A New Day

Through Celestia's Eyes

  The changeling looked at me, her eyes were bright orange. I tried not to flinch from the fangs, but they are more pointed than Luna's guard. I hope Luna had a good reason for letting it in the castle.

"Princess Celestia, I am Cicada, daughter of the green queen. I am here to get my mother released from prison. Do not try to harm our hive, even though I left a ling disguised in my place, the hive is protected by your Twilight Sparkle." (Cicada)

"Twilight? Why would she do that?" (Celestia)

"Sister, Twilight is under no spell. She will protect Emerald if she helps protect us. The changeling queen Silverwing is going to attack and Emerald is the only defense that can go hold her back." (Luna)

"Luna I want to believe you, but changelings were supposed to be extinct. Remember the war? Remember how many were lost to them? I do not want that to happen again." (Celestia)

"It won't, sister. Princess Cicada is here in peace. She is only wanting her mother back." (Luna)

"I will give you the benefit of the doubt, sister. Miss Cicada, I will be sure to....are you all right?" (Celestia)

  The changeling was stiff like a statue, her eyes locked into place staring at a wall. After a moment she blinked and stared at me.

"Sorry, princess. I just received word from two lings. Silent Night has informed me Silverwing is at the Equestrian border and a White Rose says mother is returning home. Your captain must have angered mother." (Cicada)

  The changeling turned and was engulfed in green flame. A blue pegasus with white patches stood where she was. She took on leap and flew away out the window.

"Luna, ready the guard. We must get to Ponyville."

Through Emerald's Eyes

  We finally got to the house through the tunnel that we sealed behind us. The room we broke through was the throne room ceiling, luckily the entire structure did not collapse. Everyling was now sitting on the floor while I stood at my throne chair.

  I heard the voices of some foallings near the entrance so I went to investigate. Coming up to the edge of the structure I peered down and saw twenty foallings and my orange filly play firefly. To cute. I wanted to go down there and embrace my daughter, but it would alarm the others.

  No, I had to stay away until I could get to Twilight. I moved back inside and allowed my color to shift, my shell switched to blue as did my eyes, wings and mane. I flew down to the children, who quickly ran, and made my way to mother who should be with Twilight.

  I trotted inside the planning room. Twilight was leaning over the table while mother was staring at a map of the Everfree. I trotted to Twilight's side closing the door with my magic.

"Miss Sparkle?"

  She lifted her head up quickly and looked at me with a smile.

"Hello, no I don't want anything from the kitchens right now."

"I am not here for that."

"Then why are you here?"

"The green queen has returned, Miss Sparkle"

  Mother darted to the table, it was a bad idea disguising as one of her lings.

"Impossible, my daughter is still locked up in Shining Armor's cages."

  A large earthquake interrupted us, shaking the foundation of the hive. Then hoof-steps were heard overhead, someling or pony was in the house. Chrysalis  and Twilight ran out of the room with armored lings on their tail. I returned to the throne room and sat on the crystal chair.

  The lings around me were frightened by the sudden attack and stayed closed to me. The bronze eyed ling stood at my right at attention, staring at the entrance of the throne room. White Rose trembled at my left, I already heard her message to Cicada. We listened intently, waiting for the sound of steel.

Through Twilight's Eyes

  The changelings behind us were in a unsettling silence. Chrysalis stood as still as a statue, staring at the hive's hidden entrance. Hoof steps came down the wooden stairs and buzzing filled the air. Then a shrieking voice was heard over all of it.

"Silence fools! Do you wish for them to hear us?"

  Chrysalis lowered her head to me and whispered.

"That is Silverwing."

  Another loud shriek came from the changeling queen.

"Oh, Emmy! Come out and play! I know you're here, my scouts never lie!"

  The changelings around us were getting nervous, I think. They were shaking and staring in ever corner. One was down on her knees praying. Maybe I should start praying.

"Miss Twilight."

  What was that? I looked at Chrysalis, but she still hasn't moved.

"No, it is not my mother. It's Emerald, I put you in hive mind temporally."

  Impossible, nopony could get away from my brother.

"It is possible, now here is what you must do..."

  The grey changelings were shocked by my appearance, just as planned. The tall queen with long wavy grey hair and granite eyes stared down at me not in shock, but in excitement.

"Oh joy! Now little pony, by your presence here you are either a fellow ling or a enemy."

  I didn't answer.

"Come on, obey me!"

I didn't answer again.

"Wait. You are from Queen Peony's hive aren't you?"

  I answered.

"No, I am Twilight Sparkle, Magic Leader..." I conjured green changeling armor on myself. "...Guardian of Friendship, and Protector of Emerald the Green. You have unknowingly fallen into a trap. My brother Shining Armor, Captain of the royal guard, has been released from his bindings and has found my magic signature.

  You are now a prisoner."

  Silverwing showed little fear. Instead she raised a holey hoof.

"You are a stupid changeling. Your queen is dead, I destroyed all hives that didn't submit to me. Tell me where the green one is. First my child, now my friend. She will pay!"

"This is not going well."

"Do not worry, the lings are almost outside. Lead them there."

"I will tell you where she is. I last saw her fleeing to the pony village."

"Good ling. Sunbeam, oh Sunbeam. Please come and dispose of the ling."

  A changeling trotted up to me and held me up as Silverwing led the other changelings into the house. After they left the changeling placed me back on my hooves.

"Twilight Sparkle, it is a pleasure. Sunbeam left me in his place before he left, he is still alive?"

"Yes, but he not a regular changeling..."

"We know. Silverwing was going to execute him after he returned from placing the princess in a home."

  I opened the hive's door allowing him inside the sanctuary. But I didn't follow. I heard above hoofsteps and clash of metal. Today was war, tomorrow, who knows.

From Shining Armor's Eyes

  That creature will pay. I stood outside the town hall with twenty golden armored guards at my flanks. We had no idea where they went or how to find their magic signature. They were underground, that we know. But they could have spread out and planned a attack for capturing other ponies.

  Something in the distance caught my eye, it was small and coming right to us. Many of the guard took their places to block the object. It was stirring up a lot of dust and dirt blinding us when it came to a stop.

  The object was a filly, but not a filly? It was an orange pegasus with a purple mane, but her wings had holes and were like the monster's. She also had a small shell and a black horn. I immediately put a cage around her seeing as she was not pony.

"Let me go you jerk!"

  She looked familiar. I was about to speak when two more fillies, earth and unicorn, came running up to me. Behind them a group of mares brought up more dust. It was Twilight's friends.

"Applebloom! We've been worried sick about you three!" (Applejack)

"That's right, Sweetie Belle. We thought you were in Twilight's house, but then you simple disappeared!" (Rarity)

"Stop that! Scootaloo, tell 'em what ya told us." (Applebloom)

  The orange one buzzed her wings in response. I lowered her until her her hooves touched the ground. Then she spoke.

"My mom, Queen Emerald sent me here. After the other changelings escaped into a tunnel she made, she had me rush to you."

  I noticed a change in her wings, they became more feathered.

"Stop staring at my wings! This is important, mom said that Silverwing just arrived. I heard the soldiers fighting with the grey ones after she tele..tele..moved us right outside of town. She said Princess Celestia is also coming with an army."

  The little filly took in deep breathes as Rainbow Dash patted her back. I stared at the filly for a moment, her wings were normal now and her horn disappeared. The shell remained however, Emerald must truly care for them. I placed my purple helmet on my head and lowered my head to the filly's height.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of it."

"Well you better hurry! I don't know how long Twilight can hold them off!"

  I stared at the filly then took off for the Everfree. The sound of metal drawing close behind me told me my fellow guards were following. I had to help Twily!