//------------------------------//
// The filly and the changeling 
// Story: Friendly enemy 
// by Cone of Wonders 
//------------------------------//

Next morning came and everypony was up and going about their daily routines, apart from one changeling who seemed to be inside his new home. 011 had already received fifty bits from Celestia in order to buy food for the week. Pony food such as apples and pies were nice but to changelings, love was their main food supply as well as a power source. However, it was very unlikely that anypony was just going to run up to 011's door, smash it down and force him to suck their love out of them. So for now, apples and vegetables would have to do for today as the changeling gathered ten bits together and began to open the door which would lead him to the outside world of Ponyville. The door swung open and 011 stepped outside before closing the door. Everypony near him turned their heads to see the changeling. A couple of them seemed to be afraid as they galloped away from him. Even though 011 had come into contact with most of the town at the party yesterday, 011 just wanted to be left alone. Most ponies were happy to leave him be, even stay several blocks away from 011. But others would either wave, say hi or even try to talk to the changeling who just ignored them.

011 began his journey to the market. On the way, 011 looked around at his surroundings, finding himself hating the town more and more with every second he spent in it. He looked up to the sky and noticed the shining sun slowly burning his face, and he hated it. He looked left and noticed ponies smiling and waving at him, and he hated it. He looked right and saw ponies hating him, and he hated it. He even hated having to walk on pony soil with his bare hoofs. With all his complaining he may as well have been walking on lava. At least it was something to do to pass the time as the market was a five minute walk. The worst five minutes 011 had ever spent in his life. 

Back at the hive it was different. 011 could walk the slime infested tunnels of the hive with pride. Everywhere he looked, he saw changeling soldiers saluting him whenever he passed by. There was no sun to burn his eyes seeing how most of the hive was underground. His hoof would send out echoes down the longest tunnel making any changeling sound powerful and important thanks to the cold hard ground which sent out clank sounds with every hoofstep. He could even notice changeling parents having fun with their own children by chasing them playfully which was always a happy sight to anypony, it seemed like paradise to him. In Ponyville however, there was none of that. No respect for him, the sun frying his eyes, his hoofs sinking into the noiseless dirt, there weren't even any fillies around as far as he could see. Just adult ponies.

011 got so caught up in his complaining that he almost walked into a stall. He made it to the market at last. At least he managed to find it well enough. Now all he needed to do was to find whoever sold apples. 011 looked up to the signs on every stall, all he saw was cherries, vegetables and homemade jam for sale. The apples were probably deeper within the market. He only took a few simple steps before somepony tried to speak to him. "Howdy there". Came a voice from behind. Whoever it was, they sounded a lot like that rude farmer pony from the party last night. However, it did not matter as 011 just ignored it and kept walking in the same direction he was heading. But no matter how hard he tried to ignore the voice, it just kept repeating itself louder and louder each time. "Hey mister". "Where are y'all goin"? "Hello"? "are y'all even listening ta me"? Enough was enough. 011 turned round to the sound of the voice and was about to yell in the pony's face to leave him alone. There was one problem, 011 noticed that there was nopony standing in front of him. He looked round seeing that nopony was paying too much attention to him. "Probably some foolish pony playing with my mind". He thought, until, "Hey, down here"! 011 looked down noticing a young smiling filly with yellowish fur, a red mane and tail, and a huge bow on the top of her head. 011's anger lowered as shouting at a kid would be a horrible thing to do even for a changeling. It didn't stop him from being angry but at least he kept it to himself. "Yes, what is it youngling"? He asked hoping to get underway as soon as possible. "Do y'all need some help around? ya seem lost"? She innocently asked as her big red eyes stared at the changeling. "No thank you little one". 011 replied. "I am able to find my way around this... market without assistance. So if you would excuse me, I need to get to the apple stall". 011 headed away from the yellow earth pony until she spoke again. "But the apple stall is the other way". This got 011 to stop in his tracks and looked at the young pony who pointed in the opposite direction of where the changeling was once heading. "... yes, I know of that". He lied before turning round. He walked past the filly and headed to where she had just pointed. 011 saw the apple stall barely. It looked as though nopony was there at it. It didn't matter. 011 kept heading in that direction, focusing on nothing else. "So are y'all new ta Ponyville"? 011 looked down on his left noticing the young filly was following him. He then faced the upcoming stall again but decided to answer her questions. After all, it didn't seem likely that it would end up the same way as last time with Twilight. "yes. I arrived yesterday". He quickly spoke. "And you're a changeling"? She asked excitedly as she had never seen one before. Even though she had been at the Canterlot wedding on the day of the invasion, she had only seen Chrysalis when she had transformed from Candence to her original form. The rest of the invasion she had spent within the safety of the castle. "I would expect that to be obvious to everypony, but yes". "Do ya like it here in Ponyville"? "no I do not. I hate it and I'll be leaving the first chance I get". " Do changelings eat pony food"? "I wouldn't be at the market if I didn't, so yes". "Do y'all think I can be yer friend"? 011 stopped in his tracks. The younger pony walked a couple more steps before her reflexes kicked in and stopped herself. "... You want to be friends with me"? asked the confused changeling, looking down at the young filly who stared up at him. "Why wouldn't I? Ya seem like you need a friend what with y'all being a loner". A little insulting but 011 forgot about it and thought about whether he should accept this young pony's friendship. After a minute or two of thinking, he had his answer. "...Very well, I shall accept your offer of friendship". He said slowly wondering if he had just made a good decision or a bad one. He stuck out his hoof to shake on becoming friends but instead was surprised to find the young filly hugging his other hoof. 011 couldn't help but pat the young filly on the head. Her innocence made 011 feel as though she could be trusted. She seemed to mean no harm to him and even had the courage to attempt to make friends with him, a creature of another species."What is your name young one"? asked 011 actually feeling like he wanted to know the young child better. "Ah'm Applebloom. what about you"? Applebloom broke the hug and looked up to 011 who had a smile on his face. "You may call me... 011". He simply said, exposing his real name to a pony for the first time. "So d'ya still want ta get sum apples"? "I would. Please lead the way young Applebloom".