Patriots of Equestria, Part 1

Stepping through the portal that connected Equestria to the human world, Sunset Shimmer arrived in Equestria having just attended Camp Everfree not too long ago. However, she had a very good reason for returning to Equestria now and it was concerning what had happened while at Camp Everfree that involved Equestrian Magic. Just as she was nearing the throne room, however, she saw Starlight and Trixie making their way into the castle.

"Sunset!" cried Starlight as they walked in and the two unicorns hugged each other. "What are you doing here?"

"I was wondering if Twilight could give me some insight on something that's happening in the human world," answered Sunset. "Something involving magic that was found in a cave at a summer camp I was at."

"Magic?" wondered Trixie. "In another world? What's a human?"

"Somepony who only walks on two legs," said Sunset. "Believe me, you would like, uh…whatever your name is?"

Aghast that this was a pony who didn't who she was, Trixie went into her typical showboat mode.

"Fair pony, you in the prescense of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" exclaimed Trixie, much to Sunset's confusion and the only response she gave was a brief nod and an "uh huh."

Trixie was surprised to be seeing this and was trying to come up with another way to get Sunset to know who she was when the doors to the throne room opened to reveal Spike, Twilight and Discord coming out.

"Oh, I see you are already up, Starlight," remarked Twilight, briefly looking at Starlight and Trixie before turning her attention over to Sunset. "Good to see you, Sunset. Sorry if I wasn't able to return for a visit. I had a minor problem to be exact."

"Since we have company," suggested Discord, donning a butler's disguise and talking in a British accent while holding a tray containing tea and crumpets. "Why don't we all have some tea and crumpets?"

Sunset chuckled at Discord's behavior and instead focused her attention on Twilight.

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry right now," Sunset said politely as they all went back into the throne room. However, Trixie used her magic to take a tea cup and a small plate of crumpets into the throne room.

"Well, at least somepony appreciates my essentials," chuckled Discord, dropping the butler's disguise before turning his attention over to the alicorn princess of friendship, her dragon assistant and her three unicorn friends. "Well, might as well go pay Fluttershy a little visit. Ta Ta!"

…

With a snap of his fingers, Discord disappeared over to Fluttershy's and left them all alone in the throne room.

"Um, I know you are having company," remarked Sunset. "So, I won't be very long, Twilight."

"Please stay, Sunset," offered Twilight as they all sat down on the thrones. "It's not like we have anything major going on except for two changelings that are the loose."

Sunset raised an eyebrow to Twilight upon hearing this for her time in the human world had made her lack some basic information of Equestria's creatures. Starlight was quick to take notice of this.

"Creatures that can change into anypony or anything that they wish," she said. "They kidnapped Twilight, Spike, her friends, brother and the princesses and Trixie and I were among those who had to rescue them."

"Indeed," murmured Sunset, taking in what she had heard. "Which explains why you didn't return to the human world to help us at Camp Everfree."

"Camp Everfree?" wondered Twilight. "Since when did you go camping, Sunset?"

"Not too long ago," answered Sunset. "However, the reason why I am here is because that while we were at the camp, we discovered a cave where magic from Equestria was discovered."

Twilight listened and as much as she wanted to help Sunset with her situation, the matter of finding the two wanted changelings came first. Furthermore, the Equestria marathon was also coming up and Twilight felt that it was perhaps a good idea to ask Sunset if she wanted to go.

"Um, Sunset, not to quickly change the subject," remarked Twilight. "But, would you like to attend the Equestrian marathon in a few days? Princess Celestia and I will be among those sitting at the finish line."

Sunset considered the matter and knowing that her parents would most likely be in attendance along with Celestia, felt that it was a good service to attend.

"Yes, I would love to come," answered Sunset, much to Twilight's delight. "I've always wanted to attend the Equestrian Marathon, but I never got the chance to."

"However, I do need to warn you all that we are increasing security measures for the marathon," advised Twilight. "Remember that we do need to be vigilant for those two wanted changelings."

"Is there anything that we can do to help, princess?" asked Trixie. "I know I wanted to ask you if I could perform magic tricks at the marathon, but Starlight and I have faced Changelings already and know what they are capable of."

"Well, you can perform magic tricks, Trixie," answered Twilight, much to Trixie's delight. "But, you must also be vigilant. And as another thing, if any of you or anypony else sees the Changelings, DO NOT approach them. We will have royal guards along with Manehattan police officers patrolling the streets."

As Twilight spoke, Starlight was beginning to wonder if maybe the Equestrian Marathon should even take place at all, given the heightened security sense. But, knowing how important the marathon was, she said nothing. Besides, all that mattered was in her mind, Starlight wanted nothing more than to reform Chrysalis.

"If you say so, Twilight," replied Sunset.

"If I could make a suggestion," suggested Trixie, raising her hoof into the air in order to gain her attention. "When we went into the Changeling kingdom to rescue you all, we decided to come up with a secret code and whoever said the code was not a changeling and who could not say it was a changeling."

"That is a good idea, Trixie," chirped Spike, who had been quiet up until now. "Don't you think so, Twilight?"

"I do think it is a good idea," remarked Twilight. "It will help us in being protective of the situation and after what we went through with Chrysalis, we are not taking any chances. In fact, my brother has said that he won't even let Flurry Heart attend the marathon out of abundance of caution."

Starlight wasn't surprised to hear this and neither was Spike. For they both knew that Flurry Heart was far too young to even consider attending and that ever since her Crystalling not too long ago, the Alicorn baby was considered a prime target for the Changelings.

"Maybe that is a good move on their part," said Starlight. "Besides, I think Sunburst would agree with me as well. Cadence and Shining Armor didn't make him Flurry Heart's Crystaller for nothing. In fact, if you want me to go and help him look after Flurry Heart…"

"I'm sure that he will be fine," interrupted Twilight. "However, as my student, Princess Celestia and my fellow Princesses would like you to be at the marathon with us, Starlight."

Although it was against her better judgment, Starlight decided to heed her teacher's advice. Besides, Sunburst was a very protective pony and the Crystal Empire was protected by the Crystal Heart, so what could go wrong?

…

Meanwhile, the late night train arrived in Manehattan and two ponies, one dark blue and one dark red stepped off onto the platform and made their way over to a nearby warehouse on the far edge of Manehattan, trying to not catch the attention of wandering ponies. Once they were home free, the ponies transformed revealing themselves to be Hopper and Thumper in disguise.

"Let's get to work installing our weapons of destruction," said Hopper as the two Changeling brothers gathered their ingredients to construct their weapons. "For once the most important ponies of Equestria are eliminated, we shall create the path for our true leader to regain her power."

Little did the brothers know, however, that their plans would backfire in the worst possible way for them…