Night had just fallen in the Crystal Empire. The light of Shining Armor's magic reflected on the walls of the castle and decorated the place with a soft magenta color. As Princess Cadance walked down the hall, she felt a shiver going through her spine. She turned around with a clear expression of concern in her face, only to see her husband looking at her. Right by him stood Flurry Heart, with her eyes half-closed, trying not to fall asleep.
"What’s wrong?" Shining Armor asked as he walked closer to Cadance.
"I just had a bad feeling, nothing to worry about." Cadance giggled at the sight of her daughther walking clumsily and closing her eyes for a nap. "I think it is time for our little troublemaker to go to bed," she said, gently levitating Flurry Heart.
The couple walked together to their bedroom. Cadance entered first and put Flurry Heart in her cradle. She tucked her up and then looked back to Shining Armor, who was standing outside the room.
"I'll be right back," said Shining Armor as he turned his head to the end of the hall, "there's something I need to check."
Maybe he was just being paranoid, but Shining Armor thought Princess Cadance's "bad feeling" was indeed something to worry about. When it came to the very princesses of Equestria, one can never know.
Shining Armor walked around the castle for some minutes in search of anything strange, although all he could see was the royal guards at their night watch, to whom he greeted with a gesture of his head. Relieved, he returned to his room, but as he walked back he stumbled across a guard whom, he thought, had left hours ago.
"Soldier!" called Shining Armor, "What are you doing here?"
The guard looked at him, startled. "G-guarding, sir!" stuttered the stallion, a nervous smile appeared on his face.
Shining put a doubtful look upon the guard. "I thought you worked during the day," he said.
"You caught me! I just thought you may need some extra protection. No one knows when there might be a creature lurking around the castle, right? I don't want anything to happen to our beloved" – his voice changed and a glint of blue appeared on his eyes – "rulers and their baby."
Shining Armor stepped back in terror. "Okay. Keep up the good work!" he rapidly said and ran off the place.
The door opened abruptly, waking Flurry Heart up. Shining Armor jumped into the room and slammed the door, causing her to cry.
"Shining Armor, the baby!" reprimanded Cadance as she cradled Flurry Heart to calm her down.
"Sorry! But there is– I saw a– I'm sure it was, I mean, I didn't see it but I am sure it was... it was!" Shining Armor stammered.
"What? I can't understand, Shining, please, think before you talk!"
"A changeling!" yelled Shining Armor, his voice echoed in the room. "We got to–"
The sound of ponies running down the hall interrupted Shining Armor's phrase. He looked at Cadance, who lit up a spark out of her horn in an attempt to teleport out of danger, but her magic vanished into thin air. Shining Armor nervously looked around: there were no windows in the room that they could use to escape. What could they do? A sudden thought came to Shining's mind, recalling a secret passage under the bed. He kicked it in direction to the door – that way the changelings would not be able to enter.
"I knew this wasn't a waste." He opened the door. "Quick! Go, go, go!"
Princess Cadance and Flurry Heart went through the door and down the stairs, Shining followed. As they ran through the dark passageway, Cadance looked at Flurry Heart.
They knew they wouldn't be able to protect their daughther.
"Sunburst," said Shining Armor, "he will take care of Flurry Heart."
Cadance agreed.
Sunburst was walking from side to side inside the guest room, trying not to panic. As he did, he heard a knock coming from nowhere. He opened the door, but there was no one to be seen.
"All right! I won't stand this anymore! This is a completely unfunny-!"
All of a sudden, the nightstand was thrown to the other side of the room, frightening Sunburst out of his mind. He watched speechless as Shining Armor went out of the tiny door.
Sunburst shook his head to recover. "Shining Armor, thank goodness! My magic, it–"
Shining Armor pointed his horn at him. "What spells did you use to fix the Crystal Heart?"
"What?"
"Just answer my question!" He walked towards Sunburst.
"I-I think it was... the Crystalling spell, along with..." he gulped. "Somnambula's Weather Abjuration and... Fledgling... Forbearance." Sunburst adjusted his glasses.
Shining Armor sighed in relief. He didn't really remember the spells, but he knew a changeling wouldn't have that much knowledge about magic. He waved his hoof at Cadance as a sign to tell her to come over. Sunburst watched bemused as the scene unfolded.
"I'm sorry about all this," said Cadance, "but I can explain. We believe there are changelings infiltrated in the castle."
Sunburst shuddered. "Changelings?"
"And they have disabled our magic." Shining Armor looked out the door – no changeling in sight. "We haven't got much time."
Princess Cadance kissed Flurry Heart on her forehead and gave her to Sunburst. The baby giggled and played with his beard, tickling him. He moved her away from it and tickled her back, then looked at Cadance.
"We will try to stop the changelings," she said, "we need you to protect Flurry Heart."
"I... I don't know..."
"I know you can do it," said Cadance in a gentle, comforting tone, which then turned into a more severe and serious one, frightening Sunburst. "now run. We will take care of the changelings."
Sunburst pushed Flurry Heart against his chest, making sure not to harm her. She laughed cheerfully as they ran out of the room and through the castle. Sunburst, on the other hoof, looked around nervously, trying to find his way in the dark. The fear seemed to block his senses. He could not walk through the thumping castle in broad daylight, how would he find the way out of it without magic? Sunburst got more nervous at every step, and his heart beat harder and harder, something Flurry Heart felt and found amusing. The constant run, of course, didn't make it any easier. It would have been simple to just stop and breath, but that would have given the changelings enough time to catch them. There was nothing else he could do.
A soft light came from around the corner. Sunburst could not think clearly and, acting impulsively, ran towards it, but to his trouble, it wasn't the exit but the magic of two unicorn guards. Sunburst stopped: seeing that was a relief, but he still had to make sure. He tried to use his magic, but it didn't work. The situation became evident to his eyes – they were changelings! Sunburst trembled and a cold sweat ran through his face. One of them glanced at him. He would have spoken a swear word, but nothing could come from his throat. Completely plunged in fear, he could not say anything nor could he escape from the guard who was walking towards him. He felt the magic of the changeling surrounding Flurry Heart and quickly sat down and held her.
"Everything is fine," he said, and embraced her more strongly.
But the changeling struggled. This upset Flurry Heart and made her cry. Sunburst felt helpless and could not perceive what was happening quite clearly – his breathing began to accelerate. What is wrong with me? He seemed to lose touch with reality. The changelings took advantage of Sunburst's state and, laughing, snatched Flurry Heart away from him.
The sudden jolt took Sunburst out of his trance and, finally seeing what they were doing, he could not think of anything else but to run and lunge the changeling with his body. Flurry Heart laughed as she was swung from side to side by the wobbly impostor who, after recovering his balance, returned the hit to Sunburst. The impact of the knock threw Sunburst across the room and smashed him against the wall. The other changeling, for his part, lit his horn and shot a blast of magic at him. It hit him in his side and kept him in his place until the changeling stopped. Sunburst fell and, having lost the battle, he could only look up – all he saw was the blurred image of the impostor's hoof over his head. One stomp. Everything faded away.
...
"Can you hear me? Sunburst!"
Sunburst lied on the floor. His eyes were slightly open and he looked around, disorientated. Then he looked at the blue color shape in front of him. The silhouette got closer to him and put something in front of his eyes – he could finally see the crystal pony more clearly.
"It's me, Thorax. How do you feel? Can you hear me?" Thorax shook his hoof to make sure Sunburst was conscious.
Sunburst didn't respond. Still recovering, he couldn't think properly. The vague pictures were taking shape in his head until, at last, the memory of the changelings taking Flurry Heart stung his mind. He brusquely got up, but as soon as he did, a sharp pain attacked his body, forcing him to get back down. He looked under his cloak, noticing the poorly bound bandage around his chest.
"I'm sorry." Thorax looked down, ashamed. "I'm not so good..."
"Flurry Heart. T-the changelings, they... they took Flurry Heart," said Sunburst with a trembling voice.
"I know. I... saw it." Thorax covered his eyes. "I should've helped you, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..."
"There's– hnngh..." He endeavored to get up, his legs were still shaking. "There's no need to apologize, I understand."
Thorax rushed to help Sunburst, standing by his side so he could lean on him. "Thank you," he said, "but... how do you know I am really me?"
Sunburst was stupefied, he never had a doubt! He looked at Thorax, then talked.
"You're helping me."
The changeling smiled. "I'm sorry they attacked you."
"Don't worry. There are more important things to take care of now." Sunburst remained silent for a moment, thinking. "Princess Twilight and her friends, they'll know what to do. Go get their help."
"No way, you're hurt! I can't leave you–"
"I'm fine." Sunburst showed a heartwarming smile at Thorax and walked a few steps away. "Now go find Twilight."
Thorax hugged Sunburst, saying goodbye to his friend. The changeling's affection hurt Sunburst, but he accepted it anyways. Thorax then returned to his original form and flew out of the castle. He felt bad for leaving Sunburst like that, but he was right – there were more important things to take care of. Now it was his turn to save Equestria.