It was afternoon. At least that's what it should've been, but Celestia had been out cold for at least an hour or two and in that time the sun still was afloat where it is. She wondered if it would concern her subjects, but to make up for it she slightly lowered the sun, as if she were dimming the lights in a bedroom. The others were thankfully fine despite the rough crash.

"Perhaps it's best somepony warn the others at Canterlot." She helped Adrian and Sundance up. Adrian dusted himself off and thanked Celestia with a bow. "No need to be formal Adrian. But right now I'm concerned. We hadn't predicted any other Changeling hives here besides yours."

The changeling nodded. "None of us knew. Their smell was masked, of course we couldn't have saw it coming." The changeling operative looked back at the wreckage of the train cart; he had never seen such power in one fell swoop like that. He had heard the stories but never up front had he seen it before. "Is there anything I can do for you Princess? I'm at your service."

She nodded. "Please return to Canterlot at once. We have to prepare the Guards and your Hive." The sun Princess helped up Shining Armour whilst the moon Princess tended to Cadance. "Perhaps it's best that you four make your way there. It's not safe as I had hoped."

The changeling, the elite guard, the Captain and Princess of love all agreed.

"Don't you want to come with us? We need the Princess of the day and Princess of the night." Shining Armour asked, the obvious concern in his tone was audible. When the Princess of the sun shook her head, he continued: "Are you sure? Like you said, it's dangerous knowing that rogue changelings roam Equestria."

The Princess was firm with her answer when she folded her arms together as she turned away to the path of a forest. Perhaps it led to the Everfree Forest. Perhaps not. "I have no other options, I have to do something. I cannot just sit by knowing that Equestria is in far more danger than we could imagine." Tirek's tyranny was far too short lived to be of an issue in the past, however, if Chrysalis were to dominate Equestria it would take years, decades even to retake and recover from such a blow. It has been long since she had done anything to protect her kingdom with her own will, and Twilight could not do it without support.

She turned to her left. Spike, Sweetie Belle and Gryph0n were fine as well. Luna also looked towards where her sister looked but then her attention turned back to her when Celestia made her way to the wreckage. The celestial pony searched through the debris and corpses until she found one of the bags of weapons. Opening it, there were a couple of pistols and Adrian and Sundance's personal bow's and arrow sets. "I owe it to Twilight... She has helped me for a while now and I have to repay the favour." She said with vigour in her voice. Princess Celestia then began to drag the bag towards the others who were to depart to Canterlot. She lifted the bag as she urged: "Please, stay safe..."

The four were at first hesitant, but none of them would disagree. Adrian and Sundance went for their bows and arrows whilst Shining Armour and Cadance went for two M1911's. Before they departed, the four wished the others good luck in finding what they needed.

Sweetie Belle was hardly surprised that Spike had been training for something like this, but to experience it first hand is a different story. The young-mare was glad that she survived such an ordeal, however she was now caught in the frying pan with the others. There were a lot of questions to ask, hopefully the Princesses would answer them for her. Spike probably would have some answers to some of the said questions as well, but the only thing she knew right now is that Changelings are after them and they have to venture into the forest to find the tree of harmony. Whatever that is...

As she were to stand, she felt a quick jolt of sharp pain as she put pressure to her left ankle. "Arghhhnn!!" She cried out, clutching on to her left leg.

The cry was loud enough to get the drake's attention as he rushed to her aid. He didn't bother to ask a stupid question and instead got to work. "You must've twisted your ankle during the crash." He presumed. "I'll carry you." The purple reptile decided.

Part of her wanted to say that she'll slow him down and she'd be nothing but a burden, but the other half just wanted to feel a bit like a damsel in distress being saved by Prince Charming. At the very least she was important to somepony (dragon).

He carefully turned his back to her, holding her left and right hands with his respective left and right paws and pulled her to mount him. "There we go..." He said as he wrapped his right arm around the back of her right leg. "You're so lucky today Sweetie dear. You don't have to walk and you have a hot dragon to carry you." The dragon said with satire. The only response was a childish giggle that he liked to hear.

Gryph0n looked ahead in to the forest. It seemed foggy in there, and perhaps the perfect trap awaited them in there if not deadly creatures. "Well. Seems like the only option we have." Flying would've given away their position and the changelings would definitely give chase. "Does anypony know how to perform a light spell?" He then realised that one of the ponies whom he addressed is the Goddess of the sun, and a Princess. Celestia raised a brow but lucky for the Pegasus, she laughed it off.

Most of the equipment was lost or broken during the crash, and the only bag of weapons were handed to the other group. It was best they lay low for the time being. Of course the surviving changelings will be looking for them and follow the train tracks.

"It is almost evening. I will have to raise the moon soon, sister." Luna said.

The older sister agreed. "We will have to hurry." The older Princess began to trot towards the forest, hoping that it indeed led to the Tree of harmony. The others followed her as she walked on. Discord probably would've reached the tree before any of them could, but he had left for some time to explore worlds outside of Equestria. The group she now relied on was fairly rag-tag but the best time to make friends is during a time of danger.

Sweetie Belle and Luna were very close, mainly because Sweetie Belle looks up to the Princess of the night who can console her with wise advise whenever possible. Another reason is that the young mare claims that Luna sounds a lot like her older sister. Beforehand she didn't notice the resemblance until the idea was implanted. Speaking of which, the excitable mare does share a close bond with her older sister, much like Celestia does with her sister Luna. Still, she worries about Spike's feelings about her... He couldn't just forget the feelings he had for her just because he dates the sister. All that devotion in his younger years to impress Rarity wasted on the little sister. Sweetie is glad that she had fallen for the charming dragon but even so, it was all chance. It wasn't the same as being worshipped for years...

It had been at least an hour, and it seemed that Sweetie was able to walk again. The pain in her ankle had subsided quicker than expected. Sweetie sighed out of the blue, but she hoped the drake wouldn't notice. The other ponies couldn't help but notice her since it was quiet beforehand. The purple dragon stepped in front of the young mare, halting before her. "Something is bothering you again?"

"It's nothing."

Spike assumed that getting involved in all of this so suddenly upset her somehow. He realised that it may not be the case since she seemed fine just moments ago before she overheard the Princess' conversation. "Not so enthusiastic about the moonlight?" Spike sarcastically asked.

"It's not that." Sweetie Belle assured.

Luna interrupted the two's conversation by placing her hand on Spike's shoulder, but only for the sake of Sweetie Belle. As usual, the navy mare was nosy and saw that the young blank flank had a nightmare. "Just don't think about it. It is not a good time to speak about it now." The mare of the night shot an assuring glance to Belle who nodded with a smile as a sign of gratitude. As a good friend, it was important to help a friend when they need it most.

Spike knew that the two were very close, but he decided to put the thought aside. Something bothered his marefriend, but as usual she shies away from admitting anything from her thoughts. It was much worse when they first got together, because Sweetie is the last 'Cutie Mark Crusader' whilst the other members gained cutie marks of their own. There was no doubt that she was happy for her friends, and they continue to support Sweetie Belle as well, but Apple Bloom was too busy handling the different apple orchards after becoming a well-known orchard inspector. Scootaloo barely had time to pay a visit to ponyville once she invented the new sport for Pegasi, Cloud Scooting. Babs got her cutie mark due to her strength, and is undergoing training as a new Royal Guard.

Sweetie Belle was unintentionally left behind. The last Cutie Mark Crusader. She continued to look for what her special talent was, but as the days, weeks and months past, she lost hope and confidence. When the drake stepped in and became Sweetie's lover, he had to deal with being extremely supportive. Of course he was as Twilight's assistant, but as a coltfriend of Sweetie Belle, it was challenging. Diamond Tiara continued to antagonise the blank flank, though Silver Spoon seemingly has gone against the spoilt pony. Silver Spoon became friends with Sweetie Belle when she felt that her cutie mark and her special talent didn't seem like much. Ironically, one of the CMC's former enemy brought back the last member's self-esteem.

Still, the dragon knows how much Rarity's sister just wants more out of her life. It was easy to compare the two, despite their differences in taste the two share interests here and there.

When he compared the two, he then realised what may be troubling his special somepony... Rarity...

For the rest of the walk, it was relatively quiet, though the group took note of how Spike and Sweetie Belle kept exchanging concerned looks. When they approached a large cathedral like building, Celestia remembered that she had it built over the tree of harmony to act as a protective layer. Courtesy of Discord, it successfully repelled dark vines, planted for torture testing. The doors only open specifically for the Princesses, though theoretically if one had enough power, they could open the door forcefully or even passively.

"We had found this dangerous element not too long ago, yet it seems as though its existence is far older than both Celestia and I." Luna explained.

Celestia continued for her sister: "A forged blade of pure darkness. As tame is it may seem, its power is strong and may consume the wielder." Neither sister could bear the blade, as it felt as they were being eaten away by the mysterious aura. The only thing they remember when wielding the blade: the need for power and the destruction of the surrounding environment.

The dragon was concerned, the fact that the Princesses were trying to gain control of something they weren't able to. He couldn't imagine Twilight handling it neither, as she was no stronger than Celestia, Luna or Cadance. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

The princess of the sun sighed. "I hope so..."

The two princesses prepared to open the door, but they stopped themselves from doing so when they heard rustling leaves, hoof steps and chatter. The group also noticed, and surveyed their surroundings. Celestia quickly cast a light spell, in hopes that it would repel the fiends that had found them. It did little to actually hinder them, as they continued to move fast around them. The changelings had found them, but not the ones they were previously evading.

One of them showed themselves. His attire was different to the typical changeling militant, as this one wore a mask and a long coat. He did not sport any weapon beside two katana swords, rarely seen in Western Equestria. "Our regards from the Queen and hive. A message from our noble Queen: 'Surrender the demonic relic, or your kingdom will fall.'"

The dragon scoffed at his opponent and charged in, his gauntlets spewing flames. "Allow me to retort!" Throwing a powerful punch, he was sure that the hit would've sent the changeling flying. What happened instead was his punch was blocked by the katana's still holstered in their scabbards. Definitely not a normal changeling soldier.

More revealed themselves, with similar attire and weapons though sporting different coloured masks. There were five in total. "We are the Elites..." They said in sync with each other.

"Sweetie, stay back!" The dragon commanded as he threw himself into the fray. Gryph0n and the princesses also joined the fight.

Spike continued to send volleys of punches and kicks at his opponent, the red masked Elite. When his opponent went for the draw, the dragon attempted to intercept, holding his arms in place from the hand guards. The two struggled as Spike continued to hold his foe in place, but the two broke apart as they threw each other off. The purple dragon threw another killer blow, though missing his opponent, his punch broke through an oak tree!

They continued to trade blows. In response to the previous chaos attack, the red mask slashed at Spike with his left katana. He also missed, but he cleanly cut through an oak tree, in contrast to how Spike messily smashed through the other one. The two took a moment to smirk at each other. The dragon took the opportunity to charge, throwing rapid punches and kicks, all barely blocked by his opponent.

The red masked changeling formed a scissor with his blades. The drake was quick to halt his attack by holding his arms apart, but the blades were on both sides of his neck. There was a lot of strength to fend off, and Spike couldn't hold off for long.

Sweetie Belle quickly intervened as she used a lump of oak like a bat to knock off the red masked elite from Spike's hold. He was fatigued by the sudden surprise attack, and it gave enough time for the purple drake to push his opponent off and allow his marefriend to finish the job with another powerful swing, with enough force to cave in a skull and shatter the makeshift bat into hundreds of tiny splinters. "Smashing..."

Gryph0n was busy tackling two elites of lower class, wearing navy and purple masks. Though he kept up with them, he couldn't properly attack neither without a weapon. "Spike! Throw me a bone!"

The late-teen drake quickly threw his downed opponent's katana's to the Pegasus who caught them and was quick to deflect an attack. Using his wings to create a gust of wind, he stumbled Purple whilst Navy held his ground. He flapped his wings again to create another gust of wind, stronger than the last, sending the unprepared Purple flying back before hitting a tree. It left Navy and him to fight each other.

The changeling was fast and precise with his blades, but his attacks lacked power. Gryph0n took advantage of this weakness and locked his katanas with his foes. The Pegasus had stronger muscle, and was able to throw Navy off before kicking him down.

Luna and Celestia battled with the last two elites, one wearing grey and the other wearing another red mask respectively. Grey was fast but had some strength behind his attacks, whilst Red seemed adaptive in her combat abilities. Red backed away from the fight to watch her peers. Celestia and Luna focused on Grey first, who tried to fend off the sisters. Celestia quickly cast a blinding flash, catching Grey off guard. Luna took charge and using one of Purple's discarded katanas, charged at the elite.

The two traded slashes at each other before Celestia flew in and kicked the changeling back. Luna finished Grey off with a dashing kick to the face, fracturing the mask and sending the elite flying back.

The second Red elite was the last one to stand. "Good. Very good." She applauded her foes. "But I doubt that any of you could lay a hand or hoof on me." This elite hand only one katana unlike her comrades, but her confidence alone intimidated the group.

Spike and Gryph0n were first to rush in, the drake sending high punches and roundhouse kicks whilst the Pegasus went for mid-slashes with his acquired swords. The female changeling kept her cool as she calmly dodged and avoided the attacks. The young unicorn attempted to rush the last elite with kicks that she had learned from Applejack. The three improvised a co-ordinated order of attack, before the Alicorns joined the fray as the finishing blow as they drop kicked the elite... To no avail.

The female elite had blocked the princesses’ powerful drop kick with her sword, and had them locked. She threw them off before using the handle of her sword to jab at her opponents with blindingly fast speed and heavy force. The five flew back and had a rough landing, but despite this they continued to attack. Spike and Gryph0n served a high slash and sweep kick, but easily dodged, Sweetie Belle attempted a spin kick which was blocked and deflected. The princesses again drop kicked, only this time Sweetie Belle took the opportunity to kick the changeling, with a successful hit.

The elite stumbled back and looked at her opponents with a surprised look. Spike turned to Sweetie Belle as he was stunned to see the unicorn so adept in combat. "Where did you learn to do that?" He asked out of curiosity.

"Applejack taught me some tae... tae... 'tie-kwan-dough'... I think that's the name." She couldn't remember exactly, but it was a crash course she learned on the farm when Apple Bloom was too sick to buck the trees. It was a new technique Applejack learned herself, and it was helpful that she took the time to learn some of its moves as well.

The five turned their attention to the changeling again as she charged this time. None of them were prepared, as she made short work of them by kicking away the princesses, sweeping and kicking away Gryph0n. Just as she was to stab the unicorn, the drake used his right gauntlet to halt the blade. Annoyed, she pulled the purple dragon by his right hand before throwing him at an oak tree with enough force for him to break through it. She attempted another attack at the young blank flank...

Just as things seemed grim, a loud crash of gunfire sounded and the elite was knocked back by the shot directed at her katana. She backed away from the unicorn, to prepare for a new foe. "Who was that? Show yourself!" The elite demanded.

"Quite the fight going on there. But don't pick on the little one. It's not a fair fight." The voice was unfamiliar, as was the figure who hid in the shadows of the trees. "You know I was expecting more from you alicorns. And that dragon, a lot of power, but not enough practice." The mysterious figure remarked before dropping down to reveal herself. She was an anthropomorphic rabbit with natural silver hair, a left blue pupil and right left pupil. The coat she wore had an upturned collar and short sleeves with black cuffs, with a primary design of Western and Italian accents prominent to the appearance, as were its red apparel as well. Anthros were a rare sight in Equestria, however, Celestia could sense that this one wasn't of Equestrian origin.

Red threw her mask aside and had a good look at her new opponent. "This is none of your business outsider. Leave, or die."

"Die? Well if you want me to. But you'll have to try and kill me if you want that." She jokingly responded before putting away her silver handgun on her left holster. She drew her own sword, a large double edged claymore almost her height and seemingly heavy. "Have you met my good friend 'Legacy'? Used to have a different name but gave it a more suitable name for it being a family heirloom." She explained.

Red was intimidated by her new opponent’s sword, but stood her ground. There was a moment of silence shared between the two, before Red made the first move. She swung rapidly at her new opponent, who blocked all attacks in time. She knew she was being played with; she quickly acquired one of her downed comrade's katanas and continued to swing at the rabbit who still blocked every attack despite the force put behind it.

The rabbit forcefully locked her sword onto her opponent's blades, her strength alone was superior. "You're fast, and strong. But you have to expect that from the likes of a demon."

Red could only guess that her opponent was indeed immortal in some way. "Of course. But they didn't expect it, and how could you expect it?"

"Just watched the fight."

The demoness realised that whilst she was fighting, the rabbit surveyed not only her style of attacks, but her speed and strength as well. "A keen eye..." She whispered to herself.

The rabbit threw the demoness' katanas off before kicking her away. Before the two continued their quarrel, the red coated fighter speared her sword on to the ground before standing legs apart and fists forwards, stiff and full of strength. The changeling looked at her blades once more before deciding that she wouldn’t need them either. She approached, bouncing back and forth (ironically); she sent harassing punches at her opponent’s curled right fist, and again. When she tried to kick at the leg, the rabbit was fast and placed her foot ahead of the leg, ricocheting the swung hoof.

The red coated fighter was unhinged by the physical taunts and only stood her ground. When the changeling demon threw a fist, the long eared fighter swayed it downwards with left arm and threw a punch with right fist. Again, she repeated her counter but reversed roles, and then once more, reversed again before sending a volley of fast and unrelenting punches to the torso. Despite her opponent swaying and out of balance, the rabbit took the changeling by her long hair and dragged her to the nearest tree before smacking her head on the hard surface.

There was no mercy, even as there was blood spewing. The changeling tried to throw a weak punch but her opponent took her arm and bent it over the shoulder… The cry of agony was ignored and she was kicked by the side of her torso, forced to retreat to another tree. She took another powerful blow, this time a kick breaking her leg, before finally being finished off with a thrust foot. The silver haired rabbit stretched out her arms, satisfied with the outcome of the fight. "Not bad." The rabbit retrieved her oversized blade before holstering it on her back; it seemed as though it holstered itself as the hand guard of a skull gleamed light. Even as the rabbit walked towards the others, it didn't seem to fall off from her back.

Lending a hand, the unfamiliar rabbit smiled as she helped Celestia up first. "So who did I just save? I would like a name." She requested with friendly tone.

"You don't know her?" The unicorn asked as she helped Spike and Luna up.

"Celestia..." The princesses answered. "Princess Celestia. And yours?"

"Nikki. Nikki Mason-Fox. Or just Nikki." The rabbit responded. "How about you guys?" She asked, referring to the other four.

Celestia introduced the others to Nikki, before asking about what the rabbit is looking for. "I'm looking for a demonic relic. It belonged to my sister, and before that it belonged to my uncle, grand-uncle and great-grandfather."

It couldn't possibly be the same one they had sealed away in the Harmony Cathedral, could it...? "Is the relic you're looking for a... Dark forged katana with a scabbard?" If it does happen to be the same one that they had found, it would explain why the blade was completely out of the princesses’ control. It was of another world, a power they're not completely familiarised with as of yet. The rabbit nodded as her answer, but Celestia was cautious as the rabbit may be another threat but in disguise. "I will only show it to you, if you hand over your weapons."

"Sure." She said without hesitation as she handed over her holstered handguns and large sword. Her smug look couldn’t be ignored as she folded her arms, the smirk and the cocky posture. That impish grin coupled with her relaxed stance already annoyed the others to some degree. Once she was unarmed, Mason stretched out her arms and yawned, her mouth gaping wide and her eyes squinting. After, she retained her previous composure. “After you.”

Princess Celestia led the group into the Cathedral as it opened the doors for her and Luna. It was dimly lit by candles, the stained glass however clearly made images of different events that had happened in Equestria. The banishment… The return… The first invasion.

Spike recognised the one where he saved the Crystal Empire from Sombra, among others such as Twilight's transformation into an alicorn, all were replicated from the castle in Canterlot. "Good times..." It had been a long while since then, and things had changed. For better or worse, Spike however couldn’t help but yearn for easier times, just writing response scrolls with a quill and sending them to Celestia on behalf of Twilight and co.

At the end of the hall was the tree of harmony in all of its glory, as well as the katana which rested on a built stand. Its strong glow of bright blue almost outshone the lights of the icons on the tree. "There it is... Is this what you were looking for Nikki?"

"Yes..." She said with solemn tone. Her face turned from smug to nostalgic. Nikki proceeded to approach the weapon, and as she did, the sword's protruding energy became more volatile, but the rabbit countered with her own strong aura which was red like her coat. It didn't take long before the blue aura faded from the sword, and when it did, the rabbit took hold of the lost blade... As she held it before her, she also fiddled with an amulet around her neck, with closed eyes she drew it slightly from the scabbard but re-sheathed it. "This is the sword."

Luna noticed how Nikki seemed almost distant, but when she came to she turned to the group. "Something troubles you…?” This new unfamiliar face was difficult to read, as were her memories and what she thought. But the odd stare was enough to show that it brought back troubling memories, something she’ll probably never know of. Her question was only greeted with a shaking head, and another moment of silence.

"I see..." Celestia acknowledged.

"You wouldn't happen to need it, do you?" Nikki felt as though that the princesses and the dragon all held back their full potential, and could've handled the changeling back there. Perhaps they needed it for something big.

Spike stepped in for the princesses: "A friend of ours needs it... We're trying to stop the changeling Queen from invading Equestria."

Nikki looked at the blade. She contemplated whether to intervene with the current event, but then again it wasn’t her fight. She took one look at the blade again before shrugging and pointing the handle towards the purple scaled drake. "I'll lend it for use. The sword was not the only reason why I'm here." The rabbit said.

"Are you some kind of mercenary, bounty hunter of the sort?" Luna asked.

"I'm a Private Eye, if you’d believe that. My employer traced a prominent demon to this world. Hence why I'm here." She looked at the glowing katana once more. "You bring it home back to me after all this.”

“We'll offer whatever pleases you, as long as you help us. Any way you can..." She offered Nikki's handguns and claymore sword back, noting how the claymore was heavy but her alicorn strength was enough to hold it.

The rabbit took back her weapons, fastening the handgun holsters back on the back of her belt, and the sword on her back. She held the katana by its scabbard and nodded. "The next time you fight a demon, don't hold back. You never know whether you are fighting one or not until you feel their energy..." The Private Eye walked towards the door, before waving once to note her leave. "Treat your girl right dragon-boy." She said as she walked off.

Author's Note

Welp... There. Enjoy or not. Whatever suits your taste.
I was hoping to do this chapter much earlier. But when you're finding it hard to type anything up it becomes a bit of work. Well, here is another chapter of something that might not attract much attention, oh well.