Crystal friendship

„I am here Cadence, what was that you needed?“ asked Shining Armor his beloved wife.

He was just talking with his vice-captain about situation in Crystal Empire, when one of Cadence´s guards bring him letter from her, in which she wanted him to come to her room.

„Hi, my dear. I know that you have lot of work, but there is something I need to talk with you about.“

Captain of royal guard stayed silence, he knew that his wife will tell him eventualy.

„It´s been already one and half year, since our wedding in Canterlot. Since then, it was the best time of my life, even though all those dangers we´ve been through, but don´t you think that there is something missing in our lives?“ she asked with smile of person watching someone not understanding a riddle.

„I don´t think so. Our lives are as perfect as they can possibly be.“ answered her husband.

„Then I believe I have suprise for you. Shining...“

Door to the room were rushely opened by a pony in crystal armor.

„Your majesties! I am so sorry, but vice-captain Deeter Spirit sended me to find you as quickly as possible!“

„What is happening?“ asked Shining. Deeter was his subordinate for a long time and he knew that he wouldn´t disturb them, if it wouldn´t be necessary.

„We´ve got informations that army of changelings is coming from the east and they don´t seem to be friendly.“

„Damn it. She again. Lead me to Deeter Spirit, we have to be prepared to defend ourselves.“ White unicorn was about to leave, but then he turned to Cadence.

„I´m sorry dear...“

„Don´t apologize, the suprise can wait.“she smiled and watched her husband and guard leave. Then Cadence walked to the window and stared to east.

„Chrysalis, will you ever get out of my life?“

* * * * *

„Captain, thanks Celestia you are here!“ greeted him white unicorn with crystal armor, dark red mane and jagged blade as a cutiemark.

„One of our scouts returned to the Crystal Empire few minutes ago, he was out of breath, because he wanted to warn us as fast as possible!“

„Did he said, if Queen Chrysalis was in the army?“

„As far as he knows, she isn´t.“

„That is at least something good. How far are they?“

„If they didn´t stop for a break, then they will be visible any moment now.“

Actualy, Shining Armor already could see a black cloud, coming to their home. His mind whirled with questions. What do they want? Will be Crystal Heart strong enough to protect them?

„What should we do?“ asked Deeter.

„Nothing. There is nothing we can do. We have to wait and hope.“

The cloud was coming closer and soon, all ponies could see that it is really swarm of changelings, they stopped few inches from the magical bubble, what pretected the empire.

„Citizens of Crystal Empire.“ spoke one of those insect-like creatures with decorated helm on head. His voice sounded like voice of pony dying on thirst and it was obvious that he doesn´t talk when he doesn´t have to.

„In the name of Queen Chrysalis we declare war to your empire and to the rest of Equestria. You can either give up right now, or die.“

Changeling smiled and showed sharp teeth, which he immediately sank into light blue shield, ripped a piece of of it and ate it.

Others followed his lead and soon they entered the empire.

„Damn! How could I forget? Changelings have love and joy as a food.“ growled Shining and his horn shined with light purple magic.

Another magical shield stopped intruders, but the question was, for how long?

„Deeter, come closer.“ said captain of the royal guard and prince of the Empire to his subordinate.

„I need you to go to Ponyville, you have to find Twilight Sparkle and her friends!“

„Sir, I can´t leave Crystal Empire with those monsters nearby. My duty is to protect you and royal family!“

Shining Armor smiled.

„No. Your duty is to follow orders. You are good friend Deeter, but you don´t have to worry so much. I can protect the Empire until you come back.“

Prince stared straight to his eyes.

„Go! The train station isn´t in radius of my shield. If you will not hurry, there will be no chance in getting to Ponyville in one piece.“

Red haired unicorn hesitated for a while, but then he turned back and rushed to the station. Crystal ponies were scared, but everypony who saw him, quickly cleared his path. Along the way he noticed grey unicorn with black mane with wide purple stream in the middle, staring at him. He shortly looked into his purple eyes, but hurried to the station. He didn´t have time to think about strange ponies.

Deeter´s body shivered, when he ran through Shining Armor´s spell and right after he left, changelings appeared all around him and decided to chase him down.

„Fools.“ unicorn´s horn shined with red magic and few creatures that were the closest to him got blasted away. But there still was at least forty of them and young vice-captain couldn´t affort waste time by battling with them, so he continuied running to the train station.

It was so close that he could see the train, preparing to leave, but suddenly sharp pain pierced one of his back legs and he tripped. Turns out, that one of the changelings actually bit him, leaving him no choice but to fight.

Deeter Spirit turned around to face the enemies and fired another beam of red magic. Unfortunately, the changelings had advantage in numbers and last thing he saw, were sharp fangs of creature, coming closer to his neck. Then...

* * * * * *

...he woke up in coupe, on a train.

„What the...?“ said silently. Last thing he remembered was changeling, that was about to kill him.

„You don´t have to worry, changelings are still searching for you.“ answered him young male voice, maybe little too arrogant.

White unicorn looked up and saw that same grey unicorn, who he noticed when he was leaving his home.

„Who are you? What happened?“

„Calm down vice-captain, if nothing else I saved your life.“

Guard stayed silent.

„My name is Snaky Arcanum. About your second question. When you firstly noticed me I used my magic on you without your notice and let you fight changelings in world of illusions, which made your body fell asleep. After that I disctracted changelings by illusion of you and carried you to the train. Right now we are on the way to Ponyville.“

„Why did you do that?“

„Several reasons. Including you being in trouble, my own need to get on the train and most importantly – I need your help.“

„I am sorry, but I am afraid that I am little busy right now.“

„Too busy to save the Crystal Empire?“ asked Snaky and started to laugh like crazy to his own joke. Apparently, Deeter´s stressed out situation seemed funny to him.

“Now seriously. I guessed that you are on way to Ponyville to alarm princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends to go help Crystal Empire. We have same goals, but you are vice-captain of royal guard, which means that you have to be skilled fighter, which isn´t really one of my skills.”

“Heh, so this means that we are allies?”

“Correct.”

* * * * *

Back in the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor was preparing his soldiers to fight with changelings and Princess Cadence was walking around the town and comforting crystal ponies.

Everypony was so focused on their situation, that nopony noticed several dark shadows turquoise hiding in corners, waiting for their opportunity.