Top Secret

Twilight and the girls sat in her castle enjoying a nice lunch together. “This was much needed after this dreadful week,” Rarity said as she took a rose petal sandwich from the plate that was sitting on the table in Twilight’s dining room.

“I agree with ya there Rare,” Applejack said as she ate an apple slice.

“I just wish I could have calmed that bearbug down,” Fluttershy softly chimed as she fed Angel Bunny a carrot.

“I don’t think it’s the type of monster to talk calmly Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said fluttering in the air.

“It’s not a monster, it’s a rare creature,” Fluttershy argued.

“Yeah yeah,” Dash said dropping down and snatching up a cupcake from the table.

“I just feel bad we missed out on the wedding,” Rarity said, “and poor Pinkie couldn’t perform her wedding planning duties because of the creature causing trouble,”.

“Well, it all worked out for the best,” Twilight smiled as she lifted up her teacup to find it empty, “Spike!”.

“Yeah Twilight?” the little baby dragon asked poking his head in from behind the door.

“Can we get some more marigold tea please?” she asked.

“Coming up,” he said as he entered holding a teapot, “just made a fresh pot,” he refilled their cups. Just as he filled Twilight’s cup his cheeks puffed up and he flamed out a scroll.

“A letter!” Twilight said as she grabbed the parchment in her magic.

“What does it say, darling?” Rarity asked as the girls leaned in. Twilight unraveled the letter and read it out loud.

“Dearest Twilight,

I do not mean to bother you, but I seek your help with a secret matter as soon as possible. Please get to canterlot as soon as you can. Be sure to pack for a long stay at the castle and bring your friends.

Your’s truly,

Princess Celestia.

“Do you think it’s trouble?” Applejack asked.

“I don’t know, but we better pack and head out today,” Twilight said standing up, “we’ll all meet at the train station,”. They all nodded to each other and the girls hurried off to pack as Spike and Twilight headed to pack their things. Within an hour, the girls were on their way to canterlot via train. Twilight half listened to her friends chatting as she looked out the window and pondered what the princess could possibly need their help with.

“Ya, ok Twi?” Applejack asked sitting next to her friend.

“Yeah, just hoping whatever we have to do isn’t anything bad for once,” Twilight said turning away from the window.

“Hey, don’t worry about it Twilight,” Spike said, “you’ve always been able to handle whatever the princess sends your way. It means she trusts you,”.

“I know Spike,” Twilight said, “it would just be nice to help without being in danger’s way for once,”.

Bon Bon sat at the Canterlot train station waiting for Princess Twilight and her friends to arrive. She was still trying to wrap her head around what she found out this week. She recalled the royal wedding last year. The fear and panic as ponies ran from the buzzing pony like creatures as they forcefully fed on their emotions. Her biggest fear was Lyra. She had been put under a spell by the queen of the changelings. Even after the evil magic wore off Lyra wasn’t herself for a while. She would stare off for hours and freak out every time she passed the flower shop in town, but the evil magic’s symptoms faded away soon enough and Lyra was her old self again. Bon Bon was thankful for that and hoped for Lyra’s sake mostly that this mission didn’t mess up. She feared how Lyra would react at just the sight of a changeling. Bon Bon snapped out of her thoughts as the train pulled up and stopped right in front of her. She smiled as Twilight and her friends stepped out of the train. Even her little dragon assistant followed behind. “Bon Bon?” Twilight greeted. She could see Twilight was a bit confused.

“Hi Twilight,” Bon Bon greeted back.

“I thought the princesses were meeting us,” Twilight said.

“They’re waiting at the castle,” Bon Bon said, “come on. It’s better if they explain,”. They arrived at the castle and headed to the throne room.

Celestia was organizing some papers on a clipboard when there was a knock on the throne room doors. “Please come in!” she called. Bon Bon Entered with Twilight and the girls right behind her. Celestia smiled at the sight of her former student. So much had changed since Twilight was just a young unicorn filly in her school. “Hello Twilight,” she greeted as they hugged.

“We got here as soon as we could,” Twilight said, “is everything ok?”.

“Everything is fine Twilight,” Celestia said trying to calm her, “but I do have a task I want you to help Agent Sweetie Drops with,”.

“Who in tarnation is Sweetie Drops?” Applejack asked.

“I am,” Bon Bon said, “Sweetie Drops is my real name,”. She saw confusion cross the faces of the six friends. Celestia explained about Sweetie Drops and her past.

“Wow,” Twilight said, “so you’ve been hiding in Ponyville all this time?”.

“Well at first, but over time I started to like the simple life,” Bon Bon said.

“We’ll I’m glad for you Bon Bon,” Twilight said, “but I don’t know what this has to do with why we’re all here,”.

“Twilight, you’ve always trusted in me right?” Celestia asked with a smile. Twilight’s eyes widen a bit at Celestia’s question.

“Of course,” she said, “I’ve never once doubted you,”.

“Then I hope you can still feel the same after what I'm about to show you,” she said as she turned her head, “bring them out Luna,”. The friends watched as a glass window opened in the wall and Luna walked out. She reached them and as she moved aside Twilight and her friends gasped as they saw the three changelings. Rainbow Dash flew toward them as fast as she could intent on kicking them out of Equestria, but she was suddenly stopped. She looked back and her tail was being held by soft golden magic.

“Please do not be afraid,” Luna said, “they mean us no harm,”.

“Not to argue with ya Princess Luna,” Applejack Chimed in, “but they certainly meant all ponies harm a year ago,”.

“Yes, we recall Applejack,” Celestia stated, “but just like with any ruled kingdom or group some of the queen's subjects were merely doing what they were ordered to do. Not all them wanted to attack us. Like these three,” she pointed her hoof at the changelings as she began to explain what had happened.

“So they escaped their queens rule?” Twilight asked, “and you want us to help hide them?”.

“Yes they did and sort of,” Celestia answered, “I want you all to help make them their own pony identities and help them blend in with the rest of pony society,”.

“How are we suppose to do that?” Rainbow asked.

“Luna and I have been talking,” Celestia said, “Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy I want you to help the changelings figure out what they’re good at. We need to pinpoint their special talent, Pinkie, I want you to help them learn to eat normal pony food, just enough so nopony questions their eating habits, and lastly, Rarity,” Celestia touched her shoulder, “You hold the most important part of the plan,”.

“I do?” Rarity asked.

“I need you to create their coat, mane and eye colors, and even their cutie marks,” Celestia said and she could see the light of fashion burst in her eyes.

“You want me to design ponysonas for them?” she asked. Celestia nodded.

“I’ll do it!” She said.

“We’ll all do our best princess,” Twilight assured her.

“I’m sure you will, but for tonight you rest,” she said, “tomorrow the plans start,”.