"Um, excuse me sir? Do you mind if I could stay in your house tonight? I-I've been exiled by my hive and no other pony will let me stay. I just need to stay out of the rain, just one night. Please?"
*Slam!*
The changeling sighed as yet another door slammed in his face. He turned and slowly started trudging through the torrential downpour flooding the streets of the small suburb on the outskirts of Manehattan. He shivered as the icy deluge chilled him to the core, cutting through his carapace with ease. Suddenly, a beam of light shone onto the street, drawing the changeling's attention. A short pony stood beckoning him from the doorway.
He immediately dashed towards the figure and was soon shivering in a cozy mud room. He shook himself off and turned to thank his host only to find that the short pony from before wasn't what he was expecting. Standing in front of him, holding a fluffy looking towel in his mouth, was a young earth pony colt. He had a green coat with a ruffled blonde mane and tail. The two started at eachother until the changeling was wracked by another fit of shivering. Suddenly, he was wrapped in a fluffy towel and was being pushed towards a chair beside a crackling fire.
The changeling sighed as he settled into the comfortable armchair and began taking in his surroundings. He was in a quaint living room with a tasteful wooden coffee table surrounded by plush looking chairs and a long, brown couch. The only light was coming from the hearth. On top of said hearth was a collection of various knick knacks and pictures of the colt and two other ponies. He looked over just in time to see the colt trotting over, a tray with two mugs of hot chocolate and some cookies held in his mouth. He nodded in appreciation as he accepted the proffered mug of the warm beverage. After he had taken a few sips he turned to his host and said in a wavery voice,
"Th-thank you for al-llowing me to s-stay."
The colt nodded solemnly before taking another sip of his drink. They sat in tense silence for a few seconds before the changeling cleared his throat.
"Um, my name is Drone 4326 Theta, what's yours?"
The colt looked at him for a moment before saying in a quiet, mumbling voice,
"G-green Pastures." The awkward silence returned as the two stared at anywhere but eachother. 4326 turned his attention to one of the pictures on the mantle. The photograph was of the colt and two other earth ponies, both of whom were wearing expensive looking suits. There was a red stallion with a green mane and a yellow mare with a peach colored mane. The photo was surprisingly... sombre for a family portrait. The adults looked stern and the colt wasn't even looking at the camera, instead he was looking sadly at the ground while his parents glared at the camera. 4326 pointed to the portrait and asked Green Pastures,
"Are these ponies your parents?"
The colt nodded.
"Where are they? Are they here?"
The colt shook his head sadly before looking out a window facing Manehattan city proper.
"They're always working in the city. They never come home anymore. They said they'd hire me a caretaker to do stuff with me, but they haven't yet."
The awkward silence reared its ugly head again as 4326 tried to think of something to say in response to that... delightful tidbit of information. Green Pastures groaned and buried his head in his forelegs.
"Sorry, I'm bad at social interactions. Mother and Father make me go to classes but I still... sorry, I'm doing it again."
He wimpered while biting his lip, obviously as uncomfortable as 4326 was. 4326's gaze continued to wander until his eyes came to rest on a small rubber ball sitting on a shelf by the door.
"Hey, um, Green Pastures was it?"
The colt nodded, "Do you want to play catch?" Green looked from the changeling to the ball then back again.
"But Mother and Father don't let me play in the house Mr. Changeling. They're afraid I'll break something."
"Please just call me 4326. Also I believe if we are carefull we can avoid tragedy."
Before Green could object 4326 had scooped the ball up with a hoof. He turned and waited a few seconds before tossing the ball to him. Green flinched but still managed to catch it between his forelegs. He stared at the ball then up at the changeling. Slowly, a broad smile grew on his face and he threw the ball back to 4326. This continued for several moments before Green missed a throw and the ball went sailing straight towards a large mirror on the back wall. Green yelped and dove for it but fell short. Before it collided, the ball was engulfed in an acid green aura. 4326 gulped as he gently set the ball on the floor,
"How about we play something else? Ever play hide and seek?"
Green shook his head, his smile growing wider. After having the rules explained Green dashed out of the room leaving 4326 to count to fifty. He began,
"One... two... three...."
(Forty-six seconds later)
"Fifty! Ready or not, here I come!"
4326 lowered himself into a crouch and started stalking through the house. He searched and search through the kitchen and bedrooms before he found himself in the bathroom. He paused when he heard a quiet inhale from under the sink and bent down to peer under it. He opened the small cupboard door and saw, curled up inside, Green Pastures holding his hooves over his mouth.
"Aww, you found me."
Green pouted as 4326 lifted him with his magic and set him on his back. They were walking back to the living room when Green happened to glance at the clock.
"Oh no! It's my bedtime. But I don't want to go to sleep! Can we play more tomorrow?"
4326 sighed as he looked back at the colt clinging to him.
"I'm sorry, but once the rain stops I must leave. Changelings are not exactly welcome here and I must find a place to live."
Green sniffled before asking,
"Can you stay until I fall asleep?"
4326 pretended to think about it before smiling at Green and nodding.
Green wiggled as he got comfortable in his bed. He had insisted 4326 stay with him for his entire nightly routine, which included brushing his teeth, gargling, and brushing his mane. 4326 looked sadly down on the little colt who was starting to nod from how drowsy he was. He could tell that Green was desperately trying to stay awake but was failing miserably.
"Would you like a goodnight hug Green?"
Green jolted awake before nodding excitedly and reaching his hooves out to the changeling. 4326 wrapped his hole filled hooves around the colt before pulling the blankets over him. He sat beside Green until his breathing became slow and deep. 4326 returned to the living room and looked at the picture of Green's parents.
"No socially awkward colt will be lonely if I can help it!"
-------------------------
Green Pastures perked up as the door opened and his parents stepped in.
"Mother! Father! You're home!"
The two business ponies patted the colt absently on the head before gesturing to the pony behind them.
"This is Safe Keeper, he'll be your caretaker from now on. Now then, I have a business meeting and your mother has a presentation. Keep the house tidy and stay out of trouble."
They turned to leave, not noticing Green's attempt to coax them into playing catch with him. He sighed as a pony, presumably Safe Keeper, entered the house. He looked the unassuming unicorn stallion up and down before he winked at Green. Green tilted his head in confusion as the unicorn walked up to him.
"Do I really look that different? It's only been a day."
Green gasped when he realized who it might be.
"4326?"
With a flash of green the changeling was back to normal and now had a colt hugging his chitinous neck.
"Affirmative, I am now your caretaker!"
"That's so cool! What are we going to do? What are we going to do!"
4326 laughed as Green started excitedly hopping around him. He donned his disguise before opening the door, revealing the sun drenched world outside.
"I was thinking we could visit what you ponies call 'a park.'"
Green trotted up next to him and the two were off, lonely no more.