History Reimagined

Chapters

Ch. 1: From Across the Multiverse
Ch. 2: Intel and Inquisition
Ch. 3: By the Light of the Moon
Ch. 4: In Love and War
Ch. 5: Broken Bonds
Ch. 6: Divide and Conquer
Ch. 7: Dishonor and Disharmony
Ch. 8: Letters Between Friends
Ch. 9: Into the Clouds
Ch. 10: Home Again
Ch. 11: Where You Least Expect Them
Ch. 12: All Eyes on the Prize
Ch. 13: Opening Moves
Ch. 14: Turning Point
Ch. 15: Playing Keepaway
Ch. 16: Next Steps

Ch. 1: From Across the Multiverse

Act I: Harmony

Immediately after ascending through the portal in Twilight’s throne room, Starlight opened her eyes. She was definitely on the other side, but it was nothing like she expected. Nebulous, glowing clouds swirled through the black and empty void, emanating pink, teal, and turquoise light. Stars which were equally luminous and similarly colored drifted by her at a leisurely speed. In reality, they were probably standing still; she was likely the one moving.

The beauty of the scene before her would have taken her breath away if she had any breath left—if she had needed to breathe. “Where am I?” she asked aloud. “What is this place?” A star drifted past rather closer than she was expecting. Upon closer examination, the “stars” were no stars at all, but something else entirely. Either they were not stars, or she was unfathomably massive. Whatever the object was, she could have caught it in her hoof, but instead let it pass. Starlight’s horn tingled as the object reached its nearest point. Whatever these objects were, they were packed with an incredible amount of magic. Perhaps comparable to that of an entire universe.

“Wait a minute… This must be,” Starlight gasped, “everything!” The entire substance of the multiverse was floating all around her. Starlight was overwhelmed by the beauty and power of it all, raw and untarnished. Yet “everything” had never seemed so fragile before in her life; not even when she had time travelled to the past with intent to change it. It was nearly enough to move her to tears.

Another luminous object floated past, and this time Starlight tried to reach out to it with her magic. It was gently warm, and she got the feeling that whatever she was holding was tremendously delicate. Emotions flooded over her. Feelings of hope and peace coursed through her, soothing her as she drifted along. She released her grip and reached out for another. This too felt fragile, but rather than soothing her, it made her feel like singing. She felt an abundance of joy unmatched by anything she had felt back home. When she let go, the emotions quickly faded from her.

A third object drew near, this one directly in front of her. Starlight magically reached out for it as she had before, but immediately felt conflict, suffering, and above all else, hopelessness. It was a horrible, sickening feeling that made her tuck her legs in and pull her head in towards her chest. She closed her eyes and grit her teeth as she released the object, waiting for the feeling to subside. But unlike the other times, these feelings only seemed to grow stronger. Starlight opened her eyes and saw that the object was now nearly as large as she was and growing larger with each passing moment. The light grew brighter until it nearly blinded her.

A single dark spot appeared, and Starlight found herself being pulled towards it with an irresistible force. She backpedaled in space, but the dark spot drew closer still. The wind whipped through her hair and played with the straps of her saddlebags. She grabbed the edge of the hole with her front hooves as her hind legs slipped through to the other side. The pull was incredibly strong, and Starlight’s grip began to slip. “Help!” she cried. She raised herself slightly and managed to get one front knee up above the plane of the hole, but when she tried to move her other hoof, her grip failed completely and she fell screaming into the hole.

A moment later, Starlight landed on a cold, crystalline table with a thud and a grunt. The emotions from a few moments ago were not quite completely gone and her breathing was—normal, actually. What had happened? Was it just a dream? Or was it real?

She shook her head before rolling over and observing her surroundings. She was now just outside of Ponyville, lying upon a round, unassuming table with a half dozen crumbling high-backed seats around it. Nearby, burned-out houses and heaps of rubble lined the streets of what used to be a town. There was hardly a building left untouched. The roads were dotted with changeling-sized craters which one could stand knee-deep in. There wasn’t a pony to be seen in this once-thriving town.

Starlight hopped off of the table and carefully examined the map. Many areas of the map were light blue, the default color for the crystal table. Canterlot was the epicenter of a dark green gradient which claimed much of central Equestria. The Crystal Empire was bathed in a dark red hue which trickled down into parts of northern and central Equestria. Two red crystalline pincers were attempting to place a stranglehold on either side of Canterlot, and the red and green formed a zigzag border over western Equestria. A single holdout of royal blue emanated from Manehattan and covered a bit of the surrounding area. Cloudsdale had wandered far from its normal resting position to a location nearby the metropolis. To the north, the royal blue territory bordered the Crystal Empire, and farther to the south lay a light blue—unoccupied territory. Starlight traced a path along the rail lines through the light blue lands all the way to Ponyville. The ruined town was near enough to Canterlot to be slightly affected by the green gradient, but was otherwise free of foreign influence.

Starlight shook her head and sighed. What a mess, she thought to herself. Her analysis of the map complete, she familiarized herself with what was left of Ponyville. In a word, Ponyville in this timeline looked exactly as she had remembered it. Golden Oaks Library was still a pile of ashes from Chrysalis’s collateral damage; Sugarcube Corner still stood vacant, looted, and abandoned; and the orphanage where Carousel Boutique was supposed to be was in utter ruin. In the distance, Starlight could make out neat rows of dead or dying apple trees. The decimated version of the town she had called home for the past few months reminded her why she had been sent back—and what the consequences of failure would be.

Starlight’s horn lit and a compass floated out of her saddlebags. From here until Manehattan, I’m on my own. Once I’m there, I’ll be able to start fixing this world. She slowly spun around next to the table, watching the compass as she did. Once the needle pointed towards the N, Starlight raised her head and stared off into the distance. She sighed and cast one last glance at the map before walking in the direction indicated by the compass.

Before leaving the city limits, Starlight came to a river. She turned and walked along the river until she came to the rail line leading out of town. Too bad I can’t just take the train, she thought as she began walking down the middle of the tracks. She followed the tracks northeast without incident for as long as the sun was in the sky.

As night began to fall, Starlight looked up and saw a cave. As good a place as any to turn in for the night, I suppose. She explored the outcropping with light from her horn to ensure that the cave was empty, then lay down on her belly.

Starlight pulled out a quill, an inkwell, and a journal with her cutie mark on the cover out of her saddlebags. She magically held the items aloft in front of her, noting the book’s craftponyship. This journal was no ordinary book. With the journal held in her magic, she sensed a closeness to Twilight she had not felt since she was back home, as if the book were a direct link to the Princess. Starlight removed the stopper on the inkwell, dipped in her quill, and opened the journal.

Dear Princess Twilight, she wrote, I am well on my way towards Manehattan. I have no idea how I’m actually going to get in, though. And with the threat of changelings, it’s not like they’ll be quick to believe me. If I recall correctly, they’re using a magical body paint of some sort to reveal changelings. If I could just get my hooves on some of that paint they’re using, I could convince them. I guess I’m just a bit nervous. I’ve never done this before, Twilight. How do I show them they can trust me? You're a princess; you've got more experience with matters of diplomacy than I do. What do you think I should do? Starlight paused before signing her name at the bottom of the entry. Your friend and faithful student, Starlight Glimmer.

Starlight sighed before replacing the items into her saddlebags. She rolled over and tried to get some sleep, but found she was too haunted with the memory of Rainbow Dash being attacked by alternate Twilight’s bear. Every little sound was a reason for concern, prompting her to light the cavern with her horn. Though her first night in this world wasn’t particularly restful, she did hatch a plan to gain a hearing with the resistance leaders.

At length, Starlight felt the morning sun warming her coat and opened her eyes to behold a blinding yellow sun already climbing into the sky. “Well, at least I finally got to sleep,” she mumbled as she rubbed her eyes and pulled her journal out of her bag. She also removed from her bag a knife, some flint, a small pot, and a bit of oatmeal. She transfigured a few nearby rocks into logs and lit a fire with the sparks from the knife and flint. She poured some of the water from her canteen into the pot, and opened her journal as the oatmeal cooked. Sure enough, Twilight’s reply was waiting there for her.

Dear Starlight Glimmer, the journal read, I can’t say how exactly you’re going to make friends with what’s left of my friends there in that world. Too much time has passed and I have no idea how much has changed since we left. It was early spring then; now, it’s the first month of summer. But I do know that whatever happens, your friends will be there for you. Don’t forget your friendship reports! Your friend and mentor, Twilight Sparkle.

“Heh heh, right. Friendship reports,” Starlight said nervously. “Not only do I have to undo the damage I’ve done, I have to make friends with these ponies. I honestly don’t know which will be harder.”

After breakfast, Starlight walked out to meet the railroad and continued her northward journey. Along the way, she came to a bridge which crossed over a river, and decided to stop and wash up. She dropped her saddlebags on the bank and waded into the river. She had just finished washing her mane and was about to start on her tail when the bridge above her suddenly rumbled loudly. Starlight quickly submerged all but her head into the river and looked up through the gaps in the wooden bridge. She was quite surprised to see a southbound train consisting of many cars. Who—or what—would be going south out of Manehattan by train? she wondered. Last I knew, Fillydelphia was under Sombra’s control.

Once the train had passed, she finished washing and began walking again. At length, she crested a hill to behold a long, straight railroad track running through an otherwise empty plain. On the horizon, the end of the rail line met the skyline of the city of Manehattan. “You’re almost there, Starlight,” she told herself. “Not much farther.” Starlight sighed and started to descend the hill.

As she got closer to Manehattan, more details became visible. Individual high-rises could be distinguished from one another. Closer buildings could be discerned from buildings that were farther away. There was a guard shack just ahead along the railroad.

“Wait, what?” Starlight said. She pulled out a pair of binoculars from her saddlebags and stared at the building in question. Sure enough, there was a structure the size of a small shed flanked on either side by a barbed-wire fence. The railroad passed through a small opening in the fence.

The guard shack itself had windows on all sides. Along the far wall, Starlight could see crossbows, a few lockers probably used for holding military gear, and a guard with a pair of binoculars—a pair of binoculars pointed at her. The guard lowered her binoculars, prompting Starlight to do the same. Starlight raised her binoculars again to see that the guard was now levitating something else in addition to the binoculars. It was small and rectangular, with a small rod protruding from the top. The guard raised the object to her mouth and began speaking. “It’s a walkie-talkie!” Starlight shouted as she put her binoculars away.

Starlight dismounted the railroad tracks and began galloping parallel to the fence. Before long, a shadow crossed her path. She looked up to see a pegasus overhead. “Freeze!” he shouted. “This is a restricted area! Lethal force is authorized!”

Starlight turned ninety degrees and ran directly at the fence, briefly throwing off the pegasus above her. She turned her head and watched him bank sharply into a turn. Just as he turned towards her, Starlight turned towards him to run underneath him. As she turned, an object whistled past her head. She raised a shield and immediately deflected a second similar object. This time she got a decent look at it as it bounced away—It was a crossbow bolt. As the first pegasus flew over her front-to-back, a second flew over her back-to-front. Starlight locked her knees and skidded to a stop.

A glance to her side revealed that the fence was still about fifty meters away. Starlight charged her horn and teleported to the other side of the fence.

“Hold it right there!” shouted another voice, this time on the ground.

“Surrender and come quietly!” added a second grounded voice.

Starlight looked around and spotted one unicorn and one earth pony. The earth pony charged at her with sword drawn, but Starlight levitated herself out of harm’s way. The unicorn shot at her, leaving a scorch mark at the tip of her tail. As the unicorn charged his horn again, Starlight dropped to the ground and cast an invisibility spell. The unicorn guard fired again, but missed. He charged his horn and levitated his walkie-talkie. “Subject is evasive and highly skilled in the use of magic. Requesting use of deadly force be authorized.”

“Request granted,” came the reply. “Don’t let anything through!”

Before the unicorn could replace his walkie-talkie, Starlight cast a spell that encased the unicorn in a large pink crystal. The earth pony rushed over, only to meet the same fate.

Starlight landed between the two ponies. I can't just leave them like that; I should help them. She took a step towards them, but then got second thoughts. But if I free them, I could get caught. Besides, I've already saved their lives by using non-lethal magic. It was hardly a sufficient resolution for the pony who was sent back to set the world right again, but the pegasi were making their final approach. With no time left for deliberation and with her invisibility spell still active, Starlight galloped away towards the city.

Starlight wasn’t sure how long she ran, only that she didn’t look back. By the time she reached the houses on the edge of town, she was panting so loudly her invisibility spell would be useless if anypony was nearby now. Her entire body was begging her to stop, and she was sweating from head to hoof.

Close by, some ponies were building a house on the outside of town. They were currently taking their lunch break at an improvised table on the far side of the house, and while the prospect of food was certainly a tempting one for Starlight, the hard hats and safety vests they had left behind were also quite tempting.

Starlight walked over and picked up a hat. The yellow hard hat disappeared as she placed it on her head. She levitated an orange safety vest and laid it across her back, and it too disappeared. She left the scene and ducked behind another house where she could finally uncast her invisibility spell.

With a low groan, Starlight sat down and began rubbing her horn with a hoof. The amount of energy required to keep up her invisibility spell that long left her horn throbbing. Once she had begun to recover, she levitated the orange safety vest and removed her saddlebags before putting the items on again in the reverse order—vest first. Starlight then looked at her reflection in one of the house’s windows. She smiled and tipped her hard hat at herself before proceeding to walk down the street towards the center of town.

Not a bad start, Starlight, she thought to herself. Now to catch a ride into town. This part of town was lightly inhabited, and for the most part, the few civilians she did see didn’t pay much attention. But, every so often, she’d get an odd look. The looks came just frequently enough to make her uneasy.

As she progressed deeper into town, the activity increased exponentially. Starlight kept her eyes out for an open cab, but the few she saw were already taken. Among the ever-present stares, Starlight felt isolated in a world strangely hostile to its would-be savior. What’s wrong with these ponies? she asked herself. It’s like they don’t trust me. Do they look at everypony this way? The answer came in the form of a billboard that caught Starlight’s eye a moment later. Two ponies stood opposite one another, each painting the other’s face with the changeling paint. Big, bold words above the ponies read, “ACCOUNTABILITY,” while smaller words below warned, “Green Changelings Could Be Anywhere.” Starlight wasn’t sure what the consequences were for being caught as a suspected changeling, but the implications on the success of her mission gave her a chill.

Just as Starlight was about to cross the street, a cab cut her off, nearly running her over. Starlight watched as the cab came to a stop just beyond the intersection and the passenger disembarked. She got to the cab just as the driver was about to leave. “Hey!” she shouted. “Do you taxi drivers always try to run over potential passengers?”

The taxi driver apparently only heard the word “passengers.” “Where would you like to go?” he asked.

“There’s a—a restaurant near the city jail. I’m meeting a friend there. You know the place?”

The cab driver furrowed his brow. “Yeah, yeah I know it. But how come you don’t have any paint on?”

“Oh, uh, I—must have sweat it off! Because—I’m a construction worker,” she said as she magically pulled at her safety vest.

“‘Sweat it off,’ huh?” asked the stallion. He leaned in close to Starlight, and caught a whiff of the body odor she had worked up running into town. “Whoo!” he exclaimed as he waved his hoof in front of his face. “That you did! Sorry, ma’am. Can’t be too careful with all them Greenies crawling about.”

“I know what you mean,” Starlight said as she climbed into the cab. “Oh! Do you have any more of that changeling paint? I just ran out.”

“’Fraid not. Just used my last bit this morning. I’d'a painted you on sight if I’d had any left. Woulda shortened our little conversation a bit, you know?”

“Yeah,” Starlight said halfheartedly. The cab rolled to a start and she was off. With a more densely packed area of town came more unwelcome stares. With the war looming over everypony’s heads, Manehattan was practically in a state of martial law, complete with uniformed soldiers patrolling the streets in pairs. Almost every billboard reminded the populace of the ever-present war and the various ways they might do their part.

Starlight’s thoughts drifted along with her eyes, abruptly returning to her present situation when the cab began to slow. The jail was nowhere in sight. “Why are we stopping?” she asked.

“Checkpoint,” came the reply.

“Checkpoint?”

“Yeah, yeah, no biggie. The soldiers up there will rub some paint on our faces and then we’ll be off. Causes a nasty traffic jam, though.”

“Oh. That’s all? Well, ok then.”

Starlight and her driver slowly advanced through the line until a pair of soldiers approached from the sidewalk side of the cab. “Destination?” asked the first soldier as the second soldier levitated a blob of forest green paint out of a paint can.

“Greasy Spoon’s diner,” the driver replied. The second soldier smeared a fresh streak of paint under each of the stallion’s eyes as the first soldier approached Starlight.

“Why don’t you have any paint on, ma’am?”

“I sweat it off at work,” she said as she tapped her hard hat with a hoof. “And, of course, today would be the day I ran out of paint.”

“You got your ID on you?”

“Huh?”

“Identification, please,” the soldier repeated.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. If this is your first offense, we’ll just give you a warning.”

“Oh. Ok.” Starlight fumbled with her saddlebags for a few moments before producing an ID card from an inside pocket. She passed it off to the first soldier as the second came closer, a blob of green paint in his aura.

“Hey, look at this,” said the first soldier to the second.

“What?” he replied. As he turned his head, the paint he was levitating stopped moving towards Starlight. The pair examined the ID together before the second soldier spoke up. “How do you have a government-issued ID with the seal of Princess Celestia issued after the Princess’s death? Explain.”

“Oh, that. I—” Starlight bit her lip. “Listen, it’s complicated, ok? Just—I was on my way to see a friend, Rainbow Dash. Well, she doesn’t exactly know I’m coming, but—”

“Rainbow Dash?” asked the second soldier.

“Paint her!” the first soldier ordered as he stepped backwards and drew his crossbow.

The second soldier hurled the paint at Starlight’s chest, creating a dark green splatter mark. For a moment, nothing happened. “See?” Starlight began. “Nothing out of the ordinary. Now if you’ll kindly let us be on our—” Suddenly, Starlight began to glow brightly. She stared down at her hoof and grimaced. “Not good!”

“Changeling!” shouted the first soldier as he fired his crossbow. Starlight hit the deck, avoiding the projectile.

Starlight looked up and located a vacant street corner. She charged her horn and teleported to it before running down the street. A whistle blew behind her, but she didn’t look back.

“Stop her!” a voice behind her called out. Starlight forced her way between a pair of pedestrians, nearly pushing one out into the street. She turned her head to see a pegasus soldier giving chase while reloading his crossbow.

A few paces ahead, Starlight saw a pair of soldiers shoving their way through waves of pedestrians. Thinking quickly, she skidded to a stop and ducked into an alleyway. She veered between trash cans as the soldiers shouted indistinctly behind her. She turned the corner into an alleyway parallel to the street and continued galloping. Just as she passed an intersecting alley, she heard hoof beats very close behind her. With hardly a thought, she teleported herself to the next intersecting alley.

With another turn, Starlight found herself in an alley with a pair of dumpsters. The scent alone made her gag, but she lifted the lid anyways. With a deep breath and some coaxing in the form of muffled shouts behind her, Starlight dove into the dumpster, shutting the lid behind her.

Then, nothing. Just ambient city noise, her own breathing, darkness, and that horrible smell.

Then there were beating hooves and flapping wings. “Fan out. She couldn’t have gone far,” a soldier said. The sound of his hooves drew extremely close. Starlight cast her invisibility spell moments before a unicorn lifted the lid and shined his hornlight into the dumpster. The soldier frowned and closed the lid.

Starlight heard departing hoofsteps followed by the second dumpster being opened and closed, then more hoofsteps. Starlight waited until the hoofsteps had faded, then waited a bit more for good measure. When her lungs and stomach could finally take no more of the dumpster air, Starlight lifted the lid and jumped out. She panted furiously and gagged some more, nearly losing her breakfast. As she recovered, she realized she was no longer glowing. “Glad that wore off. Now, I’d better lose these,” she said, tossing the hat and vest into the dumpster before vainly attempting to remove the putrid sludge from her coat.

Starlight cautiously ventured out into the street parallel to the one she began in before breaking into a trot along the sidewalk. The looks ponies gave her now were far worse than the looks she had gotten before. Not only was she unanimously looked upon, but she managed to clear away anypony near her with her smell. Hope I don’t have to blend into a crowd, she thought to herself.

“There she is!” somepony shouted.

Starlight’s trot became a gallop as she approached a street corner, banking hard to the left to stay between the street and the building. As she looked over her shoulder, she careened through a vendor’s cart, shattering its merchandise. Pain shot through her body as she heard a large quantity of glass shatter underneath and in front of her. Accompanying the sound was an overwhelming smell—thankfully not that of a dumpster this time. A second wave of pain met her as she hit the ground, trapping more merchandise between herself and the sidewalk. As Starlight fell and skidded to a stop, she watched several bottles of perfume smash into the ground. “My perfumes!” shouted a nearby mare.

Starlight struggled to get back on her hooves, but found little success. Her entire front was riddled with glass shards and dripping with blood and perfume. The glass shards were mere paper cuts compared to the pain caused when the perfume met her open wounds. Starlight’s every movement was agony.

“Freeze! You are under arrest!” a voice behind her shouted. Starlight’s head shot upright as a fresh wave of adrenaline flowed through her body. She clumsily got her hooves as she shot a blast of magic at the soldier behind her, encasing him in a large pink crystal. Then, with the pain dulled by her adrenaline, she ran across the street.

Two pegasi flew low above and behind her, beating the air with their wings. But this time, Starlight heard something else, too. She gave the soldiers a quick glance and saw them drawing their crossbows. She returned her attention to the sidewalk ahead and counted to three before raising a shield around herself. A moment later, a pair of crossbow bolts ricocheted off her shield in opposite directions.

As Starlight approached the next street, a large pegasus chariot sporting navy and gold paint flew overhead. As the chariot came to a halt, four pegasi dropped down onto the ground. Strapped to their left forelegs were navy shields which bore in gold paint the word “Police.” The four stood shoulder-to-shoulder, blocking her path.

Starlight cast her glance across the street and lit her horn. Just as the pegasus behind her closed in for a tackle, Starlight teleported away. She then cast her invisibility spell, but her horn only sparked and fizzled. Her body flashed in and out of visibility a few times before remaining visible. Starlight glanced around and noticed a pony staring at her. “Please, you have to help me! It’s all a mistake. It’s just a big misunderstanding! I have to get to the jail, now!” The mare looked at Starlight quizzically and raised a hoof off the ground. “Please!” Starlight pleaded. “They—they took my sister!”

“It’s just down this street,” the mare replied. “Not more than a block.”

“Thank you!” Starlight blurted as she galloped in the direction indicated. It wouldn’t take the soldiers and police long to find her, but if she could get to the jail in time, she could turn herself in and hopefully plead her case as a non-changeling.

Starlight came to a stop once she reached the door of the jail. She leaned against the door with both hooves and pushed, but nothing happened. She looked again and read the word “Pull.” She cast a glance to the side and saw a police pegasus barreling down on her. “No! Wait! I can explain!” she protested. Too late. The pegasus tackled her to the ground, giving Starlight a hard jolt to the back of the head in the process. The police mare stared down at Starlight as her vision began to darken and her consciousness slipped away. “I’m not—a change—ling…”

Ch. 2: Intel and Inquisition

The corridors resounded with the sound of “click, click, click, clunk, click, click, click, clunk” as Rainbow Dash walked down the hall. The metallic clunk was produced each time Rainbow’s right hind leg contacted the floor. This leg was unlike the other three; in place of muscle, it had hydraulics. In place of bones, it had steel rods. In place of skin, it had a metal casing. In place of fur, it had rough brown fabric which stopped just high of the “hoof”—a replaceable piece of metal approximately the shape of an actual hoof. Just below the knee, the fabric stopped and Rainbow’s fur began. The seam had long since been sealed. An entire team of Equestrian experts from many fields of study had lent their talents towards patching up the General. The fruit of their labor was the highest quality magio-cybernetic anywhere in Equestria.

The leg had been created specially for Rainbow Dash. It was hers, and it was her. It was strong and powerful, but it wasn’t supposed to be in this place where it now found itself. Nevertheless, it was doing the job that was required of it. Its materials had been molded and sculpted by the ponies around it into a fine-tuned piece of machinery. Now, it was a specialist. It had a specific task that it performed with proficiency, and it carried out this task with whatever level of strength, efficiency, and speed was required of it.

Today, Rainbow was not behind a strategic map, nor was she in the skies or on the battlefield. Today, she was paying a visit to the Manehattan jail. A suspect of note, she had been told, had just been captured. This suspect had been acting suspiciously and had claimed to have connections to Rainbow. Yet her story was, as the messenger had said it, “scrambled.” As of yet, there were far more questions than answers. Beyond the next door, Rainbow would have her answers. Then, she could return to the fight.

Rainbow opened the door to a small room adjacent to one of the jail’s holding cells. “Attention! Officer on deck!” called a soldier.

“At ease,” Rainbow called. She approached the room’s central table and addressed the mare behind it. “What’ve we got?”

“Suspect was going to be issued a warning at a checkpoint for being unpainted when the checkpoint guards found this,” she said. She passed Rainbow an unusual-looking ID card which apparently belonged to one Starlight Glimmer. “As you can see, this ID has the seal of Princess Celestia, but its issue date is after the Princess’s death. There are also several other abnormal design features, and not nearly enough security features. After the checkpoint guards discovered the false ID, the suspect was painted, which caused her to glow.”

“Glow?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Rainbow put a hoof to her chin. Glowing was not on the usual list of side effects of the changeling paint. “Are Chrysalis’s changelings learning to fight the paint?”

“We don’t know, ma’am. That’s why we called in an expert, Changeling Inquisitor Zecora,” she said, pointing across the room. Rainbow turned to see the zebra sitting in a chair on the other side of the room.

The guard continued. “After the suspect was painted, she exited her cab and resisted arrest on hoof for several blocks before she was neutralized by police,” she said as she pulled a slip of paper with the suspect’s charges on it out of a file folder.

Rainbow thoughtfully examined the paper for a few moments. “And she claims to know me?”

“Yes, ma’am. Once she regained consciousness, she asked again to see you. She mentioned a few other names as well, including Zecora, Pinkie Pie, Big Macintosh, and Shining Armor. We found in her saddlebags some basic survival equipment and some sort of notebook. She’s been sending the notebook back and forth to Twilight Sparkle, and she used it to ask how she might convince us that she’s not a changeling. Additionally, she is under the impression that Twilight Sparkle is a princess and her mentor. Oddly enough, from the reply on the next page, Twilight seems more than willing to play along. We’ve sent for her as well. So far, no word from anypony except Zecora and you.”

“Is Twilight working with Chrysalis? She seems content just to sit in on our meetings with her brother and give us advice—” Rainbow paused and gave Zecora a horrified stare. “When we first met her, she had her bear attack me, and now this; it all fits together too well!” Zecora raised a hoof to her chin as Rainbow turned back to the mare behind the desk. “Get Twilight in here as soon as you can. Send an Inquisition Squad in riot gear to subdue her and bring her back for interrogation.”

“Yes ma’am.”

The mare’s aide took her place while she left the room to deliver her message.

Rainbow walked over to a one-way window which looked into the adjacent holding cell. “Is that ‘Starlight Glimmer’ as she calls herself? This ‘friend’ of mine?”

“Yes, ma’am,” said the aide.

Rainbow shook her head as she stared at the shackled mare with the iron band on her horn as she lay with her head resting on her hooves. Her chest and front legs were covered in cuts and bandages, and her hair was dirty and unkempt. “Horse feathers. I've never seen her before.”

“Yet somehow that pony we’ve captured knows you
And many additional officers, too,” said Zecora.

“Yeah. I think it’s time we found out who she is and how she knows so much about us.”

Zecora nodded her approval, and the pair left the room. They walked out and around to the door on the far side of the holding cell. The guards saluted and opened the door for the pair. The door creaked open as Rainbow Dash walked in.

“Why have you come to Manehattan, changeling?” Rainbow demanded.

Starlight paused, looking up into the face of her accuser. “I’m not a changeling,” she stated. “I’m here to fix your world.”

Rainbow snorted as Zecora slipped something into her saddlebags and closed the door. “All the evidence points to you being a changeling,” Rainbow began. “Why did you resist arrest?”

“I—I don’t know. I guess I just panicked.”

“So Twilight Sparkle is your friend?” Zecora asked.

“Yes. She—”

“You called her ‘Princess’ at the end.”

“At the end?”

“We found your little book you were sending back and forth.”

“Oh, my journal.” Starlight sighed. “I guess I’ve got some explaining to do.”

“Got that right. Now spill,” said Rainbow Dash.

“It all started back in my world, not here in yours. I really had it out for this pony named Twilight Sparkle. I lost a friend when I was little because he got his cutie mark before I did and moved away, so I tried to make sure that wouldn’t happen to anypony else by—stealing their cutie marks.”

“What!?” shouted Rainbow Dash.

“I know! I know! It was wrong of me to do that. It’s definitely not my proudest moment.”

“No, not that! What you’re saying doesn’t even make sense! Stealing cutie marks, other worlds, losing a friend…”

“I’m sorry. You wanted me to explain. I’m explaining. It’ll make more sense when I’m done.”

“Perhaps, Starlight, you could elect
To speak in manner more direct.”

“Right. After my cutie mark-stealing incident, Twilight Sparkle came along and undid everything I worked so hard to build. I was so angry I—I tried to sabotage your first Sonic Rainboom so that Twilight and her friends would never form their special cutie mark connection. And, well, it worked. Several times, actually. This timeline is one of the results.”

“Woah, woah, woah, woah. My Rainboom and our cutie mark connection?” Starlight nodded. “You mean me, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity? Yeah, you didn’t sabotage that. I was there when it happened.”

“But I did. It was supposed to happen earlier and affect Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy as well.”

Rainbow raised a hoof and leaned forward as her wings unfolded behind her. “You knew Fluttershy? But—How?—She—You aren’t even a pegasus!”

“She’s one of my friends back home.”

Rainbow scowled. “That's not funny. Fluttershy died when we were just fillies. You were not friends with her!”

“I know. She died the same day you got stuck in that purple crystal, didn’t she?”

Curiosity fought with suspicion for control of Rainbow’s words. “I—I mean it could have been. It was that same night when she first went miss—Listen. I’m the one asking the questions here. How do you know so much about me and Fluttershy?”

“Because… I was the one who put you in that crystal. You were supposed to fly over and see Fluttershy getting bullied, then challenge the bullies to a race and do a Sonic Rainboom a week earlier than you actually did. And… Fluttershy wasn’t supposed to die.”

In an instant, Rainbow Dash picked up Starlight and slammed her against the far wall. She lowered her voice and put her face just a few inches away from Starlight’s. “Let’s pretend I don't dismiss that story for the load of horse feathers it is. Let's pretend I decide to believe what you’re saying. Are you ready to face the consequences of that story being true?”

Starlight gulped. “Y—yes.”

Rainbow put a hoof over Starlight’s throat. “If that’s all true, then you’re the mother-preening pony who killed Fluttershy!”

“I know.—And I’m—sorry.”

“‘Sorry’ won’t bring my friend back from the dead!”

“In my world—she’s—alive! And there’s—no war, either!” Starlight choked out.

“How?”

“Twilight Sparkle—almost became Celestia’s student—in your world.—She could have stopped the war—before it started.”

Rainbow tightened her grip. “Do you have any idea how many ponies have died in this war? Are you telling me that their deaths were bucking preventable?” Starlight's hind legs kicked the air as she strained against Rainbow’s grip with her shackled forelegs. “Well, do you?”

“Rain—*gasp*—Rainbow Dash!” Starlight whimpered.

“Rainbow!
Let go!” Zecora ordered.

Rainbow briefly pressed her hoof harder before dropping Starlight to the floor. She coughed and gasped on the floor as Rainbow flew away. “And that’s General Rainbow Dash to you, ya mother-preening changeling.”

“I—I’m sorry!” Starlight gasped. “I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry! For Fluttershy—for your friends—for everything! That’s why I came back. I—I just want your world—to be free again!”

Zecora dipped her right front hoof into a jar of green paint and began walking towards Starlight on three legs.

“When this green salve on your coat becomes warm,
It will reveal unto us your true form,” she said as she stretched forth a green hoof dripping with changeling potion.

“I know.” Starlight didn’t even wait for the mare's hoof to reach her face, but sat up on her haunches and grabbed Zecora’s hoof with both of her own. Zecora drew back while Starlight rubbed the paint on her hooves. A look of shock crossed Zecora's face in two distinct waves.

“My changeling salve you do not fear!
How is it that you—Oh dear!”

Exactly as the mare in the other room had described, Starlight’s body began to glow.

“See?” Rainbow blurted. “Just like we thought! The Green Changelings are learning to fight the potion! She’s glowing, but she didn’t revert to her base form!”

“I didn’t revert to a changeling form because I’m not a changeling!” Starlight said. “This world is my doing, and the pony I wronged when I lashed out against her sent me back here so I could repair the damage I’ve done. You have to let me do this.” Rainbow Dash and Zecora exchanged glances. Starlight put her forelegs out in front of her and looked up at her captors. “Please,” she pleaded. “I just want a second chance.”

Zecora placed the jar of changeling potion in her saddlebags and drew out a ring of keys. After singling out one of the keys and putting it in her mouth, she lowered her head to Starlight’s shackled, painted hooves and placed the key in the lock. With a twist of her neck, Starlight’s shackles fell to the ground.

Both Starlight and Rainbow Dash looked at Zecora in disbelief. Zecora smiled down at the prisoner and extended a hoof. Starlight hesitated a moment, then accepted.

“Zecora, what are you doing?” blurted Rainbow.

"The changeling salve did not act right.
It should not make her coat glow bright!
A changeling this one may not be;
There’s more to her than we can see.”

“Thank you,” Starlight offered. “I’ll admit, I wasn’t ready for you to accept me so quickly. Especially not after waking up here only to be Mareandized and interrogated.”

“Can we talk about this outside?” asked Rainbow.

Zecora knocked on the door to the holding cell, and a guard outside opened it. Starlight sat down as Rainbow held the door open and glared at her. “Not all of us are quite as enthusiastic about your arrival as Zecora is.” She flew out of the holding cell and kicked the door shut with her metal hoof. The kick was strong, and the sound of metal on reinforced metal echoed throughout the corridor. “What in Tartarus were you doing in there, Zecora!”

Zecora calmly began as the mares began walking down the hallway. “The shackles go; the horn ring stays.
In house arrest she’ll spend more days.”

“House arrest? This pony is a threat to society! She’s a suspected changeling accused of magical assault of a soldier, resisting arrest, and forgery! She should be getting a life sentence! Or worse!”

“She’s in the system; that is true.
But what’s this ‘changeling’ here to do?”

“Her story—I don't know. You actually believe it?”

“If even Blue Changelings will aid in our fight,
Then what of this pony whose coat does glow bright?”

Rainbow shook her head. “You really do want to trust her. Why?”

Zecora halted abruptly, stomping her hooves. “Tell me, oh General, if it be true:
When did the expert of salves become you?”

Rainbow stopped and turned towards the zebra. “Listen. I mean no offense to your knowledge of changeling paint or salve or whatever, but I know a fishy story when I hear one. I’m Bon Bon Zero’s best friend; I’ve heard stories about undercover Green Changelings getting caught before.”

“If you don't trust her, then that’s up to you.
I have some research on potions to do.
Perhaps this new glow is some strange side effect.
If we are lucky, then I'll be correct.” Zecora turned and began walking the opposite direction down the hallway. Rainbow stood sideways in the hallway, one hoof in the air as she watched Zecora leaving.

“Well fine!” she shouted back. “But make sure there’s somepony to replace you at the paint factory when you go missing! And make sure whoever it is can recognize when the stuff has been tampered with!” With a snort, Rainbow began walking the opposite direction as Zecora.

Rarity could still hear the alarm bells ringing, signaling a breakout in the crystal dungeons. From her hiding place behind some bushes, she watched a trio of crystal soldiers gallop by. After they rounded a corner and turned towards the Crystal Spire, Rarity rose and began galloping in the opposite direction—towards the Crystal Gate. The dungeon was behind her; freedom was ahead of her.

Rarity rounded another corner, and the gate came into view. But so did its guards. She skidded to a stop and dove behind a nearby crate, hoping they hadn't seen her. Rarity's heart raced as she heard hoofsteps approaching. She looked around, and found a sizable rock on the ground. She waited a few more seconds and held her breath.

Then, the hoofsteps stopped. For a second, Rarity almost dared to breathe. Then, the crate shattered, smashed by a buck from one of the soldiers. Its contents—which turned out to be crossbow bolts—pelted Rarity along with splinters from the crate.

Rarity gasped and rose to her hooves. “What were you doing in a restricted area?” a crystal stallion bellowed. Rarity lit her horn. “Hold on. I know you. You're—” Too late. A rock the size of his head smacked against his chestplate, knocking the wind out of him. The other two guards charged forward, but Rarity levitated some of the crossbow bolts and flung them at their legs. With the guards neutralized, Rarity made for the gate.

She galloped through the gate and out of the Crystal Empire proper. The road ahead was going to be a long one, and a cold one for sure. Already, the grass was giving way to ice and snow. Rarity was thankful she had escaped at evening rather than at midday. The snow’s reflection might have been blinding then.

It was almost too good to be true. The conditions were perfect for her escape. Perhaps she had been assisted in her escape. Surely no guard would be so clumsy as to leave the key sitting right there in the lock. Were the Blue Changelings operating in the Crystal Empire? The thought was certainly an encouraging one, lifting her spirits and giving her hope.

It soon became apparent, however, that there was a significant difference between a mare who could maintain her figure and a mare who was physically in shape. Though Rarity had been very careful to meet the first condition, she had never seen a need to meet the second. She galloped as far as she could before slowing to a stop to catch her breath. The weary mare toppled over towards one side before rolling onto her back. She tucked in her hind legs and spread out her front legs on either side as she gasped for air.

When she turned her head to one side she noticed that her coat matched the snow she was lying in almost perfectly. “Why—I’m practically—camouflaged!” she exclaimed. She would have to tuck her tail underneath her and bury her mane into the snow, but if need be, she could make herself all but invisible to her would-be captors. She laughed to herself as her breaths became more controlled.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her rumbled. The tremors quickly intensified, prompting her to roll back onto her hooves. She steadied herself and lifted her head just in time to see a massive black crystal with just a hint of red erupt from the ground. Well, no, not exactly red; more crimson, really. Perhaps a few shades closer to burgundy than the color described by the word “crimson.” Within a few moments, the color-identifying instincts that she never quite found a proper use for were dominated by the terrifying prospect of her recapture. She took a few tentative steps backwards from the giant crystal.

No! I need to be going away from the Crystal Empire, not towards it! she reminded herself a second later. She turned and made an arc around the crystal, keeping the Empire behind her. Suddenly, a very large shadow crossed her path. She looked up to find herself in the shadow of a large black cloud.

“Crystal Trap!” King Sombra called from out of the cloud. Suddenly, the snow in front of her flashed with light, and a large sky-blue circle appeared on the ground. Rarity tried to avoid it, but couldn’t turn fast enough. She leapt when she reached the leading edge, only to land within the circle, still several strides from the far side. A moment after touching down, a ring of dark black crystals rose out of the ground along the perimeter of the trap. Rarity locked her knees and turned her head sideways, anticipating contact with the curved surface of the inner wall. Her right shoulder took the brunt of the hit, and she stumbled onto one knee.

“Into the ring with her!” Sombra said. Rarity watched as half the black cloud descended into a swirling mass opposite the circle from her. With a flash of green light, Trixie appeared, clothed in a black hooded cloak.

Rarity rose up off her knee and onto her hoof, triggering a sharp pain in her shoulder. She turned her painful shoulder away from Trixie and rolled it around a few times before attempting to walk. Trixie also began walking, and the two began circling within the ring. Every time Rarity put weight on her bad shoulder, she felt the front half of her body drop just a bit. Trixie smirked as she watched Rarity limp around the perimeter of the ring.

“Trixie, please, show mercy,” Rarity begged.

“The Dark and Malevolent Trixie is impressed by your escape. But it is now your turn to be impressed by all that Trixie has learned!”

“Root her,” Sombra instructed. Trixie fired a blast of Dark Magic at Rarity’s left front hoof, pinning it to the ground. Rarity pulled at it, but failed to free herself. She watched in horror as the crystal began to grow, creeping up her leg. She placed her right front hoof under her other front knee and began to pull, but this too was fruitless.

“Disable her.” Trixie’s horn and eyes glowed as she sent forth two black ethereal tendrils. The tendrils were aimed quite high, almost above her head. Rarity ducked her head as they closed in around her. The tendrils also dove, appearing to track the motion of her head. At the last second, Rarity thrashed her head upwards, but the Dark Magic reacted and engulfed her head. Within seconds, Rarity felt her horn go numb. She reached up for it as the Dark Magic receded. She felt not a smooth and spiraled surface, but a rough and jagged one as if her horn were covered in small crystalline objects.

“You should never have tried to escape,” Trixie scolded.

“Please,” Rarity begged bowing with her left front knee, “forgive me.”

“Finish with her however you please,” Sombra said.

“Don’t kill me!” Rarity blurted. “Or—at least don’t make it hurt too much.”

Trixie’s smirk became a full-fledged grin as she slowly walked towards Rarity. It appeared as if she was savoring every moment of her victim’s terror.

Rarity began to wonder if her previous pleas had not been enough. She dropped her head to the ground and frantically tried again. “Oh, Dark and Malevolent Trixie, High Acolyte of King Sombra, please spare me, I beg of you!” As Trixie drew ever nearer, Rarity became aware of a terribly strong dark presence which seemed to dominate her every emotion, save fear, which it amplified a hundred times. She felt a magical grip on her chin, then felt Trixie tilt her head upwards.

Gone was Trixie’s smile. In its place was a scowl which made Rarity’s blood run like ice. With her chin held high, Trixie looked down at Rarity as a confirmation of her authority and power. She bared her teeth and inhaled before letting loose a thundering roar. Rarity felt her willpower buckle from the intensity of her fear. She tried to scream, but could find neither voice nor breath. She tried to stand, but found herself weak. She tried to stay awake, but felt the darkness take her.

General Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, sat at the head of a conference table. Along the left side sat the former agent Sweetie Drops, Minister of Propaganda and Element of Honesty; a vacant seat reserved for Inquisitor Zecora; Majors Limestone Pie and Pinkamena Pie, joint commanders of Ursa Company; and another empty seat. On the table in front of the last empty seat rested the Element of Generosity, its bearer missing in action. The first chair on the right side—the only one embroidered with the Wonderbolts’ insignia—was empty. The next two seats were filled by Applejack, former Element of Honesty; and by Big Macintosh, Minister of Agriculture and Element of Kindness. The remaining three seats, two on the right side and on the far end, were also empty.

“Sorry about the short notice for the emergency meeting," Rainbow began. "I know we’re not all here, but we really should get started. We’re here to discuss this suspected changeling we’ve captured.”

“Caught another one, did we?” asked Limestone. “Let’s see how much we can get it to talk.”

“Talking isn’t the problem for her. Making sense is.”

“You can say that again,” said Bon Bon. “I talked with her after you did, and she apparently knows about myself and several others here. She also has a knowledge of recent events that cuts out midway through the battle at Fillydelphia.”

“I know," Rainbow replied. "She even knew about things as far back as me and Fluttershy. Personally, I think she knows too much. Yet she didn’t test entirely positive as a changeling. That leaves only her own explanation on the table; she claims she’s from another timeline.”

“And that she saw the start of the war through the use of an alicorn potion,” added Bon Bon.

“Well that makes less sense than a square-wheeled wagon!” Applejack blurted as she crossed her chitinous forelegs.

“I wish Sunburst were here,” Pinkamena lamented. “Magic is his field of expertise. If a potion like that exists, he’d be the one most likely to know about it.”

“What do you make of her journal, Rainbow Dash?” asked Bon Bon. “Do you really think Twilight is involved?”

“I’m not sure what to make of that. Twilight has been placed under house arrest until we can figure out what the hay is going on. Right now, there’s too many questions and not enough ans—”

Without warning, a purple aura engulfed the room’s double doors. The doors flung open, crashing against the walls behind them with a resounding thud. “Where’s my sister?” Shining Armor demanded, glaring at the council with his one good eye.

“Your ‘sister’ may be a changeling!” Rainbow shouted as she rose out of her chair.

“Dashie,” Pinkamena began, “I painted Twilight when we first met her. Once we got you aboard the Soarin for medical treatment, that is. She’s not a changeling.”

“That may be true,” Bon Bon countered, “but what if she got replaced sometime after that?”

“That’s impossible!” Shining said as he took his seat at the far end of the table. “Twilight and I painted each other’s faces every day since she came back. There’s no way the changelings got her.”

“Chrysalis’s changelings are learning to fight the potion,” Rainbow said.

“Rainbow, that’s not confirmed,” Bon Bon replied.

“Really? Because it didn’t work on the changeling that replaced Twilight, and it didn’t work on this ‘Starlight Glimmer’ either.”

“That’s because my sister. Is not. A changeling!” Shining said, pounding his hoof on the table. “You have no right to arrest her!”

“With all due respect, Shining Armor,” Applejack said, “this does sound at least a little bit behind the barn. First, your long-lost little sister shows up outta the blue, then she gets put on this council, then this ‘Starlight’ gal shows up talkin’ to your sister and knowin’ all about us, even when we don’t know the first thing about her.”

Shining Armor sighed before he spoke again. “She’s innocent, I swear. No changeling would dare strike so close to us. We’d catch them for sure.”

“On the other hoof,” Bon Bon stated, “the sister of General Shining Armor would make a very tempting target for a changeling. You share a lot of love with your sister.”

With a sigh, Shining Armor sat back in his chair and thought a moment before forming his response. “What would it take for you to clear my sister’s name?”

“We need to figure out who ‘Starlight Glimmer’ really is. All we know so far is that she’s using the name of one of Sunburst’s old friends as an alias. Applejack, I think we need to call on your expertise for this one. I’m not going to lie; this is going to be a tough case to crack. Think you’re up to it?”

“You can bet your boots I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

"I'm coming too," added Bon Bon. "As acting leader of the Order of the Blue Changelings, it would be the duty of the council to extradite any of Chrysalis's changelings to me for detainment, conversion, ... and if need be, execution."

“Great. Looks like the three of us will get to pay a visit to ‘Starlight’ in the house where she’s being held,” Rainbow said as she headed for the door behind Shining Armor. “After that, we might stop by and see what we can figure out about Twilight.” The two changelings rose to follow her.

“‘You might’?” Shining asked. “You’d better! And you owe me an apology after all this is cleared up.”

Rainbow stopped right beside Shining Armor’s chair. “I’ll apologize if I’m wrong. I make no apologies for saving your sorry flank from Chrysalis. Again.”

Rainbow trotted off as Bon Bon approached. “Sorry about her. She’s just trying to be careful.”

“Truth is,” Applejack added on her way out, “she’s always had a knack for puttin’ actin’ before thinkin’. Sometimes her instincts are right.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Shining muttered as the doors closed.

Ch. 3: By the Light of the Moon

Starlight set a bowl on the kitchen table. She grabbed the box of cereal with her hooves and began to pour it into the bowl. When she had poured enough, she placed the box back on the table. She turned and reached for the carton of orange juice, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the cereal box start to lean. She had stepped sideways to reach the orange juice, and the cereal was now beyond her physical reach. She lit her horn and—

“Ow!” A current of blue energy arced from the tip of her horn to the iron-banded ring at its base. Starlight reeled backwards and rubbed her horn as the cereal box hit the floor. “Oh, Starlight, you clumsy foal!” she said to herself. She trudged into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. The black scorch mark around the ring had now grown from the last time she had made that mistake. “I hope that isn’t permanent,” she mumbled as she rubbed her horn and forehead.

Back in the kitchen, Starlight picked up the cereal box and replaced it on the table. As she was searching for a broom, she heard the front door open. “Starlight Glimmer?” Rainbow Dash called.

“I’m in here,” she called back. Rainbow Dash walked into the kitchen with a changeling on either side of her, one Blue and one Green. “So, you’re a Bon Bon?” she asked the Blue Changeling.

“I’m the one who came out to meet you yesterday,” she replied.

“Bon Bon Zero, then?”

“That’s correct. You already know Rainbow Dash from a few days ago. We’re here to see if you recognize her,” she said, pointing to the Green Changeling.

Starlight tilted her head. The changeling’s only distinguishing feature was its Stetson hat. “Let me guess. Applejack?”

“That’s me. How do you know me?”

“Well, I’m from a different timeline. Or universe, or reality—whatever you want to call it. But basically, I don’t live here in this—place.”

Applejack stepped forward. “So you’re here because…”

“I kind of messed up bigtime. I interfered with Rainbow’s first Sonic Rainboom, which pushed it back a week and made Fluttershy die and Twilight shoot her brother in the face and—well, a ton of other really bad things happened. Things are a lot different where I come from.”

“Different how?” she asked accusingly.

“First of all, Twilight Sparkle and her friends—uh, that’s all of you—exposed the fake Princess Cadance and got Chrysalis banished to beyond Equestria’s borders. Then, when the Crystal Empire appeared, Twilight and her friends went north and saved the Crystal Empire from King Sombra.”

Applejack squinted and turned her head off to one side slightly. “So where you come from, Twilight Sparkle’s a big shot?”

“A Princess. And the Element of Magic.”

Applejack lowered her gaze and frowned. “Well,” Rainbow Dash began, “how much of what she just said is a lie?”

“I—I can’t believe it. I don’t think she’s lyin’ at all.”

“One more thing,” Starlight said nervously. “Applejack, could I—see your horn.”

“Beg your pardon?”

“I know, I know. It’s a strange request, and I understand completely if you don’t want to show me. It’s just—I feel responsible for all this.”

“Well, I don’t see how takin’ a look at my horn is gonna help that, but I s’pose you can if you want.” Applejack lifted her hat off with a hoof and lowered her head for Starlight to see. It looked as though the horn hadn’t fully healed, and Starlight realized then that it might never. She shook her head and stepped backwards. “Seen enough?”

“Yeah. Does it hurt?”

“When I really think about it. Or when I bump it.” Starlight cast a glance at Rainbow’s leg, then at Bon Bon Zero. “You ok?”

“Yeah. It’s just—I don’t know. When I saw all this before, it was through an alicorn potion. I couldn’t interact with anything or anypony. Now that I’m finally here, it’s all so… surreal.”

“War does that to ponies,” Rainbow said. “You don’t even wanna know what I’ve seen.”

“I’ve seen them too. Applejack’s horn, your leg, Fluttershy, Ponyville, Cheerilee, Rarity and Sunburst, everything.”

“So now what?” asked Applejack.

“I want to make things right. Last night, I was visited by Princess Luna. She told me of a nearby town that was under attack. An ancient pegasus ground colony called Mareathon. Apparently there was a raid a few nights ago.”

“Mareathon?” Bon Bon asked curiously.

“Well ain’t that somethin’. That’s the same place the rest of us have been dreamin’—”

“Ahem,” Rainbow interrupted, “Yeah. Great. You dreamed of a town that needs a bit of help. That’s like, half of Equestria right now. Look, Applejack, Bon Bon, could we take this conversation into the other room?”

“You heard her yourself, Rainbow!” Applejack replied. “Princess Luna’s been talkin’ to her same as the rest of us. Now, Starlight, go on and tell us about this dream of yours.”

“Well, I was walking through the house last night—or at least I thought I was—when suddenly, out of nowhere, I heard Princess Luna…”

Sleep did not come easy for Starlight her first night under house arrest. She felt like an outsider in the city. The fact that her front door was unlocked put her on edge, despite the knowledge that there were guards posted there. On top of that, the feeling that she was being watched never quite went away. She tossed and turned for what must have been near an hour before she finally decided to get up and go to the bathroom.

As she passed a second-story window, she thought she heard her name. She paused and waited, and heard her name again. “Who’s there?” she asked. It sounded like the voice had come from outside. She went over to the window and looked out, only to behold an unfamiliar city below. “That’s not Canterlot.”

“Starlight Glimmer,” the voice whispered again, this time definitely from outside.

“Who are you? Where are you?”

“Starlight Glimmer,” the voice boomed, a sudden shift from the whispers it had used prior.

“Is that—Princess Luna?”

“Yes, it is I.”

“Where are you? And—respectfully, your Highness—I thought you were dead.”

‘'Being without a body is not a novelty to me, Starlight Glimmer. I practiced this skill for hundreds of years before I got it right. Of course, Celestia eventually caught on and learned to stop me. But the time left to me is running short, and I feel my essence fading with each time I call upon this ability.”

“You're—magically dying?”

“When I was banished a thousand years ago, my body was never killed. It merely ceased to exist.”

“But Chrysalis didn’t banish you. She killed you.” Starlight hung her head, raising it a moment later. “How did you know I was here?”

“I could not help but sense a surge of magic from the Tree of Harmony when you first arrived and left again. These events captured my full attention. The moon is my eye, and I watched you depart. Then, I felt a similar surge of magic again when you returned. Although I could not watch you through the day, I found you in the cave a few nights ago.”

"Can anypony else sense across distances like that? Do Chrysalis or Sombra know I'm here?"

There was a pause, as though the Princess was thinking. "I do not know. Perhaps I sensed your coming and going because I once wielded the Elements, and the Elements are connected to the Tree."

Starlight pondered the question and answer for a moment before returning her thoughts to the present. “Do you—do you believe me?”

“You have come back to this world through the portal made by the Tree. Why?”

Starlight laid her ears against her head. “Oh, Princess Luna, I’ve made such a mess of this world! I was wrong to interrupt the Rainbow Dash’s first Rainboom! All the bad things that happened here are my fault! I just want to see this world restored, if that’s even possible.”

“I understand the regret you feel more than you know.” As Luna spoke, Starlight felt a comforting presence envelop and calm her. “Yet you must prove yourself by actions, not by words.”

“How? I can’t prove myself to you or to the others so long as they have me here under house arrest!”

“That is why I am showing you these things, so they may know that you have my blessing.”

“Things? What things are you showing me?”

A cold wind blew through the house, transforming it into a cottage whose roof Starlight now stood upon. Starlight looked over a Hellenistic city. The buildings’ architecture mirrored that of Rainbow Dash’s house, Cloudsdale, or some other pegasus city. Stone columns rose up where cloud columns might have, and many buildings sported rainbow fountains. Yet the city was on the ground. “This is the city of Mareathon,” Luna stated. “This city is an ancient pegasus ground colony. Though all three races now dwell within its walls, its layout and architecture still hail back to its pegassan heritage. It has been said that the legendary Commander Hurricane planned and founded this colony.”

“Is this the city the 42-kilometer race is named after?”

“Starlight, please. Time is fleeting.”

Starlight made a low bow. “Apologies, your Highness.”

With a flash of light, the city became populated. The time of day had not changed; darkness still shrouded the city. Yet there was much noise coming from the street below. “This city near you is in grave danger,” Luna said. Starlight carefully made her way down the sloped roof until she could see the street below. Equine soldiers whose armor did not match that of the Manehattan soldiers were doing battle with changelings. “Yet they are not without hope.”

The roof crumbled beneath Starlight’s hooves and she fell into a side street. She watched as a trio of changelings closed in on a pair of fillies who were fearfully clinging to each other.

Suddenly, a white-coated pegasus landed between the changelings and their would-be targets. “Stand back!” she said, though her quiet voice was less than intimidating. The changelings paused, but not for long.

“This is Winter Wind,” Luna stated. “See those pink eyes? She’s an albino. Her vision is not particularly strong, but her hearing is beyond that of an ordinary pony.”

A changeling fired a horn blast at the pegasus where she stood. As the fiery green bolt approached, Winter Wind reared up and flapped her wings, summoning an intensely cold wind which countered the changeling’s magical attack. She then took to the skies and repeatedly flapped her wings down onto the changelings, causing them to shiver and back away.

Guided by a beam of falling moonlight, Starlight's gaze was drawn to the street behind the changelings where she saw a pastel blue earth pony mare whirling one end of a bola with her mouth. She released the weapon, and as it drew closer, Starlight saw that the wooden balls were actually red-and-white swirled mints. Their appearance notwithstanding, the bola functioned as intended when it hit the first changeling’s hind legs, entangling and tripping him as he tried to turn around.

“Surprise! Hehe!” she giggled.

“Who’s that?” Starlight asked as the pony pulled a small spherical object out of her pink, fluffy mane.

“Gumdrop Holiday is the Mareathon confectioner,” she explained as Gumdrop threw the sphere towards the changelings. “Her cheerful spirit is as indomitable as her will. For three months, she has aided in the defense of this town.” The thrown sphere rolled to a stop just between the two remaining changelings. As the changelings turned to look back at Gumdrop, the sphere exploded, coating them and everything around them in a layer of bright pink taffy.

“Taffy bomb!” shouted Gumdrop. The changelings attempted to move, but found themselves stuck to the ground. Gumdrop trotted up to them, smiling as she hummed to herself. “Looks like somepony’s in a sticky situation! Get it?”

The changelings did not find the joke funny. They hissed and bared their fangs, wagging their forked tongues at the blue pony, who stood just out of reach, quite satisfied with her work.

Winter Wind turned her attention to the fillies on the ground. “Are you two alright?”

“Uh huh,” they replied.

“Here,” Winter said as she scooped them off the ground. “Let's get you two to the Acropolis.” The fillies made no attempt to resist as they were hoisted away towards safety.

Suddenly, the ringing of a nearby bell captured Starlight’s attention. Winter Wind gasped. “That bell—it’s got a sharper tone than the rest.”

“Huh?” asked Gumdrop.

“It’s the Changeling Alert Tower on Oak Street. Hurry!”

“I’m on it!”

Gumdrop Holiday galloped away, Starlight right behind her. The farther they got, the louder the bell became. When the freestanding bell tower came into view, Starlight saw that it was protected from attacks from all sides by an oblong, violet shield. A pink unicorn stood at the base of the tower, firing bolts of violet magic at the changelings above as they strafed the tower. “Double Dare!” Gumdrop shouted.

The pink mare turned her head towards Gumdrop. “About time! Limelight and I were beginning to think the rest of the town suddenly went deaf!” she said.

“Limelight’s here too?” Gumdrop asked as she slowed her gallop to a trot.

“Behind you!” shouted a third voice. Starlight and Gumdrop both turned around to see a changeling make a hard landing, forming a small crater. “Never mind, I’ve got it!” called the voice. As the changeling got to his hooves, a lime green earth pony tackled him to the ground. The pair rolled once before the pony kicked him against the violet shield, leaving him to limply fall to the ground. The green mare rolled onto her hooves and snorted.

“I’m guessing that’s Limelight,” Starlight said aloud.

“Yes. She lives with her family on the lime orchard just east of town.”

“They’re able to grow limes—here?”

“Earth pony magic is a curious thing,” Luna replied.

“Are you alright?” asked Gumdrop.

“Yes,” Limelight said, reaching a hoof up to the back of her head. “Though I’m afraid my updo is not.”

“Can your mane wait?” asked Double Dare. “They’re coming around again.”

“Well if I can't see because my hair is in the way, then I can't clear the town of these overgrown bugs. Besides, what do you expect us to do down here on the ground and without magic? Distract them with our beauty?”

Double Dare thought a moment, then smiled. “Actually, yes. Guide them to me so I have a clear shot.”

“You what?”

“Yeah! That’s a great idea!” chimed Gumdrop. “Sing at ‘em and make them fly in a straight line! Use your trance music!”

“It's actually just ‘The Trance.’ Anywho, here goes.” Limelight drew a breath, timing her song to the bell.

“Listen, changelings, listen to my song.
Listen to my words both clear and strong.
Listen to the pealing of the bells.
Once you’ve heard my song you won’t rebe-el.”

Starlight watched as the the mare’s cutie mark—a forest green tied sixteenth note imposed over a lime—began to glow brightly.

“Single file all the while.
Heed the tolling of the bell.
Here’s a sign that now you’re mine;
Hear my voice and hear it well.”

Sure enough, the changelings lined up single file before banking into their final approach for the tower.

“Here they come!” Gumdrop eagerly announced. Starlight cast a glance in her direction, then did a double take when she saw that Gumdrop had somehow obtained a bag of popcorn. Double Dare charged her horn and began firing bolts of magic at the incoming line. Despite their losses, the changelings held formation.

“At this tower hurl your power.
End the tolling of the bell.
Some will fall, but you won’t all;
This bell’s ringing you must quell.”

Limelight held her final note just long enough for Double Dare to hit the final changeling. With the skies clear and the threat passed, Starlight was whisked off to another time and place.

Starlight was surprised to see that she was not on the ground this time, but rather she was following Winter Wind, the two fillies still in tow. The fillies were very cooperative in her grip. They neither squirmed nor cried. Yet Starlight could see in their faces that they were ready to get back down onto terra firma.

Winter Wind’s left ear swiveled to face behind her. Starlight might have missed the movement altogether had Winter not turned her whole head a moment later. Starlight turned her head to see what had caught her attention, but saw nothing. No, there was a small turquoise blur off in the distance. Then, she heard it—the buzz of a changeling’s wings.

When she looked back at Winter Wind, she saw that the pegasus had already begun to speed up. Starlight did the same, but wondered how a pegasus carrying two fillies was going to outfly an unladen changeling.

Starlight could see the Acropolis straight ahead. They were getting close now. Winter turned her ears backwards again—both of them this time. Starlight also cast a glance behind them. She could make out two individual changelings now, and they were catching up. Another glance forward revealed that the fillies had become aware of the changelings’ presence as well.

“Um, I think they’re following us.”

“Don’t worry. I hear them.”

“Are we gonna be ok?”

“Yes, you’ll be ok.”

The changelings were closing fast now. Starlight figured that they knew their target was not as fast or maneuverable, and they were now doing the aerial equivalent of a sprint so as to secure their prey. So far, Winter Wind was holding her course, her ears still pointed backwards.

When the changelings were right behind them, Winter made her move. Angling her wings upward and keeping her feathers close together, she rose into the air, dramatically reducing her momentum. The first changeling, unable to react in time, darted underneath her. The second changeling fared a bit better, managing to slow himself by the same rising maneuver. Winter accounted for this, and banked left into a shallow roll.

With the second changeling now behind and slightly above her, Winter turned hard to the right, diving sharply. Trading altitude for speed, she began to put some distance between herself and the changeling. It was here that Starlight realized how different this situation was from her duel with Twilight. Against the night sky with only their eyes and wings to distinguish them, the changelings were almost invisible. Furthermore, keeping track of two enemies at once was far more difficult than just one. Starlight found that when she glanced away from one changeling to look for the other, she had a hard time locking back onto the first one.

So she looked at the white pegasus in front of her instead. It wasn’t like she was in danger, anyways. She was just dreaming. Winter’s ears rapidly changed directions. Perhaps she, too, was having a hard time tracking the changelings. Before, she could have heard them in stereo, but now she had to dedicate one ear to each changeling. To Starlight’s ears, the changelings were somewhere behind and above them.

One of the changelings behind and in-plane with them revealed himself by firing a green bolt of magic just wide of Winter to the right. Winter dodged to the left before turning her head to the left and gasping. Starlight watched as the other changeling descended sharply seemingly from out of nowhere and attempted to snatch one of the fillies from her. He laid hooves on her, and a brief tug-of-war began. The filly shrieked as she was torn from Winter’s grasp.

Winter came to a halt and turned around. “We have to go back for her!” cried the second filly.

“We—we can’t! I have to get you to safety!”

“She's my sister!”

“I can’t carry you both!”

A nearby hiss drew their attention. The changeling behind them had caught up, and was barreling down on them. Winter’s next maneuver was to simply stop flapping her wings. Before gravity could overcome the momentum of her last downstroke, Winter angled herself so that she would fall headfirst into a ninety-degree dive. Just as she started to fall, the changeling caught her tail as he passed, yanking Winter Wind in that direction. The second filly screamed as Winter and the changeling began to flap in opposite directions. Winter grit her teeth and moaned in pain as the changeling pulled on her tail.

“For Mareathon!” shouted a nearby stallion. With a literal flying kick, the pegasus stallion’s royal blue hoof connected with the changeling’s jaw, releasing Winter Wind. The changeling dropped into a spin as the pegasus stallion caught up with Winter. “Are you hurt?”

“No. But there was another. He went that way.”

“He has my sister!” the filly shouted.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

Starlight watched the stallion fly off. “This is Storm Patrol,” Luna informed. “He is a dutiful and honorable soldier, but in peacetime he had aspirations to join the Royal Guard.”

“So now that the war has started, he's a front line fighter,” Starlight added as she began to follow him.

“That is correct,” Luna affirmed.

Storm Patrol was a strong flier, and it was difficult for Starlight to keep up. Thankfully, following him meant she wouldn’t be the one tracking the near-invisible changeling through the night sky.

A sharp cry came from somewhere ahead of and to the left of Starlight’s position. She and Storm Patrol turned toward the sound, expecting to find the abducted filly to be the owner of the voice. After a short while, a second shriek followed the first, closer this time. Starlight thought she heard buzzing, but wasn’t certain. Then, a third cry, this time a discernible call for help from below them. Storm Patrol held his wings level and began gliding, looking down onto the town all the while.

At last, Starlight spotted the changeling. Storm had maneuvered above the changeling, and was now silently descending towards him. “Stop that!” the changeling said just above a whisper. “If you squirm much more, I might drop you! And neither of us want that!”

The filly whimpered softly from beneath the changeling.

Storm was now directly above his target. He folded his wings and dropped the equivalent of several stories onto the changeling’s back, landing with one rear hoof. The changeling spun in the air horn over hooves as Storm spread his wings to catch himself. The filly, who had been released when the changeling was hit, began to scream again. The instant Storm caught her, she opened her eyes and stared at him with disbelief. “It’s ok,” he said, “I’ve got you now.”

“H—How do I know that you’re not the changeling?”

“Him? He’s down there,” Storm said, pointing into the street below. The filly leaned onto Storm, wrapping her forelegs around his neck. “Besides, would a changeling take you back to the Acropolis?” he asked with a smile.

The flight to the Acropolis was uneventful. Once the courtyard came into view, Starlight saw a crowd of ponies in the middle of the courtyard. Two pegasi in the same armor as Storm flew out to escort him in. As he neared the ground, Storm lowered his hind legs and touched down softly before gingerly setting the filly on her hooves. The filly took a few wobbly steps before collapsing. An earth pony mare shoved her way through the crowd and embraced her daughter, who was now trembling uncontrollably. “Mommy’s so sorry,” the mint green mare said. “I thought you were right behind me!”

“I—I’m ok, M—Mommy,” she stammered.

“Good work, soldier,” called a female voice from behind Starlight. She turned to see a pegasus mare with a plumed helmet.

“Thank you, Governor Gale. But I didn’t act alone,” Storm replied. “That mare aided me in recovering these two fillies,” he said as he pointed at Winter Wind. The crowd parted, leaving Winter standing alone.

“Um, hi,” she managed to eke out.

“There was also somepony stationed at the Changeling Alert Tower on Oak Street.”

“Oak Street?” the Governess asked. “We didn’t station anypony there.”

“A simple ‘Thank you for your contribution’ would suffice.” Starlight turned to see Double Dare leaning against a stone column in front of a building, her right foreleg crossed over the left. Limelight and Gumdrop Holiday stood beside her.

“Oh, do be kind and share the glory among us all,” Limelight chimed.

“Guess somepony wants her chance in the... limelight! Get it? Eh? Eeeeh?”

Limelight sighed and rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help but smile and shake her head.

“You civilians held down a bell tower?” Gale asked as she approached the trio.

“Well, actually just those two,” Gumdrop answered. “But I helped Winter Wind. I took out three changelings!”

“And I got ten!” said Double Dare, puffing her chest out.

“Five,” Limelight interjected. “I helped. We each get five.”

“But I shot them down! We’ll split it six and four!”

“Fine.”

“However you split it,” the Governor said, “Mareathon is safer due to your actions.” Gale then turned to the crowd. “The rest of you, get some rest. We’ll search for the rest of the missing ponies in the morning. Tomorrow night, let’s try to all be within the Acropolis walls by curfew. Can we manage that?”

A response of “Yes, Governor Gale,” came from the crowd.

“Good. Dismissed.”

A crisp breeze whipped through the town, and all the ponies vanished from sight. Nopony was left in the moonlit town. “For near a month, Chrysalis has been attacking this town,” Luna explained. “Each time, the inhabitants flee to the Acropolis, where they have had limited success in defending themselves. However, they cannot hold out forever. They are besieged and their numbers are dwindling. This battle is one of attrition.”

“Would you have us reinforce the city?” Starlight asked, directing her gaze towards the full moon.

“I would. I may not know the finer details, but you are important to this world. You know what you must do.”

“I do. But how will I do it?” Starlight squinted as the moon’s glow became brighter.

“You may begin by telling the others all that I have shown you.”

Starlight’s vision flooded with light, and the dream-consciousness fled from her as morning arrived.

“That’s amazin’! I saw the selfsame thing!” Applejack said.

“Woo hoo,” Rainbow seconded, sarcastically clapping her hooves as she hovered beside Applejack. “What a compelling story.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack scolded.

Bon Bon approached Starlight. “Zecora dug up some more information about the changeling potion we’ve been applying on each other the past few months. One side effect of interdimensional travel is the glowing you exhibited. Definitely not a normal side effect, though.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “You’re all crazy.”

Starlight softened her tone. “Rainbow, the threat of infiltration is making you paranoid. Just let me help you.”

“No it’s not. I—Have you been trying to use your magic? There’s a dark ring around your horn!”

“Well, no. I mean, not intentionally. I tried it on my brush when I got up, and, I don’t know, it’s just second nature to me.”

Rainbow scowled and crossed her front legs. “A likely story.”

“Using magic is as second nature to me as flight is to you. I do it without even thinking.”

“You were trying to escape, weren’t you?”

Starlight raised an eyebrow. “You’re hovering right now and I’ll bet you didn’t even notice it.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened, then she glanced down at the ground. She uncrossed her front legs and dropped to the ground, avoiding eye contact with Starlight.

“Princess Luna has spoken,” Bon Bon said. “We are to help defend Mareathon from Chrysalis’s forces.”

“So then, I’ll be coming along?”

“We’ll keep you on a pretty tight leash,” Rainbow said, “but yes. You’re technically coming with us.”

Queen Chrysalis and an armored changeling walked towards five changeling regulars. Behind the five changelings was a vehicle with large treads which seemed to have been retrofitted over pre-existing wheels. The vehicle also sported sloping armor down the middle, and a short, barrel-like protrusion facing forwards. The nearby royal palace provided shade for the vehicle and the changelings. “So,” Chrysalis said as the armored changeling stepped into line with the others, “is this is the crew of the new armored vehicle?”

“Yes, your Highness.”

“Very well. Report.”

“The vehicle has passed its field tests and is ready for deployment effective immediately. And these are the lucky five who get to operate the weapon. In order of descending rank: Hot Shot, tank commander; Bombardier, gunner; Carapace, shield engineer; and Millipede and Centipede, drivers.”

“Excellent.” Chrysalis smiled. “Build me more of them. I want a full armored regiment ready as soon as possible.”

“Yes, my Queen.”

Chrysalis approached the first changeling of the five-drone crew. “Commander Hot Shot, how does the vehicle compare against the ponies’ weapons?”

“They have nothing like it, ma’am,” he said in a voice which sounded more like a pony's voice than a changeling's, “and no hard counter for it. With our capture of Flim, we captured the only known machine of its type in Equestria, then made significant structural modifications to it.”

She approached the second. “What of its weapons, Bombardier?”

“It relies on the gunner’s magic,” he growled. “There’s a pair of lenses in the barrel that amplify the magic fired from the gunner’s horn. It’s accurate, powerful,… and even fun.”

“And the shields and armor?” Chrysalis asked the third changeling.

“I’m responsible for casting the shield spell around the vehicle,” Carapace said. “We were able to cross the field where we trained several times while under heavy fire before the shields gave out. The armor is impenetrable to crossbows and swords, and the other changelings’ magic failed to penetrate the armor. They did force a retreat, but the vehicle was still in one piece.”

“They repaired the armor, I hope.”

“Yes, ma’am. The vehicle is designed with replaceable panels so that damaged vehicles can be back on the field in as little as a few hours. I should know; I’m also the mechanic.”

Chrysalis nodded approvingly. “Drivers? How does the vehicle handle?”

“At top speed, the vehicle can just outpace a galloping pony,” said Millipede, “but flying changelings or pegasi are still faster.”

“How maneuverable is it?”

“It has trouble going in reverse,” he continued, “but between Centipede and myself, we can turn it around very quickly. The steering has been rebuilt from the ground up so we can operate each tread independently.”

Chrysalis glanced between the two drivers. “Do you foresee any problems with it?”

“It performs poorly in certain terrain,” Millipede said.

Chrysalis stared directly at Centipede. “Such as?”

“Swampy ground,” Millipede began. “The hull isn’t waterproof. Hilly ground; our speed drops significantly. Densely forested areas; we can run right over small trees, but the larger ones—”

“You,” Chrysalis called out, pointing a hoof at the silent changeling. “What is your job?”

“I—I’m a driver, ma’am.”

“Why are you silent during the report?”

“Well, I—I’m the lowest-ranking soldier here, and I—I thought you were talking to both drivers, so—I just let Millipede report for both of us.”

Chrysalis softened her tone and began again. “You have been given an important task to fulfill. I trust that the Experimental Weapons department did not make a mistake when they selected you.”

“No, my Queen!” he said, snapping to attention. “I can do this.”

“We’re counting on you. I look forward to hearing the report of your first victory for the hive.”

As Chrysalis turned to leave, a messenger arrived. “My Queen, you are needed in the nursery.”

Chrysalis nodded, spread her wings, and took off. She wasted no time, making a beeline for the north tower. She lit her horn and opened the windows before descending into the room. She had cantered all the way over to the crib before she noticed the changeling standing beside it. “Your Highness,” the changeling said, “it’s almost hatched.” Chrysalis joined her alongside the crib. She placed her front hooves on the rail of the crib and leaned in. The egg was cracked almost all the way across from one side to the other. It wobbled and bulged as slimy grey-green fluid oozed out onto its exterior. The egg rocked back into its previous position, then the grub within breached the top with its horn. Soon a tiny hoof appeared, then the rest of the grub’s head. The grub blinked a few times before raising its blue eyes to meet its mother’s.

Chrysalis levitated the grub out of the egg and into her hooves. “A daughter—I have a daughter!” she squealed. “What should I name her?”

“What about Chrysalis the Second?” offered the changeling beside her.

Chrysalis smiled briefly. “I’d thought about that, but Chrysalis would be an awfully hard name to live up to, wouldn’t it?”

The grub cooed in her hooves as it squirmed about, reaching for her mother with her tiny hooves. “What of her father? Or a mare in close relation to—”

“My daughter will not have a Ponish name,” Chrysalis said. She thought a moment, then smiled. “She will be called Princess… Pupa.” She then nodded in satisfaction. “It’s similar enough that she will always be my daughter, yet different enough that she can one day be her own queen.”

Chrysalis brought the grub close to her chest, and for the first time in as long as she could remember, she shared love.

Ch. 4: In Love and War

Rarity awoke in a dungeon cell—the same cell she’d “escaped” from earlier—with a dryness in the back of her throat. She sighed, pulled herself off the floor, and walked over to the bucket of water. To her surprise, it had been refilled in her absence.

Staring down at the still water revealed a messy-haired mare with black crystals on her horn. There wasn’t a hint of makeup anywhere on her face, and she looked more ready to cry than take a drink. But, she knew she needed to keep her strength up (for what, she hadn’t quite figured out). She leaned in, put her mouth to the water, and quenched her thirst. When she had drunk enough, she sat down and dipped her front hooves in, splashed water onto her face, and began to wash up.

After drying her face with her hair, she trudged over to the heavy wooden door. Sure enough, there was a crystal pony patrolling the hallway. “Sir,” she timidly asked through the door's small, barred window, “do you know how long it’s been since they put me down here?”

The soldier gave no reply. Instead, the crystal stallion in the cell across from her spoke up. “I do. It’s been about half a day.”

Rarity tried to think back to when she was last free. “So, is it nighttime then? Oh, I wish I had a window.”

“I have no idea,” he replied. “Hey, you’re not from around here are you? What’s that accent? Are you from the city?”

“I’m from—Ponyville.” she stuttered.

“Where’s that?”

Rarity paused to rein in her emotions. “It’s nowhere now. It’s—gone.”

“Did it get banished too?”

“No,” she said, resisting the urge to sob. “There’s nothing left of it. It's only a ruin now.” A warm, wet tear fell from Rarity’s eye.

The stallion hung his head. “I’m sorry. That sounds terrible.”

“That’s because it is,” Rarity said flatly as she rose to her hooves and walked over to the other side of the cell. She laid back down on the sorry old cot in the corner of the room and curled up to be alone with her thoughts.

Spitfire looked up from her clipboard and scanned the command deck of her airship. “Navigator, how are we doing?”

“Maintaining course and heading, ma’am.”

“Engineer?”

“Full speed ahead, ma’am.”

“Flight officer?”

“Nothing to report, ma’am.”

Spitfire furrowed her brow. “There’s got to be something for you all to report.”

“Respectfully, ma’am,” said the navigator, “you just checked in with us ten minutes ago.”

Spitfire wanted to lash out. Of course I’m up here again, she wanted to say. It’s better than being down in the hanger with you-know-who!

But she didn’t. She dropped her gaze and ruffled her feathers. “Probably just my impatience.”

“Ma’am?” the flight officer asked trepidly. “You’re not—nervous, are you? The airship’s nurse is more than qualifi—”

“I’m fine.” she said curtly. “Inform me if anything noteworthy happens.” She turned and began making her way to the door in the back of the room.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Spitfire opened the door and exited briskly, only slowing her pace once the door had fully closed. She strode past the officers’ quarters and the ladder to the uppermost deck without heeding either of them. She opened the door at the end of the corridor and entered a room populated with over a dozen unicorns. The windows in the back and sides of the room afforded the occupants a panoramic view from the rear of the ship.

“How are we doing?” Spitfire asked.

“We stand ready to raise the airship’s shields at your command,” replied a stallion with a gold bar on the shoulders of his uniform. Spitfire sighed. It was the answer she knew she would get even before she asked the question. She was running out of checks to run through.

“Very well. As you were,” she instructed.

Without another word, Spitfire exited the rear quarters of the ship and returned to the airship’s central ladder. She descended into the lowest of the ship’s three decks before heading to the rear—the ship’s hangar. With a sigh, she opened the door and entered.

Scattered among her pegasi were the original members of the Wonderbolts. These were easily distinguishable by the bars on their uniforms. Most of the rest wore unadorned blue-and-yellow combat flight suits. Spitfire soon singled out—No. Don't even think her name.—She singled out the only non-Wonderbolt pegasus aboard, and determined to stay away from that area of the room.

However, there was a unicorn seated next to that pony. Why isn’t she up with the other unicorns? she thought. And why is she out of uniform? As much as Spitfire disliked the pegasus sitting next to the unicorn, she disliked it even more when things were not done properly. So she resolved to approach the unicorn.

“Hey, you!” she called out as she approached. “What’s your name and rank? And why aren’t you with the other unicorns?”

“I’m—”

“This is our passenger,” stated the pegasus next to her.

“You’re Starlight Glimmer?” Spitfire asked with a hint of surprise, not even acknowledging the other mare who had spoken. “I was expecting a pegasus.”

“Spitfire, isn’t it?” she replied. She bit her lip a moment later. “Or is it just ma’am? Or ‘Captain Spitfire’?”

Spitfire opened her mouth to reply, but the mare beside Starlight rose abruptly from her seat and began hovering between them, flapping her sky blue wings in Spitfire's face. “You haven't met Spitfire, have you? Best not even to talk to her. Even the slightest deviation from anything by-the-book, and she loses her bucking mind!”

Spitfire reached out with a wing and gave the mare’s rainbow tail a good yank, effectively moving her out of the way. “Go run your mother-preening mouth someplace else,” she said through clenched teeth. She turned to Starlight. “I'm Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts and Army Air Fleet Commander. For the duration of this operation, you’ll call me ‘Captain’ or ‘Ma’am.’”

Spitfire watched Starlight’s eyes dart off to the side. She turned and looked in the direction of her gaze only to see the mouthy pegasus hovering beside her while holding her front hooves behind her back and staring at the ceiling. Acting innocent. Spitfire frowned and returned her attention to Starlight. “I assume your friend here has already briefed you on your part in the mission?”

“Actually, she’s not really letting me do all that much to help,” she said with a pause. “Uh—ma’am!” she corrected.

“Typical,” Spitfire said. She thought she heard a noise from the pegasus beside her. Holding her head still, she subtly looked for something reflective, eventually settling her gaze on the goggles of the pony seated on the far side of Starlight. “If there’s one pony who thinks she knows better than me what the plan for the mission should be, it’s her. Did I tell you what she did last month? We were in the middle of—”

There. With her eyes focused on the reflective, tinted goggles, Spitfire saw what she was looking for. She whirled her head around to see the hovering pegasus mimicking her gestures, crossing her eyes, and wagging her tongue. Spitfire was livid. “Rainbow Dash!”

With a start, Rainbow dropped to the ground a few steps away. A moment later, she regained her composure. “What?” she asked defensively.

“What in Tartarus gave you the half-flanked idea that you’ve got the Celestia-given right to try and subvert my authority, on my airship, in front of my soldiers!?”

“I’ll order your darned troops wherever, however, and whenever the hay I bucking feel like it! Captain!” said the General.

“You’ve got all the military experience of an unpreened, half-feathered foal!”

“Look, Spitfire. Chill. You’re not helping your Celestia-darned reputation by blowing your head in front of all your horse-feathered troops.”

Spitfire stomped, snorted, and flared her wings up. “Alright! Everypony who’s not a half-feathered civilian on your hooves, now!” In unison, everypony except Starlight rose to their hooves. “Now sit your bucking flank down, Rainbow Dash!”

“For the duration of this mission, you will call me ‘General’ or ‘Ma’am,’” Rainbow said tauntingly.

Spitfire stepped forward and lowered her tone. “Get. The bucking Tartarus. Off! My! Airship!”

“No!”

“Get off!”

“You can't make me!”

“Now!”

“Never!”

“Or I’ll bucking throw you off myself!”

“Then bucking do it!”

For several tense moments, the two pegasi stared each other down. Nopony spoke. Nopony even breathed. Finally, Spitfire broke the silence. “Tell you what. When we make contact with the changelings, do us all a favor and fly straight in front of a mother-preening changeling sharpshooter. I don’t want to see your Celestia-darned flank ever again.”

Spitfire turned and walked out the door, being sure to kick-slam it shut on her way out.

Chrysalis walked among a complex of tents populated with changelings. Many of them gawked at the larva on her back. Some busied themselves with sparring matches. Others took the opportunity to scarf down their rations—transparent vials of a pink liquid.

As the Queen approached the large tent in the center of the camp, one of the posted guards noticed her and entered the tent. A moment later, he returned with a second changeling following him. The second changeling had red spines and tail, and purple eyes, wings, and back chitin. “My Queen!” he called. “I’ve already heard the news. Congratulations! You must be very proud!”

“Yes,” she said with a smile, “of course I am. How is the attack going?”

The changeling’s posture stiffened. “We’re making progress, your Highness, but it’s slow. Every time we launch a raid, they retreat to the Acropolis. We’ve taken dozens of prisoners, but they refuse to break.”

“You’re keeping the pressure on them?”

“Of course, your Highness.”

Chrysalis smiled. “You make me proud, Pharynx.”

“Thank you, my Queen,” he said with a bow.

“The siege is almost over. We will launch one more raid, just convincing enough to get them into their fortifications. When I make my move, call your forces away from the city. Understood?”

“Yes, my Queen!”

It was ten minutes after the officers’ cursing match before anypony dared talk above a whisper, and more than twice that length of time for the atmosphere of the crew to fully recover. It took similar amounts of time for the color to return to Starlight’s face and her body to fully recover.

“Hey, Rainbow?” Starlight finally ventured. “Is she—always like that?”

“I’m sorry you had to see all that,” Rainbow said. “We soldiers live around each other so much, we sometimes forget how different we are from civilians. But, that’s military life.”

“Does everypony have a mouth like her?”

“Pretty much.”

“Really?” Rainbow nodded. “I guess I could understand all the swearing, but wishing that another pony gets killed by the changelings…”

“Ok, that wasn’t normal.” Rainbow looked over at Starlight. Her answer seemed to provide Starlight some small measure of comfort to cling to. A moment later, Starlight raised her eyes. “I guess you could say we have our differences. We had a—a falling out.”

"What happened?"

Rainbow shook her head. "If I try to talk about it, I'll just get mad again. Especially after what just happened."

Starlight paused a moment. “Well, what about you? Are you always like that?”

Rainbow laid her ears against her head. “I don't know. I guess so.”

Starlight sighed. “I don't even recognize you.”

Rainbow looked away. “Ok. Now you're just making me uncomfortable.”

“Sorry.”

An awkward silence followed Starlight’s apology. After a few moments, Rainbow decided it would be better to break the silence than to let it continue to ominously hover over them. “So, you're from another world, right?” Starlight nodded. “And there's another pony who looks like me and has my name, but isn't me?”

“Right.”

“She doesn't think or act like me, either, huh?” Starlight shook her head.

“The Rainbow Dash I know is the Spirit of the Element of Loyalty, same as you. She's also a Wonderbolt.” Now it was Rainbow's turn to shake her head. “She's fun-loving and confident, and she loves a good prank. She's got a bit of an impulsive streak, though.”

“What would you say she's most afraid of?”

Starlight thought a moment before forming her reply. “I'd say she's probably most afraid of not living up to her potential. She—” Starlight paused a moment. When she began again, her speech seemed more deliberate. “She knows she'll be asked to do some things that are going to be hard, and she sometimes fears she won't get them done right.” Starlight sighed. “Maybe that's why we get along so well.”

Rainbow turned her head towards Starlight. For the first time, she found herself looking not into the eyes of a changeling, not into the eyes of a criminal or a convict, but into the eyes of a civilian uprooted and thrown into the front lines. She was worlds away from the safety of her own place, fighting for the freedom of a world she wouldn’t even get to live in. Suddenly, every instance when Rainbow had judged, accused, or insulted Starlight rushed to the forefront of her mind. Rainbow found that looking away from Starlight helped to repress these feelings.

“How well did you know the Rainbow Dash back home?”

“We were friends. We have been for several months. I have this self-levitation spell and we—we’d spend time flying together. She’d sometimes teach me to do advanced aerobatic tricks, or—invite me to one of her airshows, or just hang out, you know?”

Starlight sniffed, prompting Rainbow to look back at her. “Are you—crying?”

“It’s home!” Starlight said. “I guess I kind of miss it. Here I am in the back of an airship on my first mission and we’re about to land in some town I’ve never even heard of to help ponies I don’t even know and it’s all just… I don’t know…” Starlight trailed off before wiping an eye with the back of her hoof.

Rainbow Dash lowered her head. “I uh—I may not have meant all of those things I said to you back in Manehattan. I guess—what I'm trying to say is—I’m—sor—I’m sorr—ry.” Rainbow’s ears flattened reflexively as a chill coursed through her body. “I hope I don’t have to say that again.”

“No, I heard you. And it means a lot. Thank you.”

Rainbow sighed, and it felt like a built-up pressure from deep within her spirit escaped out of her chest as she did. It felt freeing. “There was one other thing though. About landing in Mareathon,” she said with a smile.

“What’s that?”

“You know we’re not actually going to land, right?” Starlight looked up at her quizzically.

"Then—How—"

“We’re going to jump.”

“What!?” Rainbow’s smile grew wider. “Oh, no. No no nononono!”

“See now why Spitfire thought our passenger was going to be a pegasus? Don’t worry. You said you’ve got that levitation spell, right? Looks like you’re gonna get to use it!”

Before Starlight could answer, Spitfire’s voice came over the intercom. “Command deck to hanger. We are in position. Prepare to make the jump.”

“Copy that, command deck,” replied a technician at the side of the room closest to the bow. “Hanger out.”

“Ask Spitfire if she’s coming down one last time,” Rainbow called. The technician relayed Rainbow’s request, and Spitfire’s reply came a moment later.

“No way in Tartarus, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow sighed and shook her head at the speaker before rising from her seat. “Alright everypony, here’s the plan. We’ll hit the ground outside the city and advance inward from there. If you see Green Changelings, engage them on sight. But remember, this city has been repeatedly attacked by them, and they’ll probably be suspicious of us. Under no circumstances should you engage the locals. If they engage first, drop your weapons and take cover. Once we make diplomatic contact, we can set up a location to distribute the changeling paint. With the paint in allied hooves, we’ll have a far easier time fighting against Chrysalis.

“The only thing left to do now is make jump! Strap yourselves in!”

Rainbow returned to the seat next to Starlight. She fastened herself in, then looked over at Starlight. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw her fumbling with her harness. “No, that strap goes across your chest. Here, pull your foreleg through—There you go. Now make sure it’s as tight as you can get it. Yeah, like that. Looks good!” Starlight grit her teeth and held onto the harness with both front hooves. When the alarm started up and the red lights started flashing, Starlight gasped and shrank back into her seat.

“Relax, Starlight.” Starlight, however, was not relaxing. Her breathing increased, her grip tightened, and she squirmed in her seat. Rainbow’s smile disappeared. “No, seriously. Relax. I need you focused when we make the jump.”

Starlight nodded and made a concentrated effort to control her breathing. The hanger door opened and a rush of air whipped through the cabin. When the red light switched to green, the first few pegasi released their harnesses and jumped out.

Rainbow released her harness early to make sure Starlight could get out of hers. Sure enough, she was having trouble. She felt around for the release ring, locating it only with a good bit of effort. She had to pull twice, only releasing herself on the second try. She stood upright and made her way towards the door. One look down at the cloudtops, and she backed away from the edge. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back, breathing swiftly. Rainbow approached and put her wing over Starlight’s back, exerting a slight amount of forward pressure. Starlight looked over at Rainbow and took a step forward. With a single forceful push, Rainbow shoved Starlight out the door, jumping after her herself.

With her wings held straight up behind her like rudders, Rainbow monitored Starlight below her. For a moment, Starlight disappeared into the clouds that were providing cover for the airship. Rainbow angled her wings and extended one front leg. Her barrel transitioned from horizontal to vertical, and with her right front hoof, she punched a hole in the cloud. Immediately afterwards, she resumed her controlled descent.

As the ground approached, Rainbow watched Starlight more closely. If she failed to pull up in time, Rainbow was going to have to drop her altitude and grab her. To her surprise, Starlight activated her spell about the same time Rainbow would have begun pulling out of her dive. Upon final approach, Starlight maneuvered towards a relatively flat meadow. Not bad.

Landing was both the hardest part of the dive, and the part where Rainbow could do the least to help Starlight if something went wrong. She held her breath and observed Starlight’s form. She first locked her knees. Then, she leaned backwards. When she touched down, she led in with her hind legs, then dropped to all fours. As Rainbow repeated her landing technique, Starlight skidded to a halt. Rainbow overshot her, finishing a few strides away from where Starlight had.

“Oh, my gosh,” Starlight moaned as she fell to her knees. “I hope I never have to do that again.”

“You did great, especially for a non-pegasus. That other Rainbow Dash must have taught you how to perform a high-speed landing.”

“Yeah, but—you pushed me!”

Rainbow shrugged. “It’s how all pegasi learn to fly. Now c’mon. Let’s get to the side of the field before the others come in to land.”

“Hurry! Get inside!” The soldier had to shout in order to be heard over the Changeling Alert System bells and the panicked cries of the townsponies. Winter Wind followed the herd of ponies flowing through the gate into the Acropolis. Beside her, she could make out the forms of Gumdrop Holiday, Limelight, and Double Dare all galloping the same direction.

“Has anypony seen Storm Patrol?” asked Double Dare.

“He’s a soldier,” Limelight replied. “He’s rather busy at the moment, I’m sure.” Limelight’s tone had changed by the time she spoke up a moment later. “Why? Were you wondering if he’s safe?”

“Yes. I mean no! I mean, I’m sure he is. Right?”

“Eeee! I know who Double Dare’s crush is!” Gumdrop Holiday said in a sing-song voice.

“Cut it out, will ya?”

“There’s nothing wrong with having feelings for somepony else, Double Dear,” Limelight teased.

“I said, stop bringing it—What did you call me?”

The mares slowed their pace as they got in line for their designated changeling shelter building. “If Double Dare doesn’t want to talk about her feelings,” Winter Wind began, “I don’t think we should make her.”

“Thanks for the support, Winter, but I don’t have feelings to talk about!”

“Then I guess we won’t be talking about them,” Winter replied.

At the door to the shelter, the posted guards appeared to be whispering something in each pony’s ear. Each pony in response whispered something back to the guard before being admitted into the shelter. By now, it was standard protocol for the guards to ask a pre-selected security question so as to weed out changelings. Winter Wind was first of her friends to approach the guards.

The guard lowered his spear in front of her and leaned his head in close to hers. “Most famous leader of the pegasus tribe."

“Commander Hurricane,” she whispered back.

The guard raised his spear and Winter entered the shelter. She had hardly gotten across the threshold before she heard trumpets behind her. She turned to see a pinkish figure descending into the courtyard, flanked by what looked like a pair of the town’s soldiers. “What’s going on?” she asked. “I can’t see who it is.”

“I can’t believe what I’m seeing, Winter,” Limelight said.

“It’s Princess Cadance! And a filly!” announced Double Dare.

“Oh no!” Gumdrop cried. “I left all my confections at home!” Even with her poor vision, Winter Wind could see her friends turn and stare at Gumdrop. “What? Princesses have a sweet tooth too. Remember that time the paper published that article on Princess Celestia?”

“Attention, ponies of Mareathon,” Cadance proclaimed. “I have escaped from Chrysalis's dungeons at last! We can put an end to your changeling troubles once and for all, but only if we work together.” The ponies around Winter Wind began to come out of their shelter and approach the Princess.

“What would you have us do, Princess?” asked Governor Gale. Winter Wind turned her head and saw the Governor with one pony on either side of her. Probably, they were soldiers.

Princess Cadance lit her horn and raised a hot pink object which Winter Wind couldn’t quite make out. “Behold, my firstborn daughter, Princess Skyla!” The crowd elicited ooo’s and ah’s at the sight of their new princess.

“Isn’t she so adorable!” shouted Gumdrop Holiday.

“Yawn. Seen one cute baby, seen ‘em all,” said Double Dare.

“But this one’s an alicorn!” objected Limelight.

“I wish I could see her.”

“You’re not missing much, Winter,” Double Dare comforted. “She’s kinda an eyesore.”

“Now that you mention it, I see your point,” agreed Limelight. “I mean, really? Periwinkle and fuchsia? Poor thing got all the bad hair and coat genes.”

“As I can wield love magic,” Princess Cadance continued, “so too can my daughter. You must lend us all your love if we are to save this city from the changelings.”

“Guess you’ll have to get rid of your feelings for Storm Patrol,” Gumdrop said to Double Dare.

“Quit it!” she replied.

“Double Dare is blushing! Double Dare is blushing!” sang Gumdrop.

“I—I am not!” she said, raising a hoof to her face.

The courtyard was getting quite full now as more ponies emerged from the buildings. “You may begin transferring your love to the two of us!” Cadance announced. Ponies throughout the courtyard bowed as pink energy flowed from most every pony’s chest towards the Princesses. “Keep it up! I can feel—the love—building! There’s—” Cadance hissed loudly and her voice dropped nearly an octave. “There’s just so much!”

The town collectively gasped. “Who are you?” shouted Governor Gale.

“Wha—No! I—”

“Get her!” At the governor’s orders, her soldiers galloped towards the Princess. Cadance shot green flames at them before bathing herself in the same green flames. The villagers watched in horror as their princess revealed herself to be none other than Queen Chrysalis, and Princess Skyla morphed into a tiny changeling larva.

The Governor gave a shout as she flew straight and low towards Chrysalis, her hoof ready for a punch. Chrysalis shielded herself, flaring the shield out just as Gale approached. The impact threw Gale to the ground along with two nearby soldiers. Chrysalis strode towards Gale before stomping on her hind leg with one of her forelegs. Gale cried out in pain as she tried to sit up. Chrysalis lowered her gnarled horn and made a stabbing motion, procuring a grunt from Governor Gale. For once, Winter Wind was glad to have such impaired eyesight.

“Now, if you will not give me your love, then I will take it by force!” she said as she pulled her head back. The streams of magic renewed again, this time accompanied with sounds of ponies attempting to resist. She saw several unicorns try to shield themselves, some with more success than others. The ponies’ eyes all seemed to be the same shade of green.

“Limelight, can you hear me?” Double Dare shouted. “She’s using a psychological attack! Use the Trance to get these ponies out of it! If anypony here can do something to counter her, it’d be you!”

Limelight didn’t respond.

“Limelight? Limelight!” Double Dare grunted. “She’s getting stronger! My shield—can’t take—much more!—I’m losing it!” Winter gasped as she saw Dare's shield power down, and a stream of green energy began to flow from Double Dare’s chest. Nopony around her said a word.

“C—can anypony hear me?” she asked, though she spoke too quietly to be heard. “Is there anypony left?” she asked, slightly louder this time. “Oh, I wish I could see what was going on,” she lamented. Winter gasped and began to beam. “I can’t see!” she exclaimed. She stepped in front of her friends. “Double Dare, Gumdrop, Limelight! Don’t look at her,” she said, spreading her wings to block their view. Within moments, her friends began to come to. “Look away!” she cried.

Double Dare shook her head before shielding the four of them. “Ugh. I knew Skyla was a stupid name. How'd we fall for that?”

“Limelight! Do the Trance!” Gumdrop said.

Chrysalis let out a bellowing, villainous laugh. “I think she's on to us,” Double Dare said.

“I almost want to let you live,” Chrysalis said condescendingly. “That way you'll be able to regret your mistake!”

Double Dare fired a beam of magic, and it looked for a moment as though Chrysalis was just going to let it hit her. Suddenly, a turquoise partial shield appeared in front of the pair. “Woah! Cool! The changeling grub is doing that!” shouted Gumdrop.

“It’s certainly something, but I don’t think ‘cool’ describes how I feel about this,” Limelight said.

“No fair! It's just a baby!” shouted Double Dare.

“As you can see, even my infant daughter is more powerful than you. How powerful?” she asked before laughing again. “Let's find out!”

Chrysalis began pooling her love magic in a ball above her. “What are we gonna do?” asked Gumdrop Holiday.

“Let me try my Trance. If I can cut off these ponies from Chrysalis’s mind control—”

“It’s no use. She already has almost all the town’s love. The only reason I’m able to hold up this shield is because she doesn’t care about the four of us anymore.”

“We could run,” offered Winter Wind.

“We’d be fried the instant I lowered my shield,” said Double Dare.

“Please tell me you’re not going to try to whether the storm,” said Limelight.

Chrysalis levitated her daughter into the middle of the giant ball of energy. Despite being several times smaller than it, the grub absorbed every bit of it.

“Looks like we’ve run out of options.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Chrysalis agreed. “Time to watch your world burn!”

Double Dare grunted, putting more power into her shield. Chrysalis lowered her larva to eye level and smiled gently before nuzzling and kissing it on the forehead. The grub giggled, then squealed with delight as she began to radiate an intense love magic that consumed the ponies outside the shield right where they stood. The outpouring of magic became blinding within just a couple seconds. If the sun itself had been as close as Chrysalis, it could not have been brighter. Double Dare grunted and strained as her hooves sank into the ground. Winter Wind felt herself being pulled into an embrace, and soon found herself pressed against Limelight and Gumdrop.

Double Dare opened her eyes, revealing her shrunken pupils. She shouted in agony as a trickle of blood began to flow from her nostrils. Her horn began to glow red with heat, then white. Not her magic aura, but the horn itself. A faint column of smoke began to rise from her horn. Double Dare raised a hoof, shut one eye, gnashed her teeth, and contorted her body all in the name of simply staying alive.

“Do you think she’ll be ok?” Winter whispered.

Limelight spoke just above a whisper. “We have to have faith that our friend is up to—”

Without warning, Double Dare’s horn shattered. The world instantly became singularly white and blinding. The heat that followed was the most excruciating pain Winter had ever felt. It came so fast, she couldn’t even scream.

“Alright, everypony stay with your squad,” Rainbow Dash instructed. The pegasi had all applied fresh paint and were ready to enter the town.

Rainbow had her doubts about this place. She tried pushing these doubts to the back of her mind, but they kept creeping back, quickly strengthening into an instinct, then a feeling, then a full-fledged sense of danger. Yet in this sense, there was something familiar. It reminded Rainbow Dash of Bon Bon.

At first, Rainbow failed to make any meaningful connection. Then at last, it dawned on her. Bon Bon is a changeling. That sense—it’s love magic. Rainbow glanced among the Wonderbolts. But I just watched them put fresh paint on. They’re not changelings. Rainbow Dash turned her head towards the city. While she was in the process of turning her head, a blinding flash of light emanated from the city. Rainbow shielded her vision with a wing. She heard the ‘Bolts begin to chatter.

"What in Tartarus—"

"Oh, Celestia... I can't see a darned thing!"

"Nopony look at it! Here, lean on me."

A few seconds later, the light still hurt to look at, but Rainbow could make out a giant turquoise mushroom cloud rising over the city.

“Rainbow Dash, what are your orders?” asked Fleetfoot, who was be the closest officer to her.

Rainbow Dash hesitated a moment before answering. Her coat felt warm on the side of the explosion.

“I could put a shield around us,” Starlight suggested.

“We have no idea how far that blast is going to go, and we don’t know what it’ll be like when it hits us.” Rainbow was growing uncomfortably warm underneath her gear and armor. The ground beneath her subtly trembled.

“Do you feel that, ma’am?” asked one of the newer recruits. “There’s a pressure wave inbound.”

The stallion was right. Rainbow’s days as Ponyville's weather manager taught her to recognize subtle differences in barometric pressure.

“Let me shield us,” Starlight requested. “Trust me, Rainbow. My safety is on the line here too.”

Time was running out. Rainbow had to make a choice. “Close ranks around Starlight Glimmer.”

The pegasi quickly did as ordered. As the shield went up, Rainbow took her place at Starlight’s side.

Starlight's horn blazed with ethereal energy as a large cyan dome formed around the Wonderbolts. With a concentrated effort, a second slightly larger aura formed around the first, and a second shield formed around the dome above them. As the heat intensified, nearby shrubs, grass, and trees withered before their eyes. As the color seeped away, some of them began to smolder, then to burn. Once started, the flames spread quickly. Two more auras brought with them two more shields. The shockwave arrived just as the fourth shield finished forming, shattering it before it could reach full strength.

The intensity of the heat began to evaporate large segments of the outermost shield. Starlight dropped her head slightly as her hooves sank into the grassy terrain. The third shield held for a bit longer before it too showed signs of nearing its limits. Starlight threw her head high and fired a beam of magic at the shields. A pulse of energy descended along the shield, starting from the apex. With the shield strength renewed, Starlight sighed and turned her head towards Rainbow Dash. “I think the worst of the heat has passed over us.”

“Clear Skies, Open Skies,” Rainbow called, “once the shield goes down, you’ll conduct a recon sweep to see what the damage is to the city. Everypony else, prepare to mobilize.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Starlight paced back and forth, awaiting the recon team’s report. They’d been gone near an hour. Orders had already come back from Spitfire that they were to evacuate at once. Surprisingly, Rainbow’s reaction had been a simple nod for Spitfire’s messenger. Already, half their force had made the ascent.

Starlight kept about the bottom five meters of the shield dome all around them to protect them from the flames. She had raised another three meters on the windward side to protect against sparks blown by the crosswind.

At long last, the recon team returned. Once they landed, Starlight intercepted them on their way to Rainbow Dash. “What’s it like out there?” Starlight asked Open Skies.

Open Skies looked at her gravely. “Almost all the buildings are destroyed,” he reported. “The ones that weren’t were all on fire. The entire town is surrounded by one giant firestorm.”

Starlight hung her head. “I can’t believe it.”

“Everypony get ready to head back up!” Rainbow called from behind her.

“Hey, glad you were here,” Open remarked to Starlight, “or that would have been us, too.”

“Yeah,” Starlight muttered. She raised her head and looked for Rainbow Dash. She turned her head toward Starlight as Clear Skies flew away. For a moment, Starlight and Rainbow just stood there, staring from a distance. Slowly and silently, Starlight began approaching, their eyes fixed on one another. She stopped once she was within comfortable speaking distance.

Starlight felt like she was about to cry. A town she was tasked with protecting—a whole town—had been completely destroyed. A thousand questions rushed through her mind; concerns weighed on her mind as heavily as all of Equestria would have weighed on her body. What do I even ask first? she wondered.

“She—she told me I had to fix this world,” Starlight lamented. “I failed! The whole town is completely gone!” Starlight closed her eyes and wiped her tears away with the back of her hoof. “What are we going to do? How do we fight something like that!” she asked as she felt the dam break. She heard Rainbow’s hoofsteps approaching her.

Rainbow put a hoof on her shoulder. “You can’t let it get to you.”

“How?” Starlight blurted. “An entire town just ceased to exist! Not just the buildings, but everypony in them!”

“You can’t expect to fix everything, Starlight,” Rainbow said. “You have to keep your goals realistic. That feeling you have right now? Don’t let go of it. Let it drive you. Let it motivate you to be better than that. Casualties are an extremely unfortunate reality of war. I promised over Fluttershy’s grave I’d never let another innocent pony die. And, well, I’d be lying if I said I’ve kept that promise. Protecting my friends’ lives almost cost me my own,” she said, turning so Starlight could see her prosthesis.

Starlight tentatively raised her hoof again, and Rainbow put her foreleg over Starlight’s withers. Starlight returned the gesture by wrapping her forelegs around Rainbow’s neck. “Starlight, I’m not hugging you. I’m picking you up,” Rainbow clarified. “Be sure to hold on tight.” Starlight felt herself rise off the ground. She and Rainbow were the last two to depart. Starlight watched the ground below as her shield spell un-cast, leaving a single green circle among the scorched countryside.

As they rose higher, she turned her head to see the city. There were no distinguishable buildings; only a single pillar of black smoke blown off to one side by the wind. The entire existence of several hundred ponies erased from the face of Equestria more thoroughly than any display of destruction she had yet seen. Plans unfulfilled, dreams unrealized, hopes crushed, lives unlived—The sight was enough to move her to tears as she hugged Rainbow Dash tighter.

Starlight swore she would never let herself forget that image.

Ch. 5: Broken Bonds

Starlight stood next to Rainbow Dash in the conference room. Down one side of the table sat Bon Bon, Zecora, Limestone, and Pinkie. Down the other sat Spitfire, Big Mac, Applejack, and Twilight. There was an empty place at the end of each row. Shining Armor sat at the other end across from Rainbow Dash.

“So, you all ready to hear what happened at Mareathon?” Spitfire asked

“Let's hear it,” Limestone said, a grin spreading across her face. “What was the body count?”

Spitfire stood, stomping both front hooves on the table. “How about every citizen of Mareathon? We failed!” she said with another stomp. Limestone’s smile disappeared.

“I’m really sorry we didn’t get there in time,” Starlight apologized.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Bon Bon reassured.

“What happened?” asked Applejack.

Rainbow spoke up as Spitfire returned to her seat. “Queen Chrysalis has a new weapon. I felt what happened at Mareathon. It was a massive outburst of love magic.”

This revelation piqued Bon Bon’s interests. “Love magic? Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

The Blue Changeling raised a hoof to her chin. “That's impossible. Unless… Chrysalis’s heir might have hatched. Oh, this is bad.”

Applejack gasped. Starlight involuntarily raised a hoof and leaned backwards. The rest gave Bon Bon looks of confusion or boredom.

“I don’t understand,” Twilight said without the slightest hint of emotion in her voice. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Changeling larvae of the monarch caste are extremely sensitive to love magic.”

“I do remember the Queen tellin’ me that thing would be mighty powerful, even as a little fella.”

“The Queen told you about her heir?” asked Shining Armor.

“Yes, sirree. She even showed me the egg! She was real proud of the thing—didn't seem one bit her normal self. Guess all parents get sappy like that, huh?” she said with a chuckle and a smile that quickly faded.

Shining Armor shook his head. “You mean you were close enough to that monster to destroy it and you didn’t?”

“Well, no, I—It wasn’t like I had a choice in the matter!”

“It didn’t even cross your mind?”

Applejack raised a hoof to her chin. “Come to think of it, no, actually.” She lowered both her head and her tone of voice. “I wasn’t then who I am now.”

“I actually have a few more questions to ask about Chrysalis’s foal,” Starlight ventured. She scanned the room to gauge their approval, but paused a moment when her eyes met Shining’s. “If that’s ok with everypony.”

Shining hesitated before opening his mouth to speak, but Bon Bon answered before he could. “What would you like to know?”

“So that’s how it’s going to be?” asked Shining Armor. “Why don’t we give her all of our information?”

“We’ve been over this before,” Bon Bon said.

“Our resolution we made clear:
Starlight Glimmer may stay here.”

“She blamed me for something I didn’t even do,” Twilight said, “and then got me locked in prison and house arrest.”

“If you’re going to accuse somepony for locking you up,” Spitfire interjected, “it’d be Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “I knew this meeting was going to be a disaster the moment I saw your feathered flank walk through that door!”

“Likewise when I saw yours sitting in that chair.”

“Is it your personal goal to be the most obnoxious pony here, Rainbow Dash?” asked Shining Armor. “Because it seems to be working.”

“You don’t win wars by being likable. You win them by—well, by winning!”

Bon Bon rose from her chair. “Then maybe we should focus on fighting the enemy instead of each other.”

As soon as a moment of silence opened up, Starlight spoke up. “Listen, I’m really sorry I asked about the foal. Just—forget it. What’s the next order of business? We were talking about Mareathon a moment ago.”

“St—Starlight Glimmer!?” called a male voice from across the room.

Starlight gasped as her ears pricked. She turned her head towards the voice’s owner and saw Sunburst holding the door with his magic as he stood over the threshold. He had apparently entered sometime during the shouting match.

“Starlight! It really is you!” Sunburst galloped towards her, and she reciprocated. The pair embraced deeply, Starlight with both front legs and Sunburst with just his right.

“Oh Sunburst, I thought you were dead!”

“We haven’t been out of touch for that long, have we?” he asked. The nervous laughter that followed clued Starlight in to the joke.

Starlight’s gaze drifted onto Sunburst’s lower back where she noticed a harness. She looked farther down and gasped. She jerked backwards out of the embrace, taking a step to the side as she did. Sunburst grimaced and crossed one foreleg high over the other.

Attached to his harness were two metal rods. These rods ran parallel to his barrel until they reached his hind legs, where they turned downward ninety degrees. They then attached to a wooden platform that rested under his hooves. On either side of the platform was a wheel.

“Sunburst, you—you can’t walk?”

“Not since the battle of Fillydelphia, no. There was—a unicorn named Trixie. She—”

“I know,” Starlight said. “I saw it through the use of a potion.” Having been reminded of the fight in Fillydelphia, her eyes darted up towards his horn. It didn’t seem to be damaged. Or, was it? Wasn’t it tilted a few degrees to the right? If there was any damage, it was below the coat that grew around the horn’s base.

“S—Starlight, your cutie mark!” Sunburst said. “What is it? A spark of magic? Mint toothpaste? An upside-down kite?”

“It represents fusion magic,” Starlight stated.

Sunburst’s eyes lit up. “You mean like when you take one spell and splice it into another?”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

“That's amazing! I'm sure you've been busy doing all sorts of amazing things.”

“Y—Yeah.” Starlight's mind took her to places she'd rather not revisit. It reminded her of the time she'd spliced a spell of removal into a spell for 24-hour cutie mark swapping. Or the time she’d hardwired herself into Star Swirl’s time travel spell.

“Oh, Starlight, I can't wait to catch up with you! All these years apart—” Sunburst gasped. “I've been a terrible friend! I’ve been studying friendship in Ponyville for so long, yet here I went and forgot all about reconnecting with you! Starlight, I'm so sorry! We just sort of fell out of contact and then—Oh my gosh, what would Princess Celestia think of me?”

“Sunburst, I'm not the same pony you left behind all those years ago.”

Sunburst traced a circle on the floor with a hoof. “I know. Neither of us are. We've both missed out on so much.”

“No,” Starlight began, “I mean I'm literally not her.” Sunburst tilted his head. “I'm from another world.”

Sunburst’s countenance fell. “Oh,” he said. “I guess that makes sense.” He paused for a sigh. “I guess I was still hoping against what Zecora said about the changeling salve.”

“I understand if you two need some time to catch up,” Shining Armor said.

“Yeah. All we’re doing is reviewing what happened at Mareathon,” Rainbow seconded. “So in other words, not much.”

“Come on, I’ll show you my workshop!” said Sunburst.

Sunburst magically held the door for Starlight as they left the room. “So where is it?”

“It’s on the other side of the base. I’ve got a few friends from Ponyville working with me. I think you’ll be excited to see what we’re working on.”

“Lead the way!” The pair walked down a hall and out of the command post.

Starlight thought to herself as she walked. How is he not dead? I watched Trixie kill him. She continued in silence until she could no longer resist asking.

“The last I saw of you in this timeline was during the battle of Fillydelphia,” Starlight said. “What happened after that?”

“Well, I guess that depends on the last thing you saw.”

“Your fight with Trixie.”

“So you didn't see Spitfire’s forces come and rescue us? Or retrieve the Elements from where we hid them?”

Starlight shook her head. “No. I saw your duel, Applejack’s horn, Rainbow’s leg, and Bon Bon getting trapped in a dead end with Sombra’s forces pinning her in.”

Sunburst frowned. “Sombra's forces?”

“Yeah. They weren't wearing his armor, but they had weapons.”

“You must have seen the Minutemares, a local resistance group. They showed up with Bon Bon to help out the rest of Rainbow's group after she left to airlift Applejack out. After the battle, they merged with the Equestrian Armed Forces.”

“So did we win?”

Sunburst hung his head. “Only on a technicality. I've been off the front lines for a while now. Between all the doctor's visits, physical therapy sessions, and time spent in the workshop, I’m hardly ever present for council meetings anymore. Rainbow, Applejack, her family, and Rarity's family all took it pretty hard, too. There were so many injured, and so many dead.”

Starlight bit her lip. Should I tell him that Rarity is alive? Would that make it better or worse? Before she could decide, she and Sunburst turned the corner and a number of large buildings came into view.

“Well, here's the hangers. Those two are the Wonderbolt hangers,” Sunburst explained, pointing to the two hangers at the end of the road. “That far one’s for the Soarin, and Spitfire is in the next one.”

“What about these two?” Starlight asked.

“This one here on the corner is empty. The one that’s just off the road and beside it,” he paused and lowered his voice for effect, “that’s the experimental hanger.”

Starlight nodded approvingly as they turned off the road and walked in the direction of the experimental hanger. “This one’s a different size than the rest,” she said, gesturing to the building beyond the experimental hanger.

“There’s a whole nother row of hangers for the support craft. Balloons and smaller escort blimps, mostly. All donated by civilians for the war effort.”

Beyond the first small craft hanger stood a two-story building not quite half the size of a hanger. “And this is our workshop.”

“So, what is it you’re working on?” Starlight asked as Sunburst opened the door.

“Well, lately we’ve been working on a new device we could outfit the pegasi and earth ponies with.” Starlight entered and saw three figures, two stallions and a mare. “These are my colleagues, Doctor Whooves and Flam, and one of our lab assistants, Derpy Hooves.” Flam removed his hat and bowed theatrically, the Doctor smiled and nodded, and Derpy waved.

The lab assistant was modelling the stallions’ work—a piece of metal which covered everything from her forehead to the back of her head. A metallic horn sat on the metal right where a unicorn’s horn would, and black fabric covered the mare’s ears. A piece of fabric covered either side of the mare’s face, and a chin strap secured the helmet to her head.

“What is it?” Starlight asked.

“Why, you're looking at the finest invention ever to come out of this workshop!” said Flam. His tone left Starlight wondering if he was describing the item or trying to sell it.

“I must say,” Doctor Whooves began, “it's certainly some of our finest work. By combining science—”

“—And magic!—” Flam interrupted.

“—we have created—”

“The Alchemic Horn, mark oh-five hundred” the pair said in unison.

Starlight stared blankly at the stallions as Flam made a sweeping gesture towards the object Derpy was wearing. “An alchemic horn?”

“Anything a unicorn soldier can do with magic, a non-unicorn can do with an alchemic horn,” the Doctor explained.

“It’s true,” seconded Flam. “Shield spells, blasts of energy, teleportation! You name it, the horn can do it!”

“How does it work?”

“Well,” Sunburst began, “Flam has previous experience in using magic to power machinery. That’s similar to what the alchemic horn does. Doctor Whooves helped with the build and the materials, and I helped with the magic. Mostly just theory, though.

“The helmet is lined with lead, so it draws in the pony’s passive aura through the head. With a concentrated effort, and with the help of some coils and some more lead inside the horn, it allows the transfer between passive and active magic.”

Starlight stepped towards the pegasus modeling the device. “Could you demonstrate?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not allowed to use it indoors anymore,” Derpy said, dropping her head.

Starlight gave Sunburst a confused look. “There was—an accident,” he explained.

“Is it that complicated to use?”

“No,” Flam said. “It’s just that some of us have no business being in a workshop! Nothing but an unbroken string of accidents, that one.”

Doctor Whooves stepped between Derpy and Flam. “Better a clutz than a former con-pony! You and your brother have caused far more harm deliberately than she ever has by accident!”

Starlight gasped as she came to a sudden realization. “You!” she said, glaring at Flam. “I thought I recognized you. In my timeline, you and your brother came to my village trying to sell your hideous inventions! My villagers and I chased you out of town!”

“Your—villagers?” Sunburst asked.

Starlight felt her ears flatten and her gut wrench. Flam smiled. “Yes, go on and tell your old friend all about your village! My brother and I have seen what your village is like!”

Starlight glanced at Sunburst, then back at Flam.

“What’s he talking about? Does this mean you know where the other Starlight is?” Sunburst asked.

“I—I think so." Starlight thought fast, and spoke faster. "But I can’t take you there!” she blurted.

Sunburst frowned. “Why not? I’d love to go see her again. Make up for lost time.”

“Because—I’m—” Starlight sighed. “Because of what I’ve done!”

Sunburst stepped closer. “Starlight,” he said soothingly. He raised a foreleg and drew her into a hug. “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. Just like we’ve forgiven Princess Luna, we’ve forgiven you. I want to meet up with the other Starlight again.”

Starlight and Sunburst locked eyes. After a brief pause, Starlight returned Sunburst’s hug. “I don't think you understand. But... if that’s really what you want, we can try. I’ll explain along the way. When we get there, let me do the talking.”

The first thing Trixie saw when she opened the doors to Sombra’s throne room was the king himself. He lay on his side and wore a frown which spoke of concern and distress. When he saw her enter, he raised his head from his hoof and tried to remove all traces of worry from his face.

Trixie approached the foot of his throne and stopped to bow. “What is thy bidding, my King?”

“Chrysalis has just shown us a display of power. I require you to find an artifact that would grant me equal power.”

“Name your artifact, and I will retrieve it.”

“I require the Alicorn Amulet.”

Trixie raised her head slowly. “The Alicorn Amulet?”

“Yes,” came the reply. “Do you know of it?”

“I sought it out as part of my attempt to get even with Sunburst. I know exactly where it is.”

Sombra’s countenance lifted as he shifted to an sitting position on his throne. “That comes as a tremendous relief, Acolyte. You’ve reduced the amount of time required from several months to just a few days.”

Now it was Trixie’s turn to smile.

“Very well. You may begin immediately.”

Trixie bowed her head nearly to the ground. “Yes, your Highness. Long live the King.”

Trixie rose to her hooves and turned to leave.

“So unless anypony else has anything to add, that just about wraps things up,” Spitfire said. “We’ll just have to do better next time.” Rainbow wanted to agree, but Spitfire seemed equally dismissive about losing an entire town as she might have about losing a buckball match.

Regardless of her attitude towards the subject, she was right. “I’ll have the date of the next meeting posted on the corkboard by tomorrow. Dismissed.”

Some of the council members, like Spitfire, rose immediately and made their way for the door. Others, like Pinkamena, remained somber-faced at the table. Rainbow wasn’t in any particular hurry, but she didn’t have plans to stick around too long either.

“Hey, Rainbow,” Bon Bon called. “What are you doing after this?”

“I was headed for the mess hall. Why?”

“Mind if I come with you?”

“Sure.”

On their way out the door, Bon Bon was approached by an undisguised Blue Changeling. He chittered his teeth and buzzed his wings excitedly, intermittently making noises with his voice.

Bon Bon gasped and began producing similar noises before rising into the air and clapping her front hooves together. There was a scent, too. Pheromones, maybe?

Rainbow scowled as the second changeling began again. “What are you two saying?”

The changelings looked at Rainbow Dash, then at each other. “It’s Blue Changeling business; I’ll only be a moment,” Bon Bon said.

Rainbow flipped her tail and concentrated on the changelings as they each spoke in turn, as if by willpower alone she might deduce what they were saying. She couldn’t, of course, and was no more enlightened by the end of the conversation than she was at the beginning.

Bon Bon’s attention returned to Rainbow Dash as the other changeling trotted away. “What was that all about?” Rainbow asked.

“One of my agents delivered a report. Nothing more.”

“A report about what?”

Bon Bon sighed. “Rainbow, I can’t tell you.”

Rainbow snorted. “That’s horse feathers. Yes you can.”

“That information is top secret,” she snapped back. “It’s on a need-to-know basis.”

“I order you to tell me what that was about!”

Bon Bon froze in her tracks, and Rainbow turned to face her. She stood there a moment glowering back at Rainbow’s scowling face. “Fine. Even though you hold no rank among the Blue Changelings, I’ll humor you,” she said as she began walking again. “We’ve made contact with a potential ally, a changeling.”

“That’s what you were so excited about?” Rainbow asked as she trotted to catch up.

“Yes,” she said flatly.

“Must have been some ally if you got that excited about it.”

Bon Bon’s ears flattened. “Rainbow, do not make further inquiries into this matter.”

“If you're withholding information that the rest of us can use, then—”

“Rainbow Dash!” she snapped. “Look. I really don't want to believe what Spitfire and Shining Armor have said about you.” She paused for a sigh. “Please don't give me reason to.”

“Spitfire?" Rainbow snorted. "She can go suck a horn. But what's up with Shining Armor?”

“They say you're controlling, demanding, and arrogant. They say they can't stand being around you. They say every mission with you involved is Tartarus.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

“You have a habit of overreaching. The others don’t appreciate it.”

“I just want what’s best for what’s left of Equestria. We need to pool our resources, standardize our procedures—”

Bon Bon remained stern, but softened her tone. “Do things the way you want them done, for no other reason than because it’s your way.”

Rainbow’s head dropped. She stopped walking. It wasn't long before Bon Bon stopped as well. After a brief silence, Bon Bon put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. “The Giver,” Bon Bon said. “That was his name. Well, his code name, at least. He’s an old friend.”

“Sounds familiar; you may have mentioned him before.” Rainbow sighed. “I’m—sorry you all think I’m overreaching.”

“Hey, it’s because you care. Because you’re passionate. I can feel it. Just, you know, be careful not to overdo it,” she said with a smile. “Now, are we going to eat or what?”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “You don’t eat pony food.”

“I know.” Bon Bon lit her horn and morphed into her standard disguise as she opened the door to the command post.

Rainbow’s heart fluttered, and she could feel her heartbeat in her throat. “I’m coming,” she called back.

Starlight approached two rows of houses. At the far end of the tiny town’s single road—if it could even be called a road—stood a single cottage set apart from the rest. Starlight had not yet been spotted, and she had no idea how the villagers would react when they saw her.

As she drew near, the familiarity of the scene made her realize just how little time had passed since her reformation. Less than a year ago, she was in control of this very village. Well, at least the version in her world.

Still, she found it odd that virtually nothing had changed. The entire nation was at war, yet her little village stood untouched by it all. Though, on second thought, she realized that she would have found herself here regardless of how the Rainboom unfolded. After all, her sabotage was an act of revenge, not an actual attempt at making her own life better. The war was in full swing, but her village was hardly worth anything. Thirty unimpressive individuals wouldn’t put up much of a fight, but also wouldn’t be worth much in the grand scheme of things.

There’s Night Glider Starlight thought to herself. And there’s Party Favor. Where’s Double Diamond? He was my most dedicated follower. If I find him, I’ll probably find the other Starlight.

About twenty meters from the village, Party Favor noticed her. “Good morning, Starlight!” he said as he trotted towards her with a wide grin. “I trust you’re having a wonderful day today!”

Starlight fought against the grimace that was trying to take root on her face. Had she really told her friends to act so hollow?

“I’m—fine. Look, Party Favor...”

A few strides from Starlight, Party stopped and squinted. “You look… different.”

Starlight was extra careful not to angle herself even the slightest to either side. Just a single step in either direction and her cutie mark would be visible.

“That’s because I am different,” she said as she offered a genuine smile. “I’m not the pony I used to be.”

“What do you mean, Starlight?” Party asked as his smile disappeared. He leaned forward and raised a front hoof off the ground.

Starlight drew in a deep breath. “I’m not who you think I am!” she blurted. Several others were already on their way over.

“I don’t understand. You’re Starlight Glimmer, right?”

“Yes… and no.” Starlight turned to the side, mentally bracing herself for the worst.

The villagers gasped. “She’s got her cutie mark!” shouted a voice in the back, Double Diamond from the sound of it.

Cries of “Changeling!” erupted from the mob. Some ponies ran towards her. Some ran away from her.

Starlight shielded herself and lay down on the ground. Party Favor threw a punch, landing on the shield without effect. “If I were a changeling,” she calmly began, “why would I deliberately show you something that sets me apart from the Starlight you know?” Several other ponies crowded around the shield.

“You’re not the real Starlight!” shouted a mare on her right. Starlight knew her; she knew her likes and dislikes, her habits, her passions, the dreams she herself had crushed when she stole the mare’s cutie mark. This mare often tried to wear her hair differently from all the other mares as a subtle act of rebellion.

Starlight’s cyan aura enveloped the mare’s braids. She unbraided the hair and restyled it the way she knew the mare always tried to get away with wearing it. “You don’t have to live this way anymore.”

Party Favor began beating on the shield again. “The Starlight I know would never say that!”

“That’s because the Starlight you know is wrong. She’s acting out of pain, and she’s only trying to protect you.”

“Is that so?” somepony else called in Starlight’s voice.

The crowd parted and Starlight laid eyes on her doppelganger.

“Not only have I protected these ponies, but I have created a society in which they are all perfectly content and equal,” she continued in a voice that was best described as “speechy.”

“We both know that what I said is true,” Starlight replied as she rose to her hooves within her shield. “You’re hurting. You founded this village because you wanted friends. Friends who could never be taken away by a cutie mark.”

The markless Starlight blinked rapidly a few times before attempting to recover. “What makes you say that? And even if it is true, we’re all still friends here. I created and actively maintain each and every one of these friendships.”

Starlight raised her tone of voice. “You claim to do this in the name of equality. Yet one of you is ‘more equal’ than everypony else, isn't she? 'Equality' is just a word that's easy for others to rally behind.”

Her alternate self took a step backwards as the villagers turned to look at her. “B—but that's different. I—”

“Your hair is different from the other mares. Your cottage is set apart. You have access to the staff and the vault! Equality was never your motive.”

“Enough!” The second Starlight fired a beam of magic at Starlight's shield. The shield held, for the moment at least. Starlight made an educated guess that her twin was going to try to remove her cutie mark.

There's no counter-spell for my mark removing spell! Starlight thought. But of course, that works both ways...

With her shield still raised, Starlight began to levitate alternate Starlight. She then cast her spell, causing her target's extremities to stiffen. She increased the spell’s power, and watched as a look of horror spread across alternate Starlight’s face. Her twin’s eyes darted among her villagers as she quickly realized she was about to be not only stripped of her magic, but exposed as a fraud before her villagers.

“Stop! No more! You've made your point! Put me down!” Starlight relented and alternate Starlight floated to the ground. She turned her head backwards, inspecting her disguised cutie mark. Starlight had never intended to remove it, only to make alternate Starlight think that she would. The disguise was uncompromised.

Starlight watched as the mare in front of her turned her head and eyed her warily. “No changeling could possibly know that much about me.”

Starlight knew that lowering her shield was a calculated risk, but lowering her defenses would also break down the final barrier between them. With the slightest hint of trepidation, the shield went down. “I'm from an alternate dimension. One where a pony named Twilight Sparkle came in and exposed you. You—or, actually I—went back to the point in time where she and her friends simultaneously got their cutie marks and stopped them from getting them. The only problem with that plan was that apparently Twilight had saved the world a few times.” Here, Starlight lowered her head. “This timeline with all its war and hardship isn't supposed to exist.”

Alternate Starlight stepped forward. She was close enough now that the two Starlights could have shaken hooves if they wanted. “So you're… me?” she asked.

“I am. Take it from me; what you’re doing here isn’t right,” she said as graciously as she could.

“Let me guess. You’re here to stop me?” she asked, growing defensive.

“I’ve seen firsthoof where that leads. I lived that outcome for several months. I would never put you through that. When I was overthrown, I was even more hurt than I had been before. I’m not here to cast you out; I’m here to help you heal. And I’ve got a very special friend here to help me.”

Starlight looked to her right and lit her horn. A moment later, she uncast her invisibility spell, revealing Sunburst.

The crowd began to murmur as Starlight watched her namesake turn to face her friend. “It—it’s Sunburst,” she stated in wonder. “But—but why did you bring him here?” she blurted at Starlight. “Why did you let him see what I’ve become!” she shouted, angry tears forming in her eyes.

Starlight backed away. “I didn’t mean it like that! He’s still your friend, isn’t he?”

“Well, some friend he was! Do you know what he did to his so-called friend? Of course you know! You’re me! He—he could never be my friend now! I’m so different from the pony he left crying on the porch when he left for Celestia’s school!”

“But in my world—”

“Oh, here we go! ‘In my world, we’re the best of friends!’” she mocked. “‘In my world Sunburst and I play board games together every weekend! In my world, everything is perfect!’”

Starlight straightened her posture and stood her ground. “No, we’re not perfect. But we are friends. And it’s because we both made the effort to reconnect. It wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely worth the effort. He explicitly requested that I bring him here to restore his friendship with you. He's here because he wants to be your friend! And me? I don’t want to see you—me miserable!”

Starlight watched her twin’s face for any signs that her message was getting through. It looked like she was finally beginning to break. She turned towards Sunburst again, this time with tears in her eyes. “Y—You really want to be my friend again?”

“Starlight… I’m sorry,” he began. “I don’t know what more I can say besides, I’m sorry. I want to make it up to you. I won’t leave you again.”

Alternate Starlight’s lower lip trembled briefly before she galloped over to Sunburst and threw her forelegs around his neck. Sunburst smiled. “I’ll take that for a yes.”

Starlight turned to Double Diamond. “Take everypony else to the cutie mark vault. You’re all free now.”

“Free?” he asked, his eyes growing wide. “Woah. What happens now? These ponies are still my friends. We can’t all just leave, can we?”

“Well, you could stay right here, I suppose. Or if you’d like, you can come back with me and Sunburst to Manehattan.”

“Wh—what?” blurted the other Starlight as she backed out of Sunburst’s embrace. “But Sunburst, you only just got here! You said you were going to stay with me!”

Sunburst hesitated a moment before offering her his hoof. “Come with me, Starlight. Come with me back to Manehattan. We can offer you protection from the war and friendship for even longer than that. Your village lies in the no-mare’s land between our territory and King Sombra’s.”

“I—I can't decide!” she blurted as she blinked away her tears. “When I woke up this morning, it was just another ordinary day. Now, you’re here, and there’s another Starlight, and my past is all coming back, and… I don’t know what I should do!”

Starlight approached the pair. “I know this is a lot to take in all at once. Just… go with your gut.”

“But my gut was what ended me up in this situation in the first place! What with finding the vault and taking cutie marks and building a village in the middle of nowhere…”

Starlight put a hoof around her other self’s neck. “But you did it all because you lost Sunburst. Sunburst’s back now so… problem solved, right?”

Starlight staggered backwards as alternate Starlight hugged her with both front legs, nestling her neck against Starlight’s. After a moment’s hesitation, Starlight closed her eyes and hugged her back with her neck and front leg. “It’s ok. Sunburst and I are here now. You don’t have to live this way anymore.” She opened her eyes and watched Sunburst as he joined in, hugging alternate Starlight with one leg while he balanced on one leg and his wheels.

As alternate Starlight removed one foreleg to draw Sunburst into her embrace, she began sobbing again. “It’s ok, Starlight,” she told her other self. “It's going to be ok now.”

In the darkness, Rainbow heard movement. She leapt around the corner of the building and shouted “Who’s there?”

“Shining Armor,” came the reply.

As Rainbow approached him, she curled her feathers around the hilt of her sword. “You got paint?”

“Yeah. You?”

“Yeah.”

Both parties produced a jar of paint and dipped a hoof into the other’s jar. They then painted the other’s left cheek and their own right. The process went smoothly, as of two individuals who had practiced many times. When the paint didn’t morph either into a changeling, Rainbow relaxed her grip on her sword.

“You heard the news?” Rainbow asked.

“Yeah. Break-in at the command post,” he said as he knocked on the door. It creaked a little, and they both looked at it.

“It’s still unlocked,” Rainbow stated.

Shining Armor magically drew his sword and pushed the door open. He entered, Rainbow right behind him.

The pair searched room-by-room, but by the time they reached the last room—the council chamber—they had found nothing.

“Process of elimination. Be ready,” Shining advised.

Shining threw the doors open, and the pair rushed in. They found no intruder.

“What? Did they just open the front door and then leave?” asked Rainbow.

“Maybe they just worked quickly.”

Then, Rainbow noticed it—an open window. “They’re already gone,” she said, pointing with a hoof.

“They were in this room… then they left,” Shining said, approaching Rainbow’s chair. “Generosity is still here.”

Rainbow looked in Shining’s direction and gasped. “Spitfire’s chair!”

Shining turned the chair around to inspect it. “Looks like somepony cut the Wonderbolt insignia off of it.”

“They broke into the command post, entered the council chamber, vandalized a chair… and left?”

A shadow fell on the room, prompting Rainbow to look outside at the now-eclipsed moon. She gasped when she saw a pair of blue-and-yellow airships above the base.

Shining Armor saw it, too. “Why are the Wonderbolts leaving?”

Rainbow rushed to the window and stared in disbelief. With a snort and a scowl, she pounded the windowsill. “Spitfire.”

The pair watched as the blimps floated away.

Ch. 6: Divide and Conquer

Spitfire scanned the horizon as she stood on a raised platform in the airship’s command deck. The dim sunlight was visible only in the patches of sky which weren’t obscured by dark and unlit clouds. At an altitude below those clouds and much nearer their vessel lay the aerial city of Cloudsdale. In the wee hours before the city awoke, the Wonderbolts were returning to base.

The Soarin was just ahead of Spitfire’s namesake blimp, slightly higher, and off to one side—between ten and eleven o’clock. Far, far behind them lay Manehattan. Below them lay the Wonderbolt Academy.

“Ready to descend,” called out a pilot.

Spitfire reached up and grabbed the mic for the intercom. “Captain Spitfire speaking. All hooves strap yourselves in and prepare for final approach.”

The pilot moved a hoof towards an array of switches arranged in a rectangular pattern two across by four down. While the copilot held the blimp steady, the pilot pressed the top two switches forward. Spitfire looked over his shoulder at the eight gauges for the lifting gas, and watched the two that aligned with the flipped switches start to drop. She then looked at the altitude indicator, and watched the horizontal yellow lines dip towards the brown “ground.”

The nose of the craft pitched downward as the Spitfire began to drop in altitude. A pegasus galloped out onto the tarmac below before turning on a pair of orange batons and affixing one to each wing.

Spitfire’s gaze drifted to the three flags over the hangers—one for Equestria, one for Cloudsdale, and one for the Wonderbolts. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the Academy. “Wonderbolts,” she announced, “we’re home.”

As Sunburst and both Starlights walked down the road, Sunburst pointed towards the two-story building behind the airship hangers. “It may not be much,” he said, “but it's home.”

“I know you showed me the workshop yesterday,” said Starlight, “but you didn't tell me you lived here.”

“How come you're living on the base?” asked Starlight.

“I'm the bearer of the Element of Magic.”

“What's that?” asked Starlight.

“You know,” said Starlight. “The Elements of Harmony.”

Starlight started at her blankly.

“Loyalty, Kindness, Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, and Magic,” Starlight said.

Starlight cocked her head.

A look of mild annoyance crossed Starlight's face. “The magical super gemstones that banished Nightmare Moon.”

Starlight's face lit up. “Oh those!” She gasped. “Sunburst, you found one!”

“My friends and I found all six. But I can only wield Magic.”

“You mean you used them, too?”

“Against Nightmare Moon and against Discord,” Sunburst said. “We tried to use them against Chrysalis, but…” he trailed off.

Starlight picked up. “But a pony named Twilight Sparkle was supposed to be the Element of Magic instead of Sunburst. See, the wedding was between Twilight's brother and her old foal-sitter. If things had happened the way they were supposed to, she would have rescued Princess Cadance and stopped Chrysalis. Then Spike would have stopped Sombra by recov—”

“Spike?” asked Sunburst.

“Spike,” said Starlight.

“Spike?” asked Starlight.

“Twilight's dragon friend. Sunburst’s in this world.” Starlight sighed. “Sorry. I'm really trying to give you the short version, but there's just so much that's different.”

“It’s ok,” Sunburst said as he stopped just before the door to the workshop. “I’m sure there’ll be plenty of time to catch up later. In the meantime, I can introduce you to my friends,” he said to Starlight. He opened the door and ushered the Starlights in.

All three ponies in the room turned their heads towards the door. “Hello again, Starlight!” said the Doctor. “And—Starlight.”

“The resemblance is uncanny!” exclaimed Flam.

“Am I seeing double?” asked Derpy as she covered first one eye, then the other.

“You're back!” exclaimed Spike as he ran down the stairs and into the room. He hugged one of Sunburst’s legs, and received a hug in return. “So is this Starlight? Or, wait—Are there two of you?”

Sunburst chuckled. “This is Starlight Glimmer, and this is—also Starlight Glimmer.” He frowned and raised a hoof to his chin.

“Which one of you is the real Starlight?” asked Spike.

“I am,” both Starlights said.

“Oh,” Sunburst clarified, “what he means is, which one of you is alternate Starlight?”

“She is,” they both said as they pointed a hoof at each other. Both Starlights bit their lip and drew back their hoof while exchanging glances.

“You're not from my world,” said Starlight. “That means you're alternate Starlight.”

“You're right; I'm not from your world,” said Starlight. “You’re alternate Starlight just like he’s alternate Sunburst,” she said, gesturing towards Sunburst. Both Starlights started at one another. “This isn't going to work.”

“Yeah, you're right.”

“Which one of you is native to this timeline?” asked the Doctor.

One Starlight said, “I am,” and the other one said, “She is.”

“Finally,” said Spike.

“We've got to figure out some way to tell you two apart,” said Sunburst.

“The hair! The hair is different!” exclaimed Flam.

“Yeah, I changed my mane a little bit after I left my village. My bangs looked too much like a certain—mathematical symbol.”

The other Starlight lowered her head, ushering in a brief moment of silence.

“Well, I guess I could introduce you to my friends,” Sunburst offered. “Starlight, meet Flam, Doctor Whooves, Derpy Hooves, and Spike.” Sunburst frowned. “Has anypony seen Twilight?”

“Twilight?” asked Starlight. “In the workshop?”

“Yeah. You remember Twilight from the Council meeting, right? She helps us in the workshop. She's practically a walking encyclopedia!”

“Yup. Sounds like Twilight.”

“Oh! Speaking of the Council, that reminds me,” said Spike, “Rainbow called an emergency meeting this afternoon. She sent somepony to tell you two this morning.”

Sunburst and Starlight exchanged worried glances. “I hope it's not bad,” said Sunburst.

“We'd better hurry,” said Starlight.

“Where are we going?” asked Starlight.

“I—don't think it's a good idea for you to come along,” said Starlight.

“Don't worry,” Sunburst added. “We won't be long.”

Sunburst and Starlight galloped out of the room and headed for the command post.

“Has anypony seen Sunburst?” Rainbow asked from the head of the council table.

“Not since yesterday,” said Twilight.

“Same here,” said Bon Bon.

“Probably another doctor’s visit. We’ll have to start without him. So last night, the ponies on guard duty at the command post were ordered off their post by a pair of Wonderbolts. The two ‘Bolts entered the building, removed the Wonderbolts insignia from Spitfire’s chair, flew out the window, and reported to me and Shining Armor that there was a break-in at the command post. After that, they presumably went and told Spitfire and Soarin, who took off in their airships and left the base.”

“So, they’re just gone?” asked Pinkamena.

“I’m afraid so,” said Shining Armor.

“Why’d they leave?” asked Bon Bon.

“Beats me,” said Rainbow.

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “You sure her motives weren’t personal, Rainbow?”

“I—I mean, they could have been. I don’t know.”

“Without those airships in the sky,
A lot more troops are sure to die.”

“Zecora is right,” said Limestone. “If we don’t have air support, we won’t be able to conduct recon as well, and we won’t have as much air support for our troops.”

“Now, hold on,” Rainbow said. “We’ve still got all of our small support craft. The smaller blimps and the balloons can still be used for recon, and we can still use them to engage targets on the ground or in the air.”

“The largest crew in any one of our airships consists of about a dozen ponies,” said Shining Armor, “and we have no craft large enough to act as carriers like the Wonderbolts’ blimps. All we’ve got now are balloons and corvette-class blimps. Our entire airship doctrine centered around protecting the Wonderbolt airships. They provided the capital airships; we provided smaller vessels to screen against aerial threats.”

“Ok, maybe we’re at a bit of a loss. But we’re still capable of win—”

The door opened, and Sunburst and Starlight entered. “Sorry I’m late,” Sunburst apologized.

Rainbow raised a hoof. “I understand. Uh, was Starlight with you?”

“I went to go find the other Starlight.”

“The other Starlight?”

“Yeah, the one who lives in this timeline.”

“And you needed Sunburst with you?”

“Yes, actually. It's—a long story.”

“So, what’s going on here?” asked Sunburst.

“The Wonderbolts are gone,” said Twilight.

“Gone?” asked Starlight.

“They left last night with their airships,” added Rainbow.

“That’s not good,” said Sunburst.

“Has anypony heard anything from Spitfire?” asked Starlight.

“Nothing,” said Rainbow. “She just—left.”

“Maybe we should try and talk it out,” she suggested.

“You could, but you’d be wasting your time,” Rainbow said.

“It’s a good thought, but I have to agree with Rainbow Dash,” Shining said. “Spitfire doesn’t usually go back on something she’s already said or done.”

“Well, maybe she’ll change.”

“That’s not how this works,” Rainbow said. “She’s not going to come back unless something drastic changes.”

“I know ponies can change because of how much I’ve changed. We don’t know how much we’ll accomplish if we don’t try to mend the relationship. I know that now.”

“If you want to try reasoning with her, go for it,” said Shining Armor. “But don't get your hopes up.”

“Where did they go?”

“Probably Cloudsdale,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Yes, Cloudsdale,” said Bon Bon. “My counter-espionage agents working to protect the city said they saw the blimps this morning.”

“Rainbow, why don’t you just go talk to her?" asked Starlight. "At least give it a try.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think that would go over well? You heard the two of us aboard the Spitfire on our trip to Mareathon.”

“Fair point. What about Shining Armor?”

“Can’t. I get airsick,” he replied. “And I can’t walk on clouds.”

“Bon Bon?”

“I guess I could. I’m not sure she would listen to me because I’m so close to Rainbow Dash.”

“Uh, politically, she means,” Rainbow clarified.

Bon Bon and Rainbow Dash exchanged glances, but said nothing more.

Starlight began again. “We need somepony who’s not close to Rainbow Dash, who’s good at negotiation.” Starlight looked over the others. There were Sunburst, Twilight, Big Mac, Applejack, Zecora, Limestone Pie, and Pinkie Pie.

While she was contemplating, Sunburst spoke up. “What about you, Starlight? That was pretty clever what you did out at your village.”

“What? Me?”

“Think about it; Big Macintosh isn’t a public speaker, and Twilight, Limestone, and Applejack lack, mmmm, ‘diplomatic finesse’.”

“And I have to organize drills for Ursa Company with my sister,” Pinkamena said.

“Demand for changeling salve is high—
Always greater than supply.”

“What about you?” asked Starlight.

“I wish I could, but we’re really close to a breakthrough on the Mark Oh-Six-Hundred of the alchemic horn. If it passes its trials, we’ll re-brand it the Mark One Thousand and put it into production.” Starlight dropped her gaze. “Are you worried about the clouds? I have a cloudwalking spell.”

“And you won’t even need your self-levitation to get there,” Rainbow added. “There’s an air carriage service that started up when Cloudsdale moved closer to Manehattan.”

“I saw what you did in your village,” Sunburst said. “You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”

“But that was different. I had knowledge of what happened in a different timeline. I won’t have that advantage—Wait a minute.” Starlight’s face lit up. “I think I have an idea.”

Chrysalis lay on the ground, smiling at her little grub as she crawled along the floor. Pupa’s turquoise magic enveloped a brightly colored wooden block, and it floated towards another block. She continued watching as Pupa stacked the first block on top of the second. She looked up at her mother and squealed with delight, her big blue eyes full of life and energy. “You have your father’s eyes,” Chrysalis remarked with a smile. “One day you will rule over ponies and changelings. Just like your mother.”

There was a knock at the door. “Enter,” she called as she rose to her hooves. A changeling drone opened the door.

“Your Highness, we’ve just received word that the Wonderbolts have broken ties with the Manehattan rebels. They’ve taken the air fleet and moved to Cloudsdale.”

“Discord among our enemies? That is wonderful news! We should capitalize on this as soon as possible. What are our options?”

“We could either infiltrate the Wonderbolts or the Manehattanites. The Wonderbolts would be easier, but the Manehattanites would be more rewarding. We have a few changelings in Cloudsdale, but not enough to replace all of the Wonderbolts at once.”

Chrysalis thought a moment. “There’s no sense in rushing things if they don’t know when we’ll strike. We need to be certain of success. Those upstart rebels in Manehattan can still be dealt with relatively easily once the time is right. Find a small airship we can use and go covertly to Cloudsdale. We’ll pick off their allies one by one.”

“Yes, my Queen.” The changeling departed, shutting the door on his way out.

Spitfire was sitting behind her desk when somepony knocked on the door. “Come in,” she said. The door swung open and Starlight Glimmer walked in. “Starlight? I wasn't expecting you to come all the way up here.” Her brow furrowed. “Rainbow Dash sent you, didn't she?”

“No, ma'am. I came here to ask you why you left.”

Spitfire snorted. “You haven't figured it out yet?”

Starlight lifted a hoof. “Was it—Rainbow Dash?”

“Guess I was wrong. You have figured it out.”

“I don't understand. Back home, Rainbow Dash and Spitfire are friends, and Rainbow is a Wonderbolt. Even in this world, I remember seeing you flying into Manehattan and pledging your troops to her and Shining Armor. What happened?”

“I've come to the conclusion that Rainbow and I are too different to work together. Too many of our philosophies are incompatible.”

“But I know that's not true,” Starlight began. “I've seen how excited Rainbow Dash is to be a Wonderbolt. I haven't met Spitfire, but I'd imagine she's—”

“That's your world, kid. This is mine.”

Starlight hung her head. “How did it get to be do different?”

“Our relationship has been slowly deteriorating for a few months now. It started a few weeks after Fillydelphia….”

“What!?” Rainbow shouted as she stomped both front hooves Spitfire's desk. “I mean, I could understand a dishonorable discharge, but a firing squad!?”

Spitfire sighed. “It definitely wasn’t an easy choice, but...”

“But what?”

“Lightning Dust’s reckless actions put her fellow soldiers in harm’s way. On top of that, the tornado she created killed Mayor Liberty Belle of Fillydelphia. She must be punished, or else others will assume recklessness and disregard for orders and squad tactics are appropriate behavior for a Wonderbolt.”

“That’s not the part I’m contesting,” Rainbow replied as she began pacing in front of the desk. “I’m saying that what you’re doing isn’t replacing one casualty with another. It’s adding one casualty to another.”

With slow, deliberate motions, Spitfire removed her tinted glasses, folded them, set them aside, and put her hooves together. “Listen, Rainbow Dash. I’m the Captain of the Wonderbolts. These ponies are my responsibility.”

Rainbow stopped pacing and flared her wings out. “I’m a General. That means I outrank you, Captain.”

“Not within this office you don’t.”

“Release her!” Rainbow said, returning her front hooves to the desk.

“You can’t give me orders!” Spitfire fired back, rising out of her chair.

“I can too!”

“You’re not even a real general! You were just a civilian a year ago!”

Rainbow snorted as she returned her front hooves to the floor. “You’re right. I was a civilian. A civilian who grew up in Cloudsdale watching Wonderbolt airshows. A civilian who at one point in her life wanted more than anything to join the Wonderbolts when she grew up. It looks like I was wrong for ever wanting that. I will not associate with a group of mother-preening backstabbers!”

Spitfire’s eyes widened in surprise. She shook her head and set her jaw. “Then you should approve of my treatment of Lightning Dust. Her half-flanked actions endangered and even killed friendly—”

“Absolutely not! I do not have to approve of your horse-feathered orders! One more death won’t undo the first! What are you trying to prove by killing Lightning Dust?”

“Soldiers should follow orders explicitly. Soldiers who do not follow orders explicitly end up like Lightning Dust,” she said as she approached an open window and looked down on the Military Academy’s courtyard.The executioners had lined up and Lightning Dust was being moved into position. Rainbow came to join her a moment later, her jaw dropping when she reached the window. “She isn't far from the command post. She's even within line of sight. Anypony who wants to see her can see her.”

“Wha—Spitfire, you're just going to watch her? How? She—she’s not just a soldier, she’s not just a Wonderbolt, she’s your responsibility! You said it yourself! She looked up to you, trusted you, idolized you! You’re going to make her own heroes kill her!”

“Execution by firing squad is deliberately hard for all the ponies involved.” she said as she returned to her chair. “Makes you not want to face it, or put your squad up to it.”

Rainbow looked back down at the soldiers below, then at the floor, as if in contemplation. Finally, she raised her head and looked at Spitfire. “This isn’t right, and we both know it.” Before Spitfire could reply, Rainbow flew out the window. Spitfire raced back to the window and stuck her head out, but drew her head back in a moment later before angrily shutting the window and lowering the blinds.

Starlight bit her lip and nodded slowly.

“That was where it started.”

“Why didn't you give her a second chance? I know firsthoof ponies can change.”

Spitfire sighed. “I don't expect you to accept what I've done, or to understand.”

“You sentenced her to execution for an accident.”

“No, you weren't listening. I sentenced her to execution for disobeying orders. She sat through the same briefing as everypony else. Only one soldier on the entire bucking battlefield created a feathered tornado.”

Starlight lowered her tone and stepped forward. “Putting Lightning Dust before a firing squad meant your alliance with Rainbow Dash fell apart. Manehattan and Cloudsdale will both suffer if you two don’t work together. Knowing now what it cost you, if you had a second chance, would you change anything?”

Spitfire sat up a little in her chair, apparently taken aback at the question. Her face was devoid of emotion; no doubt, she was an expert at hiding it. Finally, after a long pause, she gave her answer. “No,” she said softly, “I wouldn't.” Starlight’s countenance fell, and Spitfire reacted accordingly. “I know it sounds harsh, but it's harsh for a reason. Your enemies are still our enemies; your allies our allies.”

“Except Rainbow Dash,” Starlight said defeatedly.

Spitfire made no further argument as Starlight turned and left.

Spitfire placed her tray on the table in the Wonderbolts mess hall and waited for her cousin Blaze to arrive at the table. She looked over her shoulder and saw the other yellow-coated mare coming towards her.

Suddenly, she felt something cold and wet on her back. Without even thinking, she rose from her chair and spun around to see Fleetfoot with her tray in her mouth and an empty water glass laying on its side at the edge of her tray.

Fleetfoot looked horrified. She put the tray on the table and began apologizing. “M—Ma’am, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I—I must have accidentally tilted my head.”

Spitfire snorted. “Yeah. Must have. It’s just about the only way an upright glass of water can possibly spill! Next time, keep your eyes forward while you’re walking!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Blaze placed her tray opposite Spitfire’s as she turned to leave. “Where are you going?”

“To change,” she replied angrily.

Spitfire stormed out of the mess hall and down the corridor towards her quarters. She opened the door and began to undress, angrily throwing her uniform in the general direction of the laundry hamper. She opened her locker and—

Wham! The locker door smacked her in the face. She shut her left eye as she reeled backwards. Before she could recover, she felt herself struck again—kicked in the gut. She spread her wings, but during her downstroke, her left wing was struck as well, magically this time. With help from her wings, she jumped backwards, growing aware of a heat and pain on her left wing. A glance at her wing revealed green flames consuming her feathers. She flapped vigorously as she glanced forwards again.

Another blow, this one on her mouth. It wasn't a hoof or a weapon, but rather a sticky, terrible-tasting substance which nearly made her vomit. But at least she finally got a good look at her attacker—it was a changeling.

The changeling charged its horn and fired again, landing a blow on Spitfire’s front right hoof, sticking it to the floor. Spitfire raised her left hoof in time to avoid a similar fate, but with the changeling standing at a distance, it was only a matter of time before all four of her hooves were stuck to the floor.

With all four hooves trapped and only one good wing, Spitfire feigned defeat, hoping for the changeling to close the distance. No such luck; the changeling levitated her into the locker and fired again, pinning her in. With a hiss, the changeling took on Spitfire’s form just before slamming the locker door.

Spitfire squirmed around inside the locker as she heard her room door open and the changeling depart.

Trixie floated gently down the river, her eyes trained on the riverbed. Her scuba mask helped her see and breathe as she looked for the Alicorn Amulet. She saw a glint in the sediment, and dove to inspect it. She dug it out, only to discover a gold coin. Equestrian currency was useless in the Crystal Empire, but she retrieved it anyways and returned to the surface.

I could have sworn, I was just past that bridge when I threw the amulet into the river, she thought as she swam for the shore. She waded ashore and trotted upstream past the bridge. She passed a small pile of reflective and semi-reflective objects—a broken heart-shaped hoof mirror, half of a broken tin can, a small gemstone, and about a dozen gold coins.

Once she was well on the other side of the bridge, she waded into the water again and started another pass. As she drifted, so too did her thoughts.

I wonder what he’ll think of me when I bring it back. He seemed pretty happy when I told him I knew where it was.

Trixie watched the riverbed as her shadow approached the shadow of the bridge. What if he never finds out how much I admire him? What if—What if he doesn't like me back? What if—

There. A glint at the edge of the bridge’s shadow. Trixie dove to retrieve it. She dug the object out of the sediment and returned to the surface even before the dirt could clear from the water. She brought her head above the waterline and levitated the object up a moment later. It was dripping, it was covered in sediment, but it was the Alicorn Amulet.

“Yes! And thus the Dark and Malevolent Trixie completes another mission!” She waded ashore and placed the artifact in her saddlebags, then put the saddlebags on her back.

Vapor Trail galloped down a hallway in the Wonderbolt Academy, Sky Stinger right beside her. “Come on,” she said, “The next door is Spitfire’s office!”

The pair rounded a corner and came to a guarded door. “Who goes there?” asked one of the guards. Since it was wartime rather than peacetime, the two guards wore their Wonderbolt combat gear instead of their dress uniforms.

“It’s us. We need to talk with Spitfire.”

“We’re being infiltrated by changelings!” Sky Stinger added.

“Hmm,” said the second guard. “That sounds like something a changeling would say. You got any of that paint?”

“Right here,” said Vapor Trail, drawing a jar of it out of her saddlebags. The guard stepped forward and extended a hoof, but then swatted the paint aside and lunged forward. The second guard hissed and lunged for Sky Stinger.

“Changelings!” Sky shouted.

Vapor Trail contacted the guard’s chest with her already-outstretched hoof, effectively holding him back. Sky Stinger took to the air as the second “pegasus” made his tackle, grabbing him by his barrel. Sky threw his hind legs around the changeling and performed a backflip, sending the changeling into the floor flank first.

The other changeling grabbed Vapor Trail’s front leg with both of his own. He twisted it around, and she elicited a sharp cry as she tried to pull away from her attacker. The changeling pulled her forward with one hoof and applied pressure to her shoulder with the other, causing her to turn her shoulder towards him. Before he could put Vapor’s leg in a lock, Sky delivered a punch to his face, causing him to release Vapor.

Sky’s changeling recovered, and Vapor’s squared up with Sky Stinger while hovering. “Go!” said Sky. “Get a message out!”

Vapor flew towards the door, and the changeling tried to close the distance, but Sky grabbed him and pulled him back. Vapor entered the room and slammed the door behind her, then locked it.

Inside the room were no changelings, but also no Spitfire. Vapor flew to the far side of the desk and pushed it in front of the door. She grabbed a piece of paper and reached for the quill. She spilled the inkwell in her haste, but she only stopped for a second. She wrote one, single, very large word on the paper before folding it and grabbing the first envelope she could find. All the while, she heard Sky Stinger fighting outside. She grimaced with each cry he made, but she tried to block it out. She licked the envelope, sealed it with the Wonderbolts insignia seal on the desk, and flew to the window.

“Hey, you!” she shouted to a passing pony wearing a mailbag. “Over here!”

The mailpony closed the distance. There was a thump at the door. Vapor gasped and turned her head. Another thump. She turned around again. The mailpony was close now. “Take this,” she said. “Get to the post office as fast as you can! This must get to Rainbow Dash or Shining Armor! Hurry!”

The mare accepted the letter before flying off. There was another thump on the door. This time, it bulged inward just a bit. Vapor Trail glanced across the office for something to use as a weapon.

An out-of-breath pegasus mare carrying a mailbag burst into the back room of the Cloudsdale post office just as Thunder Star was finishing her shift. “I need help!—We—we have—I need—”

“Woah, woah, woah, slow down there,” said a stallion as he stepped out of the rotating drum that powered the conveyor belt. “What’s going on?”

“The Wonderbolts—they told me—to deliver—this letter!—It’s urgent!”

Several other ponies were now paying attention, whether that meant raising their heads above their workspace dividers, or physically approaching the mare. Thunder Star ignored the commotion and hung her mailbag on a hook with the others.

“I was told—to get this to Rainbow Dash—or Shining Armor.” Thunder Star’s ear swiveled.

“Well, I’m sure we can send it out with the rest of the mail tomorrow,” the stallion said.

“Let me take it,” said Thunder Star, suddenly interested in the letter.

“Are you sure?” asked the stallion. “Your shift is already over.”

“I’m sure,” she said as she took her bag back off the hook where she had just hung it. “Rainbow Dash and I go way back.”

The stallion eyed her warily. “Really?”

“Yes,” she answered, “we do. The Wonderbolts need her help. Besides, we all owe it to Rainbow Dash. She’s done so much for Equestria—for all of us.” Thunder bowed her head as she said it.

“Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt,” said the stallion. “If it’s as important as you say,” he said to the mare, “an extra day might not be a bad thing.”

The mare produced an envelope from her bag and hoofed it over to Thunder Star.

“Then again,” the stallion said, “why aren’t the Wonderbolts sending their own messages?”

“You don’t think something happened to them, do you?” asked the mail mare.

“I’ll leave immediately.” And she did. She began heading for the door.

“Are you sure?” asked the stallion.

“I’ll be back before you know it.” With that, Thunder left the post office.

Once she was outside, she smiled to herself. “That was too easy.” She reached a wing into her bag, pulled the letter back out, and held it up to the sun. “Ha! It’s not even a security envelope! What’s it say? Is it—just one big word?” Thunder squinted at it. “C-h—at least, I think that’s supposed to be an h—C-h—a-n—g-e-l—Oh.” Thunder’s smile disappeared. “Oh, Celestia. This is bad.”

Starlight reached the air carriage station just as a carriage was landing. Its occupants disembarked and Starlight entered. A second mare, a teal pegasus with a mail bag, entered behind her and sat across from her. After a minute of waiting, no more passengers arrived.

A whistle on the platform sounded, and they were off. Starlight was still settling in for the ride when the mare across from her spoke up. “We don't get too many unicorns up in Cloudsdale. You on business?”

“Yes, actually,” she replied. She cocked her head to one side. “What’s a pegasus doing on the air carriage? You can fly, right?”

“I’ve been flying my mail route all day—I’m tired. Can’t unicorns just teleport up and down?”

“Ok, fair point. I didn’t mean anything,” Starlight said. “I was just delivering a message for a friend.”

“Oh, I understand that,” she said, patting her mail bag. “Got a special delivery for Manehattan. Still, why didn’t your friend just send a pegasus up?”

“It was—a delicate matter. I was chosen as the best one to deliver it. I'm not sure how much more I’m allowed to say than that.”

The mare chucked. “It's just you and me. I won't tell anypony.”

“It's not that, it's—it’s because somepony important said not to say anything.”

A look of realization crossed the mare’s face. “Oh. That kind of message.”

“Yeah…” Starlight trailed off. She sounds like she’s trying to pick up information, she thought to herself. Changeling or not, I shouldn’t say too much more.

Maybe I could convince her I'm a tourist. She tapped her chin with a hoof. “At least I was able to see the Wonderbolts while I was there!”

The mare raised one eyebrow. “The Wonderbolts don’t do airshows anymore. They haven’t since the war broke out.”

Well that backfired.

The other mare reached into her bag and shifted in her seat. “And how did you know the Wonderbolts were back in Cloudsdale anyways?”

Starlight also put a hoof into her bag and began feeling around for her paint. “I might ask you the same thing.”

The mare’s gaze dropped, but only for a second. “Fine. It looks like neither of us is getting what she wants until we paint each other,” she said as she drew out a clear jar of thick, forest green liquid.

“Wait,” Starlight protested. “I—I can’t.”

“Because you’re a changeling.” The mare rose out of her seat.

Starlight rolled her eyes. “You sound like Rainbow Dash the first day I met her.”

The mare froze, eyes wide. “You know Rainbow Dash?”

I've said too much. Starlight lit her horn. “I knew you were trying to coax information out of me.”

“No! No, it’s just—Rainbow Dash saved my life.”

Starlight eyed the mare warily. “Who are you?”

The mare gulped and looked away. “Well, they call me Thunder Star, but that’s not my real name. I’m—I’m Lightning Dust.”

Starlight’s jaw hit the floor.

Ch. 7: Dishonor and Disharmony

Starlight stared in shock at the mare in the air carriage with her. “You're Lightning Dust?”

The mare bit her lip and crossed one front leg over the other at the knee. “You’ve heard of me, haven’t you?” The mare laid her ears against her head as she stared out the carriage’s doorway.

“I saw what you did,” Starlight said. “I know what happened in Fillydelphia.” Lightning Dust pulled her hind legs in as she lay down on the bench and rested her head on her hooves. “I heard from Spitfire what she did to you—or, I guess, tried to do.”

Lightning sighed. “Am I gonna have to run from this my whole life?” she asked, still not making eye contact with Starlight.

Starlight perked up at Lightning’s comment. Though she didn’t understand military discipline in all its severities and intricacies, she saw in the mare seated across from her a pony with a marred past, and that she did understand. “Hey, it’s ok.”

Lightning looked up at her, but didn’t move her head or body. “I killed somepony. It’s not ok.”

“I—broke time and space,” Starlight countered. “I’ve killed a lot more than you have.”

Lightning raised first an ear, then an eyebrow, then her head. “What?”

“I’ll tell you my story if you tell me yours. How are you alive? I thought Spitfire was going to execute you.”

“She was,” Lightning began. “I got lucky. Somepony up top didn’t agree with her.”

Lightning Dust didn’t even roll over on her cot when she heard the brig’s door open. She picked up her head and raised her eyes just enough to get a good view at whoever was coming. She raised her head higher when she saw just over a half dozen ponies march silently into the brig. One of them approached and unlocked her cell. “Lightning Dust, it’s time,” said Blaze as she opened the cell door.

Lightning Dust gulped and got to her hooves. She wanted to run. She wanted to fly. She wanted to lie back down, bury her face in her hooves and cry. But she didn’t. She trudged out of the cell, her hind legs shackled together and her wings bound to her sides. In place of her Wonderbolt uniform, she wore an orange jumpsuit. The Wonderbolts escorting her wielded swords and crossbows, and were in full combat gear. Lightning hung her head, stared at the ground, and laid her ears against her head as she silently walked to the center of the column of Wonderbolts.

The column marched out to the courtyard, where Lightning saw more Wonderbolts with crossbows held in their right hooves, the other end of their weapons propped against the ground. Lightning was shoved into place in front of a brick wall and instructed to place her front hooves on two tall stacks of bricks. Lightning assumed that their purpose was to expose her belly and chest. She reluctantly spread her front legs and mounted the bricks before staring nervously at the Wonderbolts opposite her.

“Does the prisoner request to be blindfolded?” asked Soarin.

“Please,” Lightning whispered.

A piece of coarse cloth was bound around Lightning’s head just as she closed her eyes.

“Ready!” The ‘Bolts picked up their weapons and loaded them. Lightning Dust could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

“Aim!” Lightning drew a deep breath—her last breath—and tried not to panic. Her every instinct told her to run, yet she knew she wouldn’t get far. She knew this was the end. A single unseen tear dampened the cloth of her blindfold.

“Loose!” The latches of a half dozen crossbows released at once, and Lightning Dust felt a gust of wind blow her mane from left to right. Then—nothing. There was no pain. There was no impact of crossbow bolt hitting flesh. Yet there was sound. Sounds of confusion. Sounds of anger. Sounds of—hooves hitting earth? More sounds followed, even more illogical than the last—somepony spitting followed by wood clacking against wood, like small sticks thrown into a pile.

The firing squad might not be killing her, but the suspense certainly was. She exhaled only to inhale and hold her breath again, waiting for her death.

“General Rainbow Dash,” Soarin began, “with all due respect—”

“‘With respect’? Is that how you would bucking execute one of your own?” she scoffed. “‘With respect.’ Is that how far the noble Wonderbolts have fallen? Release the prisoner!”

“But ma’am—”

“I said release her!” Lightning heard Rainbow stomp her hooves in frustration.

Next, she heard ponies rushing towards her, and she reflexively flinched away from the noises. Several ponies laid hold on her, and she felt herself being pulled backwards. She stumbled when her front hooves made contact with the ground, and she squinted when sunlight greeted her eyes. She felt her chains fall off and the cords around her wings go slack. She stretched her sore and aching wings, but retracted them again when two pegasi laid hooves on her. Nevertheless, she reached a hoof up to rub her folded right wing.

Lightning felt a hoof on her shoulder. It was gentler than the other guards, though that wasn’t saying much. She looked up and found herself staring into the face of General Rainbow Dash. Her racing heart skipped a beat, and for a moment she forgot how to breathe. Rainbow didn’t look particularly happy, but she also didn’t look as mad as Lightning had expected. This last detail somewhat calmed her.

“Spitfire ordered you to be put before a firing squad because you were reckless and took no heed for the lives of your fellow soldiers or the life of the Mayor.” Lightning laid her ears against her head. “Lightning, you only wanted to see the Mayor returned to friendly forces, correct?”

“Y—Yes ma’am!” she replied with tears in her eyes.

“Your heart was in the right place, but I cannot condone your methods.”

“I know, ma’am. And I’m sorry.”

“I know you are. If you weren’t, I would have let them execute you. I’m still going to pass judgment on you.” Lightning held her breath. “Dishonorable discharge.”

Lightning collapsed to the ground. “Thank you, ma’am,” she managed between her tears and her short breaths. “Thank you.”

When Lightning looked up, Rainbow smiled at her, but only for a second. “Your jumpsuit. If you leave with it, you’ll be pursued and shot at again.” Lightning unzipped and removed the jumpsuit. “There. Now get your flank off this military installation, you half-flanked civilian!”

It was the most welcome insult she’d ever been given. “Yes, ma’am!” Lightning shot up to a standing position, saluted, and took to the skies. As she flew, she cried. All at once, she was more joyful and more dejected than she had ever been. She didn't even care where she was flying to; she was just glad to be flying again.

The air carriage landed as Lightning Dust finished. With her ears against her head, she spread her wings and flew out onto the ground.

Starlight got out a moment later and began walking next to her. She could tell Lightning was ashamed just by her body language. How do you follow up a story like that? she wondered.

With a story like mine, I guess, she answered. “I'm sorry,” she began. “I'm sorry I broke time and space and put you in this position.”

“You keep saying that: ‘broke time and space.’ What do you mean?”

Starlight told Lightning Dust all about herself. She told her about Sunburst and how they fell apart, about forming her village and stealing ponies’ cutie marks. She told her about Twilight and about the months she had spent wandering about Equestria, dejected and forgotten. All the while, Lightning’s face conveyed to Starlight her emotions: confusion, skepticism, curiosity, and understanding each in turn; yet she never once interrupted.

Then Starlight explained how that she had used one of Star Swirl’s time travel spells to visit Rainbow's first Sonic Rainboom, and how she had been able to prevent it from happening. She told of Nightmare Moon, of Discord, and of Chrysalis, and how Twilight and her friends had stopped all of them. She told Lightning all about the other timelines Twilight had seen and described to her, how each threat to Equestria had either succeeded or at least had come close. When at last she got to the part where Twilight gave her the mission of fixing the timeline, she paused and waited for Lightning’s reaction.

For a while, Lightning walked on in silence, her eyes downturned and a small frown on her face. Eventually, she looked back up at Starlight. “So there's a timeline where I'm not a failure?”

“Probably a lot of them,” she answered.

“But in this one, I—”

“You've been given a second chance,” Starlight interrupted. “You don't have to let your actions dictate who you are. You are more than the sum of your actions. Hopes, dreams, passions, talents, abilities—they're all a part of you regardless of success or failure.” The pair turned the corner, and the base’s front gate came into view. Lightning stopped short and lifted one front hoof. Starlight stopped a few steps later. “Are you ready to go back?”

Lightning hesitated, so Starlight offered her a hoof. Lightning bit her lip and drew her hoof up to her chest.

Starlight took a step forward. “You don't have to do this alone.”

Lightning slowly reached her hoof out until it was on top of Starlight’s. Starlight's smile soon reflected on Lightning's face, and they began walking towards the base. “You really think they'll let me back on base?”

“You're just an ordinary postal worker. We ‘just happened’ to meet on the air carriage. And that's not even a lie. We’ll enter separately and meet up on the other side. After that, I'm pretty sure I can get you to Rainbow Dash.”

The door to a dimly-lit room in the Wonderbolt Academy opened, and a pair of changelings dragged in another pony—this one an off-white mare. The door closed and the pair got to work making a cocoon. A third changeling stepped in front of the mare and lit his horn. A stream of pink magic soon flowed from the mare's chest towards the changeling. He collected the magic in a ball in front of him while he levitated several glass vials from off a rack of empty glassware. He divided the large ball into smaller spheres, and these he placed into the vials. It took twelve vials to contain all the love extracted from the mare.

“Woah. She had a lot in her,” said one of the other two changelings.

“So did the last one you sent me. Where’d you find them?”

“They found us,” said the third.

“Together?” asked the first.

“Yeah.”

“Let's put their cocoons next to each other,” he suggested, gesturing to a fourth changeling standing by a cocoon with a stallion in it.

“Is it still just the ten of us? Four in here, one outside as the guard, and five posing as Wonderbolts?” asked the third changeling.

“We’re up to eleven, and there’s more coming. The Queen’s sending a blimp.”

The changeling’s wings buzzed excitedly. “No way!”

“Not what you’re thinking,” said the fourth changeling. “One of the small ones.”

“Oh.”

“Still,” said the second, “it’s better than nothing.”

“All for love,” said the first changeling as he distributed a full vial to each of the others. “To victory, and the Queen!”

“To the Queen!” the others cheered as they joined in the toast.

Rainbow held her head steady as Flam levitated an alchemic horn onto her head. “You are about to be modeling the newest invention to come out of our workshop—the Alchemic Horn Mark oh-six-hundred!” he said.

“We've reverse-engineered a walkie talkie, harvested the mic and speaker, and integrated them into the helmet,” said the Doctor.

“Ready to give it a try?” asked Sunburst.

“Sure.”

Sunburst levitated an apple to his hoof. “I want you to concentrate on lifting this apple.”

Rainbow paused a moment, then stared intently at the apple. Nothing happened.

“Sorry. I didn't explain that very well.” He thought for a moment. “Imagine you have a third eye in the middle of your forehead. Sometimes it helps if you close your eyes and open all three at once.”

Rainbow closed her eyes and focused. She felt energy begin to build underneath her helmet. She imagined having a third eye, and the energy collected exactly where she wanted it to. She opened her eyes, and felt a rush of energy coursing through her wings as they shot out to each side involuntarily. She heard a high-pitched “vwoom, vwoom,” sound coming from above her head and saw a magenta-colored light above her out of her peripheral vision.

“You're doing it!” exclaimed Sunburst.

“And she hasn't blown anything up yet!” said Derpy. Rainbow looked over to see a bittersweet smile on the mare’s face.

“Try lifting the apple again.”

Rainbow moved one front leg back half a step as she felt the energy on her forehead increase. A faint magenta glow flickered around the apple as it rocked back and forth in Sunburst’s hoof.

Rainbow raised her wings. She didn't know why; it just seemed the right thing to do. As she did, the apple rose as well. For a moment, she didn't even realize she’d moved them, but once she did, she experimented with raising and lowering her wings, observing the effect on the apple.

“Try moving your head,” suggested Starlight.

She did, and found it had the same effect as using her wings.

“Using your body to control your magic is fine to begin with or for an extra little push, but you want to get to the point where you can just use your mind,” said Sunburst. “But that's a little advanced for a first lesson.”

“Good job, Rainbow,” said Spike. “Just goes to show Sunburst can teach magic to just about anypony!”

“Just about,” Twilight deadpanned.

Sunburst frowned. “I'm sorry, Twilight. I don't know why your magic doesn't work right. The other Starlight said alternate Twilight was the Element of Magic. Maybe she knows how to help you.”

“It's fine. It's not like I'm jealous or anything. Jealousy is an emotion. If I were to show emotion, my magic would become unstable.”

There was a pause, then a rack of empty test tubes across the room crackled with purple energy and exploded. Twilight sighed. “I’ll see myself out.”

Twilight crossed the room and opened the door, revealing Starlight. “Hey, Twilight! Is Rainbow Dash here?”

“Rainbow—Dash—” Twilight's eye twitched as a double aura formed around her horn. She ran out the door, bumping shoulders with Starlight as she left.

“Twilight?” Starlight called after her. Confused, she entered the room. “What was that all about?”

“She's frustrated that her magic won't work,” Sunburst said. “Even non-unicorns like Rainbow Dash are surpassing her in control.”

“I asked Twilight about it. Uh, Princess Twilight, that is. She thinks it’s because Princess Celestia cast a spell on her to put her magic back in check after her entrance exam, but of course that never happened for this world’s Twilight.” Starlight looked over at Rainbow. “Are you levitating that apple?”

“Yup.”

“Oh,” said Sunburst, “you can stop now if you want.”

Rainbow moved the apple towards Sunburst. “How do I let go?”

“That's weird,” said Starlight. “That's not a problem must unicorns have. It's a sign of an exceptionally strong will.”

“Just—stop holding it,” said Sunburst.

Somepony cleared their throat outside. “Oh, right," said the Starlight who had just arrived. "Rainbow Dash, could I have a word? That is—outside.”

“Sure.” Rainbow folded her wings and trotted to the door. The magenta aura faded, and the apple fell into Sunburst’s hoof. Once outside, Rainbow closed the door. “What's up?”

“I met somepony on the air carriage,” she said with a gesture, “and after combining her story with Spitfire’s, I have a pretty good idea of what caused Spitfire to leave.”

Rainbow leaned back and raised a hoof. “Lightning Dust? You're—”

“—Equestrian Postal Service. Cloudsdale Department,” she said as she turned sideways, displaying her mailbag. “I have explicit orders to give this letter to you or Captain Shining Armor,” she said as she reached in and drew out the letter.

Rainbow took the letter and opened it. Changelings, she read. She raised her head, looked at Lightning Dust, and nodded. “Thank you.”

Lightning stepped forward. “What are we going to do about this?”

“How do you know what the letter said?”

“I—uh—” she bit her lip and dropped her gaze.

“Lightning, you flew out of Cloudsdale carrying a letter with only one word: ‘Changelings.’ ” Starlight gasped. “You knew what it said. How do I know you’re not a changeling?”

“They painted me at the front gate.”

“And her story checks out with Spitfire’s,” added Starlight. “Are there really changelings in Cloudsdale?”

Rainbow furrowed her brow and positioned herself so her metal leg was within reach of the door. “Oh, I’ll bet it does. Paint. Both of you. Now.” Starlight reached into her bag. “No. Use mine.” Rainbow tossed Starlight a jar of paint, which she caught in her magic. Rainbow watched the mares paint each other. Starlight glowed, and Lightning did not become a changeling. “Perfect. So one of you isn’t a changeling, and the other is a time traveler.”

“Actually, I'm a universe hopper.”

“Is that what the glowing means?” asked Lightning.

Rainbow ignored her question. “Lightning Dust!” The mare snapped to attention, probably out of habit. “You knew what that letter said before I told either of you what it said. Explain yourself.”

“I—I took the letter and—held it up to the light.”

Rainbow sighed. “Lightning, I really don't want to believe that what Spitfire tried to do to you was the right thing, but you've just added ‘mishandling of classified information’ to your record!”

Lightning laid her ears back and angled her head downward, but did not break eye contact. “It—it was Wonderbolt mail—I know I shouldn't have—but I did.”

“Every time you do something like this, it gets that much harder for me to defend you. I interfered on your behalf because I thought you could change. I genuinely thought you would. I believed in you.”

Lightning’s mouth fell open as she took a step backward. She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“Dismissed.”

At Rainbow’s word, Lightning turned and galloped away.

“Lightning Dust!” Starlight called out.

“Let her go, Starlight.”

Starlight glanced between the two for a moment before sighing. “I’m sorry, Rainbow. I can’t. I empathize with her. I know what it’s like for somepony to let go—for somepony to flip a pony's world upside down, then abandon her to run off alone into a cave! I know what it’s like to have a past full of regret. And—I think I can help her. I’m going after her.”

As she turned to follow Lightning, Rainbow called out. “Wait.” Starlight paused. “Tomorrow. Council chamber. We’ll hold another emergency meeting.”

“I’ll be there.”

Lightning Dust cried into her hooves as she sat at a booth in a half-empty diner. Memories flashed unbidden before her mind’s eye, forcing her to relive her shame and humiliation. It was enough to break a mare—a confident, able-bodied, military mare whose proud heritage demanded great things of her. She would never be the mare her family expected her to be. With their expectations unmet, her dreams unrealized, and the ruins of her formerly carefully-planned life still haunting her, Lightning cried in the diner.

“You gonna order anything or not?” asked a nasally female voice.

Lightning sniffed and raised her head, staring at the blurry mare before her. “Lost my appetite,” she mumbled.

“Can't let you stay there if you don't order anything,” she said.

“She’s with me,” said a second voice. Lightning turned her head to see its owner.

“S—Starlight?” She wiped her eyes and reached for a napkin to use as a tissue, though what she really wanted to do was crawl under the table and pretend she didn’t exist.

“I’ll have a water, no lemon,” said Starlight.

“And you?”

Lightning blinked away the tears as she stared blankly at the waitress. “Got any cider?”

“Sure do.”

“I’ll have that.” The waitress left, and Starlight sat down across from Lightning. “Why are you wasting your time with me? Can’t you see everything I touch ends up a bucking disaster?”

“The time we spend helping somepony else to better themselves isn’t wasted time.”

“You think I haven’t been trying? Trying isn’t enough. I need to be better, not try better.”

“You’ve got one life to fix. I’ve got thousands. Yours is one of them.”

Lightning looked up at Starlight. “That’s impossible. Besides, my whole life is falling apart.”

“This whole world is falling apart. It fell apart a long time ago.”

“Well, there’s one thing we agree on.”

“I’ve been in a similar position as you, Lightning. I’ve hit rock bottom before. Trust me; it only gets better from here.”

Lightning’s lips trembled as she raised her head. “I—I want that to be true—but with everything I’ve seen so far—”

“Let me help you,” Starlight pleaded.

“I’d rather do this alone.”

“No. Lightning, don’t listen to your pain. You can’t do this alone.”

“I can’t do it together either,” she said with a sniff. “You’re wasting your time. Go find somepony who’s not beyond hope.”

“Look at me, Lightning.” It took a moment, but she slowly raised her head. “You are not beyond hope. This is not something you can’t overcome. For me to believe that’s true is—is for me to believe that I’m without hope. I killed Liberty Belle, not you. I killed Fluttershy and Cheerilee and Maud Pie and—and everypony who died in Fillydelphia.” Starlight dropped her gaze briefly. “I owe it to them. I owe it to you.” She reached across the table and put her hoof over Lightning’s. “I won’t give up on you. All I’m asking is that you promise to let me help.”

Lightning smiled weakly, and Starlight reciprocated. She clasped her second hoof over Starlight’s. “Thank you,” she whispered.

The waitress approached and placed the mares’ drinks on the table. “You two ready to order?”

Lightning eyed the menus still sitting between the napkin dispenser and the ketchup bottle on the window side of the table. One of them floated towards her, enveloped in a cyan aura. “Well, Lightning? Whaddya say?”

“I—I think I’m ready.”

Starlight knocked on Shining Armor’s door. A moment later, a purple aura surrounded it and swung it open. “Starlight!” he called. “Come in! Rainbow told me about Spitfire and the changelings. Sounds like you got out of there just in time.”

“Yes, sir,” she said. “I stayed in Cloudsdale long enough to grab a bite to eat, but not much longer, sir.”

Shining smiled. “You don't have to address me as a soldier.”

“But Rainbow Dash said all you military types were the same.”

“I wouldn't believe everything you hear from Rainbow Dash. Maybe we do have a stereotype. That doesn't mean there can't be exceptions.” Shining gestured toward a chair opposite his desk. “Please, have a seat.”

Starlight stepped up into the chair before settling into a sitting position. “Spitfire said Rainbow Dash called her out on her attempted execution of Lightning Dust, tried to pull rank on her, and cursed at her, all in her own office.” Shining frowned and raised a hoof to his chin. “I came to you myself because I wanted a third opinion.”

Shining thought a moment before replying. “First of all, Rainbow, Spitfire, and I are all equals. So Rainbow shouldn't have tried to pull rank.”

“But I thought Rainbow was a general.”

“She is. And Spitfire is Admiral of the Army Air Fleet. Besides that, we’re all three joint Chiefs-of-Staff. Spitfire and I are both captains, of the Wonderbolts and the Royal Guard respectively. Who told you Rainbow outranks Spitfire?”

“I heard it second-hoof from Spitfire’s account of Rainbow Dash in her office.”

“Sounds to me like Rainbow is picking and choosing titles to compare.”

“Well then why didn't Spitfire correct her on the spot? She insisted on using the title of Captain.”

“Then she was probably emphasizing jurisdiction. The Wonderbolts’ highest commanding officer is Spitfire. I can't give orders to the Army Air Fleet, Spitfire can't give orders to the Guard, Rainbow can't give orders to the Wonderbolts. That’s why we put together a plan of attack long before any battle begins.”

“So who was in the wrong?”

Shining Armor leaned forward. “What I’m about to tell you does not leave this office. Understood?” Starlight nodded. “Rainbow Dash can be—borderline obnoxious. She’s brash, bull-headed, and impatient. But she does have spirit, and she leads from the front, which inspires her troops and rallies them to her. Good kid, but rough around the edges. Spitfire is experienced and orderly, but often to a fault. She’s stubborn, and she doesn’t take criticism well.

“Spitfire was right to court-martial Lightning Dust,” he continued. “If Lightning Dust hadn't killed the Mayor, she probably could have gotten off with a lighter punishment. There are perfectly good times to invoke a firing squad; treason, for instance. While I see where Spitfire’s reasoning for the firing squad, I can’t condone her for going through with it. Rainbow Dash is just as bad in the opposite direction. She overstepped her jurisdiction and overrode Spitfire’s decision. She actually flew down and stopped the execution while it was in progress.”

“Then—they’re both in the wrong.”

“That’s what it looks like.”

Starlight hung her head for a moment, then raised it again and continued. “So what do we do now that Cloudsdale is being occupied by the changelings?”

“Rainbow and I have yet to put a plan together. She wants to leave as soon as possible. I think she went to go find Sweetie Drops.”

“Any idea when she’ll have a plan put together?”

“Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow at the meeting. Depends on how impatient she is. I'm worried she'll run off with a plan that's only half-formed.”

“Yup,” said Starlight. “Sounds like Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash rounded a corner in the command post. “Rainbow Dash!” somepony called out. She turned her head to see a Blue Changeling.

“There you are, Bon Bon!”

“I've been looking all over for you,” the pair said in unison. They exchanged troubled glances before Rainbow spoke up.

“I hope it's not more bad news.”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Great. Let's hear it.”

“I sent a few more agents to Cloudsdale when the Wonderbolts left base. One of them fell out of contact. Another brought back a report on the Wonderbolts. He said—”

“—the Wonderbolts are under attack by Green Changelings?”

Bon Bon looked at her quizzically. “Yeah. How’d you find out?”

“Somepony got a message out.”

“That might mean there’s somepony working from the inside. What’d the message say?”

“One big word. ‘Changelings.’ That’s it. Partial hoofprint in ink near the corner.”

Bon Bon raised a hoof to her chin and began pacing. “One word—a hoofprint—didn’t specify Green Changelings—Did they spill the ink?—They must have.” She stopped pacing. “The author was a Wonderbolt. They were in a hurry. Probably, their position was about to be compromised.”

“Wow. That’s a lot more information than I got out of it.”

Bon Bon smiled. “I guess it’s status quo for a special agent. Several ponies and changelings in the agency were even better than I was.”

“So, any ideas on what we’re gonna do next? Still open to suggestions.”

“Until we know what we’re up against, no. Have the Wonderbolts been captured? Replaced? Killed? Not as likely, but still possible. If so, how many?”

“Right. We can’t charge in weapons drawn if there’s Wonderbolts among the Green Changelings.”

“Well yes, there's that, but...”

“But what?”

“I wanted to try something. I want to try a war of conversion. Capture as many Greens as we can and see if we can’t convince them to join us.”

“Bon Bon, that’s—”

“Just hear me out,” she said as she lifted a hoof. “Every Green who falls on the battlefield counts as a kill. Every Green who becomes a Blue counts double, one against Chrysalis, and one for us.”

“True. But how do we know they won’t flip back? Or just fake it?”

“Remember how Applejack was acting when Chrysalis bit her?”

“Considering she killed Cheerilee and tried to kill Pinkie Pie, it’s kind of hard to forget.”

“Right. Sorry to bring that back up. Chrysalis controlled her two ways, both with a bite. The first one only influenced her will, not like the second, which dominated her will. A similar effect can be produced through a special changeling spell. If a changeling says ‘Long live,’ and then the name of a changeling monarch in Hive Tongue, that changes their base form to match that monarch.

“So saying bzzz-zt/ch-zz/ck tzz/chk would make a Green Changeling a Blue. Saying bzzz-zt/ch-zz/ck Chrysalis, which I’m obviously not going to say in Hive Tongue, would make me a Green Changeling.”

“Really? It’s that easy?”

“Yes, and no. We have to convince them that what we have is better than what Chrysalis has.”

Rainbow dropped her gaze for a moment. “I’ll think about it. But if it’s between saving my own life or saving a changeling, I’m not going to hold back.”

“I—guess that’s all I can ask of you. Don’t kill if you don’t have to.”

“I’ll try. One other thing. There’s gonna be another Council meeting tomorrow.”

“Same time?”

"Same time."

"See you there," she said with a smile and a wink.

Rainbow smiled back. As she turned to leave, she felt her ears flatten and her cheeks grow warm. She sighed contentedly as she trotted off down the hall.

Trixie opened the doors to the Hall of the Crystal Throne and entered. She walked along the red carpet towards the throne. She bowed at the foot of the throne and waited for Sombra to address her.

“Rise, Acolyte. I trust you come bearing the Alicorn Amulet.”

“Of course, my King.” Trixie stood up and levitated the amulet out of her saddlebags.

“Yes!” King Sombra accepted the amulet with his magic and drew it to his waiting hoof. He smiled before unclasping it and putting it on over his chestpiece. The amulet fused with his armor, and his robes looked as if the wind was blowing through them. By degrees, the room became darker around the King as he rose into the air. “It has been too long since I wielded both the amulet and the crown!” There was a sound as of thunder, and the whole room went pitch black. The room shook, and Trixie dropped to her knees. She lit her horn—not with Dark Magic—but the darkness swallowed up the light.

At last, the darkness began to dissipate, and Trixie raised her head. Her first sight of her king was enough to take her breath away; she found herself kneeling in the presence of an alicorn king.

Sombra looked down and smiled when he saw the expression frozen on her face. “Now you see why the Sisters feared me.”

“Y—yes, my King.” Trixie’s fear gave way to more tender emotions—wonder, reverence, admiration, and even lov—

“Why do you stare at me like that?”

Trixie caught herself and tried to force a more neutral expression onto her face. “Like what, your Highness?”

“Like you just were a moment ago.”

It’s now or never, she told herself. She gulped. “M—my King? I—I want you to know that—that—” Come on! Say it! She took a deep breath and promised herself she would say it. “I—really admire you!”

Darnit, Trixie! What the buck? Why didn't you say it!?

King Sombra sat up a little straighter on his throne. “Thank you… Trixie.” He smiled with a special sort of off-guard smile. It was a smile that spoke of genuine, sudden pleasure. “I will… remember this.” He nodded at her, which served as her cue to depart.

“Long live the King,” she said as she rose to leave. Her cheeks were burning up with heat, and she suspected they were red as cherries.

Trixie cursed herself all the way to the door.

Ch. 8: Letters Between Friends

Starlight got into bed, magically pulled the covers up to her shoulders, and levitated her journal off her nightstand. She flipped past the first few pages, which were filled her correspondence with Twilight, until she arrived at the last entry she had written. She flipped one more page and saw Twilight’s latest reply.

Dear Starlight Glimmer,

I’m impressed with your diplomatic progress so far. It’s unfortunate to hear that the Council is starting to fall apart. You can’t let that happen. It’s up to you to sort things out and make sure they all become not just allies, but friends.

Which brings me to my next point. I’ve said this before, but I want to see you working towards making some friends there in that world. I’d start with Sunburst, the other Starlight, the other Twilight, or maybe Rainbow Dash. Or, if that’s too weird since they’re all different versions of the ponies you already know, try befriending somepony you haven’t met in our world.

Good luck, Starlight! I’m proud of you, and I’m always happy to hear about your progress.

Your friend and mentor, Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Starlight shook her head. “The world’s in danger, and she wants me to make friends.” She levitated a quill, then her face lit up. “Wait a minute. I think I can make this work.” She dipped the quill into the inkwell and began to write.

Dear Princess Twilight,

Today, I went to Cloudsdale and visited Spitfire. I also talked with Shining Armor and a mare named Lightning Dust. To make a long story short, Spitfire tried to execute her for disregarding orders by making a tornado in Fillydelphia. Shining Armor seems to think that both Rainbow and Spitfire are in the wrong. I honestly don’t know what to think of this whole thing yet.

But anyways, back to Lightning Dust. We met on the air carriage—it’s a pegasus carriage service that runs from Manehattan to Cloudsdale—and we got to talking. We met in a diner later, and I can tell she really needs somepony to help her get back on her hooves. I offered to help her, and we exchanged contact information so we can keep in touch. I think I may have just made my first friend here, and I wasn’t even trying.

Starlight frowned and crossed that last line out. and I didn’t even mean to.

She stared at the page before her, then crossed out that line too. and it was completely on accident. She raised an eyebrow as she re-read the line, then moved on.

When you threw me out of my village, I felt so hurt, so betrayed. I had nowhere to go and nopony to turn to. I want to help Lightning because I see a lot of myself in her. I’m curious, though; for the sake of comparison, do you know what the Lightning Dust back home is like? Have you met her?

Your faithful student, Starlight Glimmer.

Starlight set the journal aside and turned off the lamp the bed. She pillowed her head and was soon fast asleep.

Starlight awoke to a droning, low-pitched hum. Her bed shifted underneath her, and she opened her eyes to see that it wasn't a bed at all, but a small cloud. She raised her head as her cloud continued tilting, eventually dumping her off. Instead of falling to her death, she slid onto the top of a blimp. She watched the cloud drift away as she sat on the blimp.

“Point of reference,” she said to herself. “The cloud probably isn't moving; I am. And I'm on a blimp. That means the blimp is moving.” She looked ahead and saw Cloudsdale afar off.

There was a hiss from behind her, and she turned to see a changeling practically on top of her. She shrieked as she shielded herself and fired a bolt of magic. The changeling seemed perfectly unaffected by the attack, and turned his head to one side. He buzzed and chittered with wings and voice to another changeling nearby, previously unseen. The second changeling chittered back, as did a third and a fourth, until Starlight lost track of how many there were. Green flames raced across the changelings’ bodies, and they took on the form of clouds. They completely covered the blimp with their disguise.

“What's going on? Why didn't they all attack me? Not that I'm complaining.” Starlight gasped. “Am I dreaming?” She thought a moment. “I was lying on a cloud without a cloudwalking spell, I fell onto a blimp, and I got surrounded by changelings that didn't attack me. Yeah, I'm probably dreaming.”

Starlight looked up at the moon. “Princess Luna, are you there?”

There was no response, only an indistinct whispering that pressed at her eardrums.

“Princess?”

More whisperings, and a weak magical presence, like the aura of a unicorn who was deathly ill.

Starlight bowed her head and laid her ears back. “You’re—fading.”

“Go,” the voice whispered. “Go—to—Clouds—dale.”

Starlight bowed. “I won’t fail you, Princess. Not again.”

Immediately, the world faded into darkness.

Starlight awoke to birds chirping outside her window. She rubbed her eyes, then sat up, stretched, and yawned. She lit her horn, levitated her journal off the nightstand, and opened it. Twilight's reply was already waiting for her.

Dear Starlight Glimmer,

The fact that you're not even trying to make friends is deeply concerning. (Just because you cross something out doesn't mean it won't send with the rest of the letter.) Starlight gulped. Friendship is the very force that drives our world. In every challenge I've faced, I've had my friends at my side. Look at what happened when a single member of the Council pulled her support. Each pony brings their own unique skill set to the table, whether they're an Element like Rainbow or Pinkie, or whether they have some other skill like Zecora’s knowledge or Shining Armor’s leadership. You must learn the value of friendship, and you must teach it to those other ponies.

I'm sorry, Starlight; this was a difficult choice to make, but I'm considering your actions to be remedial and recalling you to Ponyville effective immediately. “What?” Starlight blurted. “She—she can't do that! I'm fighting a war!” She continued reading. I look forward to seeing your next few friendship lessons completed under my direct supervision.

Your friend and mentor, Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Starlight sighed and fell backwards onto her pillow. Some days, she didn't even feel like getting out of bed. This was going to be one of those days.

Spitfire rounded the corner in the Academy and saw Thunderlane down the hall. She gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod as he drew near. He returned one nod with two. Spitfire chittered at him as she buzzed invisible wings, and Thunderlane replied in kind. The changeling mimicking Spitfire smiled as she walked towards a guarded door. The signal was repeated to the guard, and a similar exchange followed. The guard opened the door, and “Spitfire” entered.

Once on the other side, the changeling dropped his disguise. He was greeted by chittering and buzzing from three other changelings. He replied by producing a piece of paper with writing on it. He levitated it towards the other three while explaining it in Hive Speech, making gestures first towards the cocoons in the corner, then to the window. The other changelings buzzed and chittered excitedly while saluting.

One changeling trotted over to the window. He squinted, tilted his head, then produced a set of confused clicks and buzzes.

The first changeling approached, set an aura around the other changeling’s head, and pointed at a cloud outside the window. He then watched as the other changeling’s eyes shimmered, and a look of awe spread across his face. He spread his wings and raised a hoof, then made a single click with his voice. The first changeling smiled and nodded.

One of the changelings across the room chittered and clicked as he levitated a cocoon and pointed at it. The first changeling shook his head, then levitated the note as he started into Hive Speech again. One changeling glanced out at the sun, while the other two looked at a pocketwatch they had confiscated from one of the Wonderbolts. The first changeling clicked and buzzed some more as he made his way to the door. His subordinates chittered in response and saluted again, then he morphed back into Spitfire and left the room.

“So it looks like I'll be headed back home as soon as possible,” Starlight said with a sigh. From her vantage point at the corner of the table between Sunburst and Shining Armor, she looked around at the other ponies, expecting a mixed response.

“She sent you here for the sole purpose of helping us,” said Rainbow Dash. “She needs to make up her mind.”

“But unfortunately, the other Twilight is a Princess,” said Bon Bon, “so it's not like any of us can give her different orders.”

“Shining Armor,” Rainbow called, “you've got the most legitimate claim to Equestria’s throne. Tell Starlight she has to stay.”

“I'm not actually a prince, Rainbow. And besides, she already has prior orders.”

“Prior orders,” Starlight repeated. “That's it! Last night, Princess Luna spoke to me in a dream. She's at least the same rank as Twilight, and she told me to help save Cloudsdale before Twilight wrote in her journal.”

“Good thinking, Starlight,” said Rainbow. “You too, huh? I got a dream that Chrysalis is sending a blimp to reinforce her position in Cloudsdale.”

“That's a surprising move for her,” said Bon Bon. “Ever since she was defeated by the Crystal Empire out at Las Pegasus, Chrysalis has kept her forces close to Canterlot. The fact that they’re this far from their stronghold could mean they're adapting to the threat from Sombra faster than we thought.”

“What if she's acting so quickly because she sees this as an opportunity to divide us?” asked Starlight. “Princess Twilight is really stressing the fact that we all need to be unified.”

“I agree,” said Sunburst. “When I met you all—my Ponyville friends—the thing Princess Celestia emphasized the most was always friendship. I didn't always understand why. Sometimes, she had me prioritize friendship over saving the world—like when Nightmare Moon returned. I know not all of us see eye-to-eye with Spitfire, but we need to reach out to her as a friend first and an ally second.”

“Spitfire isn't interested in being friends,” Rainbow fired back.

“What if I had reached out to Trixie instead of showing her up and sending her off?” asked Sunburst. “Would we have lost so many troops at Fillydelphia?”

“What if Twilight had pursued me instead of letting me run away?” asked Starlight.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Just because Spitfire pulled her support doesn't mean she's going full-blown supervillain.”

“The fact of the matter,” Bon Bon interrupted, “is that Spitfire needs our help whether she admits it or not.”

“Exactly,” Rainbow agreed. “Her half-flanked plan failed like we all knew it would, and now we've got to go save her in her own Celestia-darned headquarters.”

“I’m just saying we need to welcome her back as a friend when this is all said and done,” said Sunburst.

“And I'm just saying it's a lost cause.”

“I refuse to believe that,” Starlight said as she stomped a hoof on the table. Rainbow’s gaze met Starlight’s glare, and the pair locked eyes for several seconds. Only when Shining Armor spoke up a moment later did Starlight turn her attention away.

“If we're through arguing, we have another topic to address. Who are we sending?”

“I’m going,” said Rainbow. “Luna said.”

“Same here,” said Starlight.

“I request that I go too,” said Bon Bon.

“You sure?” asked Rainbow. “I really don't like the idea of pitting changeling against changeling. What if you get caught in the crossfire?”

“Because I’m a changeling? Rainbow, that's as ridiculous as me saying you can't fight against the Crystal Empire because you're both ponies.”

“Chrysalis’s forces aren't wearing spiked armor and full helmets. In the heat of battle, it could be hard to distinguish Blue from Green.”

“The Green Changelings don't have blue eyes and light blue wings.”

“I just—don't want you hurt.”

Bon Bon lowered her tone. “That's noble, Rainbow, but this is war. Besides, I want to see if we can't recruit some of the Green Changelings to our side.”

“I’d gladly lead the pegasi of Ursa Company with my sister,” said Limestone.

“It might be a good idea to send up some unicorns, too,” said Shining Armor. “We're going to want the option of dropping behind cover, especially if we're trying to capture changelings instead of kill them.”

“We could send our unicorns, too,” added Pinkamena.

“Anypony else?” asked Rainbow. Nopony answered. “Well, it looks like that's that. We'll meet tomorrow after the mission. Everypony should be ready to leave by sunset. We'll arrive at Cloudsdale just as it starts to get dark. Dismissed.”

As the other ponies rose to leave, Starlight looked over at Sunburst, who was the only other pony already standing. “So, where are you headed?”

“I’ve got to get back to the workshop. Rainbow Dash asked to try out one of the—”

“Hey, Starlight,” Rainbow interrupted. “Got a moment?”

Starlight glanced at Sunburst, then back at Rainbow. “Uh, sure. What's up?”

“I want you to take Twilight here to the east end of the firing range. I'll be there in a bit.” She turned her head. “You ready, Sunburst?”

“Ready if you are.”

Twilight approached as Rainbow and Sunburst walked off. “So, it looks like we're headed out to the firing range,” said Twilight.

“Yeah. Looks like.”

“That sounds like fun.”

Twilight didn't say anything on the way out to the firing range. She didn't say anything once they got there either unless Starlight said something first. The silence from the stoic mare was unsettling. She felt like a blank slate with no personality of any sort. Starlight tried not to jump to conclusions—not judge a book by her cover—but Twilight seemed more like an encyclopedia than a novel, or for that matter, a character in one of them. When at last Rainbow appeared wearing an alchemic horn, Starlight could hardly have been happier.

“There you are! What are we doing out here?”

“Magic lessons,” she replied.

“But you know I can't do magic,” said Twilight. “Why—did you bring me here—for your lessons?” Magical energy arced from her horn. Starlight wondered where had that emotion been a moment ago.

“Because you need magic lessons too.”

“You think it's that easy?” she asked, taking a step forward. “You think I didn't try that already?” Her horn formed a white aura and her body lifted off the ground. “Three magic schools, two magic teachers, and my brother are all casualties of my—” She began hyperventilating. “Must—not—feel. Internalize it—” She closed her eyes and tucked her legs in. She floated down to the ground, and a white aura formed around her body. Soon she began shivering violently and sweating, and her breathing sped up once again.

Starlight approached and placed a hoof on her shoulder. Her horn soon glowed with a cyan aura. “Twilight, look at me.”

“The last time I tried looking at somepony while having one of these fits, I shot them in the face.”

“It won't happen again. Just look at me.” She rolled Twilight onto her back, but the mare’s eyes remained closed. “Twilight, I'm casting a spell, and I need your eye contact.”

It took a moment, but Twilight’s eyes slowly opened. Within seconds, the aura around Twilight's horn and body began to fade. Twilight rolled onto her side and continued shivering.

“There. Your magic should now be stable enough to use safely.”

“Do you feel any better?” asked Rainbow.

“I feel—cold,” she whispered. “And—fatigued.”

“You're still recovering from your own magic,” said Starlight. “Those aren't side effects of the spell, at least not as far as I know.” Twilight gave off another shudder. “Give it a moment. Your magic hasn't been properly balanced since you were a filly.”

“While we wait, I guess I could explain what we're doing,” said Rainbow. “First, I need weapons training with an alchemic horn. Second, Twilight obviously has a lot of magic potential, seeing as she's the Element of Magic in an alternate universe. Lastly, we also need to test how difficult it is to wield an alchemic horn. No use green-lighting a weapon that takes a year to learn.”

“Well, I guess that depends on how you want to use it,” Starlight said as Twilight moaned and rolled over onto her belly.

“Ideally, we’d be using it as standard equipment. Chrysalis can field soldiers with skill sets as diverse as alicorns. They can fly, they can raise shields, they can levitate objects in their environment, and they can fire magic; if we had troops that could match them, we could be their equals in terms of power. It would also give us an advantage over Sombra’s forces.”

“If you're waiting for me,” said Twilight, “you can go ahead and start.” She was now lying with her head raised.

“You sure?” asked Starlight.

“Yeah,” Twilight said as she rose to her hooves. “I’m fine.”

“Perfect. Let's get started,” said Rainbow.

“What did you have in mind?” asked Starlight.

“Let's try shields.”

“Shields. Good choice. First, I want you to feel shielded.”

Rainbow cocked her head. “What?”

“I’m supposed to—feel?”

“A unicorn's power is directly proportional to her emotions,” Starlight explained.

“Or exponentially proportional in my case,” said Twilight.

“We fixed that. You should be fine now.” Twilight dropped her gaze and stared at the ground. “Are you ready to give it try?”

“I guess.”

“Sure.”

“Great! Emotions are the first half; willpower is the second. The two are similar and closely related, but willpower is used for skill, not power. Imagine the type of shield you want to create; see it; feel it. Call upon emotions that make you feel protected in order to pull together enough power, then use your willpower to put that power to work by making a shield.”

Rainbow closed her eyes, while Twilight took a tentative step backwards. Rainbow flared out her wings and threw her head high as a magenta aura formed around her alchemic horn. Twilight watched Rainbow with ears laid against her head.

“Doing great, Rainbow! Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“What’s going on?”

Twilight bit her lip. “I—I can’t.”

“Yes you can, Twilight. I know you can.”

“My magic has only ever hurt ponies.”

“It won't anymore.”

With a grunt and a forwards flap of her wings, Rainbow projected a magenta dome around herself. “Heh. I did it.”

Starlight raised a hoof and leaned forward. “That’s amazing!” A sly smile crept onto her face. “Do you—mind if I test how strong it is?”

“How do you do that?”

“By firing at it.” Rainbow was visibly taken aback. “I won’t hit you. I’ll aim high.”

Rainbow turned to face Starlight. “Ok.” She lowered her stance and raised her wings.

Starlight charged her horn and fired a single burst of magic. Rainbow grunted, and her shield shattered with hardly any resistance. She folded her wings as she returned to a normal standing posture. “What happened?”

“You did great. Creating a shield on your first try is more than most unicorns can do. Just because it broke doesn’t mean you failed.

“You just cast a spell called Defendere,” she continued.

“De-fend air-ray?”

“Yeah. It’s Pony Latin. It predates even Old Ponish. All pre-classical spells have a Pony Latin name. Some from later eras don’t; Star Swirl was notorious for flipping between the two, sometimes even in the same text.”

“Why does the spell have a name if I don’t have to know it in order to cast it?”

“It’s mostly so we can codify and organize them. Have you ever tried using a spellbook that doesn’t list all the spells in the same language? It’s horrible. Nothing is where you expect it to be. You look up the Old Ponish name, only to find out it's listed under its Pony Latin name. Make that mistake twenty times during the same sitting, and it'll drive you up the wall. Some spells are more commonly known by their Ponish name like the Want It, Need It spell. Thankfully, later unicorns reclassified it as Vis Necessaria.

“Defendere is the easiest and most basic shield spell. There’s a whole lot you can do with it since it’s so fundamental. You can create exemptions for your allies or weapons to pass through, increase the size, make it a deflection or absorption shield instead, make it a partial or shaped shield, flare your shield outward as a weapon, all kinds of fun stuff.”

“Do they get stronger?”

“That comes with practice. You need to be in touch with your emotions and your will. Envision your aura as a fluid that flows through you. The part of your aura that appears around your horn is just that—a part of your aura. The rest of it resides within you. Through introspection, you can strengthen your connection to your aura, which leads to a strengthening of your magic.”

Rainbow glanced to the side, then did a double take. She looked to her other side, then back to Starlight. “Uh, where’s Twilight?”

Starlight looked all around. Twilight was gone. “I don’t know.” She laid her ears against her head. “Do you think she’s ok?”

“I don’t know. I thought this would help, but…” Rainbow shook her head. “She’s not the one going to Cloudsdale tonight. Let’s get in some more practice.”

“Well—ok,” Starlight said.

Starlight’s words still rang in Twilight's ears. Creating a shield on your first try is more than most unicorns can do. It didn't matter that the pillow and covers were over her head; she couldn't unhear those words.

She’d long since lost track of time by the time somepony knocked on her door. “Twilight?” called a muffled female voice. It was Starlight.

I’m asleep, Twilight told herself.

“Twilight, are you there?” she asked as she knocked again.

No. I’m asleep.

Before long, Twilight heard hoofsteps—her indication that Starlight was departing. Twilight drew a quivering breath and rolled over to face the wall.

Twilight knew she couldn’t hide from her forever. Starlight knew that she lived on the base with her brother, and besides that, she’d be at all the Council meetings with her. But right now, Twilight needed just enough time to fall asleep. If she could stay in her room just that long, she would be fine.

Starlight approached the house she had taken to calling home. She knew this house well from the time she’d spent under house arrest, but it now had a second occupant—the other Starlight.

Starlight opened the door and found Starlight sitting in a chair in the living room, reading a book. “Hey, Starlight,” she called from the chair. “We got mail. I think it’s for you. I left it on the dining room table.”

“How do you know?” Starlight called over her shoulder as she trotted into the next room. “It’s got both our names on it.”

“Yeah, about that… I’ve decided it would make everything simpler if I just changed my name.”

Starlight returned with the envelope in her magic. The other Starlight had stuck a bookmark in her book and set it on the end table between her chair and the couch. “I—I don’t know. I don’t feel right about coming into your world and making you change your name. I’ll change my name and let you keep yours.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I’ll just go by a different name. Something like… Time—Skipper.”

Starlight raised an eyebrow. “Time Skipper?”

“Yeah,” Starlight replied nervously. “Is—that too weird?”

“I thought you went back in time, not skipped ahead.”

“Well, yes. But it would be ‘skip’ as in ‘skipping rocks.’ I’m skipping across time like a rock across a lake.”

Starlight put a hoof to her chin as she gazed upward for a moment. “I kind of like it,” she said with a smile.

“Great! Now we have to figure out which of us this letter is addressed to.”

“It’s from Cloudsdale. I don’t know anypony there. Do you?”

“Cloudsdale?” Time Skipper asked aloud. For the first time since she’d picked up the letter, she looked at the return address. Confused, she walked over to the couch, opened the letter, and began reading.

Dear Starlight Glimmer,

I wanted to say thanks for following up with me at lunch. I’m writing this letter on the air carriage, and I’m going to slip it in with the Manehattan mail as soon as I get back to the post office. Tomorrow, as of when I’m writing this letter, I’m going to go see what’s going on with the Wonderbolts.

“Tomorrow,” Time Skipper muttered. “That’s today! That’s the same time we’ll be in Cloudsdale!”

I hope that by helping the Wonderbolts, I’ll start to make up for my mistakes. I’m not sure how much damage I’ll be able to do alone, but I’m going to try. I’ve still got friends in the ‘Bolts; I won’t let them get captured by the changelings.

Your friend, Lightning Dust.

“No! Lighting Dust!” she moaned. “What are you doing?”

“Who’s Lightning Dust?” asked Starlight.

“No time to explain. I have to get back to base now!”

Ch. 9: Into the Clouds

“There you are!” said Rainbow Dash as Time Skipper approached her and Bon Bon. “I was about to send somepony to go get you.”

“Sorry. I didn't think stopping by my place would take that long. But it's a good thing I did,” she said as she levitated Lightning’s letter out of her saddlebags.

The aura around the paper shifted from cyan to royal blue as Bon Bon held it up for the two of them to read. It wasn't long before she raised a hoof to her face, while Rainbow Dash groaned and rolled her eyes.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Rainbow Dash.

“I wish I were,” said Time.

Bon Bon shook her head. “I hope she stays out of our way. This is a delicate operation, and one major incident could spell disaster for all of us.”

Limestone Pie approached and saluted. “Ursa Company’s unicorns and pegasi are ready, General.”

“Good. Start pairing up unicorns with pegasi. We’ll head up as soon as we can.”

“Yes, ma’am,” she said before walking over to her sister.

“So, how do you plan on converting the Green Changelings into Blue Changelings?” asked Time Skipper.

“Using changeling magic.”

“No, I mean, what makes you think they’ll be ready to listen and give it a try?”

“Changelings live off of love. I’ve been living off of Rainbow Dash for the past few months, and off of Lyra for years before that. Once we get them subjugated, Rainbow and I will present them with their choice.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you,” she said with a smile.

“And if they don’t accept?”

“If they still support the Queen, they’ll become prisoners of war. We’ll put them in cocoons and bring them back with us after the operation is over.”

Pinkamena walked up to them and saluted. “Ursa Company is ready to move.”

“Well, no use waiting around,” said Rainbow as she adjusted her alchemic horn. “Let’s go.”

Rainbow flew over a cloudbank, Time Skipper on her right and Bon Bon on her left. The trio landed atop the Wonderbolt Academy’s largest building. Rainbow trotted over to the door and motioned for the others to follow. She dropped down on top of one Wonderbolt, and Bon Bon dropped onto the second one. Both applied paint to their target, and both were revealed to be changelings. Time threw up a shield around the five of them. “Shield of silence. They can’t hear us outside.”

Bon Bon flipped her Green Changeling onto his back and drove her knee into his gut. The changeling grunted and went limp. She then began using her magic to envelop him in a translucent blue cocoon. Rainbow’s changeling struggled beneath her, so she repeated Bon Bon’s maneuver. Once Bon Bon had finished, Rainbow passed off her changeling.

As she finished with the second changeling, some of Ursa Company arrived. Each pegasus carried a unicorn, save one, who carried a pink earth pony with straight pink hair and three slash marks across her face. “Major Pinkamena Pie reporting for duty. Beta Team is yours to command, General,” she said as she was lowered onto the cloud.

“Alright. In we go,” said Rainbow. Bon Bon motioned for two unicorns to retrieve the two cocoons. Pinkamena positioned herself to buck the door open.

“Wait.” Time approached the door and stuck her horn into the lock. “This will be quieter.” Her horn glowed briefly, then the door clicked. “We’re in,” she announced.

Rainbow pulled the door, and sure enough, it opened. “How’d you—” she trailed off.

“Lockpicking spell.”

She nodded approvingly. “Not bad.”

“Just don’t use it on base,” said Bon Bon.

“Yeah, what she said.”

“I can behave myself,” Time said defensively.

The group entered and began making their way down the hall. Time lit her horn, and Bon Bon did the same. Rainbow blinked and raised her right wing, setting an aura on her alchemic horn. A moment later, she magically unsheathed her sword and moved it to a defensive position in front of her, all without touching it. She smiled slyly at her new magic.

The soldiers rounded a corner and saw a Wonderbolt guard standing in front of a door. When he saw their group, he gave them a panicked look. He raised his hoof to knock on the door, but his hoof was enveloped in a cyan aura. He inhaled to speak, but his mouth was held shut by a blue aura.

When he drew his crossbow, Rainbow sprang into action. She raised her other wing, and the crossbow began to glow with a magenta aura. She extended her wing more fully, and the crossbow jerked off to one side. She pulled her wing backwards, and the crossbow flew out of the pony’s grip towards her.

Time teleported beside him and applied paint. His armor and coat reverted to black chitin as he was forcibly shapeshifted before their eyes. Bon Bon approached, magically dragged him away from the doorway, and began creating a cocoon.

Rainbow took the crossbow by the strap and slung it across her shoulder. She pointed to Time Skipper, then to the door. She made a circular motion with her hoof, and the rest of the soldiers took up defensive positions, three of each race on either side of the door.

Rainbow nodded at two ponies on either side of her. They came into the middle of their area and took up positions beside her. Rainbow drew a descending arc through the air with her hoof, and the unicorns lit their horns. She looked back at Time and nodded. Time leaned towards the door, lowered her horn to the keyhole, and picked the lock. She stepped out of the way and looked over at Rainbow when she was finished. Rainbow set an aura on the doorknob, twisted it, and threw the door open.

The unicorns raised shields and charged in. “Hostiles, right!”

“One in the corner!”

As the the two pegasi entered, Rainbow heard spells discharging. She was the fifth one into the room, and already one changeling was down. A unicorn magically detained a second, and a pegasus physically struck a changeling who closed to melee range. The fourth changeling shielded himself into the corner of the room. Bon Bon, who had entered behind Rainbow, put a shield around the Green Changeling’s shield, effectively trapping him.

“What’ve we got?” asked Bon Bon.

“Three captured, one down. Unconscious, I think.”

Rainbow watched Bon Bon survey the room. The room contained four of green cocoons in one corner, a rack of glassware along the wall with the door, and a window opposite it. Behind them was a second rack of glassware, this one holding containers full of a bright pink liquid. Upon seeing these, Bon Bon expressed disgust.

“Keep the other two detained,” she said to the unicorns. Each soldier formed a shield around one of the changelings. “You two, go get the cocoons in the hall,” she instructed the pegasi. They left and returned with the three blue cocoons, which they placed in the corner with the green ones.

“I need all nonessential ponies outside,” she said as she glanced at the pegasi. They departed again, leaving only the two unicorns, Rainbow, and Bon Bon.

Bon Bon turned her attention to the changelings. “If I were more like Chrysalis, you'd be dead by now.” One of changelings buzzed his wings. “You're lucky I'm not,” she snapped back. “You see, Queen Chrysalis is wrong,” she said as she walked over to the rack of filled containers. “This is not love. These rations you extract from ponies, this ‘liquid love,’ it's not true love,” she said as she levitated a vial off the shelf and rolled it over in her magic. “True love isn't something you can steal. True love is given. You don't need these any longer.” She removed the stopper and dumped the contents onto the floor. The changelings hissed and pressed against their shields.

“It's not your fault. You've never been given any other choice. What if I told you that you could get more love by befriending ponies?” she asked as she walked into the middle of the room. “What if I told you that Rainbow Dash has sustained me for the past few months?” she said as she levitated her canteen from her saddlebags and washed the paint off her hoof. Rainbow watched as she turned to face her. “Would you believe me if I told you that changelings and ponies—can love?”

Did she just say ’love’? Rainbow asked. Before she could react, Bon Bon morphed into a cream-colored earth pony, leaned in, and kissed her.

“Mmm!” she exclaimed in reaction to the surprise kiss. She glanced around the room to see several surprised changelings and a pair of even more surprised ponies. She looked at Bon Bon. Her eyes were closed, and she certainly wasn't holding anything back. She stepped forward with two legs, and raised a third to cradle the back of Rainbow's head with a hoof.

Bon Bon’s lips worked Rainbow's until her initial surprise wore off. Rainbow raised a hoof to Bon Bon’s foreleg and began kissing her back. As she did, she noticed that they began to glow with a faint blue aura. She felt her cheeks flush as she moaned and very slowly blinked. The sword she had been levitating clattered against the ground. She didn't even care. This moment was worth it.

When the pair ended their kiss, Bon Bon pressed her forehead against Rainbow's. “Thanks for the demonstration,” she said with a wink.

“Any time,” Rainbow said with a smile as she raised a hoof to Bon Bon’s face.

Bon Bon mirrored Rainbow’s smile as she returned her hoof to the ground. “That is love,” she announced. “Did you feel it?”

“That didn’t feel anything like what we’ve been taking from these ponies,” said the changeling in the corner.

A second changeling chittered and buzzed at him, and the other changeling dropped his head and ears. Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “I speak Hive Tongue, so it doesn’t really matter that your superiors told you to stop speaking in Ponish around ponies.” She turned her attention back to the changeling in the corner. “True love can’t be forced. Rainbow volunteered her love. Just like pony food comes in a wide variety, so does love. Everything from comradery to friendship to romance.”

“You mean you changelings have never had a friend?” asked one of the unicorns.

“I—I guess not,” said the first changeling.

The unicorn stallion approached. “Do you want to be friends?”

“See?” said Bon Bon. “You’ve already got a pony ready to be your friend. All you have to do is renounce Chrysalis.”

The changelings gasped. “You mean…”

Bon Bon morphed back into her changeling form. “bzzz-zt/ch-zz/ck tzz/chk.”

“That’s treason!” shouted the changeling in the corner.

“Chrysalis killed a king, a changeling prince, a changeling princess, and three Equestrian princesses. I’m not the treasonous one.

“Chrysalis will turn her back on each of you if you choose friendship and love over her rule. She relies on keeping you in a state of near-starvation so she can use you to conquer other kingdoms,” she said, gesturing to the rack of liquid love. “If every Green Changeling knew how much love is freely given in Equestria, Chrysalis wouldn’t have a single subject.”

“bzzz-zt/ch-zz/ck tzz/chk!” said the first changeling. A second changeling followed shortly after. One at a time, each of the changelings was enveloped in ethereal, sky-blue tendrils which quickly formed a chrysalis around each of them. A few moments later, the changelings emerged from their chrysalises not as Green Changelings, but as Blue. Bon Bon smiled and leaned forward as she buzzed her wings.

“What about you?” the unicorn asked the three changelings in the cocoons. Two were still unconscious and didn’t respond, but the third pressed his hooves up against the wall.

“Put a shield around him,” Bon Bon instructed. “Cocoons are filled with sedatives meant for use against a wide variety of species. If he’s going to use his magic, we’ll have to get him out of there.” The unicorn raised a shield, and Bon Bon used her magic to split the cocoon open. The changeling experimentally buzzed his wings, flinging goop onto the inside of the shield. He spoke Bon Bon’s phrase, and it wasn't long before he also was a Blue Changeling.

That left one conscious changeling. Bon Bon approached him, but he chittered at her in Hive Speech. Bon Bon growled and replied in kind. Her ears folded back as she rose into the air. She lit her horn and levitated the changeling, then nodded at the unicorn holding the shield. He lowered the shield, and Bon Bon sent the changeling hurtling towards her. She kicked with a hind leg, connecting just beneath his girdle chitin. He grunted and fell to the ground before tucking in his legs.

“Lower the other shields.” The unicorns acted on her orders, and the three new Blue Changelings were freed. “Put this one in the open cocoon,” Bon Bon instructed as she pointed to the Green Changeling.

“Yes, ma’am!” said the new Blue Changelings.

One changeling turned back after a couple of steps. “What about the Wonderbolts?”

“What about them?” asked Rainbow.

“Should we get them out of their cocoons?”

Rainbow gave the original green cocoons in the corner a more detailed inspection. There were ponies inside. “Yes,” she said, “Get them out.”

“Where are the rest?” asked Bon Bon.

“They’ve already been taken to the blimp,” replied a changeling.

“Horsefeathers,” Bon Bon cursed. “We’ll have to sneak aboard.” She raised a hoof to her chin as she eyed the cocoons. “Try not to damage the green cocoons too badly. We may be able to use them to sneak aboard.”

“Where’s Spitfire?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“She’s the leader, isn’t she?” asked one of the Blue Changelings.

“I think we actually missed that one when we were putting them in cocoons,” said another Blue Changeling as he lifted the top off of a cocoon and helped a pegasus out of it.

“Heh. ‘That one’,” Rainbow repeated.

“I can show you where she is.”

“How about you tell us instead,” Rainbow said. Bon Bon turned her head just enough to look at Rainbow out of the side of her eye.

“You don’t trust them, do you?”

“They were Green Changelings two minutes ago.”

“They are bound by their choice.”

“Bound—by their choice? Those things are opposites. What if their next choice binds them to somepo—someone else?”

“Chrysalis would have to re-convince them that what she’s got is better than what you gave me just now.”

Rainbow cocked her head. “They’re one decision away from siding with the enemy!”

“Aren’t we all?”

Rainbow opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as she thought over Bon Bon’s words. “Ye—Well—That’s—” Rainbow lowered her head and squinted as she tried to make sense of the situation.

Bon Bon smiled as she crossed the room towards the green cocoons. “I know. It’s complicated. It involves free will and magic incantations and a little bit of mind influence, but basically it’s a major choice that subconsciously influences a bunch of other choices.”

“Can changelings ever lose their ability to choose?”

“The more times a changeling flips sides, the harder it is to flip again. In order to override the previous alignment, the incantation has to be stronger each time. You should see if Applejack’s willing to talk about her experiences. Chrysalis had to bite her twice. Once was enough to influence, twice was enough to dominate.”

“But break the horn, and it all goes.”

“That’s—a less than preferable way to do break the alignment spell, but it is one way.”

By now, all four green cocoons were empty. Rainbow recognized Fleetfoot and Misty Fly, but didn’t recognize the pink mare or the pale green mare. “We’ll need to get these four to the armory, then we’ll need to go get Spit—”

A unicorn outside fired a blast of magic. “We’ve got something!” he shouted.

Rainbow and Bon Bon exchanged glances. “You three, stay here for now,” Bon Bon instructed the changelings. “Watch the prisoners.”

“What about Spitfire?” asked one of the changelings.

“Fine. The other two of you, watch the prisoners.”

“Are you going to be our commanding officer, General?” asked Fleetfoot.

“Until we find Spitfire, yes.” It was nice to know some of the Wonderbolts still recognized her title.

Fleetfoot snapped to attention. “Second Lieutenants Fleetfoot and Misty Fly, Private First Class Vapor Trail, and Private Clear Skies reporting for duty.”

“Alright,” Rainbow called, “everypony out into the hall.”

Time Skipper was standing by the door when a pair of pegasi exited the room and retrieved the blue cocoons. She thought she recognized one of them. She could see that the mare had a navy coat and white hair, but her cutie mark was hidden beneath her uniform. She made eye contact with Time as she walked past, then quickly looked away. Was that— she asked before mentally trailing off.

The pegasi came back out of the room a moment later, and Time approached the navy mare as she took her place behind one of the unicorns. “Hey,” she began in a low voice. “Sorry. I have to ask. Are you—Night Glider?”

The mare turned her head to face her. “Yes, ma’am. What are you doing up here, ma’am?” There was on her face that suggested she was trying to repress her emotions.

“Oh, I’m just a civilian. You don’t have to call me ‘ma’am’,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hoof. “I’m here because Princess Luna told me in a dream to help the Wonderbolts.”

Night narrowed her eyes. “You know she’s been dead for almost a year, right?”

“She knew how to survive without a body from when she was Nightmare Moon. She even has limited abilities to communicate.” Time looked away. “But I’m afraid her communication with us is just about over. She’s getting weaker each time she uses her abilities.” She looked back at Night Glider to see that the mare was looking off into the distance. “I hope I’m not boring you.”

“No, no. It’s just—you’re the other Starlight Glimmer, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. There’s two of us now. I’m the one from the other world. I’m going by Time Skipper now so ponies can tell us apart.”

“You know the other me back home?”

“Yeah. How’d you end up in Ursa Company?”

“There was—an opening, if you know what I mean.”

Time lowered her head and nodded her understanding. “Where’s everypony else from the village?”

“Most are civilians living in the refugee sector. Double Diamond volunteered and got put on the northern border. Party Favor is—somewhere,” she said as she looked around. “Must be in the room.”

“You got into Ursa Company together?”

“Yes, ma’am,” she replied with a smile. “Sorry about the ‘ma’am.’ It’s the first habit they teach in basic.”

Time Skipper smiled. “It’s fine. You don’t have to apologize.”

A moment of silence passed before Night spoke up again. “Where’s the other Starlight?”

“She’s staying with me. We live just off base. When I first got here, they thought I was a changeling, so they put me under house arrest. I’ve been living there ever since.”

Before Night could reply, a unicorn fired a blast of magic down the hall. “We’ve got something!”

The two unicorns on that side of the door raised shields as the three pegasi drew their crossbows.

“Don’t shoot!” called a female voice from down the hall.

Time’s ears pricked. “Show yourself!” she ordered. After a tense moment of waiting, a teal mare with gold hair stepped around the corner. Time Skipper eyes widened, then she set her jaw. “Lightning Dust.”

The mare laid her ears against her head. “So… you were expecting me.”

Time trotted toward her, but one of the unicorns put his hoof on her chest. She leaned back and returned her hooves to the ground, then put a shield around the figure in front of them. The unicorn lowered his hoof to the ground, and Time approached Lightning Dust as she pulled a jar of paint out of her saddlebags. She levitated a blob of paint out and passed it through the shield. She smeared a streak under each of Lightning’s eyes, then returned the excess to the jar. Nothing happened.

“Guess you got my letter.”

“Lightning, what are you doing here?” Time asked.

“Mind if I ask you the same thing?”

Time rolled her eyes as she pulled her paint back out and painted her own face. “We’re trying to free the Wonderbolts—” she started to glow, but she ignored it, “—from Chrysalis. What are you doing?”

“Same thing. I’ve taken out two bugs already. Any idea where the Wonderbolts are being held?”

“Lightning, you’re—”

“—trespassing on a military installation,” Rainbow interrupted.

“I was going to say, ‘a civilian,’ but that works too.”

“And what are you?” Lightning asked Time.

“Well, I—” Time paused, looked Lightning square in the eyes, and continued. “I’m the student of Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

Bon Bon approached and stood between Rainbow and Time. “Lightning Dust, you’re threatening to compromise the stealth of this mission.”

Lightning laid her ears against her head. “I didn’t know you were coming so soon. I thought—” a look of confusion spread across her face. “Rainbow Dash? Why did you come to rescue Spitfire’s soldiers?”

“I know Spitfire and I don’t agree on everything. Obviously. For instance, disciplinary ac—Why are you trying to rescue Spitfire?”

“Because she's fighting the chang—” her eyes darted over to Bon Bon, “—the Queen.”

“You're not a soldier anymore,” Rainbow countered.

“I want to help,” Lightning said as she laid her ears against her head. “I want to be part of this fight.”

Starlight approached Lightning Dust in the shield. “Why would you try to rescue the mare who tried to execute you?”

Lightning sighed. “I know Spitfire can be harsh, but the Wonderbolts’ days as aerobats are over. We're—They’re—soldiers now. It's their job to kill. If you mess up an aerobatic stunt, you get chewed out after the show. If you mess up on the battlefield, ponies die. Am I happy Spitfire almost executed me? Course not. But—I understand why she would,” she said as she hung her head. “She needed somepony to make an example of, and I was the half-feathered foal who made that horse-feathered tornado.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Spitfire’s got you whipped.”

“No she—Maybe—I don't know. It doesn’t matter. Somepony died because I bucked up.”

“What are we going to do with her?” asked Bon Bon. “We can’t have her running around while the operation is underway.”

“Lightning Dust, if I take this shield down, do I have your word that you’ll stay with me?” asked Time Skipper.

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

“See? Problem solved.” Time lowered her shield and Lightning stood next to her.

“You keep your eyes on her,” Rainbow ordered. “She’s a loose bucking cannon.”

Lightning’s ears flattened as though she was genuinely hurt by the accusation.

“She just—does things a little differently,” Time said. “I know what that’s like.”

Rainbow snorted as she walked on, four Wonderbolts and two Blue Changelings behind her, only one of which had shiny wings. “You two stay in the room. Bon Bon and I are headed to the armory to get these ‘Bolts their gear back.”

Time and Lightning turned towards the room. “Thanks,” Lightning said just above a whisper. “For believing in me. For giving me a second chance.”

“Don’t mention it,” she replied with a wink.

A Blue Changeling opened the door to Spitfire’s quarters before ushering in Rainbow Dash, Bon Bon, and the three Wonderbolts. “I don’t see her,” Bon Bon said.

“She’s inside the locker,” announced the Blue Changeling.

Rainbow stifled a chuckle.

Bon Bon glared at her. “You think this is funny?”

“Yeah,” she replied. Bon Bon’s lowered her eyebrows a little further. “I mean, a little.”

“So,” said Fleetfoot, “anypony know the Captain’s combination?”

“I was going to ask you,” said Bon Bon.

Rainbow approached the locker, turned her back to it, and raised her metal leg. “This’ll do the trick.”

“Rainbow, no!” Bon Bon called.

“Do you want this thing open or not?”

“You’ll buck the door inward. Into Spitfire.”

“A few scratches never hurt anypony too bad,” she said with a smirk.

Bon Bon shook her head. “You’re enjoying this far too much,” she said as she approached the locker.

“Buck yeah I am!”

Bon Bon squinted at the door as she examined it closely. She lit her horn, and the locker creaked and rattled. Then, there was a noise inside the locker, like small metal objects hitting a sheet of metal. A few moments later, the door fell off, hinges and all.

Spitfire squinted and squirmed about inside the locker. “Hold on. She’s stuck,” said Bon Bon.

Rainbow could barely hold back her laughter. Bon Bon lit her horn and set an aura around Spitfire. “They stuck her to the back of the locker. And they sealed her mouth.” Bon Bon pulled Spitfire, but she barely moved. She extended her aura to include the sticky substance behind her, and pulled Spitfire out of the locker. Almost immediately after being pulled free, Spitfire crossed her hind legs. She looked as if she was in pain.

Bon Bon set Spitfire down and set to work on removing the goo over her mouth.

“Captain, are you alright?” Fleetfoot asked.

Bon Bon had hardly gotten Spitfire’s mouth free before she spoke up. “Get me to the nearest restroom, ASAP.”

“Y—Yes, ma’am,” she replied as her eyes darted off to either side for a moment. She and Clear Skies approached on either side of her and put a wing around her withers.

Rainbow put a hoof over her mouth and turned her head aside as she fought against the urge to laugh.

“Rainbow…” Bon Bon said.

“I’m sorry! I can’t help it. She—She—”

Spitfire’s ears had been laid against her head since she’d been freed from the locker. She squinted one eye open to look up at Rainbow as she hobbled towards the door on three legs. Her face was a deep red. Even the Wonderbolts helping her were starting to blush. The trio made it to the door, followed by Vapor Trail and the Blue Changeling.

Rainbow stepped forward to follow, but Bon Bon stepped between her and the door. She didn’t even need to say anything; Rainbow knew exactly what the gesture meant. She turned and faced away from the door. She took a few deep breaths, then turned back around. After one look at Bon Bon’s face, Rainbow lost it. The fit of laughter caught her completely off guard. By the time she got her laughter back under control, she had let out a string of bellowing laughs. She collapsed onto a nearby chair, leaning on it for support.

Bon Bon shut the door and approached her. “Are you trying to get us caught? Have you forgotten that we’re on a covert operation?”

“I—I’m sorry! I—I can’t—” she tried to force a laugh back into her throat, which produced an obnoxious, honking laugh instead.

“Rainbow, you are going to get us caught and killed! Do you have any idea what Chrysalis will do to me if I get caught?”

“I’m sorry,” she said between gasps. “I’m sorry, Bon Bon, I—” Bon Bon turned her back towards her and walked a short distance. “Hey, I’m sorry,” Rainbow said in a softer tone, finally managing to collect herself. She rose to her hooves and approached her. “Bon Bon… I’m sorry.” She stood beside her and wrapped her in a wing. “I’m sorry. She was just—Oh, my gosh. It made my stomach hurt.”

Bon Bon sighed and looked over at Rainbow. “Please don’t do that again.”

“I—” she chuckled once involuntarily, “I’ll try. No promises, but I’ll try.”

“Rainbow Dash,” she cooed as she rubbed the temple of her head against Rainbow’s chin, “please do more than try.”

Rainbow’s heart sank. “I’m sorry. Gosh, wha—It was just—I’m sorry.”

“We’re trying to get Spitfire back on board, not push her further away. I’m not the one you need to apologize to.” Bon Bon brushed Rainbow’s wing aside and headed for the door.

Rainbow hung her head. She felt sick to her stomach, and this time, it wasn’t from too much laughing.

Under cover of darkness, four Green Changelings carried four green cocoons towards a cloud formation. It wasn’t really a cloud formation, but rather a blimp disguised to look like a cloud. It was at an elevation above any of the Wonderbolt complex or the city of Cloudsdale, so the topdeck was still undisguised.

Bon Bon, disguised as a Green Changeling, didn’t see the actual balloon. She looked up to see a cloud that looked vaguely like a hoofball. Looks like that’s the balloon.

The four changelings landed on the deck, and approached the hatch that opened to the deck below. As they did, two nearby barrels morphed into Green Changelings—real Green Changelings. Bon Bon was in the back; she was imitating a changeling. The other three were the correct changeling; they were just Blue Changelings now.

The changelings ahead of her bluffed their way past the guards, who opened the hatch before morphing back into barrels. Once below deck, Bon Bon closed the hatch and followed the others to an aft compartment of the airship. They passed a guard on either side of the door and entered a room which contained more cocoons than she cared to count. They were neatly stacked all along the walls, as high as the ceiling would allow.

In accordance with the plan, the first changeling dropped his cocoon and exclaimed in Hive Tongue, “They are getting out of cocoons! Come in and help!” The guards rushed in, and Bon Bon shut the door behind them. The four changelings neutralized the two quickly and quietly. Bon Bon coated the door frame in a blue-gray goo, effectively sealing the door shut.

“That will keep them,” she said to the other Blue Changelings. “You two, get these into cocoons. You, help to free ponies.”

The first ponies they freed were the four they brought aboard in the cocoons. Rainbow Dash, Time Skipper, Spitfire, and Pinkamena emerged from their cocoons in pairs.

“Let’s get to work,” said Rainbow.

“Keep it to a whisper if you’re speaking Ponish,” Bon Bon instructed. “The changelings have been told to speak exclusively in Hive Tongue aboard ship.”

“Got it.”

Spitfire drew a sword and got to work. Pinkamena followed suit. Time levitated a sword as well—it was quieter than using her magic on the cocoons directly. Rainbow alternately used her mouth and her magic to hold her sword. Bon Bon caught Time Skipper smiling at Rainbow more than once. That’s her first student, she thought to herself. Bon Bon looked to each of the three new Blue Changelings, and she smiled too.

The Wonderbolts were soon free, and without interruption. “Time to get out of here,” Bon Bon whispered. “Starlight?”

“Time Skipper.”

“Right.”

“Let me do a headcount.” She looked across the ponies as they sat in neat rows and columns. A moment later, she shut her eyes and lit her horn. With a flash of light similar to a camera’s flash, the world disappeared and reappeared. The ship was gone; the Academy was back. Bon Bon looked out a window to see the “cloud” sitting exactly where they had left it.

“So that takes care of the Wonderbolts,” Rainbow said. “What about the blimp?”

Time Skipper moved restlessly through the crowd of ponies.

“The blimp will be a bit harder,” Bon Bon began. “Luckily, we still have stealth, and now we might also have numbers at our advantage.”

Time stepped out into the hallway.

“That ship’s covered in changelings, inside and out. How do we get them all in the same place?”

“I have a better question,” said Time as she stepped back into the room. “Where’s Lightning Dust?”

Lightning had seen the changelings fly over to the blimp. She already knew where the armory was, and she had taken the opportunity to slip away from the other ponies and gear up. The changelings hadn’t taken much; their weapons were mostly magic-based. There was some armor missing; they probably wanted to study it so they could replicate it better.

A belt around her waist, a sword in the belt, a crossbow over her shoulder, and a helmet on her head. A flight suit would have taken too long to put on. She would have to make do without.

Lightning went out the back way and flew over the building. She came around to the cloud, and was surprised to see that the topdeck was still visible. As she approached, a few patches of clouds flickered with green light, and she heard the unmistakable buzz of changelings’ wings.

She sped up and drew her crossbow, but a blast of magic knocked it out of her hooves. She watched it sail away towards the ground. She decided not to draw her sword until she was close enough, or else she might lose that, too.

But she never got close enough. Two changelings grabbed onto her and pulled her down to the ship’s deck, where an armored changeling stood waiting for her.

As the two changelings forced her down onto her hind knees, the armored changeling unsheathed Lightning’s sword and tossed it aside. Lightning watched as it clattered along the deck.

“Did you really think it was going to be that easy?” he asked.

Lightning scowled. “Changelings are not welcome in Cloudsdale. Give my regards to your queen.”

The changeling’s eyes grew wide. He craned his head off to one side to inspect her cutie mark. “You… You used to be a Wonderbolt. Lightning—something… Dirt?”

“Every changeling this side of Canterlot will know my name after tonight,” Lightning said with a grin.

The armored changeling chuckled. “We’ve taken down all the Wonderbolts. Their files say you were discharged. They didn’t think you were good enough.”

“Their loss!” Lightning flapped one wing up and one wing down, twisting her barrel along its axis. She broke free from first one changeling, then the other. She spun a few more times, agitating the air. A small, thin whirlwind formed as she rose into the air, though not nearly as large or strong as the one she’d created in Fillydelphia. The changelings stumbled as they tried to secure their footing. She dropped out of the whirlwind on one side, and began flying in circles around it. The wind quickly strengthened, and the tornado sucked in all three changelings.

Lightning shot out of the whirlwind and skidded to a stop next to her sword. With nopony left to control the tornado, all three changelings were thrown against the back wall of the forecastle. Lightning grabbed the sword in her mouth and flew up towards the balloon—or rather, where she knew the balloon to be; it still appeared as a giant cloud since the changelings were covering it.

Lightning glanced down to see that the three changelings had risen to their hooves and lit their horns. The two changelings fired at her just as the third changeling flew between them and shielded himself, causing the bolts of magic to ricochet off in opposite directions. “Idiots!” he shouted. “You’ll hit the balloon!”

Lightning smiled. “Apprehend that mare!” the officer shouted from below. Several patches of clouds morphed back into changelings, and these changelings rushed to intercept Lightning Dust. Lightning swung her sword at one, downing him, but the others used their magic, holding her by her wings and by her barrel.

As a last resort, Lightning put her sword in her hooves and flung it at an exposed portion of the balloon. The spinning blade found its mark, slashing the underside of the balloon before falling back to the deck below. Lightning was close enough to feel the rush of the lifting gas across her face and mane. The changelings closed in and grabbed her from several angles.

“Patch up that hole!” the officer ordered. A second set of changelings morphed, green flames racing across their forms. Dust watched as the green flames immediately turned bright orange, and the air above her burst into flame. Within seconds, several more clouds morphed back into changelings as they tried to escape the inferno. At about the same time, Lightning felt an intense heat all over her body, and an incredible pain along with it. She felt like her whole body was in a furnace.

Lightning’s eyes closed reflexively, though still too slowly. She would have screamed, but her lungs were in agony. She felt air rushing past her—her first indication that she was falling—and flapped her wings. Her wings cut through the air with no resistance. Why can’t I feel my feathers? Lightning thought about that for a moment, then realized the answer. Oh buck!

The next thing Lightning felt was a hard blow to the top of her head.

Time Skipper, Rainbow, and Bon Bon galloped through the corridors of the Wonderbolt Academy. They rounded a corner, retracing the steps they had taken on their way in. As they exited the door, a flash of light illuminated the sky ahead of them. Then came the shockwave and the sound—the sound of an explosion. Time watched in horror as a blimp revealed itself, the balloon engulfed in flames. The bottom of the balloon was on fire. The gas around it was on fire. The top was on fire, and the lifting gas was escaping through the newly-burned hole in the top, creating a single plume of fire from the bottom of the blimp all the way through to the top. The blimp was losing altitude fast and listing towards her bow.

Something fell out from the bottom of the balloon and hit the deck. Two more fell, one onto the deck and one to the ground far below. Four more fell, then several more after that.

“That debris falling from the balloon is going to catch the rest of the blimp on fire,” Rainbow noted.

“That’s not debris,” Bon Bon said. “Those are changelings.”

Starlight covered her mouth with a hoof as tears came to her eyes. “I—I can’t watch any more.” She closed her eyes and turned her head, and Bon Bon placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Green Changeling or not, no one should have to go out like that.”

“I’m sorry, Bon Bon,” Rainbow said. “I know you were looking forward to—” she sighed, “gosh, that’s—darnit!”

“I—better head back in. The other changelings aren’t going to take this well.”

Bon Bon departed, her hooves softly falling on the cloudtops. Time cried as Rainbow stood beside her. “Blimps don’t just randomly explode like that,” she said. “Do you think that was Lightning Dust?”

“I honestly don’t know.” The light from the fire began to dissipate, and Time looked up. The blimp was just now slipping beneath the clouds, like the sun slipping below the horizon. “Let’s go get the rest of the troops. Let’s go home.”

Time Skipper fumbled with her key ring as she tried to unlock her front door. After several wrong keys, she managed to unlock the door and let herself in. She closed and locked the door behind her, then headed straight for her room.

She picked up the journal and began to write.

Dear Princess Twilight,

I’m sorry it took me this long to reply. I’ve been really busy lately with my work. But now I’m free for a while. I’m coming home.

Your faithful student, Starlight Glim Time Skipper.

Spitfire sat at her desk with her a hoof raised to her chin. When at last she spoke, she did so slowly and deliberately. “Thank you all for your report. You’ve given me a lot to think about. Dismissed.”

Soarin, Fleetfoot, Blaze, and Surprise stepped out of her office. Once the door had closed completely, Spitfire sighed deeply and sank her face into her hooves. She sat for several moments, letting myriad indistinct thoughts run through her mind—Wonderbolt protocols, her personal actions, Lightning’s actions, Rainbow’s intervention. Was it really her? How would we even know? The changeling airship went down in flames.

Spitfire pressed her face farther into her hooves. The thought of Lightning Dust sacrificing herself so nobly in such a gloryless way was nearly enough to break her, despite all her years with the Wonderbolts. I have to know, she thought. We have to launch an investigation, find her remains.

Then, there came an afterthought. Oh, Celestia. If that was her, then the Wonderbolt Academy was saved by the pony I tried to execute. Spitfire drew a quivering breath and, almost without realizing it, sniffed. She blinked, and became aware of the moisture gathering in her eyes. She scanned her desk for a box of tissues, though she knew she wouldn’t find one.

There was nothing she could do to stop the tears that were coming—the tears she would cry in secret and in solitude.

Author's Note

"Pawns have names. ... [E]ven names like Lightning Dust."

--Rainbow Dash, History Lesson, "Homecoming"

Ch. 10: Home Again

When the sun began to shine through Time Skipper’s window after a shortened and sleepless night, she grudgingly got out of bed and trudged into Starlight’s room. She knocked on the open door as she entered. “Morning,” she mumbled.

“Hmm? Oh, hey, Time,” Starlight replied, her back turned to the door. “I thought you were going to be in Cloudsdale all night.”

“I was.”

“What happened? Did they cancel?”

“No, ‘I was’ as in ‘I was in Cloudsdale all night.’”

Starlight turned from the mirror, a brush in her magic and her hair half in one style and half in another. She frowned. “You look tired. When’d you get in last night?”

“More like this morning.”

“You sure you don’t want to go back to sleep?”

Starlight shook her head. “Can’t. Princess Twilight called me back.”

“She did? Why?”

“Twilight is my mentor. She—she said I’m remedial. She wants me to meet with her back in our world.” Time levitated her journal out from behind her. “I’ve got something I want you to keep for me until I get back.”

“What’s that?

“It’s a magic journal that Twilight and I have been using to send messages back and forth. I want it here with you so that Twilight or I can still communicate with somepony in this timeline.”

“Well, ok.” Time watched the aura around the journal shift from cyan to—still cyan. “But I thought the portal you used was in Ponyville. That's central Equestria. How are you going to get there like—like that?” she asked, gesturing towards Time with her hoof turned sideways.

“I can sleep on the train. Rainbow Dash arranged transportation for me.”

“You'd better get going then. I'd hate to be the reason you miss your train. I'll just be here, trying to figure out what to do with—this,” she said as she hovered a hoof over her half-styled mane. Starlight frowned as she turned and walked back to the mirror.

Time turned to leave, but a thought came into her mind. I should help her.

She sighed. Really? Now?

Yes. This is important to her. She’s vulnerable right now.

Time Skipper went to stand next to her other self. “What look are you going for?”

“Not sure. Other than ‘different.’ I want it to reflect who I am.”

“Well, who do you want to be now? How do you want to be different?”

“Is this cheating? Walking me through the same steps you took when you redefined yourself?”

“Not if I ask the questions and let you answer them.”

Starlight turned her attention back to the mirror. “I want—I want to distance myself from the pony I used to be. That pony felt she had to lie to her friends in order to do what was best for them—and for her. You were right. ‘Equality’ is a word that’s easy to rally behind. That’s why I—she—used it. But really, she only did all those things so she would never be hurt again.

“You want to stop being that pony—the one who lied to herself and her friends about her motives for equality, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You want to put all that behind you.”

“Yeah, exactly!”

Time reached out with her magic and enveloped Starlight’s brush. She turned her head across the room and levitated a pair of hair ties off the nightstand with her magic. She brushed Starlight’s mane through a few times, then set an aura around all but her bangs. She took the hair and divided it into two parts, right and left. She pulled the hair through the hair ties, then moved the hair ties up the hair as far as they would go. She left the hair ties low on Starlight’s head, so that they formed two low ponytails. While she doubled the ponytails through the hair ties again, she brushed Starlight’s bangs together, filling the gap between the two sides.

“There. Your past is behind you, and your new look mirrors that,” she said. “No pun intended.”

Starlight chuckled as she turned her head to one side and pushed the naturally curled end of her ponytail up with the bottom of her hoof. “I kind of like it. I might tweak it a little bit, but yeah.” She turned to face Time Skipper. “Thanks. But seriously, don’t miss your train.” Starlight leaned in to hug Time.

“I won’t. I’ll be back soon. I hope. I mean—‘I hope soon.’ Not ‘I hope I’ll be back.’ I will be back.”

Starlight smiled. “And get some sleep on the train.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

“That looks like everypony,”

Shining Armor said as he nodded to Rainbow Dash. “Let's begin.”

“First order of business: Cloudsdale. What’re we calling it?”

“New Equestrian victory, Green Changeling defeat, Blue Changeling pyrrhic victory and successful proof-of-concept,” Bon Bon said.

“It was also a successful proof-of-concept for the alchemic horn,” said Sunburst.

“The Wonderbolts are currently conducting an investigation into what took down that blimp,” Spitfire said. Her voice was drained of its usual confidence, a hint of timidity in its place.

“I request that the Blue Changelings be allowed to aid in the investigation,” Bon Bon said.

Rainbow glanced at Spitfire just in time to see her glance back. “Y—yes. I grant your request.”

“I think I speak for us all when I say that we’re all a bit curious to hear your report,” Shining Armor added.

“Until that happens,” Rainbow said, “we need to start planning our next moves. With the renewed support of the Wonderbolts and their blimps, we can reassert our superiority in the sky, and provide better cover for our troops on the ground.”

“I say we wait until this whole thing blows over,” said Bon Bon. “Chrysalis likely isn’t going to take this too well. We need to prepare for whatever she’s going to do in retaliation.”

“It’s going to take some time to train the pegasi and earth ponies to use the alchemic horns anyways,” said Sunburst. “We can use the time to train.”

“I suppose,” said Rainbow. “Bon Bon, tell us what you find out about Chrysalis’s plans as soon as you find out.”

“That was the plan,” she replied.

“Now, we can talk about the alchemic horn. Sunburst?”

“Yes. I put forth the motion to allocate funds for the first production run of the alchemic horn Mk. 1000.”

“I second that motion,” said Rainbow.

“All in favor,” said Shining Armor.

A unanimous “Aye” resounded from the Council members.

“All opposed.” Nopony spoke up.

“Then the Council moves to allocate the necessary funds from the treasury to the Weapons Development and Testing department.

"Short meeting today," she continued. "Unless anypony has anything else, that about wraps things up." Nopony else said anything. "Great. Dismissed."

As the ponies around the table began to rise, Rainbow approached Bon Bon. "So, what are you doing after this?"

"Zecora and I are going to go talk to some of the Green Changelings we captured in Cloudsdale."

"Mind if I tag along?"

"Have you made amends with Spitfire yet?" she asked.

Rainbow sighed. "No, I haven't."

Bon Bon winked at her. "You've got this."

Rainbow drew a deep breath and approached Spitfire, who had by now migrated to the other end of the table by Shining Armor. She coughed politely to get Spitfire's attention.

"Rainbow Dash," she said, unsure of Rainbow's motives judging by her tone.

"Spitfire," Rainbow replied.

"Look, I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry we drifted apart and didn't make things right when we had the chance."

"I'm sorry I laughed at you in Cloudsdale when we had to go rescue you," Rainbow said. "And when you got stuck in your own locker." Spitfire bit her lip and glanced over at Shining Armor. "And when Bon Bon pulled you out and you had to—"

"Ok, I get it," she interrupted, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "I accept your apology."

"Likewise." Before she realized what she was doing, Rainbow stretched her hoof out. Spitfire hesitated, but only for a moment before shaking Rainbow's hoof. "Truce?"

"Truce."

"No enemies here," said Shining Armor. "From now on, let's focus on fighting Chrysalis and Sombra."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," said Rainbow.

Princess Twilight looked at the clock on the wall, then to the other ponies sitting in their thrones. “It’s time, girls!”

“Then what are we waiting for?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Let’s bring ‘er home!” said Applejack.

“Eeee! I’m so excited!”

“Yes, Pinkie, we gathered that," Rarity said with a smile.

“Then let’s do it!” said Fluttershy. The cutie marks on the six thrones began to glow brightly, and a portal opened above the map.

Starlight seemed startled when she appeared. She backpedaled in the air as she floated down towards the table. She seemed to relax the closer she got to the table. She had barely lain down before Pinkie Pie jumped on her. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash approached her next.

“Now now, y’all give her some space,” Applejack called.

“It’s fine,” Starlight said weakly, a small smile on her face.

“Are you ok?” asked Fluttershy.

“I’m—tired. I had to pull an all-nighter in Cloudsdale last night. The only sleep I’ve had is the sleep I got on the train—” she paused for a yawn, “—and I think I fell asleep on top of the map just now.”

“Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, I want you to get Starlight to her room.”

“On it!”

“Starlight, is there anything you need?”

“Aside from sleep, not really,” said Starlight as she was hoisted up by the pegasi.

“Ya hungry?”

“Maybe later, Applejack. When I wake up.”

“Well, alright. Don’t be afraid to ask, y’hear?”

“Will do. Er—won’t? As in 'won't be afraid.' You know.”

“Starlight needs her beauty sleep,” Rarity said. “Let’s not make the poor thing wait any longer than she has to.”

“C’mon, ‘poor thing,’” Rainbow said as she and Fluttershy carried her off.

“Now,” Twilight began after Starlight had left the room, “I want to set up some friendship lessons for Starlight. I need each of you to write down one activity you can do with her tomorrow,” she said as she distributed paper, quills, and ink. “I’ve got a lot of things planned for Starlight over the next few days.”

Bon Bon nodded at the guard, and he opened the jail cell for her. She entered the cell, Zecora right behind her. Neither was unarmed; Bon Bon had her magic, and Zecora a crossbow.

Across the room, a Green Changeling lay with his rear hooves stuck to the floor by a blue-grey substance. His horn was covered in a similar substance, and his front hooves were shackled together.

The changeling raised his head and ears as Bon Bon approached. When he felt she was getting too close, he hissed. Bon Bon heeded the warning and kept her distance.

Bon Bon lit her horn and set an aura around the changeling’s shackles. He rose to his hooves as they became enveloped in the same substance that stuck his hooves to the floor . The shackles hissed for a moment, then broke into several pieces and fell to the ground as the magic dissolved them. The astonished changeling looked first at his hooves, then at Bon Bon.

“W—Why are you doing this?” He leaned in and lowered his tone. “Are you Green Changelings here to free me?”

“No. I’m a Blue Changeling here to free you. From Chrysalis.” The changeling scowled. Bon Bon lay down on the ground in front of him. “What’s your name?”

“I don’t have one,” he said, turning his head away.

“Don’t have a name?” Bon Bon asked, smiling as if it were a joke.

The changeling sighed and sat back down. “Pronotum.”

“I’m Bon Bon.”

“That’s a weird name.”

“I know. I used to be an earth pony,” she said, as dismissively as if she had told him her favorite color.

“Why did you spare me? I could understand killing me, or interrogating and torturing me for information. But this—it’s almost worse. It feels like it’s all just a setup.”

“This is called being nice,” Bon Bon said. “It’s something you wouldn’t learn from Chrysalis. Chrysalis doesn’t love you; she uses you. Without her drones, Chrysalis wouldn’t have an army. If she kept her army well-fed, they wouldn’t have any motive to fight. Chrysalis is holding out on you.”

“She—she would never,” he said, though he sounded unsure of himself.

“You have a hard shell, Pronotum; you must learn to let love in.”

“I do that all the time.”

“Not stolen love,” Bon Bon said as a hint of frustration crept into her voice. She recovered her composure a moment later. “These ponies will willingly give you love if you reach out to them and befriend them.”

“How do you know that?”

Bon Bon raised a hoof to her chin. “You were one of the ones guarding the front door last night, weren’t you.”

“Yeah.”

So he was unconscious most of the night.

“Zecora and I are friends,” she said as she rose to her hooves. “Although I mainly draw love from Rainbow Dash, I draw lesser amounts of a different type of love from others.” She hugged Zecora from the side, and the pair began to glow faintly.

Pronotum seemed to be staring harder at Zecora’s crossbow than the two figures before him. “We don’t want to fight you. We want to help you.”

Bon Bon relieved Zecora of her crossbow, and the mare approached the Green Changeling. “Wh—What are you doing?”

“It’s a hug,
Silly bug.”

Zecora put one foreleg around Pronotum, and he mirrored her. He made eye contact with Bon Bon, and she smiled at him. He smiled a little too, and closed his eyes as he and Zecora glowed with a faint green glow.

“I want you to renounce Chrysalis.”

“But—but I’ve never known any other leader besides her.”

“In time, you will. Pledge yourself to the Order of the Blue Changelings. Swear allegiance to King Chitin.”

The changeling lowered his head, then gently pushed Zecora’s foreleg aside. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I—I want some time to think about this.”

“I understand,” Bon Bon said as she knocked on the door. It opened, and Zecora exited. “I’ll be back again later,” she said as she followed Zecora out of the room.

“As you know, speed spells like accelero are not easy,” Starlight began. “But if done correctly, they can allow you to be much more efficient with your day.” Starlight cast the spell and reshelved all the books in the castle library—a few thousand of them of them—within seconds.

“Way to go, Starlight!”

“Oh, I’m not finished,” she said. “I’ve discovered a very old spell—similo duplexis. When combined with accelero in just the right way—” the grooves of Starlight’s horn began to glow, and a tiny ball of cyan energy appeared at the tip of her horn. Light radiated from her horn, and a moment later, she had finished casting the spell. An identical version of herself appeared next to her. “—you can literally be in two places at once!” she said in stereo. She smiled as Twilight’s eyes widened briefly. A moment later she lit her horn and dispelled the spell dividing herself in half, and her second half merged with her first. “Now I’m finished.”

Twilight smiled. “I have to admit, your skill with magic is nothing short of impressive. I’m very impressed.”

Starlight smiled. “I’ve always been something of a natural.” Her eyes lit up a moment later. “Oh! I've been meaning to ask: Do you know of a way to give my second half the ability to act on its own? So far, I’ve only been able to get it to do whatever I do. If I can get it to act on its own, I can be in two worlds at once. I could leave one half of me here while the other half fixes the other timeline!”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Starlight, when I gave you your assignment to fix the world we saw together, I did so because you hurt the ponies living there, and you tried to hurt the ponies living here.”

Starlight hung her head. “I never meant to hurt anypony other than you here in this timeline. I know this is supposed to be punishment for my actions, at least in part, but does that mean I have to leave you?” Starlight spoke up again before Twilight could respond. “Wait, what if I could fix two timelines at once? I could be done in half the time!”

Twilight raised a hoof to her chin. “Well, do you know what the long-term effects of using this spell are?”

Starlight stepped backwards. “Well no, not yet. I—”

“Do you know if it works on two sides of a portal?”

“Accelero isn’t a true speed spell. It slows down time rather than speeding up the caster. Such a bending of time allows me to control both halves of myself when casting it in combination with similo duplexis. Theoretically, it should work.”

“What if—Celestia forbid—half of you should die in another timeline? Do you know what effect that would have on you or your magic?”

Starlight sighed. “Ok, so maybe it’s still more of an idea than an option. But can’t we still give it a try?”

Twilight approached Starlight from the side and stood next to her. “That’s not the goal, Starlight. The goal is to make friends and fix the world by using the magic of friendship.” Twilight lit her horn and levitated over a clipboard. “Speaking of which, it doesn’t look like you’ve tackled any friendship lessons since you met Trixie, and that was before we fixed the map.”

Starlight took the clipboard in her magic. “Are you sure? I could have sworn there were a couple in there somewhere.”

The paper on the clipboard detailed every activity pertaining to friendship that she’d done since she became Twilight’s pupil. There was the time she’d reconnected with Sunburst and the time she’d helped Trixie with her magic show, each with a detailed explanation of the event. Below, there were two more sentences, notably shorter than the rest. They read, “Talked with Rainbow Dash,” and “Met Lightning Dust,” respectively.

Twilight took the clipboard back in her magic and lowered her eyebrows. “I’m sure.”

Starlight’s ears dropped. “It’s just—I was finally beginning to see progress in that new world. We went on a mission to free the Wonderbolts from Chrysalis in Cloudsdale, and now Spitfire is back with the New Equestrians, and—” she trailed off.

“And what about your friends?” asked Twilight.

“My—friends?”

“I know what you’re going through. You’re not the first one who was sent away from her home city by her mentor to a world that was threatened by an ancient evil.”

“I’m not?”

“Nope!” Twilight said with a grin. “I was the same way! And come to think of it, I had a similar attitude towards friendship as you do. I was so consumed with making sure the prophecy of Nightmare Moon didn’t come true that I almost neglected to make friends. But in the end, it was those very friends who helped stop Nightmare Moon.”

“I—didn’t know all that,” Starlight admitted as she hung her head.

“Maybe if you had, you wouldn’t have tried to stop the Rainboom,” Spike added.

Starlight looked up to see Twilight glaring at Spike. “He’s right,” she said in a defeated tone. “I clearly have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to friendship.”

Twilight smiled. “That’s why I made you my pupil.” She turned and began walking towards the door. “Spike and I are headed to Canterlot. Princess Celestia wanted me to give her students a quick overview on the history of enchanted objects in Equestria. We’ll be back when we’re done with the presentation, which should be—”

“Twenty moons from now?” Spike asked from behind a stack of books which was nearly as tall as he was.

“Tonight,” Twilight corrected. “It’s a quick presentation.”

“Sure. Keep telling yourself that,” Spike muttered.

“You can tackle a friendship lesson today and we can review your progress when I get back later this evening.”

“Of course!,” Starlight said nervously. “No problem! Friendship lesson… On it!”

“Great! Can’t wait!”

Starlight turned to leave. Twilight was too busy telling Spike how she wanted her cue cards organized to see Starlight’s countenance fall. I hope they don’t need me too soon in the other world.

Queen Chrysalis lay on Celestia’s throne, Princess Pupa asleep on her forelegs. She smiled as she stared down at her daughter, watching the rising and falling of her tiny body.

A green aura enveloped the throne room’s massive double doors, and they were opened from the outside a moment later.

“My Queen—”

“Shhhhh. You’ll wake the Princess,” she said just above a whisper.

“My Queen,” the armored changeling began again, quieter this time, “I bring news of our infiltration in Cloudsdale.”

“What news?”

The changeling removed his helmet. “We—we were attacked. The blimp caught fire, and many of our changelings—couldn’t—” he sighed, “I’m sorry, your Highness. We’ve failed.”

Chrysalis shifted her hind legs and barrel as she closed her eyes and exhaled. “What of the Wonderbolts?”

“Gone down with the blimp, we think. The zones of control have shifted, and we were unable in our retreat to scour the wreckage for any sign of them.”

“Your retreat?” Chrysalis asked, daggers in her words.

“The soldiers fled, your Highness. I could not rally more than a few of them. The blimp’s destruction was sudden; we lost almost all the crew within the ship, and many forming the disguise for the hull and balloon were—consumed by the fire. Morale fled even more quickly than my drones.”

Chrysalis lowered her head thoughtfully for a moment. “How many of your soldiers were lost?”

“At least half, your Highness. Mostly trapped within the burning hull. It—” He grit his teeth, folded his ears, and rested his helmet on the ground. He made a low bow in an attempt to cover for his collapse. “Forgive me, my Queen.”

Chrysalis sighed and closed her eyes briefly. “I will suspend further questioning for now. Go. Be with your troops.”

“Thank you, your Highness.”

Once he turned to leave, and once Chrysalis was sure he wasn’t going to look back, she laid her head on her forelegs and nuzzled her daughter as her mind began to wander.

Starlight threw open the doors to Twilight’s library and took several deep breaths back to back. “Ok, Starlight, you’ve got this. A hoofful of friendship lessons is nothing compared to the spells you’ve mastered,” she said with a nervous chuckle.

“But,” she offered as a counterpoint, “you’ve also got five of these things to do, and a world that’s falling apart just as fast as you can put it back together. Approaching this problem in the traditional way isn’t working.”

She approached one of the shelves and levitated a spellbook off of it. “Maybe if I case a little spell to help things along—something simple and safe. Leduchia compellus? That’s not bad. They would barely notice it, but… is it enough?”

She walked over to another shelf and picked another book. “Maybe cogerius so they’re more… open to suggestions.” She put one book on top of the other. “Or maybe cogeria combined with leduchia compellus! Yes,” she said thoughtfully. “That could work nicely! Oh! With a hint of persuadere to be sure it sticks.” She lit her horn, and magic flashed onto the page before her.

Casting all three spells in unison, Starlight’s magic formed a ball of energy that floated above her. Without a target, it formed a sphere of purple, magenta, and cyan which pulsated in her magic grip.

“There. When I complete all five friendship lessons at once, I’ll have them all done in a single day! And Twilight will be thrilled I completed so many lessons. Everypony wins!” she said as she levitated the orb of energy out the door and down the hall. Light flooded her vision for a brief moment as the spell cast in the other room.

“Congratulations, Starlight. You’re a genius.” She began walking towards the castle’s main foyer. “With five friendship lessons complete, Twilight will no longer be able to say I’m remedial, and I’ll be back to fixing the other world.”

Starlight gasped when she reached the balcony and looked down into the foyer. All five ponies stood rigidly at the bottom of the stairs, ethereal energy flowing around them. “Maybe the congratulations were a little premature.”

Imperial Governor of Las Pegasus wasn’t a particularly glamorous or prestigious title, but it did give Imperial Topaz a chance to take her mind off the war. She’d been transferred from the eastern to the western theater after the battle of Fillydelphia, and secretly, she couldn’t have been happier. It had been months since the city had seen changelings, and even then it had seen their backs as they called for a full retreat in the face of the Crystal Empire’s advance.

A night on the town every week or so to hit up the local casinos with her compatriots was exactly the kind of life every officer of the Imperial Army was promised. It was a life Topaz lived as often as she could; and when she couldn’t, she’d crash a local bar with her officer friends instead.

But her job was still a job, regardless of how cushy it was; and a military job far from the front lines came with what Topaz believed to be more than her fair share of paperwork. But when her underlings were struggling and dying across half Equestria, she found it hard to complain, accepting her job with the understanding that she was the envy of the Imperial Army.

It came as no surprise when her secretary delivered a newspaper to her that morning, though the title of the paper caught her attention. “Manehattan?” she asked as her secretary stood on the opposite side of her desk.

“Yes, ma’am. News of the war—the Equestrian rebels.”

Topaz skimmed the title, image, and first few lines of the cover article about a downed airship in Cloudsdale. “Not a good day to be a rebel,” she said with a chuckle.

“You might read a little further, ma’am.”

She did, and her smile widened. “Not a good day to be a changeling, either! Ha!” She leaned back and put her rear hooves on her desk. “Good. Fight each other. You’ll just be weaker when the Imperial Army marches in.”

She looked up from the paper to her smiling secretary. “Milk?” she asked as she returned to the cart she had brought over.

“Please,” she answered, as she returned her eyes to the paper. She laid the paper aside once she heard the sound of the tea being poured into the teacup. “Thank you,” she said with a smile as her secretary turned to leave with the cart.

Topaz raised the teacup to her lips and took a sip. She swished the liquid around in her mouth. Gone a thousand years… she shook her head. They just don’t make it like they used to.

Starlight paced back and forth along the side balcony of Twilight’s castle, mentally running through her checklist one last time. “Sun, check. Chairs, check. And thanks to a simple catidupo levitonis spell, we’ve got water. Is that everything we need to chillax?”

Rainbow shook her head. “Nope.”

Starlight frowned. “No? What did I miss?”

“Quiet,” Rainbow replied.

“Ah, right,” Starlight said as she settled into her chair.

Twilight, seated next to her, looked up from her book. “Great job, Starlight. Looks like you’ve completed another friendship lesson!” She put the book in her hooves and leaned back into her chair with a sigh.

“Hey!” Rainbow shouted. “She completes the lesson when I say she completes it. So less learning and more chillaxing.”

Lesson learned. I’m done here, right? Starlight thought to herself.

“Sooo… how long do we sit here quietly?”

Her friends all laughed, and Starlight found herself laughing nervously with them.

Longer than I’d hoped, it looks like, she answered herself.

“Try it now,” called Carapace from beneath the vehicle.

Centipede pulled on the gear lever for the left tread, but it wouldn’t budge. “Nope. Still stuck.”

“Bugger. You jammed her real good.”

“S—sorry.

“First assignment. First chance to take the fight to the ponies’ doorsteps, and we’re stuck on the side of the road?” asked Bombardier.

“Not that we’re in a hurry,” Hot Shot said. “Our ‘objective’ is the Canterlot train yard. We’re not driving this thing all the way to our destination. We're taking a train.”

“Where the other vehicles are probably already waiting by now,” Carapace muttered. Centipede doubted anyone else heard him.

“Good thing,” said Bombardier.

“You talk like you’re the one driving it,” said Millipede. “It’s not a drain on your magic to keep the thing moving.”

“A little unity goes a long way. Hear that down there?” asked Hot Shot, his head and upper barrel sticking out the top hatch. “We’re likely to be stuck in here for quite a while with each other. Might as well learn to get along.”

“Wooo. Teambuilding exercises,” said Bombardier.

“Try it now,” said Carapace.

Centipede pulled the lever again. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nope. Nothing.”

“Darn. Hold on. Let me look at Millipede’s.” Carapace shifted underneath them. “Give yours a pull.” Millipede pulled his lever. “Now pull it back.” Millipede pulled it back. Carapace shifted back. “Hold on.” There was a sound of metal scraping against metal. “Try that.”

Centipede pulled his lever. This time, it actually moved. “I got it!”

“Carapace got it. You had the easy part,” said Bombardier.

“Good work, Carapace,” said Hot Shot. “Hop back in and we’ll be off.”

Millipede lit his horn, prompting Centipede to do the same. Carapace clambered down the hatch to his station in the rear of the vehicle. “Ugh. He’s covered in grease,” said Millipede.

“There’ll be a lot worse than grease where we’re headed,” said Hot Shot. “Let’s get this thing moving.” Centipede and Millipede threw both levers forward, and the vehicle lurched forward before climbing back out onto the road.

When the door to her private library opened, Princess Twilight set her book on the table between her couch and the chair across from her. “You wanted to see me, Twilight?” Starlight called from the door.

“Come in! Have a seat,” she said invitingly as she gestured to the chair. Starlight hopped up and sat down.

“I don’t suppose this has anything to do with hypnotizing my friends, does it?”

“Starlight, I didn’t call you here to throw your mistakes back in your face. Besides, I’d be a hypocrite if I did. Remind me sometime to tell you the story of the time I hypnotized all of Ponyville!” Starlight blinked as she sat up in her chair. “I called you because what you’re demonstrating runs deeper than just a mistake. Ever since you left, you’ve been avoiding your friendship lessons.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Starlight said as she dropped her gaze. “And then when I messed up today—I guess I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

“I only know what you tell me. If you don’t tell me anything, it looks like you’re avoiding these lessons. I understand that you’re busy with a lot of things in that world and in your personal life. Have you tried talking out what’s bothering you?”

“Well, no. It still—kind of hurts.”

“Starlight, you know I’m here for you. I’m a Princess. I could have called you into my throne room, but I called you here instead. You’re not just my student; you’re my friend.”

Starlight looked up and offered Twilight a small but genuine smile. “Thanks. It means a lot.”

“I know we’re together right now, but that won’t always be the case. If I can teach you to seek help and stability from your friends, then you’ll be able to find healing just about anywhere. What about alternate Rainbow Dash?”

“She—tries too hard to be tough. It might take a lot of work to form a meaningful connection with her.”

“The other Starlight?”

“There isn’t much about each other we don’t already know.”

“Sunburst?”

“I think I’ll leave him for the other Starlight.”

Twilight turned her head to the side. “What do you mean by that?”

“She—Oh, you know.” Starlight shifted uneasily in her chair.

Twilight leaned forward slightly. “I don’t mean to pry, but do you think there’s something between those two?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure.” She sighed. “I’m probably just projecting myself onto—my other self. She—I—”

Twilight raised a hoof. “If you’re not comfortable talking about it, I understand. There’s got to be more friends you can talk to. What about—” she paused and tried not to groan as she said the mare’s name, “what about Lightning Dust?”

“Lightning Dust?” Starlight’s ears flattened, and suddenly all the energy disappeared from her voice. “I don’t think Lightning Dust is going to be an option.”

Twilight was secretly happy to hear this. Good. She’s an even worse influence than Trixie.

“Why’s that?” Twilight asked, forcing false curiosity into her tone.

Starlight’s words came slowly and laboriously. “Lightning—did something we didn’t expect her to do. The day we planned to rescue Spitfire, I got a letter saying that she was going to Cloudsdale on her own. We ended up in Cloudsdale at the same time, and—

“Well, I guess I need to back up. Chrysalis brought in a blimp, and that’s how the changelings were going to get the Wonderbolts back to Canterlot. We got the Wonderbolts off the blimp, but when we got back to the Academy, Lightning Dust was gone. We rushed back outside and—the blimp was on fire.”

Starlight sniffed and raised a hoof to her face. “Lightning Dust—never showed up—the rest of the night. We can only assume—she went down with the blimp. I—I felt like we really had something, like we really understood each other. But now—”

Twilight’s gut wrenched. I compared her Lightning Dust to the real Lightning Dust. Of course hers would be different.

“Starlight, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” Twilight stood up and walked over to Starlight. “Here,” she said, extending a foreleg as if to offer a hug. Starlight readily accepted, pressing her neck tight against Twilight’s, her forelegs wrapped around her upper barrel.

Several moments passed in silence. The only noise Twilight heard was Starlight’s sniffling; the only movement she felt was Starlight’s breathing.

How long should I keep hugging her? she asked herself.

As long as she needs, I guess.

Twilight raised her ears, but still kept them pointed backwards. “I’m here for you, Starlight. I’ll always be here for you, your mentor and your friend.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled, her face turned away from Twilight.

“Do you feel any better now?”

Starlight drew out of the embrace and leaned off to one side in the chair. “I feel—exhausted. Physically, emotionally, magically—”

“It’s getting late. Maybe you should turn in early,” she said as she offered her a hoof.

Starlight took her hoof as she got out of the chair. “You’re right. Sleep sounds amazing right now.”

Ch. 11: Where You Least Expect Them

Starlight entered the castle dining room to see a stack of pancakes at her place. “Good morning, Starlight!” called Twilight. “I hope you slept well last night. How do you feel?”

“Better,” she said as she settled into her seat.

“I think you'll like what I've got planned for today,” she said with a smile.

“What's that?” Starlight asked as she levitated her fork and knife.

“An overnight trip to the Crystal Empire!” she said, leaning forward and spreading her wings.

Starlight’s spirit lifted. “Really?”

“I figured you might feel more comfortable doing a friendship lesson with somepony you’ve known for a while. Somepony like Sunburst.”

“What would we be doing?” she asked before raising a forkful of pancakes up to her mouth.

“I think I'm going to leave that up to you this time,” Twilight said. “Don't stress it. Just spend time with him and let a friendship lesson present itself.”

“Most of the times you’ve given me a friendship lesson, it’s been more specific. How will I know what to look for?”

“Part of the reason I called you back here was so I could learn how you learned. When Rainbow Dash was studying for her Wonderbolts entrance examination, none of my traditional study methods worked for her. And when you were in the world I sent you back to, I was trying to force lessons about unity where you just weren’t seeing them.” Twilight lowered her knife to her plate. “Maybe that’s my fault, not yours.” She lifted a bite of pancake to her mouth and began to chew thoughtfully.

“No, I—don't really think it is. I did feel like I was connecting with Lightning Dust, but I wasn’t exactly prioritizing friendship.”

“It’s only natural for a mentor/student relationship to be a little flexible. When I first moved to Ponyville, Princess Celestia had me writing a friendship lesson every week! Remember last night how I mentioned that I accidentally hypnotized all of Ponyville? I—enchanted an old doll with the Want It, Need It spell and tried to get the CMC to fight over it so I could solve a friendship problem.”

Starlight nearly choked on her pancakes. She hastily swallowed as she turned to Twilight. “You? No!”

Twilight smiled. “It’s true. You’re not the only one to have her backfired hypnosis spell discovered by her mentor. My spell got so out of control that Princess Celestia had to intervene. It’s a good thing I had a observant and caring friend who sent the Princess a letter,” Twilight said as she smiled and turned her attention to Spike. Her smile only lasted a moment before being replaced with a frown. “Spike, you haven't touched your breakfast.”

Starlight turned her head to see Spike sitting with one finger on the end of his fork, the tines of the fork embedded in a stack of gemstone-topped pancakes. “I’m not hungry,” he said, leaning his head on his other claw.

“But Spike, you're always hungry,” Twilight countered. “Is something bothering you?”

“It's just—I went with you to the Crystal Empire last time. And the time before that.” He raised his eyes towards the ceiling and began counting on his fingers. “And the time before that.”

“Do you not like the Crystal Empire?” asked Starlight.

“No. It's not that.”

“Is this about what happened at the Crystal Games?” Twilight asked in a softer tone.

“It’s—probably silly to get worked up over.”

Twilight smiled. “You'll be fine, Spike. After all, it's just a friendly visit. How bad could it possibly be?” she asked with a dismissive wave of her hoof.

“I hate it when she says that,” Spike mumbled.

An armored Green Changeling entered a cell in the Canterlot dungeons and saw a Blue Changeling huddled against the far wall, a green goo coating his horn. The prisoner raised his head and shifted his forelegs as the armored changeling and one of his fellow soldiers entered father into the cell.

As the Queen entered after the armored changelings, the prisoner’s gaze shifted to her. It remained there as the guards took up posts just inside the cell door and as the Queen approached him. He cowered beneath her scowl as she set an aura around him and dragged him towards her.

“Who did you tell, you miserable grub?” Chrysalis asked, her words dripping with spite. The armored changeling watched from a distance, waiting along with Chrysalis for words which never came. “Well? I asked you a question!” she shouted as she lowered her head towards him. “What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?” She struck him across the face with the front of her hoof.

The already-battered Blue Changeling whimpered as he reeled, then tried to scoot away from her. The Queen lifted him in her magic and pinned him against the wall. “Three dozen of my changelings injured, twice as many dead, and a blimp shot down in enemy airspace. You were caught a day before Manehattan sent a force to rescue the Wonderbolts. Who did you tell?” she asked as she began shaking him.

“N—no one!”

Chrysalis threw him to the ground and sent him rolling towards the two armored Green Changelings. His head stopped at the hooves of the first changeling, and as the guard looked down at him, he noticed a trickle of green blood running down from his mouth. The changeling’s blue eyes fluttered open and he groaned as he subtly shifted his position. The armored changeling stepped backwards as the Blue Changeling began to glow with a green aura.

“Tell me who you told, or you will suffer!”

The changeling closed his eyes and said in Hive Tongue, “Long live King Chitin.”

The first Green Changeling bowed his head subtly and closed his eyes for a brief moment.

“Chitin is dead!” Chrysalis roared. “And you will soon join him!”

Chrysalis’s aura swiftly receded until it only covered her victim's neck.

“Wait!” called the first Green Changeling. “Don't kill him! It's what he wants.”

Chrysalis whirled her head to face him, and the second Green Changeling stepped away.

“My Queen,” the first changeling said with a bow, “you're upset because of what he’s done, because of what happened. I think we all are. But if you kill him now, we can't get him to talk any more. We don't know how much information he holds.”

Chrysalis snorted as the Blue Changeling flattened his ears and whimpered again, dropping his gaze a moment later. “You’re lucky my changeling is right,” she said as she dropped the changeling. “Your days will be long and painful, I can assure you that.

“Secure him,” she said to the armored changelings.

“Yes, your Highness!” the second changeling responded as the Queen turned to leave.

“And you, Nodus,” Chrysalis said, pausing on her way out.

“Yes?” asked the changeling who had intervened.

“Thank you. I need to collect myself.”

“We’ll take it from here. He’s in good hooves.”

Chrysalis smiled weakly at him, then turned to leave the cell.

The second changeling had already begun forming a cocoon by the time Nodus approached the changeling within. “You’re a slippery one,” he said as he began circling. “But you’ll soon learn to respect our leader.” He hissed and put his face in the Blue Changeling’s face. “Our leader,” he said with a smirk.

Nodus held the pose a for a moment, watching the changeling’s expression carefully. As the other changeling finished the cocoon, Nodus moved towards the door. When the second changeling approached, Nodus shot magic at his mouth, sealing it shut with a blue goo. He magically removed the changeling’s helmet, and smacked him in the back of the head with it. He caught the changeling with a foreleg as he collapsed, then approached the cocoon.

The changeling inside the cocoon perked up when Nodus drew a knife from its sheath and cut an x into the front of the cocoon. He laid the cocoon down and helped the Blue Changeling out, then slid the Green Changeling in. He set an aura around the goo on the Blue Changeling’s horn, and used it to seal the cocoon.

“Why are you doing this?” asked the Blue Changeling.

“I know the Blue Changelings. Morph into a Green,” Nodus instructed. The ex-prisoner did as he was told. Nodus then produced a container of pink liquid from an inside pocket of his armor. “Here. Eat this.”

The changeling raised a hoof to accept the container. “But—but this is—”

“I know what it is. You have to keep your strength up.”

Nodus noticed motion out of his peripheral vision. He drew a second container of liquid love out with a hoof and removed the stopper with his teeth. “Cheers,” he said as he clinked his glass container against the other changeling’s.

“Why are you eating with the prisoner?” asked a changeling in the doorway.

“He’ll see we have love—smell it, feel it—then he’ll get hungry and join us! It was the Queen's idea.”

The changeling eyed them warily from the hall. “Close the cell door when you're done,” he said before walking on.

The disguised Blue Changeling sighed. “What now?”

“Eat. We’ll fly to train station. There's an army leaving for Las Pegasus,” he replied.

“But if the army is going to Las Pegasus, then—”

“They’ll either stop to establish a forward base or they’ll take over one of the nearby towns. We can make our escape along the way.”

The changeling eyed the contents of the vial, swishing them around a few times, then pulled off the stopper and emptied the substance into his mouth, clearly hating every moment of it. He swallowed, squinted one eye shut, stuck out his tongue, and shuddered. “That was disgusting.”

“Ready?” asked Nodus.

“Ready.”

Beneath the Crystal Castle, Princess Cadance approached Twilight Sparkle. “Sunshine, sunshine—” Twilight joined in for the second line. “—ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” Cadance sighed in relief and embraced Twilight.

“It's ok, everypony,” Shining Armor announced. “It's her.”

“Of course it’s her!” said Starlight as she approached Sunburst. “What’s this all about?”

“A changeling’s been spotted nearby,” he replied.

“A changeling?” blurted Twilight.

“That’s not good,” said Spike.

“No, it’s not,” Cadance agreed.

Starlight was unfazed. “Blue or Green?”

“Uh, more black, actually,” Sunburst said.

Starlight stared blankly for a moment before the realization set in. “Right. Alternate version of history.” She raised one hoof and crossed it over her other front leg. “What I meant to say was, it's one of Chrysalis’s changelings, right?”

“After Chrysalis took my place at our wedding and invaded Canterlot with her army of minions—”

Here we go, Starlight thought as she forced an expression of concern and curiosity onto her face.

“—we’re not taking any chances.”

“Changelings feed off love, and ever since Flurry Heart’s Crystalling, the Empire has been filled with more love than anywhere in Equestria.” He turned his attention to Flurry. “It’s possible they’ve come for the baby.”

“That’s why we posted the extra guards,” said Shining Armor. “And why we’re—”

“—checking everypony’s identity,” Twilight finished.

“I’m sorry for all of this,” Cadance apologized. “Flurry Heart’s really been looking forward to seeing you!”

Flurry Heart squealed as Twilight approached. “Oh, she’s gotten so big! Starlight and I will do whatever we can to help protect her!”

“To be honest, having you here is already a big relief,” Cadance said, a tired but genuine smile on her lips.

Shining Armor whispered something to Princess Cadance. Her eyes grew a little wider for a moment before she regained her composure and nodded. “Starlight Glimmer, come with me.”

Starlight turned her body to face Cadance as she walked past her. “Is—something wrong?”

Cadance froze mid-stride, one hoof still in the air. She began again after a pause. “You’ve never stayed in the castle before, have you?” She turned her head a little farther, revealing a smile. “Please, let me show you to your room.”

Cadance began walking again, and Starlight cast Twilight a glance. She nodded back, so Starlight trotted after the Princess. Cadance opened the door on one of the spire’s legs, revealing a staircase. She and Starlight ascended in silence. Once they reached the landing at the top, Cadance turned to face Starlight. “How do you know about the Blue Changelings?”

Starlight felt her ears flatten. “Am I in trouble?”

“That depends on your answer,” she said. Her face was a perfect mask, disclosing no emotion, no clues as to what the right answer might be.

“Well, as you might already know, I tinkered with one of Star Swirl’s time travel spells and I—”

How many more ponies am I going to have to explain this to?

“—I nearly caused a bunch of bad timelines to happen. Except, I guess I did cause a bunch of bad timelines to happen. So, Twilight is making me fix them all. I’ve been working in a timeline where the Blue Changelings are helping to overthrow Chrysalis. After she overthrew Celestia and Luna.”

A few seconds passed in silence as Cadance shifted her weight among her hooves. “You can ask Princess Twilight,” Starlight added. “She’ll say the same thing.”

After a pause, Cadance gave her reply. “You’ve come across information which in our timeline is confidential, Starlight. Do not mention the Blue Changelings here again.”

Starlight felt her gut wretch. Yup. I’m in trouble.

“Yes, Princess. I didn’t know. I’m sorry,” she said, each sentence in rapid succession. “Does this mean the Blue Changelings are still active in this world?”

“I cannot answer that. Do not ask about the Blue Changelings again.”

Just shut your mouth, Starlight. “Yes, Princess.”

Starlight felt her heart pounding in her chest; she heard it in her ears. She kept her ears flat and dropped her gaze from the Princess. Then she heard Cadance step closer. She watched from the corner of her eye as she moved alongside her, then wrapped a wing around her barrel. “Now,” Cadance began in a lighter tone, “I was showing you to your room…”

“Lead the way!” Starlight said, still feeling a little shaken. Cadance withdrew her wing and began walking down the hall. Only once she had taken a few strides did Starlight move to follow her.

“Any questions about the alchemic horns?” asked a major, the commanding officer of Timberwolf Company. None of the soldiers seated on the ground before him answered. “Great. Get with your squad and come get your gear,” he said, gesturing to the wooden crates beside him. “Congratulations or good luck, depending on whether you feel like a trailblazer or a guinea pig.”

Bon Bon watched on with Rainbow Dash as the troops approached the first box and pried off the wooden lid. “So what's the plan?” asked Rainbow.

“Between the five of us, there should be enough ponies to instruct the soldiers,” said the major. Bon Bon glanced past him to Sunburst and Starlight, who were overseeing the distribution of the alchemic horns. “We’ll each have three squads—twenty-seven soldiers, nine of each race. There will be one unicorn to each pegasus and earth pony pair.”

“Which squads do you want us to take?” asked Rainbow.

“If you'll take First through Third squads, and if Bon Bon will take Fourth through Sixth, then I'll divide Seventh through Fifteenth between myself and the others,” he said as he gestured towards Starlight and Sunburst.

“Sounds good,” replied Rainbow. “Squads One, Two, and Three, come with me!” she called as she backed up a short distance.

“Four, Five, and Six, over here!” Bon Bon called as she trotted off in a different direction. Soon, she had three columns of troops before her. Each block of nine soldiers represented one squad—three unicorns in the front, three earth ponies in the middle, three pegasi in the back. Six in each squad now wore alchemic horns on their heads.

“You’ll notice I’m not a unicorn. I’m an earth pony.” It wasn’t a lie. At least, not exactly. She could be many things. She could be anything. Right now, she was an earth pony. “As such, I won’t be able to answer all of your questions. Unicorns, that’s where you come in. There’s one of me and eighteen non-unicorns. I can give out some general pointers. But your squadmates are going to look primarily to you to instruct them.

“I don’t know exactly what they told you all in basic, but I assume they emphasized total discipline of body, mind, and emotions at every stage of your training. That discipline is crucial to manipulating magic because unicorn magic is an extension of your emotions, at least in my understanding of it. You’ll also need to utilize your willpower in order to manipulate magic.

“Now, let’s break into trios, one of each race per trio. Unicorns, instruct the others. Pegasi, earth ponies, your goal is to each levitate one object by the end of this session. I’ll be available to instruct you as needed.”

The ponies did just as they were asked, quickly dispersing throughout the area. Bon Bon walked among them as the unicorns each instructed their respective pegasus and earth pony.

One pony in particular caught her eye. Her mane—at least what she could see of it under the helmet—was styled neatly in accordance with regulation. A quick glance at the mare’s flank was to no avail in identification; her cutie mark was hidden by her uniform. But what really caught her eye was the mint color of the mare’s coat and the two-tone light mint of her mane.

Bon Bon’s heart fluttered. She tried to ignore the feelings welling up inside her, but she just had to know the mare’s identity. She couldn’t possibly be… She’s in Timberwolf Company. Timberwolf starts with T, and Pinkamena got put in Ursa, which is a U. She shouldn’t be here. Unless… Unless she joined before Pinkamena—before Ursa was formed.

Bon Bon approached the mare. She hesitated a moment before calling her name. “L—Lyra?”

The mare turned and looked at her, a look of confusion in her big pink eyes. She looked behind her, then back at Bon Bon. “Lyra, ma’am?”

Bon Bon’s heart sank. “You—Sorry. You look like somepony I know,” she said with a sigh. “It’s nothing.”

As she turned to walk away, she felt her cheeks flush—not a part of her disguise, but a genuine expression. She soon remembered that she had just reminded her squads about emotional discipline, and then she began to feel guilty and out of place.

To ease her conscience, Bon Bon cast a glance at the other squads, and she quickly singled out Rainbow Dash. She was sure it was her this time. When she looked on her, she somehow felt better. She reflexively took a deep breath, and she became faintly aware of the love pooled inside her. She hadn’t had this much love since she was last with Lyra. Though, something still felt missing inside her. Rainbow loved her, and she loved Rainbow, yet she couldn’t help feeling as if she was holding back—as if retaining feelings for Lyra was getting in the way of accepting love from Rainbow Dash. And while ponies didn’t need love to survive like changelings did, she knew Rainbow liked being with her. Ponies loved to love, and Bon Bon was quickly becoming something of an expert at getting Rainbow to express her love.

Rainbow finished with her conversation, then turned to walk away. Then, Bon Bon saw her pause and look around. Eventually, she turned and looked straight at her. For a moment, Bon Bon fought to keep her breathing under control as Rainbow stared at her. She watched as she shifted uneasily and lowered her chin just a bit. Bon Bon felt the tension—the desire, the distance—and she wished they were somewhere more private so they could talk.

Rainbow’s ears pricked and she turned her attention away. A subtle shift in Bon Bon’s gaze brought into focus a pegasus who was asking her a question about his alchemic horn.

Bon Bon sighed and resumed walking among her squads, but not before making a mental note to talk with Rainbow at a later time.

A hundred questions raced through Starlight’s mind as she sat in the Crystal Empire library, an open book held aloft in her magic. What happens if there really is a Green Changeling in the Crystal Empire? What if we capture it? Will the guards interrogate it? Or worse? Maybe I could get help. Maybe Bon Bon? But is Bon Bon a changeling in this timeline? What if when I delayed the Rainboom, I affected her becoming a changeling? What if—

“How’s it going?”

“Wha—!” Starlight dropped the book she was holding. Twilight sat opposite her, wearing a smile that quickly disappeared.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize how hard you were concentrating.”

Starlight looked down at the open book she had dropped onto the table. “I think I found something that might work as part of a protection spell for Flurry Heart.” She turned the book around and slid it across the table towards Twilight. “Combining dissimulato confractus with a regular shield spell would strip away any changeling disguise on contact.”

“Great! Now when the changelings arrive, we’ll be ready!”

“Changelings? Plural? I thought they only saw one.”

“Where there’s one changeling, there’s probably more. Like, a lot more.”

“Twilight?” Starlight asked nervously. “I feel like I have to ask this before I go casting spells on all my problems again: How do we know the changelings here in this world are beyond hope? Who’s to say they aren’t potential Blue Changelings like back in the other timeline? Bon Bon got a few to flip sides during the raid at Cloudsdale.”

Twilight looked all around the library before giving her answer in a hushed tone. “Honestly, I don’t know. But I do know that I’m really not supposed to talk about the Blue Changelings here. It could get us in a lot of trouble.”

“Yeah, I figured.” She rose and headed for the door, re-reading the spell one last time as she walked.

At the door of the library, Starlight sighed. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I just can't get this idea out of my head. What if all this is actually a friendship problem? We don’t know anything about this changeling until we capture it and ask it some questions.”

Twilight beamed. “Starlight! You recognized a potential friendship problem all on your own! I'm so proud of you!” Twilight hugged her for a moment, then returned to all fours just as suddenly. “Still, it's only a potential friendship problem. I’ll be honest; I can't get the thought out of the back of my mind either. But the only time changelings have ever appeared in this world, they've been bent on taking away everything we hold dear. We can't afford to let our guard down. We can’t give into these doubts and second-guess ourselves.”

“I—guess that makes sense,” Starlight said, even though she felt her ears swivel to face behind her. “Between the two of us, I'd rather capture the changeling myself and, for its own protection, not let it out of my sight.”

“But if there really is more than one changeling, and if they try to come between me and my niece—”

“I understand. If it comes to a fight, you can protect Flurry Heart, and I'll deal with the changelings.”

“I’ll do whatever I have to,” Twilight said. “These aren't the changelings you're familiar with.”

Starlight watched as Twilight opened the door and began to leave. You do what you have to; I'll do what I have to. Starlight followed Twilight out the door.

“I guess we can start by taking this book back to Princess Cadance and casting the spell on Flurry Heart.” Starlight folded the corner of the page, closed the book, and started levitating it towards her saddlebags.

“Starlight! What are you doing?”

“What? We need this book.”

“You folded! The corner! Here, use a bookmark instead. I have extra.”

Starlight raised an eyebrow as Twilight levitated a bookmark towards her. “Do you always carry bookmarks with you?”

“Always. Well, unless I’m in the shower. But sometimes I read a book while I’m taking a bath!”

“Okay! That’s—great!” Starlight felt her cheeks grow warm. She buried her gaze in the book as she unfolded the corner and inserted the bookmark. “Let's just—get back to the castle without talking any more about baths.”

If the soldiers under Imperial Topaz’s command had any private fears or excitement about the arrival of the carriage in Las Pegasus, they hid such feelings from their faces. Topaz walked between two columns of crystal regulars, their helmets hiding their expressions. How she envied the fragile sense of security that came from having one’s face veiled. How it would make this reunion so much easier.

Next, she passed the soldiers who were more nearly her equals: the other officers. These were individuals of rank and significance. Such rank was not given lightly; thus it signified these ponies’ dedication to their cause, their country, and most importantly, their king. None of these soldiers required the helms their underlings wore. They had made their own choice. Their allegiance was to the king alone.

When she was very near the carriage, she stopped and waited for their visitor to disembark. After a lifetime of service to the Prince who was now King, it was second nature for her to stand at attention. Yet when she looked at the carriage, all black with green markings, and with the King’s red emblem on the door, she couldn’t help but feel just a little smaller and weaker as she stood. Her eyes darted from one side of the door to the other, as if wondering which way it would open, both anticipating and dreading that moment.

Finally, the door swung open and a pair of honor guards stepped out, taking up posts on either side of the door immediately thereafter. Then, a figure wearing a hooded cloak stepped forward and began walking towards the command center—towards Topaz. She covered the distance between them relatively swiftly with long, confident, and powerful strides.

Topaz couldn’t bear the silence any longer. “High Acolyte Trixie,” she began as she turned to walk with her. “We weren’t expecting you. What brings you out to Las Pegasus?”

“You already know why, Governor,” she said, not even offering Topaz the courtesy of a glance in her direction.

“Acolyte,” she ventured, “have you forgotten your former lieutenant?”

Trixie abruptly came to a stop; Topaz stopped with her. Trixie slowly turned to face her, her red eyes almost glowing beneath her hood, even while the rest of her face was under the shadow if it. “No. I have not forgotten. I have not forgotten your failure.”

“F—failure? We captured one who wielded an Element. We ensured the Mayor was not lost to the enemy. We—”

“—I!” Trixie said as she leaned forward and placed a hoof on her chest. “While you evacuated our command center, I fought the battle. With a little more support from you, we might have won!” Trixie snorted and started walking again. “That is why I am here. To ensure you do not fail again. The prisoner—Where are you keeping him?”

“We had him moved to the command post at your request.”

“Good. I will begin the interrogation immediately.” Trixie then lowered her tone, as if in contemplation. “A changeling caught operating in a city Chrysalis has previously had her eye on… That can only mean increased enemy activity in the city. I want to know why.”

“Do you have any theories as of yet?” she asked as Trixie magically opened the front door to their makeshift command post.

“That’s why I’m here. To interrogate the prisoner.” For a few strides, the pair walked on in silence. “How did you catch the changeling?”

“He was impersonating one of my officers. We found a discrepancy when she was seen two places at once. I ordered her apprehension, and we identified the changeling by separating and questioning them. His actions were unclear, but he appeared to be conducting espionage. We found no evidence; only a pile of ashes in one of my officer’s desk drawers.”

Trixie’s eyes dropped as a pensive expression appeared on her face. The pair rounded a corner, approaching a door guarded by two ponies wielding halberds. “Here he is,” Imperial announced.

Trixie drew a torch out of her cloak. Her horn glowed purple, then black, and the torch lit with a black flame. Imperial halted, her eyes fixated on the tongues of black fire rising from the torch. “What is that?”

“Fire so hot, it burns black. It’s appropriately named Dark Fire.” Trixie opened the door. “The interrogation will begin immediately. This shouldn’t take long.” She entered the room and locked the door behind her.

Starlight watched as Spike and a lanky crystal pony with a dull teal coat walked past the throne room doors. “Spike!” Princess Cadance called.

Spike and the young stallion who was with him approached the foot of the throne. “Twilight told me you were off with a friend,” Cadance said as she descended from her throne.

Spike laughed nervously in response, and the crystal pony bit his lip.

“And any friend of Spike the Brave and Glorious is a friend of mine.” She stepped aside and gestured towards Flurry Heart.

As Spike’s friend approached, Flurry Heart squealed in delight and reached up for him. Starlight couldn’t help but smile. “Oooh, she’s sooo beautiful!” said the pony. “There’s so much l—love around her!” The young stallion began backpedaling. His eyes began to glow faintly. “I—I—” Green flames raced across his form, revealing his true form—he was the changeling. He hissed and growled, baring his fangs and wagging his tongue as he continued to back away.

Starlight’s jaw dropped. He walked right in! We didn’t even notice!

Wish I would have brought some of that paint from the other world, she added as an afterthought.

“I—I’m so—ssssorry!” he hissed. “I ca—can’t sssstop!”

Twilight stepped forward, prompting Starlight to do the same. Starlight readied herself to cast a shield spell, though she hadn’t yet decided who to cast it on.

“Spike, get away from the changeling!”

“Wait! No! You don’t understand!”

Too late. Twilight’s aura enveloped him, and he floated away from the changeling.

“This changeling replaced your friend to get close to the baby!” Sunburst blurted. “What other explanation could there be?”

The words rang in Starlight’s mind. But so did Twilight’s words from back at the library. This isn’t the time to second-guess yourself. These aren’t the changelings from the other world.

I will not harm this changeling, she replied to her doubts. When he makes his move for Flurry Heart, I’ll cast a spell to trap him in crystal.

Spike hesitated before giving Sunburst his answer. “I… I don't know.”

The changeling’s eyes widened and his posture slackened, and then he turned to flee. Starlight even thought she heard him whimper. He was out the door before Starlight could even light her horn.

As she was processing what just happened, the guards rushed past her. “After him! Don’t let the changeling escape!”

“I hope your friend is ok,” Cadance said.

“Yeah,” Spike mumbled. “Me too.”

Starlight moved to follow, but Cadance called her back. “Stay here, Starlight. You're one of two ponies who has the protection spell for Flurry Heart. That may have been just a distraction for a full-scale attack.”

“What are we going to do after we capture this one?” she asked.

“Let's focus on capturing it first,” she replied. “Once it's safely locked away, we'll plan our next move.” The Princess’s tone was firm and authoritative. Starlight saw little hope that the changeling would be looked upon favorably.

After nearly a half hour of shouting, bumping, and screaming, the room Imperial Topaz was standing just outside of fell eerily silent. When at last the door burst open, Trixie emerged wearing a barely-veiled look of shock and concern and began walking down the hall. A quick peek into the room revealed scorch marks on the walls and floor, black crystals growing out of the walls and ceiling, and in the midst of it all, a crying changeling in the fetal position. “What did you find out, Acolyte?” asked Imperial Topaz as she closed the door and moved to follow.

“You’re going to need more troops. I will deliver my report to the King. I’m going to need living quarters for at least a week.

Imperial froze. “You’re—staying here?”

“Yes. And one other thing,” Trixie paused and turned her head just enough to see over her shoulder. “I want a second set of living quarters arranged for the King. See to it.”

Imperial felt her gut wretch. The King and his acolyte here? Together? I need—more troops? She stared dumbfounded at Trixie until she had rounded the corner. Then, she turned and went the opposite direction.

Cadance’s court stood in stunned silence. Spike had not only found the changeling and convinced him to return, but he had actually defended him. But more stunning than all the rest was his claim that the changeling was his friend.

Starlight felt so many things all at once. She felt a little surprised that she had been right, while at the same time feeling vindicated for the same reason, yet she also felt guilty that she hadn’t done more.

It wasn’t Starlight who moved first, but Twilight. She approached the crystal guards, and they parted for her, filling the space again after she had stepped through. “Spike, I’m so proud of you,” she began.

“You are?”

“Of course!” she replied, giving him a quick hug. “You’re a celebrity here in the Crystal Empire, and you just risked all of it for a friend. I can’t imagine anything more brave than that.”

Twilight turned and faced the rest of the ponies. “As the Princess of Friendship, I try to set an example for all of Equestria. But today, it was Spike who taught me that a new friend can come from anywhere. I guess everypony still has something to learn about friendship—even me. And if Spike says Thorax is his friend, then he’s my friend too.” Twilight turned back to Thorax and extended her hoof.

Thorax readily accepted. “Thank you!” he said before wiping a tear from his eye.

“On behalf of the Crystal Empire,” Cadance declared, “I would like to extend my hoof in friendship, and I’m sure all my subjects are willing to do the same.”

The crystal guards cheered, and Starlight found herself cheering with them.

“Welcome to the Crystal Empire, Thorax,” said Shining Armor. “I’m sorry we never took the time to get to know you. Maybe we can change that now.”

Seeing the Empire’s staunchest defender finally accept the changeling brought a smile to both Starlight’s and Thorax’s faces. “That’d be so amazing!” Thorax said. “I want to know all about friendship, and maybe one day I can take that knowledge back to the Crystal Kingdom. If my kind learned how to create love from one another, maybe they wouldn’t have to take it from others!”

Starlight raised a hoof to her chin. But… changelings have always been symbiotes. Even the Blue Changelings are. Is what he described even possible?

She didn’t have long to think. “To Spike the Brave and Glorious!” shouted a guard. The guards began cheering anew, but this time Starlight walked over towards Twilight.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to learn how to recognize friendship problems,” Starlight said. “I see now that prioritizing friendship opens up options we might not have even known were there. Like Spike’s friendship with Thorax, for instance.”

“And I’m sorry I called you back,” Twilight replied as she drew Starlight into an embrace. “It’s just—I worry about you sometimes. I get nervous when I see an apparent lack of progress and not very much communication.” Twilight stepped back, but kept a hoof on Starlight’s shoulder. “I only want you to succeed.”

“I know. I promise I’ll do better about communicating with you.”

The changeling approached Starlight undisguised. “So, you said your name was—Thorax?”

“Yup! That’s me.” Thorax stuck his hoof out expectantly.

“I’m Starlight Glimmer,” she said, accepting the hoofshake. “I can’t wait to get to know you.”

Ch. 12: All Eyes on the Prize

The remainder of Starlight’s stay in the Crystal Empire was comparably uneventful, save for a long afternoon conversation with her old friend Sunburst. Starlight felt out of place in the specially-prepared room at the restaurant Sunburst had chosen, but he reminded her that he was the royal crystaller now, and that his position came with a high social standing. With a dismissive wave of his hoof, he stated that the accommodations were only there so they could catch a moment of quiet away from the adoring public eye.

They discussed just about everything together. The royal baby, the Empire, Starlight’s mission, and her friends in that other world. And, of course, Thorax the changeling. Which led Starlight straight into the topic of another changeling, one from the other timeline, whom she tried not to describe in too much detail (as Princess Cadance would have liked).

Though, perhaps caught up in the excitement of the night, they had neglected to talk about one thing: themselves. When they rose from the table after their meal, Sunburst surprised her with a hug, and Starlight found herself unsure what to do in response. She hesitantly hugged him back, but hoped he didn’t notice her laid-back ears or tense chest. She was just glad he wasn’t able to see her face, which displayed a swirling mix of emotions too complex to understand in the moment.

But all that was a memory now as she stood beside Twilight’s throne, holding Twilight’s journal in her magic. Sitting back down to write, the pleasant memories of the day before stuck with her, more shadows of feelings than feelings themselves.

When Starlight held her own journal—which was now with the other Starlight—she felt a connection to Twilight; holding Twilight’s journal was akin to looking into a mirror while her horn was lit—she could feel not Twilight on the other side, but herself. However, the magic reflected from the journal was far more concentrated than the magic from any mirror she’d ever felt.

Trying her best to ignore these feelings, she laid the journal on the table and began to write.

Dear Starlight Glimmer, she wrote,

My time in my home world is almost up. I’ve been reminded that an ally a friend can come from anywhere, and that even the ones most resistant to change can be worn down. I've also come to better understand my own method of problem-solving, both its benefits and its drawbacks, and I've seen my world take its first step towards accepting good changelings.

That said, it's time for me to go back. Being home with friends has helped me refocus, but my assignment is in your world, and I’ve hardly scratched the surface of my task. I want to be back there as soon as possible. There’s so much I still have to do.

Tell Rainbow Dash I’m ready to return. If she can arrange transportation, we can schedule a time that works for both of us. If not, I’ll head out as soon as I can on hoof.

Your friend,

Starlight began to sign the letter, then sighed and crossed out what she had written. She then wrote a different name—the name she’d used in the fallen timeline.

Starlig Time Skipper

She felt somehow different once she had written that name. The feelings of contentment and security that she had previously felt like a blanket around her were replaced with a generalized gravity and urgency. But even those feelings yielded to the mild frustration that arose as she realized the saddlebags she’d just unpacked from her trip south would have to be packed again.

The open door to Rainbow’s office creaked open a little further. “Hey uh, Rainbow? Do you have a moment?” a familiar voice called out.

Rainbow looked up from her notes for the upcoming Council meeting to see an undisguised Blue Changeling standing over the threshold. “What's up, Bon Bon?” she asked in a cheerful tone.

Without a word, Bon Bon made her way into the office, crossed the room, and stepped into a chair. She laid down, crossed her front hooves, then laid her head down on them. The lightest part of her otherwise solid blue eyes came to rest at the bottom of her eyes—an indication to Rainbow that Bon Bon was staring at the floor.

“You ok?” Rainbow asked.

She hesitated before replying. “It—it's Lyra.”

“What about her?”

“I know she's changed. And she’s moved on. But—I still can't help feeling things for her. Changelings are conduits for love, accepting and reflecting it with ease, but we still form close bonds with those we gain love from.”

Rainbow's gaze dropped to her desk where her nearly-completed notes still sat. She ignored them, instead putting her front hooves together and leaning slightly forward. As her eyes rose to meet Bon Bon’s, she shifted a little in her seat.

Bon Bon continued once Rainbow had settled into her new position. “It's hard adapting to life without her. We've been apart for months, but we were together before that for years. When she broke up with me—” she sighed, “—it was just… so sudden. I thought I’d made sure this wouldn’t happen.”

“Bon Bon, you know I'm here for you.”

“Of course you are, but—I’m still torn. If Lyra came back into my life today, part of me would want to accept her back and pick back up right where we left off.”

“And the other part?” Rainbow asked.

“Lyra—isn't my marefriend anymore. You are.” She sighed and shook her head. “I don’t even know why I’m still using terms like ‘marefriend.’ Maybe because I used to be a pony.” She paused briefly before raising her head and looking back at Rainbow. “I don't want you to feel like I'm holding out. For changelings, hoarding love is frowned upon. Well, unless your name is Chrysalis. And even she knows it's wrong because she's the only one allowed to do it. Radiating out love in the absence of a target is wasteful besides.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “You have to be near Lyra to give her love?”

“Not give. Changelings can't do that. We can only dissipate our excess.” Bon Bon shook her head. “Rainbow…”

“Right. Sorry.” She squirmed in her seat. “Bon Bon, I don't feel cheated that you still feel stuff for Lyra. These things can be...” she fumbled for the right word, “...long. Long and drawn out and—I understand wanting to be with somepony you can’t be with. Maybe not exactly in the same way, but I do understand.” Rainbow pushed her chair back, rose from her seat, and approached Bon Bon. “We’re in this together.”

Rainbow put a foreleg around Bon Bon’s shoulder, prompting Bon Bon to smile and do the same. She then looked up behind Bon Bon at the clock on the wall. “Ready for the meeting?”

Bon Bon drew out of the embrace. “Of course. Got some important news to share with the Council.”

“What’s up?” She walked back over to the desk and collected her notes. They weren’t completely finished, but they were close enough that she could improvise the rest on the spot.

“You’ll have to wait until the meeting,” she replied with a smile.

Rainbow chuckled as she looked away. She closed the folder that contained her notes, then slid it into the saddlebags next to the desk. Before she could pick up her bags, she felt something smooth brush up against her side. She turned her head to see Bon Bon right beside her.

Bon Bon laid a wing over Rainbow’s back and pulled her close with a strength that seemed impossible for her small, thin wings. “Thank you,” she said in a low voice, “for understanding. And—for loving.” She gave Rainbow a peck on the lips, and Rainbow reciprocated.

Rainbow freed her wing from being pinned against Bon Bon, and then hugged her with it. Bon Bon slid her head under Rainbow’s neck and began rubbing up and down. Her one free wing began vibrating, producing an almost inaudible hum, and she began producing a low, growl-like noise in her throat.

“Are you—purring?” Rainbow closed one eye as the spines on the back of Bon Bon’s neck brushed up against her face, yet she couldn’t help but smile. Then she noticed they were faintly glowing again, and this time, it looked as if Bon Bon’s wings were glowing brighter than the rest of her body.

Bon Bon sighed contentedly. “Oh Rainbow, I haven’t had this much love since I was with—well, in a long time.” She stopped moving her neck and withdrew her wing, prompting Rainbow to do the same. Rainbow turned around to face her. It had taken her some time to recognize changeling facial expressions. Changeling eyes closed sideways, which initially threw her off. Bon Bon's changeling eyes—which were not the compound eyes of the flies in her science books in school—were surprisingly similar to pony eyes. The highlights of light were like pupils, and the sideways lids were less foreign now that she was more familiar with them. Standing face to face with Bon Bon, she saw happiness in her smile, but tiredness in her eyes.

“Someday, this war’s gonna end. It’ll just be me and you then. We could—get serious. If—that’s you want.”

Bon Bon hesitated briefly before responding. “I—think I’d like that.” She turned and used her magic to open the door, holding it open for Rainbow as she walked through.

Rainbow was surprised to see a Blue Changeling waiting outside her door. The two made eye contact, and the changeling nodded politely. Rainbow repeated the gesture and continued walking. Must have followed Bon Bon to my office.

“vzz/kk-zt/chk!” the changeling said once Rainbow had passed.

Bon Bon gasped, prompting Rainbow to turn her head. “By the King! Bogong! vzz/kk-zt/chk!” she repeated the phrase back. She embraced him with a foreleg, then pressed her head against the other changeling’s, their horns crossing near the base. “We lost contact just before our operation at Cloudsdale. We thought you'd been captured by Chrysalis!” She drew her head away from the other changeling.

“I was,” he said. “But I found someone. Or, someone found me, actually.” He produced a sealed letter and hoofed it over to Bon Bon. Rainbow went and stood beside her as she opened the envelope and pulled out a letter.

Rainbow squinted at the paper. The writing wasn't just an ugly display of penponyship; it didn't even look like it was written in Ponish. Each line of characters sat just underneath either straight, curved, or squiggly lines that stretched across entire words, while the characters themselves were from an unknown alphabet. “What am I looking at?” she asked.

“It's Hive Script,” Bon Bon explained. “Written language of the changelings. The lines are spoken with the wings, and the characters are spoken with the voice. Even the few ponies who can read it can't speak it.”

“It's a perfect code,” Rainbow said in wonder.

“Well, it would be, if half the creatures trying to kill us couldn't speak and read it fluently.” Bon Bon fell into silence as she read the letter.

At last, she raised her eyes to meet the other changeling’s. “No way! You mean you met—”

The other changeling nodded.

“And he's—”

Another nod, this time with a smile.

His smile soon reflected on Bon Bon’s face. “Finally, some good news!”

“What’s the news?” asked Rainbow.

“We've found one of my colleagues from my time back in the agency. A changeling.” Bon Bon was brimming with excitement. “I’ll tell you on the way to the meeting. They’ve got to hear this!”

The aft quarters of Chrysalis’s stolen airship afforded a breathtaking view of the sky all around in three directions. Yet had Chrysalis needed to know the color of the sky at that exact moment, she couldn’t have said. However, if someone had asked about the current state of her daughter, she could have described that in great detail.

The queen sat behind her desk, propping her head on her hooves as she watched Princess Pupa at play on the floor below. The changeling larva levitated a number of brightly colored animal toys in her turquoise magic, making with her voice a perfect imitation of each animal.

But it wasn't long before Pupa seemed to tire of imitation, and began to control the animals herself. She levitated above the rest a green parrot and an eagle whose brown feathers transitioned to red near the wings, and made them fight. She squawked for the parrot and shrieked for the eagle, and made the two birds clash dramatically as they flew towards one another.

Then, something on the floor caught her attention, and her magic leapt to envelop a blue jay, which she threw into the fray. She seemed to favor the eagle and the blue jay over the parrot, which squawked one last time before “flying” away.

As she followed the toy with her eyes, Pupa’s gaze crossed her mother's. She lowered the toy and giggled sheepishly. “Go on,” Chrysalis gently urged. “What happens next?”

Pupa glanced back at the other two birds. After a moment of thought, she made two piles of the other toys and set each remaining bird atop one of the piles. The two sat facing each other, each guarding its hoard against the other.

“And to the victors go the spoils!” Chrysalis said with a chuckle. She lowered her head a little as a smile crept onto her face. “You are cunning and wise, my daughter. You’re going to make a wonderful queen one day,” she said as she picked up her daughter in her magic and tapped her muzzle with a hoof. Pupa giggled with delight as she cradled her in her hooves.

Chrysalis perked up when she heard a knock at the door. “Come in,” she called. Pharynx, in full armor, opened the door and entered the room.

“We’re almost at our destination, your Majesty. What are your plans for the attack?”

Chrysalis returned her left front hoof to the ground as she shifted Pupa to her right front leg. “The armored vehicles will be at the head of the column as we make our advance. Once they make contact, the ground troops behind will fan out to cover our right and left flanks.”

Pharynx gestured towards Pupa. “What about the princess? If the battle turns against us, will you use her magic to end the fight?”

Pupa squirmed and reached for her toys on the floor. Chrysalis smiled and levitated her down towards the deck. “My daughter and I will remain here aboard the command vessel unless the situation is truly dire. I have total faith in my troops, and in our new weapon. Your orders are to keep this airship out of the fight unless absolutely necessary. Protect me and especially protect Princess Pupa.”

“Yes, my Queen,” he said with a salute. “I will tell the other guards.”

Pharynx departed, leaving Chrysalis with her foal, Pupa now holding the parrot gently as it to console it after its loss.

With her notes spread out in front of her, Rainbow nodded at the royal guards by the door. They left their posts just inside the door and exited the Council room, closing the doors after them. “If everypony would find their seats,” Rainbow said over the room's current conversations, “we’ll get started.”

The room's conversations quickly gave way to the sounds of rustling papers and sliding chairs as the ponies and changelings took their places. The room looked to be not quite twice as full as normal, and those who did not have seats stood next to the others.

Shining Armor began. “Welcome, non Council members, to our monthly Doubles Meeting.” His glanced quickly around the room. Rainbow followed his eyes, stopping at each standing figure around the room. Next to Spitfire stood Soarin. Bon Bon had brought along Bogong. Shining Armor had with him a royal guard. Next to Sunburst stood Starlight, and next to Big Macintosh stood Flam.

“First off,” Shining continued, “reporting for me will be Spearhead.” He turned and nodded to the royal guard beside him.

“Recruitment is proceeding ahead of schedule. More and more ponies are signing up to do their part. Even if it means taking a pay cut for a few weeks.”

“A pay cut?” asked Rainbow.

“Yes, ma’am. Even with the taxes from Manehattan, Fillydelphia, and the surrounding areas at our hooves, There still isn’t enough to go around.”

“I’ve started up a voluntary program for officers to accept a lower pay rate,” Shining Armor said. “It’s had limited success, but it hasn’t been particularly popular.”

“You can say that again,” Pinkamena added.

Limestone uncrossed her forelegs and put her hooves on the table. “Some households are being asked to slash two or three paychecks every other week.”

“We’re keeping a record of every bit that isn’t being paid out,” Shining Armor said, “and we will repay what we’re short once we have the funds to do so.”

“With what money?” asked Big Macintosh. “I have to agree with the Pies. Every pony we take on as a soldier, that’s one more mouth we gotta feed. It's too late in the year to grow any more food, so either we ain’t gonna have enough food for everypony, or we’re gonna have to buy more in bulk from somewhere, with money we ain’t got. We didn’t plan for this many soldiers at the beginning of the growin’ season!”

While Applejack smiled and mumbled something about fancy mathematics, Sunburst began stroking his goatee. “We could levy another war tax, but I don’t think the economy can handle much more. I’d advise against war bonds too, as those will have to be paid back with interest. And if we’re still recovering from the war, that debt could stall out our economy for years to come.”

Limestone leaned back and crossed her forelegs again. “You could cut back on spending for your pet projects. That’d be a start.”

Sunburst looked personally attacked by Limestone’s remark. “The alchemic horn is a weapon that has tremendous potential! And Project Phoenix will give us a decisive advantage against Chrysalis!”

“None of us even know what Project Phoenix is!” she fired back.

Rainbow glanced to Spitfire, then to Shining Armor. Both were already giving her a knowing glance.

“That’s not true!” Sunburst shouted back. “Several of us do! It’s just—it’s top secret right now!”

After Sunburst had finished, Flam cleared his throat. “If I may?” He paused rhetorically, but never actually waited for permission to continue. “What you need is a new source of income. One that’s been previously untapped and unrealized! One that will draw in revenue long after the war ends so that you can rebuild. But of course, it also needs to be viable during the war. But! What if I told you I know just the source?”

He smiled slyly before ushering in another long pause. Applejack and Big Macintosh exchanged worried glances. Bon Bon shifted in her seat.

“Well?” Spitfire finally asked.

“I propose that we set up government-run gaming establishments here in Manehattan to draw in crowds of tourists! I have—something of a history with such establishments in the past. I could supervise the day-to-day operations. Why, I’d build us a gaming empire the likes of which would rival Las Pegasus! All our money problems would be over!”

Though Rainbow’s attention was directed at Flam, Applejack’s slow reaction caught her eye. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth fell open as she leaned her head back, giving the impression of a slow-motion gasp. “You can’t do that.” She looked to the others for approval. “W—we can’t do that!” she repeated, more emphatically this time.

“Why not?” asked Flam, turning to face Applejack.

“You—you’re wantin’ to build a casino?”

Flam’s only reply was a smile.

“That’s your plan? Robbin’ ponies blind through gamblin’?”

“Robbing?” Flam asked, indignant. “Gaming is a perfectly legitimate industry.”

“Gamblin’ destroys homes!” Applejack shouted. She turned to the rest of the Council and hunched her neck as if she were telling a ghost story. “Once a pony starts to gamble, it ain’t long before they’re runnin’ out to the casino and blowin’ their entire paycheck in a single night, leavin’ nothin’ for their family!”

“Did that old hag back on your farm scare you into believing that, hmm, country girl?”

Applejack whirled to face Flam. Her tone was deep and low. “You take that back this instant. I ain’t gonna hear you talkin’ ‘bout my granny like that ever again. Clear as mud?”

Flam leaned away from the changeling and shifted his gaze towards the others. “Regardless, there are other sources of income than gaming in a casino. Restaurants, hotels, game tournaments, clubs with membership fees—”

“—drinks, ponies of ill repute,” interrupted Bon Bon.

For a moment, a look of shock flashed across Flam’s face.

“I've been out to Las Pegasus a few times before on—business,” she continued. “It's a completely different atmosphere at night than during the daytime. Drinking makes you stupid, especially when money is involved. Or, in my case, sensitive information. And the pretty fillies—they cheapen love into a product to be bought and sold. Which, for a changeling, is sickening.”

“That—may be true,” Flam began, “but the benefits outweigh all the drawbacks!”

“A tiny compromise is still a compromise,” Applejack said. “And it’s that much bigger when it’s your morals that you’re compromisin’.”

“You think we’ll be lying to these ponies?” Flam asked. “Not every patron will win big at the gaming table. But, we never promised them big wins, only chances,” he said, a smirk creeping onto his face.

“I just want you to know,” Bon Bon said, “you won’t be tricking us into this. You will set this plan into motion only with our approval.”

Applejack blubbered in shock. “Wha—You’re actually entertainin’ this ridiculous scheme?” Her expression shifted from one of indignation to one of betrayal as she softened her tone. “I ain't gonna have this on my conscience.”

Flam rolled his eyes, but Spitfire spoke up first. “You don’t have to. You’re still only the former Element of Honesty. If you wish to abstain from voting, then you’re free to do so.”

“You know I’d rather vote nay than sit silent and let this go through.”

“We all agree that something has to be done,” said Flam.

“And most of us agree that turnin’ Manehattan into another Las Pegasus ain't it,” Applejack added. A pause followed as the two stared each other down.

“Speaking of Las Pegasus,” Bon Bon said, “reports have started coming in saying Chrysalis is moving on the city with an army—and her foal.”

“Her foal?” asked Rainbow. “Last time she went to a city with her foal—”

“I know. We have to intervene. Luckily, I have an agent already tracking Chrysalis’s movements,” she said, growing excited. “He goes by the name ‘The Giver,’ and he has been a long time supporter of King Chitin. He’s been out of contact since the agency was disbanded years back by Celestia, but he resurfaced when he passed a letter along through Bogong, who he rescued.”

“You finally found him?” asked Rainbow.

“I know. I couldn’t believe it either.”

“But yes, it’s true about Las Pegasus,” said the second changeling, Bogong. “Chrysalis is planning to strike very soon. I tried to get an exact date, but my questioning only raised suspicions and lost me my cover. I was lucky to get out alive.” The changeling hung his head.

“It’s ok,” said Bon Bon, raising his head with her magic. “The information you brought us is invaluable.” She turned to the rest of the table. “We must do something quickly if we want to use Las Pegasus in our future plans. Chrysalis has been inactive ever since the attack on Cloudsdale. She’s probably been planning this for some time.” She glanced over to Bogong, who nodded.

“Speaking of Cloudsdale,” Shining Armor asked, “How’s the investigation going on that destroyed changeling airship?”

“The joint Wonderbolt-Blue Changeling investigation of the crashed airship is complete,” Soarin said.

“And?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“It wasn’t scuttled from the inside by the changelings,” Soarin said. “It was—” he paused and glanced at Spitfire, who had given him her full attention. “It was shot through on the bottom of the balloon. The Blue Changelings buried the changeling corpses, but there was—a pegasus corpse as well. We believe it to be Lightning Dust’s remains.”

Rainbow was close enough to Spitfire to hear her swear under her breath. She paused and gave her a moment before addressing her. “Spitfire? This—may seem like a lot coming from me, but I think it would be good if you buried her with honor.”

Spitfire closed her eyes as her ears fell back. “I—would do nothing less.” Spitfire’s eyes opened again, though she didn’t look up from the table. “We will spare no expense to honor her, and her sacrifice.”

Rainbow exhaled deeply, relieved that no tension came of her suggestion. “Zecora, you have anything to report?” she asked.

“Nothing new,” she said.

“How ‘bout you?”

“Shining Armor and Soarin already covered my points.”

“If Las Pegasus really is in that much danger,” Pinkamena said during the pause, “then we should do something.”

“And I do have rich and well-connected friends there,” said Flam. Applejack groaned.

“Then it would seem that our pathway is clear.

We must to Las Pegasus draw near,” said Zecora.

“It would appear that way,” seconded Shining Armor. “Now we just have to figure out how much of our resources and how many specialists to send.”

An air of dread radiated from the carriage in front of the Crystal Empire’s command post. Even though he had yet to disembark, Imperial Topaz felt his presence as keenly as if he stood before her. She felt his aura of power and intimidation, strength and control. And when the door to the carriage opened, her very breath caught in her throat.

For a moment, the King locked eyes with her, and for the first time since the war’s start, she stood face to face with that pony—more a shadow of a unicorn than an actual one. He was so like a unicorn in many ways, yet so unlike. His eyes, his horn, and his projected aura which drowned all hope in an inescapable fear of his wrath all clued her in to the fact that this was no mere unicorn. Out of equal parts conditioning and fear, she bowed to her king.

Standing beside her, Trixie bowed too. Topaz stole a glance at her, and the poise with which she bowed displayed an uncharacteristic calmness for the situation. It was as ominous as it was unnatural. How similar to him must she have become?

As Trixie began to rise, so too did Imperial Topaz. “Long live the King,” Topaz said.

“And short live the queen of the changelings,” said Trixie.

Imperial Topaz’s heart jumped up into her throat. Surely she’s not going to get away with saying that! It’s always “Long live the King!”

But Sombra smiled. “If the troops are in order as I commanded, then when Chrysalis attacks, she will meet a swift end.”

Sombra turned and strode past them. Trixie scowled at Topaz before she turned as well. “The defence of the city would fall on the shoulders of the Imperial Governor, Your Highness.”

Topaz gulped as she cantered to catch up with the King, eventually settling into a more measured stride on the opposite side from him as Trixie. “The—defences are exactly as you ordered, my lord.”

“Excellent,” he replied. “The attack will come by land, and their heaviest armor will be spearheading the attack.” Then he took his eyes off the command post ahead, and locked eyes with her. Topaz expected another shock to take hold of her, but this time she felt nothing. “I have total faith in your abilities to hold this position.”

Topaz was caught off her guard. To be complemented after her failure at Fillydelphia by the fearsome king himself… “I—am honored, my lord. We shall fight as hard as we can.”

The rest of the way to the door of the command post, they said nothing. They entered without word, but before the door was even closed, Trixie spoke up. “My King, may I have a word with you?"

“You may.” He nodded to Topaz as he continued into the next room, Trixie trailing behind him. Their conversation was carried out in hushed tones, but from the few things Topaz heard, they were hotly disagreeing about something.

Finally, they grew silent, and Sombra came back into sight, a slight smirk on his face. Trixie followed him, her eyebrows low and her ears laid back. She glared at Topaz, and the hate she had expected from the King’s gaze was delivered to her by his acolyte.

“Imperial Topaz,” Sombra called.

“Yes, my king?”

“Come. We have a battle to plan for.”

“Yes, my lord,” she called back. As Sombra turned and walked farther into the command post, Topaz trotted after him. Trixie glared at her the whole way.

When she got close enough, Trixie reached out with her magic and pulled her close. “Watch your step, crystal pony,” she spat. “Your next misstep will be your last.”

With that, Trixie stormed off in Sombra’s direction, leaving Topaz standing there stunned. She waited a few moments, then followed after the King.

Starlight stepped off the train and onto the platform. It was well into the night, and the station was abandoned. Through the gloomy darkness, she could make out a figure lying on a bench beside the building. She approached and the pony moved, rolling over and off onto the ground, grunting when she hit the ground. Starlight galloped over to the pony as she struggled to right herself. “Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow blinked up at her, then rubbed one eye with a hoof. “Starlight?” she asked. “Er, no. Time Skipper, right?”

Time almost corrected her, then sighed. “Right.”

Rainbow rose to her hooves, then a look of sudden realization came onto her face. “Hold on.” She fumbled around in her saddlebags for a bit and drew out a jar of changeling paint.

Oh! That's right! I almost forgot! Time Skipper levitated her own jar of paint out of her bags and dipped her right hoof in. “Oh,” said Rainbow. “We normally use each other's paint.”

“Huh?”

Rainbow reached her right hoof into her jar. “You have to force the other pony into using your paint. Here.” She held out her paint for Time as she reached for Time’s paint with a wing. “Your own face,” she said, demonstrating with her painted wing. Time copied with her hoof. “Then the other pony’s,” she said, brushing her feathers against the unpainted side of Time’s face. Time reached out with a hoof and painted the other side of Rainbow’s face.

“Isn’t that a little excessive?” asked Time.

“Four-point check,” Rainbow replied. “Checks for fake ponies and fake paint. If they have to use your paint, then even if they bring fake paint we’ll still catch ‘em.” Time Skipper blinked. “It’s just what we do any more,” Rainbow said with a shrug.

Time started to glow. “Well I’m glad to be back. This has been a long time coming. It’s been good to get away, sort of recenter myself, but—” she sighed, “—this is where I belong. At least for now.”

Rainbow put a hoof on Time’s shoulder and smiled. “We’re glad to have you back.” Rainbow turned to leave, and Starlight followed. “Get a good night’s sleep. We’re leaving for Las Pegasus in a few days.”

“Ok,” said Time.

“It’s not safe to walk around alone with Chrysalis's spies on the loose. I’ll get you caught up on the way to your house.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Ch. 13: Opening Moves

Centipede stared through his small viewport at the city ahead. The street ended in a sturdy-looking barricade, which the crystal ponies were using for cover. “Distance to target?” called Bombardier.

“One fifty,” called Hot Shot, his upper barrel sticking out of the command hatch.

Centipede heard Bombardier’s horn charge, then watched as a bolt of green magic struck the barricade, stirring up a considerable smoke cloud. When the smoke settled, the barricade was still mostly intact, but the crystal ponies stationed on top of it were charred and unmoving. A few small fires had begun on the barricade itself.

“Didn’t stand a chance,” said Bombardier. “Give me another.”

“Swivel lens ten degrees left,” called Hot Shot. “Drivers, keep us steady.”

“Yes sir,” Millipede answered. “Our tracking is still dead ahead.”

“Key word ‘dead,’” said Bombardier. Centipede heard him began turning a crankshaft. “Ready,” he called a second later.

“Fire,” Hot Shot ordered.

Bombardier lit his horn and fired, and Centipede watched as the left side of the barricade was engulfed in flames.

“Ha ha! This is never going to get old!” Bombardier said.

A flugelhorn sounded in front of them. “Here’s the part where they start fighting back,” Carapace mused.

“Just raise the shield so I can keep shooting,” said Bombardier.

Centipede watched as the shield went up, and his entire field of vision turned green. A moment later, several dozen arrows arced over the barricade and bounced off the front of the shield.

“Is that all they’ve got?” asked Bombardier.

“This is just the first line of defense,” Hot Shot said. “There’ll be more once we get closer.” The vehicle was nearly at the foot of the barricade now. “Drivers, more power. We’re going up and over.”

“Yes, sir,” called Centipede and Millipede. Centipede fed more of his own magic into the machine, trying not to go faster or slower than Millipede input as the vehicle surged forward. Soon, the vehicle hit something solid and the floor began to slant. Centipede felt the pads on the frogs of his hooves stick to the floor, securing him in place. Ahead of him, Bombardier mumbled something about the angle of the barricade, then began angling the lens upward.

Centipede knew without even looking out his viewport when they had reached the top. The whole vehicle lurched and leaned forward, and would have sent him flying to the front if he hadn’t been stuck to the floor. He looked up and over his shoulder at Hot Shot to see him bracing himself against the front of the command hatch. He watched him glance down at his rear hooves as he stood there and shifted his weight between them, as if distrusting his hooves to hold him at this angle. This must still be new to him. I keep forgetting he used to be a pon—

Bombardier lit his horn and fired. Centipede spun around to look out his viewport. He missed the impact, but still got to see the significant hole he had punched in the ranks of crystal archers. “Heh heh. Love the shockwave and dust cloud around us when my magic goes out the lens,” Bombardier said.

“Bombardier, fire at will on their retreat.”

“With pleasure.”

Centipede looked for the dust near them to be kicked up when Bombardier fired again at the bottom of the barricade, and sure enough, there it was. He looked back up at the ranks of crystal archers. Some of them were backpedalling, others turning to flee outright. They’ve never fought anything like this before. We’re making history, he thought. And here I am in the middle of it all. For the first time since the onset of the mission, Centipede felt a deep sense of pride in what he was doing. “Orders, Commander?”

“Let them run. We’ll be right behind them. Ahead full!”

“Yes sir!” he eagerly replied.

“And if you do exactly what we did at the start of the Battle of Fillydelphia, we should be in a position to repel this attack,” said King Sombra from across the strategic map.

Imperial Topaz nodded. She knew how close victory had been at Fillydelphia a few months before. And this time, they knew their enemy’s plans. The chariot figurines on the board before her stood in for the new weapons Chrysalis was fielding against them. The green pony-shaped figurines behind them symbolized the long column of infantry behind. A dotted line of red figurines traced a path in strategic positions around the city, though most were concentrated in the north where their command post was.

“I disagree,” Trixie said. “We need to cut off their front lines from their supplies. If our intel is correct, those new vehicles are going to be tough to crack.”

“We need to trap them first,” said Sombra as he turned his head slowly towards Trixie. “You still have much to learn about waging war.”

Trixie put a front hoof on the table. “But I nearly got us the victory at Fillydelphia with that exact tactic!”

Sombra growled and furled his cape, spreading a pair of massive black wings in the process. “You will be silent!” Trixie backed down off the table as Topaz took a step back.

Where was I when the King grew a pair of alicorn wings!

“Once they hit a line they can’t break through, the infantry behind will spread out and form a line. Then we will spring the trap. You would spring it too early.” Trixie dropped her head dejectedly.

“Topaz,” Sombra said, his tone softer now. “I’m counting on you to win this battle. Should Chrysalis appear, I will go out to fight her. That would leave you in charge.”

Trixie whirled to face Sombra, betrayal and disbelief on her face.

“I will not fail you, my lord,” she said. Not again.

“Good. Trixie, you are to lead the eastern flank. If Chrysalis does not appear, then I shall lead the western flank. On my signal, we spring the trap.”

The door to the room burst open, and a crystal pony panting for breath stood over the threshold. “Sire! The changelings—have made contact—with our front line!”

“Governor Topaz, order our commandos to slow down their advance while we get into position,” Sombra said.

“It will be done, my lord.”

“I am leaving the command post under your control, Topaz. Hold the line until we return.”

“Yes, my lord. Long live the King.”

Sombra nodded towards Trixie, and they went their separate ways.

Topaz turned to the messenger in the door. “You heard the King. Alert the commandos. They are to intercept and slow the advance.”

“Yes, ma’am!” the pony said. He saluted and then galloped out the way he had come.

Bombardier lit his horn and fired again, and an orb of green magic streaked down the street at the crystal ponies’ shield wall. When it hit their ranks, several ponies dropped the shields they were holding, most of the ponies that held them falling too. Crossbow bolts and arrows ricocheted off the shield, though Carapace was beginning to show signs of strain. Suddenly, explosions were heard from the alleyway beside them, and Centipede heard a noise like pieces of metal impacting the left side of the vehicle.

Hot Shot cried sharply and ducked down into the vehicle, a thick green fluid oozing from wounds on his left foreleg and his head. A second later, he lit his horn and magically closed the command hatch above him.

“Sir, are you alright?” asked Carapace.

“I’m hit. Some kind of shrapnel, I think,” he said, as he reached with his other hoof for the crew’s medkit.

“I don’t understand,” said Bombardier. “The shield’s still up.”

“I—felt something,” Carapace said as he approached the Captain. “Something passed through the shield. It felt as if somepony threw a hooffull of rocks at us, but faster than any throw I’ve seen.”

“They were on the left, yeah?” asked Bombardier.

“Yes,” said Carapace. Bombardier began turning the lens to face that side.

“I’ve got a visual in my viewport, but the lens won’t swivel that far left.” A second sound rang out as he was turning the lens, but this time Centipede felt no impact. “What the—? What kinda weapon is that?” asked Bombardier. “Just fired at the guy behind us,” he said, gesturing in the direction of the rest of the armored vehicles.

Hot Shot turned around to the two beetle-shaped objects on the wall behind him. “Hot Shot to First Armor Company, close hatches. They’ve got some kind of shield-penetrating weapon.”

Before he could finish giving the order, another round of shots rang out. “Second Armored Unit,” came the reply from a female changeling, “Our commander is hit.”

“Who’s speaking? What’s your rank?” he called back.

“Elytra, Shield Officer speaking.”

“You’re in charge until Commander Hornet recovers.”

“Understood, sir.”

Hot Shot took a step back. “Carapace, how are the shields?”

“Holding, sir.”

“Think you can push on to the city center? It’s a long way.”

“I think so, sir.”

“I need you to be sure. If you feel we won’t be safe in front, I need you to say so.”

Carapace hesitated. “I—am not sure, sir.”

Centipede stared ahead into the enemy lines. They had been making such good progress. He felt like he could keep going for hours at this pace. He found, somewhat to his surprise, that he wasn’t ready to give up the push just yet.

Centipede heard Hot Shot’s hooves on the deck above, stepping back into sight towards the changeling communicator. “Unit One to Unit Three, our shields have taking a beating. Can you take the lead?”

“I’m hit but it’s nothing too bad,” the commander called back. “I’ll take lead.”

“Awww. I was just getting warmed up,” said Bombardier.

“Don’t worry,” said Hot Shot. “There’ll be plenty more ahead. This battle’s far from over.”

“Mission objectives are as follows,” Rainbow continued. “Defeat the Green Changeling army, capture Chrysalis and her foal if possible, defeat the Crystal Empire garrison. With Chrysalis in our control, we’ll have the leverage we need to swing the remaining Green Changelings to our side. Then we can focus our efforts in the war against Sombra. If the opportunity does not present itself, we attack both factions and take the city while they fight each other.”

Time Skipper glanced around the aft hanger of the W.A.S. Spitfire. Behind them was an airship about the same size full of about as many soldiers. On the main deck of each ship were even more soldiers. We have to take on a city garrison and an attacking army with this force? That’s thinking a bit optimistic.

“When we arrive, we’ll deploy if the tactical opportunity is immediately available. Then, we’ll land our troops and begin our assault. Under no circumstances should you be in the cloudtops of the city. Our targets are the Crystal Empire holdings and the Green Changeling army on the ground fighting for control of the undercity. The resorts in the clouds are a strict non-combat zone. We need that infrastructure intact. My agents on the ground have not yet spotted Chrysalis. She and Princess Pupa are believed to be aboard the airship behind her lines.”

“Wonderbolts, that’s where we come in,” said Spitfire. “Once she’s been spotted, we’ll be dispatched to intercept. It will be our top priority to separate the Queen from her daughter. Sweetie Drops will have a group of her best changelings on the ground to assist.”

“Bon Bon wanted me to remind you all, Chrysalis is a mother,” Rainbow said. “Separating them won’t be easy; keeping them separate will be even harder. Equestria and the Blue Changelings are counting on you. This is your home. This is both of our war.”

“Let’s take back what’s ours!” said Spitfire.

The hanger erupted into shouts as the Wonderbolts cheered and raised their clenched hooves. Time couldn’t help but smile. Wow. I helped build this. It's finally coming together. They're really doing it! Her heart swelled with pride as she looked over the soldiers there. Once more, Wonderbolts stood side by side with their brothers and sisters in arms. Her part may have been small, but thanks to her, these ponies were finally shaping up into a unified force. Time just hoped they could make up for in spirit and in unity what they lacked in numbers.

When she turned her head, she saw Rainbow Dash walking down one of the aisles towards her. “Time Skipper,” she called. “I was told to give you this,” she said. In her hoof was what an odd-looking hat with a ring held to it by a string.

“What’s that?”

“Alchemic comm. You remember the alchemic horn for the earth ponies and pegasi? Well this is kinda like that, but for unicorns.” She levitated it towards Time’s head. “The earpiece goes here. And the mic is in the chin strap.” Time moved her head helpfully as Rainbow fitted the hat on her head. “And the ring goes on your horn.”

“Wait!” Starlight ducked out of the way and backed up. “I can’t use my magic if I have that on!”

Rainbow squinted and took a step closer. “What do you mean?”

“When I first arrived here, they locked me up because they thought I was one of Chrysalis’s changelings. And they put a ring on my horn so I couldn’t use magic.”

Rainbow lowered her head and laughed nervously. “Yeah… sorry about that. That one was iron. This one is lead. Instead of discharging magic it comes in contact with, it conducts it, feeding into the mic and headset to give it power.”

Starlight took the ring in her magic and examined it closely. “Well, ok.” She put the ring on her horn, then kept her aura up a few moments longer just to make sure she could.

“You taught me how to use this,” she said, pointing to her alchemic horn. “Now I get to teach you how to use that,” she said with a chuckle. put a hoof on Starlight’s shoulder. “We’ve got this. Together,” she said with a smile.

Time Skipper mimicked Rainbow’s gesture “Together!”

Trixie galloped through town towards the end of the east flank. The Las Pegasus residents scurried to get out of her way as she approached. So far, she’d only had to shield bash her way through one or two crowds on the way to her destination. Always in the back of her mind was Imperial Topaz.

I hope she bucks this up good! she thought. I can’t wait to see the look on King Sombra’s face when I succeed and she fails! He’ll berate her in front of me instead of the other way around for a change!

“Out of my way!” she shouted as she galloped ahead towards a crowded market stall. She raised a shield, her aura and her half-dome shield both blackened with dark magic. Of the ten or so ponies in her way, only two hit the shield, one bouncing away and onto her knees, and the other going completely over top of her. What has that good-for-nothing sow been doing all this time if not instilling the fear of the Crystal Empire into these ponies?

Trixie took a hard right turn and was greeted by banners of the Crystal Empire on either side of the street. She levitated a flugelhorn out from under her cloak and blew into it. “Form up! Prepare to move out!” she shouted. Crystal ponies down the street dismounted the barricade, slung their weapons over their shoulders, and hustled to get into formation. “On my command, be ready to move out! We’re going to sweep in towards the changeling column and flank them!” At least once Sombra gives the signal, she thought.

She turned around and saw a black magic flare streaking high into the sky. That’s our signal! Move out!” The soldiers moved at her command as she galloped to the head of the formation. She lit her horn and fired off a burst of magic into the air. She led the troops past two more garrison points, each time gathering more troops to her as she continued marching towards the changeling ranks, until finally she caught sight of the enemy.

“Twelfth Platoon, break formation! Engage at will!”

She stepped out of the way to let the column pass her by. “Eighth Platoon, fall in! Seventh Platoon, follow me! We’ll flank them up ahead!” Trixie led the final platoon ahead along a side street towards the fighting. She charged around the corner, flugelhorn sounding off her advance as she galloped towards the changelings’ column. The troops behind her shouted as they unleashed a volley of crossbow bolts into the enemy ranks.

Trixie raised a wall of black crystals as the changelings turned and fired magic at her, then shattered the wall and sprayed it at them in chunks. A number of changelings were knocked back as she readied her horn for another spell. She reared and stomped down, sending a line of black crystals along the ground, impaling the changelings it came into contact with. As the soldiers from behind her joined the melee, Trixie looked around and saw the rear-most armored vehicle turning around, its primary weapon squared at her.

Trixie was momentarily immobilized with fear as she stared down the barrel of the weapon, but as it began to glow with green energy, she let her form dissolve into a black cloud, tanking through the magic blast as it passed harmlessly through her essence. She raced towards the vehicle, but slammed into the shield around it. What? How! Our dark crystal weapons go right through it!

She flew over the vehicle and got behind it, then solidified into a collection of crystals. She coiled herself up, then launched out, sending a single large black crystal through the shield. She dissolved into smoke again, this time passing through the hole and into the shield. She glided over the surface of the hatches, seeking a way to gain entry. At last she found her opening, not through the hatches, but through a gap in the undercarriage. She slid through and materialized on the inside, face to face with a very startled changeling.

“What the—”

“She’s through!”

A wave of heat and pain raced over her as she felt herself struck from behind. She turned her head and shot her attacker in the face with her magic, and he fell limp against the wall behind him.

The first changeling grabbed her by the head and pulled, nearly knocking her off her balance. She felt her left foreleg being levitated, and something sticky oozing onto it.

“Unit Twelve to First Division! We’ve been breached by a Shadow Creature and one of my drivers is hit!” shouted a third changeling from above, the only one wearing a cap. He lowered his head towards the opening and lit his horn.

Trixie let out a shield flare from her horn, slamming the changeling behind her into the back wall. Two changelings crawled down from below. She grabbed them in her magic and threw them into each other. She fired a beam of magic across the three changelings in front of her, but when she turned around, the last changeling was nowhere to be found. She made a frustrated sound somewhere between a sigh and a growl, then exited the way she had came.

She reformed on the ground outside the vehicle. “There she is!” shouted a changeling from behind her. A second changeling galloped into sight from around the vehicle. Trixie raised a formation of crystals out of the ground, then kicked one at each changeling. Crystal ponies from nearby rushed towards her, then stopped abruptly and pressed themselves against the vehicle.

“What are you hiding from?” she shouted. “Get out there and—” Trixie watched as another crystal pony who was trying to join up with the others was hit with a blast from the second to last armored vehicle. They’re not hiding, they’re taking cover.

Trixie nodded as her gaze dropped. Maybe I do have more to learn about fighting. She raised her head again as she looked to her soldiers again. “Start looking for a way into this thing. Maybe we can use it against them.”

Pharynx burst out the door and onto the main deck of Chrysalis’s airship. “Chrysalis, my Queen!” he called, cantering over towards her. “It’s King Sombra—He’s here!”

Chrysalis dropped her gaze and raised a hoof to her chin. “Yes. I wondered if he might show his face. He captured one of our agents. He knows how significant a blow it would be if we recaptured this city. It could be a turning point in his campaign against us! He knows if he stops us here, we will have us on the back leg.”

Chrysalis walked towards the edge of the ship, Princess Pupa secured on her back in a cocoon-like sac. She looked down onto the city below, its cloudtop resorts partially obscuring the commercial and residential districts below. “If I signal to you, send my personal squad to reinforce me.”

“Yes, my Queen!” Chrysalis spread her wings. “And, uh,” he said with a pause. Chrysalis turned her head to look behind her. “Be careful, your Highness. Should something happen to you…”

“It will not happen,” she replied. “I trust you to see to it.”

Chrysalis leapt and began her dive, her daughter holding onto her forelegs as she dove. Chrysalis glanced down to check up on Pupa, but instead of looking afraid, Pupa seemed thrilled. Her eyes were wide open, and her mouth flapped in the wind.

Chrysalis dove below the altitude of the upper city and began to level out, her dive speeding her onward towards her front line. She spotted a black cloud on her west flank, which was holding a tight perimeter around her armored division and its supporting hoofsoldiers. She singled out this target and sped towards it. She buzzed her own troops as she approached, enjoying the thrill of the cheering army beneath her.

At last she reached the front lines. The cloud engulfed a changeling, morphed into crystal, and pinned him up against a wall and choking him out. She lit her horn, but Sombra was faster. A crystal pierced through the changeling, and his limbs shot out in pain. Sombra dropped the changeling, and Chrysalis landed next to him. He looked up at his Queen, a sense of relief visible underneath the pain, then his head fell to the ground.

Chrysalis looked back at Pupa just in time to catch her glance down at the dead changeling and lean in towards her mother’s neck, her two tiny legs hugging her tightly. “You’re going to pay for that, Sombra,” Chrysalis growled.

“Las Pegasus is mine,” came the reply from the blackened cloud. “You should never have returned.” Sombra’s head materialized as he moved into the middle of the street.

Pupa reached down at the drone and whimpered, then glared angrily at the King, and Chrysalis felt her tapping into her mother’s love. “Must you brutalize my drones so?” she asked, reaching down with her magic to levitate the fallen changeling.

“I find my enemies fight far worse when they are stricken by fear.”

Chrysalis magically closed the drone’s eyes. It didn’t have much energy left, or much love, but Chrysalis would need every bit she could get to defeat Sombra. She brought its horn up to her own, and drained it of its remaining love.

Then, Chrysalis’s eyes shot open as she levitated the drone away and her daughter in front of her. “I hope you’re ready for a rematch!”

Sombra fully materialized now, his cape fastened just above an amulet around his neck. “I’m more ready than ever!” The sun glinted off his amulet as he let a broad smile onto his face.

Chrysalis moved first, but Sombra’s horn grew red as the ground around her trembled. Darkness briefly enveloped her, and then Sombra galloped forward. With Pupa held in front of her, Chrysalis walked confidently forward. Sombra defeated her with a single magical blow, not to her body or head, but to her legs. She fell flat on her face, and when she looked up, her daughter was in Sombra’s grasp.

“The battlefield is no place for a foal, my dear, much less, an heir!”

“No! Pupa! Not my daughter!”

Sombra threw his head back and laughed, and Pupa’s expression shifted to one of concern. She fussed and raised her hooves towards Chrysalis.

That’s when Chrysalis felt it: a surge of love reinvigorating her and spurring her to life. Starting at Pupa, a turquoise flame burned towards the edges of her vision. Only Pupa remained the same, as if the backdrop of a stage set was burning away behind her.

“Wha—What is this?” As Chrysalis reoriented herself, she found herself within her daughter’s shield, levitating her just as she had been at the start of the battle. Pupa’s concern soon changed to joy as Chrysalis brought her to her chest.

“Mind magic, Sombra?” she shouted to the black smoke that pressed at the shield around them. “Even my infant daughter’s love is strong enough to break that!” She reached her horn out to her Pupa’s to sync their magic, then flared their shield outward. The clouds reformed together and shifted form into crystal as they hit the ground. They raced towards Chrysalis, prompting her to take off into the air. She turned and shot a blast of fiery green magic at the ground where Sombra’s crystals were headed.

A formation of crystal leapt from the ground, through the air and through the flames. Though it was slowed, it still grabbed one of Chrysalis’s legs. She lit her horn when she felt herself being pulled downward, but Pupa shielded them first. The crystals within the shield fell useless against the bottom of the shield as the rest of the crystal pulled downward.

Then, the crystal within the shield began to smoke. Chrysalis’s eyes grew wide as she grasped her daughter closer to her body. Thinking quickly, she dispelled Pupa’s shield and shot a beam of magic at the cloud.

Pupa shot a blast of magic a direction she wasn’t looking, and she turned her head to see the rest of the black cloud snaking its way up towards them.

“There’s two of us and one of you!” she taunted. “Give it up!”

The reply came within seconds. “Let’s see if we can’t do something abo—” Chrysalis turned and fired, not even thinking about her aim. She would have landed a direct hit to Sombra’s body had he not raised a crystal wall at the last second. The wall shattered, and Sombra was thrown backwards. He snorted and unclasped his cape. Pupa shot magic at him, but he threw the cape in front of him. Upon impact, the cape broke apart, morphing into a group of bats which flew towards Chrysalis and Pupa, screeching as they flew.

Chrysalis’s ears rang sharply as the bats got closer. She fired a beam of magic, dragging it in a zigzag pattern across the oncoming creatures, downing most of them in one sweep. The few that remained scattered and flew off. When Chrysalis looked back to Sombra, he was gone. Pupa grunted and pointed behind them. Chrysalis turned her head to see Sombra flying.

“When did he get wings?” she said to herself. Sombra arced around them as Pupa began to fire blasts of magic at him. She missed, most of her shots falling behind him. At the height of his arc, Sombra turned and flew towards them, charging his horn as he came. Chrysalis fired a beam of magic at him, Pupa joining a second later. The distance between them closed quickly, and when Sombra got to them, their defences fell and he flew right through the spot where they had been hovering.

Chrysalis now found herself in Sombra’s grasp as he flew. She lit her horn and teleported the three of them, changing their angle after the teleport. She pulled as hard as she could, and freed her upper body from between Sombra’s front legs.

Sombra kept going and hit the ground hard. Chrysalis didn’t wait for a response, but put up a shield and flew down at full speed. But once she got close, she saw a red shield of magic around him. She crashed into his shield with hers, and they both were thrown backwards.

Chrysalis picked herself up and looked around for Sombra. “I don’t know how you can fly,” she began, but you forget I still have the stolen magic from the Royal Sisters!”

“This amulet is ancient!” Chrysalis’s ears swivelled, trying to discern Sombra’s location. “I made it so I could challenge the Royal Sisters’!” It sounded like his voice was coming from the nearby crater.

Chrysalis began walking over to investigate. Pupa clung to the back of her neck. “Their magic beat you once before; it will not fail me either!” She leapt to the crater’s edge and charged her horn, but Sombra was nowhere to be found. A moment later, she heard a teleport behind her. Sombra fired a blast of red magic onto the ground, but Chrysalis was already taking off. She mostly escaped the hit, though she lost a few inches off her tail.

She climbed into the sky and turned to face her opponent. “Well your ancient magics seem to have lost their edge. We’re too evenly matched!”

Sombra smiled as he shifted into his shadow form. “Oh, I’m just getting started.”

Chrysalis shielded herself in anticipation of Sombra’s next attack.

“W.A.S. Spitfire, we are in position,” Spitfire said over her alchemic horn’s mic. The orange glow in the horn’s grooves faded after she had stopped talking.

“Copy, Spitfire, W.A.S. Soarin will be in position shortly,” Soarin said into Time Skipper’s ear.

Time glanced down at the city, though her view was obscured by clouds. “Somewhere down there is our landing zone.”

The grooves of Spitfire’s alchemic horn glowed again with an orange light. “Spitfire to pegasus spotters. What’ve we got?”

“Landing zone is clear, ma’am,” replied a stallion.

“You want us to go ahead and drop?” asked Rainbow from beside her.

Spitfire hesitated a moment as she stared out the front window of the airship’s lower hull. “Yes. Begin landing the troops. Soarin’s group will be down in a few minutes.”

Rainbow turned and galloped out of the room. As Time turned to follow, Spitfire called after her. “And Rainbow, make sure they understand they have to get in and out of the landing zone quickly to make room for Soarin’s group.”

Rainbow paused at the door to hear Spitfire’s instructions. “Got it.” She magically opened the door and galloped to the ladder. Rainbow spread her wings and flew up through the hatch. Time glanced up through the hole and teleported out a moment later.

“Everypony, we’re moving out!” Rainbow said. “Get with your squad and jump! Pegasi, unicorns, hold onto each other!”

Time Skipper watched as each unicorn ran a cord through their harness and into a similar harness worn by a pegasus. Each earth pony was then levitated by a unicorn. Nine at a time, in three groups of one pony per race, each squad jumped down off the deck towards the city below.

“Come on, Time Skipper,” Rainbow called. She heard Rainbow’s wings beating the air behind her, and soon felt her grip around her lower barrel. She watched the deck as Rainbow lifted her off of it. Rainbow flew off to the side and let herself drop. Time grabbed Rainbow’s hooves with her own as they swerved in and out of cloud cover.

First, the cloudtop resorts came into view, and then the undercity below. Every once in a while, a green light would catch her eye somewhere just outside the city center.

But they weren’t headed for the city center. They landed on the eastern edge of town, where each unicorn unclipped their harness and each pegasus coiled up the rope and tied it in place at their side.

“Everypony! Prepare to move out!” Rainbow shouted. “Starting today, these ponies are gonna be free again!"

The soldiers cheered and shouted and began forming up. Time Skipper smiled along with them as she followed Rainbow towards the fight.

Ch. 14: Turning Point

“Oh, queens, they’re trying to get inside! I can hear them outside banging on the armor!” shouted the changeling from the rear-most armored unit over the changeling communicator.

“Soldier, don’t lose your head!” called Hot Shot. “Unit 11, can you cover for him?”

“Yes, sir. Moving to provide covering fire,” called the commander.

“They’re almost in! Help me!” Centipede felt a shiver rush through his body. He would like to think he’d be brave if his vehicle got breached, but he knew if he were the last one standing, he’d probably have done something like what the last changeling in Unit 12 had done: hidden in the corner, disguised as a wooden crate.

“Soldier! Stand your ground or get off the comm!” Hot Shot ordered. “I don’t need bad morale spreading through our ranks!”

For a moment, the drone’s breathing could be heard. Then, the comm went silent.

I hope he’s going to be o—

“Something just hit us!” he called back.

“Unit 11 to Unit 12. We’re clearing the ponies off the top of your vehicle. You may experience some friendly fire, but your armor should keep you safe inside.”

“Oh thank you! Thank you!”

Bombardier fired off a shot ahead to the side, but Centipede's front-facing viewport didn’t let him see the impact.

“Come on. No witty remarks for that one?” asked Carapace.

There was a pause before Bombardier replied. “She should’ve kept her head down.” His voice sounded flat, the edge taken off its enthusiasm.

“I think you need to see a medic. You are never this bored shooting things.”

“As long as we’re not moving, their lines are set. We’re at a stalemate.”

“Chin up, crew. We’ll have this city before the end of the day. You’ll see,” Hot Shot said, though his tone sounded flat.

“The troops outside these metal walls are counting on us.”

Centipede swallowed hard as he stared out his viewport.

Rainbow Dash nodded to Spitfire behind her. Once Spitfire repeated the signal, Rainbow turned her gaze towards the crystal ponies ahead of her. She waved her group of ponies forward with a wing as she reached for the crossbow slung over her shoulder with her other. She closed her eyes, then opened them, lighting her horn as she did. She put her head back, then threw it forward, sending a blast of magic hurtling down the street at the crystal ponies ahead. It struck a mare in the back of the head, sending her tumbling forward onto her face.

“Hostiles behind us!” shouted a stallion as he turned around.

Rainbow reared up, then stomped down, waving one foreleg towards the enemy, signalling the ponies behind her to attack at will. Their ranks sprang into action as a volley of spells and crossbow bolts closed the distance to their targets. Rainbow Dash smiled as more crystal ponies turned around. Spitfire’s group opened fire next, taking out both the standard bearer and the first pony who had turned around.

“Rainbow Dash here,” she said over her alchemic comm, “our group has made contact with Crystal forces.”

“Us too,” Time Skipper called back into her alchemic horn. “It looks like we took them by surprise.”

“Same here,” she called back.

“I’m almost in position,” Bon Bon called. “My team of infiltrators is waiting for me at the rendezvous point.”

Rainbow raised her crossbow and fired a shot into the crystal ponies’ rearguard as they prepared to mount a defense.

“Keep on the lookout for trouble,” Bon Bon said. “I’m getting disturbing reports from my agents further into the city.”

Rainbow levitated a crossbow bolt out of her saddlebag quiver and slotted it into her crossbow. She lowered the metal loop at the end to the ground and put one front hoof through it, then began turning the crank at the other end with her other front hoof.

“What kind of reports?” asked Spitfire.

“I don’t know. They don’t agree. Some say Acolyte Trixie is here. Some say King Sombra himself.”

“Trixie?” Time asked over her comm.

“Blue-coated unicorn who was first seen in combat against us at Fillydelphia. She’s been trained in Dark Magic by King Sombra,” said Bon Bon.

“Hates Sunburst for some reason. Tried to kill him,” added Rainbow Dash as she raised her crossbow.

“Trixie came into Ponyville one day boasting about her magic,” said Sunburst. “Her magic wasn’t strong enough to pacify the Ursa Minor she summoned, but mine was. She didn’t take it very well.”

“No, I know who she is,” Time continued. “If you see her, would you give me a chance to try to help her?” she asked.

“How would you do that?” asked Spitfire. Rainbow gave her a glance, but she wasn’t looking back. She turned and sighted up another crystal pony with her crossbow, then took the shot.

“I know Trixie from back home in my world. I know she’s not like this.”

“If you find her, give her what’s coming to her for Sunburst’s sake,” said Rainbow Dash.

A stray crossbow bolt whizzed past her head. Rainbow flinched, then raised a tall, narrow shield about twice as wide as her shoulder width.

“Do you think you can turn her back?” asked Bon Bon.

“I’d like to try. I know she’s better than this.”

“Don’t expect her to go down without a fight,” Rainbow Dash said as she reloaded her crossbow.

“Trust me, I can handle Trixie,” Time called back.

“Sunburst, have the spotters up with the blimps keep an eye out for her,” said Spitfire.

“Will do,” he called back.

“And I’ll have my agents get to the bottom of these mixed reports,” said Bon Bon.

“Ok. Let me know as soon as you see something.” Time Skipper said.

From the main deck of Chrysalis’s airship, Pharynx stared down at the city below. The main street the troops were marching along was too far away to be seen, but every once in a while, he could see a blast of green, turquoise, or red magic from the western half of the city—the result of Chrysalis and Pupa’s fight with Sombra. Suddenly, a changeling landed on the deck of the airship. “Phar—ynx! Sir!” he said, out of breath. “Message—from—” He collapsed and wheezed more words which never came.

Immediately, Pharynx’s guards with their heavy armor and mandible helmets moved towards the messenger. One guard put his horn on the messenger’s horn for a moment, then drew back. “Friendly.”

“What is it, soldier?” asked Pharynx.

“Message—from—armor—division! Sombra—set up—a trap! We marched—right into it!” he said with a cough. The drone doubled over and coughed again, this time a bit of green blood falling onto the deck. It was only then that Pharynx noticed the crossbow bolt in the drone’s abdomen.

“Guards, he’s wounded. Get him a cocoon—We can’t lose him.”

The two guards set to spinning a cocoon, which they set the changeling into once it was half formed. One changeling grabbed the bolt with his magic and pulled it out, causing the messenger to shout. The second guard spat a green goo at the wound, crudely sealing it shut. The half-formed cocoon began to pulse as it filled with a viscous green fluid which slowed the messenger’s thrashing.

“The sedatives will start working on your wound soon, soldier. Was there anything else to the message?”

The messenger groaned, squinting one eye open. “They’re surrounded—on three sides,” he said with a gasp. “I’m the first one—to get through. Rest of the messengers—all got shot.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes sir.”

Pharynx nodded to the guards, who began finishing the cocoon. “Rest, soldier. You’ve earned your reprieve.” He turned to a guard by the door of the sterncastle. “Call up another messenger and the rest of the Queensguard. We’re going to get a message through to Chrysalis.

“Shield, steady!” called Time as her forces held formation opposite a line of crystal ponies. Their shield held strong amidst an enemy barrage of crossbow bolts, and she watched her troops raise their crossbows again.

“Ready! Loose!” came the call from their commander. The latches on several dozen crossbows sounded off at once, and Time watched multiple crystal ponies fall to the ground.

“Trixie’s here!” Rainbow shouted frantically over her headset. “I repeat! Trixie is here!”

Time lit her horn. “Where are you?”

“We’re deployed a few blocks south of you,” she said. “She’s coming down on us hard!” A pony screamed in the background.

“I’m on my way!” Time said. She teleported across the street to a pink-coated mare. “Amethyst Star! Rainbow needs my help. You’re in command until I return.”

“Understood,” she replied.

Time galloped down the street and made a sharp right turn into a side street. “Hurry! We’re taking casualties!”

She teleported down the street. A moment later, a large black cloud darted in and out of view between buildings a couple of blocks over. Time teleported to the top of a building in that direction. From her vantage point, she could see a little of the battle a few streets over. Another teleport landed her atop a building at the edge of the fighting.

Trixie looked almost the same as she remembered her from back home. A blue coat with two-tone blue mane and tail, and characteristic robes and hat. Her robes were now black and her eyes glowing green, but she was still recognizable. Trixie’s form dissolved into smoke as she surged forward towards the ponies’ line.

She looked down the street and saw Trixie’s target. Rainbow Dash was hunkered behind an overturned table at an outdoor restaurant, unaware of the danger she was in. Time lit her horn and shielded Rainbow Dash. “Time! Where are—” Time teleported to the shield, arriving just as Trixie was reforming. The two stared each other in the eye for just a moment before Time fired a spell at her. Trixie leaned backwards towards the ground, encapsulated in a purple crystal. Time reached out and caught her in her magic before she could fall against the ground and shatter her prison.

“Trixie,” she said, still staring her in the eyes, “it doesn’t have to be like this.”

Trixie’s horn began to glow, and suddenly the crystal shattered. “Really? I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Trixie fired a blast of magic at her, but she raised a hoof and formed a small shield to deflect the attack. She dove forward and tackled Trixie, teleporting her out of the fight to a vacant street.

“This isn’t you! Snap out of it! I know you’re not really like this!” Trixie stared up at her from the ground, a hoof held defensively near her neck. “Look at you, Trixie, a slave to King Sombra. You don’t have to be his pawn!”

Trixie kicked Time hard in the gut, and she toppled over, transitioning clumsily into a roll onto her front knees and haunches. “I don’t even know who you are, let alone how you know me. You don’t realize who I am!” She lit her horn and charged forward. Time shielded herself, then flared the shield outward, knocking Trixie to the ground.

“I’m from a different world,” she said as she rose to her hooves. “One where you’re not corrupted by Dark Magic!”

“You think I’m corrupted? I’ve never been more powerful!” Trixie’s eyes shone bright green atop her toothy grin, and Time felt an intense magical pressure at her horn, chest, and temples. Her vision narrowed, its edges obscured by darkness.

Mind magic, she thought to herself. Don’t give in.

Come on, it’s Trixie. There’s nothing she can do that I can’t deal with. I’ve got to save her, she answered herself. She shook her head and strode confidently forward. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but you won’t beat me.”

Trixie’s grin yielded to a look of shock. “You’re so powerful. Maybe even more than Sunburst.” She growled and spawned several dark crystals out of the ground. “I will not be humiliated again! Sombra will see me succeed!”

Time blasted the first crystal Trixie threw at her, then the second. She dodged the third and tackled her, then lit her horn. “I know you’re in there, Trixie. This is for you.”

“Fine. Do whatever you want to me. But once Sombra finishes with Chrysalis, he’s coming for you,” Trixie growled.

Time’s concentration broke and her aura faded. “Wait… he’s here?”

“Now you realize your mistake!”

Time levitated Trixie out from under her and pinned her against a wall. “Where is Sombra?” Trixie’s form faded into smoke, leaving Time holding nothing.

“What does Equestria want with Las Pegasus anyways?” Trixie asked as the cloud flew up and behind her.

Time turned to face the cloud. “I’ve seen what Chrysalis and her foal can do. We have to separate them!”

“I know. Word of what she did to Mareathon traveled fast. King Sombra is already working on it.”

“Trixie, I don’t want to fight you but I will if I have to. Ask Sombra for a truce with us so we can take her down together!”

“Why not just destroy all of you?”

“Trixie, your forces have changelings on one side, and us on the other. You’re surrounded,” she said. “Besides, if Chrysalis starts to lose, destroying all of us might be her only option.”

The cloud stood still for a moment, then descended and reformed as a pony. “Sombra is on the other side of the city. I’m not going to cross the changelings’ line twice unless I have your word, uhh…”

“St—Time Skipper.”

“...Time Skipper.”

“We can strike a cease-fire until we get a truce. Then, we can work on separating Chrysalis and her foal, and chasing the changelings out.”

“Ok, but don’t pull any tricks.” Trixie began walking away.

“I won’t,” said Time. “And Trixie.” She stopped and turned her head. “I know you’re better than—than Dark Magic. Sunburst showed you up in Ponyville, didn’t he?”

Trixie’s ears fell. “Leave me.” She turned and looked down the street again. “Leave me before I forget about our deal, and go back to trying to kill you.”

“I know what it feels like to be shown up by some know-it-all pony. If you ever need somepony who won’t give up on you, I’m your mare.”

Trixie paused, turned her head just enough to look at Time with one eye. “I don’t need anypony.” Her form faded into smoke and flew away.

Sombra charged his horn and flapped his wings, summoning two dark crystals from the ground to block the incoming attack. They interlocked and held for a moment, but they shattered when the combined blue and turquoise beam of magic hit them. Sombra sidestepped the worst of the damage, though he still felt the heat on his feathers and his coat.

Sombra morphed into crystal and buried himself in the ground. He raced towards Chrysalis, grabbing onto one of her legs.

“Stand and fight me, coward!” Chrysalis said. “Even my daughter is braver than you!”

I have you now! He surged forward out of the ground, crystals ready to impale her through the gut, but a green shield blocked his attempt. When the crystal hit the shield, part of it snapped off and fell to the ground.

Growing frustrated, Sombra applied pressure to the one leg he still held onto. Chrysalis yelped, and Pupa shot magic at him, cutting off the crystal. Sombra materialized behind her, and realized the shield was only protecting her from below. He fired a bolt of magic at her, but she reacted quickly, extending the shield to deflect it the attack the air. Pupa fired a shot at him, forcing him to dodge left. As Chrysalis charged her horn, he dissolved into smoke and headed for the cover of a nearby building.

He cast a simple illusion spell to throw his voice behind her. “You are the coward! Fight me alone!”

“I didn’t get the throne of my hive by fighting fair!”

He threw his voice a different direction, farther this time. “Your hive do not fear you like my ponies fear me. Your daughter will not fear you either.” He threw his voice once more, still farther. “Tell me, how do you think she will kill you?”

Chrysalis roared, prompting Sombra to make his move. He turned and almost stepped into the street, but a cloud of black smoke flew past him and materialized into his acolyte Trixie. His shock must have been apparent, as Trixie bowed deeply and swiftly. “My king, forgive me for leaving my troops, but I must tell you that Equestria has joined the fight against us.” Sombra stared dumbfounded a moment. “My forces are pinned between the changelings and the Equestrians.”

Sombra scowled as he looked away, Chrysalis shouting in the background. “My king,” Trixie continued, “they are asking for a truce so they can assist us against Chrysalis.”

Sombra’s mind raced. If the new arrivals were to remain unchecked, they may wipe his east flank completely. But, if he granted their request for a truce, he would be playing into their hoof. And if he waited too long, the trapped soldiers would take significant losses regardless of his decision.

“Sombra, you vile wretch! And how many did you kill for your throne?” Chrysalis called from out of sight.

Sombra shook his head. He turned and closed his eyes. He lit his horn, and soon his crown began to glow as well. A wave of red light emanated from his crown, spreading rapidly outward in all directions around him through the rest of the city. “It is done. Our soldiers will no longer fight against Equestria.”

“Should I tell that to Equestria, my king?”

“Yes. Return to your troops and continue putting pressure on the changelings.”

“Yes, your highness. Long live the king,” she said with another bow.

“And Trixie,” he said as she rose. He paused a moment to look over his shoulder. “Make sure they know we will strike a more thorough deal after the fight. They must not see us as weak.”

“Yes, my king.”

Sombra’s ears perked at the sound of buzzing wings. “There you are!” Chrysalis spat. “Look what you’ve done! You’ve made my daughter cry!” Sure enough, there in her magic was the grub-like foal, crying like she had lost her favorite toy. She screamed and wailed when she saw Sombra.

Sombra nodded to Trixie, then turned and squared his stance towards Chrysalis. “Her tears are none of my concern,” he said as he heard Trixie shift to her shadow form. “But your crown is.”

“You’ll take it from my cold, dead body!”

Sombra rolled his head on his neck. “That’s the plan.”

“I talked with Trixie,” said Time Skipper over Rainbow’s alchemic horn. “Sombra is here in Las Pegasus!”

“What?” said Spitfire.

“That explains why I was getting mixed reports,” said Bon Bon.

“Can we fight both of them?” asked Rainbow, her crossbow held in her magic.

“I don’t think so,” replied Spitfire. “Not without significant casualties. Unless you think you’re up to fighting Sombra, Time.”

“Sombra is out of my league. I was able to fight through Trixie’s mind magic, but she’s just his right hoof. I don’t think I’m able to fight on Sombra's level.”

“What are we going to do about King Sombra?” asked Rainbow.

“When I was fighting Trixie, I pointed out that she was outflanked, and she stood down. We have her in a bad spot. With your permission, I request an immediate cease-fire with the crystal ponies so we can focus on Chrysalis together.”

“What? Are you crazy? We’re wiping the floor with these guys!” said Rainbow. “We can take them!”

“Maybe,” Bon Bon said back. “We can’t take Sombra.”

“Sombra is busy fighting with Chrysalis,” Time said. “He won’t be able to help. And I can handle Trixie.”

“But what about when Chrysalis falls? Where will Sombra go then?”

“Or what if Sombra loses to Chrysalis?” asked Spitfire. “We'll have to fight her and her foal once she finishes off the rest of the crystal ponies. This problem isn't going away; we'e going to have to face it eventually."

“We need to separate Chrysalis and Pupa,” said Bon Bon. “If Chrysalis starts to fall, she may decide to take all of us down with her. I know it’s not ideal, but for what my opinion is worth, we could benefit from a cease-fire with Sombra.”

Rainbow shook her head. "No way in Tartarus am I surrendering to these ponies."

Spitfire came back over Rainbow's earpiece. "Listen. I know Sombra will have to be dealt with eventually, but we can't fight both of them at once." Rainbow glanced over at Spitfire, who was already looking at her from down the street. "We don't have the soldiers or the magic for it."

“What in Tartarus is that?” Sunburst blurted, speaking over Spitfire. "There's a wave of red magic spreading throughout the city, starting from the west of the city!"

A moment later, a flash of red light swept across Rainbow’s vision. She checked herself over, but found no damage, physical or magical. Then she heard a flugelhorn as the crystal ponies opposite her assumed a defensive formation and threw down their weapons. Confused, she shouted to her troops. “Form up! Battle line!”

She held a wing out to her troops as they got into line. Their magic shields formed a tight wall across the front of the line. "We're not hurt, Sunburst. I'm not sure what that was, but we're all fine."

A single crystal pony who carried a crude white flag—more like a piece of tattered cloth on a stick—stepped forward. “King Sombra of the Crystal Empire wishes a cease-fire with the forces of Equestria.”

“We’ve got a messenger here who says King Sombra wants a cease-fire with us,” Spitfire said over her alchemic horn.

“How do we know that’s not a trick!” Rainbow shouted, as much for the benefit of the crystal pony in front of her as for the others wearing alchemic horns and comms.

“I’m not sure we do. But it’s not like we have any better opt—Wait. I can’t believe it. Trixie is coming.”

For a moment, Time was silent. Rainbow looked over her troops as they glanced nervously between her, their comrades, and their enemies. At last, Time came back over their comms. “Sombra says he requests a temporary cease-fire to be more fully negotiated after the battle with Chrysalis’s changelings.”

“Sombra is going to try to trick us!” Rainbow said.

“And he’ll kill us if we don’t,” said Time. “We’ve got one shot at defeating Chrysalis. If we let her think we’re fighting Sombra, we can separate her and Pupa while she’s distracted.”

“I’m not even sure she knows we’re here yet,” said Bon Bon. “If the blimps are staying within the cover of clouds, and our forces haven’t met Chrysalis’s, we may still have the element of surprise on our side.”

“Even better,” said Time.

“We can’t trust Sombra, and we can’t trust Trixie,” Rainbow said. “Trusting either of them would be a mistake!”

“Rainbow, Shining Armor’s not here,” said Spitfire. Between the two of us, we have to reach a decision.” Rainbow turned to look back at Spitfire, standing towards the back of her ranks. “We can’t take on everypony here.”

Rainbow dropped her gaze.

“Rainbow, I know you don’t trust them. But we can renegotiate the terms of our cease-fire after that battle. We may not get another shot at taking down Chrysalis and Pupa.”

Rainbow waited a moment longer. “Then—let’s go get Chrysalis.”

She heard pegasus wings beside her, and turned to see Spitfire flying towards her. She landed in front of her, then took a step forward. “If that's what we've decided. Let’s go take down Chrysalis,” she said. She raised one foreleg and paused, then placed it on Rainbow’s shoulder. “General.”

The word rang in Rainbow’s ears. General. She looked down at Spitfire’s foreleg a moment, raising one of her own forelegs in disbelief. Then, she put her own hoof on Spitfire’s shoulder. “Admiral.” Spitfire smiled and nodded, and Rainbow repeated the gesture. “Let’s go get Chrysalis!” They held a moment longer before Time Skipper came over the alchemic horn.

“I’ll tell Trixie.”

“And I’ll have my agents move in on her location,” said Bon Bon.

Spitfire’s smile faded as she turned and flew back to her troops “I can take my remaining Wonderbolts and move in for the strike,” said Spitfire. “Soarin, is your squad available?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. The three of us will converge on her location. We’re going to topple Chrysalis’s royal line.”

“No!” shouted Bon Bon. “The Blue Changelings need Princess Pupa alive! The granddaughter of Chitin will be set upon his throne! We need to separate them and we need Pupa. Alive! We’ll be leaderless without her!”

Rainbow watched Spitfire pause. “We will do what we can to separate them, but if she fights back, we can’t guarantee anything.”

“Star—I mean, Time Skipper!” Sunburst blurted, “What about that spell you used on Twilight to fix her magic?”

“Yes,” Bon Bon replied. “Yes, that might work. It would! Time, where are you right now?”

“I’m between forces Alicorn and Bugbear.”

“Come towards my group. You’ll join us to make Strike Group Cockatrice.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire called, “You good to form Strike Group Dragon with me?”

Rainbow glanced towards her unit's commander. “You’re in charge of Force Alicorn until I get back. Head south around the crystal ponies to engage the changelings.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.

Rainbow lit her horn. “I’m free to join you for the strike,” she said over her alchemic horn.

“Good. Soarin, you and Fleetfoot will take your Wonderbolts and form Strike Group Echidna.”

Rainbow Dash spread her wings and flew over towards Spitfire’s Wonderbolts, who were already taking off themselves.

“What’s our plan of attack?”

Time galloped around a corner and found herself facing a group of crystal ponies. She panicked and locked her knees, skidding to a stop. A few of the ponies turned around, but none moved to engage her.

Oh. Right. There’s a cease-fire. She continued straight instead of turning as she would have, and made her turn one street later than she had planned.

“Time, over here,” somepony called. She skidded to a stop again, and turned to see where the voice had come from. She located a group of a half dozen blue-eyed changelings, and galloped over to them. Bon Bon drew paint out of her saddlebags, prompting Time to do the same.

Once they had painted each other, Bon Bon spoke up. “Here’s the situation. We’re down an agent already from the crossfire. From now on, we’ll be in disguise.” She levitated her canteen off her belt, unscrewed the cap, and washed paint from her face. Then, in a flash of blue flames, she morphed into a cream pegasus with a blue and pink mane. On her head, she wore an alchemic horn.

One by one, the changelings behind her took on the forms of pegasi as well. Each of them also gave themselves an alchemic horn on their head.

Perplexed, Time raised an eyebrow. “Why the alchemic horns?”

“They keep our disguise functional. We can fly and cast magic undisguised. Now we can do it in disguise too.” She waved her changelings forward with a wing. “Now come on. We’ve got a Princess to foalnap.”

The changelings galloped forward and took off. Time cast her self-levitation spell and followed behind Bon Bon.

“Strike Force Cockatrice. We are en route to the Queen’s location,” said Bon Bon over Time’s alchemic comm.

“How are you still using your alchemic comm if it’s not what’s in your disguise?”

“It’s under the disguise,” Bon Bon replied.

“Strike Force Dragon en route,” said Spitfire.

“Strike Force Echidna en route,” said Soarin.

“Heads up. We’re flying over Chrysalis’s battle lines,” Bon Bon called to her changelings. “They’re pinned down by Sombra’s forces with crossbow fire, but if any changelings see us, expect them to open fire.”

“Think they’ll fly up to engage us?” asked Time.

“Not likely. Intel passed along to me is that Sombra’s got them on a tight perimeter.” Time spared the main battle a glance as they got closer. “See those armored vehicles?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re the main reason Sombra’s forces haven’t pushed them out completely. They can’t even get close without getting torn to pieces.”

A blast of green energy emerged from a vehicle in the front of the column and sailed down the street, crashing into a corner shop shop. A moment later, the building collapsed sideways, spilling debris into the street.

“Glad they’re not shooting at us then,” said Time.

“Hopefully, we won’t have to see them any closer,” said Bon Bon. “With Pupa under our control, we’ll have a claim to Chrysalis’s throne. It’ll still be an uphill battle from there, but we’ll have the political leverage we need to sway more of her hive.”

Time watched as the main battle slipped out of view behind the buildings. Ahead, a blue light shined on the ground. “There. That’s the western rendezvous point. Land near that signal.”

Time and the changelings put down near the blue light which, when they got closer, turned out to be a Blue Changeling.

“This is Strike Force Cockatrice. We’ve reached the other side of Chrysalis’s battle line,” she said as one of her changelings and the signaler painted each other.

“Copy, Cockatrice,” came Spitfire’s voice a moment later. “Proceed to Chrysalis’s location.” Time’s heart skipped a beat. “Dragon and Echidna will be right behind you.”

“Copy. We’re moving out.”

Time inhaled sharply, but with her body so tense, she exhaled just as fast. “Well, this is it.”

“Yes,” said Bon Bon. “Today, everything we’ve done till now finally pays off.” She turned and trotted down the street, past her six changelings and the four more from the western rendezvous point. “Strike Group Cockatrice, follow me!” she said as she broke into a gallop.

Time galloped to catch up, taking her place right behind Bon Bon.

Pharynx adjusted his dive to sweep over a cloud on the western side of Las Pegasus, readjusting into a steeper dive once he had cleared it. Behind him, the rest of the Queensguard flew in formation down towards the city. His soldiers has been given their orders to occupy Sombra's attention while Chrysalis was delivered the message. All they had to do was get there.

Pharynx knew the risk of sending his best troops into King Sombra's line of fire, but it wasn't like he had any choice. The hive's soldiers were fighting and dying in the center of the city, surrounded by the enemy, and their Queen was distracted fighting the King.

He knew he was taking his life and the lives of a dozen Queensguard into his hooves. But nothing could have prepared him for the situation he found himself in when at last he found the Queen.

Ch. 15: Playing Keepaway

Time Skipper peered around the corner of a building. “Still nothing,” she whispered behind her.

“We must be getting close,” said Bon Bon.

Then, she saw a blast of green magic illuminate the side of a building. “Wait.” A line of black crystals emerged next, moving along the ground in the same direction. Time lit her horn and shined a light in that direction. Sombra took physical form, then glanced in her direction. “It’s him.”

Time shuddered. I hope this works. Sombra’s horn glowed red, then he teleported in front of Time.

She fought every instinct she had to raise a shield around her and Bon Bon’s changelings. Sombra’s magic was unlike any she had ever felt. It was oppressive, engulfing, and dreadful as he stood before her. “Are you the one Acolyte Trixie spoke with?”

It was unsettling that he was talking to her so plainly. No demands, no threats, not even any malicious intent. Time fought back a shiver. “Yes. And I have a plan. We need to keep Chrysalis standing still so we can separate her from her foal. If you can keep her down once we have the foal, we’ll get as far away as we can.”

Sombra’s jaw moved to one side. “A good plan,” he said. “If you can get between them.”

“Try and draw her this way,” Bon Bon said. “We’ll snatch Pupa and retreat to the east.”

“How much time do you need to get in place?” asked Sombra.

Time glanced towards Bon Bon.

“We can go as soon as you’re ready,” she said.

“Then I won’t give you long.” Sombra said. “I’ll lure her down this street,” he said over his shoulder, then teleported away.

Bon Bon updated the others as soon as he was gone. “Strike Group Cockatrice. We are awaiting Chrysalis’s presence to grab the target.”

“Copy, Cockatrice. Dragon is in holding position,” said Spitfire.

“Echidna is thirty seconds out from holding position,” called Soarin.

“Let me grab the foal,” said Time. “I have a speed spell that will help. Accelero.”

“Alright,” said Bon Bon. “I don’t need to remind you we have exactly one chance at this before Chrysalis realizes she’s not fighting a duel anymore.”

“Right,” Time said. Great. Extra pressure. Just what I needed. She shifted her weight among her hooves, then exhaled deeply.

Sombra came into view, crashed into the road at the intersection ahead, and skidded out of view behind a shop.

Then Time heard Chrysalis's laugh. “You’re getting too old for this! A thousand years of exile has made you weak!”

Then Chrysalis stepped into view, her horn and her foal’s horn both lit with their respective magic.

“I wish we had something to prevent them from using magic,” she whispered over her shoulder to Bon Bon. A moment later, she felt somepony unlatching her saddlebags. She looked over to see Bon Bon levitate a jar of changeling paint out of the bag. “It does that too?”

“How do you think it morphs changelings out of their disguises?” Time rolled the jar in her magic. When she looked back, Bon Bon was smiling at her. “Go get ‘em, Time.”

Time took a breath and lit her horn. She cast the spell, and the world slowed to a crawl. Chrysalis’s mouth moved slowly, her words pitch-shifted so much as to be almost inaudible. Bon Bon still stood smiling at her, unblinking and unmoving. The changeling larva smirked as it stared down the road at Sombra. Time exhaled again. It’s now or never.

Time galloped forward and opened the bottle of paint with her magic. She closed the distance and dumped the entire contents of the bottle over the two changelings. Then, she cast her self-levitation spell and grabbed the larva, transitioning into flight without even slowing down. She arced around and rolled along her axis to right herself, then landed where she had started. Only then did she dispel her Accelero spell.

“I got her!”

“Good.” Bon Bon took the little princess in one of her forelegs. “She still has a lot of magic in her, though. Cast the spell you did for Twilight on her in case the paint rubs off.”

“Right.” Time leaned in and placed her horn over top of the foal. As she cast the spell, the foal began to whimper, then cry, then shriek.

“Strike Force Cockatrice, we have Pupa but she’s making a lot of noise. If Sombra can’t keep Chrysalis down, we’re gonna need a screen for our exit.”

“Copy. We’re on our way,” said Spitfire.

Sure enough, Chrysalis roared from down the street a moment later. “Where is she? What have you done!”

“Go! Go! Go!” said Bon Bon, her voice barely a stage whisper. The other disguised changelings with her took off, and Time cast her self-levitation spell.

Whatever noise Bon Bon tried to prevent, Pupa more than made up for. As they began their ascent, she wailed and screamed.

Time Skipper almost felt sorry for her.

“There’s the Queen!” called one of Pharynx’s soldiers. Pharynx looked in the direction the guard was pointing, and sure enough, there she was, held in place by a unicorn’s red magic.

“Engage that unicorn. I’m on the Queen.”

By the time he reached Chrysalis, his elite guards had engaged the unicorn, distracting him enough for Pharynx to lift Chrysalis and move her around the corner into the next street. Her back was stained with a forest green substance which she was attempting to remove with her front hooves. With her back propped against the building, he began. “My Queen, I have urgent news. Our troops are surrounded. You must order—”

Her attention snapped to him and she cut him off. “They have Pupa! They’ve stolen her from me!”

Pharynx was taken aback, stunned equal parts by the news and her distress. “Y—your Highness, where did they go?”

Chrysalis pointed ahead. “I can’t use magic. Must be whatever this is they put on me. Get her back before those ponies can get away with her!”

“Yes, my Queen! At once!”

Pharynx whistled sharply, and a number of his Queensguard flew to him. “Pupa has fallen into enemy hooves. Go get her at once!” he said, pointing them in the direction Chrysalis had indicated. Three more Queensguard arrived a moment later. “You three, get the Queen to safety. Your Highness, you must give the order to retreat, or our forces will be destroyed.”

“I don’t care!” Chrysalis snapped back. “Just get my daughter back!”

Pharynx drew back, unused to being the target of Chrysalis’s wrath. “Of course, my Queen, but the others will die!”

Chrysalis nodded as the Queensguard helped her to her hooves, a moment of clarity apparently returning to her. “Then pull them back. But don’t let them escape with Princess Pupa!”

“I will see to it personally that they don’t.” As one Queensguard left to inform the troops, Pharynx left to catch up with the guards chasing Pupa.

“Cockatrice! On your six!” shouted Rainbow Dash over Time’s alchemic comm.

She looked behind her to see changelings gaining on them from behind.

“We’ve got company!”

“Cockatrice Group! Magic shields!” Bon Bon called.

“Where did they come from?”

Time looked ahead to see Dragon Group pass above them, then dive towards the changelings.

“Echidna, you good for a rendezvous?” asked Bon Bon.

“Copy, Cockatrice. We’ll wait for you.”

Bon Bon turned to face Time. “Once we group up with Echidna group, we’ll head up to one of the airships. Pupa will be safe there.”

Time looked over at the wailing Pupa, and felt conflicted about the pity she had for her.

“Strike Group Dragon,” called Spitfire, “We’ve engaged the enemy, but some of them flew past us. They’re headed for you, Cockatrice.”

“Copy, Dragon. Can you hold those hostiles back away from us?” asked Bon Bon.

Time stared at Princess Pupa, still shrieking and wailing. There’s no way we can escape with her being that loud.

“We’ve got them outnumbered,” Spitfire’s voice came back.

“Then it’s time to move out. Echidna, new plan. Come behind to cover us. Cockatrice, follow me!”

“Copy you, Cockatrice. We’ll take the incoming hostiles.”

Time turned to follow Bon Bon as she banked sharply into a dive. Time rolled next, and felt the wind whipping through her mane from the speed. Though with Pupa crying so, it didn’t really matter how fast they flew. Their position would be compromised no matter what.

“Bon Bon, what do you know about changeling armor?” asked Rainbow.

“Expensive. Durable. Weak at the neck. Usually only given to officers or special forces. Why?”

“These guys have some pretty tough-looking armor. Doesn’t match the helmet I got from Canterlot.”

Time glanced over at Bon Bon, who gave her a troubled look in return. “What do you mean?”

“These guys’ armor looks tougher. Their helmets extend to the sides of their muzzles.”

“Mandibled helmets?” Bon Bon asked. “Buck, those are Queensguard! Chrysalis responded a lot faster than I anticipated!”

“It’s possible she had these forces in waiting while she was fighting Sombra,” said Spitfire.

“I don’t know, but we’ve got to get Pupa to one of the airships. W.A.S. Spitfire, what’s your location?”

“We’re holding in our cloudbank southeast of the city,” said Sunburst.

“What about the Soarin?”

“Due south of the city, hidden in a stratus cloud,” said Misty Fly.

“Copy. We’ll make our way across the city and straight up to the Soarin.”

Time ran into Bon Bon, in the process discovering that Bon Bon had stopped. “Cockatrice! Halt!” Bon Bon ordered.

Before Time could ask what was the matter, she saw it several meters below in the street below them: a line of changeling armored vehicles with supporting infantry—They had flown too close to the main battle. She righted herself and levitated backwards a short distance away from Bon Bon.

“We’ll have to head south around them.”

She had no sooner begun to move than Soarin came over Time’s alchemic comm. “We’ve engaged enemy aerial changelings, but part of their squad has broken off from the main group. I count half a dozen heading roughly towards you.”

“For Celestia’s sake, can’t we catch a break?” Bon Bon mumbled. Just then, something green and luminous whizzed past Time’s head, striking a nearby changeling. The changeling groaned and began to drop. Time turned to see one of the armored vehicles with its weapon pointed right at her.

“Get clear!” cried one of Bon Bon’s changelings.

Bon Bon dove for cover and shifted Pupa to her other front leg. Time followed. “Oh, would you just. Shut. Up! You rotten egg!” Bon Bon whispered. “You’re gonna get us killed! Who got hit?”

“Mayfly, ma’am.”

“Lightning Bug, recover her. If she’s not dead and she falls into enemy hooves…”

“Yes, ma’am. I understand.”

“The rest of you, come with me.”

Time closed the distance to Bon Bon, then levitated alongside her. “I might have a spell to keep her quiet.”

“Good.” Time could hear the relief in Bon Bon’s voice. “Take her.”

Time Skipper teleported Pupa into her grasp, then lowered her horn. She merged a shield spell with a silencing spell, setting Pupa as the target. When she cast the spell, a shield appeared around Pupa, and she heard her cries no more. Bon Bon glanced back at Pupa. “She’s still here. I cast a defendere shield spell with silentium to create a shield of silence around her.”

“Good work,” Bon Bon said, relieved.

“Soarin to Cockatrice, I’m tracking the changelings moving towards your location with eight of my Wonderbolts. We’ve got a visual on them.

“We need to get them off our tracks,” Bon Bon called back. “If we draw them away, can you get Pupa to the airship?”

“Just get her to us and we’ll get her out.”

Bon Bon looked back at Time. “Junebug, get Pupa to Soarin’s squad.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said a voice from behind her. She turned to see a disguised changeling flying alongside her, forelegs cupped to receive the shielded princess.

“If you leave too soon, you’ll be too close to the enemy changelings when the shield spell breaks,” Time said. “With Bon Bon’s permission, I’d suggest you wait until they engage.

“Yes,” Bon Bon agreed. “We’ve only got one shot at this. As for the distraction… Here they come. Raise shields!”

Time passed off Pupa to the changeling beside her as she cast a shield spell around herself. Bon Bon did the same, then with her voice she began imitating Pupa’s cries.

How is she doing that with her voice? she asked herself.

Guess changelings would have to in order to impersonate other ponies, she countered.

About when Time saw the changelings—black dots against the blue sky—Bon Bon banked into a turn away from them. Time followed, as did the other changelings.

“This is Junebug of Cockatrice Group. I’ve got Pupa now. We’ve spotted the incoming changelings.”

“Have they spotted you?” asked Soarin.

“I think so. We’re drawing them away from the airships. Are you close enough to recover the Princess?”

“Negative. We need more time to catch up.”

“Should we engage them,” Time asked Bon Bon.

“All but Junebug.” She nodded at the disguised changeling carrying Pupa. “Drop down to the buildings below us and shelter in place.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Time watched Junebug fall out of formation and drop to the ground. “Bumble, morph into the Princess and raise Tartarus crying like her while I hold you. The rest of you, break formation and engage at will!”

The formation scattered, leaving Time flying in a straight line as the changelings peeled off behind and in front of her. She spotted the Green Changelings coming in and banked to engage them. She stretched her front legs forward and rolled, turning directly towards a pair of oncoming changelings. As soon as she saw green magic coming her way, she returned fire with her own magic—a short burst of individual bolts of magic that traced a dotted line across her target. Fiery bolts of green magic drifted past her, though none hit her shield, but her own volley missed its mark as well.

When the changelings were almost at their closest, she flared her shield outward, catching them both in the blast. She recast her shield spell, then glanced over her shoulder. To her dismay, the changelings were both pulling out of a dive and turning back towards her. She teleported behind them and managed to get another burst of spells off before they even figured out what she’d done. She hit one of them square in the middle of the back. He groaned as he splayed his legs out, flailing wildly as he dove sharply.

The second changeling cut a sharp turn and rose backwards towards her. A blast of blue magic caught him across the face as he rolled to re-orient himself, and he continued climbing past Time and over her shoulder. A disguised Blue Changeling cut across her path a moment later. “Nice shot!” she called over her alchemic comm.

“By the King! It’s Pharynx!” shouted another changeling.

“Pharynx? Are you sure?” asked Bon Bon.

“He’s on my tail! I’m sure it’s him! Purple eyes, red tail, red—” the changeling paused. “My shield’s down! I can’t shake him!”

“I see you,” called another changeling. “Hang in there.”

Time looked around for the changeling. “Hurry!” He shrieked a moment later. “I’m hit! Ah! My leg!” A moment later, Time heard an alchemic comm cut out.

“Friendly down,” called the second changeling. “I’m on Pharynx.”

“Junebug to Echidna leader, I’m sheltering in place on the ground. Awaiting extraction of Princess Pupa.”

“Copy, Junebug. We’re seconds away from engagement with the enemy. I’ll send two Wonderbolts to escort you.”

Time looked up and spotted the inbound Wonderbolts.

“Junebug’s going up with you,” said Bon Bon.

“Copy,” replied first Soarin, then Junebug.

Time fired a beam of magic at one of the Green Changelings, drawing a line across the sky until she connected with the target. Immediately, the changeling started to plummet. She cut the spell when she narrowly missed hitting a pony with her beam.

“Woah! Watch your fire!” called a Wonderbolt.

“Sorry!”

“Stick to bursts of magic. Too much risk of friendly fire with beams,” said Bon Bon.

“Copy,” Time said.

“Thunderlane to Echidna leader, we’ve arrived at the Princess’s location.”

“Copy. Proceed to the W. A. S. Soarin,” replied Soarin.

“Copy. We’re on our way up.”

“All remaining members of Cockatrice, form up on me,” said Bon Bon. “We’ve got to pull attention away from Junebug.”

“Copy. Be right there.” Time began to dive towards the other Blue Changelings.

“We’ll keep the attention of the ones up here,” said Soarin.

“I’m hit!” called another changeling. “He’s let up on me. My wing’s hit but I think I can pull up and glide down.”

“Glide?” asked Bon Bon.

“Didn’t break the disguise. I’ve still got pegasus wings. Hurts like Tartarus though!”

“Stay clear of hostiles. You’ll have to watch your own back until we can get help out to you.”

The changeling shouted. “I can’t pull up! I—I’m gonna—”

The fur on the back of Time’s neck stood on end as she heard the alchemic comm cut out.

“Should’ve finished off that usurper queen when we had a free shot at her!” Bon Bon spat.

“We can’t. That’s not the way it happened in the unaltered timeline,” said Time. “She has to be exiled.” The comm was silent for a while. “The more things we change in this timeline, the worse things will end up. We have to set things right.”

“I understand,” said Bon Bon. “There. We’ll land in that building and make them come to us.”

The group landed and the first changeling magically opened the door. Time entered and examined the building. It seemed they were in a shop of some kind. Its owner was not present, but all of the wares were still on the shelves.

“I need two in that far corner,” said Bon Bon. “Two more behind that farthest rack on the other side. When that door opens, you’ll hit them from both sides.”

Four disguised changelings moved on her orders. That left one changeling, Bon Bon, and Time. The remaining changeling approached Bon Bon. “If they really are Queensguard, do you think we’ve got a chance?”

Bon Bon paused. “We’ll set a trap for them. I don’t care who they are.” She turned and faced the other changelings. “I don’t care if Pharynx himself enters through that door. They can’t fight at a disadvantage. We’ll have them surrounded and, if they enter one at a time, outnumbered. And, if this doesn’t work…” she sighed, “at least Pupa will be safe.”

The changeling nodded slowly, then looked up to face her. “Then let’s do it!”

“Inbound!” came a hushed voice from one of the other changelings. Sure enough, Time heard changeling wings outside a moment later. She galloped down an aisle to the back, following the two changelings. They went one way at the end of the row, while Time ducked behind a rack of wares in glass bottles.

She peeked through an open spot in the rack towards the front door. Then, she heard Princess Pupa crying again. She turned her head towards the noise to see the changeling next to Bon Bon crying like Pupa. Bon Bon raised her voice, and hit her own foreleg with her hoof, making a sound of a physical strike. “Shut up, Pupa! We’ll be spotted!”

She’s trying to lure them in. Time glanced around the rack towards the door. She saw dark figures converging on the door. “They’re coming,” she whispered over the alchemic comm.

The door—which none of them locked, probably deliberately—flew open and the first Queensguard hovered in. He was met by bolts of magic from the two changelings from the first corner. He was struck in the chest and one of the legs and reeled from the hit, but lit his horn and returned fire. Time looked around and formulated an idea. She lit her horn and set her aura on a number of glass bottles from the rack on the side wall.

Once the first Queensguard fell, a second took his place. He fired on the changelings in the corner, but as he stepped forward out of the cover of the door, he was hit from behind by the ones in the other corner. The third had already begun to enter, but held back when the guard in front of him went down.

“Get in there!”

“They’re in both corners!”

“Go, behind-the-door group!” Bon Bon called.

A moment later, Time heard more spells discharging. Both hit the door, and it smacked into the third Queensguard’s head, causing him to yelp and jump back.

No more changelings came through the door for a moment, then there was a crash of glass and a flash of green light as one of the windows was blown in. Time couldn’t see which one, but she heard renewed fighting from the first corner. There was a brief exchange of magic blasts, and she thought she saw one of the Queensguard go down.

Then, Time saw another changeling coming through the door. Now, she decided, was when she would use the glass jars she’d been levitating. She teleported them to a spot directly above the door, where they fell on top of the changeling entering. The Queensguard cried out as he fell to the ground. Now with damaged wings, he had no choice but to walk, and there now was broken glass on the ground. He took one step with a foreleg and one with a hindleg, then buckled and fell to his knees. With his head now exposed, the changelings in the second corner made quick work of him.

“They’re moving towards the back,” called one changeling over the alchemic comm. “Two friendlies down.”

She looked through her gap in the rack and saw a Queensguard heading her way down the main aisle. She cast similo duplexis and accelero to do her double-body trick, and charged forward. She found it difficult to navigate and even harder to cast even a basic energy blast. She threw her head back and fired, but the Queensguard did the same. One half of her was hit, and it was enough for the spell to unravel.

It hurt. A lot. Not just her chest where the attack had landed, but her horn. A second blow came as she collapsed, this one to her head. Her vision blurred and her other senses became less responsive.

But she was alive, which was more than she should be able to say after such an attack. As she clutched her chest, she rolled over, inadvertently dodging an attack from the side as Bon Bon and the other changeling covered for her. She felt a magic grip on first one hind leg, then the other, then felt herself being dragged backwards. Her mind swam as her sluggish body responded to her commands as if they were suggestions. She felt a force rolling her over, and found herself face to face with Bon Bon.

She was calling somepony’s name. “Time Skipper! Time, are you ok?”

Wait, that’s me! She tried to speak, but only a mumble came. “Magic exertion… experimental spell… it’s getting dark…”

Time fought to retain consciousness until the last of the light faded from her vision.

Rainbow Dash banked sharply, dodging an incoming changeling which passed within a few meters of her. She watched behind her as he climbed steeply and let himself fall back down, doubling back towards her.

“These guys know some maneuvers,” she said over her alchemic horn. “That guy just did a hammerhead.”

“Bon Bon said they were tough,” said Vapor Trail.

Rainbow pulled into a tight vertical loop and shot a few bolts of magic at the changeling behind her, but missed wide behind him.

“Vapor, you’ve got one on your six,” said Sky Stinger.

Rainbow came out of the loop still ahead of the changeling, and rolled into a wide circular flight pattern, hoping to lure the changeling which was now behind her into giving chase. He did, but he ascended and rolled along his axis, then turned to continue chasing. Rainbow raised a shield, and a moment later several green blasts of magic shot past her.

“Might have to get creative here,” she muttered to herself. She rolled onto her back, flying upside down but maintaining her course, her wings held stationary as she and the changeling flew in their circle together. She lowered her head towards her chest and saw the changeling behind her, still firing away at her. Rainbow closed her eyes briefly then fired a blast of magic at him. The bolt swerved towards the changeling, knocking him off his flight path and sending him tumbling towards the ground.

Rainbow couldn’t help but smile to herself. It went out of its way to hit him! How did I do that? Did I just combine spells like Time mentioned in training?

Rainbow was pulled out of her musings by Spitfire’s voice. “I’ve got a changeling on my tail!” Rainbow rolled to reorient herself and turned back towards the fight. “He’s on me tight—I can’t shake him!”

Rainbow glanced around and located Spitfire. Sure enough, she had a changeling trailing her by mere meters.

“I see you. Come towards me. We’ll bait and switch.” Rainbow broke off her attack to assist, flying in the general direction of Spitfire. She watched as Spitfire led the changeling through a series of maneuvers, always keeping herself just barely out of harm’s way. Rainbow ended up flying parallel to Spitfire. “Turn towards me, and I’ll turn towards you. I’ll pass underneath you.”

“Copy you.” Rainbow turned towards Spitfire, and watched her do the same. As she passed underneath her, she lit her horn and fired three blasts at the changeling, with immediate results.

“Your six is clear, Admiral.”

“Thank you, General,” came the reply. “That’s two I owe you.”

“Don’t mention it. You’d have done the same for me.”

“That’s the last of them,” said Sky Stinger. “Orders, ma’am?”

“Group up for paint,” said Spitfire. “After that, we’ll assist Cockatrice Group.”

Bon Bon watched Time go down. “Come on! Cover her!” she called to the changeling beside her. She didn’t wait for him to act, but jumped around the corner herself, horn blazing with energy. She cast a bolt at the first Queensguard she saw, catching the protrusion on his mandibled helmet. As his head jerked to one side, she set an aura on one of Time’s hind legs and began dragging her backwards.

The changeling beside her took a shot and followed up the job Bon Bon started, landing a hit on the guard’s neck. His head jerked to the side briefly, then he fell to one front knee. The guard behind darted down the aisle on the same side of the room as Bon Bon and Time, ducking out of sight just as Bon Bon relit her horn. The changeling coming towards them looked like he was about to get back up.

With a heave, Bon Bon finished dragging Time Skipper to safety behind the rack. She rolled her over onto her back and saw she was still conscious, though just barely. “Time, are you ok?”

“—broke my spell—my horn—it hurts so bad.”

“Hang in there, Time.” The last Queensguard from the main aisle was almost on top of her and the other changeling. Bon Bon lit her horn and put a shield around Time. The Queensguard stepped into sight, and Bon Bon charged her horn, but the changeling beside her dropped to the ground, the back of his head still smoking from the hit. She turned her head to see one Queensguard had gotten behind her, and quickly raised a shield.

With one in front and one behind, Bon Bon was surrounded. “Time to die, pony,” said the Queensguard in front of her.

“If you kill me, all knowledge of where your Princess is will die with me.”

“Pharynx is already on his way back to the Queen to inform her of your location. Soon, the entire army wi—”

A bolt of fiery blue magic struck him dead as he spoke. Bon Bon turned and fired at the remaining Queensguard as he turned to flee. He reacted fast, but Bon Bon was faster, and her magic found its mark.

When neither Queensguard moved after their hits, Bon Bon inspected her fallen changeling, then lit her horn. “Bumble’s dead. Cocatrice members still on the ground, report in.”

“Star Spider reporting in.”

“Antlion reporting in.”

There was a pause. “Is that all?” How many did we lose? Bon Bon waited, but no more answers came. “Who took that last shot? Time and I owe you one.”

“Not us,” came the reply over her alchemic comm.

“You’re still in your corners?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then who—”

“It was me,” came a male voice, clearly a changeling by the sound of it.

Bon Bon’s ears perked. “And who are you?”

The unmistakable black form of an undisguised changeling stepped into view. His eyes were royal blue, and his wings transparent shades of blue. On his horn, he wore no alchemic comm.

Bon Bon recognized him immediately. “Is—Is it really you?”

“It’s me alright. You got my letter?”

“Of course I did! You—You’re Giver, aren’t you?”

He looked back towards the door. “Yes! And you’re former agent Sweetie Drops, aren’t you?”

She stepped forward to embrace him, but was checked by some deep-seated instinct. She paused, then reached into her saddlebags, pulled out a jar of green paint, and spread a streak of green under each of the changeling’s eyes.

“What’s that?”

Bon Bon waited a moment longer, waiting for any effect to reveal itself. “Sorry. Can’t be too careful. We did just fight our way through about a half dozen Queensguard.” She levitated her canteen out of her saddlebags and wiped the paint off the changeling’s face. “I just can’t believe it’s really you!”

“Well, I couldn’t stay out of the fight forever, you know.”

“Yes…” she said as her mind and eyes wandered in opposite directions. She raised her head again and looked him in the eye. “We’re needed on board the Wonderbolt airship above the battlefield. Switch to a pegasus disguise with an alchemic horn and follow me.”

“Right behind you. It’s your op.”

Beneath her disguise, Bon Bon lit her horn, activating her alchemic comm. “Alright, Cockatrice. We’re all going to rendezvous at the Soarin. Antlion, Star Spider, help grab the fallen Blues.” Her magic leapt to Bumble’s fallen form, and she hoisted him up onto her back.

“Copy you, Cockatrice leader,” said Star Spider beside her.

“Copy. We’re almost there,” said Junebug with Pupa.

“Copy,” said Lightning Bug, responsible for carrying the injured Mayfly from back by the main battle. “I’m at the Soarin. Mayfly is receiving treatment.”

Bon Bon hoisted Time Skipper onto her back next to Bumble and turned to leave, but stopped to investigate the pair of Blue Changelings in the far corner. “Both dead. Buck, that’s half my operatives.” Star Spider and Antlion trotted over. Antlion’s disguise had broken, and there was a blue goo over his left eye. “And two more wounded.”

“I’m fine,” said Antlion as he placed one of the fallen changelings on his back. “It should heal.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner,” said Giver.

“It’s not your fault. We had to improvise a plan to get Pupa out.” She turned to face him. “I’m glad we have you back on board. Still, we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Fall back!” came the order from outside the vehicle. “Fall back!” Centipede lit his horn and pulled back on the throttle in front of him, while Millipede pushed forward on his. The vehicle turned about slowly, giving Centipede a view of the crystal ponies climbing out of their cover to fire crossbow bolts at them. Good thing we aren’t first in line anymore. We’d be last now.

“Company, forward,” called Hot Shot. Centipede threw his lever forward, and the vehicle surged ahead.

Secretly, Centipede was glad to be leaving the battle, and he felt important watching the hoofsoldiers stay behind to guard their retreat.

But as good as it felt to be safe inside his metal walls, he had to hang his head a little knowing they were on the losing side of the battle. Again.

His division was still in training during the first battle of Las Pegasus, and now in the final hours of the second battle, he wondered what was going to happen once they got back to Canterlot.

Carapace’s shield had gone down an hour ago, and since then the crossbow bolts had hit the armor like hail on a metal roof. Nothing was dented too far inward so far as he could tell, and he’d even stopped flinching every time something hit them. He watched in his viewport as they passed the empty hull of Unit 12, its last remaining crew member picked up by Unit 11. That could have been us.

He was thankful for his crewmates, and spared each of them a passing glance.

But he didn’t say a word. None of them did. The air was tense, and its weight could nearly be felt. Even the changeling communicator was kept clear to facilitate the retreat. And yet they all knew what the other was thinking as they retreated—as they fled.

They didn’t need to tell each other. It was mutually understood. After all, they were all soldiers.

The guards stationed on either side of the door to Chrysalis's quarters parted as Pharynx approached. He opened the door and adjusted to the darkness—the curtains on the windows had all been pulled shut. There in the middle of the room sat Chrysalis holding a bright green toy parrot in her hooves. She barely glanced in his direction, but upon recognizing him, she sat up immediately. “Did you find her? Where is she? Where is my little daughter?”

Pharynx stood at attention. “We gave chase, Your Highness, but there were too many of them. Most of the Queensguard are dead. We did not find Princess Pupa.”

Chrysalis's gaze dropped and her lip quivered. “Leave me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I am not to be interrupted.” She clutched the toy close to her chest.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Pharynx exited the room and relayed the Queen’s order to the guards.

Ch. 16: Next Steps

Pharynx finally stopped his pacing and sighed deeply, looking again at the door to Chrysalis’s chambers. This time he approached. He knew he was breaking orders, but those orders had come down days ago, and he had heard nothing since then. He tentatively raised a hoof and cracked open the door. “Your Highness? It’s been five days. What are your orders?” There was no response. Pharynx opened the door a little wider, and poked first his head and then his shoulders around the door. “I’ve seen to the troops’ lodging and resupplying and done a head count. Our losses were significant.”

Chrysalis sat unmoving, her back towards the door. “My queen,” he said, now entering the room fully and slowly approaching her, “the troops are discouraged. They need to see their leader.”

She turned her head to face him, and that was when he felt it—the love pangs, the sorrow, the emptiness. He could see where she had been crying, trails of moisture along her face beneath her bloodshot eyes. He caught all this in a single glance, after which Chrysalis bowed her head.

Pharynx strode up alongside her and stood beside her. He looked in front of her, and saw Princess Pupa’s empty cradle. “We’ll get her back, my queen.”

Chrysalis’s demeanor was unchanged. “My queen, it—it has been five days. I will only do this with your permission, but,” he hesitated a moment, “if you need more time, then I could see to the rest of the hive’s needs until you are able.” Chrysalis turned her head just enough to make eye contact with him. “With your permission, of course.”

Chrysalis lowered her gaze. “I grant it.”

Pharynx turned to leave, but stopped by the door as he was about to leave. “They’re in good hooves, Your Highness.” He waited for a reply, but when none came, he left in silence, shutting the door behind him.

When the Wonderbolt with the white-and-red uniform appeared in the doorway, Bon Bon stood up. “How are they?” she asked.

The Wonderbolt turned to face Bon Bon, hiding the white shoulder patch with the red heart from view as the door to the Soarin’s medical ward swung closed behind her. “Antlion’s prospects for regaining sight in his eye are good. Mayfly’s suffering from a broken foreleg, but I’ve applied a stint and the two changelings used their… goo… to seal the broken chitin in place,” she said, a disconcerted look on her face. “Even with my special talent for healing, my best estimate is that she’ll need a few months before she’s back on her hooves, but you changelings might know faster ways to treat her.”

“And Time Skipper, the unicorn?”

The nurse looked over her shoulder. “Magical overexertion. She just needs rest.” She turned back to face Bon Bon. “The wounded changelings should stay in my care until we get back to Canterlot, but Time Skipper will likely be discharged once she comes around and we confirm she’s in good health.”

“What about Princess Pupa?”

The nurse shook her head. “I thought she would never stop crying, but she finally fell asleep.”

“May I see the changelings?”

“Right this way,” she said, opening the door. Once inside, she led Bon Bon past a series of cabinets and medical supplies, and towards a curtain dividing the rest of the room in half. On the near side of the curtain, there were a few beds occupied by Wonderbolts, but she also recognized Time Skipper among them. “They’re over here,” the nurse said in a hushed tone.

She pointed Bon Bon towards the other side of the curtain, and she stepped around to see two of the remaining beds filled with undisguised changelings. Giver and three other healthy changelings now wore white foreleg bands with red hearts on them to indicate they were taking care of the other changelings. “Thank you.”

The nurse nodded and walked away.

“How are they?” Bon Bon asked as she approached.

“They will heal,” said Lightning Bug, standing by Antlion’s bed.

“And Pupa?”

“She’s over here,” Junebug whispered from across the room. “She’s asleep.”

Giver shook his head. “I didn’t mean for you to risk so many agents for me.”

Bon Bon walked over to the bed Giver was lying on. “I know. But… we need all the help we can get. When you sent us the letter saying you were tracking Chrysalis’s advance towards Las Pegasus… And we were going after Princess Pupa anyways... It was the obvious choice.”

Bon Bon looked around at what remained of her agents. “I was hoping we could get the whole team back together. We would have had you, me, and Bumble over there,” she said, glancing over at a bed covered with a white sheet. “I guess some things just weren’t meant to be.”

“I wish I could have done more for your group.”

Bon Bon smiled and raised a hoof to the back of Giver’s head, then brought her head close enough to cross horns with him. “You’ll have your chance to do that now that you’re back with us.” Giver put his own hoof behind her head and accepted her gesture by leaning his head in towards hers. With their horns crossed and their magic linked, she felt in a flashing moment their entire history together, all the way back during Celestia’s secret agency. She felt the amorphous changeling words with no direct Ponish counterparts on the tip of her tongue, like a word barely out of remembrance—words for feelings similar to trust, camaraderie, and sense of family—all things that changelings would broadly call love.

Bon Bon smiled wider as she held the back of Giver’s head. “It’s been a long time, Giver.”

Giver returned her smile weakly. “If we must fight again, then at least we’ll be fighting for our own future this time.”

Bon Bon leaned her head back away from Giver. “For something we chose to fight for.” She held his head a moment longer, then lowered her hoof to the back of his neck and hugged him. “Welcome back, Giver.”

Two crystal soldiers opened the double doors leading to a large conference room in the mayor’s mansion in Las Pegasus. The tall hanging banners with the Crystal Empire’s crest gave evidence that Sombra had done some redecorating since his occupation of the city had begun. Time Skipper walked in behind Shining Armor and Bon Bon, along with the rest of the ponies on the Manehattan council. There in the room she saw King Sombra standing with Trixie and a number of crystal ponies in officer uniforms. There were crystal soldiers guarding the door on the other side, and unlike the ones who had just opened the doors for their group, these guards were armed with spears.

Shining Armor’s own royal guard took point at the door as King Sombra turned to greet them. “Captain Shining Armor, I presume?”

“Yes, I am,” Shining said. “And you must be King Sombra?”

“Yes,” came the reply, his voice deep and even, almost a growl. Time shuddered at the aura she felt emanating from him, dark and oppressive. “Please, be seated,” he said, gesturing to a seat at the head of the table. “We have much to discuss.”

“Of course.” Shining took the seat at one end, and King Sombra took the other. Bon Bon and Time sat in the first two chairs next to Shining Armor, and Spitfire and Rainbow Dash took the seats on the other side of her. Sombra’s own ponies filled the other side of the table, while the rest of the ponies of each faction stood behind.

“My condolences for your fiancé, the late princess, Captain,” Sombra said as they were getting seated.

“Thank you, King. I fight so that her death may not be in vain.”

“A cause both strong and noble.”

“Love is a powerful motivator,” Bon Bon added.

“As is fear. Together, we can put an end to the reign of the tyrant Queen Chrysalis.”

“May her reign be short indeed,” said Shining Armor.

Sombra nodded approvingly. “So tell me, what interest do you ponies have with this city, and with peace with the Crystal Empire?”

“We are currently short on allies,” Shining began, “and we seek to organize internal Equestrian resistance against Queen Chrysalis.”

“Consolidate your power with large population centers and strike at her from within?” Sombra raised a hoof to his chin. “I see.”

“If I may, King Sombra,” Bon Bon said with a pause. Sombra gestured towards her with upturned hoof before returning his hoof to the table. “I represent another faction, the Order of the Blue Changelings. Our hive was usurped by Queen Chrysalis, and we saw Las Pegasus as an opportunity to separate her from her foal, our late king’s granddaughter.”

So, what are you doing here, actually? asked Trixie. Her voice was very close to Time, and unnervingly invasive. Time glanced towards Trixie and saw her staring back at her, eyes glowing green.

Then it hit her what Trixie had just done. Mind magic! she thought. Trixie, mind magic is forbidden!

Not when you’re the king’s Dark Acolyte.

Time wanted to run down a list of things she planned not to think about so long as Trixie was invading her mind, but quickly realized that doing so would be the fastest way to give away massive amounts of information. No. She would have to give total focus to what was being discussed moment by moment.

You’re the reason I’m here, Trixie. I want to be your friend.

Trixie’s face grew grave. You really were being serious about that.

I come from another world. One where there is no war. Where ponies—don’t hurt each other like this, don’t sell themselves to foreign kings just to learn more powerful magic. Trixie’s expression grew indignant, defiant. Time closed her eyes and pictured herself back home with Trixie, putting on a magic show.

My wagon! Or, no—a new wagon! I haven’t seen my wagon since—since Ponyville—when that Ursa destroyed it! And then Sunburst…

Time opened her eyes and looked back down the table. Trixie, I want this fighting to end. I come from a world where King Sombra never rose to power outside the Crystal Empire.

What? How? Trixie asked accusingly. Time guarded her thoughts carefully. Are you their secret weapon? Are you telling them how to win the war? A smirk came to Trixie’s face. Why shouldn’t I tell King Sombra how important you are?

Time exhaled. If I really can turn this war, then you’re on the losing side, and you just haven’t realized it yet. Trixie stared back a moment dumbfounded, then dropped her gaze. I can be your way back.

Trixie glanced over at Sombra, then back to Time. I can’t go back.

Time smiled. Of course you can. Trixie, believe me. The things I’ve done, if they can forgive me—

I’m not worried about them! she snapped. I’m worried about Sombra. And what he’ll do to me if he catches me trying to leave.

Well, who says you have to leave? Why not act as an agent for us—help us win?

I’m too close to him—I’d get caught! And then… I’d die some horrible death in a torture chamber in his prison. That is, if he even let me die.

Trixie, Time pleaded.

Trixie shook her head. I—I can’t, she said softly. I’ve made my choice.

Trixie?

Trixie’s eyes, now neither glowing green nor looking in her direction, were her only answer.

Applejack poked her head around the corner and saw her target, the yellow stallion with the white and red tail. His back was towards her. He would never see her coming. But somepony else might. She ducked her head back into the alley beside the shop.

A glance over her shoulder revealed nopony in the alley behind her. She could pull off a flanking maneuver, but she would have to be quick or risk being spotted as a changeling in the city her friends had just fought to liberate from Chrysalis. Equestrian forces might not believe her if they caught her. Sombra’s forces would do even worse things to her.

She turned and galloped around the back of the building, down past a row of conjoined shops, until she was back to an open alley leading to the street the stallion was walking down. She peeked down the side alley and found it unoccupied. As she advanced towards the street, she heard hoofsteps. She stopped and readied her lasso. Once the stallion came into view, she threw it, capturing him in one throw. She pulled hard and he tripped as he fell into the side alley.

In her haste, she hadn’t let the lasso fall all the way around his withers, but instead caught him by the neck. He gasped and pulled at the rope with his magic. “Chang—Change—” he called faintly as Applejack closed the distance.

“Relax, Flam. It’s me, Applejack. It’s not just anypony who can pick up a lasso and throw it perfect first time, ya know.” She was standing right in front of him now. “I’ve just got a question for ya. What in tarnation are ya doing outside the meeting? We’re supposed to be discussin’ what to do with the city.”

Flam grunted as he finally pulled the lasso loose from around his neck. “And I might ask you what you’re doing apart from your handler, the zebra. It’s awfully dangerous for somepony who looks like a changeling in this city,” he said as he rose to his hooves. An aura formed around his horn and a far of green paint floated out of his saddlebags. “That is, if you truly are who you claim to be.”

Applejack flinched reflexively. “I wish you wouldn’t. That stuff hurts worse’n soap on a rope burn.”

Flam raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you should have thought about that before you threw a rope around me and dragged me into an alley,” he said as he levitated a blob of paint towards her.

Applejack shut her eyes and grit her teeth, then raised one front leg to her chest. She felt the cool gel-like substance on the leg she had raised and braced for the pain to come. She soon felt a tingling in her broken horn, then a throbbing headache. She opened her eyes and tried to shake it off, but to no good.

Then she felt her hat float off her head. “Hey! Give that back!” She reared up and buzzed her wings while swatting at it, but Flam held it just out of reach. She did a little hop, then fell back to all fours. “I wouldn’t raise a hoof against your hat! Give me back mine!”

“Well, you just so happen to have a very distinctive feature under that Stetson of yours,” he said, punctuating his retort by magically pressing her hat into her face. “Combined with the paint, this broken horn of yours—”

When Applejack lowered the hat and saw his hoof getting close to her head, she raised a hoof defensively. “Don’t! Touch it. Please. Whenever anypony touches it, it hurts like a railroad spike bein’ driven into my head.”

Flam frowned and took a step back. “Now. I’ll have you know I have express permission to provide protection and oversight for gaming establishments here in Las Pegasus… for a fee, of course. We’ve concluded negotiations—It just needs to be set to paper now. Equestria gets the cloudtop resorts and a small sector here on the ground, while King Sombra keeps most of the rest. I was just heading over to the balloon taxi to go make my rounds with the resort owners.”

Applejack stepped between him and the street. “I knew it. I was right all along. You’re just in it for the money. You’re gonna swindle and con your way right back into your old life just the way you always have. That’s what’s wrong with you. What's always has been wrong with you. And you don’t even care how many families you tear apart to get at it!”

Flam stared at her, unconvinced. “Finished?” Applejack turned her head and spat on the ground beside her. Flam started with a sigh. “To be honest with you, I might have done exactly that, if things were as they used to be. But, as it is right now, my brother is held prisoner by Queen Chrysalis and, well, it’s just not as fun without him.”

“Fun? You think it’s just havin fun, do ya? Cheatin’ everypony you see?”

Flam’s eyes lit up. “Ah yes! The thrill of the con! If we wanted to just set up a shop and make money that way, that simply wouldn’t do. So monotonous and ordinary and well… boring. But to test our limits—see how much we could get away with—That was the life!” His smile slowly faded and he turned away from her towards the street. “I… miss my brother, you know. Getting into trouble together and bailing ourselves out. Planning, traveling, performing.” He turned back towards her. “Surely you understand what it means to have family you care about, don’t you?”

Applejack’s mouth fell open, but no words came. Not even as Flam approached and put a hoof on the side of her face. She thought over his last remark for a second, then scowled and looked him square in the eye. But what she felt wasn’t what she was expecting. With her new changeling body and magic faced up against a master liar, she was unable to sense if there was any deceit in his words. Instead, she felt what seemed to be genuine love pangs emanating from the stallion in front of her.

She would have pulled away from Flam’s hoof if he hadn’t drawn it back himself just then. “You have my word that I will never swindle another pony so long as I live if I could just have my brother back,” he said, hanging his head. His ears fell back and he lowered his gaze. “I mean it, you know. All the money I could want, and yet no brother.”

Flam magically straightened his bow tie and adjusted his hat. “So that’s what I have decided to do. I’ll use my talent for, well, for ‘raising money,’ let’s call it, to help fund the effort of the ponies who oppose the queen holding my brother.”

Applejack shifted among her hooves. “I get that much, but I can’t approve of your method of raisin’ all this money.”

“I never asked you to,” came the reply. And was that a subtle twinge of guilt in his tone? A slight lowering of his ears and tilting of his head? Or was it just for show?

Applejack’s heart skipped when she heard Zecora behind her. “What are you doing out running around
In places where distrusting creatures abound?” she asked, more concerned than accusatory.

She spun around to face Zecora. “I’m sorry I gave you the slip back there, but I was followin’—” she turned her head and raised a hoof to point at Flam, but he was nowhere to be seen. “I—I don’t know what I was doin', really.”

Zecora approached and put a hoof on her shoulder. “I know you meant well, but what’s done is done.
Now come back with me; this war’s not yet won.”

“Yes, Zecora,” she said. Her head began to throb again, even as Zecora smiled and began walking away. She looked at her shoulder to see a fresh hoofprint set in green paint.

Bon Bon watched the doors to the Manehattan Council room glow teal for a moment, then open to reveal Time Skipper. “Wait! Don’t start yet!” she said weakly. “I’m here.”

“Time Skipper!” called Bon Bon.

She started to advance, but two guards just inside the room blocked her path. She froze in place, a look of confusion on her face. When a guard levitated a jar of green paint towards her, she submitted, leaning her face forward towards them for painting.

“What happened?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Magical overexertion. That spell I used in Las Pegasus was highly experimental and I’d only used it once before.” The guards let her pass when her coat began to glow. “The doctor only just released me from my checkup, and I’m not supposed to do any intermediate magic or above for the next week. I still feel drained.” She approached the table and stood at the corner by Shining Armor’s chair. “What did I miss?”

“Not much,” Rainbow said, “we’re just going over the post-battle debriefing.”

“Please, have a seat,” Shining Armor said, magically pulling out the chair in front of the Element of Generosity for her.

“At—the Council table? Are you sure?”

“You’re helping us fix what’s wrong with our world, aren’t you?” he said, though his smile looked weak, and his eyes heavy with sleeplessness.

“Your help is always welcome here,” said Bon Bon.

Time sat down in the chair. “Thanks.”

“So as I was saying,” Shining said, “I think we should capitalize on our victory, keep our momentum going. What’s our next move?”

“Chrysalis is reeling from our victory,” said Bon Bon. “My agents are reporting that she hasn’t even been seen since we foalnapped her daughter.”

Shining Armor snorted, and Rainbow crossed her forelegs and leaned back. “Sounds like she’s not taking it too well. Glad we’re finally getting under her skin. Or—whatever it is changelings have.”

“That’s what worries me,” said Bon Bon. “She’s too inactive.”

“What are her numbers like in Canterlot?” asked Shining Armor.

She shook her head. “More than we’re prepared for.”

“Can we starve them out?” asked Rainbow.

“With the Wonderbolts’ superior air fleet,” Spitfire said, “they’ll be trapped on the mountain.”

“That would put the population of Canterlot at extreme risk,” said Bon Bon. “It’s true Chrysalis has centralized much of her power in Canterlot. But even though love isn’t a finite resource, her changelings can still steal love faster than the ponies can replenish it. And if ponies are over-harvested for love on that scale… the civilian losses to the city could be terrible.”

Rainbow crossed her forelegs. “I hate having to sit back and wait for her to make the first move.”

“I’ll press my agents for more intel, but there is an alternative I want to try,” Bon Bon continued. “We could wage a mass propaganda campaign to try to sway more changelings to our side. We’re already doing it on a small scale here in Manehattan.”

“But our conversion rates are low.
Changing Greens to Blue is slow,” said Zecora.

“I’d be willing to give you any aid I can,” said Pinkamena. “As Minister of Morale and Element of Laughter, I have a fairly strong sense for ponies’ emotions.”

“I’ve met with a changeling in my world named Thorax,” said Time Skipper. “He seems to be willing to give friendship a try and leave Chrysalis’s hive for a life alongside ponies.”

Bon Bon smiled. “Ah, Thorax.” She leaned back in her chair. “Now there’s a changeling Chrysalis hates. Even before there were any Green Changelings, the two of them didn’t get along. That was before me, though.”

Time turned her head to one side. “What happened to him?”

“Don’t know. No changeling I know does either. Good kid from what I’ve heard.”

“Then it looks like Bon Bon’s idea is our best option,” said Shining Armor.

“Agreed,” said Spitfire.

“So, that wraps that up,” said Rainbow.

“So, about our upcoming Patriot Pop concert,” Pinkamena began.

“A concert?” asked Time Skipper.

“Yeah, a patriot concert. Just like we’re encouraging ponies to plant patriot gardens and use patriot—But I guess those were before you first got here,” she said, glancing down at her notes briefly. “I’ve already got the funds myself since we’re stretched thin on money, and the ticket sales plus merch will outweigh the cost anyways. I just need help with security and lodging for our guest stars. We’re going to have some big names—Sapphire Shores and Countess Coloratura are already confirmed, and I’ve invited a third singer—but I want to make sure this event goes off without a hitch. This could do a lot for civilian morale, while also bolstering our finances.”

“I could arrange some of the Wonderbolts to do security detail,” said Spitfire.

“I’ll have agents in place running preventative counter-espionage before they arrive,” said Bon Bon.

“That would be great. I want to give out guests the best VIP treatment we can give them, while also keeping them safe. If anything happens to them before the concert, the outcome for morale would be a detriment instead.”

“We won’t let that happen,” said Spitfire.

“Thank you,” said Pinkamena. “I have a good feeling about this concert.”

“What’s next?” asked Shining Armor.

“There is the matter of our finances being split up between Manehattan and Las Pegasus,” said Bon Bon. “That’s quite a distance apart, and Canterlot lies almost on the line between them. We need to find some way to secure the caravans of bits coming in, but we also can't tie down significant portions of our forces.”

“I agree,” said Rainbow Dash. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’ve got an old friend lined up from my days working under Celestia as an agent. I’d like you to come with me as our third member on a little trip to recruit some allies.”

Rainbow leaned forward in her chair. “My schedule’s clear. Where are we going?”

“I’ll tell you after the meeting,” she said with a smile. “Anycreature have anything else?” Nopony spoke up as she scanned the room.

“Alright then. Looks like we’re done here. Meeting adjourned,” said Shining Armor.

As the other began to leave, Rainbow Dash leaned in towards Bon Bon. “So, where are we going?”

“We’re going to Griffonstone, home of the Griffons.”

Rainbow felt the eyes of the locals on her as she walked into the dismal-looking town. “Some place this is,” she said to Bon Bon beside her.

“Of all the places I’ve been, even working as an agent, this is pretty much the worst.” Rainbow watched Bon Bon’s eyes trace from one house to the next. They all looked like somepony had picked up a regular house and set it inside a giant bird’s nest. The sight of two ponies and an undisguised changeling walking into town must have been quite the sight. But though they stared, none of the griffons approached.

Rainbow turned to the other pony, a pegasus. “You got it, Daring?”

“Right here,” she replied. She discreetly lifted one of her saddlebag covers with her brown feathers, just enough for Rainbow to glimpse a golden idol within. “Wasn’t easy. Thought I was going to have to choose between the idol and a long fall for a second there.”

“Was it hard to get?”

“Maybe for somepony who doesn’t have a cutie mark for archaeology. I’ve faced traps at least as tough in jungle temples before.”

“It’s been a long time since we worked together, Daring Do,” said Bon Bon. “You miss old times?”

“You kidding? A chance to operate alone on a dangerous mission to secure ancient treasure and return it to its rightful owner? How could I say no to that?”

The three were almost in the center of the town now. Suddenly, Rainbow saw a familiar brown-and-white griffon appear from around the corner. Oh no, she thought, rolling her eyes.

“Rainbow Dash? Is that you?” Her old friend Gilda tilted her head several different directions in rapid succession.

“Friend of yours?” Bon Bon whispered.

“It’s complicated,” she replied. “Hello, Gilda.”

Gilda approached the three of them. “What’s a dweeb like you doing all the way out here? These your dweeb friends?”

Rainbow fought the urge to light her alchemic horn. She snorted and adjusted to a three-quarters angle rather than straight face to face, her prosthetic hind leg in full view. “It’s General Rainbow Dash now.”

Gilda’s eyes widened as she leaned backward. “Woah. Okay. So you’ve got a messed up leg. But what are you really the general of, little pony?”

“Ponyville is abandoned now. We are at war.” Gilda’s beak fell open and her eyes widened further. Conscious that she had the attention of most of the town, Rainbow raised her voice and looked around. “I am General Rainbow Dash of Equestria. We are at war with the Green Changelings led by the usurper Queen Chrysalis. We’re looking for allies in our war against Chrysalis’s hive.”

Gilda grimaced and raised one front leg. Many griffons laughed heartily. “Rainbow, look around you. We have nothing.. We’re not in any place t—”

“You think we’re able to fight in your war?” asked an old griffon from the other side of the street. “What makes you think we’ll help you ponies with your war? Especially when we’ve been far worse off than you for far longer, and you’ve never helped us?”

Rainbow turned to Daring Do. Without a word or even a nod, Daring unlatched her saddlebags and stepped forward. “Maybe it’s time that changed,” she said, bringing the golden idol out of her saddlebags.

The griffons gasped. The old griffon came closer. “The Idol of Boreas! Wha—Where—How did you get it?”

Rainbow stepped forward to intercept him. “First, we have something we want from you.” She put a front hoof on his chest, blocking him from the idol.

“No,” said Daring. Rainbow turned her head. “The idol isn’t ours.” Daring walked forward on three hooves, the idol outstretched in her remaining foreleg.

Rainbow put a hoof on Daring’s leg. “Daring, that’s our leverage—”

Daring pulled away from Rainbow. “It belongs to the griffons.”

The old griffon snatched the idol from Daring’s hoof and examined it with his one good eye. “I—I can’t believe it. It’s the real Idol of Boreas!” He looked down at them, moved almost to tears.

“We need allies in our struggle against the usurper queen,” said Bon Bon. “Can we count on you?”

“You would—help us?”

“Give us your strongest fighters,” Rainbow said. “We need mercenaries to escort caravans from Las Pegasus to Manehattan. Griffonstone would get a cut of every caravan that arrives intact.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Gilda. Rainbow turned to see her approaching.

“Gilda? Are you sure?”

Gilda lowered her gaze and grabbed one front leg with her other claw. “There was… always something different about you ponies. But I could never put my talon on what exactly it was.” She shifted her weight among her legs. “You—you all work together when things get tough. And, being with you ponies at Junior Speedsters camp when I was just a cub, it—it was always something I was jealous of.”

Rainbow smiled and took a step closer. “We’ll help you if you promise to work together.” She turned to the crowd. “Now who else is coming?”

“I’ll go!” said a young grey griffon.

“I’ll go!” said a white and green griffon.

As more griffons pledged to join, Gilda walked closer and stood beside Rainbow. “So… is this the part where you ponies sing a song or… throw a party or something?”

Rainbow held eye contact with Gilda for a moment, then looked over the other griffons. “We’ve got more important things to do. I need to do a headcount, rally the griffons, and prepare to head back. When we get back, we’ll need lodging, provisions, and equipment…” she trailed off.

“You know, Dash,” Gilda said, “Maybe I misjudged you when I saw you dweebish side in Ponyville.” She flicked her tail and turned to face Rainbow. “I like this side of you.”

Rainbow smiled. “Gather whatever things you need for the journey to Manehattan, then we’ll rally the rest of the griffons.”

Gilda briefly raised a claw to her head for an informal salute. “Yes ma’am, General Dash.”

The room beneath Bon Bon—or from her perspective, above her as she clung to the ceiling—was dark and quiet. The light from the moon cast shadows on the floor from the skylight above. The only sound was that of Princess Pupa’s soft snoring in the crib below. Hanging from the ceiling undisguised, she waited for the visitor she had been told to expect.

Her first indication of his arrival came when the handle of the room’s only door glowed with a purple aura. The door swung open, and a white stallion entered and scanned the room at floor level, oblivious to her presence. He turned the knob to prevent it from clicking, closed the door slowly and quietly, then released the handle to its resting position.

From there, he turned his head and approached the sleeping princess. His ears laid back as he lowered his head as a scowl took form on his face, and with his eyes locked on the Princess, he gave off the impression of a cat stalking its prey.

When he had almost reached the crib, Bon Bon released her grip and dropped behind him, twisting her barrel to right herself and catching herself with her wings.

“Here to pay the Princess a visit, Captain?”

Shining Armor jumped, and drew his sword. His face displayed a mix of shame and fear. “What are you doing here?” he said, more a single word than several small ones.

“She’s my Princess. I went to great lengths to ensure her safe passage into my hooves. She is under my protection,” she said, lighting her horn as she approached.

“Stay back until I’ve painted you!” Shining sputtered, hastily unlatching his saddlebags. Bon Bon levitated her own jar of changeling paint over to her waiting hoof.

The two painted each other, causing Bon Bon’s horn to fizzle out, and having no effect on Shining Armor. “You can lower your sword now. Why do you carry it around all the time, even to the nursery?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper for the sake of the sleeping princess.

“You can never be too careful,” he replied as he turned to look at the larva in the crib. “And never trust anycreature until you paint them.”

Bon Bon felt it as he said it, as he looked down at Pupa. Something was wrong—the way he looked at her, the tone of his voice.

“Do you want me to paint her too? A fresh streak of paint on her forehead?”

“I don’t understand what you see in her.”

“I see a future for our hive, for the Blue Changelings. She carries royal blood, and—”

Shining spun to face her. “I don’t care! She’s Chrysalis’s daughter! You should have tried to stop this!”

“And how do you suggest we would have done that?” Bon Bon said, her voice rising to a shout-whisper.

“She was vulnerable before she hatched!” he answered, matching her intensity. “You infiltrated the castle to rescue me. You could have sent an agent in to smash her egg if you wanted! Why didn’t you?”

Bon Bon recoiled, disgusted. “You don’t realize what you just said. If she were a mammal, do you know what you would have just implied? Killing her before she was born instead of hatched?”

Shining scowled and turned his gaze towards Pupa, his ears still laid against his head. “She’s a monster. Half pony, half changeling.”

“All changeling kings and queens are half changeling, half something else. The one you know of is half pony, like her father. Besides, I was born a pony, you know.”

“You only want her alive because you can use her. Set her up as your puppet.”

“Why do you want to see her—You don’t really want her dead, do you?”

Shining set his jaw and faced Bon Bon. “It would have been better if she had never been born.”

Bon Bon began slowly closing the distance to Shining Armor. “First of all, it’s hatched, not born. Second, Princess Pupa is under our protection. We are changelings. We will kill you if we have to, and we’ll tell everypony it was Chrysalis’s agents. We’ll pull one or two Green Changelings from the conversion program and execute them, and your revenge will die with those changelings.” She was now pressuring her way into Shining Armor’s personal space. “Do I make myself as clear as I possibly can?”

Bon Bon locked horns with him for a moment, and sensed his emotions more clearly—deep, concentrated anger and a bit of shame. For a moment, Shining Armor stood his ground. Then with a flick of his neck, he pushed her away and brushed past her as he stormed off towards the door.

Shining opened the door, and jumped again. Standing in the doorway with a terrified expression on her face was Time Skipper.

“What are you doing here?” Shining shout-whispered.

“Wait! No! I know it looks bad, but—” She didn’t get to finish before Shining lit his horn and Time was engulfed in a purple aura. Her body stiffened and she froze in place.

Shining painted her, and after a few moments she shone with a white light. “How much of that did you hear?” he demanded.

Time laughed nervously. “Most of it?”

Shining growled and lifted her into the hallway. Bon Bon followed, shutting the door behind her. “Why did you follow me?”

“I saw you fast-trotting towards the nursery with a sword and a scowl on your face. What was I supposed to think?”

“That he was a Green Changeling,” said Bon Bon.

“Or…”

“Or what?” Shining snapped.

“Or that… you wanted to… spend time with your daughter?”

“What are you suggesting I would have done?”

Bon Bon angled her body towards Shining Armor. “Was she wrong in making that suggestion?”

Time sighed. “I tried to ask this before at one of the Council meetings, but… how did Princess Pupa… happen?”

Shining’s gaze fell and Bon Bon felt it again—the shame and embarrassment. “I—I thought it was Cadance. Or maybe it was mind magic, I don’t know. But I don’t really want to think about—waking up with that m—monster again. Ever since she’s been here,” he said, pointing to the nursery, “I haven’t had a full night’s sleep. Or woken up without a cold sweat.” He looked back at the nursery door. “She reminds me of…”

“Of Chrysalis,” Bon Bon finished.

“And Cadance,” he said, raising his tear-filled eyes towards her. “And things I can’t have, and things that she took, and—” he grimaced and turned away. “And every time she cries—which is most of the time—it reminds me of…”

“She’s a changeling. She cries because she needs love.”

Shining set his jaw and shook his head, his lower lip trembling. “Not from me.” He shook his head again. “I’ll never love that monster.”

As he turned and walked away, Time moved to follow, but Bon Bon caught her eye as she started. She shook her head, and Time stepped back. “So, if not Shining Armor, then who’s going to raise her?” Time asked.

“The Blue Changelings will raise her. And when she is old enough, we will teach her how to rule. And Chitin’s granddaughter will rule his hive.”

Time turned and stared longingly in the direction Shining Armor had left. Bon Bon sighed and stepped closer.

“I know she is Chrysalis’s daughter, but I believe there is still a place for her in this world. Our world.”

“Your world,” Time corrected. “There’s no baby changeling back in my world. Shining and Cadance married and had an alicorn foal named Flurry Heart.”

Bon Bon raised her head in surprise. “An alicorn foal?” Time nodded. “Probably best not to bring that up around him,” she said with a quick glance down the hall. “Reality is, in this world Pupa is here, whether for good, for bad, or for some of both.”

“But in my world, she doesn’t exis—”

“I won’t let you kill her,” Bon Bon turned to face Time.

“I didn’t say—”

“Or take her, or anything else.” Bon Bon stepped closer and lowered her tone. “You think I like being a changeling? Knowing there’s some version of me out there somewhere that hasn’t had to live a lie? Or that hasn’t lo—” her voice caught in her throat, “...lost Lyra.” She turned away. “I have to know; the version of me from your world—you might know her as either Bon Bon or Sweetie Drops—Are she and Lyra…”

Time paused, then stepped forward. “Are you sure you want to know?”

Her gaze dropped as a weight settled in her chest. She exhaled involuntarily and her ears fell back against her head. “I—appreciate your concern for my feelings, but,” she paused and began to walk away, “that’s all the answer I need.”

Sky Stinger adjusted the flat wooden box on his back as he and Vapor Trail walked towards a small, dilapidated house in Baltimare. “This can’t be the right place,” he muttered to Vapor.

“Well, it’s the right address,” she replied as she stepped up onto the porch—though calling it a porch at all was generous. The two of them barely fit together on it as they stood in front of the door. Even without opening the door, the house smelled of hard cider and smoke. “Who’s knocking?”

Sky Stinger visually checked his Wonderbolts dress uniform over one final time, then said with a sigh, “I will.” He took a deep breath, raised a front hoof, and knocked on the door.

Neither of them said a word as they waited. They just stood there, intently staring forward. Before he saw anything, Sky heard somepony calling from inside.

The door creaked open, and a gaunt pegasus mare with a teal coat and stringy blonde hair opened the door. Sky wondered how this mare could look almost twice the age of the mare he was expecting. She squinted at the pair with a look of confusion, temporarily deepening the wrinkles on her face.

Nevertheless, he asked the question. “Are you Star Dust, ma’am?”

“Yes,” she responded hesitantly. “What are—Why are you here?”

“Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts personally selected us to inform you that your daughter Lightning Dust was killed in action over Cloudsdale three weeks ago during a changeling infiltration mission.”

Sky Stinger took the wooden box off his back and hoofed it over to Star Dust, who accepted it with unusual slowness. Visible through the glass front was a folded Wonderbolt flag, the Wonderbolt crest in the middle of the flag visible through the glass.

Star’s gaze remained fixed on the box and her mouth fell open as she read the inscription. “Lightning,” she whispered, “Lightning Dust—No...”

“For her bravery and loyalty in the face of extreme danger, and for her heroic sacrifice, she is to posthumously receive the Distinguished Flying Feather award as well as the Broken Feather award for her injuries sustained in the line of duty. She is to be buried with full Wonderbolt honors.”

“Lightning,” Star whispered again as a tear fell down her cheek. She sat back on her haunches as she took the box in both hooves.

Sky’s own eyes began to water. He blinked the tears away as best he could and carried on. “She saved us, ma’am. All of us. All the way up to Captain Spitfire herself.”

Vapor Trail moved to Star’s side. “She took down a whole blimp full of changelings, but… best we can tell, she got caught in the blast when the lifting gas caught fire.”

“Oh, my little Lightning,” Star Dust said cradling the flag in her hooves. “At least you did—what your mother never could. My little Wonderbolt.”

Vapor wrapped a wing across Star Dust’s back as Sky Stinger moved closer to console her.

Bon Bon slid the key into the lock, turned the handle, and opened the door. “So,” said Rainbow Dash, “this is your place?”

Bon Bon waved rainbow in. “Part home, part Blue Changeling safehouse. Basement can be sealed off from the rest of the house discreetly, and both halves have street access.”

Rainbow flopped backwards onto the living room couch with a groan. “Meetings with the Crystal Empire, meetings with griffons, meetings with our ponies… this is almost more exhausting than fighting.”

“Tell me about it,” Bon Bon said as stepped up into the chair opposite the couch and lay down. “I’m mentally exhausted. Feels like I’ve thought about and planned so much that I just can’t think straight. Might just go to bed early tonight.”

Bon Bon watched Rainbow’s gaze drift around the room as she lay on the couch. “This place sure beats staying on base with the troops in the barracks.”

“It’s not a mansion, but it’s enough to get by with. Kitchen and dining room that way, living room here, one bathroom,” she said, pointing. Then she smiled and lowered her tone. “One bed.”

It took a second, but Rainbow turned her head to face her. There was a twinkle in her eye, and her half-open mouth formed a smile on one side. “Oh… You mean...”

“You’re staying, right?” Rainbow nodded. “I mean, unless you’d rather sleep in the safehouse...”

Rainbow rolled over and sat up. “N—no, I mean—if you’re offering.”

“I am.”

Rainbow smiled and ruffled her feathers. “I was... kinda hoping you'd ask.”

Bon Bon shrugged. “Hey, you said you want to get serious right?” She stepped down onto the floor. “So, what do you want? Guy? Girl? Wings? No wings? Horn maybe?” she asked, cycling rapidly through several variations of her normal cream earth pony disguise.

“What about just you?”

“You mean just my changeling form?” Bon Bon morphed out of the disguise and dropped her gaze. “Rainbow, I—I can’t. When King Chitin bit me, I—I lost—This changeling version of me can’t—isn’t able to…”

“You’re not able to what?”

Bon Bon’s cheeks flushed and her ears laid against her head. “Only changeling monarchs—the kings and queens, that is—only they—have functional sex organs.”

She’d said it. And though it felt better to have said it, she still felt more vulnerable now. There was an emptiness, a sense of being physically incomplete. A sense that she was defective somehow.

“But you used to be an earth pony, right? Just turn into an earth pony and problem solved.”

She raised a hind leg and turned her head off to the side, looking backwards longingly. “That’s—not how that works. When I become, for instance, a mountain goat, I literally have the agility of a mountain goat. But reproduction is… special.” Her speech was slow and measured. “No amount of my magic can ever give that back to me.”

“Bon Bon...” Rainbow stepped off the couch and approached her. She felt love emanating from Rainbow. Love and pity. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Bon Bon sighed as she felt herself pulled into Rainbow’s wing hug, absorbing as much of the emotion as Rainbow could let out. “It’s ok.”

“Is there a way we can change you back?”

“I’m not sure I’d want that,” she said, looking back up at Rainbow. She wasn’t sure why she said it, even after she had said it.

“Why not?”

“Well, the Blue Changelings need a leader. But not just that. Changelings… are different from ponies in a lot of ways. I live to serve the hive.”

Rainbow drew back out of the hug, a look of realization on her face. “Chitin bit you. Like Chrysalis bit Applejack.”

Bon Bon raised a front hoof. “Chitin cared about his changelings. Chrysalis is a love-sucking monster, who in turn trains love-sucking monsters.”

“You’re still under his spell.”

“I did what I had to do all those years ago. For the mission. For my Princess.”

“I know.” Rainbow raised her prosthetic leg and extended it behind her. “This thing can buck with the strength of ten earth ponies, but… I’d give anything just to be able to feel it again,” she said, pulling it forward underneath her barrel and raising it close.

Bon Bon stood next to Rainbow, pressing her side against Rainbow’s.

“I swear I’m going to help you, Bon Bon.”

“All I ask from you is your love. I can’t ask for anything more.”

Rainbow pulled her close into a side wing-hug, and began nuzzling her neck. She felt Rainbow picking her hoof up to hold it. The sensation of her warm body and soft fur against her side and face was electric, sending a shiver down her back. The love flowing in bathed her in a warm and comforting aura, soothing her, lulling her…

“I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to get to bed early. I feel like I can barely stand.”

Rainbow returned her wing to her side. “You wanna go now?”

“Sure.” Bon Bon pulled out of the hug and began walking towards the bedroom.

“You still gonna use your regular earth pony form tonight?”

“If that’s what you want.” Bon Bon opened the door, ushering Rainbow inside.

“I think I’d be most comfortable with another pony, yeah.”

“That’s about what I expected,” she said with a smile. She flicked her tail up onto Rainbow’s back as she passed.

“Heh. Yeah. I’ll bet being a changeling and all, you probably have a pretty good sense of what ponies want.”

“Rainbow Dash! I would never!”

Rainbow stopped shy of the bed and turned to face her. “Wait... you mean you’ve never—”

“Only with... with Lyra.”

Rainbow’s gaze dropped. “R—right.” She flew up and onto the bed. “This is cozy. Not quite as soft as a cloud bed, but I guess you’d fall right through one of those as an earth pony.”

“One last thing,” Bon Bon asked as she morphed into an earth pony. “Would you... would you please… take top? And... hold me when it’s time to sleep?”

Rainbow smiled and tapped the bed with a hoof. “C’mere, you.”

Bon Bon felt herself blush as she stepped onto the bed, and a smile crept onto her face.

It had been two weeks since Pharynx had taken over for Chrysalis in the hive. Two weeks since she had holed herself up in her private quarters. Pharynx was surprised when, in the middle of a meeting with the Queen’s advisors, the room’s doors swung open and Chrysalis appeared.

Pharynx moved to meet her immediately, bowing before he approached. “My queen, it has been two weeks.” He stopped a few steps from her. “Are you ready?”

Chrysalis set her jaw and flipped a stray strand of unkempt mane out of her face. “I am ready to rule again,” she said as she strode forward and stood behind the seat Pharynx had left vacant. “And I will recover my daughter from those traitorous Blue Changelings! Even if I have to burn down all Equestria to get her back.”

Pharynx bowed. “We stand ready to serve, your Highness.”

Chrysalis stepped into the chair and sat down. “Princess Pupa will be mine again. And I swear by my throne, those pony rebels, and the Order of the Blue Changelings, and any other creature who stands in my way will burn!”

End of Act I