//------------------------------//
// Everything will be alright 
// Story: A friendly enemy (Rewritten) 
// by Cone of Wonders 
//------------------------------//

It had now been over twenty minutes since 011 had tried to find a way out of the forest. He was still galloping in an unknown direction, unsure whether he was any closer towards the outskirts of the forest or whether he was just trotting deeper into it.
Any simple creature with wings would have flown out of the forest by now. But even that would have proved to be foolish. 011 had no idea what his exact location was and could be near an unknown settlement belonging to ponies or griffons or anything that would try to take him prisoner. Only if his situation became desperate, he would use his wings. 

It didn't help much that the sky was becoming darker with each passing minute, bring with it a cold wind. But high drones were tough. 011 did his best not to let it bother him and continued to walk. As he did, he began to talk to himself.
"Foolish queen. Has she not realized she has sealed the fate of the entire changeling race? I must find a way to stop her. Maybe there's still a chance to save us all... maybe".

Unknown to the wandering changeling, three large sets of yellow eyes stalked him, hidden by the darkness of the forest. It watched its prey with anticipation and waited for the right time to strike.

Another five minutes slowly passed. This was beginning to irritate the changeling who then kicked a nearby tree hard with his back hoof in an attempt to let off some frustration but only succeeded in hurting his hoof.

011 looked up past the tall trees and through the leaves and branches, there was smoke? It was almost unnoticeable but it was certainly there. And where there was smoke, there was a fire, which meant that something sentient was ahead. Though it could have been a pony or worse. It was most doubtful that whatever it was wasn't a changeling. Changelings would usually sleep in the shadows without the need for fire.

It didn't seem like the best idea to 011, to find the source of the smoke and risk being attacked by a group of possible hostiles. But it was worth checking out. If it was a lone individual, 011 could take it on easily.

He headed towards the smoke. walking carefully as though he expected the unknown creature to spot him despite the fact he still had much distance to cover until he reached his destination.

Another 5 minutes of walking passed and the forest grew darker and darker, but that was nothing compared to the sound of branches being shifted aside noisily from behind the changeling. He was now aware of the beast stalking him. Whatever it was, it sounded huge.

011's first thought was to run, but that would lead to him being torn to pieces quicker than he would have been just walking. His wings seemed to be the best choice for the matter. It was lucky for the changeling that it was dark enough for him to escape so the chances of being seen were minimal. However, he couldn't help but remember something about flying tactics that seemed to stick with him for years.

"Spread wings slowly, hop into the air. And fly".

A memory from his commanding officer years ago flashed into the changelings mind. Spread wings, hop and fly. One of the earliest memories in the changeling army that 011 could remember. This simple tactic was meant to allow flyers to take off quicker. Now was the best time to use it, especially when there was a chance he could die if he didn't.

011 turned round to the source of the rustling, just in case it did try to attack him, and slowly opened his insect like wings to their full wingspan. The rustling began to draw closer.

011 hopped into the air as planned, but as he did. The powerful beast burst forth from the trees revealing its form. It was a horrible sight for those who had seen it for the first time. It looked like a giant lion from the front, upon its back rested a goats head, attached to the spinal cord of the body. Even the beasts tail took on a different form, the head and body of a snake which hissed wildly at the high drone.

As it emerged, it charged at its target, knocking over even the tallest trees. It must have figured out what the changeling was trying to do. 011 tried to flap his paper thin wings, but the monster was faster than he had anticipated. It smashed through the last tree that separated itself from 011 and managed to catch his wing in its massive jaws. 

011 was thrashed side to side like a wild dog would do with a stick. The pain in his wing hurt more than anything he had experienced. As soon as the beast assumed its prey had suffered enough, it threw the body viciously to its left.

011 felt his body get crushed upon impact with a tree. His left limbs seemed to have taken most of the damage as there seemed to be an awful crunch like sound from his hind leg.

The changeling did what it could to defend himself with his magic, but even that was a futile attempt. A changelings magic worked through the power and consumption of love. He hadn't feasted on the delicious emotion for days meaning he could only levitate small objects at the most.

The monstrous beast loomed over the changeling and rested its huge paw on the changelings back. The lion head lowered itself down to the changelings own and opened its mouth, filled with dagger like teeth, ready to chew 011's head off.
011 did what he could to stay awake but it was no use. Upon hitting the tree earlier, his head had taken some of the blow and his skull had been pounding ever since.

He could now feel the animals hot breath on his neck. This was it. Until...

"HEY YOU"!

A voice sounded in front of 011. It was had to see who it was because 011 was finding it hard to keep his eyes open. The last thing he knew before becoming unconscious was the beast had taken its paw off of him and the figure drawing closer and seemed to be yelling. "HOW DARE YOU"!