced himself, and accepted the apology with a small grin.
Somepony interrupted, and they turned to the orange mare with the Stetson.  
She sized Thorax up, made to look like he’s about to get threatened,  
But sighed after a time, asking “So you got treated by Granny and Big Mac,”  
It was a statement, “You bein’ a changeling was a little bit to unpack.”
He responded to both, “It’s ok. My kind isn’t thought of kindly,  
So I was expecting this kind of scene, but with more hostility?”  
Thorax questioned, then turned to Big Mac with a smile, and stated,  
“Big Mac is convincing, and though I wanted to leave, I got persuaded.
Now I need to ask Luna where I can sleep, so I won’t be caught strayin.”  
Big Mac surprised Thorax, asking, “Well, Trouble. What say you bout stayin?”  
It surprised Thorax at how happy he was when Big Mac asked,  
And looked to Luna, asking if it was ok with a high pitched rasped,
Before correcting himself to correctly ask befitting of a boon.  
Luna took a moment, basking in the light of her celestial moon.  
Then responded, “Despite the lack of amity between our people,  
I will not fault you. To wit, being yourself in Equestria isn’t illegal.
Twilight and I will work on the sanctuary legal work and be back,  
To see how you fare in the Apple farm,” she grins “with your Big Mac.”  
Once more, they blush hard at each other, before Big Mac asks boldly once more,  
“Well, Trouble? You ready?” he asks with that nickname he’s starting to adore.
“Yes!” Thorax did a happy trot and Big Mac joins in,  
When a cranky sounding voice shouts out from within.  
“What’s all that racket, I’m tryin ta sleep here,” Granny Smith shouted.  
Everyone, even Luna shrank at her scolding and everyone rerouted,
Back to their respective homes to get some good sleep for the night.  
Big Mac escorted Thorax, and for once, he felt that things will be alright.
Author's Note
I thank everyone for the read and am happy at how this turned out.  
Tune in again for one more story for the M/M contest.