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// chapter 3 road to appaloosa and arrival 
// Story: From a pony to a changeling 
// by skittle strike 
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Behind some bushes the stallion skittle strikes begins to stir, Groaning as he starts to stretch from sleeping on the ground.

It was not comfortable.

After getting up and looking around seeing he's alone he sighs knowing what happened yesterday wasn't just a dream. Remembering how his friends more or less disowned him thinking he was a changeling, well they were right but they don't need to know what happened in the changeling hive.

Looking down he couldn't help feeling saddened by the fact he won't be able to go back home for a while, at least until everything calmed down. He is brought out of his depressing thoughts when he hears his stomach growl, looking back to the bush he was sleeping in he sees there is still some blueberries left, so he eats a hoof full of them, until he is somewhat full.

Sighing to himself. Now that his belly is full, he starts a small trot to the sign pointing towards appaloosa, seeing the arrow pointing in the opposite direction from dodge city, he starts heading in that direction.

Following the path he can't help but think back to when he was in the hive for those ten days, his thoughts go back to the changeling Florence that spoke to him while he was there. Whenever she came  to speak to him, first she was just curious, then she seemed to start asking the more personal questions.

What really got him thinking was the last day he was in the pod she actually started flirting with him, while thinking back to her he couldn't stop a single thought go through his mind. 'wonder what she's doing right now'. shaking his head from that thought he tried to wonder why he started caring what she was doing. 'she had her changelings foalnap me, just so she could turn me into one of them!'.

He remembered what they said when they captured him. "Well our princess needed a test subject and we chose you for said role." He thought back to that day and thought to himself. 'why me though, from what we were told they should have had other ponies they had captured which they could have used so why me?' shaking his head he continued down the path which nopony else seemed to be using at this moment in time. 

Continuing on the stallion just keeps his head lowered making sure to keep on the path leading to his destination. 

Walking along the pathway, all skittles could hear were his hooves on the dirt, or the birds flying around chirping. On his way to Appaloosa he took frequent breaks, still being weak from being trapped for so long, alternating from using his hooves and wings to make sure he could get his strength back in both.

getting closer and closer to Appaloosa nothing much happened throughout his journey apart from the passing bird or pony who waved with a friendly greeting.

Flying for another three hours he can start to see Appaloosa in the distance, now able to see the town he starts to fly a bit faster now to get there quicker and get some proper food, some bits to get further away from anypony that may recognize him in case they knew what happened to him.

Finally getting to the outskirts of the town he lands and starts looking around at the town of Appaloosa when he hears a voice from in front of him.

"Howdy there stranger, and welcome to Aaaaaapaloosa. mah name is Braeburn, what brings you to these parts!" the stallion spoke in a southern accent.

Looking forward towards the stallion now known as Braeburn. He can see an amber stallion, with an orange mane and tail, which has a light amber strip going through both, and his cutie mark consisted of an apple. 

Putting on a smile knowing he can speak to somepony without worrying. "hey uh Braeburn, I'm skittle strike and I'm only looking for some food, a place to stay for a bit, and earn some bits for travelling. If you can help me with that, that would be great." Skittles spoke then continued with "but I don't have any bits at the moment."

"Well I can definitely help you with all of that, and if you don't have any bits, you can help me with some applebucking but I will warn you, it can be mighty hard, are you up to it?" Braeburn said.

"Well, I could use the exercise, so yeah I can help you with applebucking." Skittles replied.

"Great!, but before you start lets get you some food, you look a might hungry, come on follow me."

"Thank you, lead the way."