Hours passed while C85 ran through the thick forest known as the Everfree Forest. After a while, C85 found itself at a high cliff side.
By now the guards would have already forgotten about it, but C85 did not take any chances of slowing down, it had to hide and return to the Hive.
It was a cold morning, the sky was covered in dark grey clouds and partially frozen dew covered the leafs. The ground was covered in snow, this showing that it was winter.
As C85 gazed below over the valley, it notices a smoke in the distance, it was a train that was stopped by the thick snow that was covering the tracks, that could give him a free ticket north.
Although, the fall from the cliff was big, a daredevil jump might cost its life for nothing. C85 needed another way to get down but idea struck. Since his wings are chopped off and no chance of using wings, its magic would be its best weapon. It lights up its magic and surrounds itself with it the proceeds into lifting off the ground. It was a full success, he could control itself well and continued its way down towards the valley.
Simply ‘flying’ to the hive would mean waste of energy, instead, walking the way there might be easier, or not...
C85 approached behind the train and hid inside the piles of knocked away slow, behind them, he sneaked all the way to the main engine. In front of the train, two earth ponies plucked the slow out of the way, clearing a path for the train. C85 knew that if it wanted to get on and ride north, it had to put on a disguise. As C85 walked to the back of the train, it looked inside each cabinet, in look for a shape to take. Most of the ponies were asleep, enjoying the warmth while others chattered or read books.
Once at the back of the train, C85 noticed a unicorn that came outside the last compartment. The stallion was dressed well, this indicated that he was the ticket checker. This was the perfect way to sneak past everypony and to make its way to the north with ease.
“Ugh... I hate winter mornings.” spoke the stallion, sighing annoyed. C85 sneaked on the metal platform and waited patiently. At that precise moment, the train began to move.
The stallion turned around and wanted to get back inside but he was tackled by C85 and pushed off the train, causing him to crash into the cold tracks.
“WHAT THE--!?” yelled the stallion but it was too late for him, the train already left and it was too far away for him to catch it. C85 channeled its powers and shape shifted into him but with no clothes on, he walked inside and entered the cabinet where he stayed.
- - - - ~ Hours later. ~ - - - -
Enjoying the comfort of a normal pony, the train stopped at a station. C85 looked out the fogged window and wiped it. He noticed a gate with the name “Ponyville”.
C85 had no business there, he had leave the town immediately but the train was stopped in for the night, lucky, C85 was enough patient to stay in town to find out in which part it would go to reach its hive.
The dark clouds dispersed and sunlight broke through, shining up the white snow and bringing a faint warmth over the lovely town.
C85 exited the train and went straight into town, once there, he noticed different ponies covered in scarves and caps and had saddles on their backs. They were enjoying the sunny day but since The changeling does not feel warm or cold temperatures, he felt awkward showing itself in the crowd uncovered. As it wandered around the small town it came past a clothing shop, as it looked inside the large window he noticed the same outfits as the other ponies had.
As he progressed through the town, he took a glimpse at the locals around, every race, color and mane style where all around. Our changeling was apart of them, he was safe from any curious eyes. He continued his progression until a distant voice was calling for him.
“Spiffy! Oh Spiffy~” a voice of a mare made C85 twitch his ear. Due to the advance disguise function, he responded to the call and turned around, suddenly he was grabbed in a hug by the mare.
“Where you’re going, handsome~?” she asked in a lovingly tone, beginning to kiss “Spiffy” along his neck and cheeks. The changeling immediately felt the love aura around her and he silently began to feast on it without her realising.
“Nothing much?” C85 replied with the voice of her lover, hugging her back gently, gripping her prey.
“Wanna’ go back home and have ‘fun’ under the mistletoe~?” she suggested, playing her tongue on his neck. C85 stood and realised that his disguise won’t last long and his mission to return was still active.
“I will come soon, I need to do something first.” he replied, trying to lie his way out. The mare giggled and nodded.
“Alright, come fast~” she replied, turning around to leave, brushing her tail against C85’s disguised chin. He did felt regret for denying but the amount of strong love she left for him was enough to push him into continuing his road.
Through the snowy town, he came across a newspaper relating the following title : “Badlands, one place to avoid!”
Soon after, the changeling reminded the hive’s location and rushed in back to the train station, next destination, Badlands territory.
At the train station, C85 waited patiently, still holding the form on the tossed stallion from the last train he arrived in Ponyville, he notices the train leaving and walked to it but another yell was pointed at it.
“FAKER! STOP!” the voice was of the male abandoned on the tracks, the locals on the platform watched in shock as two of the same stood in front of each other. C85 did not attempt to charge into the male but dashing straight into the leaving train, through the run, the male chased him and gripped it’s scarf, causing it to lose some speed and get more far from the train, it jumped and turned back into it’s changeling form and struck down a beam at the stallion’s hooves, forcing him to panic and trip.
Taking opportunity of his stop, C85 used his teleportation magic and vanished inside the leaving train.