Changeling for the Better

There was a heaviness in Twilight's heart she had never before known. It existed as an uncanny tear between relief and sadness, which had her dragging her hooves on her way to check up on Spike. It now eluded her how she was going to approach him—if it were best to approach him at all. Last they spoke, he was upset with her. As painful as it was, she it wasn't him she blamed.

The changeling nearly had her fooled as well. It was a shame, really. Spike's song was so touching, and she wanted so badly to believe the changeling was genuine.

But, Shining Armor wasn't moved. “Twilight, you have to get him away from that thing,” he had harshly whispered to her, once the silence became too much. “You're the only one who can.”

At first, his anger caught her off guard. “You... You don't think they're really friends?”

He appeared taken aback by the question. “What, are you serious? That bug replaced Spike's friend, and now he's 'friends' with it? You don't think there's something seriously wrong with that?”

To her dismay, she was unable to dispute his point. The real Crystal Hoof remained unaccounted for, yet there Spike stood—speaking on behalf of the changeling. She squeezed her eyes shut. “Why would Spike stand up for him, then?” she retorted, her voice low.

Her brother's eyes narrowed. “It probably used the same brainwashing magic Chrysalis used on me when she took Cadance's place. What other explanation is there?”

She didn't know. Under Shining's withering gaze, it was hard to think; it was reminiscent of the stern looks she received when she misbehaved as a filly, which was precisely how she felt at the time. Her only choice was to pull Spike close... and take the changeling by surprise. Her number-one assistant was angry with her, yes, but at least he was safe.

Depending on the attributes and duration of the spell cast on him, he would meet the news of the changeling's confession with either rage or joy.

Praying for the latter, she broke into a canter as she rounded the final corner. The door to the suite set at the end of the corridor. Something was... off, she noticed. Her brow knitted together as she picked up speed. When she saw it was half-melted, she gasped and forced it open. “Spike?” she called.

There came no response. Spike had escaped, and she feared she knew the answer as to where. “No, no, no!” she pleaded, soaring out of the room at a speed to rival Rainbow Dash's. Countless passageways later, she found her path obstructed by a small circle of guards. Her screeching halt scuffed the floor. “What's going on here?” she inquired.

“Princess Twilight!” a gold-colored stallion exclaimed. “It's Prince Shining! He's unconscious!”

Sure enough, when the guards made way she saw her brother in said condition. He was propped up against the wall—his head cradled by Cadance's hooves as she tried to awaken him with tender pats. Twilight surmised she left Flurry Heart in the care of Sunburst and Starlight. “Oh, Twilight, thank goodness you're here!” she said. “The changeling's gone!”

Twilight's heart dropped like a stone. “W-what...?”

“We found his cell open, empty. The guards assigned to watch him were unconscious, too! It was a spell, I sensed the magic on them.” She exhaled a relieved sigh as her husband finally stirred. “Shining... Oh, thank Celestia.”

His eyes slowly fluttered open. “Cadance...?” Groaning, he held a hoof to his head. “Ugh, what happened?”

“Someone knocked you out, love.”

Twilight shifted around on her hooves. “What's the last thing you remember?”

Her brother stood on wobbly legs. He closed his eyes as he attempted to recall events before his unconsciousness. “Well, after I talked to you, I was on my way to check on the bug,” he replied. “I ran into somepony...” He lifted his head. “Spike! It was Spike.”

“Are you sure it was him?”

“Pretty sure, Twily, why?”

“The changeling... He's gone, and so is Spike!”

Cadance and Shining Armor gaped in unison. “What?!” they exclaimed.

“Why didn't you tell me that first?!” yelled Shining.

Twilight flinched, and Cadance admonished her husband with a soft, but firm flap of her wing along his side. “Don't yell at her! It's not her fault!”

“I-I know. I'm sorry, Twily, it's just...” He couldn't bring himself to look at her. “Spike wasn't alone when I bumped into him, and now I know why.”

Starlight Glimmer found little comfort in the distracting ball of pink fluff that was Flurry Heart. As adorable as she was, her soft coos and precious eyes failed to settle the mare's consuming sense of guilt. Well, she was certain it was guilt. Or, maybe, apprehension... or both. It had been one heck of a day.

She felt so useless, from all angles. There was nothing she could do when Spike's friend was kidnapped, no solution made clear to her when the changeling was lead into the throne room. She held back from suggesting anything other than imprisonment for the poor creature.

Was the cause of her hesitation fear? She felt it wasn't her place to question those who faced the shape-shifters once before. Twilight and the others told her their tales of the Canterlot invasion, of Princess Cadance's abduction at the claws of Queen Chrysalis. She couldn't imagine what everypony involved endured, but the scars left over burned brightly in Shining Armor's anger.

Starlight heard what he whispered to his sister, and it didn't set well with her. There was a lot about this situation that didn't set well with her. The warning bells were knotted and heavy in her insides.

Yet, the tiniest of smiles graced her features as Flurry Heart reached up with tiny forelegs. It came as a great relief when she finally stopped crying—a feat accomplished by none other than Sunburst and his knack for silly faces. “How are you faring, Starlight?” he asked, approaching Flurry's portable crib from the opposite side.

She spared him a glance. “I'm fine. I've just been thinking, is all.”

“Bit for your thoughts, then?”

“Do you think it was right to lock up the changeling like that?”

Sunburst stared, his spectacles slid down his muzzle a tad. “Well, Starlight, I really can't imagine how else we could have dealt with him.” His head tilted upon seeing the dejected look on her face. “I mean, Thorax and his entourage did come to scout us out. His Highness told us he confessed to such. I don't mean to be rude, Starlight, but what more do you need? Talk to me.”

“I guess... I guess I just don't want it to be true.” She closed her eyes. “I told you about my past, after you left for Magic School. I stole cutie marks like a changeling steals love. I brainwashed dozens into believing in equality.” Her ears folded back against her head as she once again looked at her friend. “Yet, here I am. I was a terrible pony, Sunburst, but I changed. I guess I just wanted the same to be true of Thorax.”

After a moment of hesitation, the stallion reached over the crib and placed his hoof over Starlight's. “I feel the same way, Starlight. The only thing we can do now is move forward, and hope Princess Celestia's reinforcements will be enough to locate the remainder of the changelings before they make their next move.”

She merely nodded. They fell into silence, then. As much as she welcomed the solace, however, it wasn't meant to last. A purple blur stormed into the chamber and, before she knew it, she was muzzle-to-muzzle with Twilight. “StarlightdidyougiveSpikemagicpowder?!” she blabbered.

And blabber was precisely what Starlight heard. “E-excuse me...?”

Twilight retreated from Starlight's personal space. Her pupils were mere pinpricks, and it startled the other mare to see the frazzled state of her mane. “Did you or Sunburst give Spike magic powder?!” she asked again, more coherently.

Sunburst adjusted his glasses, exchanging a look of concern with Starlight. “Magic... powder? I-I'm afraid not, Your Highness.”

Sunlight raised a brow. “What powder, Twilight? What's going on?”

The alicorn began to run in place, her terrified stare darting all over the throne room. Outside, the thundering voice of Shining Armor resonated off the walls as a horde of guards stampeded down the hallway. Then, after another chaotically-blabbered reply, Twilight sped away—leaving the two unicorns flabbergasted.

Starlight didn't realize her mouth was hanging open until her jaw was sore. She shook her head, turning her attention to Sunburst. “Stay here with Flurry Heart,” she instructed him as she trotted after Twilight.

“What are you going to do?”

“I'm going to find out what the hay is going on!”