There was no exact telling for how long they'd been on the train. After a wink or two of sleep, only the setting sun to spoke of the time. A few hours had passed, that much was certain. The train had come to a complete stop, too. They just arrived, it seemed, for Spike saw the extravagant lights of Las Pegasus illuminating the interior of their car.

He looked down at Thorax, who remained disguised and asleep. “Hey,” he said under his breath. Carefully, he shook his friend, until he finally began to stir. “Crystal, wake up.”

The door to the train car slid open, revealing the conductor. After a glance at his pocket watch, the aged earth pony turned his attention to them. “Las Pegasus, gentlecolts,” he said. He cleared his throat. “Er, gentlecolt and gentle-dragon. The train has to keep movin', so ya might want to hurry out before it's too late.”

Spike acknowledged the warning with a simple nod.

As the conductor vanished from sight, Thorax sat up with a start. “Who was that?” he questioned. Unease made his voice waver.

“Oh, it was just the conductor. We need to get off the train. Are you all right to move?”

The changeling yawned and stretched his limbs. “Actually, I feel pretty good. Where are we, anyway?”

“C'mon, I'll show you.” With their only piece of luggage in his possession, he led them off the train—waving goodbye to the conductor. Once they stepped out onto the station's wooden platform, it amused him to see Thorax's eyes widen in awe of the extravagant lights. “This is Las Pegasus,” he said. He pointed to the enormous cloud hovering far above their heads. “Well, that's Las Pegasus.”

The sizable mass of fluffy, white cumulus was a permanent fixture in the sky, he then explained. It served as the stable base for a majority of the city's structures. Accessible by hot-hair balloons and teleportation services for non-pegasi, Las Pegasus further aided the flightless with an extensive network of bridges and walkways—no spells or enchantments required.

Thorax turned his gaze upward. “Whoa,” he breathed. “Are... Are we going up there?”

“No, there are way too many ponies.” The less witnesses, the better. The ground division of the city wasn't much of an improvement, with its hotels, restaurants, and gift shops. It wasn't as crowd-worthy, but it was too populous for the dragon's liking. “We'll grab a bite to eat, then make camp on up the tracks. Sound good?”

Luckily, Thorax seemed relieved rather than disappointed. “Yeah.” It wasn't as though he had a better plan in mind, and the thought of a crowd made him mildly uncomfortable. So, he followed close behind Spike as they walked over to a small cart selling produce. Despite the time of day, the salesmare was more than happy to sell them what remained of her stock.

He silently watched as his friend bartered for a small bag of apples, carrots, and pears. The items were, of course, foreign to him. Spike certainly thought them edible enough. At least, he thought them edible enough he had no problem paying the mare six bits for them. “Night, boys,” she said. “Stay safe!”

“Thanks!” replied Spike. “You, too!”

Thorax walked alongside him as they began their trek along the train tracks. He couldn't help but eye the brown bag all the while, until his friend finally noticed. “Uh, Thorax, you okay?”

He flinched, startled. “Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry about that. It's just that... It's been a long time since I've eaten solid food.”

The dragon halted in his tracks. The thought of his friend's unusual diet had never before occurred to him. Glancing between Thorax and the bag, he hummed. “I forgot about the whole 'emotion-eating' thing you do,” he mused aloud. “But, you can eat this, too?”

The changeling shrugged. “I can, though it won't do much for me. Nothing can really replace the love we need to survive. I'm not hungry, anyway.”

“Well, that's good. That means I can make these last another couple of days, at least.” And that was his optimism talking. The food was cheap, and it showed. The apples and pears were bruised, the latter being more delicate. Those needed to be eaten first, for it was foolish to think they would last another day. As long as he was careful with the apples, they would last longer and, of course, the carrots were the most durable.

… He wished he had thought of such variables before he decided to purchase for two instead of one. Oh, well, there was nothing he could do about it now. If he had to buy more food, then he would buy more food. Thanks to Princess Luna's generosity, they weren't strapped for bits.

“How about here?” questioned Thorax. He pointed to a dense thicket to the right of the train tracks. The grove of gnarled oaks stood tall, their bases concealed by fluffy greenery.

Spike liked the looks of it. They would remain hidden, even with a small fire. “I like it,” he replied with a smile. “Let's get some shut-eye.”

As night descended on the Crystal Empire, so too did an unnatural silence. Sunburst, after relinquishing vigil of Flurry to her mother, accompanied the Prince and his sister to the train station. He only wished Starlight were there; the tension was almost more than he could handle.

He was in the unfortunate position of not having anything important to say. The situation was grim, and it showed on the faces of the crystal ponies. Their beloved hero was gone—taken, with no sign of him or his abductor in sight.

Prince Shining Armor, however, was convinced they didn't leave the empire at all. The looming threat of multiple changelings had him and Princess Twilight fearful that Thorax was reunited with his swarm... with Spike in tow. Thankfully, the reinforcements from Canterlot were en route sooner than anticipated.

As the minutes passed, Sunburst fiddled his hooves. The Prince and Princess were engaged in whispered conversation, which made him question why he was even there. He was of no use to them, it seemed, especially if they didn't deem it necessary to include him in what was said. Oh, well.

Soon, the shrill screech of the Northern Express heralded its arrival. The royals were startled out of their conversation, but both of them immediately moved forward to greet the newcomers. Pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies. Every car was crammed with able-bodied soldiers of all makes and models. “Fall in line!” yelled Shining Armor. “We don't have time to dawdle!”

They obeyed his command, and Sunburst watched as the guards were then divided into three large squadrons. Only afterwards was he approached by Princess Twilight. “Sunburst,” she said, pointing behind her, “will you escort this group to the palace for us? Shining and I need three guards on each floor.”

Sunburst bowed. “Of course, Princess.”

“Thank you.” She sighed. “I'm sorry for dragging you out here on such short notice.”

“Oh, don't apologize, Your Highness! It's no trouble at all. I'll handle things from here, no problem.”

“Again, thank you.” She sluggishly turned to face the guards. “All right, just follow the Royal Crystaller. He'll assign you to your stations.”

The unicorn adjusted his glasses as the squadron approached. He knew better than to strike conversation. So, with a sigh, he shepherded the guards back to the Crystal Palace. He trotted. There wasn't any time to waste.

He was knowledgeable of the palace, but he was only one stallion, so being the Royal Crystaller had its benefits. He was acquainted with most of the Crystal Guard, and knew many of them on a first-name basis. A quick word with Lieutenant Golden Lance got him all the help he needed. Smiling at the gathering of crystal pony guards, he began to pick out teams of three from the stoic reinforcements. “Steel Charm, please take this lot to the observatory,” he said.

The private soluted with an immediate, “Yes, sir,” before walking off with the trio.

Sunburst continued to whittle down the squadron in triads, as per Princess Twilight's wishes. The process went smoothly, to his delight, and he almost couldn't believe the weight taken off his nerves. With the palace's added numbers, he hoped there was enough security to begin other endeavors. Not only did they have a dragon to rescue, but they had a potential invasion to dispatch.

Starlight found him shortly after he assigned the last of the guards. She was, strangely enough, accompanied by five of her own. “Hey, Sunburst?” she called. “I need your help with something.”

“What's up?”

“Have you seen Private Quartz Chain?”

His head tilted. “Uh, no, I haven't.”

She stomped her hoof in frustration. “Shoot!”

“Is something wrong?”

“Not really. I just wanted to ask him a few questions.” She nodded towards her companions. “He was one of the guards assigned to the changeling's cell. He was supposed to be in the infirmary with the rest of them, but now he's gone.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, one of the stallions walked up beside her. “Quartz said he was going for a short walk, then he never returned,” he said. He glanced at the others. “We... We fear he was taken by the other changelings, just as Spike the Brave and Glorious was taken.”

“We don't know anything, though!” stammered Starlight, trying to cover her nervousness with a shaky laugh. “We haven't covered the entirety of the palace yet! Maybe he decided to get a snack at the last minute?”

“How long has he been gone?” asked Sunburst. When Starlight avoided his gaze, he looked to the guards. “How long?”

The same stallion who spoke before cleared his throat. “Two hours, at least.”

Wide-eyed, Sunburst's spectacles slid down his face. “Starlight,” he groaned. “We have a major situation on our hooves... and one of our guards is missing?! We have to tell Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor!”

Another voice answered, seemingly out of nowhere, “Tell us what?”

The unicorns spun around, both stilling at the sight of Princess Cadance and her daughter. “Y-Your Highness!” exclaimed Sunburst. In the presence of one of their superiors, he and his friend were practically frozen with apprehension. Slowly, they exchanged an uncertain glance. Everything was already spiraling out of control, they knew, and a guard who was unaccounted for was possibly another addition to the chaotic mix. So, swallowing down her fear, Starlight stepped forward.

The warm light of morning found its way through the grove, rousing Spike from a sound sleep. He awakened to the pleasant sound of a gentle breeze and the scent of the dying campfire. Thorax slept nearby, curled up beneath a pile of leaves meant to conceal his undisguised body. It looked cozy, but they had to keep moving.

He quickly downed a pear. “Thorax,” he whispered. He gently prodded the pile with his foot. “Wakey-wakey.”

A groan and a rustle later, his friend's narrowed eyes glared at him from beneath his cover. “Must I 'wakey-wakey?'”

“Yeah, bud, it's morning. C'mon, Princess Luna is waiting for us.”

Thorax, sighing, shook the leaves away as Spike stomped out what remained of his dragonfire. The changeling took it upon himself to throw dirt upon the charcoal. A little extra caution never hurt anyone.

They continued on their way, following the tracks as planned. Only the occasional passing train bothered them. They hid, of course, behind whatever was available before their journey resumed. “How far from White Tail Woods are we?” questioned Thorax.

“I'm sure it's not far now. I'll know it when I see it.”

In response to his friend's inquisitive look, he added, “I was there once before, for the Running of the Leaves.”

“What's that?”

“It's a Fall tradition. Ponies get together and race from one end of the Wood to the other. Not only is it competitive, but the hoofsteps help clear the leaves off the trees. Boy, it was somethin'. I saw it all from a hot-air balloon!”

It was a fond memory for the adolescent dragon, playing co-announcer aside Pinkie Pie as they watched Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack from the sky. He missed his other friends, he realized. How would they react to his absence? Would Twilight even tell them? If so, exactly what information would she share?

When it came right down to it, they would worry and there was no way to ignore the guilt. It was a necessary evil, he told himself. Thorax was his friend, too, and the changeling needed him more than anypony else. His optimism lead him to hope they'd understand.

When they finally encroached on the forest of towering birch trees, Spike swelled with excitement. “White Tail Woods!” he laughed, pointing. His laugh turned into a yelp as he was hoisted into the air without warning.

Grinning, Thorax flew the rest of the way—the dragon's hands clenched in his front hooves. He was tired of walking, and the trees offered him a sense of security he craved since they began their trek. If he possessed a more durable set of wings, flight would have been his choice of transportation from the start. Unfortunately, he was no warrior drone, so carrying a passenger over a long distance was out of the question.

Spike's feet were back on ground as soon as the trees granted them sanctuary. He turned, his knuckles resting on his hips. “Give a guy a warning before you do that again...”

Thorax's mouth curved into a sheepish smile. “Sorry, Spike.”

“Eh, don't worry about it. I'm not mad.” He placed a hand over his heart, where he felt its fluttering. “You just scared the living daylights out of me.”

“That wasn't my intention.”

“I know. Now, let's find Princess Luna.”

The spacious grove of birch spanned a few miles, at most. They walked for a while, following a narrow trail. Neither of them, in spite of their creeping eagerness, dared to call out. The scenic Woods were bound to entertain those who desired to admire its beauty.

The abundance of white, gray, and green, however, was no match for the splash of brilliant blue Spike caught out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head. “Princess Luna!”

The Lunar Matriarch, in all her glory, turned to face him with a start. Her surprise didn't last, however. It made way for a smile, a welcome warmer than the sun.

Spike opened his arms for an embrace. “Stars, it's so good to see” —he bumped face-first into a flat surface— “you...?”

The image before him wasn't real. The impact caused it to teeter back and forth, until it fell backwards. It as flat as paper. A cardboard cutout.

“Spike...” whimpered Thorax. “What's going on?”

“I-I don't know! This doesn't make any sense!”

A deep, rumbling laughter manifested from the shadows. “Sense? Honestly? I thought you were better than that, dear Spike. The eyes cannot be believed so easily.”

Were he capable of goosebumps, the dragon's scales would've crawled with them. It didn't help that the fake Luna at his feet began to melt into a gooey puddle. It was worse he knew to whom the voice belonged. “Discord?” he muttered. He stepped back as the mush, like a cauldron, bubbled. He continued to retreat until he stood protectively in front of Thorax.

For out of the mess surfaced the Spirit of Chaos—an amused smile plastered on his face. “Now, now, there's no need for that,” he said. His body snaked around the pair. “I did, after all, agree to help you.”

Spike felt a lump form in his throat. “Princess Luna didn't write those letters...” In hindsight, it was suspicious. The chicken-scratch he read was far from the elegant cursive of a Royal Sister. His fear for Thorax blinded him to the obvious.

Discord snapped his fingers, causing a flashy “BINGO” sign to appear above his head. “Ding, ding, ding!” he laughed. “You got it! 'Twas I!”

“But, why?!”

The spirit's nose pressed against Spike's. “Because Luna would've helped you the only way she knew how, and that would've been alerting Twilight to your plea. So, I did what was needed to cover you and the changeling. You're welcome!"

Some of Spike's tension melted away. “Uh, thanks? I didn't think you cared that much.”

“Why, of course!” In a pop of magic, he appeared beside Thorax. “I care quite a bit about you and your new friend here.” He held out his lion paw. “Greetings, my insect acquaintance! I'm Discord, former Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony and current Master of Epic Tea Parties and Fun. Nice to meet you.”

The changeling was slow to react. Blinking, he took the offered paw. “S-same.

“Goody!” He ignored Thorax's gasps as he pulled the smaller creature into a tight hug. “I can tell we're going to be the best of buddies!” And then, just like that, he immediately released the changeling. “Well, not 'best,' actually. That spot belongs only to Fluttershy. You'll do fine at a lower level on the list, though.”

“So, what's the plan?” asked Spike.

“It's simple! We wait out all this nastiness!”

Spike and Thorax stared at him. “What?!” they exclaimed in unison.

Discord didn't seem to notice their bewilderment as he reclined on a sofa he conjured. “Oh, come now, you can't expect me to fix everything lickity-split!” He twirled his wrist and a soda popped into his left hand. “Despite my best efforts, the Princesses don't trust me. If they catch wind, especially little Twily, that I'm helping you, I'll be in big trouble.”

Spike clenched his hands into fists. “Then why are you here?”

“Because we're friends! Didn't we just have this discussion? Nevermind, let's move this conversation forward. I don't like Queen Chryssi. Not only does she try too hard, she runs her mouth too much.” He cleared his throat. “Nevertheless, I sympathize with those who desire to no longer live under her rule. It's boring, no doubt.” Rolling onto his belly, his gaze fell upon the changeling. “Tell me, Thorax, why did you leave the Hive?”

“I-I wanted friends,” Thorax replied softly. “Friendship is... frowned upon in the Hive. I didn't belong there.” He smiled a small smile. “If... If I hadn't left, then Spike and I never would have met!”

“True, true. Although, you have to admit the mess you're both in right now.”

The changeling flinched, and Spike drew in a sharp breath.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you left the Crystal Empire in a bit of a spot, Thorax, thanks to that little fib of yours.”

“Thorax never lied to anyone,” snapped Spike. He turned to his friend. “Right?”

Yet, his confidence fell, for the changeling quivered like a leaf in the wind. “Thorax...?”

“I-I'm sorry, Spike, I did lie.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “But, not to you, I swear!”

“Then, who...?”

Discord's eyes narrowed. “Shining Armor.”

Author's Note

Sorry for the wait on this one. Not only did I lose track of time, but by the time I finally finished this chapter I suddenly had login issues.

My bad!