When the early rays of sunshine came in through the window of a little house near a barn on the far edge of Ponyville, a knock rattled the door. It was a young Earth Pony named Green Apple. He was named after his grandfather. He didn’t have his cutie mark yet. His mane was a fine dark green and his coat was a bright lime green.
“Hey, Uncle Brawns, are you home?” Green asked.
A loud noise came from inside the house, it sounded like he had tripped over something. This was normal for Uncle Brawns since he was very accident prone. Some more noises came from the house, but he was finally able to make it to the door.
“Yeah, what do you want?” Uncle Brawns asked.
“Dad sent me to give you these zap apples.”
“Well, is there anything else then?” Uncle Brawns said grumpily.
“No, sir.”
“Well, then go home and give my brother these bits I owe him.”
“Yes, sir, I will.”
“Good! Now go.”
Green gave the apples to his uncle and then set off on his trip home. His house wasn’t far from his uncle’s, but he tended to make detours so that he could see his friends on his way home. He walked through the park where most of his friends normally were, but he didn’t see any of them.
Where is everypony? It’s a nice sunny Tuesday mor… Crap! I forgot about school! He ran as fast as he could to the schoolhouse. When he got there, he was happy to see that class hadn’t started yet. He went to his desk and looked forward at the teacher Miss Cheerilee.
“Hello, kids, are we all ready to learn today?” Cheerilee asked.
“Yes, Miss Cheerilee.”
“Okay. Well, today we are going to learn about the Everfree Forest and what animals live inside of it today.”
Cheerilee then went on saying how it’s a dangerous place and that we should never go in it alone. The kids already knew that much from their parents. But she also talked about manticores and how that, if they ever saw one, to run away because of its powerful hands and jaw.
After she was done explaining everything about the Everfree that she knew, it was time for recess. Green looked around for his friend and spotted him near the new filly in town. I wonder why he’s over there with the new girl. Could Blaze like that filly? No, no, no! There’s no way he would like her. Blaze was a tall colt for his age but still smaller than most other unicorns. He had a fiery red mane which is why we call him Blaze. No one knows what his real name except for him and his older sister.
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While Green was off with the other kids, Blaze was with the new filly in town. She had a sky blue mane and a dark blue coat. She also had emerald eyes. She also didn’t have her cutie mark yet, and was also a Unicorn just like Blaze.
“Hey, you’re new to town right?” Blaze asked.
“Yeah, my family just moved here from Canterlot.” She replied with a smile.
“Wow! Canterlot. Does that mean you’re one of those fancy ponies that I hear about?” Blaze asked.
“No, we aren’t that fancy. But this sure is different from my other school.” She said smirking.
“Really?” he asked surprised.
“Yeah In Canterlot we have this huge school. There’s also a lot more ponies there. Just, Unicorns though.”
“Why are there just Unicorns? I’ve never heard of a school like that before.”
“Well, it’s Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.”
“So, does that mean you have actually met the princess?”
“Well, yes, I have. By the way I don’t think I got your name, what is it?”
“You can just call me Blaze.”
“Blaze, well that’s a weird name.”
“It’s just a nickname that I came up with.”
“Well, then what’s your real name?”
“How about you tell me your name instead.”
“Well, Blaze, Since you won’t tell me your name, I won’t tell you mine.”
“Well, then what should I call you?”
“Call me Emerald.”
“Well, that’s a fancy nickname.”
“Yeah, fancy ponies need fancy names.”
“I thought you said you weren’t fancy.”
“Yeah, so? I never said we weren’t fancy. I said we aren’t too fancy.”
“Well, then, Emerald, it looks like recess is over. Let’s head back inside.”
“Okay, right behind then.”
They both walked side by side as they went back to the schoolhouse. The day went on like any other day in Ponyville, and soon Blaze left the school and started walking towards the park. As he was walking towards the park Green was able to catch up to him.
“Hey, Blaze,” Green said.
“Hey, Green, what’s up?”
“Not much how about you?”
“I got to meet the new filly today.” Blaze said happily.
“Yeah, I know. So is she one of those stuck up Canterlot ponies like everyone else says?”
“No. Emerald is a nice pony from Canterlot.” Blaze said firmly
“Really? But she’s from Canterlot. Everypony from Canterlot is stuck up and rich.” Green said .
“Well, this one isn’t. She’s actually really nice to me.”
“Why would she be nice to you? No offense.” Green said with a smirk.
“I’m not sure, but I think that I might actually like her.” Blaze said with a large smile.
“Come on, man, you can’t get involved with someone like her.”
“Someone like her? What do you mean by that?” Blaze said annoyed.
“She may not admit it, but I think that she is actually just trying to mess with you. You know how Canterlot ponies are.”
“Yeah, but, like I said before, she is different from the others, and I think that she might actually like me too.”
“You can keep saying that, but I know that isn’t true.” Green said firmly.
“Green, can you please just go home now.” Blaze said retorting.
“I’m sorry man I didn’t…”
“I SAID GO HOME!” Blaze yelled.
“Fine… I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Green walked away looking a bit shocked and sad that his best friend had gotten so mad at him. Blaze didn’t want to look at him, due to the fact that he felt bad for getting so angry with him. But Blaze just started on his own way home.
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Emerald was on her way home also, but her home was farther away from everyone else. She made her way to the Everfree Forest and into a cave not to deep in the forest. The Cave was dark but at the end was a tent and a fire pit. When she got there, a ring of green fire formed around her as she transformed into her true self.
She was a small changeling with emerald green eyes. She couldn’t completely control her powers, yet, though since she was so young, so a part of her left hind leg was still the Dark blue Pony. She sighed and fixed her leg, so that now there were holes in her legs where the pony leg once was.
She started to get the fire going when she heard a pony’s voice from outside of the cave.
“Hello? Is anyone in there?” the scared voice said.
“Who are you? And why are you here?” Emerald asked.
“My name is Blossom and I’m lost. Can I please come in?”
She sounded like she was about to cry, and Emerald felt bad. She quickly changed back into her pony self and told the mare to come in. She had a bright orange coat and what looked like orange hair dyed to be blue. She was a Pegasus pony with what looked like an injured wing. Her cutie mark was two clouds with a Pegasus pony kicking them.
“What’s a small filly like you doing out here all alone?”
“Well, I live out here.”
“You do?! But where’s your parents? They must be around here.”
“Well… I don’t have any parents.”
“You’re an orphan?! No wonder you live in such a horrid place like this.”
“It’s not so bad here. It’s safe and the fire warms me in the dark, cold nights.”
“Still this is no place for a filly of your age to live. I urge you to come live with me if I can ever get out of here.”
“I know how to get to Ponyville I could bring you there right now. But I can’t live with you.”
“But I insist there is no reason a filly should have to live out here.”
“You’re not going to stop asking unless I say yes. Am I right?”
“Yup.”
“Well, if I’m going to live with you, I have to show you something. But you better promise not to freak out.”
“Okay, I promise.”
A ring of fire formed around emerald again as she transformed into a changeling. Blossom just stared in awe at Emerald her eyes wide with shock.
“You hate me now don’t you… I’d understand if you do.”
“No, I don’t hate you it’s just not what I expected.”
“So you will still let me stay with you?”
“Yes, of course I will. Even if you’re a changeling I can’t just leave you out here.”
“Thanks this means a lot to me.”
“It’s no problem, now let’s got o my house.”
Emerald then turned back into her pony self to not arouse suspicion in town. Then they started to walk back to Ponyville. When they got into town, Emerald was looking around a bit nervously. While she was looking around, she saw Blaze and waved a hoof at him and smiled. He did the same to her. The rest of the way to her new home was quiet and peaceful.
Chapter 2
The next morning Green Apple awoke to the sound of the timber wolves howling in the distant Everfree forest. He was still somewhat depressed about how his friend had gotten so angry with him but he was starting to get over it. He knew that his friend wouldn’t stay mad at him for too long anyway, he never did.
After eating his breakfast he got his saddlebags and his lunch ready for school. He waved goodbye to his parents and set out for school. On his way there he saw Blaze over near Sugar Cube Corner with Emerald and a mare that he could only think to be emeralds mother. I guess I should just leave them alone for now, he thought not wanting Blaze to hate him. But he couldn’t resist listening in on their conversation.
“Hey Blaze how are you today?” Emerald asked.
“Oh I’m fine.”Blaze answered.
Blossom looked a bit confused and then asked. “Emerald who is this?”
“Oh he’s just Blaze, I told you about him last night.” Emerald said with a smile.
“Oh so this is the famous Blaze that you were talking about. So are you two?” Blossom said happily.
“NO. It’s not like that at all.” Emerald said blushing.
“Well if you say so.” Blossom said winking.
“So I guess that we should go to the school now?” asked Blaze.
“Yeah sure let’s go.” Emerald said.
They started to walk toward the school and Green casually walked after them. He could see their mouths moving but wasn’t close enough to where he could hear them. So he just decided to run up to them.
“Hey Blaze what’s up?” Green asked.
“Oh, hey, Green,” said Blaze
“So who is this?” asked Emerald, pointing at Green
“Him? He’s a good friend of mine. Have you two not met yet?”
“No we haven’t” Green said.
“Well this is Emerald. Emerald this is Green.” Said blaze.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Said emerald warmly.
“Yeah nice to meet you too.”
“Well all greetings aside I think we should get to school we are about to be late” Said Blaze.
“Well then let’s hurry up before we’re late for class” Emerald said.
The three of them rushed to the school barely making it inside the door before the bell rang to begin class. The class day went on as normal; Cheerilee went on how things in the everfree should not be disturbed from their natural environment. After that the bell rang for lunch and recess to begin.
“Well that was interesting.” Said Emerald
“Not really I think I fell asleep during it” Blaze said yawning.
“Well I think that the Everfree isn’t that dangerous. I mean all that’s out there are some manticores.” Said green
“That’s not all that’s in the Everfree Green. There are tones of other things.” Emerald said.
“Really? Like what?”
“Well there are changelings.” Blaze said.
“How would you know that?” Emerald asked.
“Because I saw one in the Everfree forest before.”
“Oh… Well what do you think of them?”Emerald asked nervously.
“I don’t really have an opinion on them they haven’t done anything to me.” Blaze said casually.
“Well I think that they are evil creatures that have no right being even near Ponyville.” Said Green.
“Oh… Well I don’t think there is anything wrong with them.” Emerald said.
“Hey guys I forgot my lunch in the classroom so I’ll be back soon ok.” Green said.
After school Green had to leave early so that he could help his family on the farm leaving only Blaze and Emerald.
“So Emerald where do you live?” Blaze asked.
“Oh I just live with my mother over there.” She said pointing to the house next to Sugar Cube Corner.
“Oh well where’s your Dad?”
“He’s… On a business trip.” She said with shifty eyes.
“oh really?” Blaze asked suspiciously.
“Yeah… He won’t be back for some time.”
“You really are bad at lying.” Blaze said rolling his eyes.
“How would you know that I am lying?"
“I can tell because of your eyes they look uncertain.”
"Well then you are very observant.”
"Yeah so can you tell me where he really is?”
“No…”
“Well then tell me when you’re ready then.”
“Well how about you? Where do you live?”
“Not going to tell you that.”
“Why won’t you?”
“Because you are still lying to me.” Blaze said with a somewhat annoyed look.
“Can you tell through my eyes again?”
“Yeah no pony has Emerald green eyes like that.”
“What are you getting at?"
“Let’s go to your house first I’ll tell you there.”
“Why there?”
“Because I feel you will be more relaxed there.”
“Oh well ok but I’m not hiding anything.”
The short trip to Emeralds house felt like it was hours to Emerald. They were both silent, neither of them even looked at each other.
“I wonder why He’s acting this way.” Emerald asked herself.
“Mom I’m home, I brought a friend over also.” Emerald said aloud.
“Okay you two have fun then.” Blossom said.
“Okay lets got to the basement.” Blaze said walking towards the cellar door.
“Okay were down here now what?” Emerald asked.
“Well now you tell me who you are and what you are.”
“Well I’m Emerald and I’m a Pony.”
“Come on Emerald I’m not that stupid.” Blaze said still looking very annoyed.
“What do you mean?”
“Okay just show me what you really look like Emerald.”
“What I really look like…”
“Yes.”
“Well…
“I’ll keep it a secret.”
“Promise?”
“I Pinkie promise.”
“Well… Okay then…”
A ring of fire formed around emerald as her legs began to turn black with holes. On her back fly like wings appeared and her entire mane turned as black a coal. Blaze just looked at her in shock and aw.
“Wow I knew you weren’t a pony but I wasn’t expecting you to be a changeling.” Blaze said with wide eyes.
"Well do you hate me now?”
“No I don’t Emerald why would I?”
“Well that’s because a lot of ponies hate Changelings after what we did.”
“Hey like I said before, they haven’t done anything to me so I don’t hate Changelings.”
“Well it’s glad to know that there are at least two ponies that think that way.”
“Really, who else?
“Blossom she didn’t mind that I was a changeling when she first found me in the cave.”
“So she isn’t a changeling?”
“Nope just a normal Pegasus.”
“Well so only Blossom and I know?”
“Yup nopony else does, I’d like to keep it that way please.”
“Yeah of course.”
“Okay now I have to go do my homework so see you later Blaze.”
“Yup I’ll see you later Emerald.” Blaze said as he was walking out the door.
Blaze kept walking away not once turning back to look at Emeralds house. He was walking towards his house. It was on the far edge of Ponyville, not to noticeable since it’s at the end of an alleyway. There was a door at the end of it which lead into a bar type area.
There were older Stallions and mares everywhere in the bar. Blaze just walked passed them and up the stairs in the back. At the top was a small apartment complex, the first room was the living room. It had a small TV, a large table and a couch. His sister was passed out on the couch with beers scattered around her. Blaze wasn’t surprised at this since it was normal for him to see her like this.
He just walked passed her and into his room. His room was small; it had a bed and a small dresser. He laid in his bed just so that he could end this day in peace. He was asleep for about five minutes when he heard the door to his apartment open. He shot up out of bed and looked out his doorway.
He saw a shadow near his sister and started to panic. He didn’t have time to think he just charged out of the room at the other pony. But then he noticed that this wasn’t some random robber, it was Emerald.
“What are you doing here?!” Blaze yelled
“Well you were acting weird so I followed you…”
“How were you able to follow me? I never saw you.”
“I’m a changeling remember.”
“Well you shouldn’t have followed me anyway.” Blaze said sounding annoyed.
“Keep it down you will wake your mother.”
“That’s my sister and she’s so drunk she won’t wake up till noon tomorrow.”
“Oh well where are your parents?”
“Don’t have any.”
“You don’t have any?”
“Nope they’re dead”
“Oh well I’m sorry…”
“its fine just leave here and don’t tell anyone about this ok.”
“Oh well ok…."
“Okay. I’ll see you at school, tomorrow okay?”
"Yeah… bye…” Emerald said as she left the apartment
Blaze wasn’t happy that he had to be so rude to Emerald but he knew that it was the right thing to do. He just went to bed trying to forget everything that he had done to Emerald.